To determine the differences of expression of Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-beta1 and TGF-beta2 in the human proliferative, secretory, menopausal endometrium, and in hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma of the endometrium.

Fifty patients were divided into 5 groups. Twenty samples were collected from patients with endometrial hyperplasia (n=l0) and adenocarcinoma(n=10) after hysterectomy. Thirty samples were collected from the normal menstrual cycle and the menopausal women as a control group. The histological types of endometrium were proliferative(n=10), secretory(n=10), menopausal(n=10). Immunohistochemical staining was performed through the use of monoclonal antibodies against anti-human TGF-beta1/ beta2 polycolonal IgG rabbit antibody. Expression of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 were judged positive when the staining revealed color development in 5% or more. Specimens were rated absent, trace, weak, moderate and intense. Then, they were scored 4 in case of intense positive for TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2, and '0' in case of absent for TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2.

Mean scores of TGF-beta1 in glandular cell were proliferative(1.0), secretory (2.3), menopausal endometrium(1.0), endometrial hyperplasia(0) and adenocarcinoma(0). Expression of TGF-beta2 in glandular cell were proliferative(3.8), secretory(3.3), menopausal endometrium(2.8), endometrial hyperplasia(0.3) and adenocarcinoma(0.3). No specific different expression of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 was found between stromal, vascular and myometrium. However, there was similar expression of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 in endometrial hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma gmup.

TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 may have important roles to suppress the development of the precancerous or cancerous lesions in endometrial glandular cells.