Expression of the type I interferon receptor and the interferon-induced Mx protein in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the expression of the type I interferon receptor (IFNAR) and interferon-induced Mx protein (Mx) in normal human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Medical university in Japan.

Patient(s): Thirty-seven normal endometrial tissues from fertile women who had undergone hysterectomies for reasons other than endometrial disease.

Intervention(s): IFNAR-1, IFNAR-2, MxA, and MxB gene expression was analyzed by reverse transcription-real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Moreover, localization of IFNAR-1 and IFNAR-2 were studied by immunohistochemistry.

Main outcome measure(s): Expression of IFNAR-1, IFNAR-2, MxA, and MxB.

Result(s): Expression of IFNAR-2 gene was significantly increased in the menstrual and midsecretory phase as compared with in the proliferative phase. Immunohistochemistry for IFNAR-1 and IFNAR-2 revealed weak staining of glandular epithelium and weak staining of stromal cells during the proliferative phase. However, an intense immunohistochemical staining of IFNAR-2 was observed on the surface and basement membrane of glands in the secretory phase. There was no statistical difference between MxA and MxB gene expression throughout the menstrual cycle.

Conclusion(s): Our results suggest that IFNAR and Mx are expressed in the human endometrium and that the expression of IFNAR is cyclically changed during the menstrual cycle.