This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tabibzadeh, S. Articles by Lessey, B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tabibzadeh, S. Articles by Lessey, B.

Dysregulated Expression of ebaf, a Novel Molecular Defect in the Endometria of Patients with Infertility¹

Department of Pathology (S.T., Y.C.) and Viral Vector Laboratory (J.M.M.), Department of Research, North Shore University Hospital, Biomedical Research Center, Manhasset, New York 11030; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of North Carolina (M.J.M., B.L.), Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: S. Tabibzadeh, M.D., Department of Pathology, North Shore University Hospital, Biomedical Research Center, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, New York 11030. E-mail: tabibzad{at}nshs.edu

We recently described the expression of ebaf, a novel member of the transforming growth factor-ß superfamily in human endometrium. ebaf messenger ribonucleic acid was expressed in late secretory and menstrual endometria. Here, we show that ebaf is secreted as 42-, 34-, 28-, and 14-kDa proteins into the conditioned medium of transfected cells, endometrial fluid, and serum. The amount of secreted proteins was markedly reduced during the implantation window in the endometria and sera of normal fertile subjects. The expression of ebaf was dysregulated in the endometria of a subset of women with infertility during the receptive phase of the menstrual cycle. Abundant secreted protein was present in the endometria of these women during the implantation window. During the critical period of endometrial receptivity, ebaf protein was more abundant in patients with endometriosis who did not conceive than in patients who became pregnant. These findings show that ebaf is a secreted product and is released into body fluids. Some types of infertility are associated with dysregulated expression of ebaf in human endometrium, suggesting that a molecular defect in uterine receptivity may be identified using such a marker protein.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J.J. Kim, H.S. Taylor, Z. Lu, O. Ladhani, J.M. Hastings, K.S. Jackson, Y. Wu, S.W. Guo, and A.T. Fazleabas Altered expression of HOXA10 in endometriosis: potential role in decidualization Mol. Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2007; 13(5): 323 - 332. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Tang, H. S. Taylor, and S. Tabibzadeh In vivo gene transfer of lefty leads to implantation failure in mice Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2005; 20(7): 1772 - 1778. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. HALIS and A. ARICI Endometriosis and Inflammation in Infertility Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., December 1, 2004; 1034(1): 300 - 315. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. P. Tierney, S. Tulac, S.-T. J. Huang, and L. C. Giudice Activation of the protein kinase A pathway in human endometrial stromal cells reveals sequential categorical gene regulation Physiol Genomics, December 16, 2003; 16(1): 47 - 66. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. B. Cornet, C. Picquet, P. Lemoine, K. G. Osteen, K. L. Bruner-Tran, S. Tabibzadeh, P. J. Courtoy, Y. Eeckhout, E. Marbaix, and P. Henriet Regulation and Function of LEFTY-A/EBAF in the Human Endometrium. mRNA EXPRESSION DURING THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE, CONTROL BY PROGESTERONE, AND EFFECT ON MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASES J. Biol. Chem., November 1, 2002; 277(45): 42496 - 42504. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. L. Bruner-Tran, E. Eisenberg, G. R. Yeaman, T. A. Anderson, J. McBean, and K. G. Osteen Steroid and Cytokine Regulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression in Endometriosis and the Establishment of Experimental Endometriosis in Nude Mice J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2002; 87(10): 4782 - 4791. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. A. Sherwin, S. K. Smith, A. Wilson, and A. M. Sharkey Soluble gp130 is Up-Regulated in the Implantation Window and Shows Altered Secretion in Patients with Primary Unexplained Infertility J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2002; 87(8): 3953 - 3960. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. C. GIUDICE, T. L. TELLES, S. LOBO, and L. KAO The Molecular Basis for Implantation Failure in Endometriosis: On the Road to Discovery Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., March 1, 2002; 955(1): 252 - 264. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. A. LESSEY Implantation Defects in Infertile Women with Endometriosis Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., March 1, 2002; 955(1): 265 - 280. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Ulloa, J. W. M. Creemers, S. Roy, S. Liu, J. Mason, and S. Tabibzadeh Lefty Proteins Exhibit Unique Processing and Activate the MAPK Pathway J. Biol. Chem., June 8, 2001; 276(24): 21387 - 21396. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]