Infertility: Beta-1 integrin cell adhesion molecules in the endometrium of fertile and infertile women

Abstract

In order to investigate whether the endometrium of women with unexplained infertility differs immunologically from the endometrium of normal fertile women, a panel of six monoclonal antibodies was used to characterize the presence of the beta 1-integrins or very-late-activation antigens (VLA) in the different endometrial compartments. Precisely timed endometrial biopsies at 4, 7, 10 and 13 days following the luteinizing hormone surge were obtained from 24 normal fertile women (group I) and 24 women suffering from unexplained infertility (group II). Frozen sections were labelled using an avidin-biotin peroxidase technique. VLA-1, VLA-2 and VLA-3 were present in glandular epithelium, stromal cells and vessels of both groups. VLA-4 was detected in group I but was absent from glandular and surface epithelium of group II. VLA-5 was not present in any of the specimens. VLA-6 was identified primarily in the basement membrane of vessels, glandular and surface epithelium in both patient groups. This study indicates that most beta 1-integrins are present in endometrium throughout the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The differences observed between the two groups may contribute to unexplained infertility.

The Role of Integrins in the Human Reproductive Process.

“…The distribution of different α and β integrin subunits in human endometrial tissues at different stages of the menstrual cycle has been determined by using immunohistochemistry. These studies suggest that some integrins normally undergo spatial and temporal changes with expression in the cycling endom e trium , a n d t ha t disruptio n o f this expression pattern may be associated with certain types of infertility in women [16][17][18].…”

“…Several studies have confirmed the presence of β1 integrins on human endometrium and demonstrate that integrin expression is a dynamic process related to the menstrual cycle [16][17][18]. The distribution of different α and β integrin subunits in human endometrial tissues at different stages of the menstrual cycle has been determined by using immunohistochemistry.…”

“…The pattern of integrin expression in the endometrium during the secretory phase and implantation is most interesting [16][17][18][19][20]. Initial studies demonstrated that three integrins were coordinatedly expressed around the window of implantation [16][17][18].…”

“…Initial studies demonstrated that three integrins were coordinatedly expressed around the window of implantation [16][17][18]. The α1β1 and α4β1 integrins appear at the time of ovulation.…”

Üreme Fizyolojisi ve Adhezyon Molekülleri

“…49 İntegrinlerin α4 ve β3 subünitlerinin uterin reseptivitenin maksimum olduğu dönemde birlikte eksprese oldukları görülmüştür. 35,42,43,49 Özellikle α4β3 integrinler implantasyon zamanı açık pencere dönemi için çok daha güvenilir bir belirleyicidirler ve bunların ekspresyonları erken gebelik dönemine uzanır.…”