Gene expression profiling of human peri-implantation endometria between natural and stimulated cycles.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of high serum E(2) levels in gonadotropin-stimulated cycles (hCG+7) on the gene expression patterns of human endometrium compared with natural cycles on the seventh day of LH surge (LH+7) and elucidate the underlying molecular changes that may be related to endometrial receptivity.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
University Hospital.


METHODS
Infertile patients with normal menstrual cycles undergoing IVF treatment.


METHODS
Gonadotropin stimulation and endometrial biopsy.


METHODS
Gene expression by microarray and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).


RESULTS
Endometrial samples from natural (n = 5) and stimulated (n = 8) cycles were collected. Patients in the stimulated cycles were classified as moderate (n = 4) or excessive (n = 4) responders if their serum E(2) levels on the day of administration of hCG were <or=20,000 pmol/L or >20,000 pmol/L, respectively. The RNA transcripts were profiled by Affymetrix HG-U133A microarray. Clustering and principal component analysis demonstrated a significant difference (>or=2-fold) in the expression patterns of 411 genes among the three groups. Putative estrogen response elements or progesterone response elements were identified in the promoter regions of 49 differentially expressed genes of diverse biologic functions. The qPCR confirmed the microarray result in 47 endometrial samples.


CONCLUSIONS
High serum E(2) and/or progesterone modulate the gene expression profiles of human endometrium and may affect endometrial receptivity.
Liu
Yunao
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China.
Lee
Kai-Fai
KF
Ng
Ernest H Y
EH
Yeung
William S B
WS
Ho
Pak-Chung
PC
D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020218:Response Elements; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone