This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor 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 Williams, C. D. Articles by Lessey, B. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Williams, C. D. Articles by Lessey, B. A.

A Prospective, Randomized Study of Endometrial Telomerase during the Menstrual Cycle

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Divisions of Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility (C.D.W., L.R.L., W.R.M., M.A.F., B.A.L.) and Gynecologic Oncology (J.F.B.), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599; and Kaiser Permanente (M.J.M.), Sacramento, California 95815

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: John F. Boggess, M.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 7570, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7570.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize telomerase activity during the menstrual cycle, focusing on the luteal phase. A total of 84 endometrial biopsy samples were obtained from 72 participants. Daily urinary LH testing (OvuQuick, Quidel) was used to establish the day of the LH rise, and participants were randomized to return during the secretory phase. Twelve women returned on the identical day during the luteal phase of a subsequent cycle to allow intercycle comparisons of telomerase activity. Telomerase activity was evaluated using a modified TRAP-eze (Intergen) detection protocol. At the time of each endometrial biopsy, serum estrogen and progesterone were measured. Proliferative phase endometrium showed high telomerase activity. At the onset of the luteal phase telomerase activity was high, but it decreased during the early luteal phase, disappeared by the midluteal phase (6 d after LH surge detected), and then rose to moderate levels in the late luteal phase beginning on luteal d 10. Serum progesterone levels were inversely related to telomerase activity.

In conclusion, endometrial telomerase activity is dynamic: high during the proliferative phase but inhibited during the midsecretory phase of the menstrual cycle. The timing of expression coincides with the rise and fall of progesterone levels and the time period of maximal uterine receptivity for embryo implantation. This supports a relationship between sex steroid levels and telomerase regulation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D.K. Hapangama, M.A. Turner, J.A. Drury, S. Quenby, A. Hart, M. Maddick, C. Martin-Ruiz, and T. von Zglinicki Sustained replication in endometrium of women with endometriosis occurs without evoking a DNA damage response Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2009; 24(3): 687 - 696. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. A. Akbay, C. M. Contreras, S. A. Perera, J. P. Sullivan, R. R. Broaddus, J. O. Schorge, R. Ashfaq, H. Saboorian, K.-K. Wong, and D. H. Castrillon Differential Roles of Telomere Attrition in Type I and II Endometrial Carcinogenesis Am. J. Pathol., August 1, 2008; 173(2): 536 - 544. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D.K. Hapangama, M.A. Turner, J.A. Drury, S. Quenby, G. Saretzki, C. Martin-Ruiz, and T. Von Zglinicki Endometriosis is associated with aberrant endometrial expression of telomerase and increased telomere length Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2008; 23(7): 1511 - 1519. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C.M. Kim, Y.J. Oh, S.H. Cho, D.J. Chung, J.Y. Hwang, K.H. Park, D.J. Cho, Y.M. Choi, and B.S. Lee Increased telomerase activity and human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA expression in the endometrium of patients with endometriosis Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2007; 22(3): 843 - 849. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R Sato, C Maesawa, K Fujisawa, K Wada, K Oikawa, Y Takikawa, K Suzuki, H Oikawa, K Ishikawa, and T Masuda Prevention of critical telomere shortening by oestradiol in human normal hepatic cultured cells and carbon tetrachloride induced rat liver fibrosis Gut, July 1, 2004; 53(7): 1001 - 1009. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Zhou, P. A. Gehrig, Y. E. Whang, and J. F. Boggess Rapamycin Inhibits Telomerase Activity by Decreasing the hTERT mRNA Level in Endometrial Cancer Cells Mol. Cancer Ther., August 1, 2003; 2(8): 789 - 795. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]