title: Transcription factors Ets1, Ets2, and Elf1 exhibit differential localization in human endometrium across the menstrual cycle and alternate isoforms in cultured endometrial cells.
abstract: To better understand the transcriptional regulation of human endometrial remodeling, the localization of three members of the Ets family of transcription factors was examined at different stages of the menstrual cycle. Elf1 was found by immunohistochemistry to be predominantly localized to the glandular epithelium. In contrast, Ets1 and Ets2 were found at lower intensities in both glandular epithelial and stromal cells. Low expression during the menstrual phase of the cycle, and high expression and intensity of staining in decidualized stromal cells of the late secretory phase were common to Ets1, Ets2, and Elf1. These localization patterns were confirmed in cultured human endometrial stromal and epithelial cells by Western blotting, which also demonstrated different isoforms and phosphorylation products of Ets1 and Ets2 in the two cell types. This study has shown for the first time that members of the Ets family of transcription factors, previously found predominantly during development and in hematopoietic cells, are expressed in the human endometrium and display cell and cycle-stage specificity. Expression of Elf1 predominantly in the glandular epithelium may indicate that Elf1 plays a unique role in epithelium-specific gene regulation in the endometrium.
authors.affiliation: Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia Institute of Reproduction and Development, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. lynette.kilpatrick@med.monash.edu.au
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Kilpatrick
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kola
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Salamonsen
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D003656:Decidua / Q000737:chemistry; D004717:Endometrium / Q000737:chemistry*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1; D050787:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-2; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C113850:ELF1 protein, Eucalyptus globulus; C107465:ERF protein, human; C494041:ETS1 protein, human; C494069:ETS2 protein, human; D010940:Plant Proteins; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1; D050787:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-2; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors