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

Growth-regulated oncogene alpha (GRO alpha), a potent chemoattractant for neutrophils, has previously been detected in the endometrial stromal cells (ESC of human endometrium. In this study, the mRNA expression of GRO alpha in the endometrium was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis, while the localization of GRO alpha protein was studied by immunohistochemistry and the concentrations of GRO alpha were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The effects of known modulators of endometrial function on the production of GRO alpha by ESC were also examined by ELISA and Northern blot analysis. The expression of both GRO alpha mRNA and GRO alpha protein was detected in the cycling endometrium. GRO alpha protein was localized mainly in the stroma, and endometrial tissues in the secretory phase contained higher amounts of GRO alpha protein than did those in the proliferative phase. The production of GRO alpha toy ESC was enhanced by in-vitro decidualization. Lipopolysaccharide, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta also stimulated the expression of GRO alpha mRNA and protein by ESC. These results suggest that the production of GRO alpha by ESC is regulated by ovarian steroid hormones as well as by inflammatory mediators. The modulation of GRO alpha concentrations in the local environment may contribute to normal and pathological processes in the, uterus by regulating leukocyte trafficking in the endometrium.