title: Immunocytochemical localization and expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in the human corpus luteum.
abstract: We have previously shown that the protein connexin-43 which forms the connexons in gap junctions is present in the human corpus luteum. Abundant expression of connexin-43 is seen in the mid-luteal phase corpora lutea. Since the formation of gap junctions in a tissue requires the presence of adherens junctions formed by the cadherins, our aim in these studies was firstly to localize immunocytochemically E-cadherin and beta-catenin (a cytoplasmic protein associated with E-cadherin) in the human corpus luteum, and secondly to determine the concentrations of these proteins in the early, mid- and late luteal phase human corpora lutea. E-cadherin was localized to the periphery of luteal cells and was not detected in non-luteal tissue. beta-catenin was observed in the cytoplasm of the luteal cells. Abundant expression of E-cadherin was observed by Western analysis in the early luteal phase and the level of expression was significantly different from that observed in the mid- and late luteal phase corpora lutea. In contrast the concentrations of beta-catenin were higher in the mid-luteal phase compared to the early luteal phase. The differential expression of the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin suggests that it may play a significant role in cell-to-cell communication in the corpus luteum, and in the cyclic development and demise of this tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Texas Medical School at Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Khan-Dawood
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Dawood
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002450:Cell Communication; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin