BACKGROUND The presence of regulatory T (Treg) cells in human endometrium is crucial for maintaining immunological homeostasis within the uterus. For this study we decided to evaluate the subpopulations of Treg cells in conditions where a disturbance in the immunological equilibrium in ectopic endometrium and decidua has been observed, such as in cases of ovarian endometriosis (involving local ...

Background: Human mast cells (MCs) are long-lived tissue-resident immune cells characterised by granules containing the proteases chymase and/or tryptase. Their phenotype is modulated by their tissue microenvironment. The human uterus has an outer muscular layer (the myometrium) surrounding the endometrium, both of which play an important role in supporting a pregnancy. The endometrium is a sex...

Several lines of evidence suggest that human uterine endometrial cells can bind human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) which, in turn, influences the physiology of implantation stage endometrium. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) appears to be a candidate mediator in this process. However, our knowledge about hCG action on VEGF in human endometrial cells is very thin. In the present study, ...

Embryo implantation requires synchronized dialogue between the receptive endometrium and activated blastocyst via locally produced soluble mediators. During the mid-secretory (MS) phase of the menstrual cycle, increased glandular secretion into the uterine lumen provides important mediators that modulate the endometrium and support the conceptus during implantation. Previously we demonstrated t...

Human endometrium resists embryo implantation except during the 'window of receptivity'. A change in endometrial gene expression is required for the development of receptivity. Uterine calbindin-D28k (CaBP-28k) is involved in the regulation of endometrial receptivity by intracellular Ca2+. Currently, this protein is known to be mainly expressed in brain, kidneys, and pancreas, but potential rol...

An ultrasonographic evaluation of the endometrium was performed in 158 patients undergoing ovarian stimulation for an in-vitro assisted reproduction programme. Endometrial thickness was evaluated in 109 patients undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) for female indications and in 49 patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for male indications. The maximal endometrial thickn...