Expression of integrin messenger ribonucleic acid in human endometrium: a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction study

Objective: To assess the expression of selected integrin subunit's messenge r RNA (mRNA) in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle. Design: A prospective comparative study. Setting: Academic research environment. Patient(s): Premenopausal women with histologically normal endometrium who were undergoing hysterectomy. Intervention(s): Endometrial tissues were collected. Result(s): Human endometrium expresses integrins alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, alpha 5, alpha 6.1, alpha 6.2, alpha v, beta 1, beta 2, beta 3, and beta 5 , as well as fibronectin mRNA. The levels of endometrial integrins mRNA exp ression varied significantly, with the lowest levels observed for alpha 2, beta 3, and fibronectin and the highest for alpha 5, beta 2, and beta 5. Th e levels of integrins alpha 2, alpha 3, and alpha 5 mRNA expression were si gnificantly higher during the proliferative phase, whereas alpha 4, alpha 6 .2, alpha v, beta 1, beta 2, beta 3, beta 5, and fibronectin were higher du ring the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. The alpha 6.1 mRNA was fou nd to be equally expressed in the endometrium during the menstrual cycle, w hereas the most dramatic changes occurred in alpha v and beta 3 expression, compared with other integrin subunits. Conclusion(s): Human endometrium expresses mRNA for several integrins and f ibronectin, with up-regulation of alpha 4, alpha v, beta 1, and beta 3 duri ng the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, suggesting that their differ ential expression may be regulated in part by ovarian steroids. (Fertil Ste ril(R) 1999;71:347-53. (C) 1999 by American Society for Reproductive Medici ne.)