Regulation of milk fat globule epithelial growth factor eight (MFG-E8) by human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the human endometrium

R.M. RIGGS, A. FRANCHI, S.C. OEHNINGER, S. BOCCA

Atlanta, Georgia.

Congreso; American Society for Reproductive Medicine 65th Annual Meeting; 2009

American Society for Reproductive Medicine

OBJECTIVE: MFG-E8, a protein involved in breast tissue remodeling, has recently been demonstrated to be present in the human endometrium. One of the earliest hormones secreted by the embryo is hCG, proposed to be involved in tissue changes integral to implantation. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that hCG regulates MFG-E8 mRNA expression in the human endometrium. DESIGN: Experimental MATERIALS AND METHODS: Epithelial and stromal cells from periovulatory endometrial biopsies (n¼3) were isolated and primary cultures established. The presence of the hCG receptor protein and mRNA was confirmed by immunocytochemistry and PCR. Cells were cultured to 80% confluence and treated with escalating doses of highly purified hCG for 6 hours and recombinant MFG-E8 for 24 hours. MFG-E8 mRNA gene expression was analyzed using real-time RT PCR. Caspase 3 and 7 activity after MFG-E8 treatment was measured with a luciferase activation assay. Means were compared with the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: hCG resulted in a statistically significant (P