Takatsu K, Acosta T J
Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
Reprod Domest Anim. 2015 Jun;50(3):458-64. doi: 10.1111/rda.12513. Epub 2015 Mar 16.
Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) regulates several cell functions by binding to its membrane receptor (ErbB1 and ErbB4). Experimental evidences suggest that HB-EGF, prostaglandins (PGs) and interferon-τ (IFN-τ) regulate uterine function for pregnancy establishment in ruminants. In this study, the mRNA expressions of HB-EGF, ErbB1 and ErbB4 in bovine endometrium and the effects of HB-EGF and IFN-τ on PGE2 and PGF2-α production by endometrial cells were investigated. RT-PCR analysis revealed that HB-EGF mRNA was greater at the mid-luteal stage than at the early and regressed luteal stages (p < 0.05). ErbB1 mRNA expression was greater at the mid- and late luteal stages than at the other luteal stages (p < 0.05). IFN-τ increased the expression of HB-EGF, ErbB1 and ErbB4 mRNA in epithelial cells (p < 0.05). HB-EGF did not affect PGF2-α or PGE2 production by bovine endometrial epithelial cells, but increased PGF2-α and PGE2 production by bovine endometrial stromal cells (p < 0.05). IFN-τ significantly decreased HB-EGF-stimulated PGF2-α (p < 0.05), but not PGE2 (p > 0.05) production by stromal cells. These results indicate that HB-EGF and its receptors expression changed in bovine endometrium throughout the oestrous cycle. IFN-τ increased their expression in cultured endometrial cells. HB-EGF and IFN-τ have the ability to regulate PGs production by stromal cells and therefore may play a role in the local regulation of uterine function at the time of implantation in cattle.
肝素结合表皮生长因子（HB-EGF）通过与其膜受体（ErbB1和ErbB4）结合来调节多种细胞功能。实验证据表明，HB-EGF、前列腺素（PGs）和干扰素-τ（IFN-τ）调节反刍动物子宫功能以建立妊娠。在本研究中，调查了牛子宫内膜中HB-EGF、ErbB1和ErbB4的mRNA表达，以及HB-EGF和IFN-τ对子宫内膜细胞产生PGE2和PGF2-α的影响。逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）分析显示，HB-EGF mRNA在黄体中期高于黄体早期和退化期（p<0.05）。ErbB1 mRNA表达在黄体中期和后期高于其他黄体期（p<0.05）。IFN-τ增加了上皮细胞中HB-EGF、ErbB1和ErbB4 mRNA的表达（p<0.05）。HB-EGF不影响牛子宫内膜上皮细胞产生PGF2-α或PGE2，但增加了牛子宫内膜基质细胞产生PGF2-α和PGE2（p<0.05）。IFN-τ显著降低了基质细胞中HB-EGF刺激的PGF2-α产生（p<0.05），但不影响PGE2产生（p>0.05）。这些结果表明，在整个发情周期中，牛子宫内膜中HB-EGF及其受体的表达发生了变化。IFN-τ增加了培养的子宫内膜细胞中它们的表达。HB-EGF和IFN-τ有能力调节基质细胞产生PGs，因此可能在牛着床时子宫功能的局部调节中发挥作用。
