Site and menstrual cycle-dependent expression of proteins of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family, and BCL-2 oncoprotein and phase-specific production of TNF alpha in human endometrium
Abstract
Apoptosis in human endometrial epithelium progressively increases from early to late secretory/menstrual phases and remains consistently more prominent in the basalis. It has been suggested that tumour necrosis factor (TNF) alpha secreted during the secretory/menstrual phases plays a role in induction of programmed cell death in these cells. In the present study, we characterized expression of receptors of TNF alpha, Fas antigen and BCL-2 in endometrial cells to gain insight as to whether this type of cell death in endometrium may be related to differential or preferential expression of these proteins at specific phases of the menstrual cycle. In addition, to relate production of TNF alpha to the development of apoptosis, the amount of TNF alpha released by human endometrium was measured. Immunostaining demonstrated that the TNF receptor (TNFr; p55/60)-I, TNFr-II (p75/80) as well as Fas protein were expressed in endometrial epithelium throughout the entire menstrual cycle. This expression was progressively diminished from the basalis towards the upper functionalis. In the proliferative phase, the expression of BCL-2 was prominent in the endometrial glands particularly in those residing in the basalis. This expression became wea...Continue Reading
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Apoptosis
Apoptosis is a specific process that leads to programmed cell death through the activation of an evolutionary conserved intracellular pathway leading to pathognomic cellular changes distinct from cellular necrosis
BCL-2 Family Proteins
BLC-2 family proteins are a group that share the same homologous BH domain. They play many different roles including pro-survival signals, mitochondria-mediated apoptosis and removal or damaged cells. They are often regulated by phosphorylation, affecting their catalytic activity. Here is the latest research on BCL-2 family proteins.