Yanan He1, Qiuyan Guo1, Yan Cheng1, Yanjun Qu1, Liyuan Sun1, Congcong Kong1, Liang Lei2, Guangmei Zhang3. 1. Department of Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China. 2. The First Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, People's Republic of China. 3. Department of Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: guangmeizhang@126.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the abnormal expression of sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling molecules in 52 eutopic endometrial tissues and its diagnostic potency in endometriosis. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): Twenty-six women with histologically confirmed endometriosis and 26 women with histologically normal endometria who were undergoing curettage or hysterectomy were selected. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The mRNA and protein levels of molecules in the SHH signaling pathway. RESULT(S): The levels of SHH, smoothened, GLI family zinc finger 3, and its downstream signaling transcription factor (GLI1) not only were upregulated in the eutopic endometrium of endometriosis compared with the control endometrium, but also independently predicted the onset and severity of the disease. CONCLUSION(S): This study is the first to reveal differences in the activation of the SHH signaling pathway between women with and without endometriosis and suggests that the SHH signaling pathway has potential in the diagnosis of endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the abnormal expression of sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling molecules in 52 eutopic endometrial tissues and its diagnostic potency in endometriosis. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): Twenty-six women with histologically confirmed endometriosis and 26 women with histologically normal endometria who were undergoing curettage or hysterectomy were selected. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The mRNA and protein levels of molecules in the SHH signaling pathway. RESULT(S): The levels of SHH, smoothened, GLI family zinc finger 3, and its downstream signaling transcription factor (GLI1) not only were upregulated in the eutopic endometrium of endometriosis compared with the control endometrium, but also independently predicted the onset and severity of the disease. CONCLUSION(S): This study is the first to reveal differences in the activation of the SHH signaling pathway between women with and without endometriosis and suggests that the SHH signaling pathway has potential in the diagnosis of endometriosis.