Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Biol Reprod. 2011 Sep;85(3):511-23. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.111.090993. Epub 2011 May 25.
Repair of the postmenstrual endometrium presents a unique opportunity to examine nonscarring repair in an adult tissue. We aimed to characterize and determine the importance of extracellular matrix (ECM) dynamics in cell migration during endometrial repair. Utilizing an in vivo mouse model of postmenstrual repair and an in vitro model of human endometrial re-epithelialization, we determined the dynamic changes in expression of ECM and related factors in both models by array analysis of repairing areas. We also validated expression of integrins, growth factors, protease inhibitors, basement membrane, and adhesion molecules in vitro and in both mouse and human repairing endometrium by quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical studies. Finally, we determined the functional importance of integrin-fibronectin interactions and matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-facilitated cell movement during re-epithelialization and propose a model for cell locomotion during postmenstrual repair. These data demonstrated the dynamic expression and functional importance of ECM interactions in endometrial repair, which may be important for scar-free repair.
月经后子宫内膜的修复为研究成人组织中无瘢痕修复提供了独特的机会。我们旨在研究细胞迁移过程中细胞外基质（ECM）动力学的特征及其重要性。利用月经后修复的体内小鼠模型和体外人子宫内膜再上皮化模型，我们通过对修复区域的阵列分析，确定了这两种模型中 ECM 及其相关因子的动态变化。我们还通过定量 RT-PCR 和免疫组织化学研究，在体外和小鼠及人类修复的子宫内膜中验证了整合素、生长因子、蛋白酶抑制剂、基底膜和黏附分子的表达。最后，我们确定了整合素-纤维连接蛋白相互作用和基质金属蛋白酶（MMP）促进细胞运动在再上皮化过程中的功能重要性，并提出了月经后修复过程中细胞运动的模型。这些数据表明 ECM 相互作用在子宫内膜修复中的动态表达和功能重要性，这可能对无瘢痕修复很重要。
