1
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Zhang J, Xue M, Huang J, He S, Zhu L, Zhao X, Wang B, Jiang T, Zhang Y, Miao C, Zhou G. Deficiency of UCHL1 results in insufficient decidualization accompanied by impaired dNK modulation and eventually miscarriage. J Transl Med 2024; 22:478. [PMID: 38769534 PMCID: PMC11103838 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05253-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Miscarriage is a frustrating complication of pregnancy that is common among women of reproductive age. Insufficient decidualization which not only impairs embryo implantation but disturbs fetomaternal immune-tolerance, has been widely regarded as a major cause of miscarriage; however, the underlying mechanisms resulting in decidual impairment are largely unknown. METHODS With informed consent, decidual tissue from patients with spontaneous abortion or normal pregnant women was collected to detect the expression profile of UCHL1. Human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) were used to explore the roles of UCHL1 in decidualization and dNK modulation, as well as the mechanisms involved. C57/BL6 female mice (7-10 weeks old) were used to construct pregnancy model or artificially induced decidualization model to evaluate the effect of UCHL1 on mice decidualization and pregnancy outcome. RESULTS The Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1), as a deubiquitinating enzyme, was significantly downregulated in decidua from patients with miscarriage, along with impaired decidualization and decreased dNKs. Blockage of UCHL1 led to insufficient decidualization and resultant decreased expression of cytokines CXCL12, IL-15, TGF-β which were critical for generation of decidual NK cells (dNKs), whereas UCHL1 overexpression enhanced decidualization accompanied by increase in dNKs. Mechanistically, the promotion of UCHL1 on decidualization was dependent on its deubiquitinating activity, and intervention of UCHL1 inhibited the activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, resulting in aberrant decidualization and decreased production of cytokines associated with dNKs modulation. Furthermore, we found that inhibition of UCHL1 also disrupted the decidualization in mice and eventually caused adverse pregnancy outcome. CONCLUSIONS UCHL1 plays significant roles in decidualization and dNKs modulation during pregnancy in both humans and mice. Its deficiency indicates a poor pregnancy outcome due to defective decidualization, making UCHL1 a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of miscarriage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Nantong University, 68 South Haiyu Road, Changshu, 215500, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Mingxing Xue
- Institutes for Translational Medicine, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiefang Huang
- Institutes for Translational Medicine, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Shan He
- Institutes for Translational Medicine, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Lingqiao Zhu
- Institutes for Translational Medicine, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiaonan Zhao
- Institutes for Translational Medicine, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Bei Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingwang Jiang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Nantong University, 68 South Haiyu Road, Changshu, 215500, China
| | - Yanyun Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Nantong University, 68 South Haiyu Road, Changshu, 215500, China.
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Changhong Miao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Guoqiang Zhou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Nantong University, 68 South Haiyu Road, Changshu, 215500, China.
- Gusu College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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Moldovan GE, Massri N, Vegter E, Pauneto-Delgado IL, Burns GW, Joshi N, Gu B, Arora R, Fazleabas AT. Yes Associated Transcriptional Regulator 1 (YAP1) and WW Domain Containing Transcription Regulator (WWTR1) are required for murine pregnancy initiation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.09.592984. [PMID: 38766130 PMCID: PMC11100800 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.09.592984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Endometrial stromal cell decidualization is required for pregnancy success. Although this process is integral to fertility, many of the intricate molecular mechanisms contributing to decidualization remain undefined. One pathway that has been implicated in endometrial stromal cell decidualization in humans in vitro , is the Hippo signaling pathway. Two previously conducted studies showed that the effectors of the Hippo signaling pathway, YAP1 and WWTR1, were required for decidualization of primary stromal cells in culture. To investigate the in vivo role of YAP1 and WWTR1 in decidualization and pregnancy initiation, we generated a Progesterone Cre mediated partial double knockout (pdKO) of Yap1 and Wwtr1 . Female pdKOs exhibited subfertility, a compromised decidualization response, partial interruption in embryo transport, blunted endometrial receptivity, delayed implantation and subsequent embryonic development, and a unique transcriptional profile. Bulk mRNA sequencing revealed aberrant maternal remodeling evidenced by significant alterations in extracellular matrix proteins at 7.5 days post coitus in pdKO dams, and enrichment for terms associated with fertility compromising diseases like pre-eclampsia and endometriosis. Our results indicate a required role for YAP1 and WWTR1 for successful mammalian uterine function and pregnancy success.
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3
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Chen E, da Cruz RS, Nascimento A, Joshi M, Pereira DG, Dominguez O, Fernandes G, Smith M, Paiva SPC, de Assis S. Paternal DDT exposure induces sex-specific programming of fetal growth, placenta development and offspring's health phenotypes in a mouse model. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7567. [PMID: 38555297 PMCID: PMC10981700 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58176-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests that environmentally induced epigenetic inheritance occurs in mammals and that traits in the progeny can be shaped by parental environmental experiences. Epidemiological studies link parental exposure to environmental toxicants, such as the pesticide DDT, to health phenotypes in the progeny, including low birth and increased risk of chronic diseases later in life. Here, we show that the progeny of male mice exposed to DDT in the pre-conception period are born smaller and exhibit sexual dimorphism in metabolic function, with male, but not female, offspring developing severe glucose intolerance compared to controls. These phenotypes in DDT offspring were linked to reduced fetal growth and placenta size as well as placenta-specific reduction of glycogen levels and the nutrient sensor and epigenetic regulator OGT, with more pronounced phenotypes observed in male placentas. However, placenta-specific genetic reduction of OGT only partially replicates the metabolic phenotype observed in offspring of DDT-exposed males. Our findings reveal a role for paternal pre-conception environmental experiences in shaping placenta development and in fetal growth restriction. While many questions remain, our data raise the tantalizing possibility that placenta programming could be a mediator of environmentally induced intergenerational epigenetic inheritance of phenotypes and needs to be further evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Chen
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Raquel Santana da Cruz
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Aallya Nascimento
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Meghali Joshi
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Duane Gischewski Pereira
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Odalys Dominguez
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Gabriela Fernandes
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Megan Smith
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Sara P C Paiva
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Sonia de Assis
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA.
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4
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Liao Z, Tang S, Nozawa K, Shimada K, Ikawa M, Monsivais D, Matzuk M. Affinity-tagged SMAD1 and SMAD5 mouse lines reveal transcriptional reprogramming mechanisms during early pregnancy. eLife 2024; 12:RP91434. [PMID: 38536963 PMCID: PMC10972565 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Endometrial decidualization, a prerequisite for successful pregnancies, relies on transcriptional reprogramming driven by progesterone receptor (PR) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-SMAD1/SMAD5 signaling pathways. Despite their critical roles in early pregnancy, how these pathways intersect in reprogramming the endometrium into a receptive state remains unclear. To define how SMAD1 and/or SMAD5 integrate BMP signaling in the uterus during early pregnancy, we generated two novel transgenic mouse lines with affinity tags inserted into the endogenous SMAD1 and SMAD5 loci (Smad1HA/HA and Smad5PA/PA). By profiling the genome-wide distribution of SMAD1, SMAD5, and PR in the mouse uterus, we demonstrated the unique and shared roles of SMAD1 and SMAD5 during the window of implantation. We also showed the presence of a conserved SMAD1, SMAD5, and PR genomic binding signature in the uterus during early pregnancy. To functionally characterize the translational aspects of our findings, we demonstrated that SMAD1/5 knockdown in human endometrial stromal cells suppressed expressions of canonical decidual markers (IGFBP1, PRL, FOXO1) and PR-responsive genes (RORB, KLF15). Here, our studies provide novel tools to study BMP signaling pathways and highlight the fundamental roles of SMAD1/5 in mediating both BMP signaling pathways and the transcriptional response to progesterone (P4) during early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zian Liao
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Graduate Program of Genetics and Genomics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Suni Tang
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Kaori Nozawa
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Keisuke Shimada
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
| | - Diana Monsivais
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Martin Matzuk
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Graduate Program of Genetics and Genomics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
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5
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Gomes VCL, Gilbert BM, Bernal C, Crissman KR, Sones JL. Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors Are Dysregulated at the BPH/5 Mouse Preeclamptic-Like Maternal-Fetal Interface. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:192. [PMID: 38534461 DOI: 10.3390/biology13030192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
The etiopathogenesis of preeclampsia, a leading hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, has been proposed to involve an abnormal circulating sex hormone profile and misexpression of placental estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PR, respectively). However, existing research is vastly confined to third trimester preeclamptic placentas. Consequently, the placental-uterine molecular crosstalk and the dynamic ER and PR expression pattern in the peri-conception period remain overlooked. Herein, our goal was to use the BPH/5 mouse to elucidate pre-pregnancy and early gestation Er and Pr dynamics in a preeclamptic-like uterus. BPH/5 females display low circulating estrogen concentration during proestrus, followed by early gestation hypoestrogenemia, hyperprogesteronemia, and a spontaneous preeclamptic-like phenotype. Preceding pregnancy, the gene encoding Er alpha (Erα, Esr1) is upregulated in the diestrual BPH/5 uterus. At the peak of decidualization, Esr1, Er beta (Erβ, Esr2), and Pr isoform B (Pr-B) were upregulated in the BPH/5 maternal-fetal interface. At the protein level, BPH/5 females display higher percentage of decidual cells with nuclear Erα expression, as well as Pr downregulation in the decidua, luminal and glandular epithelium. In conclusion, we provide evidence of disrupted sex hormone signaling in the peri-conception period of preeclamptic-like pregnancies, potentially shedding some light onto the intricate role of sex hormone signaling at unexplored timepoints of human preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviane C L Gomes
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Bryce M Gilbert
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Carolina Bernal
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Kassandra R Crissman
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Jenny L Sones
- Equine Reproduction Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
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6
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Wei D, Su Y, Leung PCK, Li Y, Chen ZJ. Roles of bone morphogenetic proteins in endometrial remodeling during the human menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Hum Reprod Update 2024; 30:215-237. [PMID: 38037193 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmad031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the human menstrual cycle and pregnancy, the endometrium undergoes a series of dynamic remodeling processes to adapt to physiological changes. Insufficient endometrial remodeling, characterized by inadequate endometrial proliferation, decidualization and spiral artery remodeling, is associated with infertility, endometriosis, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and pregnancy-related complications such as preeclampsia and miscarriage. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), a subset of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily, are multifunctional cytokines that regulate diverse cellular activities, such as differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix synthesis, are now understood as integral to multiple reproductive processes in women. Investigations using human biological samples have shown that BMPs are essential for regulating human endometrial remodeling processes, including endometrial proliferation and decidualization. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE This review summarizes our current knowledge on the known pathophysiological roles of BMPs and their underlying molecular mechanisms in regulating human endometrial proliferation and decidualization, with the goal of promoting the development of innovative strategies for diagnosing, treating and preventing infertility and adverse pregnancy complications associated with dysregulated human endometrial remodeling. SEARCH METHODS A literature search for original articles published up to June 2023 was conducted in the PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases, identifying studies on the roles of BMPs in endometrial remodeling during the human menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Articles identified were restricted to English language full-text papers. OUTCOMES BMP ligands and receptors and their transduction molecules are expressed in the endometrium and at the maternal-fetal interface. Along with emerging technologies such as tissue microarrays, 3D organoid cultures and advanced single-cell transcriptomics, and given the clinical availability of recombinant human proteins and ongoing pharmaceutical development, it is now clear that BMPs exert multiple roles in regulating human endometrial remodeling and that these biomolecules (and their receptors) can be targeted for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Moreover, dysregulation of these ligands, their receptors, or signaling determinants can impact endometrial remodeling, contributing to infertility or pregnancy-related complications (e.g. preeclampsia and miscarriage). WIDER IMPLICATIONS Although further clinical trials are needed, recent advancements in the development of recombinant BMP ligands, synthetic BMP inhibitors, receptor antagonists, BMP ligand sequestration tools, and gene therapies have underscored the BMPs as candidate diagnostic biomarkers and positioned the BMP signaling pathway as a promising therapeutic target for addressing infertility and pregnancy complications related to dysregulated human endometrial remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daimin Wei
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Medical Integration and Practice Center, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yaxin Su
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Peter C K Leung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Yan Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Medical Integration and Practice Center, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zi-Jiang Chen
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, China
- Research Unit of Gametogenesis and Health of ART-Offspring, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No.2021RU001), Jinan, Shandong, China
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7
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Wu Y, Teh YC, Chong SZ. Going Full TeRM: The Seminal Role of Tissue-Resident Macrophages in Organ Remodeling during Pregnancy and Lactation. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 212:513-521. [PMID: 38315948 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
During pregnancy and lactation, the uterus and mammary glands undergo remarkable structural changes to perform their critical reproductive functions before reverting to their original dormant state upon childbirth and weaning, respectively. Underlying this incredible plasticity are complex remodeling processes that rely on coordinated decisions at both the cellular and tissue-subunit levels. With their exceptional versatility, tissue-resident macrophages play a variety of supporting roles in these organs during each stage of development, ranging from maintaining immune homeostasis to facilitating tissue remodeling, although much remains to be discovered about the identity and regulation of individual macrophage subsets. In this study, we review the increasingly appreciated contributions of these immune cells to the reproductive process and speculate on future lines of inquiry. Deepening our understanding of their interactions with the parenchymal or stromal populations in their respective niches may reveal new strategies to ameliorate complications in pregnancy and breastfeeding, thereby improving maternal health and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Wu
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Ye Chean Teh
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Shu Zhen Chong
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
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8
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Winkler I, Tolkachov A, Lammers F, Lacour P, Daugelaite K, Schneider N, Koch ML, Panten J, Grünschläger F, Poth T, Ávila BMD, Schneider A, Haas S, Odom DT, Gonçalves Â. The cycling and aging mouse female reproductive tract at single-cell resolution. Cell 2024; 187:981-998.e25. [PMID: 38325365 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The female reproductive tract (FRT) undergoes extensive remodeling during reproductive cycling. This recurrent remodeling and how it shapes organ-specific aging remains poorly explored. Using single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, we systematically characterized morphological and gene expression changes occurring in ovary, oviduct, uterus, cervix, and vagina at each phase of the mouse estrous cycle, during decidualization, and into aging. These analyses reveal that fibroblasts play central-and highly organ-specific-roles in FRT remodeling by orchestrating extracellular matrix (ECM) reorganization and inflammation. Our results suggest a model wherein recurrent FRT remodeling over reproductive lifespan drives the gradual, age-related development of fibrosis and chronic inflammation. This hypothesis was directly tested using chemical ablation of cycling, which reduced fibrotic accumulation during aging. Our atlas provides extensive detail into how estrus, pregnancy, and aging shape the organs of the female reproductive tract and reveals the unexpected cost of the recurrent remodeling required for reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Winkler
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Somatic Evolution and Early Detection, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Tolkachov
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fritjof Lammers
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Perrine Lacour
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Somatic Evolution and Early Detection, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg University, Faculty of Biosciences, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Klaudija Daugelaite
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg University, Faculty of Biosciences, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nina Schneider
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Somatic Evolution and Early Detection, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marie-Luise Koch
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jasper Panten
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg University, Faculty of Biosciences, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Computational Genomics and Systems Genetics, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Florian Grünschläger
- Heidelberg University, Faculty of Biosciences, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tanja Poth
- CMCP - Center for Model System and Comparative Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Augusto Schneider
- Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Faculdade de Nutrição, 96010-610 Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Simon Haas
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 10115 Berlin, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Duncan T Odom
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Cancer Research UK - Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Ângela Gonçalves
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Somatic Evolution and Early Detection, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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9
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Liao Z, Tang S, Nozawa K, Shimada K, Ikawa M, Monsivais D, Matzuk MM. Affinity-tagged SMAD1 and SMAD5 mouse lines reveal transcriptional reprogramming mechanisms during early pregnancy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.25.559321. [PMID: 38106095 PMCID: PMC10723262 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.25.559321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Endometrial decidualization, a prerequisite for successful pregnancies, relies on transcriptional reprogramming driven by progesterone receptor (PR) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-SMAD1/SMAD5 signaling pathways. Despite their critical roles in early pregnancy, how these pathways intersect in reprogramming the endometrium into a receptive state remains unclear. To define how SMAD1 and/or SMAD5 integrate BMP signaling in the uterus during early pregnancy, we generated two novel transgenic mouse lines with affinity tags inserted into the endogenous SMAD1 and SMAD5 loci (Smad1HA/HA and Smad5PA/PA). By profiling the genome-wide distribution of SMAD1, SMAD5, and PR in the mouse uterus, we demonstrated the unique and shared roles of SMAD1 and SMAD5 during the window of implantation. We also showed the presence of a conserved SMAD1, SMAD5, and PR genomic binding signature in the uterus during early pregnancy. To functionally characterize the translational aspects of our findings, we demonstrated that SMAD1/5 knockdown in human endometrial stromal cells suppressed expressions of canonical decidual markers (IGFBP1, PRL, FOXO1) and PR-responsive genes (RORB, KLF15). Here, our studies provide novel tools to study BMP signaling pathways and highlight the fundamental roles of SMAD1/5 in mediating both BMP signaling pathways and the transcriptional response to progesterone (P4) during early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zian Liao
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Graduate Program of Genetics and Genomics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Suni Tang
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kaori Nozawa
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Keisuke Shimada
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Diana Monsivais
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Martin M. Matzuk
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Graduate Program of Genetics and Genomics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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10
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Balci CN, Acar N. NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, the hidden balance in pregnancy: A comprehensive review. J Reprod Immunol 2024; 161:104173. [PMID: 38043434 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2023.104173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The balance of the inflammatory response is indispensable during pregnancy. Inflammasomes are the cytosolic supramolecular protein complexes activated by pattern recognition receptors. These receptors recognize the pathogen and damage/danger-associated molecular patterns. NLRP3 inflammasome complex consists mainly of NLRP3 (leucine-rich repeat-containing and pyrin domain-containing protein 3), a cytosolic sensor molecule, ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD) protein and a cysteine protease pro-caspase-1 as an effector molecule. This complex has a role in producing inflammatory cytokines, interleukin 1 beta and interleukin 18, and inflammasome-dependent programmed cell death pathway pyroptosis. In this review, we focused on and summarised the NLRP3 inflammasome and its roles in normal and pathological pregnancies. The NLRP3 inflammasome pathway influences endometrial receptivity and embryo invasion by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Abnormal inflammasome activation in the endometrium may adversely affect endometrial receptivity. In addition, NLRP3 inflammasome pathway overactivation may mediate the abnormal inflammatory response at the maternal-fetal interface and be associated with pregnancy complications, such as recurrent implantation failure, pregnancy loss, pre-term birth and pre-eclampsia. Therefore, targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway could develop a new therapeutic approach to prevent the aforementioned pregnancy pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cemre Nur Balci
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Nuray Acar
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
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11
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Zhou P, Ouyang L, Jiang T, Tian Y, Deng W, Wang H, Kong S, Lu Z. Progesterone and cAMP synergistically induce SHP2 expression via PGR and CREB1 during uterine stromal decidualization. FEBS J 2024; 291:142-157. [PMID: 37786383 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Decidualization of endometrial stroma is a key step in embryo implantation and its abnormality often leads to pregnancy failure. Stromal decidualization is a very complex process that is co-regulated by estrogen, progesterone and many local factors. The signaling protein SHP2 encoded by PTPN11 is dynamically expressed in decidualized endometrial stroma and mediates and integrates various signals to govern the decidualization. In the present study, we investigate the mechanism of PTPN11 gene transcription. Estrogen, progesterone and cAMP co-induced decidualization of human endometrial stromal cell in vitro, but only progesterone and cAMP induced SHP2 expression. Using the luciferase reporter, we refined a region from -229 bp to +1 bp in the PTPN11 gene promoter comprising the transcriptional core regions that respond to progesterone and cAMP. Progesterone receptor (PGR) and cAMP-responsive element-binding protein 1 (CREB1) were predicted to be transcription factors in this core region by bioinformatic methods. The direct binding of PGR and CREB1 on the PTPN11 promoter was confirmed by electrophoretic mobility and chromatin immunoprecipitation in vitro. Knockdown of PGR and CREB1 protein significantly inhibited the expression of SHP2 induced by medroxyprogesterone acetate and cAMP. These results demonstrate that transcription factors PGR and CREB1 bind to the PTPN11 promoter to regulate the expression of SHP2 in response to decidual signals. Our results explain the transcriptional expression mechanism of SHP2 during decidualization and promote the understanding of the mechanism of decidualization of stromal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiyi Zhou
- Xiamen City Key Laboratory of Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, China
| | - Liqun Ouyang
- Xiamen City Key Laboratory of Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, China
| | - Ting Jiang
- Xiamen City Key Laboratory of Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, China
| | - Yingpu Tian
- Xiamen City Key Laboratory of Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, China
| | - Wenbo Deng
- Reproductive Medical Centre, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Medical College of Xiamen University, China
| | - Haibin Wang
- Reproductive Medical Centre, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Medical College of Xiamen University, China
| | - Shuangbo Kong
- Reproductive Medical Centre, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Medical College of Xiamen University, China
| | - Zhongxian Lu
- Xiamen City Key Laboratory of Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Medical College of Xiamen University, China
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12
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Parks SE, Geng T, Monsivais D. Endometrial TGFβ signaling fosters early pregnancy development by remodeling the fetomaternal interface. Am J Reprod Immunol 2023; 90:e13789. [PMID: 38009061 PMCID: PMC10683870 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The endometrium is a unique and highly regenerative tissue with crucial roles during the reproductive lifespan of a woman. As the first site of contact between mother and embryo, the endometrium, and its critical processes of decidualization and immune cell recruitment, play a leading role in the establishment of pregnancy, embryonic development, and reproductive capacity. These integral processes are achieved by the concerted actions of steroid hormones and a myriad of growth factor signaling pathways. This review focuses on the roles of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) pathway in the endometrium during the earliest stages of pregnancy through the lens of immune cell regulation and function. We discuss how key ligands in the TGFβ family signal through downstream SMAD transcription factors and ultimately remodel the endometrium into a state suitable for embryo implantation and development. We also focus on the key roles of the TGFβ signaling pathway in recruiting uterine natural killer cells and their collective remodeling of the decidua and spiral arteries. By providing key details about immune cell populations and TGFβ signaling within the endometrium, it is our goal to shed light on the intricate remodeling that is required to achieve a successful pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney E. Parks
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Cancer and Cell Biology Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ting Geng
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Diana Monsivais
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Cancer and Cell Biology Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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13
