Expression of integrin messenger ribonucleic acid in human endometrium: a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the expression of selected integrin subunit's messenger RNA (mRNA) in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle.


METHODS
A prospective comparative study.


METHODS
Academic research environment.


METHODS
Premenopausal women with histologically normal endometrium who were undergoing hysterectomy.


METHODS
Endometrial tissues were collected.


RESULTS
Human endometrium expresses integrins alpha2, alpha3, alpha4, alpha5, alpha6.1, alpha6.2, alpha v, beta1, beta2, beta3, and beta5, as well as fibronectin mRNA. The levels of endometrial integrins mRNA expression varied significantly, with the lowest levels observed for alpha2, beta3, and fibronectin and the highest for alpha5, beta2, and beta5. The levels of integrins alpha2, alpha3, and alpha5 mRNA expression were significantly higher during the proliferative phase, whereas alpha4, alpha6.2, alpha v, beta1, beta2, beta3, beta5, and fibronectin were higher during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. The alpha6.1 mRNA was found to be equally expressed in the endometrium during the menstrual cycle, whereas the most dramatic changes occurred in alpha v and beta3 expression, compared with other integrin subunits.


CONCLUSIONS
Human endometrium expresses mRNA for several integrins and fibronectin, with up-regulation of alpha4, alpha v, beta1, and beta3 during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, suggesting that their differential expression may be regulated in part by ovarian steroids.
Dou
Q
Q
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
Williams
R S
RS
Chegini
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016023:Integrins / Q000235:genetics*; D016014:Linear Models; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction