The expression of Fas protein is downregulated in the endometrium of patients with endometriosis

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To introduce a possible role of Fas protein in the pathophysiology of endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective case-control study was conducted between March 2012 and February 2015. Endometrial biopsies from 30 patients diagnosed with endometriosis after laparoscopic or open surgery were compared with biopsies from 30 patients who were operated on for benign ovarian cysts. Endometrial samplings from the participants were performed with Pipelle biopsies in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Immunostaining for Fas protein was performed. A histochemical score (H-score) calculation was performed with the formula Pix(i + 1), in which i illustrated the staining intensity and Pi illustrated the percentage of stained epithelial cells. RESULTS: The differences in staining percentage and staining intensity of endometrial epithelial cells as well as total H-score of Fas immunoexpression between patients with endometriosis and the control group were found to be statistically significant (p<0.001). There were statistically significant differences between gravidity and H-score, and age and H-score, within the endometriosis group (p=0.031 and p=0.018, respectively). Gravidity and H-score, and age and H-score, were found to correlate in negative linear character in patients with endometriosis (r=-0.509 and r=-0.429, respectively). CONCLUSION: Immunoexpression of Fas protein in endometrial cells was downregulated in patients with endometriosis as compared to that in healthy women. Endometrial Fas immunoexpression in patients with endometriosis is inversely correlated with age.