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Endometrial Cancer Cells as Models to Study Uterine Receptivity

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Book cover Cell and Molecular Biology of Endometrial Carcinoma

Summary

Endometrial estrogen and progesterone receptors mediate gene expression during the menstrual cycle in all mammalian species. At the time of implantation, differential patterns of gene expression occur on both glandular and luminal (surface) epithelium. Glandular secretions appear to be essential for embryonic development and viability, whereas luminal epithelium may provide a site for attachment and subsequent invasion of the nascent embryo. We have characterized previously integrins and other extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules as differentiated markers of endometrial epithelium. Both luminal and glandular epithelium express constitutive α3βl and α6β4 integrins and hormonally regulated α1βl, α4βl, α9βl, and αvβ3. The glandular epithelium expresses hormonally regulated ECM glycoproteins, such as osteopontin. Luminal cells exhibit cycle-dependent patterns of other α2βl and selectively express cytokeratin 13. Endometrial cancer cell lines have provided an excellent model to study normal endometrial epithelium. Of the many available cell lines, Ishikawa and ECC-1 cells maintain normal hormonal responsiveness to estrogen and progesterone, as well as to androgens. In this chapter, we review the potential of Ishikawa and ECC-1 cells as surrogate cells for normal endometrial epithelium and discuss their characteristics of glandular and luminal epithelia, respectively. Further characterization of these two cell lines may provide new insight into the mechanism of embryo implantation in humans and shed light on possible defects in endometrial receptivity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CB #7570 MacNider Bldg, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Bruce A. Lessey, Aleksandr E. Vendrov & Lingwen Yuan

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  1. Bruce A. Lessey
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  2. Aleksandr E. Vendrov
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  3. Lingwen Yuan
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Cytology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 228-8555, Japan

    Hiroyuki Kuramoto M.D., Ph.D. (Professor) (Professor)

  2. Kasumigaura National Hospital, 2-7-14 Shimotakatsu, Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, 300-8585, Japan

    Masato Nishida M.D., Ph.D. (President) (President)

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© 2003 Springer Japan

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Lessey, B.A., Vendrov, A.E., Yuan, L. (2003). Endometrial Cancer Cells as Models to Study Uterine Receptivity. In: Kuramoto, H., Nishida, M. (eds) Cell and Molecular Biology of Endometrial Carcinoma. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-53981-0_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-53981-0_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-67977-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-53981-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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