Mast Cell and Eosinophil Distribution and Activation in Human Endometrium throughout the Menstrual Cycle1

Abstract

Tryptase and chymase immunolocalization techniques have been used to examine the distribution, activation, and tryptase/chymase phenotype of mast cells (MCs) in 107 endometrial specimens that represented every day of the human menstrual cycle. MCs were identified in the endometrium in all stages of the menstrual cycle; similar MC numbers were observed for the functionalis, basalis, and muscularis. Extensive MC activation/degranulation, as judged by extracellular tryptase, was a common feature of the functionalis in specimens sampled just prior to and during menstruation. MC activation was also prominent in the functionalis at times coincident with recognized stromal edema. MCs of the functionalis did not contain chymase; all stained for tryptase and represent the MCT phenotype. By contrast, the basalis and muscularis showed a proportion of MCs containing both tryptase and chymase, MCTC. One important function for extracellular MC tryptase and chymase is their ability to activate precursor forms of the matrix metalloproteinases, enzymes recognized as instrumental in stromal degradation. Quantitative analysis of MC numbers, expressed relative to stromal cell numbers/mm2, indicated no major changes during the menstrual cycle, although changes in MC morphology, granule content, and activation/degranulation were recognized for specific stages. Eosinophils, detected with monoclonal antibodies EG1 and EG2, were absent from extravascular sites between Days 5 and 26 but showed local accumulations just prior to and during menstruation. Since MCs and eosinophils between them contain a variety of potent mediators, it seems likely that both cell types assume important functional roles in relation to tissue and vascular remodeling associated with endometrial physiology.

Immunoprofiling of human uterine mast cells identifies three phenotypes and expression of ERβ and glucocorticoid receptor

“…In line with a previous report ( Jeziorska et al ., 1995), the numbers of tryptase immunopositive cells appeared higher in the myometrium and adjacent basal layer of the endometrium than in the functional layer (green cells) in all phases of the cycle ( Figure 2 and Figure 3, Supplementary Figure 1– Supplementary Figure 3). Notably some of the chymase cells (red staining) in the myometrium appeared to be ‘activated’, with immunopositive staining being intense and diffuse within the tissue during both the early ( Supplementary Figure 2) mid ( Figure 3, arrow) and late ( Supplementary Figure 3) secretory and menstrual ( Figure 4, arrows) phases.…”

“…The current study provides the first evidence for the presence of a chymase positive subpopulation of MCs that did not contain tryptase. This complements and extends a previous study that stained parallel tissue sections with antibodies directed against tryptase and chymase ( Jeziorska et al , 1995), identifying both MC T and MC TC , and increases both our understanding of the location and phenotypic heterogeneity of MCs in the uterus.…”

“…Previously, endometrial MCs were reported to degranulate during the secretory phase, at a time when the tissue is in an oedematous state. This observation was based on detection of extracellular tryptase during oedema and weak intracellular tryptase staining detectable during the proliferative phase ( Jeziorska et al ., 1995). In this study, endometrial activation and the degranulation of MCs was documented during the early and mid-secretory stages of normal uterine tissue with detection of tryptase and chymase in the extracellular matrix.…”

O impacto da exposição pré-gestacional à poluição atmosférica sobre o processo de implantação embrionária em camundongos

“…Sabe-se que o número de mastócitos varia no ciclo estral em ratos, camundongos, cobaias e vacas, sugerindo assim uma influência dos hormônios femininos no recrutamento de mastócitos para o útero (Jensen et al, 2011). No ambiente uterino, os mastócitos distribuem-se no miométrio, endométrio e na cérvix, podendo ser são encontrados em maior número próximo aos vasos sanguíneos, linfáticos e nervos (Jeziorska et al, 1995;Mori et al, 1997;Cabanillas-Saez et al, 2002).…”

“…Os animais expostos a poluição do ar tiveram uma redução do número dessa célula que promovem a angiogênese e produzem citocinas , tão necessárias para o desenvolvimento da decídua. No perimétrio, miométrio e na cervix uterina, os mastócito são encontrados em volta de vasos sanguíneos e linfáticos e de nervos (Jeziorska et al, 1995;Mori et al, 1997;Cabanillas-Saez et al, 2002 (Hanna et al, 2006).…”