Inverse regulation of the interferon-gamma receptor and its signaling in human endometrial stromal cells during decidualization.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) express the interferon-gamma-receptor (IFN-gamma R) and whether the process of decidualization or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) regulate the IFN-gamma R and its signaling pathway.


METHODS
In vitro experiment.


METHODS
Research laboratory at a medical university center.


METHODS
Premenopausal women undergoing hysterectomy for benign reasons.


METHODS
Isolation and incubation of ESCs from hysterectomy specimens with 17beta-estradiol, progesterone, recombinant hCG, and IFN-gamma as well as an IFN-gamma R-blocking antibody.


METHODS
We analyzed IFN-gamma R and the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT-1) by flow cytometry. We measured IFN-gamma R and interferon response factor 1 (IRF-1) mRNA using semiquantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
The IFN-gamma R is up-regulated in human ESCs during decidualization without affecting the phosphorylation of STAT-1. Stimulation of IRF-1 by IFN-gamma is reduced in decidualized ESCs. We found that hCG neither regulates the IFN-gamma R nor its signaling pathway.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show an inverse regulation of the IFN-gamma R and its signaling response via STAT-1 and IRF-1 in human ESCs during decidualization. The early embryonic signal hCG has no effect on this process. This mechanism may finely modulate the reactivity of ESCs to IFN-gamma-mediated signals from immune cells at the implantation site.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Herbert
H
Fluhr
Kristina
K
Ramp
Stefanie
S
Krenzer
Peter
P
Licht
Marek
M
Zygmunt
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000502:physiology*; D003470:Culture Media; D017931:DNA Primers; D003656:Decidua / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1 / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000096743:Interferon gamma Receptor
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D003470:Culture Media; D017931:DNA Primers; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D000096743:Interferon gamma Receptor