Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 79, 1024-1032, Copyright © 1994 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Expression of adhesion molecules in human endometrial vasculature throughout the menstrual cycle

S Tabibzadeh, QF Kong and A Babaknia
Department of Pathology, University of South Florida Health Sciences Center, Tampa 33612.

In the present study, we examined the pattern of expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR as well as several adhesion molecules implicated in leukocyte trafficking, including ICAM-1, E-selectin, and VCAM-1 in human endometrium. All of the vessels in endometrium exhibited HLA-DR and ICAM-1 throughout the menstrual cycle. In the proliferative phase, endothelial cells in the functionalis were weak to nonreactive for VCAM-1 and were E-selectin negative (E-selectin-). Endothelial cells of the vessels in the basalis and within myometrium were VCAM positive (VCAM-1+)/E-selectin-. In sharp contrast, in the secretory phase, endothelial cells in the basalis were VCAM-1+/E- selectin+. Surprisingly, endometrial glands, primarily those in the basalis, expressed E-selectin and VCAM-1 during the entire menstrual cycle. Stromal cells were ICAM-1+ and were focally HLA-DR+ around HLA- DR+ lymphoid cells during the entire menstrual cycle and were E- selectin-/VCAM-1- during the proliferative phase. Immunoreactivity for VCAM-1 and E-selectin, however, appeared in the stromal cells in the upper functionalis in the secretory phase. Immunoreactivity for VCAM-1 was the distinguishing feature that separated the lymphoid cells in the aggregates from other nonaggregated lymphoid cells. Recruitment of leukocytes to tissues is in part due to cytokine-regulated expression of specific molecules on endothelial cells. Therefore, we tested the effects of cytokines on the expression of these molecules in endothelial cells derived from microvasculature. ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were inducible in a dose-dependent fashion in the endothelial cells by interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN gamma), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha). Expression of HLA-DR in endothelial cells was inducible by IL-1 alpha and IFN gamma and not by TNF alpha. Expression of E-selectin on endothelial cells was induced only by IL-1 alpha, not by IFN gamma or TNF alpha. Cytokine treatment of endothelial cells significantly enhanced the binding of leukocytes to endothelial cells. The data show a heterogeneity in the vasculature of endometrium with respect to the expression of various adhesion molecules. This heterogeneity is potentially related to the type or amount of cytokine with which endothelial cells are activated. In addition, unique cell- and site-specific expression of adhesion molecules in human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle may account for the distinct distribution pattern of leukocytes in this tissue.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M Pino, C Galleguillos, M Torres, H Sovino, A Fuentes, M A Boric, and M C Johnson Association between MMP1 and MMP9 activities and ICAM1 cleavage induced by tumor necrosis factor in stromal cell cultures from eutopic endometria of women with endometriosis Reproduction, November 1, 2009; 138(5): 837 - 847. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Bailey and G N. Europe-Finner Identification of human myometrial target genes of the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway: the role of activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) and a novel spliced isoform ATF2-small J. Mol. Endocrinol., February 1, 2005; 34(1): 19 - 35. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Willis, J.M. Morris, V. Danis, and E.D.M. Gallery Cytokine production by peripheral blood monocytes during the normal human ovulatory menstrual cycle Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2003; 18(6): 1173 - 1178. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Bonello and R. J. Norman Soluble adhesion molecules in serum throughout the menstrual cycle Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2002; 17(9): 2272 - 2278. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. R. I. Williams, R. A. Westerman, B. A. Kingwell, J. Paige, P. A. Blombery, K. Sudhir, and P. A. Komesaroff Variations in Endothelial Function and Arterial Compliance during the Menstrual Cycle J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2001; 86(11): 5389 - 5395. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Schatz, C. Soderland, K. D. Hendricks-Muñoz, R. P. Gerrets, and C. J. Lockwood Human Endometrial Endothelial Cells: Isolation, Characterization, and Inflammatory-Mediated Expression of Tissue Factor and Type 1 Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Biol Reprod, March 1, 2000; 62(3): 691 - 697. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A.J. Thomson, M.R. Greer, A. Young, F. Boswell, J.F. Telfer, I.T. Cameron, J.E. Norman, and S. Campbell Expression of intercellular adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 in human endometrium: regulation by interferon-{gamma} Mol. Hum. Reprod., January 1, 1999; 5(1): 64 - 70. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. J. Thomson, J. F. Telfer, A. Young, S. Campbell, C. J.R. Stewart, I. T. Cameron, I. A. Greer, and J. E. Norman Leukocytes infiltrate the myometrium during human parturition: further evidence that labour is an inflammatory process Hum. Reprod., January 1, 1999; 14(1): 229 - 236. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. R. Yeaman, J. E. Collins, J. K. Currie, P. M. Guyre, C. R. Wira, and M. W. Fanger IFN-{gamma} Is Produced by Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils in Human Uterine Endometrium and by Cultured Peripheral Blood Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils J. Immunol., May 15, 1998; 160(10): 5145 - 5153. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Sayegh, X. J. Tao, L. Leykin, and K. B. Isaacson M.D. Endometrial {alpha}-2 Macroglobulin; Localization by in Situ Hybridization and Effect on Mouse Embryo Development in Vitro J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 1997; 82(12): 4189 - 4195. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Hornung, I. P. Ryan, V. A. Chao, J.-L. Vigne, E. D. Schriock, and R. N. Taylor Immunolocalization and Regulation of the Chemokine RANTES in Human Endometrial and Endometriosis Tissues and Cells J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 1997; 82(5): 1621 - 1628. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]