EXPRESSION OF HEAT-SHOCK PROTEIN-70 KDA IN HUMAN ENDOMETRIUM OF NORMAL AND INFERTILE WOMEN

The expression of heat shock protein (hsp) 70 was investigated in endo metrial samples from patients with unexplained infertility associated (n = 5) or not associated (n = 10) with endometriosis, and compared wi th a control group consisting of fertile women (n = 27) with reported menstrual disturbance. The expression of hsp, and in particular hsp 70 , is up-regulated in response to many physico-biochemical insults as w ell as infection and possibly oncogenic transformation and is a good i ndicator of a biological system under stress. A significant over-expre ssion of hsp 70 was found in the infertile groups (P < 0.001), suggest ing that a stress response may be involved in the aetiology of unexpla ined infertility irrespective of the presence of endometriosis.