Endometrial mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinases, their tissue inhibitors and cell adhesion molecules in unexplained infertility and implantation failure patients.
The aim of this study was to analyse whether some cases of unexplained infertility and implantation failure after IVF could be explained by different expression levels of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, 9), their tissue inhibitors (TIMP-2, 3) and intercellular (ICAM-1) and vascular (VCAM-1) adhesion molecules in endothelial cells. Total RNA was extracted from the endometrial tissues of 41 women (unexplained infertile, group 1, n = 15; fertile volunteers, group 2, n = 15 and patients with implantation failure after IVF, group 3, n = 11). MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-2, TIMP-3, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNA expression levels were measured quantitatively using real-time polymerase chain reaction. In the endometrium from women with unexplained infertility and implantation failure after IVF, MMP-2 and TIMP-3 expression were significantly decreased when compared with the fertile group (P < 0.05 and P </= 0.001 respectively). In addition, a marked decrease was observed in the expression of VCAM-1 in women with unexplained infertility. These results suggest that the expression of gelatinase A (MMP-2), TIMP-3 and VCAM-1, at least at the transcriptional level, might be regulated by common factors and signalling pathways. The present study adds new and important data in this field and highlights the complex preparation of the endometrium for implantation at the molecular level.
Konac
Ece
E
Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Gazi University, 06500 Besevler, Ankara, Turkey. ecemercanoglu@yahoo.com
Alp
Ebru
E
Onen
Hacer Ilke
HI
Korucuoglu
Umit
U
Biri
Aydan Asyali
AA
Menevse
Sevda
S
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000235:genetics; D020964:Embryo Loss / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017211:Treatment Failure
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases