The Expression of The Autophagy Gene Beclin-1 mRNA and Protein in Ectopic and Eutopic Endometrium of Patients with Endometriosis

• Main Authors: Longyu Zhang, Ying Liu, Yuping Xu, Huan Wu, Zhaolian Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Royan Institute (ACECR), Tehran 2015-01-01
• Series: International Journal of Fertility and Sterility
• Subjects: autophagy; endometriosis; beclin; 1; ca125
• Online Access: http://www.ijfs.ir/article_45272_0b21547da5ff2ad8c9f2b7188ccc1231.pdf

Background To investigate the expression of Beclin-1 mRNA and protein in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of women with and without endometriosis, and evaluate the association of Beclin-1 protein expression and serum CA125 levels in the endometriosis group due to CA125 being a well-known biomarker of endometriosis. Materials and Methods The expression levels (mean ± SD) of the mRNA and protein of Beclin-1 were examined in uterine endometria from 26 women without endometriosis and in eutopic and ectopic endometria from 26 endometriosis patients through experimental study, as reverse transcription PCR and Western-blotting assays. Serum CA125 levels in the endometriosis and control groups were compared and the correlation between Beclin-1 protein expression and serum CA125 was evaluated in the endometriosis group. Results Both eutopic (0.12 ± 0.04, 1.25 ± 0.42) and ectopic (0.12 ± 0.05, 1.09 ± 0.50) endometriotic tissue from 26 women with endometriosis expressed significantly lower levels of Beclin-1 mRNA and protein than endometrium from 26 normal women (0.15 ± 0.02, 1.67 ± 0.44) (p < 0.05). Serum CA125 levels were found to be significantly higher in the endometriosis group (p < 0.05). In addition, Beclin-1 protein expression of eutopic endometria in patients with endometriosis was negatively correlated with serum CA125 (r= -0.57, p < 0.01). Conclusion The present study strongly suggests that Beclin-1 may play a role in the formation and progression of endometriosis.