Involvement of granule-mediated apoptosis in the cyclic changes of the normal human endometrium

Our objective is to investigate the involvement of granule-mediated apoptosis in the cyclic changes of the endometrium. We demonstrated the localization of CD56, perforin, granzyme B and caspase-3 in the endometrium by immunohistochemistry. We also confirmed the localization of perforin by immuno-electron microscopy, and demonstrated apoptosis in endometrial glandular cells by TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) and electron microscopy. Uterine CD56-positive natural killer (NK) cells expressed perforin and granzyme B in its cytoplasm. Uterine NK cells increased significantly in the endometrial stroma during the secretory phase, and peaked during the late secretory phase. These cells started decreasing in number during the menstrual period. In endometrial glandular cells, caspase-3 and TUNEL-positive cells increased significantly from the late secretory phase, with apoptosis reaching a peak during the menstrual period. Using electron microscopy, we observed uterine NK cells with chromatin rich, segmented nuclei and intracytoplasmic granules in the stroma obtained from late secretory phase endometria. These cells extended projections to the lining of endometrial glandular cells and attached to form a cell-to-cell contact. In addition, nuclear chromatin was observed to have already cohered and small cytoplasmic organelles were beginning to disappear, suggesting that these endometrial glandular cells were undergoing apoptosis. Utilizing immuno-electron microscopy, intracytoplasmic granules in uterine NK cells were stained with anti-perforin antibody. The findings of this study suggest that granule-mediated apoptosis in endometrial glandular cells induced by NK cells expressing perforin and granzyme B may be associated with the onset of menstruation.     

Involvement of integrin alpha V gene expression in human melanoma tumorigenicity.

Human melanoma originates in the skin and can lead to wide-spread metastatic disease. Analysis of melanoma biopsy material has shown that the vitronectin receptor, integrin alpha v beta 3, is a specific marker of the most malignant cells, i.e., vertically invasive primary lesions or distant metastases (Albelda, S. M., S. A. Mette, D. E. Elder, R. Stewart, L. Damjanovich, M. Herlyn, and C. A. Buck. 1990. Cancer Res. 50:6757-6764), suggesting a role for this adhesion receptor in the malignant growth of human melanoma tumors. A cell model was established to analyze the role of alpha v integrins on the tumorigenicity of human melanoma. From M21 human melanoma cells, stable variants were selected that lack alpha v gene expression and thus fail to express integrin alpha v beta 3 (M21-L cells). These cells not only lost the ability to attach to vitronectin but showed a dramatic reduction in tumorigenicity when transplanted into athymic nude mice, compared with M21 cells, even though both cell types showed identical beta 1 integrin expression and growth properties in vitro. M21-L cells were stably transfected with a cDNA-encoding alpha v. This resulted in the functional expression of integrin alpha v beta 3 on these cells and completely restored their tumorigenicity. Thus, integrin alpha v gene expression and the resulting adhesive phenotype are directly involved in the proliferation of human melanoma in vivo.     

Localization of the angiotensin II and its receptor subtype expression in human endometrium and identification of a novel high-affinity angiotensin II binding site.

Angiotensin (ANG) II is not only a potent vasoconstrictor but may also be involved in the regeneration of new blood vessels. In proliferative endometrium, ANG II-like immunoreactivity was detected in glandular epithelium and stroma with negligible staining around the vascular endothelium. In contrast, in secretory endometrium intense immunostaining was seen in the perivascular stromal cells around the endometrial spiral arterioles with negligible staining of the other cell types. Quantitative receptor autoradiography using the nonselective radioligand [125I]-ANG II and subtype selective competing compounds showed that endometrium contained predominantly AT2 receptors, with relatively low expression of AT1 receptors and a novel non-AT1/non-AT2 angiotensin II recognition site that was insensitive to AT1 or AT2 selective ligands. Levels of specific [125I]-ANG II receptor binding displayed cyclic changes during the menstrual cycle, reaching a maximum in early secretory endometrium and then decreasing in mid to late secretory endometrium to levels seen in early to mid proliferative endometrium. In situ hybridization showed AT1 receptor mRNA expression in the glands and in the endometrial blood vessels. The cyclic changes in ANG II-like immunoreactivity together with expression of both the known and the novel AT receptor subtypes imply that this octopeptide may play a dual role both in the control of the uterine vascular bed and also in the regeneration of the endometrium after endometrial shedding, acting as an angiogenic and mitogenic mediator.     

子宫内膜异位症细胞增殖与凋亡探讨

目的 探讨子宫内膜异位症的细胞增殖和细胞凋亡。方法 应用免疫组化法对61例正常月经周期子宫内膜及卵巢子宫内膜异位症患者进行PCNA检测。同时用TUNEL法对其中34例标本进行凋亡检测。结果 正常位置的子宫内膜分泌期及月经期凋亡细胞较多，增生期内膜及异位内膜无凋亡。PCNA蛋白在增生期含量高，分泌期低落，月经期消失，异位内膜中高于增生期（P〈0．05）。结论 凋亡与子宫内膜脱落有关；异位子宫内膜细胞通过过度增殖且减少凋亡，延长生命周期。     

Expression of integrins and basement membrane components by wound keratinocytes.

Extracellular matrix proteins and their cellular receptors, integrins, play a fundamental role in keratinocyte adhesion and migration. During wound healing, keratinocytes detach, migrate until the two epithelial sheets confront, and then regenerate the basement membrane. We examined the expression of different integrins and their putative ligands in keratinocytes during human mucosal wound healing. Migrating keratinocytes continuously expressed kalinin but not the other typical components of the basement membrane zone: type IV collagen, laminin, and type VII collagen. When the epithelial sheets confronted each other, these missing basement membrane components started to appear gradually through the entire wound area. The expression of integrin beta 1 subunit was increased in keratinocytes during migration. The beta 1-associated alpha 2 and alpha 3 subunits were expressed constantly by wound keratinocytes whereas the alpha 5 subunit was present only in keratinocytes during reepithelialization. Furthermore, migrating cells started to express alpha v-integrins which were not present in the nonaffected epithelium. All keratinocytes also expressed the alpha 6 beta 4 integrin during migration. In the migrating cells, the distribution of integrins was altered. In normal mucosa, beta 1-integrins were located mainly on the lateral plasma membrane and alpha 6 beta 4 at the basal surface of basal keratinocytes in the nonaffected tissue. In wounds, integrins were found in filopodia of migrating keratinocytes, and also surrounding cells in several cell layers of the migrating sheet. The results indicate that migrating keratinocytes, in deep human wounds enlarge their integrin repertoire. The changes in integrin expression take place concomitantly with changes in the basement membrane composition, suggesting a close interplay of these two groups of molecules during wound healing.     

β5整合素在造血细胞上的表达和诱导细胞凋亡的作用

目的 研究整合素（integrins)avβ5对造血细胞功能的影响。方法 用逆转录病毒载体系统将αv、β5基因转染K562细胞,观察αv、β5亚基的表达;用去除血清的方法,观察造血细胞凋亡和分化时αvβ5和αvβ3的变化;用抗αvβ5单抗屏蔽造血细胞上αvβ5时对凋亡和增殖的影响。结果 将含有β5基因的逆转录病毒导入K562细胞,β5亚基没有得到表达;诱导造血细胞分化和凋亡时,αvβ5表达升高,而αvβ5表达下降;用单抗封闭细胞表面的αvβ5,可抑制去血清诱导的细胞凋亡。结论 造血细胞αvβ5的过度表达可抑制细胞增殖并与细胞凋亡有关。     

Thioredoxin: a redox-regulating cellular cofactor for glucocorticoid hormone action. Cross talk between endocrine control of stress response and cellular antioxidant defense system.

Remodeling of the extracellular matrix by activated mesenchymal cells (myofibroblasts) is a critical aspect of wound repair in all adult organs. Collagen-dependent gel contraction, a process requiring integrin function, is an established in vitro assay thought to mimic in vivo matrix remodeling. Numerous data have implicated the alpha2beta1 integrin in various cell types as the primary collagen receptor responsible for collagen gel contraction. However, evidence from the literature suggests that the major collagen binding integrin expressed on mesenchymally derived cells in situ is the alpha1beta1 integrin, not the alpha2beta1 integrin. In this report, we use a rat vascular injury model to illustrate that the alpha1beta1 integrin is the major collagen receptor expressed on vascular smooth muscle cells after injury. Using two smooth muscle cell lines, expressing either the alpha1beta1 integrin alone or both the alpha1beta1 and alpha2beta1 integrins, along with Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with the alpha1 integrin, we demonstrate that alpha1beta1 supports not only collagen-dependent adhesion and migration, but also gel contraction. These data suggest that in vivo the alpha1beta1 integrin is a critical collagen receptor on mesenchymally derived cells potentially involved in matrix remodeling after injury.     

MMP-9和TIMP-1在不明原因不孕症患者子宫内膜的表达

目的检测基质金属蛋白酶-9（MMP-9）和组织金属蛋白酶抑制物-1（TIMP-1）在不明原因不孕症子宫内膜和正常子宫内膜中的表达,探讨两者与不明原因不孕的关系。方法应用免疫组化SP法,检测MMP-9和TIMP-1在20例不孕症患者的种植窗期子宫内膜和20例正常子宫内膜中的表达。结果MMP-9／TIMP-1在2组子宫内膜的腺上皮细胞和基质细胞的胞浆中均有不同程度的表达。MMP-9／TIMP-1在正常子宫内膜中呈高表达状态;在不孕子宫内膜表达较低,与正常子宫内膜组织相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论不明原因不孕症妇女子宫内膜种植窗期MMP-9和TIMP-1的低表达,可能是导致不明原因不孕症的重要因素之一。     

Human urinary bladder carcinomas express adenovirus attachment and internalization receptors

The use of adenoviral vectors as potent gene delivery systems requires expression of the Coxsackievirus/adenovirus receptor (CVADR) on the target cell surface. This receptor is important for virus attachment to the cell surface. For effective internalization of the vector into the target cell the integrins alpha(v)beta(3) and/or alpha(v)beta(5) are needed. Since there have been reports of loss of CVADR in bladder cancer cell lines, we wanted to investigate the expression of this receptor in bladder carcinoma biopsies. Surgical biopsies, as well as five human bladder cancer cell lines, were analyzed for expression of CVADR, the integrins alpha(v)beta(3) and alpha(v)beta(5) and MHC class I. Further, we studied the ability to transduce these cell lines using adenoviral vectors. Immunohistochemistry revealed that all biopsies (27/27) were positive for CVADR. Some variation in expression was evident, and superficially growing tumors stained more strongly than invasive ones. Most human tumors expressed the integrin alpha(v)beta(5) (14/24), whereas integrin alpha(v)beta(3) was less frequently seen (3/20). The established cell lines were efficiently transduced with adenoviral vectors, and transduction could be reduced with anti-CVADR antibodies. The abundance of appropriate viral receptors on tumor biopsy cells is a further argument for using adenoviral vectors in gene therapy of bladder cancer.     

Biological and molecular properties of a new alpha(v)beta3/alpha(v)beta5 integrin antagonist

The aim of the present study was to identify specific alpha(v)beta3/alpha(v)beta5 integrin antagonists active on tumor-induced angiogenesis. To this purpose, in vitro integrin-binding assays were used to screen a library of conformationally constrained bicyclic lactam Arg-Gly-Asp-containing pseudopeptides. The results identified ST1646 as a high-affinity specific ligand for alpha(v)beta3 and alpha(v)beta5 integrins with negligible interacting with alpha5beta1 integrin. In all the assays, ST1646 was equipotent to or more potent than the well-characterized integrin antagonists c(RGDfV) and cyclo(Arg-Gly-Asp-d-Phe-[NMe]Val) (EMD121974). In the chorioallantoic membrane assay, topical administration of ST1646 was able to prevent the angiogenic responses elicited by recombinant fibroblast growth factor-2 or vascular endothelial growth factor. In addition, systemic administration of ST1646 in mice exerted a significant antiangiogenic activity on neovascularization triggered by mammary carcinoma MDA-MB435 cells implanted s.c. in a dorsal air sac via a (Millipore Filter Corporation, Bedford, MA) chamber. Moreover, ST1646 delivery via an osmotic pump inhibited the growth and vascularization of tumor xenografts originating from the injection of alpha(v)beta3/alpha(v)beta5-expressing human ovarian carcinoma cells in nude mice. In agreement with the biochemical and pharmacologic studies, Monte Carlo/Stochastic Dynamics simulation showed that the bicyclic scaffold in ST1646 forced the compound to assume a preferred conformation superimposable to the X-ray conformation of alpha(v)beta3-bound EMD121974. Accordingly, computer-docking studies indicated that the ST1646-alpha(v)beta3 integrin complex maintains the ligand-receptor distances and interactions observed in the crystalline EMD121974-alpha(v)beta3 integrin complex. Taken together, these observations indicate that ST1646 represents a dual alpha(v)beta3/alpha(v)beta5 integrin antagonist with interesting biochemical and biological features to be tested in cancer therapy.     

