Journal: Journal of translational medicine
Article Title: Integrins ?1 and ?3 are biomarkers of uterine condition for embryo transfer.
PMID/MRN: 27782833
Publication Date: 2016-Oct-26
Abstract:
Clinical ovulation induction induces blood estrogen (E 2 ) in excess of physiological levels, which can hinder uterine receptivity. In contrast, progesterone produces the opposite clinical effect, suggesting that it might be capable of recovering the lost receptivity resulting from exposure to high estrogen levels. Integrins are the most widely used biological markers for monitoring uterine conditions. We studied progesterone-induced changes in integrin ? expression patterns as biomarkers for changes in uterine receptivity in response to increased estrogen levels.
Endometrial biopsy samples from patients were screened for their estrogen (E 2 ) and progesterone (P4) content and expressing levels of integrin ?1 and ?3. Uterine receptivity was evaluated using human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells in an embryo attachment model. The respective and concatenated effects of embryo attachment and changes in the integrin ?1 and ?3 expression patterns on the adenocarcinoma cell plasma membranes in response to 100ÊnM concentrations of E 2 and P4 were evaluated.
Increased blood E 2 concentrations were associated with significantly decreased the levels of integrin ?3 expression in uterine biopsy samples. In vitro experiments revealed that a 100ÊnM E 2 concentration inhibited the distribution of integrin ?3 on the plasma membranes of human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells used in the embryo attachment model, and resulted in decreased rates of embryo attachment. In contrast, P4 enhanced the expression of integrin ?1 and promoted its distribution on the plasma membranes. Furthermore, P4 recovered the embryo attachment efficiency that was lost by exposure to 100ÊnM E 2 .
Blood E2 and P4 levels and integrin ?3 and ?1 expression levels in uterine biopsy samples should be considered as biomarkers for evaluating uterine receptivity and determining the optimal time for embryo transfer. Trial registration Trial number: ChiCTR-TRC-13003777; Name of registry: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry; Date of registration: 4 September 2013; Date of enrollment of the first study participant: 15 October 2013.