Evidence for oxidatively modified lipid-protein complexes in endometrium and endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate for the presence of oxidatively modified lipid-protein complexes in endometriosis and endometrium of women with endometriosis and controls.

DESIGN

Controlled clinical study.

SETTING

Academic tertiary care center.

PATIENT(S): Women undergoing surgery for pelvic pain, infertility, endometriosis, or tubal ligation controls.

INTERVENTION(S): Biopsy of endometrium and endometriosis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Staining with antibodies to oxidatively modified lipid proteins (HNE-7, MDA2), macrophages (HAM-56), and muscle cell actin (HHF-35).

RESULT(S): Both endometrium and endometriosis tissues contain stromal cells that immunostain with HAM-56 and show immunostaining (both intracellular and extracellular) with HNE-7 and MDA2. Some endometriotic implants show patchy staining with HHF-35. Endometrium was devoid of staining with HHF-35. Control staining with nonimmune sera in both tissues was also devoid of staining.

CONCLUSION(S): These data strongly implicate the occurrence of oxidative stress in endometriosis tissue. These data also suggest that oxidative modification is a normal physiological process in endometrium.