Immunohistochemical Evaluation of TGF-β Isoforms in Cases with Ovarian Endometriosis and Follicular Cyst

Abdulmuttalip ŞENTAŞ, Murat İNAL, Muzaffer SANCI, Yusuf YILDIRIM, Sevinç İNAN, Seda VATANSEVER, Nilgün DİCLE, Çiğdem İSPAHİ
İzmir-Turkey

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the distribution of Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β1, β2 and β3 in surgical specimens of the cases with endometriosis and follicular cysts.
STUDY DESIGN: This prospective clinical study was carried out at Aegean Obstetrics and Gynecology Training and Research Hospital, a tertiary referral center. A total of 44 reproductive aged women operated because of adnexial masses and revealed pathologic diagnosis’ like endometriosis (Group I; n: 22 cases) and follicular cyst (Group II; n: 22 cases) were enrolled into the study. A semi-quantitative examination of immunohistochemical staining was evaluated as light (+), medium (++) and strong (+++). According to these staining levels, each case was scored as having one, two or three points; and mean scores were calculated for the groups.
RESULTS: TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 staining scores were (48.5±3.1), (25.4±2.3), and (43.7±2.9) in Group I; and (29.2±2.5), (26.5±2.2), and (41.1±3.0) in Group II, respectively.
In contrast to the other two isoforms, TGF-β1’s immunoreactivity was significantly higher in cases with endometriosis (p<0.01).
CONCLUSION: Ovarian tissue TGF-β1 immunoreactivity was significantly increased in endometriosis cases when compared with follicular cyst. There are needed further studies to elucidate the importance of this finding in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
(Gynecol Obstet Reprod Med 2007;13:1 34-37)
Key Words: Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β isoforms, endometriosis, follicular cyst