Vitronectin enhances internalization of crocidolite asbestos by rabbit pleural mesothelial cells via the integrin alpha v beta 5.

The mechanism by which pleural mesothelial cells, the likely progenitor cells of asbestos-induced mesothelioma, recognize and internalize crocidolite asbestos is unknown. Because incubation of asbestos fibers with serum increases their association with cells, we asked whether a protein coat on asbestos increased internalization of fibers via specific cellular receptors. Coating crocidolite with citronectin, but not with fibronectin or other proteins, increased fiber internalization by rabbit pleural mesothelial cells, as measured by a new technique using fluorescence confocal microscopy. Receptors for vitronectin, alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5, were identified on mesothelial cells. Inhibiting vitronectin receptors by plating cells on a vitronectin substrate or incubating cells with excess soluble vitronectin reduced internalization of vitronectin-coated crocidolite. Inhibition of alpha v beta 5, but not alpha v beta 3, with blocking antibodies similarly reduced internalization. In addition, alpha v beta 5, but not alpha v beta 3, showed immunocytochemical colocalization with fibers. Of biologic relevance, coating crocidolite with serum also increased internalization via alpha v beta 5, an effect dependent on the vitronectin in serum. We conclude that pleural mesothelial cells recognize and internalize vitronectin- and serum-coated asbestos via the integrin alpha v beta 5. Since integrins initiate some of the same signaling pathways as does asbestos, our findings may provide insights into the mechanisms of asbestos-induced biologic effects.     

Insulin-like growth factor receptor cooperates with integrin alpha v beta 5 to promote tumor cell dissemination in vivo.

Tumor cell interactions with adhesion proteins and growth factors likely contribute to the metastatic cascade. Evidence is provided that insulin or insulin-like growth factor-mediated signals cooperate with the commonly expressed integrin alpha v beta 5 to promote spontaneous pulmonary metastasis of multiple tumor cell types in both the chick embryo and severe combined immune deficiency mouse/human chimeric models. Expression of alpha v beta 5 in tumor cells promoted their adhesion to vitronectin in vitro. However, cell motility required cytokine stimulation, which caused redistribution of alpha-actinin to membrane-adhesive sites containing alpha v beta 5. Significantly, ligation of alpha v beta 5 and cytokine receptors were both required for spontaneous pulmonary metastasis of multiple tumor types even though it was not necessary for primary tumor growth. Thus, tumor cell metastasis can be regulated by a functional cooperation between cytokine signaling events and the adhesion receptor alpha v beta 5 in a manner independent of tumor cell growth. These findings provide evidence that integrin ligation, in conjunction with cytokine activation, plays an important role in the dissemination of malignant tumor cells.     

lmmuno Histochemical Profile of Endometrium in Patients With Genital Endometriosis

The aim of present study was to investigate the occurence of different lymphocyte subsets in the endometrium of endometriosis patients and in healthy women on every day of the menstrual cycle with special emphasis to the proliferative activity of endometrial cells with Ki-S3 antibody. We also conducted immunohistochemical studies of T-lymphocytes, B-lympho-cytes, macrophages, natural-killer-cells and also of antigens class II of the histocompatibility complex (HLA-DR) during the different phases of the menstrual cycle in endometriosis and non-endometriosis patients.Endometrial lymphocyte subsets show equal quantity and distribution in endometriosis patients and in the control group. After a peak in the early preoliferative phase the absolute number of T-lymphocytes decreases while a predominance of T-suppressor/cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CD8) compared to T-helper/inducer lymphocytes (CD4) occurs towards the end of the menstrual cycle.It can be concluded that endometrium as the potential parent epithelia of endometriotic lesions seems not to be altered in its lymphatic cell content compared to healthy women. Furthermore endometrium is clearly characterised as part of the mucosa associated lymphatic tissue (MALT). T-lymphocytes show specific quantitative changes due to different phases of the menstrual cycle.     

