title: Fas ligand(+) fallopian tube epithelium induces apoptosis in both Fas receptor(+) T lymphocytes and endometrial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish whether human fallopian tube (FT) epithelium can induce apoptosis in T lymphocytes and endometrial cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy for FT samples, and women volunteers with and without endometriosis for endometrial biopsies.
  
  
  METHODS
  FT samples obtained at time of surgery performed in reproductive-aged women with normal menstrual cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  T lymphocytes or endometrial cells coincubated with FT epithelial cells and assayed for apoptosis by DNA nick-end labeling and caspase-3 activity, with the presence of Fas ligand (FasL) and Fas receptor (FasR) assessed by indirect immunostaining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The epithelium of the FT-induced apoptosis in T cells as well as in human endometrial cells. The mechanism probably involves the FasL/FasR system; accordingly, we observed FasL at the apical surface of the epithelium and in the stroma of the FT at all phases of the menstrual cycle except during the early proliferative phase. The endometrial samples from patients with endometriosis did not express FasR and were resistant to apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In both FasR(+) T lymphocytes and endometrial cells, FasL(+) FT cells induce apoptosis. Data suggest that the FT epithelium acts as a barrier to limit the influx of lymphocytes as well as endometrial cells ascending the tube. Failure of these regulatory mechanisms may be related to the development of endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Los Andes, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Sebastian E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Illanes
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maisey
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sandoval
authors.forename: Felipe E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Figueroa-Gaete
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Sepúlveda
authors.forename: Maritza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Busquets
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imarai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000502:physiology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; D053148:Caspase 3
keywords: Apoptosis; T lymphocytes; endometrial cells; endometriosis; fallopian epithelial cells