REGULATION OF MONOCYTE CHEMOTACTIC PROTEIN-1 GENE-EXPRESSION IN HUMANENDOMETRIAL CELLS IN CULTURES

Bone marrow-derived leukocytes are present in human endometrium/decidu a and are believed to serve a variety of functions in this tissue. The number and type of leukocytes in endometrium/decidua vary with the ho rmonal milieu of the ovarian cycle, with blastocyst implantation, and during pregnancy. The factors that regulate the recruitment of specifi c leukocytes to the endometrium and those that modulate the function o r replication of leukocytes in this tissue are not well defined. In th is study, we evaluated the potential for synthesis of monocyte chemota ctic protein-1 (MCP-1), a polypeptide with monocyte/macrophage chemota ctic and activating properties, in human endometrium and in separated endometrial stromal and epithelial cells. MCP-1 mRNA was readily detec ted by northern analysis of total RNA isolated from human endometrial tissue (n= 39 tissues from ovulatory women; n = 3 atrophic endometria from anovulatory women; n = 6 from women ingesting oral contraceptives or medroxyprogesterone acetate) and decidua parietalis at midtrimeste r (n = 6 pregnancies) and at term (n = 6 pregnancies). The levels of M CP-1 mRNA varied considerably among tissues; but in this relatively sm all number of samples, there was no apparent relationship between day of cycle, endocrine status, or duration of pregnancy and the level of MCP-1 mRNA. MCP-1 mRNA was detected in separated endometrial stromal c ells and epithelial cells in culture. In confluent human endometrial s tromal cells in the absence or presence of fetal bovine serum (10%, v/ v), MCP-1 mRNA was detected by northern analysis of total RNA. Fetal b ovine serum effected a concentration-dependent decrease in the levels of MCP-1 mRNA. The level of MCP-1 mRNA in endometrial stromal cells ma intained in serum-free medium increased in a time- and concentration-d ependent manner in response to treatment with interleukin-1 alpha or t umor necrosis factor-alpha. Platelet-derived growth factor and interfe ron-alpha also acted, in a concentration-dependent manner, to increase the level of MCP-1 mRNA.