Fluctuation of 6Ckine expression in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the expression of 6Ckine, a potential chemoattractant for endometrial natural killer (NK) cells, in the human endometrium.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
Department of obstetrics and gynecology at a medical university.


METHODS
Fifty-seven fertile women 25 to 52 years of age who had regular menstrual cycles and normal endometrium and were undergoing hysterectomy.


METHODS
Endometrium was obtained from operative samples.


METHODS
Tissue was immunostained to determine the localization of 6Ckine in the endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle. The number of NK cells was counted in 10 nonoverlapping stromal areas. The concentration of 6Ckine in homogenized endometrium was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
Endometrial surface, glandular epithelial cells, and perivascular stromal cells were immunoreactive for 6Ckine throughout the menstrual cycle with some fluctuation. In addition, some T cells, NK cells, and macrophages in the stroma were immunoreactive for 6Ckine. The 6Ckine concentration was low in the proliferative phase but elevated in the secretory phase. It showed a moderate positive correlation with the number of endometrial NK cells.


CONCLUSIONS
6Ckine may be a potential chemoattractant for endometrial NK cells.
Nakayama
Takeshi
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
Kitaya
Kotaro
K
Okubo
Tomoharu
T
Kuroboshi
Haruo
H
Daikoku
Nobue
N
Fushiki
Shinji
S
Honjo
Hideo
H
D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis*; D054421:Chemokine CCL21; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000032:analysis*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; C515478:CCL21 protein, human; D054421:Chemokine CCL21; D019742:Chemokines, CC