title: No evidence of association of MUC-1 genetic polymorphism with embryo implantation failure.
abstract: Pregnancy loss can be caused by several factors involved in human reproduction. Although up to 50% of cases remain unexplained, it has been postulated that the major cause of failed pregnancy is an error of embryo implantation. Transmembrane mucin-1 (MUC-1) is a glycoprotein expressed on the endometrial cell surface which acts as a barrier to implantation. The gene that codes for this molecule is composed of a polymorphic tandem repeat of 60 nucleotides. Our objective was to determine if MUC-1 genetic polymorphism is associated with implantation failure in patients with a history of recurrent abortion. The study was conducted on 10 women aged 25 to 35 years with no history of successful pregnancy and with a diagnosis of infertility. The control group consisted of 32 patients aged 25 to 35 years who had delivered at least two full-term live children and who had no history of abortions or fetal losses. MUC-1 amplicons were obtained by PCR and observed on agarose and polyacrylamide gel after electrophoresis. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in the number of MUC-1 variable number of tandem repeats between these groups (P > 0.05). Our results suggest that there is no effect of the polymorphic MUC-1 sequence on the implantation failure. However, the data do not exclude MUC-1 relevance during embryo implantation. The process is related to several associated factors such as the mechanisms of gene expression in the uterus, specific MUC-1 post-translational modifications and appropriate interactions with other molecules during embryo implantation.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Dentillo
authors.forename: F R P
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meola
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: M E H D
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Yazlle
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Goulart
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martelli
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000235:genetics*; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D018396:Mucin-1