Expression of HOXA10 and HOXA11 in the endometrium of infertile patients with chronic endometritis.

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the impact of CE on the expression of HOXA10 and HOXA11 during the late proliferative phase in the endometrium of infertile women.

Methods: A prospective, translational cohort study was conducted in partnership with the Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro in Niterói and the Clínica Ginendo in Rio de Janeiro after approval by the Ethics Committee. The patients were selected to participate in the study after showing an indication for hysteroscopy. All participants were divided into three groups: infertile women with endometritis (n=10), infertile women without endometritis (n=17) and fertile women without endometritis (n=10). At hysteroscopy, two endometrial samples were obtaneid, with one sent for histopathological examination per the gynecologist's request and the other used for immunohistochemistry procedures to evaluate the expression of CD138, HOXA10 and HOXA11. CD138 was used to confirm the diagnosis of CE. The analysis of HOXA10 and HOXA11 was performed using the HScoring method for immunohistochemistry with polyclonal antibodies.

Results: Women with and without endometritis had lower HOXA10 and HOXA11 expression values than women in the control group (fertile women without endometritis).

Conclusions: The expression of HOXA10 and HOXA11 during the proliferative phase is not significantly different between infertile women with endometritis and infertile women without endometritis. Translational studies with a larger number of patients should be performed.