子宫内膜骨桥蛋白和整合素αvβ3表达与IVF-ET反复种植失败的关系

目的:检测骨桥蛋白(OPN)和整合素αvβ3在人子宫内膜的表达,并探讨它们与体外受精-胚胎移植(IVF-ET)反复种植失败的相关性。方法:采用免疫组织化学法检测35例反复种植失败患者(研究组)及35例正常妇女(对照组)各时期子宫内膜组织中OPN和整合素αvβ3的表达。结果:OPN在增殖晚期开始表达,整合素αvβ3则在分泌中期开始出现并表现为强表达,两者在分泌中、晚期的表达水平均较其余各期明显增加(P<0.05)。与对照组相比,两者在研究组种植窗期内膜的表达均明显减弱(P<0.05)。结论:OPN和整合素αvβ3在正常子宫内膜中协调表达且呈现明显周期依赖性,参与子宫内膜容受性的建立;两者在反复种植失败患者种植窗期内膜中的表达明显减弱,可能是引起种植失败的原因之一。     

Plasticity of integrin expression by nerve-derived connective tissue cells. Human Schwann cells, perineurial cells, and fibroblasts express markedly different patterns of beta 1 integrins during nerve development, neoplasia, and in vitro.

Strikingly selective expression patterns of beta 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, and alpha 5 integrin subunits were revealed in endoneurium, perineurium, and epineurium of fetal and adult human peripheral nerve by immunostaining with specific antibodies. The alpha 2 subunit was expressed only on Schwann cells both in fetal and adult nerve, whereas the alpha 3 epitopes were expressed exclusively in the adult tissue and were primarily present on perineurial cells. The alpha 5 epitopes were expressed only on the innermost cell layer of perineurium of fetal and adult nerve. The tumor cells within schwannomas and cutaneous neurofibromas expressed both alpha 2 and alpha 3 subunits, indicating that Schwann cells have the potential to express also the alpha 3 subunit in vivo. Cell cultures established from human fetal nerve and neurofibromas revealed expression of the alpha 2 and alpha 5 epitopes on Schwann cells, perineurial cells, and fibroblasts, whereas only Schwann cells contained the alpha 3 epitopes which were occasionally concentrated on the adjacent Schwann cells at cell-cell contacts. Our findings emphasize that nerve connective tissue cells change their profiles for expression of extracellular matrix receptors under conditions which have different regulatory control signals exerted by, for example, axons, humoral factors, or the extracellular matrix of the peripheral nerve. This plasticity may play an important role during nerve development and in neoplastic processes affecting the connective tissue compartments of peripheral nerve.     

不孕症患者子宫内膜运动功能的研究

目的：探讨不孕症患者子宫内膜运动功能的周期性变化规律。方法：应用经阴道超声对84例不孕症患者的卵泡早期、卵泡中期、卵泡晚期以及黄体早期的子宫内膜运动分别作连续3min检测并录像，再应用计算机媒体播放软件对图像进行放大、快速播放，观测并记录子宫内膜运动的类型、运动频率、运动速度等指标。结果：84例患者336次检测中，显示运动278次（82．74％），无运动51次（15．18％），图像显示不清7次（2．08％）。共检测到7种运动类型。卵泡早期及中期、晚期、黄体早期子宫内膜运动发生率逐渐增高（P〈O．05）。不同时期子宫内膜运动类型的构成比不同，4个时期子宫内膜运动均以Ⅰ型为主，且卵泡早期至黄体早期子宫内膜Ⅰ型运动比例逐渐增加fP〈0.05）。卵泡期Ⅰ型运动传播时间逐渐缩短，黄体早期则显著延长（P〈0．05）。卵泡早期、中期运动频率较卵泡晚期低，卵泡晚期运动频率较黄体早期高（P〈0．05）。结论：子宫内膜运动功能发生周期性变化。经阴道超声及计算机媒体播放软件能直观、有效的检测子宫内膜运动功能。     

