Implications of the presence of WNT4 gene polymorphisms in infertile women and correlation with the risk of endometriosis development and progression

• Grant number: 13/14470-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2014
• End date: April 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Denise Maria Christofolini
• Grantee: Denise Maria Christofolini
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC (FMABC). Organização Social de Saúde. Fundação do ABC. Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Bianca Alves Vieira Bianco ; Caio Parente Barbosa

Abstract

Endometriosis is a condition in which steroid-dependent tissue histologically similar to the endometrium with glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity increases may cause pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and infertility. It is estimated that approximately 10-15% of women of reproductive period and 50% of women with fertility problems have this disease.Many theories have been proposed to explain the establishment and development of endometriosis, a disease that is considered polygenic / multifactorial.Some jobs associated endometriosis the WNT4 gene, known for the important role in the development of the female genital tract, where the Müllerian ducts differentiate into oviduct and uterus. Studies show that WNT4 is expressed in the peritoneum normal suggests that endometriosis could arise through metaplasia using the same pathways involved in the development of the female genital tract. To date, efforts evaluated patients of Japanese ancestry and European (and Australian English). However, there is no study that evaluated the polymorphisms associated with the WNT4 gene in Brazilian population. Thus, the aim of this study is the evaluation of four polymorphisms associated with WNT4 gene in women with endometriosis in order to enable a better understanding of the genetic factors that lead to the development of endometriosis, its progression and association with pain and infertility. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MAFRA, FERNANDA; CATTO, MICHELE; BIANCO, BIANCA; BARBOSA, CAIO PARENTE; CHRISTOFOLINI, DENISE. Association of WNT4 polymorphisms with endometriosis in infertile patients. JOURNAL OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION AND GENETICS, v. 32, n. 9, p. 1359-1364, SEP 2015. (13/14470-9, 12/22394-8)