Aberrant expression of Notch1umb/snail signaling, an epithelial mesenchymal transition related pathway, in adenomyosis

摘要

Background Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis, and Notch signaling is crucial to EMT. The objective of this study was to explore Notch1/Numb/Snail signaling in adenomyosis. Methods The expression levels of the members of the Notch1/Numb/Snail signaling cascade in normal endometria (proliferative phase: n?=?15; secretory phase: n?=?15; postmenopausal phase: n?=?15) and adenomyotic endometria (proliferative phase: n?=?15; secretory phase: n?=?15) were determined by immunohistochemistry analysis. Results We found that the expressions of Notch1 and the EMT-related proteins N-cadherin, Snail and Slug were upregulated in the ectopic endometrium of adenomyosis compared with normal endometrium. Numb, a negative regulator of Notch signaling, was significantly decreased in adenomyosis. In addition, reduced immunoexpression of E-cadherin was observed in adenomyosis. Conclusions We conclude that Notch1/Numb/Snail signaling plays an important role in the pathogenesis and development of adenomyosis.