Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 expression in human corpus luteum.
Invasion of the corpus luteum by macrophages is a characteristic of luteal regression. Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), a chemokine that recruits macrophages, is expressed in the rat corpus luteum where it increases in amount during luteolysis. In this study we examined the temporal and spatial expression of MCP-1 and changes in macrophage concentration in the human corpus luteum. Corpora lutea (n = 39) were grouped according to menstrual cycle phase and were examined by immunohistochemistry for MCP-1 and macrophages, and by Northern blot for MCP-1 mRNA. We found increasing amounts of macrophages with progressing luteolysis (P < 0.001). Staining for MCP-1 was stronger in the regressing corpora lutea compared with the staining in corpora lutea of early luteal phase (P < 0.05). MCP-1 was more prominent in blood vessel walls surrounding the corpus luteum than in vessels located far from it. The mean MCP-1 mRNA expression in regressing corpora lutea was higher than that observed in corpora lutea of the early and mid-luteal phase (P = 0.003). In conclusion, we found that MCP-1 expression and the number of macrophages increase with regression of the corpus luteum. MCP-1 is mostly expressed in blood vessel walls surrounding the corpus luteum and may play a role in the recruitment of macrophages to the corpus luteum during its regression.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520-8063, USA.
L M
LM
Senturk
E
E
Seli
L S
LS
Gutierrez
G
G
Mor
H B
HB
Zeyneloglu
A
A
Arici
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002452:Cell Count; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D003341:Luteolysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D015342:DNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger