Expression of HOXA-10 and HOXA-11 in the endometria of women with idiopathic infertility

Abstract

Abstract:In fertile women, HOXA-10 and HOXA-11 expression rises during the luteal phase, with the peak occurring during the implantation window, and stays at a high level until the end of the cycle. We evaluated the transcript and protein levels of HOXA-10 and HOXA-11 in the endometria of patients with idiopathic infertility (n = 15) and control patients (n = 10). The amounts of mRNA were determined by reverse transcription and real-time quantitative PCR. The protein levels were evaluated by Western blotting analysis. Using immunohistochemical techniques, we compared the localization of HOXA-10 and HOXA-11 proteins in the implantation window between the study and control groups. We observed statistically significantly decreased HOXA-10 and HOXA-11 transcript levels (p = 0.003, p = 0.012 respectively) in infertile patients compared to controls. There was no significant decrease in HOXA-10 protein levels between these groups (p = 0.074). However, we observed a significantly higher level of HOXA-11 protein in the endometria of infertile patients compared to controls (p = 0.015). HOXA-10 and HOXA-11 proteins were localized in the nuclei of the endometrial stromal cells. Immunohistochemical analyses did not reveal differences between amounts of HOXA-10 and HOXA-11 protein levels in infertility and control groups. Our results suggest that HOXA-10 and HOXA-11 gene expression in the endometrium during the implantation window may not be altered in patients with idiopathic infertility.

Vitamin D and Endometrium: A Systematic Review of a Neglected Area of Research

“…Decidualization is the process whereby endometrial stromal cells transform into specialized secretory decidual cells that provide a nutritive and immunoprivileged matrix essential for embryo implantation and placental development [32]. HOXA10 is a well-known molecule involved in the mechanism of implantation, and a decrease of implantation rates has been observed in women with altered HOXA10 expression [33]. Indeed, HOXA10 expression reaches a peak during the window of implantation in response to estrogen and progesterone.…”

HOXA-11 mediated dysregulation of matrix remodeling during implantation window in women with endometriosis

“…These genes usually bind to the regulatory regions of their downstream target genes involved in endometrial development and regulate their transcriptional expression [5]. Altered expression of HOX genes are reported to be associated with a number of infertility related disorders with decreased rate of implantation including PCOS, idiopathic infertility, endometriosis and recurrent spontaneous miscarriage [4,[6][7][8][9].…”

Semi-quantitative analysis of endometrial receptivity marker mRNA expression in the mid-secretory endometrium of patients with uterine fibromas

“…Therefore, histology alone cannot effectively assess endometrial receptivity; molecular evaluation of the endometrium is a potential means of identifying defects in receptivity. Alterations in endometrial expression of some genes have been identified in several clinical conditions associated with impaired endometrial receptivity: endometriosis, idiopathic infertility and hydrosalpinges (Alizadeh et al, 2011;Szczepańska et al, 2011;Bildirici et al, 2001). In this study, the effect of myomas on the endometrium was evaluated using several established molecular markers of endometrial receptivity: HOXA11, LIF as well as BTEB1.Homeobox (Hox/HOX) genes encode transcription factors that mediate embryonic development.…”