Menstrual cycle-associated regulation of anabolic and catabolic enzymes causes luteal phase-characteristic expression of sulfatide in human endometrium.

Abstract

Our purpose was to investigate the metabolic background of the expression of sulfoglycolipids in human endometrium during the luteal phase. We investigated the expression of sulfoglycolipids by thin-layer chromatography immunostaining and the activities of galactosylceramide sulfotransferase and arylsulfatase A, which regulate the synthesis and degradation of sulfoglycolipid. In addition, arylsulfatase A messenger ribonucleic acid was studied by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Sulfoglycolipid expression showed a marked increase in the luteal phase but not in the follicular phase, whereas sialoglycolipids remained relatively constant. The increase of sulfoglycolipids was found to be due to 4.5-fold increased activation of sulfotransferase and a concurrent reduction of arylsulfatase A activity in the luteal phase. Arylsulfatase A messenger ribonucleic acid was detected in both phases and showed no significant changes. These findings suggest that increased sulfoglycolipid expression in the luteal phase is due to the simultaneous regulation of sulfotransferase and arylsulfatase A, probably by sex steroid hormones.