Expression of HOXA11 gene in human endometrium.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to examine HOXA11 gene expression in the human endometrium during normal menstrual cycle.


METHODS
Expression of HOXA11 was examined in the endometrium by in situ hybridization and semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
In the proliferative and early secretory endometrium, both glandular and stromal cells expressed HOXA11 after hybridization. It is interesting to note that the expression in glandular epithelium was dramatically decreased or disappeared in the midsecretory phase at the time of implantation. This expression patterning was kept in the late secretory endometrium and decidua of early pregnancy, whereas in stromal cells, a high-level expression was found and no variations were detected during the menstrual cycle. Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that total HOXA11 messenger RNA levels were markedly increased in the midsecreatory endometrium.


CONCLUSIONS
This study reveals a novel expression pattern for HOXA11 gene in human endometrium and the downregulation of HOXA11 in glandular epithelium may be necessary for the differentiation and receptivity of endometrium.
Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China. lifen_w@hotmail.com
Li Fen
LF
Wang
Hong Zhi
HZ
Luo
Zheng Mei
ZM
Zhu
Jie Dong
JD
Wang
D004717:Endometrium / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
C484298:HOXA11 protein, human; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger