Differences in gene expression in the proliferative human endometrium.
OBJECTIVE
To use microdissection and DNA microarray technology to demonstrate differences in gene expression between epithelial and stromal areas in the proliferative human endometrium.


METHODS
Pilot study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Patients with normal menstrual cycles and at least one previous intrauterine pregnancy.


METHODS
Uterine endometrial biopsy.


METHODS
Gene expression.


RESULTS
From a total of 1,200 genes, 14 were strongly expressed in epithelial areas and 12 were strongly expressed in stromal areas. Among the genes strongly expressed in the stroma, expressions of decorin and discoidin domain receptor were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Decorin was localized in the stromal areas by immunohistochemical staining. To confirm the effects of estrogen on gene expression, stromal cells were cultured. When E(2) was added to the culture media, expression of decorin mRNA was increased.


CONCLUSIONS
The data demonstrated in this study help to understand the physiology of human endometrium. Decorin was strongly expressed in the stromal areas and was regulated by estrogen, and therefore it may be involved in restoration of the endometrium.
Yanaihara
Atsushi
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8666, Japan. atsushi-y@med.showa-u.ac.jp
Otsuka
Yukiko
Y
Iwasaki
Shinji
S
Aida
Tadateru
T
Tachikawa
Tetsuhiko
T
Irie
Taro
T
Okai
Takashi
T
D000328:Adult; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D058575:Decorin; D000070818:Discoidin Domain Receptors; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D042282:Microdissection; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology
C546878:DCN protein, human; D058575:Decorin; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; D004958:Estradiol; D000070818:Discoidin Domain Receptors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases