Prokineticin 1 MRNA Expression in the Endometrium of Healthy Women and in the Eutopic Endometrium of Women with Endometriosis

Objective: To examine prokineticin 1 (PROK1) mRNA expression in eutopic endometrial glands obtained from patients with or without endometriosis, to investigate the presence of additional endometrial abnormalities in women with endometriosis.

Design: Prospective laboratory study.

Setting: University hospital.

Patients: Twelve control women and 12 patients affected by endometriosis in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle.

Intervention(s): Endometrial specimens were obtained from women affected (cases) or not (control group) by endometriosis. Endometrial glands were freshly isolated from endometrial biopsies.

Main Outcome Measure(s): PROK1 mRNA expression levels by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis.

Results: PROK1 mRNA was detectable in 4 of 12 (33%) samples obtained from women affected by endometriosis, whereas 10 of 12 (83%) samples obtained from normal women were positive for PROK1 detection by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Moreover, detectable PROK1 mRNA levels were 10 times lower in samples obtained from women with endometriosis than in samples obtained from control women.

Conclusion(s): PROK1 is a newly discovered angiogenic factor implicated in the vascular function of peri-implantation endometrium and early pregnancy. An altered expression of PROK1 could be one of the several biochemical abnormalities characterizing eutopic endometrium in endometriosis.