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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on July 22, 2009
Human Reproduction 2009 24(11):2767-2777; doi:10.1093/humrep/dep247
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
The online version of this article has been published under an open access model. Users are entitled to use, reproduce, disseminate, or display the open access version of this article for non-commercial purposes provided that: the original authorship is properly and fully attributed: the Journal and Oxford University Press are attributed as the original place of publication with the correct citation details given: if an article is subsequently reproduced or disseminated not in its entirety but only in part or as a derivative word this must be clearly indicated. For commercial re-use, please contact journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

L-Selectin ligands in human endometrium: comparison of fertile and infertile subjects

L. Margarit1,2,{dagger}, D. Gonzalez1,{dagger}, P.D. Lewis1, L. Hopkins2, C. Davies2, R.S. Conlan1, L. Joels2 and J.O. White1,3

1 Institute of Life Science, School of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales SA2 8PP, UK 2 Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Trust Hospital, Swansea, Wales SA2 8QA, UK

3 Correspondence address. E-mail: j.o.white{at}swansea.ac.uk

BACKGROUND: L-selectin ligands, localized to the luminal epithelium at the time of implantation, may support the early stages of blastocyst attachment. We have assessed the expression of two L-selectin ligands, defined by MECA-79 and HECA-452 monoclonal antibodies, and the sulfotransferase GlcNAc6ST-2, involved in generation of L-selectin ligand epitopes, in the secretory phase of the endometrium from fertile and infertile patients.

METHODS: Endometrial samples were obtained from 33 fertile, 26 PCOS, 25 endometriosis and 33 patients diagnosed with unexplained infertility. L-selectin ligands and GlcNAc6ST-2 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting.

RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining of uterine epithelium, from fertile and infertile women, demonstrated differential expression of MECA-79 and HECA-452 epitopes. In fertile women in the secretory phase MECA-79 was more strongly expressed, particularly on the lumen, than in infertile women. HECA-452 staining was significantly stronger in the glands in PCOS and endometriosis patients than in fertile women. GlcNAc6ST-2 expression was reduced in infertile patients, correlating with MECA-79 expression.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated significant differences in expression of L-selectin ligands between fertile and infertile women in natural cycles, and could contribute to patient assessment prior to initiating fertility treatment.

Key words: MECA-79/HECA-452/L-selectin ligands/endometrium/fertility

{dagger} Both authors contributed equally to this work.

Submitted on October 17, 2008; resubmitted on May 15, 2009; accepted on June 16, 2009.


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