Lecce G, Meduri G, Ancelin M, Bergeron C, Perrot-Applanat M
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U460, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Xavier Bichat, 75018 Paris Cedex, France.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Mar;86(3):1379-86. doi: 10.1210/jcem.86.3.7322.
The recent discovery of a new isoform of estrogen receptor (ER) beta has prompted the reexamination of estrogen action on target organs. Here, we describe the endometrial expression of human ERbeta and compare its distribution with that of ERalpha in the endometrial functional zone. Using immunocytochemistry with well characterized polyclonal antibodies against ERbeta, we have detected specific ERbeta expression in all endometrial compartments (glandular, stromal, and vascular); the specificity of the immunostaining is confirmed by lack of staining of the uterine sections with anti-ERbeta antibodies previously incubated with peptide preparation. The highest levels of ERbeta expression are observed in epithelial cells during the periovulatory period (days 14 and 15), as well as in stromal cells and cells of the vascular wall in the late-secretory phase; both smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells express ERbeta, as deduced from immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR analysis. ERbeta staining is usually low compared with that of ERalpha, except at days 24-26. The presence of ERbeta in decidualized stromal cells is deduced from immunocytochemistry using antismooth alpha-actin and anti-ERbeta antibodies or from RT-PCR analysis of ERbeta and insulin-like growth factor-BP transcripts in the same cells; the presence of ERbeta-positive stromal cells located close to vascular smooth muscle cells during this period suggests some specific role of this receptor during decidualization. ERalpha is also present in the cells of the endometrial vascular wall, in addition to the nuclei of glandular epithelial and stromal cells. Vascular ERalpha expression is highest during the periovulatory period, suggesting a regulation by estradiol, and a role in vascular function. Moreover, different variations of ERbeta and ERalpha in arterioles might have implications for the modulation of vascular function, possibly of vascular tone, during the menstrual cycle. Finally, these data suggest that ERbeta may have important roles in endometrial function, in addition to the well known role of ERalpha in endometrial proliferation and differentiation.
最近雌激素受体（ER）β新亚型的发现促使人们重新审视雌激素对靶器官的作用。在此，我们描述了人ERβ在子宫内膜中的表达，并将其在子宫内膜功能区的分布与ERα的分布进行比较。使用针对ERβ的特征明确的多克隆抗体进行免疫细胞化学检测，我们在所有子宫内膜区室（腺体、基质和血管）中检测到了特异性的ERβ表达；预先用肽制剂孵育的抗ERβ抗体对子宫切片无染色，证实了免疫染色的特异性。在排卵期（第14和15天）上皮细胞中观察到最高水平的ERβ表达，在分泌晚期基质细胞和血管壁细胞中也观察到最高水平；从免疫细胞化学和逆转录-聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）分析推断，平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞均表达ERβ。与ERα相比，ERβ染色通常较低，第24 - 26天除外。使用抗平滑肌α - 肌动蛋白和抗ERβ抗体的免疫细胞化学或对同一细胞中ERβ和胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白转录本进行RT-PCR分析，推断蜕膜化基质细胞中存在ERβ；在此期间靠近血管平滑肌细胞的ERβ阳性基质细胞的存在表明该受体在蜕膜化过程中具有某种特定作用。除了腺上皮和基质细胞的细胞核外，ERα也存在于子宫内膜血管壁细胞中。血管ERα表达在排卵期最高，提示受雌二醇调节并在血管功能中起作用。此外，小动脉中ERβ和ERα的不同变化可能对月经周期中血管功能的调节（可能是血管张力的调节）有影响。最后，这些数据表明ERβ除了在子宫内膜增殖和分化中ERα的众所周知的作用外，可能在子宫内膜功能中也具有重要作用。
