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Relative Expression of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Receptor, Vitamin D 1α-Hydroxylase, Vitamin D 24-Hydroxylase, and Vitamin D 25-Hydroxylase in Endometriosis and Gynecologic Cancers

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Abstract

The authors demonstrate expression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and its hydroxylases in the endometrium and ovaries of women with and without endometriosis and endometrial or ovarian cancer. Immunohistochemistry showed strong staining of the VDR in endometriosis and endometrial cancer, with the most intense staining in epithelial cells. The VDR mRNA was significantly increased in patients with endometrial and ovarian cancer compared to the control group. There was a significantly higher 1 α -hydroxylase expression in the endometrium of patients with endometriosis compared to healthy controls. The observed differences in VDR and 1 α -hydroxylase mRNA levels were maintained at the protein level. The authors found no differences in 25-OH vitamin D levels between the serum of patients with endometriosis (25.7 ± 2.1 ng/mL, n = 46) and healthy controls (22.6 ± 2.0 ng/mL, n = 33, P =.31). They hypothesize that vitamin D might influence the local activity of immune cells and cytokines thought to play important pathogenic roles in the development and maintenance of endometriosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Schleswig-Holstein dDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Campus Lübeck, Ratzeburgerallee 160, 23538, Lübeck, Germany

    Admir Agic MD, Hong Xu MD, Christopher Altgassen MD, PhD, Klaus Diedrich MD, PhD, Michael Friedrich MD, PhD & Daniela Hornung MD, PhD

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany

    Frank Noack MD

  3. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Aachen, Germany

    Monika M. Wolfler MD

  4. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

    Robert N. Taylor MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Admir Agic MD
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  2. Hong Xu MD
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  3. Christopher Altgassen MD, PhD
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  4. Frank Noack MD
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  5. Monika M. Wolfler MD
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  6. Klaus Diedrich MD, PhD
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  7. Michael Friedrich MD, PhD
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  8. Robert N. Taylor MD, PhD
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  9. Daniela Hornung MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniela Hornung MD, PhD.

Additional information

The authors thank Constanze Siggel (real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot), Birte Jablonski (immunohistochemistry), Gudrun Pauch, and Prof Dr Olaf Hiort (25-OH vitamin D radioimmunoassay in blood) for their excellent technical assistance.The authors are also grateful to all the clinicians from the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Germany, and Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics,Aachen, Germany, for their collaboration in sample collection. This study would not have been possible without the generous contribution of all the women who have participated.

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Agic, A., Xu, H., Altgassen, C. et al. Relative Expression of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Receptor, Vitamin D 1α-Hydroxylase, Vitamin D 24-Hydroxylase, and Vitamin D 25-Hydroxylase in Endometriosis and Gynecologic Cancers. Reprod. Sci. 14, 486–497 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719107304565

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