I Kolioulis1, M Zafrakas2, G Grimbizis3, D Miliaras4, A Timologou3, J N Bontis3, B C Tarlatzis3. 1. 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece; Frauenklinik, Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Germany. 2. 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece; School of Health and Medical Care, Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: mzafrakas@gmail.com. 3. 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. 4. Laboratory of Histology & Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Kisspeptins are multifunctional peptides; it has been shown that they act as inhibitors of tumor metastasis in a range of cancers and that they are also involved in cell invasion through regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of KISS-1 protein in adenomyosis lesions compared with matched eutopic endometrium, as well as with endometrium from patients without adenomyosis. STUDY DESIGN: In this comparative, non-interventional study, adenomyosis and corresponding eutopic endometrium samples from women with histologically proven adenomyosis after hysterectomy, and eutopic endometrium samples from women without adenomyosis were analysed. Expression of KISS-1 protein was analyzed immunohistochemically in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded adenomyotic tissue specimens (n=29), matched eutopic endometrium from the same patients (n=29) and normal endometrium from patients without adenomyosis (n=29). RESULTS: Using a semi-quantitative immunohistochemical score, we found that KISS-1 protein expression was higher in the adenomyotic as compared with matched eutopic glandular endometrium (p<0.05), in which in turn KISS-1 protein expression was higher than those from patients without adenomyosis (p<0.001). The inverse correlation was found in the stroma, between adenomyosis lesions and matched eutopic endometrium (p<0.01), while no statistically significant correlation was found in KISS-1 protein expression in the stroma between patients with and without adenomyosis. CONCLUSIONS: KISS-1 protein expression appears to be up-regulated in adenomyotic as compared with eutopic glandular endometrium of patients with, as well as women without adenomyosis. These findings are suggestive of the involvement of KISS-1 protein in the pathogenesis and maintenance of adenomyosis. Future studies should investigate whether KISS1 protein could be used as a marker for early and minimally invasive detection of adenomyosis, based on its differential protein expression pattern in the eutopic endometrium of patients with and without adenomyosis.
OBJECTIVE: Kisspeptins are multifunctional peptides; it has been shown that they act as inhibitors of tumor metastasis in a range of cancers and that they are also involved in cell invasion through regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of KISS-1 protein in adenomyosis lesions compared with matched eutopic endometrium, as well as with endometrium from patients without adenomyosis. STUDY DESIGN: In this comparative, non-interventional study, adenomyosis and corresponding eutopic endometrium samples from women with histologically proven adenomyosis after hysterectomy, and eutopic endometrium samples from women without adenomyosis were analysed. Expression of KISS-1 protein was analyzed immunohistochemically in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded adenomyotic tissue specimens (n=29), matched eutopic endometrium from the same patients (n=29) and normal endometrium from patients without adenomyosis (n=29). RESULTS: Using a semi-quantitative immunohistochemical score, we found that KISS-1 protein expression was higher in the adenomyotic as compared with matched eutopic glandular endometrium (p<0.05), in which in turn KISS-1 protein expression was higher than those from patients without adenomyosis (p<0.001). The inverse correlation was found in the stroma, between adenomyosis lesions and matched eutopic endometrium (p<0.01), while no statistically significant correlation was found in KISS-1 protein expression in the stroma between patients with and without adenomyosis. CONCLUSIONS:KISS-1 protein expression appears to be up-regulated in adenomyotic as compared with eutopic glandular endometrium of patients with, as well as women without adenomyosis. These findings are suggestive of the involvement of KISS-1 protein in the pathogenesis and maintenance of adenomyosis. Future studies should investigate whether KISS1 protein could be used as a marker for early and minimally invasive detection of adenomyosis, based on its differential protein expression pattern in the eutopic endometrium of patients with and without adenomyosis.
Authors: Ilya V Ulasov; Anton V Borovjagin; Peter Timashev; Massimo Cristofanili; Danny R Welch Journal: Cancer Metastasis Rev Date: 2019-09 Impact factor: 9.264