Vol 49, No 4 (2011)
Original paper
Published online: 2012-01-16
No correlation between pinopode formation and LIF and MMP2 expression in endometrium during implantation window
DOI: 10.5603/FHC.2011.0084
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2011;49(4):615-621.
Abstract
Implantation depends on two factors — embryo and endometrium. The period of maximal endometrial
receptivity is a poorly understood phenomenon. We decided to look at three possible markers of implantation:
pinopodes, leukemia inhibitory factor, and matrix metalloproteinase 2 and their correlations. We included
in the study 23 idiopathic infertility patients and 21 patients with recurrent spontaneous abortions of unknown
etiology. Twenty one fertile patients were also recruited. A biopsy was used for endometrial dating according to
the Noyes and Hertig criteria, and assessed for the presence of pinopodes via a scanning electron microscope.
Endometria were examined in Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction cycles for the mRNA expression of leukemia
inhibitory factor (LIF) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2). No difference was found in the stage of
pinopodes development, nor in the coverage of endometrial surface between the studied groups. The expression
level for LIF mRNA was lower in control patients compared to idiopathic infertility and recurrent miscarriage
patients. No difference was detected in the expression of MMP2 between all studied groups. No correlation was
found between pinopodes development stage and LIF and MMP2 expressions in endometrium. Of the studied
factors, LIF and pinopodes show the most promise as potential markers of endometrial receptivity. However,
the results achieved suggest that these markers are independent of each other. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica
2011; Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 615–621)
Keywords: infertilityrecurrent miscarriagepinopodesendometriumLIFMMPidiopathic infertility
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