title: Integrins alpha 3 and alpha 6 are differentially expressed in endometrium and endometriosis.
abstract: The expression of integrin subunits has been investigated in the stroma and epithelium of eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues, using immunohistochemistry and fluorescently activated cell-sorting techniques. Integrin subunits exhibited tissue-specific expression in both eutopic and ectopic endometrium. Integrin alpha 3 subunit was up-regulated in ectopic endometrium compared with the eutopic counterpart, whereas alpha 6 integrin subunit was down-regulated in the ectopic tissues. Cycle stage-dependent expression of alpha v and beta 3, observed in eutopic endometrium, was absent in the ectopic counterpart. It is concluded that the development and regeneration of the endometrium involve complex integrin-ligand interactions and that regulation of specific adhesive events is lost in endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX39DC, U.K.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hopkisson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bergqvist
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Barlow
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Mardon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004727:Endothelium / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins