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Unlabelled: Inhibins (INH) are dimeric glycoproteins composed of an alpha-subunit (INH-alpha) and one of two possible beta-subunits (INH-betaA or -betaB), with substantial roles in human reproduction and in endocrine-responsive tumours. The aim of the present study was the determination of the frequency and tissue distribution patterns of the inhibin/activin subunits in endometrial carcinoma cells of the cell line RL-95-2 after stimulation with estradiol and cortisol compared to unstimulated controls., Materials and Methods: Cells of the endometrial carcinoma cell line RL-95-2 were grown on quadriperm tissue slides and incubated with different concentrations (0.1 and 0.01 micromol/ml) of estradiol or cortisol. Expression of INH-alpha, betaA and betaB was analysed by immunocytochemistry with specific monoclonal antibodies directed against the inhibin subunits., Results: Expression of INH-alpha and -betaB was higher in cortisol-stimulated RL-95-2 cells, whereas INH-betaA expression was lower. In contrast to these, INH-betaB expression was increased by estradiol while INH-alpha and -betaA were unchanged under estradiol treatment., Conclusion: Expression of INH-subunits in RL-95-2 cells was described. Cortisol and estradiol showed an influence on INH expression. The RL-95-2 cell line could act as a useful model for the investigation of INH regulation, particularly for endometrial cancer.

Background and Aim: Inhibins are dimeric glycoproteins, belonging to the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) family, composed of an alpha-subunit (INH-alpha) and one of two possible beta-subunits (betaA or betaB). Additionally two further beta-subunits (betaC and betaE) have been cloned, although their function remains still quite unclear. The detection by immunohistochemistry of inhibin/activin subunits has been proposed as a useful marker of trophoblastic diseases. Interestingly, a complete mole cannot be easily differentiated from a partial mole. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine expression changes of the five inhibin/activin subunits in partial and complete moles., Materials and Methods: Histologically diagnosed complete (n = 6) and partial (n = 3) hydatidiform moles were immunohistochemical analyzed for INH-alpha, INH-betaA, INH-betaB, INH-betaC and INH-betaE subunits. The immunohistochemical reaction in intermediate trophoblast was analyzed with a semiquantitative score (IRS) and statistical analysis was performed., Results: Immuno-histochemical reaction with INH-alpha, INH-betaA, INH-betaB, INH-betaC and INH-betaE subunits was demonstrated in hydatidiform moles. The INH-betaA and INH-betaB expression was significantly higher in complete compared to partial moles (p < 0.05 each), while INH-alpha, INH-betaC and INH-betaE did not demonstrate any statistically significant differences., Conclusion: We demonstrated an immunohistochemical expression of all five inhibin/activin subunits in partial and complete hydatidiform moles. The expression of INH-betaA and INH-betaB determined immunohistochemically was significantly up-regulated in complete moles, suggesting the utilization of these antibodies as diagnostic differentiation markers between complete and partial moles.