Relative Expression of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Receptor, Vitamin D 1α-Hydroxylase, Vitamin D 24-Hydroxylase, and Vitamin D 25-Hydroxylase in Endometriosis and Gynecologic Cancers

Admir Agic, Hong Xu, Christopher Altgassen, F. Noack, Frank Noack, Monika Wölfler, Monika M Wolfler, Klaus Diedrich, Michael Friedrich, Robert N Taylor, Daniela Hornung
Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) · 2007 · vol. 14(5) , pp. 486–497 · doi:10.1177/1933719107304565 · PMID:17913968 · W2010066043
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This study found increased vitamin D receptor and 1α-hydroxylase expression in endometriosis and gynecologic cancers, but no difference in serum 25-OH vitamin D levels.

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This study assessed expression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and vitamin D–activating enzymes (1α-hydroxylase) and related hydroxylases in endometrium and ovaries from women with endometriosis as well as from women with endometrial or ovarian cancer, using immunohistochemistry and mRNA/protein analyses. Strong VDR staining was observed in endometriosis and endometrial cancer, and VDR mRNA was higher in endometrial and ovarian cancer versus controls; 1α-hydroxylase expression in endometrium was higher in endometriosis than in healthy controls, with corresponding protein-level maintenance. The authors found no serum 25-OH vitamin D differences between women with endometriosis and healthy controls, and they note differences reflected local tissue expression rather than systemic vitamin D levels. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it characterizes VDR and vitamin D–related enzyme expression in endometriosis tissues and links these findings to hypothesized local immune/cytokine pathogenic mechanisms.

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Abstract

The authors demonstrate expression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and its hydroxylases in the endometrium and ovaries of women with and without endometriosis and endometrial or ovarian cancer. Immunohistochemistry showed strong staining of the VDR in endometriosis and endometrial cancer, with the most intense staining in epithelial cells. The VDR mRNA was significantly increased in patients with endometrial and ovarian cancer compared to the control group. There was a significantly higher 1 α -hydroxylase expression in the endometrium of patients with endometriosis compared to healthy controls. The observed differences in VDR and 1 α -hydroxylase mRNA levels were maintained at the protein level. The authors found no differences in 25-OH vitamin D levels between the serum of patients with endometriosis (25.7 ± 2.1 ng/mL, n = 46) and healthy controls (22.6 ± 2.0 ng/mL, n = 33, P =.31). They hypothesize that vitamin D might influence the local activity of immune cells and cytokines thought to play important pathogenic roles in the development and maintenance of endometriosis. Similar content being viewed by others

References

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Author information Authors and Affiliations Corresponding author Additional information The authors thank Constanze Siggel (real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot), Birte Jablonski (immunohistochemistry), Gudrun Pauch, and Prof Dr Olaf Hiort (25-OH vitamin D radioimmunoassay in blood) for their excellent technical assistance.The authors are also grateful to all the clinicians from the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Germany, and Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics,Aachen, Germany, for their collaboration in sample collection. This study would not have been possible without the generous contribution of all the women who have participated. Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Agic, A., Xu, H., Altgassen, C. et al. Relative Expression of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Receptor, Vitamin D 1α-Hydroxylase, Vitamin D 24-Hydroxylase, and Vitamin D 25-Hydroxylase in Endometriosis and Gynecologic Cancers. Reprod. Sci. 14, 486–497 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719107304565 Published: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719107304565

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mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase Endometrial Neoplasms Endometriosis Ovarian Neoplasms Receptors, Calcitriol Steroid Hydroxylases 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase Cells, Cultured Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase Endometrial Neoplasms Endometrial Neoplasms Endometrial Neoplasms Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic

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