The Expression And Significance Of Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 And Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 In Endometriosis

Background:The incidence rate of Endometriosis is as high as 10%?15%in the period of women of reproductive age,and has a rising trend in recent years.It is characterized by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity,and associated with chronic abdominal pain,dysmenorrhea,infertility,and so on.Although EMs is a benign disease,it has great similarity with cancer in the invasion,angiogenesis,proliferation,apoptosis and many other aspects.The existing research had found the intra-abdominal environmental changes of immune cells and cytokines in patients with EMs,and abnormal immune response plays an important role in the process.There has a variety of cell adhesion molecules(CAMs)expression in endometrial glandular epithelium and basilar membrane.Some studies had confirmed that the abnormal expression of CAMs might participate in the process of adhesion,invasion and planting in patients with EMs.Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1(VCAM 1)and intercellular adhesion molecule 1(ICAM 1)are two important members of the immunoglobulin superfamily.They belong to transmembrane glycoprotein adhesion molecules.VCAM 1 is mainly distributed in the endothelial cells and dendritic cells,and expressed on the surface of vascular endothelial only under the inflammation condition.ICAM 1 is expressed on the surface of white blood cell,endometrial epithelial and stromal cells and vascular endothelial cells.Therefore,we hypothesized that VCAM 1 and ICAM 1 may participate in the development of endometriosis.The planting,adhesion and proliferation of ectopic endometrium maybe play an important role in the disease.Objective:In this study,we designed to examine the expressions of VCAM 1 and ICAM 1 in ectopic and eutopic endometrial tissue as well as their expressions in serum from patients with EMs,and from patients without EMs as controls.Materials and Methods:We obtained ovarian endometriotic cyst and eutopic endometrial tissues from patients with stage III-IV EMs(according to revised AFS classification).Endometrial tissues,from patients who undergo hysteroscopy with or without laparoscopy due to infertility during the same period,were gained as controls.Meanwhile,we collected serum samples from patients with and without EMs.The transcriptions of VCAM 1 and ICAM 1 mRNA in eutopic,ectopic and control endometrium were detected by real-time RT-PCR,while the protein expressions were detected by western-blot method.The levels of soluble VCAM 1 and ICAM 1 in serums were studied by ELISA.Result:1.Real-time RT-PCR results:The mRNA levels of VCAM land ICAM 1 were significantly higher in ectopic endometrium than eutopic endometrium and the coatrols(P<0.01,P<0.01 respectively).There was no significant difference of their transcripts between eutopic endometrium and the controls(P>0.05).2.Western blot results:The protein levels of VCAM 1 and ICAM 1 were significantly higher in ectopic endometrium than eutopic and control endometrium(P<0.01,P<0.01),whereas no significantly difference of ICAM 1 protein expressions was observed between eutopic and control groups(P>0.05).3.ELISA results:The concentrations of sVCAM 1 and sICAM 1 in serums from patients with endometriosis were significantly higher than those in the controls(P<0.01,P<0.01).The concentration of sICAM-1 in serums was higher in patients with stage III-IV EMs than stage I-II(P<0.01,P<0.01).The detections of sICAM 1 and sVCAM 1 levels in serums had certain accuracy in the diagnosis of EMs.The detection of sICAM 1 had high specificity,but low sensitivity.Conclusion:1.High expressions of VCAM 1 and ICAM 1 in ectopic endometrium and serums of patients with endometriosis may be involved in the incidence and development of endometriosis,and play an important role in the pathogenesis.2.The expressions of VCAM 1 and ICAM 1 in patients with endometriosis had no obvious correlation.It suggests that they may have different effects to the pathogenesis of EMs.3.Detecting the expressions of sICAM 1 and sVCAM 1 in serums samples has certain accuracy in diagnose EMs.Detection the concentration of sICAM 1 can evaluate the progress of the disease.It may be a new method for diagnose endometriosis.