Expression of integrin subunits depend on bovine endometrial stromal cells cultured in vitro

Expression patterns of four integrin a subunits (α2, α3, α5 and αV) and two integrin β subunits (β1 and β3) were examined in bovine endometrial stromal cells (BES) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and indirect immunofluorescence analysis. All six integrin subunit genes were expressed in the bovine endometrium and in in vitro cultured BES, except α2 subunit gene, which was not expressed with increased generation and longer culture period. The α5 and αV integrin subunit proteins were detected in cultured BES. The α2, α3 and β1 subunit proteins were undetectable in BES derived from pregnant endometrium; however, these subunits are expressed in vivo. These results demonstrate that the expression patterns of integrin subunits are different between endometrium and cultured cells in terms of both mRNA and protein levels. It is indicating that culture conditions influence the expression of integrins in BES.