The immunocytochemical expression of the inhibin/activin subunits in normal human endometrium and the upregulation in interferon-ß1a-stimulated cells of the Ishikawa cell line

Introduction: Inhibins consist of an α- and one ß-subunit (A or B). They have substantial function in reproduction and seem to play a role in tumor development. Aims of this study were (a) to analyse inhibin/activin- subunit-expression in isolated glandular epithelial cells of normal human endometrium and (b) to determine expression changes of these subunits in endometrial Ishikawa carcinoma cell line after stimulation with interferon-ß1a. Materials and Methods: Normal endometrium was obtained from women who underwent hysterectomy. After adding interferon-ß1a (1000IE/ml) for 48h to confluent-cultured Ishikawa ce…