Maruyama T, Kitaoka Y, Sachi Y, Nakanoin K, Hirota K, Shiozawa T, Yoshimura Y, Fujii S, Yodoi J
Department of Biological Responses, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Japan.
Mol Hum Reprod. 1997 Nov;3(11):989-93. doi: 10.1093/molehr/3.11.989.
Human thioredoxin, a cellular disulphide reducing protein, is known to be secreted by some types of cells and to display unique extracellular activities including modulation of cytokine actions and protection of the cell against damage from oxidative stress. This study has been undertaken to investigate the pattern of expression and tissue distribution of thioredoxin in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle. Immunohistochemical studies showed increased thioredoxin immunoreactivity in the glands of the secretory phase compared to those of the proliferative phase. Although the staining of thioredoxin was relatively intense in predecidual stromal cells, the most prominent staining of thioredoxin was present in both glands and stroma of the endometrium in the early secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. Northern hybridization analyses revealed that expression of thioredoxin mRNA in the endometrium of the early secretory phase was approximately 3-fold compared to the other phases of the menstrual cycle, consistent with the results of the immunohistochemical studies. These results suggest that both protein and gene expression of thioredoxin in the endometrium are menstrual cycle phase-specific and highly active in the phase of endometrial differentiation which occurs in preparation for implantation (early secretory phase of the menstrual cycle). Thioredoxin expressed in the early secretory phase of the menstrual cycle may be advantageous for blastocyst implantation.
人硫氧还蛋白是一种细胞内二硫键还原蛋白，已知可由某些类型的细胞分泌，并表现出独特的细胞外活性，包括调节细胞因子的作用以及保护细胞免受氧化应激损伤。本研究旨在调查月经周期中硫氧还蛋白在人子宫内膜中的表达模式和组织分布。免疫组织化学研究显示，与增殖期相比，分泌期腺体中的硫氧还蛋白免疫反应性增强。尽管硫氧还蛋白在前蜕膜基质细胞中的染色相对较强，但在月经周期早期分泌期，子宫内膜的腺体和基质中硫氧还蛋白的染色最为明显。Northern杂交分析显示，与月经周期的其他阶段相比，早期分泌期子宫内膜中硫氧还蛋白mRNA的表达约为3倍，这与免疫组织化学研究结果一致。这些结果表明，子宫内膜中硫氧还蛋白的蛋白质和基因表达均具有月经周期阶段特异性，且在为着床做准备的子宫内膜分化阶段（月经周期早期分泌期）高度活跃。月经周期早期分泌期表达的硫氧还蛋白可能有利于囊胚着床。
