MUC1 as a Discriminator between Endometrium from Fertile and Infertile Patients with PCOS and Endometriosis

Lavinia Margarit, L Margarit, Angela E. Taylor, A Taylor, Mark H. Roberts, M H Roberts, L Hopkins, Lynda Hopkins, C. A. Davies, C Davies, A G Brenton, R. Steven Conlan, R S Conlan, A Bunkheila, Adnan Bunkheila, Lisa Joels, L Joels, J O White, Deyarina González, D Gonzalez
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2010 · vol. 95(12) , pp. 5320–5329 · doi:10.1210/jc.2010-0603 · PMID:20826587 · W2160596503
article OA: bronze CC0 ⤵ 13 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

This study found that MUC1 expression differs in the endometrium of infertile patients with PCOS and endometriosis compared to fertile women, suggesting it contributes to endometrial insufficiency.

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Abstract

CONTEXT: Endometrium of fertile women expresses progesterone-regulated Mucin 1 (MUC1) that carries selectin ligands recognized by the human blastocyst. Altered MUC1 expression at the time of implantation may contribute to endometrial infertility. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess the expression of MUC1 in the endometrium from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and fertile women in comparison with other hormone-regulated proteins [hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) 1, HSD2, estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR)]. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Endometrial samples were obtained from 33 fertile patients, 26 ovulatory PCOS patients, 15 anovulatory PCOS patients, and 25 endometriosis patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Immunohistochemistry assessed the expression of MUC1 subunits ER, PR, HSD1, and HSD2 in endometrial epithelium. Endometrial MUC1 expression was quantified by immunoblots and RT-PCR. HSD1 and HSD2 expression was assayed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: MUC1ND expression was significantly higher in ovulatory PCOS than in fertile and anovulatory PCOS patients, even after progesterone stimulation. MUC1ND and -CD expression was lower in anovulatory PCOS than in fertile patients. Only MUC1CD expression was lower in endometriosis patients. Endometrial ER expression was significantly higher in PCOS and endometriosis patients, whereas PR expression was significantly higher in PCOS than in fertile patients. The expression of HSD1 was significantly higher in anovulatory PCOS than in fertile patients. Expression of HSD2 was significantly higher in PCOS patients and lower in endometriosis patients. CONCLUSION: Expression of MUC1 subunits in the infertile endometrium is significantly different from fertile and appears to be a component of altered gene expression that potentially contributes to endometrial insufficiency.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Anovulation Endometriosis Mucin-1 Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Anovulation Anovulation Antigens, Surface Antigens, Surface Diagnosis, Differential Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Female Humans Membrane Proteins Membrane Proteins Mucin-1 Mucin-1

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