The primary study on role of placental protein 14 in pathogenesis of endometriosis

Objective To approach primarily the role of placental protein 14 (PP14) in the pathogenesis of endometriosis by detection of the PP14 levels in peritoneal fluid (PF) and serum, and PP14 expression in endometriotic lesions in women with endometriosis. Methods The levels of PP14 and CA125 in PF and serum from 75 women with ovarian endometriosis and 49 women without endometriosis were determined with ELISA, and PP14 expression in endometriotic lesions were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Results The concentrations of PP14 and CA125 in serum were both significantly higher in women with endometriosis than those in women without endometriosis (P0.05). After GnRHa therapy, the concentrations of PP14 and CA125 in serum were also significantly decreased in women with endometriosis (P0.05). However, the concentrations of PP14 or CA125 in PF did not show significant difference between women with and without endometriosis (P0.05). PP14 expression could be detected, respectively, in 84% of ovarian endometriotic lesions, in 6% of eutopic endometrial tissues of women with endometriosis, and in 5% of control endometrial tissues. Conclusion PP14 may play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, and may also be used as a marker for monitoring the therapeutic effects of the disease.