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Correlation between overexpression of transforming growth factor‐beta 1 in occluded fallopian tubes and postsurgical pregnancy among infertile women
Author(s) -
Li Zhengyu,
Sun Ying,
Min Wenjiao,
Zhang Dan
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2010.07.016
Subject(s) - medicine , transforming growth factor , pregnancy , infertility , correlation , ectopic pregnancy , immunohistochemistry , gynecology , transforming growth factor beta , obstetrics , andrology , endocrinology , genetics , geometry , mathematics , biology
Objective To compare the expression profiles of transforming growth factor‐beta 1 (TGF‐β1) and its receptors in occluded tubes of infertile women with those of control patients and to evaluate the potential correlation with postsurgical pregnancy outcome. Methods The expression profiles of TGF‐β1, TGF‐β1R1, and TGF‐β1R2 in occluded fallopian tubes were compared using immunohistochemistry between 60 infertile patients with adhered tubes and 60 control patients with normal tubes; potential correlations with postsurgical fertility were evaluated at 2‐year follow up. Results Immunostainings of TGF‐β1, TGF‐β1R1, and TGF‐β1R2 were all significantly elevated in patients with adhered tubes compared with normal specimens ( P < 0.001). In adhered specimens, correlation analyses showed positive correlations between TGF‐β1 and TGF‐β1R1 ( P = 0.008), and TGF‐β1 and TGF‐β1R2 ( P = 0.035). At 2‐year follow up, 32 of the 60 infertile women had achieved normal pregnancies, 5 had had ectopic pregnancies, and 23 remained infertile. Correlation analysis showed that TGF‐β1 expression level was negatively correlated with pregnancy outcome (r = –0.445, P < 0.001), independent of adhesion severity or patient age. Conclusion TGF‐β1 expression was independently correlated with the postsurgical pregnancy outcome among infertile women.