ENDOMETRIAL VASCULAR AND GLANDULAR EXPRESSION OF INTEGRIN ALPHA(V)BETA(3) IN WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT ENDOMETRIOSIS

The integrin alpha(v)beta(3) functions in both cell-cell and cell-extr acellular matrix adhesion, and has reported roles in platelet aggregat ion, immune function, tissue repair, tumour invasion, angiogenesis and uterine receptivity, The aim of this study was to use immunohistochem istry to describe the vascular and glandular expression of integrin al pha(v)beta(3) in formalin fixed, paraffin embedded endometrium obtaine d from women with (n = 29) and without (n = 24), endometriosis, The re sults showed a significant increase in the percentage of vessels expre ssing alpha(v)beta(3) in the endometrium of women with endometriosis c ompared with controls (P = 0.0001), This difference was more pronounce d in the secretory phase (P = 0.001) than the proliferative phase (P = 0.016). There was no correlation between vascular alpha(v)beta(3) exp ression and the endothelial cell proliferation index (P > 0.05), Vascu lar sprouts were not observed in any of the 53 endometrial tissues obt ained from women with or without endometriosis throughout the menstrua l cycle. Results from semi-quantitative scoring of gland immunostainin g showed that neither controls (P = 0.3329) nor the endometriosis grou p (P = 0.2260) had any significant changes in terms of alpha(v)beta(3) expression between the different stages of the menstrual cycle. There was also no difference in glandular alpha(v)beta(3) expression betwee n women with and without endometriosis (P = 0.4302), These results pro vide evidence for increased endometrial angiogenesis in women with end ometriosis compared with controls, and suggest that glandular expressi on of alpha(v)beta(3) is not related to uterine receptivity per se.