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Lei L, Wang X, Zhang J, Yin J, Xu Q, Wang T, Jin Y, Wang A. Lipopolysaccharides of Brucella suis S2 Impaired the Process of Decidualization in Early Pregnancy in Mice. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:662. [PMID: 37999525 PMCID: PMC10675612 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15110662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Brucellosis is a notorious zoonotic disease caused by Brucella, which can lead to reproductive diseases in humans and animals, such as infertility and abortion. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are the main virulence factor of Brucella. LPS derived from Brucella are different and non-classical and are less toxic and less active than LPS isolated from E. coli. However, the effects and possible mechanisms of Brucella LPS-caused pregnancy loss remain to be revealed. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Brucella suis S2 LPS on early pregnancy loss in mice. The results indicated that embryo implantation failure was induced by Brucella LPS treatment in a dose-dependent manner. The injection of Brucella LPS mainly resulted in fibrinolysis in the decidual area of the uterus on the 6th day post coition (dpc), infiltration of large granular cells among the decidual cells near the embryo on the 8th dpc, a large number of gaps in the decidual area, and cell necrosis around the embryo. In addition, the expression of Cyclin D3 mRNA in the uterus on the 7th and 8th dpc and IGFBP-1 mRNA and the progesterone receptor in the uterus on the 6th and 7th dpc were also inhibited. Moreover, the expression of decidualization marker Cyclin D3 and decidualization prolactin-associated protein (dPRP) in endometrial stromal cells were also inhibited by Brucella LPS treatment in vitro. In summary, Brucella LPS affect the process of endometrial decidualization in mice by affecting the structure of the decidua and the expression of decidual marker factors in endometrial stromal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanjie Lei
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (L.L.); (X.W.); (J.Z.); (J.Y.); (Q.X.); (T.W.); (Y.J.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Xiangguo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (L.L.); (X.W.); (J.Z.); (J.Y.); (Q.X.); (T.W.); (Y.J.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Jianpo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (L.L.); (X.W.); (J.Z.); (J.Y.); (Q.X.); (T.W.); (Y.J.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Jiaojiao Yin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (L.L.); (X.W.); (J.Z.); (J.Y.); (Q.X.); (T.W.); (Y.J.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Qin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (L.L.); (X.W.); (J.Z.); (J.Y.); (Q.X.); (T.W.); (Y.J.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (L.L.); (X.W.); (J.Z.); (J.Y.); (Q.X.); (T.W.); (Y.J.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Yaping Jin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (L.L.); (X.W.); (J.Z.); (J.Y.); (Q.X.); (T.W.); (Y.J.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Aihua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (L.L.); (X.W.); (J.Z.); (J.Y.); (Q.X.); (T.W.); (Y.J.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
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Marquardt RM, Tran DN, Lessey BA, Rahman MS, Jeong JW. Epigenetic Dysregulation in Endometriosis: Implications for Pathophysiology and Therapeutics. Endocr Rev 2023; 44:1074-1095. [PMID: 37409951 PMCID: PMC10638603 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnad020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Endometriosis is a prevalent gynecological condition associated with pelvic pain and infertility. Despite more than a century of research, the etiology of endometriosis still eludes scientific consensus. This lack of clarity has resulted in suboptimal prevention, diagnosis, and treatment options. Evidence of genetic contributors to endometriosis is interesting but limited; however, significant progress has been made in recent years in identifying an epigenetic role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis through clinical studies, in vitro cell culture experiments, and in vivo animal models. The predominant findings include endometriosis-related differential expression of DNA methyltransferases and demethylases, histone deacetylases, methyltransferases, and demethylases, and regulators of chromatin architecture. There is also an emerging role for miRNAs in controlling epigenetic regulators in the endometrium and endometriosis. Changes in these epigenetic regulators result in differential chromatin organization and DNA methylation, with consequences for gene expression independent of a genetic sequence. Epigenetically altered expression of genes related to steroid hormone production and signaling, immune regulation, and endometrial cell identity and function have all been identified and appear to play into the pathophysiological mechanisms of endometriosis and resulting infertility. This review summarizes and critically discusses early seminal findings, the ever-growing recent evidence of epigenetic contributions to the pathophysiology of endometriosis, and implications for proposed epigenetically targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan M Marquardt
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Dinh Nam Tran
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Bruce A Lessey
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Md Saidur Rahman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Jae-Wook Jeong
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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15
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Beal JR, Ma Q, Bagchi IC, Bagchi MK. Role of Endometrial Extracellular Vesicles in Mediating Cell-to-Cell Communication in the Uterus: A Review. Cells 2023; 12:2584. [PMID: 37998319 PMCID: PMC10670844 DOI: 10.3390/cells12222584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
There are several critical events that occur in the uterus during early pregnancy which are necessary for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. These events include blastocyst implantation, uterine decidualization, uterine neoangiogenesis, differentiation of trophoblast stem cells into different trophoblast cell lineages, and formation of a placenta. These processes involve several different cell types within the pregnant uterus. Communication between these cell types must be intricately coordinated for successful embryo implantation and the formation of a functional maternal-fetal interface in the placenta. Understanding how this intricate coordination transpires has been a focus of researchers in the field for many years. It has long been understood that maternal endometrial tissue plays a key role in intercellular signaling during early pregnancy, sending signals to nearby tissues in a paracrine manner. Recently, insights have been obtained into the mechanisms by which these signaling events occur. Notably, the endometrium has been shown to secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) that contain crucial cargo (proteins, lipids, RNA, miRNA) that are taken up by recipient cells to initiate a response leading to the occurrence of critical events during implantation and placentation. In this review, we aim to summarize the role that endometrium-derived EVs play in mediating cell-to-cell communications within the pregnant uterus to orchestrate the events that must occur to establish and maintain pregnancy. We will also discuss how aberrant endometrial EV signaling may lead to pathophysiological conditions, such as endometriosis and infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob R. Beal
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Qiuyan Ma
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Indrani C. Bagchi
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Milan K. Bagchi
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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16
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Wang PC, Yang ZS, Gu XW. Effect of Aurora kinase B on polyploidy and decidualization in mouse uterus. Am J Reprod Immunol 2023; 90:e13793. [PMID: 37881124 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION Decidualization is critical to the establishment of mouse normal pregnancy. The fibroblast-like stromal cells in the process form polyploid multinucleated cells. Aurora kinase B (Aurora B) has previously been shown to regulate polyploidy in various cells. However, whether Aurora B regulates the formation of decidual cell polyploidization and its regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. DESIGN Establish decidualization model of mouse primary endometrial stromal cells in vitro. Construct pseudopregnancy mouse models and delayed-activation mouse models. Detect Aurora B and polyploidization related genes in mouse uteri treated by Aurora B specific inhibitor Barasertib and CPT. RESULTS In this study, we found that Aurora B was strongly expressed in endometrial stromal cells after implantation. Additionally, Aurora B was remarkably up regulated in the stromal cells of oil-induced deciduomoa and in vitro decidualization. As an Aurora B specific inhibitor, Barasertib significantly inhibits the mRNA expression of Prl8a2, a marker of mouse decidualization. Furthermore, the protein levels of p-Plk1, Survivin and p-Cdk1 were inhibited by Barasertib. CPT-induced DNA damage suppressed Aurkb (encodes Aurora B) expression, thus resulting in polyploidization. CONCLUSION Our data shows that Aurora B is expressed in decidual stromal cells of implantation sites and plays a key role for mouse decidualization. The protein of Plk1, Survivn, and Cdk1 may participate in formation of decidual cell polyploidization during mouse decidualization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Chao Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China
| | - Zhen-Shan Yang
- Division of Oncology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Xiao-Wei Gu
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, USA
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17
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Liu M, Mi YJ, Dai J. Aquaporin 7 is upregulated through the PI3K-Akt pathway and modulates decidualisation of endometrial stromal cells. Reprod Fertil Dev 2023; 35:669-675. [PMID: 37879294 DOI: 10.1071/rd23054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Aquaporin 7 (AQP7) is selectively expressed in decidualised endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) of mice surrounding the embryonic implantation sites. However, the roles of AQP7 and the underlying mechanism that regulates AQP7 expression in endometrial decidualisation after implantation are still unclear. AIMS This study aimed to investigate the role of the PI3K-Akt pathway in regulating the expression of AQP7 in ESCs and decidualisation. METHODS Primary ESCs of pregnant mice were isolated to establish in vitro decidualisation models. PI3K inhibitor LY294002 was added to the decidualisation models, then AQP7 expression, changes in decidualised ESC morphology and expression of decidualisation marker molecules were examined. KEY RESULTS AQP7 knockdown reduced the proliferation and differentiation of ESCs with in vitro induced decidualisation. Furthermore, when the activity of PI3K was inhibited by LY294002, the expression of AQP7 in decidualised ESCs was decreased and both the proliferation and differentiation of ESCs were significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS This indicates that AQP7 is a key molecule involved in endometrial decidualisation and the expression of AQP7 is upregulated through activation of the PI3K-Akt pathways, which promotes the proliferation and differentiation of the ESCs, thus affecting occurrence of decidualisation. IMPLICATIONS This study may provide a new biomarker for the diagnosis of infertility and a new drug target for the prevention and treatment of infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Liu
- National Demonstration Centre for Experimental Clinical Medicine Education, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong-Jie Mi
- National Demonstration Centre for Experimental Clinical Medicine Education, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Dai
- College of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
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18
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Zarei A, Keshavarzi A, Zare M. Comparison of the duration of estradiol administration and the effect on pregnancy outcome of day 3 vitrified-warmed embryo transfer cycle: a randomized controlled trial. ZYGOTE 2023; 31:491-497. [PMID: 37448263 DOI: 10.1017/s096719942300031x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Based on the fact that the follicular phase in the menstrual cycle has length variation, it has been assumed that the duration of oestrogen (E2) administration could also be variable; therefore, for the first time, this randomized clinical trial study was conducted to investigate and compare the duration of estradiol administration and the effect on pregnancy outcomes in the cleavage-stage frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle. We included women aged 20-40 with a normal uterus on hysteroscopy between September and December 2022 and who were divided randomly into three groups: group A [n = 79; 8-11 days of oestrogen before progesterone (P4) supplementation], group B (n = 78; 12-14 days of oestrogen before P4 supplementation), and group C (n = 76; 15-18 days of estrogen before P4 supplementation). Serum levels for E2 on the initial progesterone day and P4 on the transfer day were measured. The effect of the duration of E2 administration on clinical pregnancy and pregnancy loss was investigated. We found no significant differences between the three groups in the clinical pregnancy rate (P = 0.696) and clinical abortion rate (P = 0.925) according to the duration of the E2. There was no significant difference in the E2, P4 levels, and endometrial thickness in pregnant vs. non-pregnant women. The mean of the E2 and P4 levels was 300.03 ± 22.21 and 25.36 ± 5.78, respectively. Our findings suggest that variation in the length of E2 administration (8-18 days) before progesterone initiation in day 3 FET cycles does not affect pregnancy outcome and transfer time can be flexibly arranged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afsoon Zarei
- Infertility Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ameneh Keshavarzi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Science, Fasa, Iran
| | - Maryam Zare
- Infertility Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Zhu W, Xu M, Zhu M, Song Y, Zhang J, Zheng C. Cuyun Recipe ameliorates pregnancy loss by regulating macrophage polarization and hypercoagulable state during the peri-implantation period in an ovarian hyperstimulation mouse model. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 119:154974. [PMID: 37523838 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Chinese herbal prescription Cuyun Recipe (CYR) has been widely used to treat clinical infertility and has shown good efficacy. Animal experiments have shown that CYR can promote implantation in mice, however, the exact mechanism underlying the implantation has not been elucidated. PURPOSE To investigate the effect and mechanism of CYR on regulating macrophage polarization and hypercoagulability during the peri-implantation period in mice with ovarian hyperstimulation. METHODS An ovarian hyperstimulation mouse model was developed, followed by treatment with CYR. Mice were sacrificed on day (D)4.5, D6, or D8 of gestation. The number of implantation sites, the pathological changes of the uterus and ovaries were assessed. The polarization of monocytes/macrophages in the spleen and endometrium, the expression and localization of cytokines were further detected. Furthermore, analyses of hypercoagulable state of the blood were also performed. RESULTS Treatment with CYR increased the average number of implantation sites, promoted angiogenesis in endometrial, and regulated monocytes/macrophages and the cytokine levels. Moreover, CYR downregulated the overexpression of D-dimer and fgl2 after ovarian hyperstimulation. CONCLUSION CYR facilitates embryo implantation by alleviating ovarian hyperstimulation, promoting endometrial decidualization and angiogenesis, regulating macrophage polarization, and reversing the hypercoagulable state of the blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxin Zhu
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Menghao Xu
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Mengdi Zhu
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yufan Song
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Jinmin Zhang
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Cuihong Zheng
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, China.
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20
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Yang M, Ong J, Meng F, Zhang F, Shen H, Kitt K, Liu T, Tao W, Du P. Spatiotemporal insight into early pregnancy governed by immune-featured stromal cells. Cell 2023; 186:4271-4288.e24. [PMID: 37699390 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Endometrial decidualization connecting embryo implantation and placentation is transient but essential for successful pregnancy, which, however, is not systematically investigated. Here, we use a scStereo-seq technology to spatially visualize and define the dynamic functional decidual hubs assembled by distinct immune, endothelial, trophoblast, and decidual stromal cells (DSCs) in early pregnant mice. We unravel the DSC transdifferentiation trajectory and surprisingly discover a dual-featured type of immune-featured DSCs (iDSCs). We find that immature DSCs attract immune cells and induce decidual angiogenesis at the mesenchymal-epithelial transition hub during decidualization initiation. iDSCs enable immune cell recruitment and suppression, govern vascularization, and promote cytolysis at immune cell assembling and vascular hubs, respectively, to establish decidual homeostasis at a later stage. Interestingly, dysfunctional and spatially disordered iDSCs cause abnormal accumulation of immune cells in the vascular hub, which disrupts decidual hub specification and eventually leads to pregnancy complications in DBA/2-mated CBA/J mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jennie Ong
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Fanju Meng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Feixiang Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Hui Shen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Kerstin Kitt
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma Co KG, Biberach an der Riss 88400, Germany
| | - Tengfei Liu
- Department of Research Beyond Borders, Boehringer Ingelheim (China) Investment Co., Ltd., Beijing 100027, China
| | - Wei Tao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Peng Du
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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21
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Jin S, Wang TT, Huang JC, Wang YS, Guo B, Yue ZP. Melatonin modulates endometrial decidualization via NOTCH1-NRF2-FOXO1-GSH pathway†. Biol Reprod 2023; 109:299-308. [PMID: 37334936 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Melatonin is important for oocyte maturation, fertilization, early embryonic development, and embryo implantation, but less knowledge is available regarding its role in decidualization. The present study found that melatonin did not alter the proliferation of human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), as well as cell cycle progress, but suppressed stromal differentiation after binding to the melatonin receptor 1B (MTNR1B), which was visualized in decidualizing ESCs. Further analysis evidenced that application of melatonin resulted in the diminishment for NOTCH1 and RBPJ expression. Supplementation of recombinant NOTCH1 protein (rNOTCH1) counteracted the impairment of stromal differentiation conferred by melatonin, while the addition of the NOTCH signaling pathway inhibitor DAPT aggravated the differentiation progress. Meanwhile, melatonin might restrain the expression and transcriptional activity of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), whose blockage accelerated the fault of stromal differentiation under the context of melatonin, but this restraint was subsequently ameliorated by rNOTCH1. Forkhead box O 1 (FOXO1) was identified as a downstream target of melatonin in decidualization. Repression of NRF2 antagonized the retrieval of rNOTCH1 due to aberrant FOXO1 expression elicited by melatonin. Moreover, melatonin brought about the occurrence of oxidative stress accompanied by an obvious accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and a significant reduction in glutathione (GSH) content, as well as enzymatic activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, whereas supplementation of rNOTCH1 improved the above-mentioned effects. Nevertheless, this improvement was disrupted by the blockage of NRF2 and FOXO1. Furthermore, addition of GSH rescued the defect of stromal differentiation by melatonin. Collectively, melatonin might impair endometrial decidualization by restraining the differentiation of ESCs dependent on NOTCH1-NRF2-FOXO1-GSH pathway after binding to the MTNR1B receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Jin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, P. R. China
- Reproductive Medical Center, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, P. R. China
| | - Ting-Ting Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, P. R. China
| | - Ji-Cheng Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, P. R. China
| | - Yu-Si Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, P. R. China
| | - Bin Guo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, P. R. China
| | - Zhan-Peng Yue
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, P. R. China
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22
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Song L, Bu Z, Sun Y. Endometrial thickness and early pregnancy complications after frozen-thawed embryo transfers. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1066922. [PMID: 37670886 PMCID: PMC10475533 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1066922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The relationship between endometrial thickness and pregnancy safety after in vitro fertilization treatment is an important topic that should provoke attention. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the relationship between endometrial thickness on day of embryo transfer and early pregnancy complications, including ectopic pregnancy and early miscarriage, in frozen thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Methods Patients undergoing their first FET cycles were included into this study from January 2010 to December 2021. Patients were divided into three groups according to endometrial thickness on day of embryo transfer: Thin, ≤ 7 mm; Medium, 7-14 mm; Thick, ≥ 14 mm. Ectopic pregnancy and early miscarriage were the two primary outcomes. Endometrial thickness was the main measured variable. The risk factors of these two compilations were determined based on univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 11138 clinical pregnancies were included. The overall ectopic pregnancy and early spontaneous miscarriage rates were 2.62% and 13.40%. The ectopic pregnancy and early spontaneous miscarriage rates were significantly higher in patients with thin endometrium as compared with those in the other two groups (ectopic pregnancy rate: 5.06% vs. 2.62% vs. 1.05%; P < 0.001; early spontaneous miscarriage rate: 15.18% vs. 13.45% vs. 11.53%; P < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, thin endometrium was an independent factor to predict ectopic pregnancy [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 5.62; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.51-12.58, P < 0.001], and to predict early spontaneous miscarriage rate (aOR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.21-1.74, P < 0.001). Conclusion Thin endometrium on day of embryo transfer in FET cycles is an independent predictor for early pregnancy compilations, including ectopic pregnancy and early spontaneous miscarriage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Song
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Provincial Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases (Reproductive Medicine) Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Engineering Laboratory of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis and Screening, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhiqin Bu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Provincial Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases (Reproductive Medicine) Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Engineering Laboratory of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis and Screening, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yingpu Sun
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Provincial Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases (Reproductive Medicine) Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Engineering Laboratory of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis and Screening, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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23
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Gualdoni GS, Barril C, Jacobo PV, Pacheco Rodríguez LN, Cebral E. Involvement of metalloproteinase and nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide mechanisms in early decidual angiogenesis-vascularization of normal and experimental pathological mouse placenta related to maternal alcohol exposure. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1207671. [PMID: 37670932 PMCID: PMC10476144 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1207671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Successful pregnancy for optimal fetal growth requires adequate early angiogenesis and remodeling of decidual spiral arterioles during placentation. Prior to the initiation of invasion and endothelial replacement by trophoblasts, interactions between decidual stromal cells and maternal leukocytes, such as uterine natural killer cells and macrophages, play crucial roles in the processes of early maternal vascularization, such as proliferation, apoptosis, migration, differentiation, and matrix and vessel remodeling. These placental angiogenic events are highly dependent on the coordination of several mechanisms at the early maternal-fetal interface, and one of them is the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and endothelial nitric oxide synthases (NOSs). Inadequate balances of MMPs and nitric oxide (NO) are involved in several placentopathies and pregnancy complications. Since alcohol consumption during gestation can affect fetal growth associated with abnormal placental development, recently, we showed, in a mouse model, that perigestational alcohol consumption up to organogenesis induces fetal malformations related to deficient growth and vascular morphogenesis of the placenta at term. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the early processes of maternal vascularization that lead to the formation of the definitive placenta and the roles of angiogenic MMP and NOS/NO mechanisms during normal and altered early gestation in mice. Then, we propose hypothetical defective decidual cellular and MMP and NOS/NO mechanisms involved in abnormal decidual vascularization induced by perigestational alcohol consumption in an experimental mouse model. This review highlights the important roles of decidual cells and their MMP and NOS balances in the physiological and pathophysiological early maternal angiogenesis-vascularization during placentation in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Elisa Cebral
- Laboratorio de Reproducción y Fisiología Materno-Embrionaria, Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada (IBBEA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental (DBBE), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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24
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Yang Y, Liang J, Chen S, Zhang A, Li Y, Liu S, Yan Q. O-Fucosylation of BMP1 promotes endometrial decidualization by activating BMP/Smad signaling pathway. Biol Reprod 2023; 109:172-183. [PMID: 37338142 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometrial decidualization is critical to successful uterine receptivity and embryo implantation. Dysfunction of decidualization is associated with some pregnancy-related disorders, including miscarriage. Protein glycosylation is involved in many physiological and pathological processes. Protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 (poFUT1) is a key enzyme responsible for O-fucosylation biosynthesis on glycoproteins. Bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP1) is an essential glycoprotein in reproduction. However, the role and molecular mechanism of fucosylated BMP1 in endometrial stromal cell decidualization are still unknown. In the current study, we found that BMP1 contains a potential O-fucosylation site. Moreover, poFUT1 and BMP1 levels in the secretory phase are higher than those in the proliferative phase, and the highest level was observed in the human uterine tissues of early pregnancy, while a decrease of poFUT1 and BMP1 in the decidua was observed in miscarriage patients. Using human endometrial stromal cells (hESCs), we demonstrated that O-fucosylation of BMP1 was elevated after induced decidualization. Moreover, the increase of BMP1 O-fucosylation by poFUT1 promoted BMP1 secretion to the extracellular matrix, and more actively binds to CHRD. The binding of BMP1 and CHRD further released BMP4 originally bound to CHRD, and activated BMP/Smad signaling pathway, thereby accelerating the decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells. In summary, these results suggest that BMP1 O-fucosylation by poFUT1 could be a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target to predict miscarriage in early pregnancy examinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, Dalian, China
| | - Juan Liang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, Dalian, China
| | - Siyi Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, Dalian, China
| | - Aihui Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, Dalian, China
| | - Yaqi Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, Dalian, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, Dalian, China
| | - Qiu Yan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, Dalian, China
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25
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Wu Q. Natriuretic Peptide Signaling in Uterine Biology and Preeclampsia. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12309. [PMID: 37569683 PMCID: PMC10418983 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometrial decidualization is a uterine process essential for spiral artery remodeling, embryo implantation, and trophoblast invasion. Defects in endometrial decidualization and spiral artery remodeling are important contributing factors in preeclampsia, a major disorder in pregnancy. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a cardiac hormone that regulates blood volume and pressure. ANP is also generated in non-cardiac tissues, such as the uterus and placenta. In recent human genome-wide association studies, multiple loci with genes involved in natriuretic peptide signaling are associated with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. In cellular experiments and mouse models, uterine ANP has been shown to stimulate endometrial decidualization, increase TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand expression and secretion, and enhance apoptosis in arterial smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. In placental trophoblasts, ANP stimulates adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase and the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling, leading to autophagy inhibition and protein kinase N3 upregulation, thereby increasing trophoblast invasiveness. ANP deficiency impairs endometrial decidualization and spiral artery remodeling, causing a preeclampsia-like phenotype in mice. These findings indicate the importance of natriuretic peptide signaling in pregnancy. This review discusses the role of ANP in uterine biology and potential implications of impaired ANP signaling in preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyu Wu
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Prevention, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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26
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Sirohi VK, Medrano TI, Kannan A, Bagchi IC, Cooke PS. Uterine-specific Ezh2 deletion enhances stromal cell senescence and impairs placentation, resulting in pregnancy loss. iScience 2023; 26:107028. [PMID: 37360688 PMCID: PMC10285549 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal uterine remodeling facilitates embryo implantation, stromal cell decidualization and placentation, and perturbation of these processes may cause pregnancy loss. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a histone methyltransferase that epigenetically represses gene transcription; loss of uterine EZH2 affects endometrial physiology and induces infertility. We utilized a uterine Ezh2 conditional knockout (cKO) mouse to determine EZH2's role in pregnancy progression. Despite normal fertilization and implantation, embryo resorption occurred mid-gestation in Ezh2cKO mice, accompanied by compromised decidualization and placentation. Western blot analysis revealed Ezh2-deficient stromal cells have reduced amounts of the histone methylation mark H3K27me3, causing upregulation of senescence markers p21 and p16 and indicating that enhanced stromal cell senescence likely impairs decidualization. Placentas from Ezh2cKO dams on gestation day (GD) 12 show architectural defects, including mislocalization of spongiotrophoblasts and reduced vascularization. In summary, uterine Ezh2 loss impairs decidualization, increases decidual senescence, and alters trophoblast differentiation, leading to pregnancy loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay K. Sirohi
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Theresa I. Medrano
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Athilakshmi Kannan
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Indrani C. Bagchi
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Paul S. Cooke
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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27
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Kannan A, Beal JR, Neff AM, Bagchi MK, Bagchi IC. Runx1 regulates critical factors that control uterine angiogenesis and trophoblast differentiation during placental development. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad215. [PMID: 37416873 PMCID: PMC10321400 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
During early pregnancy in humans and rodents, uterine stromal cells undergo a remarkable differentiation to form the decidua, a transient maternal tissue that supports the growing fetus. It is important to understand the key decidual pathways that orchestrate the proper development of the placenta, a key structure at the maternal-fetal interface. We discovered that ablation of expression of the transcription factor Runx1 in decidual stromal cells in a conditional Runx1-null mouse model (Runx1d/d) causes fetal lethality during placentation. Further phenotypic analysis revealed that uteri of pregnant Runx1d/d mice exhibited severely compromised decidual angiogenesis and a lack of trophoblast differentiation and migration, resulting in impaired spiral artery remodeling. Gene expression profiling using uteri from Runx1d/d and control mice revealed that Runx1 directly controls the decidual expression of the gap junction protein connexin 43 (also known as GJA1), which was previously shown to be essential for decidual angiogenesis. Our study also revealed that Runx1 controls the expression of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) 2 and IGF-binding protein 4 (IGFBP4) during early pregnancy. While Runx1 deficiency drastically reduced the production of IGF2 by the decidual cells, we observed concurrent elevated expression of the IGFBP4, which regulates the bioavailability of IGFs, thereby controlling trophoblast differentiation. We posit that dysregulated expression of GJA1, IGF2, and IGFBP4 in Runx1d/d decidua contributes to the observed defects in uterine angiogenesis, trophoblast differentiation, and vascular remodeling. This study therefore provides unique insights into key maternal pathways that control the early phases of maternal-fetal interactions within a critical window during placental development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athilakshmi Kannan
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2001 S Lincoln, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Jacob R Beal
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 407 S Goodwin, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Alison M Neff
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 407 S Goodwin, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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28
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Meng X, Chen C, Qian J, Cui L, Wang S. Energy metabolism and maternal-fetal tolerance working in decidualization. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1203719. [PMID: 37404833 PMCID: PMC10315848 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1203719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
One pivotal aspect of early pregnancy is decidualization. The decidualization process includes two components: the differentiation of endometrial stromal cells to decidual stromal cells (DSCs), as well as the recruitment and education of decidual immune cells (DICs). At the maternal-fetal interface, stromal cells undergo morphological and phenotypic changes and interact with trophoblasts and DICs to provide an appropriate decidual bed and tolerogenic immune environment to maintain the survival of the semi-allogeneic fetus without causing immunological rejection. Despite classic endocrine mechanism by 17 β-estradiol and progesterone, metabolic regulations do take part in this process according to recent studies. And based on our previous research in maternal-fetal crosstalk, in this review, we elaborate mechanisms of decidualization, with a special focus on DSC profiles from aspects of metabolism and maternal-fetal tolerance to provide some new insights into endometrial decidualization in early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Liyuan Cui
- *Correspondence: Songcun Wang, ; Liyuan Cui,
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29
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Zhang D, Du Q, Li C, Ding C, Chen J, He Y, Duan T, Feng Q, Yu Y, Zhou Q. Functionalized Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Injectable HA/Gel Hydrogel Synergy in Endometrial Repair and Fertility Recovery. Acta Biomater 2023:S1742-7061(23)00339-2. [PMID: 37331615 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Intrauterine adhesions (IUA) caused by endometrial injury are one of the main causes of female infertility. The current treatments for endometrial injury offer limited clinical benefits and cannot improve endometrial receptivity and pregnancy outcomes. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are considered potential solutions to address this concern and may offer effective treatment methods for the regeneration of injured human endometrium. Herein, we prepared an injectable hydrogel based on oxidized hyaluronic acid (HA-CHO) and hydrazide-grafted gelatin (Gel-ADH). The injectable hydrogel showed satisfactory biocompatibility when mixed with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs). In an endometrial injury rat model, the treatment with hUCMSCs-loaded injectable hydrogel significantly enhanced the thickness of the endometrium and increased the abundance of blood vessels and glands in the injured endometrium compared to the control group. The hUCMSCs-loaded injectable hydrogel treatment significantly reduced endometrial fibrosis, decreased the expression of the pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1β and IL-6) and increased the expression of the anti-inflammatory factor (IL-10). This treatment induced endometrial VEGF expression by activating the MEK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Moreover, this treatment improved endometrial receptivity to the embryo and restored the embryo implantation rate similar to the sham group (48% in the sham group vs 46% in the treatment group), and this treatment achieved pregnancy and live birth in rats with endometrial injury. In addition, we also preliminarily validated the safety of this treatment in the maternal rats and fetuses. Collectively, our study showed that the hUCMSCs-loaded injectable hydrogel hold potential as an effective treatment strategy promoting rapid recovery of endometrial injury, and this hydrogel is a promising biomaterial for regenerative medicine applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: : 1. Oxidized hyaluronic acid (HA-CHO)/hydrazide-grafted gelatin (Gel-ADH) hydrogel combined with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) are effective in improving the regeneration of endometrium in the endometrial injury rat model. 2. The hUCMSCs-loaded hydrogel treatment promotes the expression of endometrial VEGF through MEK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway and regulates the balance of inflammatory factors. 3. The embryo implantation and live birth rates restore to normal level in the endometrial injury rat model, and the hydrogel has no adverse effects on maternal rats, fetuses, and offspring development after the treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghai Zhang
- Department of Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092 China
| | - Qianqian Du
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China; Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China; Department of Biomaterial, College of Life Sciences, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, China
| | - Cong Li
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China; Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China; Department of Biomaterial, College of Life Sciences, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, China
| | - Chuanfeng Ding
- Department of Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092 China
| | - Junfeng Chen
- Department of Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092 China
| | - Yun He
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Tao Duan
- Department of Obstetrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Qian Feng
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Yongsheng Yu
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China; Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China.
| | - Qian Zhou
- Department of Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092 China; Department of Reproductive Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
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30
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Popli P, Tang S, Chadchan SB, Talwar C, Rucker EB, Guan X, Monsivais D, Lydon JP, Stallings CL, Moley KH, Kommagani R. Beclin-1-dependent autophagy, but not apoptosis, is critical for stem-cell-mediated endometrial programming and the establishment of pregnancy. Dev Cell 2023; 58:885-897.e4. [PMID: 37040770 PMCID: PMC10289806 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
The human endometrium shows a remarkable regenerative capacity that enables cyclical regeneration and remodeling throughout a woman's reproductive life. Although early postnatal uterine developmental cues direct this regeneration, the vital factors that govern early endometrial programming are largely unknown. We report that Beclin-1, an essential autophagy-associated protein, plays an integral role in uterine morphogenesis during the early postnatal period. We show that conditional depletion of Beclin-1 in the uterus triggers apoptosis and causes progressive loss of Lgr5+/Aldh1a1+ endometrial progenitor stem cells, with concomitant loss of Wnt signaling, which is crucial for stem cell renewal and epithelial gland development. Beclin-1 knockin (Becn1 KI) mice with disabled apoptosis exhibit normal uterine development. Importantly, the restoration of Beclin-1-driven autophagy, but not apoptosis, promotes normal uterine adenogenesis and morphogenesis. Together, the data suggest that Beclin-1-mediated autophagy acts as a molecular switch that governs the early uterine morphogenetic program by maintaining the endometrial progenitor stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Popli
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Suni Tang
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sangappa B Chadchan
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Chandni Talwar
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Edmund B Rucker
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Xiaoming Guan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Diana Monsivais
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Christina L Stallings
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center for Women's Infectious Disease Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kelle H Moley
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ramakrishna Kommagani
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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Ma Y, Hu Y, Ma J. Animal models of the placenta accreta spectrum: current status and further perspectives. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1118168. [PMID: 37223034 PMCID: PMC10200980 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1118168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Placenta accreta spectrum disorder (PAS) is a kind of disease of placentation defined as abnormal trophoblast invasion of part or all of the placenta into the myometrium, even penetrating the uterus. Decidual deficiency, abnormal vascular remodeling in the maternal-fetal interface, and excessive invasion by extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells contribute to its onset. However, the mechanisms and signaling pathways underlying such phenotypes are not fully understood, partly due to the lack of suitable experimental animal models. Appropriate animal models will facilitate the comprehensive and systematic elucidation of the pathogenesis of PAS. Due to the remarkably similar functional placental villous units and hemochorial placentation to humans, the current animal models of PAS are based on mice. There are various mouse models induced by uterine surgery to simulate different phenotypes of PAS, such as excessive invasion of EVT or immune disturbance at the maternal-fetal interface, which could define the pathological mechanism of PAS from the perspective of the "soil." Additionally, genetically modified mouse models could be used to study PAS, which is helpful to exploring the pathogenesis of PAS from the perspectives of both "soil" and "seed," respectively. This review details early placental development in mice, with a focus on the approaches of PAS modeling. Additionally, the strengths, limitations and the applicability of each strategy and further perspectives are summarized to provide the theoretical foundation for researchers to select appropriate animal models for various research purposes. This will help better determine the pathogenesis of PAS and even promote possible therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongdan Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yongyan Hu
- Laboratory Animal Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jingmei Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing, China
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Taylor BD, Adekanmbi V, Zhang Y, Berenson A. The Impact of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Mono- and Coinfection on Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes. Open Forum Infect Dis 2023; 10:ofad220. [PMID: 37250177 PMCID: PMC10220503 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have recently been linked to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). However, the impact of Neisseria gonorrhoeae on risk of HDP is not well understood. This study determined the impact of gonorrhea and gonorrhea coinfection on HDP and other adverse pregnancy outcomes in a population with a high screening rate and presumed treatment. Methods This retrospective study included 29 821 singleton births between 2016 and 2021. The STI testing results, demographic variables, and pregnancy outcomes were identified from electronic health records. The HDP were primary outcomes of interest including gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and superimposed preeclampsia. We further examined preeclampsia subtypes defined by severe features and gestational age of delivery (term and preterm preeclampsia). Secondary outcomes included preterm premature rupture of membranes, chorioamnionitis, and preterm delivery. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Models were adjusted for maternal age, maternal race/ethnicity, and smoking. Results Gonorrhea screening occurred in 95% of the population. Gonorrhea increased the odds of preterm preeclampsia (adjusted OR [ORadj.], 1.95; 95% CI, 1.02-3.73) and preterm birth (ORadj., 1.78; 95% CI, 1.22-2.60). Furthermore, gonorrhea-chlamydia coinfection was associated with preterm birth (ORadj., 1.77; 95% CI, 1.03-3.04). However, results were similar when we examined gonorrhea monoinfection (ORadj., 1.76; 95% CI, 1.04-2.97). Conclusions Among a diverse population of pregnant individuals, gonorrhea increased odds of preterm preeclampsia and preterm delivery Further research is needed to determine the burden of STIs on HDP, including investigations into biological effects during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandie DePaoli Taylor
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Department of Population Health and Health Disparities, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Victor Adekanmbi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Yuanyi Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Abbey Berenson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
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Kannan A, Beal JR, Neff AM, Bagchi MK, Bagchi IC. Runx1 regulates critical factors that control uterine angiogenesis and trophoblast differentiation during placental development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.21.532831. [PMID: 36993295 PMCID: PMC10055213 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.21.532831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED During early pregnancy in humans and rodents, uterine stromal cells undergo a remarkable differentiation to form the decidua, a transient maternal tissue that supports the growing fetus. It is important to understand the key decidual pathways that orchestrate the proper development of the placenta, a key structure at the maternal-fetal interface. We discovered that ablation of expression of the transcription factor Runx1 in decidual stromal cells in a conditional Runx1 -null mouse model ( Runx1 d/d ) causes fetal lethality during placentation. Further phenotypic analysis revealed that uteri of pregnant Runx1 d/d mice exhibited severely compromised decidual angiogenesis, and a lack of trophoblast differentiation and migration, resulting in impaired spiral artery remodeling. Gene expression profiling using uteri from Runx1 d/d and control mice revealed that Runx1 directly controls the decidual expression of the gap junction protein connexin 43 (also known as GJA1), which was previously shown to be essential for decidual angiogenesis. Our study also revealed a critical role of Runx1 in controlling insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling at the maternal-fetal interface. While Runx1-deficiency drastically reduced the production of IGF2 by the decidual cells, we observed concurrent elevated expression of the IGF-binding protein 4 (IGFBP4), which regulates the bioavailability of IGFs thereby controlling trophoblast differentiation. We posit that dysregulated expression of GJA1, IGF2, and IGFBP4 in Runx1 d/d decidua contributes to the observed defects in uterine angiogenesis, trophoblast differentiation, and vascular remodeling. This study therefore provides unique insights into key maternal pathways that control the early phases of maternal-fetal interactions within a critical window during placental development. SIGNIFICANCE A clear understanding of the maternal pathways that ensure coordination of uterine differentiation and angiogenesis with embryonic growth during the critical early stages of placenta formation still eludes us. The present study reveals that the transcription factor Runx1 controls a set of molecular, cellular, and integrative mechanisms that mediate maternal adaptive responses controlling uterine angiogenesis, trophoblast differentiation, and resultant uterine vascular remodeling, which are essential steps during placenta development.
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Li B, Yan YP, He YY, Liang C, Li MY, Wang Y, Yang ZM. IHH, SHH, and primary cilia mediate epithelial-stromal cross-talk during decidualization in mice. Sci Signal 2023; 16:eadd0645. [PMID: 36853961 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.add0645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
The establishment of pregnancy depends on interactions between the epithelial and stromal cells of the endometrium that drive the decidual reaction that remodels the stroma and enables embryo implantation. Decidualization in mice also depends on ovarian hormones and the presence of a blastocyst. Hedgehog signaling is transduced by primary cilia in many tissues and is involved in epithelial-stromal cross-talk during decidualization. We found that primary cilia on mouse uterine stromal cells increased in number and length during early pregnancy and were required for decidualization. In vitro and in vivo, progesterone promoted stromal ciliogenesis and the production of Indian hedgehog (IHH) in the epithelium and Sonic hedgehog (SHH) in the stroma. Blastocyst-derived TNF-α also induced epithelial IHH, which stimulated the production of SHH in the stroma through a mechanism that may involve the release of arachidonic acid from epithelial cells. In the stroma, SHH activated canonical Hedgehog signaling through primary cilia and promoted decidualization through a mechanism that depended on interleukin-11 (IL-11) and primary cilia. Our findings identify a primary cilia-dependent network that controls endometrial decidualization and suggest primary cilia as a candidate therapeutic target for endometrial diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountain Region, College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Ya-Ping Yan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Yu-Ying He
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Chen Liang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Meng-Yuan Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Ying Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Zeng-Ming Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountain Region, College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
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Human Chorionic Gonadotropin-Stimulated Interleukin-4-Induced-1 (IL4I1) Promotes Human Decidualization via Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043163. [PMID: 36834576 PMCID: PMC9959871 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Decidualization is necessary for the successful establishment of early pregnancy in rodents and humans. Disturbed decidualization results in recurrent implantation failure, recurrent spontaneous abortion, and preeclampsia. Tryptophan (Trp), one of the essential amino acids in humans, has a positive effect on mammalian pregnancy. Interleukin 4-induced gene 1 (IL4I1) is a recently identified enzyme that can metabolize L-Trp to activate aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). Although IDO1-catalyzed kynurenine (Kyn) from Trp has been shown to enhance human in vitro decidualization via activating AHR, whether IL4I1-catalyzed metabolites of Trp are involved in human decidualization is still unknown. In our study, human chorionic gonadotropin stimulates IL4I1 expression and secretion from human endometrial epithelial cells through ornithine decarboxylase-induced putrescine production. Either IL4I1-catalyzed indole-3-pyruvic acid (I3P) or its metabolite indole-3-aldehyde (I3A) from Trp is able to induce human in vitro decidualization by activating AHR. As a target gene of AHR, Epiregulin induced by I3P and I3A promotes human in vitro decidualization. Our study indicates that IL4I1-catalyzed metabolites from Trp can enhance human in vitro decidualization through AHR-Epiregulin pathway.
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The investigation of apelin and apelin receptor expressions in mouse endometrium during peri-implantation period. Ann Anat 2023; 246:152027. [PMID: 36379349 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2022.152027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fertilization, pre-implantation embryo development, implantation, and decidualization are critical for a healthy pregnancy. Successful implantation requires a competent blastocyst and a receptive uterus. Apelin was purified from the bovine stomach in 1998. Apelin receptor (APJ) is a member of G protein-coupled receptors. Apelin/APJ system's physiological role was shown in cardiovascular system, immune response, stress response, fluid regulation, nutrient uptake, angiogenesis, and adipoinsular axis; however, whether apelin/APJ system plays a role in implantation is unknown. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the localization and expressions of the apelin/APJ system in the peri-implantation period mouse uterus. METHODS Uteri and implantation sites were collected from mice on the estrous phase and the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th days of pregnancy. Also, inter-implantation sites were collected from the 5th day of the pregnancy group. Localization and expressions of apelin and APJ were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS Apelin and APJ were expressed in the luminal and gland epithelium, the stroma of all experimental groups. Two isoforms of apelin-8 and 16 kDa were detected by Western blot. While apelin expression increased from the estrous to the 8th day of pregnancy, APJ expression increased from the estrous to the 4th day of pregnancy, reached the highest expression level, then decreased. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the apelin/APJ system might be involved in implantation and decidualization. Our findings will guide further studies and may help elucidate the underlying causes of implantation failure and pregnancy loss.
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Genest G, Banjar S, Almasri W, Beauchamp C, Benoit J, Buckett W, Dzineku F, Gold P, Dahan MH, Jamal W, Jacques Kadoch I, Kadour-Peero E, Lapensée L, Miron P, Shaulov T, Sylvestre C, Tulandi T, Mazer BD, Laskin CA, Mahutte N. Immunomodulation for unexplained recurrent implantation failure: where are we now? Reproduction 2023; 165:R39-R60. [PMID: 36322478 DOI: 10.1530/rep-22-0150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
In brief Immune dysfunction may contribute to or cause recurrent implantation failure. This article summarizes normal and pathologic immune responses at implantation and critically appraises currently used immunomodulatory therapies. Abstract Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) may be defined as the absence of pregnancy despite the transfer of ≥3 good-quality blastocysts and is unexplained in up to 50% of cases. There are currently no effective treatments for patients with unexplained RIF. Since the maternal immune system is intricately involved in mediating endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation, both insufficient and excessive endometrial inflammatory responses during the window of implantation are proposed to lead to implantation failure. Recent strategies to improve conception rates in RIF patients have focused on modulating maternal immune responses at implantation, through either promoting or suppressing inflammation. Unfortunately, there are no validated, readily available diagnostic tests to confirm immune-mediated RIF. As such, immune therapies are often started empirically without robust evidence as to their efficacy. Like other chronic diseases, patient selection for immunomodulatory therapy is crucial, and personalized medicine for RIF patients is emerging. As the literature on the subject is heterogenous and rapidly evolving, we aim to summarize the potential efficacy, mechanisms of actions and side effects of select therapies for the practicing clinician.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geneviève Genest
- Department of Allergy and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal Quebec, Canada
| | - Shorooq Banjar
- Department of Allergy and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal Quebec, Canada
| | - Walaa Almasri
- Department of Allergy and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal Quebec, Canada
| | - Coralie Beauchamp
- Department of Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Joanne Benoit
- Department of Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - William Buckett
- McGill University Health Centre Reproductive Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Phil Gold
- Department of Allergy and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal Quebec, Canada
| | - Michael H Dahan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Wael Jamal
- Department of Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Einav Kadour-Peero
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Louise Lapensée
- Department of Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pierre Miron
- Fertilys Reproductive Center, Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | - Talya Shaulov
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Camille Sylvestre
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Togas Tulandi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Bruce D Mazer
- Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Division of Allergy Immunology and Clinical Dermatology, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Carl A Laskin
- Deptartments of Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Neal Mahutte
- The Montreal Fertility Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Fan Y, Lee RWK, Ng XW, Gargett CE, Chan JKY. Subtle changes in perivascular endometrial mesenchymal stem cells after local endometrial injury in recurrent implantation failure. Sci Rep 2023; 13:225. [PMID: 36604485 PMCID: PMC9816312 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27388-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Improvements in reproductive techniques have resulted in the live birth rates from IVF procedures increasing from 5% to approximately 30% in recent decades but has plateaued since. Emerging preclinical and clinical data implicates endometrial receptivity deficiencies in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) as the predominant factor hindering successful implantation. Mechanisms on how local endometrial injury (LEI) improves implantation rates in patients with RIF are currently unknown. We hypothesized that LEI may influence perivascular endometrial mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (eMSCs) which are thought to regenerate the stromal vascular component of the functional layer every month. Here, we assessed the effect of LEI on the proportion and function of eMSCs present in consecutive LEI biopsies. Consecutive paired mid-luteal phase endometrial biopsies obtained from patients with RIF were digested to single cells and the proportion of SUSD2-expressing cells determined. Growth kinetics and decidualization were compared between the consecutive LEI samples. A mid-luteal LEI altered the decidualization capacity of SUSD2+ eMSCs in women with RIF, but not their proportion or clonogenicity. With the potential of LEI to improve IVF outcomes in women with RIF, additional investigations are needed to understand the impact of the altered decidualization response in eMSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiping Fan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore. .,Experimental Fetal Medicine Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore. .,Academic Clinical Program in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Ryan Wai Kheong Lee
- grid.414963.d0000 0000 8958 3388Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xiang Wen Ng
- grid.414963.d0000 0000 8958 3388Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Caroline E. Gargett
- grid.452824.dThe Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC Australia ,grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC Australia
| | - Jerry Kok Yen Chan
- grid.414963.d0000 0000 8958 3388Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Experimental Fetal Medicine Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Academic Clinical Program in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
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Zhang D, Wang Z, Luo X, Guo H, Qiu G, Gong Y, Gao H, Cui S. Cysteine dioxygenase and taurine are essential for embryo implantation by involving in E 2-ERα and P 4-PR signaling in mouse. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2023; 14:6. [PMID: 36604722 PMCID: PMC9814424 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-022-00804-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Taurine performs multiple physiological functions, and the maintenance of taurine level for most mammals relies on active uptake from diet and endogenous taurine synthesis through its synthesis enzymes, including cysteine dioxygenase (CDO). In addition, uterus tissue and uterus fluid are rich in taurine, and taurine synthesis is regulated by estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4), the key hormones priming embryo-uterine crosstalk during embryo implantation, but the functional interactions and mechanisms among which are largely unknown. The present study was thus proposed to identify the effects of CDO and taurine on embryo implantation and related mechanisms by using Cdo knockout (KO) and ovariectomy (OVX) mouse models. RESULTS The uterine CDO expression was assayed from the first day of plugging (d 1) to d 8 and the results showed that CDO expression level increased from d 1 to d 4, followed by a significant decline on d 5 and persisted to d 8, which was highly correlated with serum and uterine taurine levels, and serum P4 concentration. Next, Cdo KO mouse was established by CRISPER/Cas9. It was showed that Cdo deletion sharply decreased the taurine levels both in serum and uterus tissue, causing implantation defects and severe subfertility. However, the implantation defects in Cdo KO mice were partly rescued by the taurine supplementation. In addition, Cdo deletion led to a sharp decrease in the expressions of P4 receptor (PR) and its responsive genes Ihh, Hoxa10 and Hand2. Although the expression of uterine estrogen receptor (ERα) had no significant change, the levels of ERα induced genes (Muc1, Ltf) during the implantation window were upregulated after Cdo deletion. These accompanied by the suppression of stroma cell proliferation. Meanwhile, E2 inhibited CDO expression through ERα and P4 upregulated CDO expression through PR. CONCLUSION The present study firstly demonstrates that taurine and CDO play prominent roles in uterine receptivity and embryo implantation by involving in E2-ERα and P4-PR signaling. These are crucial for our understanding the mechanism of embryo implantation, and infer that taurine is a potential agent for improving reproductive efficiency of livestock industry and reproductive medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Zhang
- grid.268415.cCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009 People’s Republic of China ,grid.268415.cJiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhijuan Wang
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, 100193 Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuan Luo
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, 100193 Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongzhou Guo
- grid.268415.cCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009 People’s Republic of China ,grid.268415.cJiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Guobin Qiu
- grid.268415.cCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009 People’s Republic of China ,grid.268415.cJiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuneng Gong
- grid.268415.cCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009 People’s Republic of China ,grid.268415.cJiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongxu Gao
- grid.268415.cCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009 People’s Republic of China ,grid.268415.cJiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Sheng Cui
- grid.268415.cCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009 People’s Republic of China ,grid.268415.cJiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China ,grid.268415.cInstitute of Reproduction and Metabolism, Yangzhou University, 225009 Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
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Smith-Jackson K, Harrison RA. Alternative pathway activation in pregnancy, a measured amount "complements" a successful pregnancy, too much results in adverse events. Immunol Rev 2023; 313:298-319. [PMID: 36377667 PMCID: PMC10100418 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
During pregnancy, the maternal host must adapt in order to enable growth of the fetus. These changes affect all organ systems and are designed both to protect the fetus and to minimize risk to the mother. One of the most prominent adaptations involves the immune system. The semi-allogenic fetoplacental unit has non-self components and must be protected against attack from the host. This requires both attenuation of adaptive immunity and protection from innate immune defense mechanisms. One of the key innate immune players is complement, and it is important that the fetoplacental unit is not identified as non-self and subjected to complement attack. Adaptation of the complement response must, however, be managed in such a way that maternal protection against infection is not compromised. As the complement system also plays a significant facilitating role in many of the stages of a normal pregnancy, it is also important that any necessary adaptation to accommodate the semi-allogenic aspects of the fetoplacental unit does not compromise this. In this review, both the physiological role of the alternative pathway of complement in facilitating a normal pregnancy, and its detrimental participation in pregnancy-specific disorders, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Smith-Jackson
- Complement Therapeutics Research Group, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.,The National Renal Complement Therapeutics Centre (NRCTC), Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
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Liu G, Qi Y, Wu J, Lin F, Liu Z, Cui X. Follistatin is a crucial chemoattractant for mouse decidualized endometrial stromal cell migration by JNK signalling. J Cell Mol Med 2022; 27:127-140. [PMID: 36528873 PMCID: PMC9806297 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Follistatin (FST) and activin A as gonadal proteins exhibit opposite effects on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) release from pituitary gland, and activin A-FST system is involved in regulation of decidualization in reproductive biology. However, the roles of FST and activin A in migration of decidualized endometrial stromal cells are not well characterized. In this study, transwell chambers and microfluidic devices were used to assess the effects of FST and activin A on migration of decidualized mouse endometrial stromal cells (d-MESCs). We found that compared with activin A, FST exerted more significant effects on adhesion, wound healing and migration of d-MESCs. Similar results were also seen in the primary cultured decidual stromal cells (DSCs) from uterus of pregnant mouse. Simultaneously, the results revealed that FST increased calcium influx and upregulated the expression levels of the migration-related proteins MMP9 and Ezrin in d-MESCs. In addition, FST increased the level of phosphorylation of JNK in d-MESCs, and JNK inhibitor AS601245 significantly attenuated FST action on inducing migration of d-MESCs. These data suggest that FST, not activin A in activin A-FST system, is a crucial chemoattractant for migration of d-MESCs by JNK signalling to facilitate the successful uterine decidualization and tissue remodelling during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guole Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical SciencesJilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Yan Qi
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical SciencesJilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Jiandong Wu
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShenzhenChina
| | - Francis Lin
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of ManitobaWinnipegManitobaCanada
| | - Zhonghui Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical SciencesJilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Xueling Cui
- Department of Genetics, College of Basic Medical SciencesJilin UniversityChangchunChina
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Rodríguez-Eguren A, Gómez-Álvarez M, Francés-Herrero E, Romeu M, Ferrero H, Seli E, Cervelló I. Human Umbilical Cord-Based Therapeutics: Stem Cells and Blood Derivatives for Female Reproductive Medicine. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415942. [PMID: 36555583 PMCID: PMC9785531 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
There are several conditions that lead to female infertility, where traditional or conventional treatments have limited efficacy. In these challenging scenarios, stem cell (SC) therapies have been investigated as alternative treatment strategies. Human umbilical cord (hUC) mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSC), along with their secreted paracrine factors, extracts, and biomolecules, have emerged as promising therapeutic alternatives in regenerative medicine, due to their remarkable potential to promote anti-inflammatory and regenerative processes more efficiently than other autologous treatments. Similarly, hUC blood derivatives, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), or isolated plasma elements, such as growth factors, have also demonstrated potential. This literature review aims to summarize the recent therapeutic advances based on hUC-MSCs, hUC blood, and/or other plasma derivatives (e.g., extracellular vesicles, hUC-PRP, and growth factors) in the context of female reproductive medicine. We present an in-depth analysis of the principal molecules mediating tissue regeneration, compiling the application of these therapies in preclinical and clinical studies, within the context of the human reproductive tract. Despite the recent advances in bioengineering strategies that sustain delivery and amplify the scope of the therapeutic benefits, further clinical trials are required prior to the wide implementation of these alternative therapies in reproductive medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adolfo Rodríguez-Eguren
- IVI Foundation, Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 05610, USA
| | | | - Emilio Francés-Herrero
- IVI Foundation, Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Mónica Romeu
- Gynecological Service, Consortium General University Hospital of Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain
| | - Hortensia Ferrero
- IVI Foundation, Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Emre Seli
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 05610, USA
- IVIRMA New Jersey, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, USA
| | - Irene Cervelló
- IVI Foundation, Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence: or
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Primary Cilia Restrain PI3K-AKT Signaling to Orchestrate Human Decidualization. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415573. [PMID: 36555215 PMCID: PMC9779442 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial decidualization plays a pivotal role during early pregnancy. Compromised decidualization has been tightly associated with recurrent implantation failure (RIF). Primary cilium is an antenna-like sensory organelle and acts as a signaling nexus to mediate Hh, Wnt, TGFβ, BMP, FGF, and Notch signaling. However, whether primary cilium is involved in human decidualization is still unknown. In this study, we found that primary cilia are present in human endometrial stromal cells. The ciliogenesis and cilia length are increased by progesterone during in vitro and in vivo decidualization. Primary cilia are abnormal in the endometrium of RIF patients. Based on data from both assembly and disassembly of primary cilia, it has been determined that primary cilium is essential to human decidualization. Trichoplein (TCHP)-Aurora A signaling mediates cilia disassembly during human in vitro decidualization. Mechanistically, primary cilium modulates human decidualization through PTEN-PI3K-AKT-FOXO1 signaling. Our study highlights primary cilium as a novel decidualization-related signaling pathway.
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44
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Zhang H, Li X, Zhang T, Zhou Q, Zhang C. Establishment and validation of a predictive model of preeclampsia based on transcriptional signatures of 43 genes in decidua basalis and peripheral blood. BMC Bioinformatics 2022; 23:527. [PMID: 36476092 PMCID: PMC9730617 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-022-05086-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) has an increasing incidence worldwide, and there is no gold standard for prediction. Recent progress has shown that abnormal decidualization and impaired vascular remodeling are essential to PE pathogenesis. Therefore, it is of great significance to analyze the decidua basalis and blood changes of PE to explore new methods. Here, we performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis based on 9553 differentially expressed genes of decidua basalis data (GSE60438 includes 25 cases of PE and 23 non-cases) from Gene Expression Omnibus to screen relevant module-eigengenes (MEs). Among them, MEblue and MEgrey are the most correlated with PE, which contains 371 core genes. Subsequently, we applied the logistic least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, screened 43 genes most relevant to prediction from the intersections of the 371 genes and training set (GSE48424 includes 18 cases of PE and 18 non-cases) genes, and built a predictive model. The specificity and sensitivity are illustrated by receiver operating characteristic curves, and the stability was verified by two validation sets (GSE86200 includes 12 cases of PE and 48 non-cases, and GSE85307 includes 47 cases of PE and 110 non-cases). The results demonstrated that our predictive model shows good predictions, with an area under the curve of 0.991 for the training set, 0.874 and 0.986 for the validation sets. Finally, we found the 43 key marker genes in the model are closely associated with the clinically accepted predictive molecules, including FLT1, PIGF, ENG and VEGF. Therefore, this predictive model provides a potential approach for PE diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongya Zhang
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200135 China ,grid.410585.d0000 0001 0495 1805Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, 88 East Wenhua Road, Jinan, 250014 Shandong China ,grid.452927.f0000 0000 9684 550XShanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, 200135 China
| | - Xuexiang Li
- grid.410585.d0000 0001 0495 1805Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, 88 East Wenhua Road, Jinan, 250014 Shandong China
| | - Tianying Zhang
- grid.410585.d0000 0001 0495 1805Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, 88 East Wenhua Road, Jinan, 250014 Shandong China
| | - Qianhui Zhou
- grid.410585.d0000 0001 0495 1805Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, 88 East Wenhua Road, Jinan, 250014 Shandong China
| | - Cong Zhang
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200135 China ,grid.410585.d0000 0001 0495 1805Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, 88 East Wenhua Road, Jinan, 250014 Shandong China ,grid.452927.f0000 0000 9684 550XShanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, 200135 China
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45
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Guo F, Huang Y, Fernando T, Shi Y. Altered Molecular Pathways and Biomarkers of Endometrial Receptivity in Infertile Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Reprod Sci 2022; 29:3335-3345. [PMID: 35006579 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-022-00845-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Anovulation is the most prominent cause of infertility in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. Although ovulation can be corrected pharmacologically, the number of pregnancies remains low. Even if excellent embryos are transferred by IVF, it does not change the high miscarriage rate of PCOS patients. These facts collectively indicate that there is a disorder of endometrial development and receptivity to the embryo in PCOS patients, including the decrease of receptive ability, inhibition of embryo adhesion, undersupply of energy, poor blood perfusion, and pro-inflammatory status in the endometrium. However, it has never received the same attention as ovulatory dysfunction. Here we list some alternations of endometrial receptivity in women with PCOS, discuss the underlying intricate mechanisms, and try to find out the possible therapeutic targets, which may bring new perspectives to those who are able to provide high-quality embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Guo
- Department of Gynecology, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Yufan Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, Mindong Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Ningde, 355000, Fujian, China
| | - Taniya Fernando
- Department of Gynecology, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Yingli Shi
- Department of Gynecology, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China.
