Detection and synthesis of a progestagen-dependent protein in human endometrium.
Immunologiocal and biochemical methods were employed to demonstrate the presence of progestagen-dependent proteins in human endometrium. Cytosols were prepared from proliferative and secretory phase endometria of cycling women, from decidua and decidua-rich tissues of women in early pregnancy and from decidua of tubal pregnancy. Antisera were raised in rabbits against the antigens of decidua of tubal pregnancy and decidua-rich tissues. Immunoelectrophoresis, Ouchterlony's immunodiffusion test and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using native gels revealed 2 antigenic proteins, designated antigens A and B, in secretory endometria, decidua-rich tissues, decidua, and in decidua of tubal pregnancy. However, only 1 antigenic protein was detected by SDS-gel electrophoresis: antigens A and B may therefore be two different proteins or two forms of a single protein. The antigens could not be detected in non-pregnancy sera or in term placentae. Double isotopic labelling (incubation of tissues with [3H]- and [14C]leucine) followed by protein fractionation methods were used to compare the in-vitro synthesis rates of antigens in poroliferative tissues with those in decidua or secretory endometria. The rate of synthesis of antigens A and B was markedly higher in the decidua and secretory endometria than in the proliferative endometria. We conclude, therefore, that during progestagen-dependent transformation of proliferative phase endometria into secretory endometria and decidua in women, there is a selective stimulation of at least one species of pregnancy-associated protein.
D000328:Adult; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D008598:Menstruation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000941:Antigens; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins