Vitamin D binding protein plays an important role in the progression of endometriosis.

Endometriosis, characterized by the growth of the endometrial gland and stroma outside the uterine cavity, is a gynecological disorder affecting 6‑10% of women of reproductive age. However, the pathogenesis of endometriosis and the molecular mechanisms involved in the progression of this disease remain to be clarified. Therefore, in this study two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2‑DE) combined with mass spectrometry (MS) were applied to explore endometrial proteins with a role in the progression of endometriosis. Expression of global proteins in ectopic endometrial tissue (n=13; endometriosis group) was compared with that of the normal endometrial tissue (n=6; control group). Sixteen differently expressed proteins, including Vitamin D binding protein (DBP), with various functions were primarily identified in the ectopic endometrial tissue. DBP was confirmed to be significantly increased in the ectopic endometrial tissue compared with that in the normal endometrial tissue (P<0.05). Results of the present study therefore showed that DBP may play an important role in the progression of endometriosis.