Thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor and thyroid hormone receptors are involved in human endometrial physiology.
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression, distribution, and function of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) and thyroid hormone receptors (TR) α1, α2, and β1 in human endometrium.


METHODS
Experimental clinical study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
31 fertile women.


METHODS
Endometrial biopsy samples obtained throughout the menstrual cycle.


METHODS
Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry and Western blot to study the expression of TSHR, TRα1, TRα2, and TRβ1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and proteins in human endometrium.


RESULTS
We found TSHR, TRα1, TRα2 and TRβ1 mRNA and proteins expressed in human endometrium. Immunostaining for TSHR in the luminal epithelium and TRα1 and β1 in the glandular and luminal epithelium increased statistically significantly on luteinizing hormone (LH) days 6 to 9, coinciding with appearance of pinopodes. Endometrial stromal and Ishikawa cells expressed mRNA for TSHR, TR, and iodothyronine deiodinases 1-3. After 48 hours, TSH significantly increased leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and LIF receptor (LIFR) messenger RNA (mRNA) in endometrial stromal cells, but decreased their expression in Ishikawa cells. Glucose transporter 1 mRNA was up-regulated by TSH in Ishikawa cells. We found that TSH statistically significantly increased secretion of free triiodothyronine (T3) and total thyroxin (T4) by Ishikawa cells compared with nonstimulated cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Thyroid hormones are directly involved in endometrial physiology.
Aghajanova
Lusine
L
Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. aghajanova@yahoo.com
Stavreus-Evers
Anneli
A
Lindeberg
Maria
M
Landgren
Britt-Marie
BM
Sparre
Lottie Skjöldebrand
LS
Hovatta
Outi
O
D001706:Biopsy; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor / Q000235:genetics; D053680:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D037021:Thyroid Hormone Receptors alpha / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D037042:Thyroid Hormone Receptors beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; C507837:LIF protein, human; C507840:LIFR protein, human; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D053680:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor alpha Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin; C495677:SLC2A1 protein, human; C108944:SOCS1 protein, human; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D037021:Thyroid Hormone Receptors alpha; D037042:Thyroid Hormone Receptors beta