title: Neutrophils infiltrating the endometrium express vascular endothelial growth factor: potential role in endometrial angiogenesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify leukocytes within the human endometrium expressing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy volunteers in an academic research environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one normal cycling women without abnormal menstrual bleeding or infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endometrial tissue collection by Pipelle de Cornier aspiration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Histologic, immunohistochemical (CD3, CD34, CD56, CD68, neutrophil elastase, estrogen and P receptors, VEGF), and simultaneous double immunoenzymatic labeling analysis of VEGF-positive cells within the human endometrium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten endometrial samples were obtained in the proliferative (cycle days 5-10) and 11 samples in the secretory phase (cycle days 15-26). Immunohistochemical analyses showed the expected distribution of the different leukocyte cell types. Besides epithelial and stromal endometrial cells, the predominant cells that stained for VEGF were neutrophil granulocytes. Neutrophils were more abundant in the secretory phase but they expressed neither estrogen-a nor P receptors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neutrophil granulocytes infiltrating the human endometrium express VEGF and regulate cyclical endometrial vascular proliferation. Ovarian steroids indirectly influence neutrophil migration.
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Lebovic
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garrett
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000032:analysis; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D009504:Neutrophils; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule