The expression of fractalkine in the endometrium during the menstrual cycle.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to evaluate the presence of fractalkine in the endometrium of the uterus and the change of fractalkine protein levels during menstrual cycle.


METHODS
Twelve samples of endometrium of the uterus were obtained from gynecological patients who underwent total hysterectomy. Western blotting, RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed.


RESULTS
Fractalkine protein was detected in the endometrium of the uterus. Positive staining was confirmed in the epithelial cells and grandular cells in the endometrium. Expression levels of fractalkine protein and mRNA in the endometrium during secretory phase were significantly higher than those during proliferative phase. Immunohistochemical analysis using an anti-CX3CR1 antibody demonstrated positive staining in the glandular cells of the endometrium of the uterus.


CONCLUSIONS
Fractalkine was expressed in the endometrium and its production was up-regulated during secretory phase.
Watanabe
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita City, Osaka, Japan.
Shimoya
K
K
Zhang
Q
Q
Temma-Asano
K
K
Kimura
T
T
Murata
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015153:Blotting, Western; D000073883:CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1; D054428:Chemokine CX3CL1; D020523:Chemokines, CX3C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011336:Probability; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015415:Biomarkers; D000073883:CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1; C515538:CX3CL1 protein, human; C095235:CX3CR1 protein, human; D054428:Chemokine CX3CL1; D020523:Chemokines, CX3C; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine