Endometrial expression of telomerase, progesterone, and estrogen receptors during the implantation window in patients with recurrent implantation failure.
Telomerase plays a critical role in cell proliferation and senescence, but the exact involvement of endometrial telomerase in recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is unknown. We collected endometrial biopsies from RIF patients (N = 30) and fertile women (N = 30). Real-time PCR was performed for detecting changes in telomerase reverse transcriptase (Tert), ER alpha, and PR expression at the transcript level, and the correlation between the variable expressions of these genes was tested using regression analysis. Then, western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the expression profiles of TERT and ER alpha at the protein level. Compared to the control, Tert expression was substantially increased, whereas ER alpha expression significantly decreased in the endometrium with RIF. No change was observed in PR expression. Tert expression was inversely associated with ER alpha expression. TERT protein expression in RIF patients was also clearly elevated, and was localized to both the endometrial epithelium and stromal cells. However, the signals for ER alpha in the stromal cells were weaker than those in the control. Expression of endometrial telomerase was substantially enhanced as ER alpha decreased in RIF patients during the implantation window.
Reproductive Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.|Department of Reproductive Health of Jinan University School of Medicine affiliated with the Shenzhen Baoan Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
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Long
Reproductive Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
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N
Liu
Reproductive Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
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Liu
Department of Reproductive Health of Jinan University School of Medicine affiliated with the Shenzhen Baoan Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
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J
Li
Department of Pathology of Jinan University School of Medicine affiliated with the Shenzhen Baoan Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
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BY
Cai
Reproductive Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
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X
Cai
D000328:Adult; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000235:genetics*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase