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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on July 8, 2004
Human Reproduction 2004 19(10):2188-2191; doi:10.1093/humrep/deh412
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Human Reproduction vol. 19 no. 10 © European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 2004; all rights reserved

Concentration of osteoprotegerin (OPG) in peritoneal fluid is increased in women with endometriosis

Miyuki Harada, Yutaka Osuga1, Tetsuya Hirata, Yasushi Hirota, Kaori Koga, Osamu Yoshino, Chieko Morimoto, Toshihiro Fujiwara, Mikio Momoeda, Tetsu Yano, Osamu Tsutsumi and Yuji Taketani

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan. Email: yutakaos-tky{at}umin.ac.jp

BACKGROUND: Failure of apoptosis of refluxed endometrial cells within the peritoneal cavity is a possible etiologic factor for development of endometriosis. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a survival factor that exerts its effect by binding to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), thus preventing TRAIL from binding to the apoptosis receptors DR4 and DR5. In the present study, we addressed the possibility that the TRAIL/OPG system is involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. METHODS: Concentrations of OPG and TRAIL in the peritoneal fluid (PF) of women with or without endometriosis were measured using specific enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. The expression of DR4 and DR5 in the endometriotic tissue was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: OPG concentrations in PF of women with endometriosis were significantly higher than those of women without endometriosis (P=0.006). With respect to the stages of the disease, the concentrations of OPG in women with stage III/IV endometriosis were significantly higher than in those without endometriosis and those with stage I/II endometriosis. On the other hand, the ratios of TRAIL/OPG concentrations were significantly lower in stage III/IV endometriosis compared to those in non-endometriosis and stage I/II endometriosis. DR5 mRNA expression was clearly detected in all the endometriotic tissues studied. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the TRAIL/OPG system is involved in the pathophysiology of endometriosis, possibly affecting the apoptosis of endometriotic cells.


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