DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION OF IGF-I AND IGF-II IN EUTOPIC AND ECTOPIC ENDOMETRIA OF WOMEN WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS AND IN WOMEN WITHOUT ENDOMETRIOSIS

PROBLEM: Factors regulating the development, growth, and differentiati on of endometrial cells of endometriotic lesions are poorly understood . To investigate the paracrine-autocrine regulation of ectopic endomet rial cell growth, the expression of ICE-I and IGF-II were studied. MET HOD: Tissue specimens of eutopic and ectopic endometria were obtained from eight patients with endometriosis at laparoscopy and from the end ometria of 14 women without endometriosis as controls. They were teste d for the expression of IGF-I and IGF-II by immunohistochemical analys is. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical study for IGF-I in controls showed a more intense staining during the proliferative phase both in stromal a nd epithelial cells. In eutopic endometria of women with endometriosis a reduction in the staining was observed, whereas in epithelial cells of fibrotic peritoneal adhesions an intense immunostaining for IGF-I was observed. Immunohistochemical study of IGF-II in controls showed a more intense staining during secretory phase both in stromal and epit helial cells. In eutopic endometria of women with endometriosis, a red uction in the staining was observed, whereas in epithelial cells of fi brotic peritoneal adhesions an intense immunostaining for IGF-I was ob served. Immunohistochemical study of IGF-II in controls showed a more intense staining during secretory phase both in stromal and epithelial cells. In eutopic endometria of women with endometriosis, a reduction in the staining was observed, whereas in epithelial cells of ovarian lesions and fibrotic peritoneal adhesions, no immunostaining for ICE-I I was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In endometriosis there is an alteration o f mechanisms regulating cell proliferation and differentiation.