HORMONAL-REGULATION OF HSP27 EXPRESSION IN HUMAN ENDOMETRIAL EPITHELIAL AND STROMAL CELLS

HSP27 has been analysed immunohistochemically in epithelium and stroma of premenopausal endometria obtained at different stages of the menst rual cycle and in endometria from postmenopausal women receiving oestr ogens either alone or in combination with a progestin. The data indica te that HSP27 is increased by oestrogen and inhibited by progestins in glandular epithelium but not stroma. Oestrogen does not increase HSP2 7 in stromal cells and HSP27 is only present in stromal decidual cells seen in the late secretory phase where it continues to be detectable until the tenth week of gestation. Hormonal regulation of HSP27 is cle arly different in endometrial epithelium and stroma and additional reg ulatory factors may be important as oestrogen alone does not increase postmenopausal epithelial HSP27 to the levels seen in the proliferativ e phase of premenopausal samples.