Endometrial biopsy-induced gene modulation: first evidence for the expression of bladder-transmembranal uroplakin Ib in human endometrium.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the possibility that endometrial injury modulates the expression of specific genes that may increase uterine receptivity.


METHODS
Controlled clinical study.


METHODS
Clinical IVF unit and academic research center.


METHODS
IVF patients with 28- to 30-day menstrual cycles.


METHODS
Endometrial biopsies from two groups of patients were collected on days 20-21 of their spontaneous menstrual cycle. The experimental, but not the control, group underwent biopsies on days 11-13 and 21-24 of their preceding cycle.


METHODS
Global endometrial gene expression and specific analysis of uroplakin Ib (UPIb) mRNA level throughout the menstrual cycle.


RESULTS
Local injury modulated the expression of a wide variety of genes. One of the prominently up-regulated genes was the bladder transmembranal protein, UPIb, whose expression by the endometrium is shown here for the first time. Endometrial UPIb mRNA increases after biopsy in the same cycle wct 2with an additional elevation in the following cycle. Immunohistochemical analysis localized the UPIb protein to the glandular-epithelial cells. Genes encoding other membrane proteins such as adipose differentiation-related protein and mucin 1, transmembrane, were also up-regulated.


CONCLUSIONS
The biopsy-induced increase in the expression of UPIb and other genes encoding membrane proteins supports the possible importance of the membrane structure and stability during implantation. The specific role of UPIb in uterine receptivity should be elucidated.
Kalma
Yael
Y
Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
Granot
Irit
I
Gnainsky
Yulia
Y
Or
Yuval
Y
Czernobilsky
Bernard
B
Dekel
Nava
N
Barash
Amihai
A
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000235:genetics; D004717:Endometrium / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000378:metabolism; D060169:Uroplakin Ib
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C086452:UPK1B protein, human; D060169:Uroplakin Ib