EXPRESSION OF HEAT-SHOCK PROTEIN-70 KDA IN HUMAN ENDOMETRIUM OF NORMAL AND INFERTILE WOMEN

The expression of heat shock protein (hsp) 70 was investigated in endometrial samples from patients with unexplained infertility associated (n = 5) or not associated (n = 10) with endometriosis, and compared with a control group consisting of fertile women (n = 27) with reported menstrual disturbance. The expression of hsp, and in particular hsp 70, is up-regulated in response to many physico-biochemical insults as well as infection and possibly oncogenic transformation and is a good indicator of a biological system under stress. A significant over-expression of hsp 70 was found in the infertile groups (P < 0.001), suggesting that a stress response may be involved in the aetiology of unexplained infertility irrespective of the presence of endometriosis.