Endothelin receptor expression in human decidua

G. Kohnen
In: Molecular Human Reproduction · 1998 · vol. 4(2) , pp. 185–193 · doi:10.1093/molehr/4.2.185 · PMID:9542978 · W2092721783
article OA: bronze CC0 ⤵ 3 in-corpus citations
📄 Open PDF View on OpenAlex View on PubMed View at publisher
⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

Endothelin ET(A) and ET(B) receptors are expressed in human decidua, with ET(B) showing a positive correlation with laminin alpha2 light chain during decidualization.

One-sentence paraphrase of the abstract; not a substitute for reading it. No clinical advice. How this works

Abstract

The endothelins are signalling peptides that act via two receptors, ET(A) and ET(B). In the human endometrium, endothelin receptors have been demonstrated in glands and stroma and have been shown to vary during the course of the menstrual cycle. The present study was undertaken to determine whether or not expression of endothelin receptors changes during pregnancy or after administration of exogenous progestagens. The expression of the receptors was correlated with the appearance of basement membrane components during decidualization of the endometrial stroma. Decidual specimens (n = 15) were obtained during the first trimester of pregnancy and 10 at term. Sixteen pairs of endometrial biopsies were obtained from women with menorrhagia before and after exposure to exogenous progestagens. A total of 15 hysterectomy specimens were used as controls for the expression of stromal basement membrane proteins in the absence of decidualization. Autoradiography was carried out with selective ligands for ET(A) ([125I]-PD 151242) and ET(B) ([125I]-BQ3020). The distribution of ligand binding was then compared with the distribution of laminin alpha2 light chain and collagen IV. ET(A), ET(B), laminin alpha2 light chain, and collagen IV were expressed in stromal decidual cells in the first trimester of pregnancy. ET(B) was also found on endometrial glandular epithelium. Quantitative macro-autoradiography and multiple regression analysis demonstrated a highly significant positive correlation (P < 0.001) between expression of ET(B) and laminin alpha2 light chain. In the third trimester qualitative examination suggested a reduction of ET(A) in the stroma. Progestagen-induced decidua exhibited a similar pattern to that found in first trimester decidua. This study has demonstrated up-regulation of ET(B) during the progesterone-dependent process of decidualization and suggests a paracrine or autocrine role for endothelins in the decidua.

My notes (saved in your browser only)

Citation neighborhood (sparse)

Too few in-corpus citations on either side for a chart; here are the lists.

Cited by (3)

References (28)

Cited by (3)

Source provenance

openalex
last seen: 2026-06-10T17:14:06.276822+00:00
License: CC0 · commercial use OK