Endometrial integrin expression is independent of estrogen or progestin treatment in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the regulation of endometrial integrin expression by estrogens and progestins in vitro.


METHODS
Immunocytochemical study.


METHODS
Academic research unit.


METHODS
Twenty-five regularly cycling women without endometrial pathology, of whom seven had endometriosis.


METHODS
Endometrial cells obtained by aspiration curettage were treated with diethylstilbestrol, promegestone, and antiprogestin. Immunocytochemistry was performed with antibodies directed against integrins alpha 1 beta 1, alpha 2 beta 1, alpha 4 beta 1, alpha 5 beta 1, alpha v beta 3, and beta 3 integrin subunit.


METHODS
Semiquantitative staining score.


RESULTS
Endometrial cells express several integrins in vitro in a consistent and cell specific pattern. Neither differences between treated and untreated cells nor an effect of treatment duration or dosage were observed. Cells from patients with and without endometriosis showed similar patterns.


CONCLUSIONS
The cellular distribution of integrin expression was similar to that described in vivo. In contrast, a steroid regulated expression could not be detected in vitro. Rather, a derepression by a factor not included in our model could be responsible for the cyclic appearance of some integrins. In endometriosis, no fundamental difference of integrin expression was detected.
Sillem
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ruprecht-Karls-Universitaet, Heidelberg, Germany.
Prifti
S
S
Schmidt
M
M
Rabe
T
T
Runnebaum
B
B
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D039222:Integrin alpha1beta1; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D016023:Integrins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011372:Progestins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011397:Promegestone / Q000494:pharmacology; D038981:Receptors, Collagen; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin / Q000032:analysis; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / Q000032:analysis; D019030:Receptors, Vitronectin / Q000032:analysis
D004967:Estrogens; D039222:Integrin alpha1beta1; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D016023:Integrins; D011372:Progestins; D038981:Receptors, Collagen; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing; D019030:Receptors, Vitronectin; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; D011397:Promegestone