Detection of mitochondrial biomarkers in eutopic endometria of endometriosis using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Objectives: To detect specific mitochondrial proteins in eutopic endometrial samples from women with and without endometriosis and to build diagnostic models.

Design: Eutopic endometrial samples from women with endometriosis (excluding adenomyosis) and women with benign indications as control were studied by using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry protein-chip technology. After finding the biomarkers, the diagnostic model was evaluated and validated by leave-one cross-validation.

Setting: Collaborative investigation in an academic research environment.

Patient(s): Twenty-four patients with endometriosis (excluding adenomyosis) and 29 patients with benign indications as control.

Intervention(s): Surgical excision of eutopic endometrial biopsy of patients with endometriosis and controls.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Mitochondrial protein expression.

Result(s): Seventy-eight qualified mitochondrial protein peaks were detected, ten of them had a significant difference. Three combined potential biomarkers, with mass-to-charge ratios (m/z) of 15,334, 15,128, and 16,069, were found, and the diagnostic system distinguished endometriosis from control samples with a specificity of 86.2% and a sensitivity of 87.5%.

Conclusion(s): We discovered potential mitochondrial biomarkers of eutopic endometrium in endometriosis and set up a diagnostic model. Further identification of the proteins we found will help to explain pathology, new diagnoses, and therapeutic approaches for endometriosis.