Expression of Steroidogenic Factor 1 (SF-1) and Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR) in Endometriosis is Associated with Endometriosis Severity
Free accessResearch articleFirst published online October, 2009
Expression of Steroidogenic Factor 1 (SF-1) and Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR) in Endometriosis is Associated with Endometriosis Severity
This study was designed to investigate the levels of expression of steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) in endometriosis, and to explore the association between these two factors and the menstrual cycle and the severity of endometriosis. Levels of SF-1 and StAR protein were evaluated using immunohistochemistry in 38 cases of endometriosis with ectopic endometria and in 25 normal endometria (controls). The SF-1 and StAR protein levels were significantly higher in ectopic endometria than in normal endometria. There was a significant correlation between the level of SF-1 and StAR in ectopic endometriotic tissues. It is concluded that protein levels of SF-1 and StAR are upregulated in ectopic endometria and are significantly correlated with the severity of endometriosis.
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