The expression of the autophagy gene beclin-1 mRNA and protein in ectopic and eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis

Longyu Zhang, Ying Liu, Yuping Xu, Huan Wu, Zhaolian Wei, Yunxia Cao, Longyu Zhang, Ying Liu, Yuping Xu, Huan Wu, Zhaolian Wei, Yunxia Cao

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Autophagy; Beclin-1; CA125; Endometriosis.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Semi-quantitative expression of Beclin-1 mRNA in the experimental group (paired eutopic and ectopic endometrial samples from the same patients) and the samples from the control group was detected using RT-PCR. The grey value was analyzed using the Jetta 801 gel imaging software. E1; Endometriosis ectopic group, C; Control group and E2; Endometriosis eutopic group.
Fig 2
Fig 2
Beclin-1 protein expression presented with representative immunoblots. The protein bands of β-actin in these groups were consistent. E1; Endometriosis ectopic group, C; Control group and E2; Endometriosis eutopic group.
Fig 3
Fig 3
There was a negative correlation between Beclin-1 protein expression and serum CA125 (n=26, r=-0.566, p=0.003). The line refers to the changing trend of data.

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