Sarah J Holdsworth-Carson1, Jessica Chung2, Clare Sloggett2, Sally Mortlock3, Jenny N Fung4, Grant W Montgomery3, Uri P Dior4, Martin Healey5, Peter Aw Rogers5, Jane E Girling6. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynhaecology, University of Melbourne and Gynaecology Research Centre, Level 7, Cnr Grattan St and Flemington Rd, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. Electronic address: scarson@unimelb.edu.au. 2. Melbourne Bioinformatics, University of Melbourne, 187 Grattan Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia. 3. The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia. 4. Endometriosis Center, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hadassah Medical Center, Kiryat Hadassah, POB 12000, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel. 5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynhaecology, University of Melbourne and Gynaecology Research Centre, Level 7, Cnr Grattan St and Flemington Rd, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. 6. Department of Obstetrics and Gynhaecology, University of Melbourne and Gynaecology Research Centre, Level 7, Cnr Grattan St and Flemington Rd, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, 270 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION: Does obesity affect endometrial gene expression in women with endometriosis, specifically women with stage I disease? DESIGN: Differential gene expression analysis was conducted on endometrium from women with and without endometriosis (n = 169). Women were diagnosed after surgical visualization and staged according to the revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine (stage I-IV). Women were grouped by body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) as underweight, normal, pre-obese or obese. After accounting for menstrual cycle stage, endometrial gene expression was analysed by BMI (continuous and grouped) in women with endometriosis, and in non-endometriosis controls. RESULTS: No significant interaction effect was found between BMI and endometriosis status on endometrial gene expression. We have previously reported that obese women with endometriosis have a reduced incidence of stage I disease; however, stratifying our analysis into stage I endometriosis versus combined II, III and IV endometriosis failed to reveal any differentially expressed endometrial genes between normal, pre-obese and obese patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite obesity having deleterious effects on endometrial gene expression in other gynaecological pathologies, e.g. endometrial cancer and polycystic ovary syndrome, our results do not support an association between BMI and altered endometrial gene expression in women with or without endometriosis.
RESEARCH QUESTION: Does obesity affect endometrial gene expression in women with endometriosis, specifically women with stage I disease? DESIGN: Differential gene expression analysis was conducted on endometrium from women with and without endometriosis (n = 169). Women were diagnosed after surgical visualization and staged according to the revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine (stage I-IV). Women were grouped by body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) as underweight, normal, pre-obese or obese. After accounting for menstrual cycle stage, endometrial gene expression was analysed by BMI (continuous and grouped) in women with endometriosis, and in non-endometriosis controls. RESULTS: No significant interaction effect was found between BMI and endometriosis status on endometrial gene expression. We have previously reported that obesewomen with endometriosis have a reduced incidence of stage I disease; however, stratifying our analysis into stage I endometriosis versus combined II, III and IV endometriosis failed to reveal any differentially expressed endometrial genes between normal, pre-obese and obesepatients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite obesity having deleterious effects on endometrial gene expression in other gynaecological pathologies, e.g. endometrial cancer and polycystic ovary syndrome, our results do not support an association between BMI and altered endometrial gene expression in women with or without endometriosis.