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. 2018 Nov;40(11):705-712.
doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1675612. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Increased Expression Levels of Metalloprotease, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloprotease, Metallothionein, and p63 in Ectopic Endometrium: An Animal Experimental Study

Verônica Cristina Moraes Brandão  1   2 , Juliana Meola  1 , Sergio Britto Garcia  1 , Francisco José Candido-Dos-Reis  1 , Omero Benedicto Poli-Neto  1 , Antonio Alberto Nogueira  1 , Julio Cesar Rosa-E-Silva  1
Affiliations

Increased Expression Levels of Metalloprotease, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloprotease, Metallothionein, and p63 in Ectopic Endometrium: An Animal Experimental Study

Verônica Cristina Moraes Brandão et al. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2018 Nov.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To characterize the patterns of cell differentiation, proliferation, and tissue invasion in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of rabbits with induced endometriotic lesions via a well- known experimental model, 4 and 8 weeks after the endometrial implantation procedure.

Methods: Twenty-nine female New Zealand rabbits underwent laparotomy for endometriosis induction through the resection of one uterine horn, isolation of the endometrium, and fixation of tissue segment to the pelvic peritoneum. Two groups of animals (one with 14 animals, and the other with15) were sacrificed 4 and 8 weeks after endometriosis induction. The lesion was excised along with the opposite uterine horn for endometrial gland and stroma determination. Immunohistochemical reactions were performed in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues for analysis of the following markers: metalloprotease (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease (TIMP-2), which are involved in the invasive capacity of the endometrial tissue; and metallothionein (MT) and p63, which are involved in cell differentiation and proliferation.

Results: The intensity of the immunostaining for MMP9, TIMP-2, MT, and p63 was higher in ectopic endometria than in eutopic endometria. However, when the ectopic lesions were compared at 4 and 8 weeks, no significant difference was observed, with the exception of the marker p63, which was more evident after 8 weeks of evolution of the ectopic endometrial tissue.

Conclusion: Ectopic endometrial lesions seem to express greater power for cell differentiation and tissue invasion, compared with eutopic endometria, demonstrating a potentially invasive, progressive, and heterogeneous presentation of endometriosis.

Objetivo: Caracterizar o padrão de diferenciação celular, proliferação e invasão tecidual em endométrio eutópico e ectópico de coelhas com lesões de endometriose induzidas por um modelo experimental 4 e 8 semanas após o procedimento de implantação endometrial. MéTODOS: Vinte e nove coelhas fêmeas Nova Zelândia foram submetidas a laparotomia para indução de endometriose através da ressecção de um dos cornos uterinos, isolamento do endométrio e fixação do tecido no peritônio pélvico. Dois grupos de animais (14 animais em um grupo e 15 animais no outro) foram sacrificados 4 e 8 semanas após a indução da endometriose. A lesão foi excisada junto com o corno uterino contralateral para determinação da presença de glândulas e de estroma endometrial. Reações de imunohistoquímica foram realizadas no tecido endometrial eutópico e ectópico para análise dos seguintes marcadores: metaloprotease (MMP9) e inibidor tecidual da metaloprotease 2 (TIMP-2), os quais estão envolvidos na capacidade de invasão do tecido endometrial; e metalotioneina (MT) e p63, os quais estão envolvidos na diferenciação e proliferação celular.

Resultados: A intensidade da imunomarcação para MMP9, TIMP-2, MT e p63 foi mais alta nos endométrios ectópicos do que nos endométrios eutópicos. Contudo, quando as lesões foram comparadas entre 4 e 8 semanas, nenhuma diferença foi observada, com exceção do marcador p63, o qual foi mais evidente depois de 8 semanas de evolução do tecido endometrial ectópico. CONCLUSãO: Lesões endometriais ectópicas parecem expressar maior poder de diferenciação celular e de invasão tecidual comparadas com endométrios eutópicos, demonstrando o potencial de invasão, de progressão e de apresentação heterogênea da endometriose.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Immunostaining by: metalloprotease in the eutopic (A) and ectopic endometria (B); tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease in the eutopic (C) and ectopic endometria (D); metallothionein in the eutopic (E) and ectopic endometria (F); and p63 in the eutopic (G) and ectopic endometria (H). 40x enlargement.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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