Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 mRNA: A Promising Peripheral Blood Marker for Diagnosis of Endometriosis

Abstract

Background/Aims: Endometriosis is an invasive disease. Its diagnosis depends on laparoscopy, which is traumatic and associated with potential complications. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid, reliable, and less invasive diagnostic test for endometriosis. We hypothesized that genes related to cell invasion would be transcriptionally upregulated in endometriosis, and tested whether blood levels of their transcripts might be used as biomarkers of endometriosis.Methods:We used quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to quantify the mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and MMP-9 in peripheral blood from 20 patients with mild/intermediate endometriosis, 20 patients with severe endometriosis and 20 endometriosis-free subjects. Results:Our results indicate that circulating mRNA for MMP-3 is significantly higher in patients with endometriosis than in control patients, regardless of the degree of severity. Conversely, the level of circulating mRNA for VEGFA and MMP-9 did not distinguish patients from controls. Conclusion: MMP-3 mRNA is a promising peripheral blood marker that discriminates between patients with endometriosis and healthy subjects. Our results support the possibility of finding genes suitable for diagnostic qRT-PCR for endometriosis in peripheral blood and should be explored further.

Reproductive Performance after Surgery for Endometriosis: Predictive Value of the Revised American Fertility Society Classification and the Endometriosis Fertility Index

“…Laparoscopic surgery is currently the first choice for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility in patients with endometriosis [6], although researchers have found some genes suitable for diagnostic quantitative RT-PCR for endometriosis in the peripheral blood [7,8]. A meta-analysis of two trials has demonstrated the advantage of laparoscopic surgery for early-stage endometriosis compared with diagnostic laparoscopy in regard to ongoing pregnancy at 20 weeks (odds ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval: 1.05-2.57) [9].…”

Clinical Significance of Thrombocytosis and CA125 as Predictor of Malignancy in Gynecological Pelvic Mass

“…This model achieves the highest sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, some researchers advise that in patients with an undiagnosed tumor in the pelvis, the CA125/CEA ratio may be used to preoperatively identify a substantial fraction of patients with ovarian and non-ovarian malignancies (15) , and confirm again that combination of serum tumor markers could improve ovarian cancer diagnosis (16,17) .CA125 is an antigenic determinant found in benign and malignant conditions Causes of Elevated CA125 Levels:…”

The Local Immune Mechanisms Involved in the Formation of Endometriotic Lesions

“…The study of the character of MMPs production at the level of ectopic endometrium had shown that MMP-2 and MMP-3 overexpression were related to the infiltrative nature of endometriotic lesion (Uzan et al, 2004). It was also shown that circulating mRNA for MMP-3 was significantly higher in peripheral blood of patients with endometriosis than in control patients, regardless of the degree of endometriosis severity (De Sanctis et al, 2011). In a prospective, blinded, longitudinal study MMP-2 and MMP-9 were more likely to be detected in the urine of patients with endometriosis than in controls (Becker et al, 2010).…”