title: Expression of Heparin-Binding EGF-Like Growth Factor (HB-EGF) in Bovine Endometrium: Effects of HB-EGF and Interferon-τ on Prostaglandin Production.
abstract: Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) regulates several cell functions by binding to its membrane receptor (ErbB1 and ErbB4). Experimental evidences suggest that HB-EGF, prostaglandins (PGs) and interferon-τ (IFN-τ) regulate uterine function for pregnancy establishment in ruminants. In this study, the mRNA expressions of HB-EGF, ErbB1 and ErbB4 in bovine endometrium and the effects of HB-EGF and IFN-τ on PGE2 and PGF2-α production by endometrial cells were investigated. RT-PCR analysis revealed that HB-EGF mRNA was greater at the mid-luteal stage than at the early and regressed luteal stages (p < 0.05). ErbB1 mRNA expression was greater at the mid- and late luteal stages than at the other luteal stages (p < 0.05). IFN-τ increased the expression of HB-EGF, ErbB1 and ErbB4 mRNA in epithelial cells (p < 0.05). HB-EGF did not affect PGF2-α or PGE2 production by bovine endometrial epithelial cells, but increased PGF2-α and PGE2 production by bovine endometrial stromal cells (p < 0.05). IFN-τ significantly decreased HB-EGF-stimulated PGF2-α (p < 0.05), but not PGE2 (p > 0.05) production by stromal cells. These results indicate that HB-EGF and its receptors expression changed in bovine endometrium throughout the oestrous cycle. IFN-τ increased their expression in cultured endometrial cells. HB-EGF and IFN-τ have the ability to regulate PGs production by stromal cells and therefore may play a role in the local regulation of uterine function at the time of implantation in cattle.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takatsu
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Acosta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C020947:interferon tau; D015237:Dinoprost; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4; D015232:Dinoprostone