Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression in human endometrium: implications for long term progestin only contraception.
BACKGROUND
Neutrophils infiltrate the endometrium pre-menstrually and after long-term progestin only-contraceptive (LTPOC) treatment. Trafficking of neutrophils involves endothelial cell-expressed intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1). Previous studies observed that ICAM-1 was immunolocalized to the endothelium of endometrial specimens across the menstrual cycle, but disagreed as to whether extra-endothelial cell types express ICAM-1 and whether ICAM-1 expression varies across the menstrual cycle.


METHODS
Endometrial biopsies were obtained from women across the menstrual cycle and from those on LTPOC treatment (either Mirena or Norplant). The biopsies were formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded with subsequent immunohistochemical staining for ICAM-1.


RESULTS
The current study found prominent ICAM-1 staining in the endometrial endothelium that was of equivalent intensity in different blood vessel types irrespective of the steroidal or inflammatory endometrial milieu across the menstrual cycle and during LTPOC therapy. Unlike the endothelial cells, the glands were negative and the stromal cells were weakly positive for ICAM immunostaining.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the current study suggest that altered expression of ICAM-1 by endothelial cells does not account for the influx of neutrophils into the premenstrual and LTPOC-derived endometrium. Such neutrophil infiltration may depend on altered expression of neutrophil chemoattractants.
Schatz
Frederick
F
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. frederick.schatz@yale.edu
Krikun
Graciela
G
Baergen
Rebecca N
RN
Critchley
Hilary O D
HO
Kuczynski
Edward
E
Lockwood
Charles J
CJ
D000328:Adult; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004343:Drug Implants; D004717:Endometrium / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008875:Middle Aged; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration / Q000187:drug effects
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D004343:Drug Implants; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D016912:Levonorgestrel