Modulation of implantation-associated integrin expression but not uteroglobin by steroid hormones in an endometrial cell line

Abstract

In order to test the hypothesis that integrin and uteroglobin (UG) expression in cultured endometrial cells are affected by hormone treatment, Ishikawa-CH endometrial cancer cells were cultured and exposed to oestradiol or oestradiol and progesterone regimens and assayed using immunohistochemistry. We evaluated the intensity of immunohistochemical staining for the integrin monomers αv and β1, the dimers αvβ3 and αvβ6, and for the secretory protein uteroglobin under various experimental conditions. Cells grown in control media stained positively for the integrin monomers αvand β3 the dimer αvβ3, and for UG. Oestradiol and sequential oestradiol/progesterone reversibly suppressed staining for the dimer αvβ3. Hormone treatment had no effect on the staining of the β1 and αv monomers or UG. The αvβ6 dimer antibody did not stain under any experimental treatment conditions. These data indicate that expression of the integrin complex αvβ3 is reversibly suppressed by oestradiol in Ishikawa cells and that these cells may be a good model for studying hormone-driven molecular changes in endometrium.