Expression of cadherins and integrins in human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle
Abstract
To detect cadherin and integrin expression in biopsies of endometrium in the phases of the cycle. Cell adhesion molecules may be involved in endometrial shedding during menstruation and attachment of shed endometrial tissue to the peritoneal lining in endometriosis patients. An immunohistochemical study on fresh frozen sections. Tertiary-care university medical center. Sixteen patients undergoing monitoring of their cycle as part of a subfertility workup. All patients had regular and ovulatory cycles. Endometrium samples were obtained at well-defined phases of the cycle. Simultaneously, blood samples were collected for E2 and P assay. The expression of cell adhesion molecules, including E- and P-cadherin and the integrins alpha 2 beta 1, alpha 3 beta 1, alpha 4 beta 1, alpha 5 beta 1, and alpha 6 beta 1, and the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) and P receptor (PR). E- and P-cadherin expression was demonstrated in all endometrium samples. Integrins alpha 3 beta 1, alpha 4 beta 1, alpha 5 beta 1, and alpha 6 beta 1 were detected in samples from all cycle phases, whereas integrin alpha 2 beta 1 was not detected in midluteal samples. The serum levels of E2 were 24.7 pg/mL (range: 10.9 to 35.4 pg/mL) in the early follicular phas...Continue Reading
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Cell adhesion molecules are a subset of cell adhesion proteins located on the cell surface involved in binding with other cells or with the extracellular matrix in the process called cell adhesion. In essence, cell adhesion molecules help cells stick to each other and to their surroundings. Cell adhesion is a crucial component in maintaining tissue structure and function. Discover the latest research on adhesion molecule and their role in health and disease here.