Effects of Lewis Y Oligosaccharide on Secretion and Gene Expression of EGF and EGF-R in Mouse Embryos

KONG Ying, GE Chang-Hui, LI Hong, ZHU Zheng-Mei*
( Department of Biochemistry,Institute of Glycobiology,Dalian Medical University,Dalian 116027,China )

Abstract    Implantation is a complicated developmental process. Some hormones and cytokines are involved in the regulation of the implantation by regulating functions of the endometrium and the embryo.Oligosaccharide antigen Lewis Y is specifically expressed on embryo surface and plays an important role in implantation.In this study, effects of Lewis Y on secretion and gene expression of EGF and EGF receptor of the embryo were investigated.Embryos were pre-incubated with LeY specific antibody AH6 for 3 h,then antibody was removed, immuno-dot blots and RT-PCR were used to analyze the secretion of EGF and EGF receptor and their gene expression in the embryo at different times after pre-incubation.The results showed that, when blocked by AH6 antibody for 1.5 h,the secretion and expression of EGF in the embryo were significantly declined, and the alteration was continued to over 6 h;and those of EGF-R were slightly decreased after blocking.The results suggest that Lewis Y oligosaccharide on the surface of embryo may be involved in the regulation of embryo development and implantation,by affecting the expression and secretion of EGF in embryo.
Key words    embryo; LeY oligosaccharide antigen; epidermal growth factor; monoclonal antibody

*Corresponding author£ºTel,86-411-4720616;e-mail, [email protected]