Signaling molecules of the endometrium: Gerontological and general pathological aspects

Abstract

This review describes the expression of neuroendocrine and immune signaling molecules in human endometrial cells under normal and pathological conditions and during aging. Human endometrial cells synthesize estrogen, progesterone, estradiol, progestin, cell-adhesion molecules (integrins α1β1, α4β1, αVβ3, L-selectin, E-cadherin, and MUC1), growth factors (TGF, EGF, HB-EGF, and IGF), cytokines (IL-1, IL-2, INF-α, IL-12, CXCL10, CXCL11, and CXCR3), various immune-cell markers (CD68, CD105, CD163, CD16, CD56, CD4, and CD8), and heat-shock proteins (HSP60, HSP70, HSP90, VEGF, and MMP). Aberrations in their expression levels underlie such socially significant diseases as endometriosis, endometrial cancer, and infertility. Thus, investigation of neuroendocrine and immune interactions among endometrial cells can be used for the purposes of drug development, differential diagnostics of endometrial cancer, and increasing the efficacy of in vitro fertilization.