Profiles of Insulin-like Growth Factor[IGF]s , their Binding Protein[IGFBP]s and  IGFBP-3 Protease Activity in Peritoneal Fluid of Patients with Endometriosis.

Kim, J K; Suh, C S; Kim, S H; Choi, Y M; Moon, S Y; Kang, S B; Lee, J Y

Original Article

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 1999;42(5):1011-1017.
Published online January 1, 2001.

Profiles of Insulin-like Growth Factor[IGF]s , their Binding Protein[IGFBP]s and IGFBP-3 Protease Activity in Peritoneal Fluid of Patients with Endometriosis.

J K Kim, C S Suh, S H Kim, Y M Choi, S Y Moon, S B Kang, J Y Lee

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To test if IGF[insulin-like growth factor] components in peritoneal fluid[PF] of patients with endometriosis may be involved in the growth of ectopic endometrium. METHODS: In peritoneal fluid[PF] obtained from 43 patients with endometriosis and 20 patients without endometriosis[control group] during late proliferative phase of menstrual cycle, the IGFs, IGF-binding protein[IGFBP]s and IGFBP-3 protease activity were analyzed by radioimmunoassay, western ligand blot and protease assay with 125I-labelled IGFBP-3 respectively. All statistics were performed by ANOVA test and student`s t-test. RESULTS: The IGF-I levels in PF were significantly higher[p<0.05] in patients with endometriosis than control group but no difference in IGF-II levels in PF was noted between two groups. The IGFBP-3 levels in PF were significantly lower[p<0.005] in patients with endometriosis compared with control group whereas IGFBP-2 levels in PF of patients with endometriosis did not show any difference. There was no significant difference in the IGFBP-3 protease activity between two groups. No correlation between these parameters in IGF system and the stage of endometriosis was noted. CONCLUSIONS: IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in PF may be a factor which promote growth of ectopic endometrium in pelvic endometriosis.

Key Words: Endometriosis, IGF components, Peritoneal fluid