Comparable vitamin D3 metabolism in the endometrium of patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion and fertile controls.
Vitamin D exerts important roles during pregnancy, and its deficiency may be associated with several pregnancy complications, including pregnancy loss, yet no data are available for molecules involved in vitamin D metabolism in patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion. In this study, we investigated possible difference in endometrial expression of vitamin D3 receptor (VDR), 1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), and 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1) in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion (n = 8) and healthy controls (n = 8). Gene expression of VDR, CYP27B1, and CYP24A1 was determined by real-time PCR, while VDR and CYP27B1 proteins were localized by immunohistochemistry and their abundance was validated by Western blot. We found that both patient and control groups expressed comparable levels of endometrial VDR, CYP27B1, and CYP24A1 transcripts. In line with the gene-expression results, CYP27B1 and different isoforms of VDR protein were present at the same abundance in the endometria of both groups. No significant alteration in VDR and CYP27B1 immunoreactivity pattern was found in the endometrium of patients compared to fertile controls, however. The results of the present study, therefore, do not support the hypothesis of differential expression of key molecules involved in vitamin D3 metabolism in the endometrium of recurrent spontaneous abortion patients and fertile controls.
Reproductive Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
Maryam
M
Tavakoli
Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Alireza
A
Salek-Moghaddam
Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
Mahmood
M
Jeddi-Tehrani
Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Saeed
S
Talebi
Reproductive Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
Golnaz-Ensieh
GE
Kazemi-Sefat
Nanobiotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
Sedigheh
S
Vafaei
Reproductive Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
Afsaneh
A
Mohammadzadeh
Obstetrics and Gynecology-Oncology Department, Vali-asr Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Shahrzad
S
Sheikhhassani
Reproductive Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.|Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.|Nanobiotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
Amir-Hassan
AH
Zarnani
D015090:25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D065668:Vitamin D3 24-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; C579457:VDR protein, human; D002762:Cholecalciferol; C585549:CYP24A1 protein, human; D065668:Vitamin D3 24-Hydroxylase; D015090:25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase; C000600378:CYP27B1 protein, human