<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec><h3>Background</h3><p>β-Catenin mediates cellular adhesion and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling mechanism, thereby controlling cell proliferation and differentiation. Studies of endometrial tissue suggest that there are differences in β-catenin expression during the course of regular menstrual cycles. However, differences in expression in squamous epithelial cells between the proliferative and secretory phases have hitherto remained unknown.</p></sec><sec><h3>Objectives</h3><p>To localize β-catenin in squamous epithelial cells in cervicovaginal smears during the course of regular menstrual cycles.</p></sec><sec><h3>Methods</h3><p>In this observational study, smears were taken from women (n = 102) with various gynecological complaints. Squamous epithelial cells were stained using a Papanicolaou method to evaluate their cytology and any infection. An anti-β-catenin antibody was used to localize immunoreactivity in the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and/or nucleus.</p></sec><sec><h3>Results</h3><p>Women with a regular menstrual cycle (n = 62) were divided into 2 groups: those in a proliferative phase (26/62, 42%) and those in a secretory phase (36/62, 58%). Cytoplasmic and nuclear β-catenin immunoreactivity was observed prominently in the proliferative phase (19/26, 73%), whereas low-level β-catenin immunoreactivity was seen in the secretory phase (9/36, 25%). Compared with the secretory phase, the mean H-scores for β-catenin immunoreactivity in the proliferative phase were significantly increased in the membrane (<italic>P</italic> = 0.039), the cytoplasm (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.001), and the nucleus (<italic>P</italic> = 0.033). By contrast, β-catenin immunoreactivity was reduced from parabasal to superficial cells in both the proliferative and secretory phases.</p></sec><sec><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Cytoplasmic and/or nuclear β-catenin immunoreactivity may indicate that the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is cycle dependent.</p></sec></abstract>

Backgroundβ-Catenin mediates cellular adhesion and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling mechanism, thereby controlling cell proliferation and differentiation. Studies of endometrial tissue suggest that there are differences in β-catenin expression during the course of regular menstrual cycles. However, differences in expression in squamous epithelial cells between the proliferative and secretory phases have hitherto remained unknown.ObjectivesTo localize β-catenin in squamous epithelial cells in cervicovaginal smears during the course of regular menstrual cycles.MethodsIn this observational study, smears were taken from women (n = 102) with various gynecological complaints. Squamous epithelial cells were stained using a Papanicolaou method to evaluate their cytology and any infection. An anti-β-catenin antibody was used to localize immunoreactivity in the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and/or nucleus.ResultsWomen with a regular menstrual cycle (n = 62) were divided into 2 groups: those in a proliferative phase (26/62, 42%) and those in a secretory phase (36/62, 58%). Cytoplasmic and nuclear β-catenin immunoreactivity was observed prominently in the proliferative phase (19/26, 73%), whereas low-level β-catenin immunoreactivity was seen in the secretory phase (9/36, 25%). Compared with the secretory phase, the mean H-scores for β-catenin immunoreactivity in the proliferative phase were significantly increased in the membrane (P = 0.039), the cytoplasm (P < 0.001), and the nucleus (P = 0.033). By contrast, β-catenin immunoreactivity was reduced from parabasal to superficial cells in both the proliferative and secretory phases.ConclusionsCytoplasmic and/or nuclear β-catenin immunoreactivity may indicate that the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is cycle dependent.

β-Catenin immunocytochemical reactivity in cervicovaginal smears during regular menstrual cycles

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science

Asian Biomedicine

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Backgroundβ-Catenin mediates cellular adhesion and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling mechanism, thereby controlling cell proliferation and differentiation. Studies...

β-Catenin immunocytochemical reactivity in cervicovaginal smears during regular menstrual cycles

Article Category: Original article

Published Online: Oct 31, 2020

Page range: 187 - 194

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/abm-2020-0027

Keywords
β-catenin, menstrual cycle, Papanicolaou test, vaginal smears, Wnt signaling pathway

© 2020 Hanife Guler Donmez, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

β-Catenin immunocytochemical reactivity in cervicovaginal smears during regular menstrual cycles

Article Category: Original article

Published Online: Oct 31, 2020

Page range: 187 - 194

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/abm-2020-0027

Keywordsβ-catenin, menstrual cycle, Papanicolaou test, vaginal smears, Wnt signaling pathway

© 2020 Hanife Guler Donmez, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
β-catenin, menstrual cycle, Papanicolaou test, vaginal smears, Wnt signaling pathway