The Expression Of The Autophagy Gene Beclin-1 Mrna And Protein In Ectopic And Eutopic Endometrium Of Patients With Endometriosis

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.