Adenoviral transduction efficiency of ovarian cancer cells can be limited by loss of integrin beta3 subunit expression and increased by reconstitution of integrin alphavbeta3

Recombinant adenoviruses expressing a therapeutic gene are currently used in clinical studies for treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. We therefore tested whether the expression level of primary (CAR) and secondary adenovirus receptors (integrins) was predictive of the efficacy of adenoviral gene transfer in ovarian cancer cells. Adenoviral transduction efficiency (ATE) was determined with an E1-deleted adenovirus type 5 expressing beta-galactosidase under a CMV promoter (AdGal). ATE was studied in relationship to the expression level of both CAR (coxsackie and adenovirus receptor) and integrins. A representative sample of 25 permanent human cell lines established from advanced ovarian cancer in our laboratory and the OV-2774 cell line were tested. Overall, ATE increased with increasing titers of AdGal. At a given titer of 50 infectious units per cell, transduction efficiency varied from 6 to 94% among the individual cell lines. All cell lines expressed CAR and integrin alpha(v)beta(5), but no relation between ATE and expression level of CAR or alpha(v)beta(5) integrin was observed. In contrast, cell lines with poor ATE, despite expressing high levels of CAR, lacked expression of integrins alpha(v)beta(3) and alpha(5)beta(1). Reconstitution of alpha(v)beta(3) integrin by reexpressing the beta(3) subunit significantly enhanced ATE of ovarian cancer cells. In ovarian cancer, neither integrins nor CAR alone appear to be potentially useful predictive markers for ATE by serotype 5 adenovirus in clinical gene therapy. A minimum level of CAR necessary for binding of adenoviruses was observed in all tested ovarian cancer cell lines. Loss of alpha(v)beta(3) integrin is frequently associated with advanced stages of ovarian cancer and can significantly reduce ATE.     

Immunohistochemical characteristics of estrogen receptor alpha positive cells in glandular epithelium of the rat seminal vesicle.

Epithelial cells of the rat seminal vesicle stained positively for nuclear estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha). We studied these cells using immunohistochemical means. We demonstrated in a previous study that some glandular epithelial cells of the seminal vesicles of immature castrated rats treated with estrogen for 1-2 weeks had multilayer features. The present study shows that these glandular epithelial cells are nuclear ER and basal cell-specific cytokeratin (34betaE12) positive. These findings suggested characteristics of basal cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that these cells express transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) as a result of castration and estrogen treatment. Our findings indicate that glandular epithelial cells with multilayer features, which stained positively for nuclear ER alpha have basal cell features and may play an important role in the expression of TGFbeta1 through an epithelial-stromal interaction.     

激素替代周期子宫内膜微创术在卵巢早衰患者治疗中的应用

目的探讨激素替代周期子宫内膜微创术在卵巢早衰患者治疗中的应用。方法选取2012年9月至2013年9月收治卵巢早衰患者4例(观察组),所有患者均行激素替代周期子宫内膜微创术,同时选择同期因男性因素不孕,正常月经期妇女9例(对照组)。将两组子宫内膜胞饮突在种植窗口期的情况进行观察,回顾临床资料。结果观察组在行子宫内膜微创术前,低倍镜下子宫内膜上皮呈紊乱排列,纤毛细胞部分纤毛呈缺如显示,高倍镜下隐约见微绒毛发育蔫小,微绒毛细胞和纤毛细胞皱缩,呈微量胞饮突表达。对照组患者分泌期子宫内膜有明显皱褶,表面光滑,有大量呈圆形腺体开口。胞饮突在腺体开口处较丰富,子宫内膜上皮细胞呈有序排列,胞饮突饱满圆润,纤毛细胞发育旺盛。9例正常组,处于衰退期1例、发育中阶段2例,发育完全成熟阶段6例。治疗后观察组4例术后均妊娠,3例均为单胎,孕期顺利,1例双胎,孕13周流产。结论赠卵移植反复失败的卵巢早衰患者,实施子宫内膜微创术可使子宫内膜容受性改善。子宫内膜容受性可用胞饮突来评价。