The role of the anti-Müllerian hormone/anti-Müllerian hormone receptor type II signaling pathway in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium in patients with deep endometriosis: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aim. To analyze the profile of anti-Mllerian hormone (AMH) and the expression level of the transmembrane AMH receptor type II (AMHRII) in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of patients with deep infiltrative endometriosis (DIE). Materials and methods. A comparative analysis of AMHRII expression in epithelial and stromal cells of eutopic and ectopic endometrial samples and the level of serum AMH in patients of reproductive age with DIE (n=50) and tuboperitoneal infertility (n=9) was performed. Results. AMHRII expression in eutopic endometrial stromal cells of DIE patients was significantly higher compared to glandular cells in all study groups (p0.5). AMHRII expression was found to be significantly higher in glandular cells of the eutopic endometrium compared to the ectopic endometrium of pelvic peritoneal foci in DIE patients: 1.600.77 and 1.090.68 points, respectively (p=0.001). Conclusion. The inhibitory effect of AMH on cell proliferation and the proven expression of AMHRII by eutopic and ectopic endometrioid cells may indicate the role of AMH in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and endometriosis-associated infertility.

Keywords

• anti-müllerian hormone
• amhrii
• eutopic endometrium
• deep endometriosis
• infertility