title: Effect of levonorgestrel and mifepristone on endometrial receptivity markers in a three-dimensional human endometrial cell culture model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of levonorgestrel and mifepristone on the expression of endometrial receptivity markers in a three-dimensional endometrial construct.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital and research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve fertile donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Timed endometrial biopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Examine the effect of levonorgestrel along with another well-studied fertility-regulating drug, mifepristone, on the expression of endometrial receptivity factors in a three-dimensional stromal and epithelial cell coculture model by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both epithelial and stromal cells of in vitro endometrial construct showed the presence of estrogen receptor-alpha, estrogen receptor-beta, progesterone receptors-(A+B), vascular endothelial growth factor, leukemia inhibitory factor, interleukin-1 beta, and cyclooxygenase-2, whereas the expression of progesterone receptor-B (AR), integrin alpha(V)beta(3,) and MUC1 were confined to epithelial cells. Mifepristone up-regulated expression of epithelial estrogen receptor-beta and progesterone receptor-B and down-regulated stromal vascular endothelial growth factor and surface molecules MUC1 and integrin alpha(V)beta(3) as observed in vivo. Levonorgestrel had no effect on the expression of endometrial receptivity markers studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This in vitro model expresses progesterone-regulated endometrial receptivity factors seen in the physiologic condition. Treatment with levonorgestrel did not affect the expression of these endometrial receptivity markers in contrast to mifepristone. This in vitro model holds the potential to study endometrial receptivity, the embryo-endometrial interaction, and develop new agents for fertility control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman and Child Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet/Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Chun-Xia
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Karin Louise
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bentin-Ley
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gemzell-Danielsson
authors.forename: P G Luther
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Lalitkumar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D015735:Mifepristone; D016912:Levonorgestrel