Expression and significance of elastin and fibulin-5 in anterior vaginal tissue of women with pelvic organ prolapse / 中华妇产科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of elastin and fibulin-5 in anterior vaginal tissue of women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Methods Between November 2006 and June 2008, 68 patients with POP underwent surgical treatment in Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University were enrolled in this study, who were classified into 10 patients with grade Ⅰ , 21 patients with grade Ⅱ , 25 patients with grade Ⅲ and 12 patients with grade Ⅳ in accordance with pelvic organ prolapse quantitation (POP-Q). Meanwhile, 18 cases with early cervical cancer at stage of Ⅰ b were treated by total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, their anterior vaginal tissues were selected as controls. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of elastin and fibulin-5. Results (1 ) Elastin and fibulin-5 were mainly expressed at extracellular matrix(ECM). (2)The positive rate of fibulin-5 expression in anterior vaginal wall were 5% (2/37 ) in grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ and 26% (8/31 ) in grade Ⅰ/Ⅱ POP patients, which reached statistical difference (P = 0. 035). However, no statistical different expression was found between postmenopausal (13%, 8/60) and non-menopausal patients (2/8), vaginal delivery ≤ 2 (19%, 5/27 ) and ＞ 2 patients (12%, 5/41, P ＞ 0. 05 ). (3 ) The positive rate of elastin expression in anterior vaginal wall in POP group was 31% (21/68), which was significantly lower than 72% (13/18) of control group (P = 0. 002). Among POP group, 19% (7/37) of elastin expression in grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ POP was significantly lower than 45% (14/31 ) in grade Ⅰ/Ⅱ of POP patients. However, no statistical difference was found between postmenopausal (30%, 18/60 ) and non-menopausal patients (3/8 ), vaginal delivery ≤ 2 (26%, 7/27) and ＞2 patients(34%, 14/41, P＞0. 05). (4)In POP group, both positive expression of fibulin-5 and elastin of anterior vaginal wall was in 6 cases, both negative expression of fibulin-5 and elastin was in 43 cases. It was illustrated that elastin and fibulin-5 had an positive relationship (P = 0. 031 ). Conclusion The decreased expression of elastin and fibolin-5 was correlated with degree of POP, which indicated that elastin and fibulin-5 may play a role in the pathogenesis of POP.