Endothelin-1 gene expression and protein biosynthesis in human endometrium: potential modulator of endometrial blood flow.
We present evidence that endothelin-1 (ET-1) is produced by two distinct cell types (other than vascular endothelial cells) in human endometrial tissue. The supportive findings of this investigation are summarized as follows: 1) prepro-ET-1 mRNA is present in endometrial tissue and in separated endometrial stromal and glandular epithelial cells in culture; 2) immunoreactive ET is secreted into the medium of isolated endometrial stromal cells and glandular epithelium maintained in culture; and 3) the level of prepro-ET-1 mRNA in endometrial tissues obtained at the premenstrual-menstrual phase of the endometrial cycle is greater than that in tissues from the proliferative or early and midsecretory phases. We also found that transforming growth factor-beta and interleukin-1 alpha act to increase the levels of prepro-ET-1 mRNA in endometrial stroma cells in monolayer culture. We speculate that ET-1 derived from endometrial stromal cells may act on the adventitial surface of contiguous spiral arterioles of the endometrium to modulate endometrial blood flow.
Economos
K
K
Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235.
MacDonald
P C
PC
Casey
M L
ML
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004717:Endometrium / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019332:Endothelin-1; D016232:Endothelins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology
D019332:Endothelin-1; D016232:Endothelins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger