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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published online on June 2, 2009
Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/humrep/dep199
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Absence of aromatase protein and mRNA expression in endometriosis

S. Colette1, J.C. Lousse1, S. Defrère1, M. Curaba1, J.F. Heilier2, A. Van Langendonckt1, M. Mestdagt3, J.M. Foidart3, E. Loumaye4 and J. Donnez1,5

1 Université Catholique de Louvain, Faculty of Medicine, Gynecology Unit, 1200 Brussels, Belgium 2 Université Catholique de Louvain, Faculty of Medicine, Industrial Toxicology and Ocupational Medicine Unit, 1200 Brussels, Belgium 3 Université de Liège, Laboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, 4000 Liège, Belgium 4 PregLem S.A, 1228 Plan-les Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland

5 Correspondence address. Tel: +32-2-764-95-01; Fax: +32-2-764-95-07; E-mail: jacques.donnez{at}uclouvain.be/anne.lepage{at}uclouvain.be

BACKGROUND: Aromatase has been reported to be involved in estrogen biosynthesis and expressed in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of endometriosis patients. The objective of the present study was to investigate its expression and localization in three distinct types of endometriosis.

METHODS: Human peritoneal, ovarian and rectovaginal endometriotic lesions and matched eutopic endometrium were collected from patients during laparoscopy. Aromatase protein localization (immunohistochemistry, n = 63) and mRNA expression [quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR), n = 64] were assessed.

RESULTS: No aromatase protein was detected by immunohistochemistry in either the glandular or stromal compartment of endometriotic lesions or eutopic endometrium, while it was strong in placental syncytiotrophoblasts, granulosa and internal theca cells from pre-ovulatory follicles, and luteal cells from corpus luteum. By Q-PCR, low but discernible levels of aromatase expression were found in endometriomas, probably due to follicular expression. Transcripts for aromatase were barely detectable in only a few peritoneal and rectovaginal endometriotic lesions, and a few eutopic endometrium samples, probably due to contaminating surrounding tissues (adipose tissue, intact peritoneum).

CONCLUSIONS: Unlike previous studies, we observed no aromatase protein in any of the endometriosis types, and barely detectable aromatase mRNA expression, suggesting that locally produced aromatase (within endometriotic lesions) may be less implicated in endometriosis development than previously postulated. Potential factors responsible for these discrepancies are discussed.

Key words: aromatase/peritoneal endometriosis/ovarian endometriosis/rectovaginal endometriosis

Submitted on January 28, 2009; resubmitted on April 1, 2009; accepted on May 6, 2009.


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