Localization of interferon regulatory factor-1 in human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the expression and localization of IRF-1 in human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle.


METHODS
A comparative study.


METHODS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine.


METHODS
Thirty-eight women aged 33 to 46 years, with regular menstrual cycles and nonpathological endometrium, undergoing hysterectomy.


METHODS
Endometrial tissues were obtained from operative samples.


METHODS
Expression of IRF-1 mRNA throughout the menstrual cycle was investigated using semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Localization of IRF-1 protein was determined using immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
IRF-1 mRNA was expressed in the human endometrium at each phase of the menstrual cycle. The immunoreactivity for IRF-1 was observed in the extranuclear compartment of the surface and glandular epithelial cells, both during the proliferative and secretory phases, as well as in the gland secretion during the secretory phase. In contrast, stromal cells were nearly unstained.


CONCLUSIONS
IRF-1 was localized in the human endometrium, implying that this nuclear protein plays some role other than as a transcription factor.
Kitaya
K
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine., Kyoto, Japan. kitaya@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
Yasuda
J
J
Fushiki
S
S
Honjo
H
H
D000328:Adult; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C494257:IRF1 protein, human; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D019409:Interleukin-15; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors