title: Human fallopian tube epithelium constitutively expresses integrin endometrial receptivity markers: no evidence for a tubal implantation window.
abstract: Understanding of ectopic implantation within the Fallopian tube (FT) is limited. In the human uterus, the putative 'window of implantation' in the mid-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle is accompanied by increased endometrial epithelial expression of the integrins α(1)β(1), α(4)β(1) and α(v)β(3) and its ligand osteopontin. Similar cyclical changes in FT integrin expression have been proposed to contribute to ectopic implantation, but supporting data are limited. In the current study, we present quantitative data on human FT transcription and translation of the integrin subunits α(1), α(4), α(V), β(1) and β(3) during the follicular and mid-luteal phases of the menstrual cycle, together with a supporting immuocytochemical analysis of their spatial distribution within the FT, and that of osteopontin. In contrast to previous studies, our data indicate that all five integrin receptivity markers are constitutively transcribed and translated in the FT, with no evidence for changes in their expression or distribution during the window of implantation in the mid-luteal phase of the cycle. Furthermore, we could find no evidence for cyclic redistribution of the integrin α(v)β(3) ligand osteopontin within the FT. Although we do not rule out the involvement of integrin endometrial receptivity markers in the establishment of ectopic pregnancy, our findings do not support their differential expression during a tubal implantation window.
authors: MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.
authors: J K
authors: JK
authors: Brown
authors: J L V
authors: JL
authors: Shaw
authors: H O D
authors: HO
authors: Critchley
authors: A W
authors: AW
authors: Horne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000235:genetics; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D039222:Integrin alpha1beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D039441:Integrin alpha4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D039302:Integrin alphaVbeta3; D016023:Integrins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D038981:Receptors, Collagen; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D039222:Integrin alpha1beta1; D039302:Integrin alphaVbeta3; D016023:Integrins; D038981:Receptors, Collagen; C467800:integrin alpha11beta1; D053495:Osteopontin; D039441:Integrin alpha4