Conclusions
Reduced endothelial cell expression of PDGF-BB in the AUB-E endometrium may contribute to the reduced vascular maturation previously observed in these women.
Results
Endothelial cell immunoreactivity for PDGF-BB was reduced in the mid and late secretory phases in AUB-E (P = 0.008). PDGFRα was also reduced in mid secretory phase endothelial cells, proliferative and early secretory phase glandular epithelium in AUB-E (P = 0.008). PDGFRβ expression was not altered. Treatment of proliferative phase endometrium with PDGF-BB (10 ng/ml) reduced the percentage of vessels expressing contractile VSMC markers. PDGF-BB had no effect on angiogenic growth factor secretion by endothelial cells or VSMC in vitro and did not affect their association in an in-vitro endothelial cell-VSMC association assay. Conclusions: Reduced endothelial cell expression of PDGF-BB in the AUB-E endometrium may contribute to the reduced vascular maturation previously observed in these women.