Expression and regulation of growth-regulated oncogene alpha in human endometrial stromal cells

Growth-regulated oncogene alpha (GRO alpha), a potent chemoattractant for n eutrophils, has previously been detected in the endometrial stromal cells ( ESC of human endometrium. In this study, the mRNA expression of GRO alpha i n the endometrium was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain r eaction analysis, while the localization of GRO alpha protein was studied b y immunohistochemistry and the concentrations of GRO alpha were measured us ing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The effects of known modu lators of endometrial function on the production of GRO alpha by ESC were a lso examined by ELISA and Northern blot analysis. The expression of both GR O alpha mRNA and GRO alpha protein was detected in the cycling endometrium. GRO alpha protein was localized mainly in the stroma, and endometrial tiss ues in the secretory phase contained higher amounts of GRO alpha protein th an did those in the proliferative phase. The production of GRO alpha toy ES C was enhanced by in-vitro decidualization. Lipopolysaccharide, tumour necr osis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta also stimulated the expression of GRO alpha mRNA and protein by ESC. These results suggest that the productio n of GRO alpha by ESC is regulated by ovarian steroid hormones as well as b y inflammatory mediators. The modulation of GRO alpha concentrations in the local environment may contribute to normal and pathological processes in t he, uterus by regulating leukocyte trafficking in the endometrium.