Induction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the endometrium by chronic endometritis in infertile patients
Fig 2
Results of the immunohistochemical analysis of the specimens.
(A) Endometrium diagnosed with chronic endometritis. The infiltration of CD138-positive plasma cells was detected in the stromal area of the endometrium by immunohistochemistry. (B) Endometrium diagnosed with non-chronic endometritis. No plasma cells were detected in the stromal area of the endometrium by immunohistochemistry for CD138. (C) Endometrium without CD138 antibody staining. No staining was detected in the endometrium. (D) Endometrium without a loss of E-cadherin. The expression of E-cadherin was detected in all the glandular cells in endometrial specimens. (E) Endometrium with a loss of E-cadherin. A cluster of endometrial glandular cells without E-cadherin staining was observed (arrows). When such a finding was detected, it was judged as a loss of E-cadherin. (F) Endometrium stained without E-cadherin antibodies. No staining was detected in the endometrium. (G) Endometrium without N-cadherin expression. The expression of N-cadherin was not detected in the glandular cells in endometrial specimens. (H) Endometrium with N-cadherin expression. Gain of N-cadherin staining was present in part of the endometrial glandular cells. When positive staining was observed, it was judged as a gain of N-cadherin expression. (I) Endometrium stained without N-cadherin antibodies. No staining was detected in the endometrium. (J) Endometrium without the expression of Slug. Slug was not expressed in the stromal cells of the endometrium. (K) Endometrium with the expression of Slug. Slug was expressed in the nuclei of endometrial stromal cells. When positive staining was observed, it was judged as Slug-positive. (L) Endometrium stained without Slug antibodies detected in the endometrium. (M) Endometrium without expression of Snail. The expression of Snail was not noted in the glandular cells of the endometrium. (N) Endometrium with the expression of Snail. The cytoplasmic expression of Snail was noted in the glandular cells of the endometrium. When positive staining was observed, it was judged as Snail-positive. (O) Endometrium stained without Slug antibodies. No staining was detected in the endometrium. Scale bar represents 50 μm.