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The cancer marker neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is highly expressed in human endometrial hyperplasia

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Abstract

Recently, endometrial hyperplasia was identified as presenting a higher risk for progressing to endometrial carcinoma more readily than adenomyosis. The Lcn-2 gene encodes neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), which promotes cell proliferation and serves as a cancer marker in some cancers. In our current study, we investigated the relationship between the expression of NGAL and that of pathogenic cytokines and cancer-related genes including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), E-cadherin, β-catenin, and vimentin in patients with endometrial disorders. NGAL expression was examined by Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in hyperplasia and adenomyosis biopsy samples. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the occurrence of NGAL in glandular epithelial cells but not in the stromal cells of hyperplasia biopsy samples. NGAL protein and mRNA expression were significantly greater in endometrial hyperplasia than in endometrial adenomyosis. Although our data showed no difference in pathogenic cytokines between patients with endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial adenomyosis, we observed high expression levels of COX-2, β-catenin, vimentin, and E-cadherin in patients with endometrial hyperplasia. NGAL mRNA expression correlated positively with COX-2 and E-cadherin mRNA expression (r = 0.41 and r = 0.57, respectively), but correlated negatively with vimentin and β-catenin mRNA expression (r = −0.42 and r = −0.61, respectively). Our data suggest that NGAL is up-regulated in patients with endometrial hyperplasia to prevent the transition from hyperplasia to carcinoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biochemical Science, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan

    Chi-Jr Liao & Sin-Tak Chu

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University and Center for Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University and Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Yen Hua Huang

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University and Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Heng-Kien Au & Le-Ming Wang

  4. Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, P.O. BOX 23-106, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan

    Sin-Tak Chu

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  1. Chi-Jr Liao
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  2. Yen Hua Huang
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  3. Heng-Kien Au
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Correspondence to Sin-Tak Chu.

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Liao, CJ., Huang, Y.H., Au, HK. et al. The cancer marker neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is highly expressed in human endometrial hyperplasia. Mol Biol Rep 39, 1029–1036 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-011-0828-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-011-0828-9

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