Expression of NF-κB, Bcl-2 and Caspase-8 apoptosis markers in endometrium in external genital endometriosis and chronic endometritis: A retrospective study

Abstract

Aim. To study the regulation of apoptosis in the endometrium of women with chronic endometritis (CE) and external genital endometriosis (EGE) based on the study of the expression of its regulators such as transcription factor (NF-), Bcl-2 and Caspase-8. Materials and methods. The study evaluated the expression of apoptosis factors such as Caspase-8, NF-B transcription factor, and Bcl-2, in patients with chronic endometritis (CE, n=23), external genital endometriosis (EGE, n=20), and intact endometrium (control group; n=7). Statistically significant differences were found for all test markers (p0.05). Results. The increased expression of apoptosis factors is probably related to high endometrial pro-inflammatory activity in both CE and EGE. For EGE, this effect is more pronounced at the transcription level in the form of an increase in the expression of the transcription factor NF-B in both glandular and stromal endometrial cells. It is probably due to the systemic nature of the chronic inflammatory process. For CE, despite the antiapoptotic activity of Bcl-2, an increase in Caspase-8 expression in the endometrium may also indicate a predominance of innate immunity activation. Conclusion. The imbalance of pro- and antiapoptotic factors can be an inducer of both cytotoxic and cytoprotective mechanisms of EGE and CE. However, it requires further research.

Keywords

• external genital endometriosis
• chronic endometritis
• immunohistochemistry
• apoptosis
• caspase-8
• transcription factor
• bcl-2