Gene expression and immunolocalization of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor and human epidermal growth factor receptors in human corpus luteum.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to elucidate gene expression and immunolocalization of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family in the human ovary during luteal growth and regression.


METHODS
Ovaries obtained from pre-menopausal women were used for immunohistochemistry and semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis.


RESULTS
Immunoreactive HB-EGF was not detected in follicles or oocyte, while HB-EGF became apparent in granulosa luteal cells in the early luteal phase, and most abundant in the mid-luteal phase, but less abundant in the late luteal phase. Immunostaining for HER1 was very weak in granulosa luteal cells in the early and mid-luteal phases, and was not detected in the late luteal phase. Immunoreactive HER4 was abundant in the early luteal phase and became less abundant in the mid-luteal phase, whereas it was negative in the late luteal phase. Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that HB-EGF and HER1 mRNA levels were high in the mid-luteal phase, whereas HER4 mRNA expression was high in the early luteal phase.


CONCLUSIONS
HB-EGF may play a vital role in regulating luteal growth in a juxtacrine manner and through activating HER4 signalling.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Chuo-Ku, Japan.
Yuki
Y
Akayama
Shigeki
S
Takekida
Noriyuki
N
Ohara
Hisashi
H
Tateiwa
Wei
W
Chen
Koji
K
Nakabayashi
Takeshi
T
Maruo
D000328:Adult; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000378:metabolism*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008183:Luteal Phase; D015233:Models, Statistical; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017697:Premenopause; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors
C587883:HBEGF protein, human; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; C587689:ERBB4 protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4