Plasminogen activators in ectopic and uterine endometrium

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 63; no. 1; pp. 45 - 51
• Main Authors: Fernández-Shaw, Sylvia, Marshall, Julian M., Hicks, Bev, Barlow, David H., Starkey, Phyllis M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.01.1995; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; endometriosis; Endometriosis - metabolism; Endometrium - metabolism; Female; Genital system. Mammary gland; Human endometrium; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; plasminogen; Plasminogen - metabolism; plasminogen activator inhibitor; Reference Values; tissue plasminogen activator; Tissue Plasminogen Activator - metabolism; urokinase; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator - metabolism; plasminogen; endometriosis; Human endometrium; tissue plasminogen activator; plasminogen activator inhibitor; urokinase; Human; Immunohistochemistry; u-Plasminogen activator; Serine endopeptidases; Pathophysiology; Enzyme; Pathogenesis; Endometriosis; Female genital diseases; Plasminogen plasmin system; Pathology; Activator; Uterine diseases; Hydrolases; Inhibitor; Proteinases; Endometrium
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/S0015-0282(16)57295-1

To investigate the expression of the plasminogen activator (PA)-plasmin system components in ectopic endometrium and in uterine endometrium from women with and without endometriosis. Plasminogen, PAs (urokinase and tissue plasminogen activator), and PA inhibitors (1 and 2) were detected by immunohistochemistry using a alkaline phosphatase staining method. No differences in staining were found between uterine endometrium of women with endometriosis and women without endometriosis with any of the antibodies used. However, we did find differences between uterine and ectopic endometrium. Although the expression of the components of the PA-plasmin system reflected the cyclic changes in the hormonal levels in uterine endometrium, ectopic endometrium maintained a very high level of plasminogen and urokinase in every sample. We were unable to detect the presence of PA inhibitors in either uterine or ectopic endometrium. There is no evidence that uterine endometrium from women with endometriosis is originally more able to implant than that of women without the disease because of an increase in their PA expression. The high levels of urokinase and plasminogen in ectopic endometrium may reflect a more invasive nature of the endometriotic implants in the peritoneal cavity.