Modulation of implantation-associated integrin expression but not uteroglobin by steroid hormones in an endometrial cell line

In order to test the hypothesis that integrin and uteroglobin (UG)expression in cultured endometrial cells are affected by hormone treatment,Ishikawa-CH endometrial cancer cells were cultured and exposed tooestradiol or oestradiol and progesterone regimens and assayed usingimmunohistochemistry. We evaluated the intensity of immunohistochemicalstaining for the integrin monomers alpha(v) and beta1, the dimersalpha(v)beta3 and alpha(v)beta6, and for the secretory protein uteroglobinunder various experimental conditions. Cells grown in control media stainedpositively for the integrin monomers alpha(v) and beta1, the dimeralpha(v)beta3, and for UG. Oestradiol and sequentialoestradiol/progesterone reversibly suppressed staining for the dimeralpha(v)beta3. Hormone treatment had no effect on the staining of the beta1and alpha(v) monomers or UG. The alpha(v)beta6 dimer antibody did not stainunder any experimental treatment conditions. These data indicate thatexpression of the integrin complex alpha(v)beta3 is reversibly suppressedby oestradiol in Ishikawa cells and that these cells may be a good modelfor studying hormone-driven molecular changes in endometrium.