Correlation of the expression of integrin αVβ3 in endometrium and peripheral blood lymphocytes in infertile patients.

Integrin alphavbeta3 is an adhesion molecule thought to be relevant to blastocyst attachment. It is expressed by endometrial epithelial cells at the time of ''implantation window,'' and its expression may be altered in women with implantation failure. Integrin alphavbeta3 is also expressed by T lymphocytes. Because immune cells interact with endometrial tissues via integrins, we hypothesized that expression of integrin alphavbeta3 in endometrium and in peripheral blood lymphocytes may correlate. A total of 41 women with implantation failure underwent endometrial biopsy and blood collection at the time of implantation window. Integrin alphavbeta3 expression was evaluated in fresh frozen endometrial specimens using immunohistochemistry and on T lymphocytes using flow cytometry. Statistically significant negative correlation was found between integrin alphavbeta3 in endometrium and T lymphocytes. Integrin alphavbeta3 expression on T lymphocytes does not predict its endometrial expression.