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 messenger 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 expression 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. The levels of integrins alpha 2, alpha 3, and alpha 5 mRNA expression were significantly 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 during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. The alpha 6.1 mRNA was found to be equally expressed in the endometrium during the menstrual cycle, whereas 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 fibronectin, with up-regulation of alpha 4, alpha v, beta 1, and beta 3 during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, suggesting that their differential expression may be regulated in part by ovarian steroids. (Fertil Steril(R) 1999;71:347-53. (C) 1999 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)