Serum differential proteomic analysis of endometriosis and adenomyosis by iTRAQ technique.

OBJECTIVE(S): Adenomyosis and endometriosis are two different diseases, although they have similar pathogenesis and characteristic. The serum differential expressed proteins in adenomyosis and endometriosis may result from the different pathogenesis of two diseases. Proteomic technology is a useful method for detecting all the proteins in samples. We try to use isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) technology to explore the association between the potential pathogenesis of these two diseases and these identified proteins. STUDY DESIGN: The serum samples from 20 patients with adenomyosis and from 20 patients with endometriosis were analyzed using iTRAQ technology to detect the differential expression of proteins. The validation of the proteins was performed using Western blot. RESULTS: In the serum of women with adenomyosis and with endometriosis, 14 proteins were found differentially expressed using iTRAQ technology. Nine proteins were high-expression in adenomyosis group and four proteins increased in endometriosis group. And the differential expression proteins were validated by Western blot. CONCLUSION(S): The proteins increased in adenomyosis group are related to blood coagulation and complement activation effects, and the proteins high-expression in endometriosis mainly take part in the process of inflammatory response and regulation of apoptosis. The differentially expressed proteins in two groups may due to the different pathogenesis of two diseases.

Comparative serum proteomic analysis of adenomyosis using the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation technique.

OBJECTIVE: To identify differentially expressed proteins from the serum of women with and without adenomyosis and to explore the potential pathogenesis of adenomyosis. DESIGN: Serum samples from patients with adenomyosis were compared with samples from healthy controls. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): Twenty patients with adenomyosis and 20 healthy volunteers. INTERVENTION(S): Collection of serum samples. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Protein expression of serum was evaluated with iTRAQ (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation) technology, and the validation of protein was performed with Western blot. RESULT(S): A total of 167 proteins were identified from 1,406 distinct peptides using iTRAQ technology. Twenty-five proteins were abnormally expressed in adenomyosis patients compared with the control group; 4 of these proteins were significantly down-regulated and 21 were significantly up-regulated in women with adenomyosis. Western blotting was used to validate the relative increases in serum protein levels for three of the identified proteins. CONCLUSION(S): The differentially expressed proteins identified in our study are mainly involved in cell adhesion, the immune response, and the inflammatory response. On the basis of the results of this study, it can be concluded that these mechanisms may play an important role in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis. Additionally, these proteins may provide clues for not only a promising biomarker for the diagnosis of adenomyosis but also a potential target for therapeutic intervention.