Glycodelin is present in pinopodes of receptive-phase human endometrium and is associated with down-regulation of progesterone receptor B.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that glycodelin is localized on pinopodes and correlates with temporal immunostaining of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), LIF receptor (LIFR), and progesterone receptor B (PRB).


METHODS
Prospective clinical study.


METHODS
Hospital-based reproductive health unit and research laboratories.


METHODS
Twenty-five healthy fertile women with normal menstrual cycles.


METHODS
Endometrial biopsy specimens were obtained from healthy fertile women in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical staining of glycodelin, ultrastructural immunostaining of glycodelin, and double staining of glycodelin and PRB.


RESULTS
Glycodelin is present in the glands when pinopodes appear. Glycodelin is localized on pinopodes but is also secreted from luminal epithelial cells regardless of pinopode formation. There was a negative correlation between glycodelin secretion from the glands and PRB staining. A weak correlation between the presence of LIFR (but not LIF) and glycodelin was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Pinopode appearance, intense staining of LIFR in pinopodes and glycodelin staining in the glands are synchronized events. Down-regulation of PRB in the endometrium is concomitant with the presence of glycodelin in the endometrium, suggesting interaction.
Stavreus-Evers
Anneli
A
Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital-Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. anneli.stavreus-evers@ki.se
Mandelin
Erik
E
Koistinen
Riitta
R
Aghajanova
Lusine
L
Aghajnova
Lusine
L
Hovatta
Outi
O
Seppälä
Markku
M
D000328:Adult; D021961:Cell Membrane Structures / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D053680:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor alpha Subunit; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000378:metabolism*; D053606:Receptors, OSM-LIF; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; C507837:LIF protein, human; C507840:LIFR protein, human; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D053680:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor alpha Subunit; C045246:PAEP protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D053606:Receptors, OSM-LIF; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C097314:progesterone receptor B