Endometrial stromal cell proteomic analysis reveals LIM and SH3 protein I (LASPI) plays important roles in the progression of adenomyosis

Adenomyosis is one of the most common gynecological disorders that the molecular events underlying its pathogenesis remain not fully understood. Prior studies have shown that endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) played crucial roles in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis. In this study, we utilized two-dimensional gel electrophoresis combined with protein identification by mass spectrometry (2D/MS) proteomics analysis to compare the differential protein expression profile between the paired eutopic and ectopic ESCs (EuESCs and EcESCs) in adenomyosis, and a total of 32 significantly altered protein spots were identified. Among which, the expression of LIM and SH3 protein I (LASPI) was increased significantly in EcESCs compared to EuESCs. Immunohistochemical assay showed that LASPI was overexpressed in the stromal cells of ectopic endometriums compared to eutopic endometriums; further functional analyses revealed that LASPI overexpression could enhance cell proliferation, migration and invasion of EcESCs. Furthermore, we also showed that the dysregulated expression of LASPI in EcESCs was associated with DNA hypermethylation in the promoter region of the LASPI gene. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms of enhancing cell proliferation, invasion and migration caused by upregulated LASPI in adenomyosis needs further study. For the first time, our data suggested that LASPI plays important roles in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis, and could serve as a prognostic biomarker of adenomyosis.