BACKGROUND Ascending infections of the female genital tract with bacteria causes pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), preterm labour and infertility. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the main component of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria. Innate immunity relies on the detection of LPS by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on host cells. Binding of LPS to TLR4 on immune cells stimulates secretion of pr...

Candidate stem/progenitor cells have been identified in mouse endometrium as label-retaining cells (LRCs). The role of endometrial stem/progenitor cells in initiating estrogen-stimulated endometrial growth in prepubertal and cycling mice was investigated following a single 17β-estradiol (E2) injection in bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeled and -chased (LRC), ovariectomised mice. Proliferating (Brd...

We examined the localization of oestrogen receptor (ER) β mRNA in the human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle using non-radioactive in-situ hybridization with Brigati-tailed oligonucleotides. The findings were compared with those of ERα in order to examine the possible biological significance of ERβ in the human endometrium. Both ERα and ERβ mRNA expression were detected in all major h...

BACKGROUND The endometrium is commonly infected with bacteria leading to severe disease of the uterus in cattle and humans. The endometrial epithelium is the first line of defence for this mucosal surface against bacteria and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a critical component of the innate immune system for detection of pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Antimicrobial peptides, ac...

PURPOSE The studies were aimed at monitoring 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-dependent accumulation of endogenous protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in epithelial cells originating from normal endometrium or endometriotic foci, as related to steroid treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS Epithelial cells were cultured in presence of estradiol-17 beta (E2) and progesterone (P) in concentrations typical for the f...

BACKGROUND The endometrium prepares for implantation under the control of steroid hormones. It has been suggested that there are complicated interactions between the epithelium and stroma in the endometrium during menstrual cycle. In this study, we demonstrate a difference in gene expression between the epithelial and stromal areas of the secretory human endometrium using microdissection and ma...

In a total of 41 endometrial tissue samples, the relationship between telomerase activity and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labelling index was studied. In samples of endometrium from the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle, telomerase activity was found in 15 out of 17 cases (88%). Two samples from the early proliferative phase showed negative telomerase activity and a low P...

Basic transcription element binding (BTEB) protein is a newly identified member of the C2H2 zinc finger family that also includes the transcription factors, Sp1, Sp2, Sp3, and Sp4. This family of proteins binds GC-rich motifs widely distributed in gene promoters, resulting in distinct activation or repression of transcriptional activities. Whereas Sp proteins are ubiquitously expressed, express...

The endometrium is the mucous lining the uterine cavity comprised of a basal and a functional layer being the latter the one that sheds during menses and regenerates from the basal portion. The main cell populations within the functional stratus are epithelial and stromal cells accompanied by a variable number of leukocytes. Epithelial cells are found covering the luminal surface and tubular gl...

BACKGROUND Endometriosis is a multifactorial gynecological disease characterized by the presence of functional endometrium-like tissue in ectopic sites. Several studies have focused on elucidating the immunological, endocrine, environmental and genetic factors involved in endometriosis. However, its pathogenesis is still unclear. METHODS High-resolution comparative genomic hybridization was a...