title: Assessment of the proliferative status of epithelial cell types in the endometrium of young and menopausal transition women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We determined protein and mRNA expressions of markers of normal human endometrial proliferation and hypothesized that dysregulation of the endometrial response to estradiol (E(2)) and progesterone would be observed in the older menopausal transition (MT) women compared with mid-reproductive age (MRA) controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endometrial biopsies were prospectively obtained from MRA and MT non-randomized healthy volunteers during proliferative (+/- exogenous E(2)) and secretory (MRA only) menstrual cycle phases. mRNA and/or nuclear protein expressions of proliferative markers (MKI67, PCNA and MCM2), cell-cycle regulators (cyclins A1, E1 and D1 and cyclin dependent kinase Inhibitor B; CCNA1, CCNE1, CCND1 and CDKN1B) and sex-steroid receptors [estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR)] were assessed in endometrial lumen, gland and stroma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MRA women had significantly higher proliferative than secretory expression of MKI67, PCNA, MCM2, CCNA1, CCNE1, ESR1 and PGR in lumen and gland (minimal stromal changes), whereas CDKN1B protein expression was higher during the secretory phase. E(2)-treatment of MT women led to relatively less MKI67 glandular protein expression compared with MRA women; no other age-related differences were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the MT does not appear to alter the proliferative cell phenotype of endometrial epithelium and stroma, the data suggest that prior to the MT, age is associated with a decrease in some proliferative markers and steroid receptor expression status within different endometrial cell types.
authors: Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
authors: Andrea L
authors: AL
authors: Niklaus
authors: Mira
authors: M
authors: Aubuchon
authors: Gregory
authors: G
authors: Zapantis
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Li
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Qian
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Isaac
authors: Mimi Y
authors: MY
authors: Kim
authors: Goli
authors: G
authors: Adel
authors: Jeffrey W
authors: JW
authors: Pollard
authors: Nanette F
authors: NF
authors: Santoro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004717:Endometrium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011987:Receptors, Steroid