Expression of syndecans, cell-cell interaction regulating heparan sulfate proteoglycans, within the human endometrium and their regulation throughout the menstrual cycle.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the expression of syndecan-1, -2, -3, and -4 in different phases of eutopic endometrium of normal cycling women.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
University-based research center for reproductive medicine.


METHODS
Twenty-nine healthy ovulatory volunteers.


METHODS
mRNA and protein expression of syndecan-1 to -4 in human endometrium.


METHODS
Real-time polymerase chain reaction of syndecan members and further characterization of mRNA expression of syndecan-1 and -4 with multiprobe RNase protection assays of epithelial and stromal cells after purification with antibody-coated magnetic beads. For confirmation of results, protein expression and localization using immunohistochemistry for syndecan-1 and -4 was performed.


RESULTS
All syndecans were expressed within human endometrium. Syndecan-1 and -4 proved to be significantly upregulated in whole endometrium during the secretory phase (2.73-fold and 2.85-fold, respectively). Using multiprobe RNase protection assays, a significant upregulation of mRNA was noted in epithelial cells during the secretory phase for both syndecan-1 and -4 (7.46-fold and 2.52-fold, respectively) and confirmed by immunohistochemistry.


CONCLUSIONS
Cycle-dependent expression of syndecan-1 and -4 suggests that these adhesion proteins are involved in the regulation of the cycling endometrium.
Germeyer
Ariane
A
Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. Ariane_Germeyer@med.uni-heidelberg.de <Ariane_Germeyer@med.uni-heidelberg.de>
Klinkert
Mei Syd
MS
Huppertz
Anne-Gälle
AG
Clausmeyer
Susanne
S
Popovici
Roxana Maria
RM
Strowitzki
Thomas
T
von Wolff
Michael
M
D000328:Adult; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D053668:Syndecan-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053669:Syndecan-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053670:Syndecan-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053671:Syndecan-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053667:Syndecans / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; C508241:SDC1 protein, human; C508245:SDC2 protein, human; C508301:SDC3 protein, human; C508304:SDC4 protein, human; D053668:Syndecan-1; D053670:Syndecan-3; D053671:Syndecan-4; D053667:Syndecans; D053669:Syndecan-2