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46
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Kelleher AM, Allen CC, Davis DJ, Spencer TE. Prss29 Cre recombinase mice are useful to study adult uterine gland function. Genesis 2022; 60:e23493. [PMID: 35866844 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
All mammalian uteri contain glands in their endometrium that develop only or primarily after birth. In mice, those endometrial glands govern post implantation pregnancy establishment via regulation of blastocyst implantation, stromal cell decidualization, and placental development. Here, we describe a new uterine glandular epithelium (GE) specific Cre recombinase mouse line that is useful for the study of uterine gland function during pregnancy. Utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, Cre recombinase was inserted into the endogenous serine protease 29 precursor (Prss29) gene. Both Prss29 mRNA and Cre recombinase activity was specific to the GE of the mouse uterus following implantation, but was absent from other areas of the female reproductive tract. Next, Prss29-Cre mice were crossed with floxed forkhead box A2 (Foxa2) mice to conditionally delete Foxa2 specifically in the endometrial glands. Foxa2 was absent in the glands of the post-implantation uterus, and Foxa2 deleted mice exhibited complete infertility after their first pregnancy. These results establish that Prss29-Cre mice are a valuable resource to elucidate and explore the functions of glands in the adult uterus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Kelleher
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Carolyn C Allen
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Daniel J Davis
- Animal Modeling Core, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Thomas E Spencer
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
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47
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Gomes VCL, Woods AK, Crissman KR, Landry CA, Beckers KF, Gilbert BM, Ferro LR, Liu CC, Oberhaus EL, Sones JL. Kisspeptin Is Upregulated at the Maternal-Fetal Interface of the Preeclamptic-like BPH/5 Mouse and Normalized after Synchronization of Sex Steroid Hormones. REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE 2022; 3:263-279. [PMID: 37538930 PMCID: PMC10399610 DOI: 10.3390/reprodmed3040021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Insufficient invasion of conceptus-derived trophoblast cells in the maternal decidua is a key event in the development of early-onset preeclampsia (PE), a subtype of PE associated with high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Kisspeptins, a family of peptides previously shown to inhibit trophoblast cell invasion, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of early-onset PE. However, a role of kisspeptin signaling during the genesis of this syndrome has not been elucidated. Herein, we used the preeclamptic-like BPH/5 mouse model to investigate kisspeptin expression and potential upstream regulatory mechanisms in a PE-like syndrome. Expression of the kisspeptin encoding gene, Kiss1, and the 10-amino-acid kisspeptide (Kp-10), are upregulated in the non-pregnant uterus of BPH/5 females during diestrus and in the maternal-fetal interface during embryonic implantation and decidualization. Correspondingly, the dysregulation of molecular pathways downstream to kisspeptins also occurs in this mouse model. BPH/5 females have abnormal sex steroid hormone profiles during early gestation. In this study, the normalization of circulating concentrations of 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) in pregnant BPH/5 females not only mitigated Kiss1 upregulation, but also rescued the expression of multiple molecules downstream to kisspeptin and ameliorated adverse fetoplacental outcomes. Those findings suggest that uterine Kiss1 upregulation occurs pre-pregnancy and persists during early gestation in a PE-like mouse model. Moreover, this study highlights the role of sex steroid hormones in uteroplacental Kiss1 dysregulation and the improvement of placentation by normalization of E2, P4 and Kiss1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviane C. L. Gomes
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Ashley K. Woods
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Kassandra R. Crissman
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Camille A. Landry
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Kalie F. Beckers
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Bryce M. Gilbert
- School of Animal Sciences, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Lucas R. Ferro
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Chin-Chi Liu
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Erin L. Oberhaus
- School of Animal Sciences, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Jenny L. Sones
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
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48
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Li J, Qi Y, Yang K, Zhu L, Cui X, Liu Z. Follistatin Is a Novel Chemoattractant for Migration and Invasion of Placental Trophoblasts of Mice. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233816. [PMID: 36497076 PMCID: PMC9741044 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Follistatin (FST) as a gonadal protein is central to the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Trophoblasts' migration and invasion into the endometrium are critical events in placental development. This study aimed to elucidate the role of FST in the migration and invasion of placental trophoblasts of mice. We found that FST increased the vitality and proliferation of primary cultured trophoblasts of embryonic day 8.5 (E8.5) mice and promoted wound healing of trophoblasts. Moreover, FST significantly induced migration of trophoblasts in a microfluidic device and increased the number of invasive trophoblasts by Matrigel-coated transwell invasion assay. Being treated with FST, the adhesion of trophoblasts was inhibited, but intracellular calcium flux of trophoblasts was increased. Western blotting results showed that FST had no significant effects on the level of p-Smad3 or the ratio of p-Smad3/Smad3 in trophoblasts. Interestingly, FST elevated the level of p-JNK; the ratio of p-JNK/JNK; and expression of migration-related proteins N-cadherin, vimentin, ezrin and MMP2 in trophoblasts. Additionally, the migration of trophoblasts and expression of N-cadherin, vimentin, and MMP2 in trophoblasts induced by FST were attenuated by JNK inhibitor AS601245. These findings suggest that the elevated FST in pregnancy may act as a chemokine to induce trophoblast migration and invasion through the enhanced JNK signaling to maintain trophoblast function and promote placental development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Yan Qi
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
- Key Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and Clinical Immunology, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Ke Yang
- Institute of Applied Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Linjing Zhu
- Department of Genetics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Xueling Cui
- Key Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and Clinical Immunology, Changchun 130021, China
- Department of Genetics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Zhonghui Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
- Key Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and Clinical Immunology, Changchun 130021, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-431-8561-9476
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49
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Yang S, Bi J, Drnevich J, Li K, Nowak RA. Basigin is necessary for normal decidualization of human uterine stromal cells. Hum Reprod 2022; 37:2885-2898. [PMID: 36303457 PMCID: PMC9712941 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deac229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Does basigin (BSG) regulate human endometrial stromal cell (HESC) decidualization in vitro? SUMMARY ANSWER BSG regulates HESCs proliferation and decidualization. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Studies have shown that in the human endometrium, BSG expression is menstrual-cycle dependent and its expression was significantly lower in uterine endometrium during the luteal phase of women experiencing multiple implantation failures after IVF than in women with normal fertility. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We utilized a telomerase-immortalized HESCs in an in vitro cell culture model system to investigate whether BSG regulates decidualization of stromal cells. Further, we used microarray analysis to identify changes in the gene expression profile of HESCs treated with BSG small interfering RNA (siRNA). All experiments were repeated at least three times. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The effect of BSG knockdown (using siRNA) on HESC proliferation was determined by counting cell number and by tritiated thymidine incorporation assays. The effect of BSG on decidualization of HESCs was determined by RT-qPCR for the decidualization markers insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (IGFBP1) and prolactin (PRL). Immunoblotting was used to determine the effect of BSG siRNA on the expression of MMP-2,3. Microarray analysis was used to identify BSG-regulated genes in HESCs at Day 6 of decidualization. Functional and pathway enrichment analyses were then carried out on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The STRING online database was used to analyze protein-protein interaction (PPI) between DEG-encoded proteins, and CytoScape software was used to visualize the interaction. MCODE and CytoHubba were used to construct functional modules and screen hub genes separately. Several BSG-regulated genes identified in the microarray analysis were confirmed by qPCR. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Knockdown of BSG expression in cultured stromal cells by siRNA significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited HESC proliferation, disrupted cell decidualization and down-regulated MMP-2 and MMP-3 expression. Microarray analysis identified 721 genes that were down-regulated, and 484 genes up-regulated with P < 0.05 in BSG siRNA treated HESCs. GO term enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were significantly enriched in cell communication, signaling transduction and regulation, response to stimulus, cell adhesion, anatomical structure morphogenesis, extracellular matrix organization, as well as other functional pathways. KEGG pathway analysis identified upregulated gene enriched in pathways such as the MAPK signaling pathway, colorectal cancer, melanoma and axon guidance. In contrast, downregulated genes were mainly enriched in pathways including ECM-receptor interaction, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, pathways in cancer, antigen processing, type I diabetes mellitus and focal adhesion. The top 10 hub nodes were identified using 12 methods analyses. The hub genes that showed up in two methods were screened out. Among these genes, upregulated genes included EGFR, HSP90AA1, CCND1, PXN, PRKACB, MGAT4A, EVA1A, LGALS1, STC2, HSPA4; downregulated genes included WNT4/5, FOXO1, CDK1, PIK3R1, IGF1, JAK2, LAMB1, ITGAV, HGF, MXRA8, TMEM132A, UBE2C, QSOX1, ERBB2, GNB4, HSP90B1, LAMB2, LAMC1 and ITGA1. Hub genes and module genes involved in the top three modules of PPI analysis were analyzed through the string database. Analysis showed that hub and module genes were related mainly to the WNT signaling pathway, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway and pathways in cancer. LARGE SCALE DATA The microarray data set generated in this study has been published online at databank.illinois.edu. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Most of the findings were obtained using an in vitro cell culture system that may not necessarily reflect in vivo functions. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our results demonstrate that BSG plays a vital role in decidualization and that downregulation of BSG in the uterine endometrium may be associated with infertility in women. The identified hub genes and pathways increase our understanding of the genetic etiology and molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of decidualization by BSG. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by the NIH U54 HD40093 (R.A.N.). The authors have no competing interests to declare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhong Yang
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiajia Bi
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jenny Drnevich
- Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Kailiang Li
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Romana A Nowak
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
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50
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Ortega MA, Fraile-Martínez O, García-Montero C, Paradela A, Asunción Sánchez-Gil M, Rodriguez-Martin S, De León-Luis JA, Pereda-Cerquella C, Bujan J, Guijarro LG, Alvarez-Mon M, García-Honduvilla N. Unfolding the role of placental-derived Extracellular Vesicles in Pregnancy: From homeostasis to pathophysiology. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1060850. [PMID: 36478738 PMCID: PMC9720121 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1060850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The human placenta is a critical structure with multiple roles in pregnancy, including fetal nutrition and support, immunological, mechanical and chemical barrier as well as an endocrine activity. Besides, a growing body of evidence highlight the relevance of this organ on the maternofetal wellbeing not only during gestation, but also from birth onwards. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are complex macromolecular structures of different size and content, acting as carriers of a diverse set of molecules and information from donor to recipient cells. Since its early development, the production and function of placental-derived EVs are essential to ensure an adequate progress of pregnancy. In turn, the fetus receives and produce their own EVs, highlighting the importance of these components in the maternofetal communication. Moreover, several studies have shown the clinical relevance of EVs in different obstetric pathologies such as preeclampsia, infectious diseases or gestational diabetes, among others, suggesting that they could be used as pathophysiological biomarkers of these diseases. Overall, the aim of this article is to present an updated review of the published basic and translational knowledge focusing on the role of placental-derived EVs in normal and pathological pregnancies. We suggest as well future lines of research to take in this novel and promising field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A. Ortega
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
- Cancer Registry and Pathology Department, Principe de Asturias University Hospital, Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Oscar Fraile-Martínez
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Cielo García-Montero
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - María Asunción Sánchez-Gil
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- University Defense Center of Madrid (CUD), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sonia Rodriguez-Martin
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
- Service of Pediatric, Hospital Universitario Principe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Juan A. De León-Luis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Public and Maternal and Child Health, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Ma-drid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Claude Pereda-Cerquella
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Julia Bujan
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis G. Guijarro
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
- Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en El Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas (CIBEREHD), Department of System Biology, University of Alcalá, Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Melchor Alvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
- Immune System Diseases-Rheumatology, Oncology Service an Internal Medicine, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en El Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas (CIBEREHD), University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Natalio García-Honduvilla
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
- University Defense Center of Madrid (CUD), Madrid, Spain
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