Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatments reduce aromatase and cyclooxygenase-2 in ovarian endometrioma and eutopic endometium in women with endometriosis / 대한산부인과학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether GnRH agonists reduce aromatase cytochrome P450 and cyclooxygenase-2 by direct action in the eutopic endometrium of endometriosis and ovarian endometrioma. METHODS: Endometrial specimens and endometriotic tissues were obtained from infertility women undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Biopsy samples of the endometrium were obtained before and after GnRH agonist therapy. The stromal cells of eutopic endometrium in women with endometroisis and ovarian endometrioma were cultured in the presence of GnRH agonist (leuprolide acetate 0, 1, 5, and 10 uM) for 24 hours. The expression of aromatase cytochrome P450 and COX-2 was examined by Western blot. RESULTS: Protein of aromatase cytochrome P450 and COX-2 were decreased in the eutopic endometrium of patients treated with GnRH agonist for 3 months. The stromal cells culture of endometrial explants and ovarian endometrioma with GnRH agonist reduced aromatase cytochrome P450 and COX-2. Phosphorylated ERK was decreased in endometriotic stromal cultures with GnRH agonist. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that GnRH agonist not only promoted a hypoestrogenic state but also reduced aromatase cytochrome P450 and COX-2 by direct action on eutopic endometrium in patients with endometriosis and ovarian endometrioma.