scholarly journals 249.Activin A upregulates endometrial metalloproteases: potential mechanisms for promotion of decidualisation and implantation

2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 249
Author(s):  
R. L. Jones ◽  
P. Paiva ◽  
T. J. Kaitu'u ◽  
L. A. Salamonsen
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Embryo Implantation ◽  
Activin A ◽  
Matrix Metalloproteases ◽  
Trophoblast Invasion ◽  
Endometrial Cells ◽  
Mmp Inhibitor

Activin and inhibin subunits are co-expressed by human endometrial epithelial and decidualised stromal cells. Activin A is a potent stimulator of decidualisation in vitro, but the mechanisms are unknown. Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are known to be important during decidualisation, as administration of a broad spectrum MMP inhibitor in the rat results in reduced decidualisation. Transforming Growth Factor(TGF)-βs are closely related to activins and inhibit MMP production in endometrial epithelial cells. We hypothesised that activins regulate MMP production during decidualisation and/or trophoblast invasion. Epithelial and stromal cells were isolated from human endometrium and treated for 24 h with activin, inhibin, activin/inhibin, and follistatin. Media were collected and subjected to gelatin and caesin zymography. In epithelial cells, activin A stimulated the expression of latent forms of MMPs-1, -2, -7 and -9, and increased formation of active forms of MMPs-2 and -7. Cotreatment with inhibin prevented this stimulation, whilst inhibin alone completely inhibited MMP production. Treatment with follistatin treatment reduced MMP levels. Similar regulation was seen in stromal cells for MMPs-1, -2 and -9. These data show that activin stimulates the production and activation of MMPs in both endometrial cells, and that inhibin is a potent inhibitor. It is interesting that activin is acting in an opposing manner to TGF-β, indicating that these two closely related proteins have divergent signalling pathways in endometrial cells. Further, this is the first demonstration of a role for inhibin in regulating MMPs and indeed for inhibin action in the endometrium. These findings are of potential importance in understanding regulation of MMPs in the peri-implantation endometrium. Activin is the predominant dimer produced by decidual and epithelial cells, where it may be promoting decidualisation though enhancing MMP production and activation. Furthermore, activin secretion by invasive cytotrophoblasts may stimulate focal decidual MMP production promoting their invasion during embryo implantation.

scholarly journals Ovarian steroids affect prostaglandin production in equine endometrial cells in vitro

2014 ◽  
Vol 220 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Z Szóstek ◽  
António M Galvão ◽  
Graça M Ferreira-Dias ◽  
Dariusz J Skarzynski
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Ovarian Steroids ◽  
Endometrial Cells ◽  
Prostaglandin Endoperoxide Synthase

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of ovarian steroids on equine endometrial epithelial and stromal cells, specifically i) prostaglandin (PG) production in a time-dependent manner, ii) specific PG synthases mRNA transcription and protein expression, and iii) cell proliferation. After passage I, cells were exposed to vehicle, oxytocin (OT, positive control, 10−7M), progesterone (P4, 10−7M), 17β estradiol (E2, 10−9M), or P4+E2for 12, 24, 48, or 72 h. Following treatment, PG concentration was determined using the direct enzyme immunoassay (EIA) method. Alterations inPGsynthases mRNA transcriptions,PGsynthases protein expression, and cell proliferation in response to the treatments were determined after 24 h using real-time PCR, western blot, or 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide respectively. After 24 h, E2and P4+E2increased PGE2and PGF2αsecretion as well as specific prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase-2 (PTGS2), PGE2synthases (PGES), and PGF2αsynthases (PGFS) expression in the epithelial cells (P<0.05). Additionally, E2and P4+E2increased PTGS2 expression in stromal cells after 24 h (P<0.05). In stromal cells, P4+E2increased PGE2production as well as PGES expression after 24 h (P<0.05). Both E2and P4+E2increased PGF2αproduction by stromal cells after 24 h (P<0.05). Ovarian steroids affected proliferation of stromal and epithelial cells during the 24-h incubation period (P<0.05). We provide evidence that ovarian steroids affect PG production in equine endometrial cells, upregulating PTGS2, PGES, and PGFS expression. Ovarian steroid-stimulated PG production could be an important mechanism occurring in the equine endometrium that is involved in the regulation of the estrous cycle and early pregnancy.

scholarly journals Immunosuppressive Factor MNSFβ Regulates Cytokine Secretion by Mouse Lymphocytes and Is Involved in Interactions between the Mouse Embryo and Endometrial Cells In Vitro

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaping He ◽  
Zhaogui Sun ◽  
Yan Shi ◽  
Yahong Jiang ◽  
Zhefu Jia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Embryo Implantation ◽  
Cytokine Secretion ◽  
Embryonic Cells ◽  
Suppressor Factor ◽  
Endometrial Stromal Cells ◽  
Endometrial Cells ◽  
Coculture Model ◽  
Mouse Lymphocytes

Immune tolerance at the fetomaternal interface must be established during the processes of implantation and pregnancy. Monoclonal nonspecific suppressor factor beta (MNSFβ) is a secreted protein that possesses antigen-nonspecific immune-suppressive function. It was previously reported that intrauterine immunoneutralization of MNSFβ significantly inhibited embryo implantation in mice. In the present study, MNSFβ protein expression was up- or downregulated by overexpression or RNA interference, respectively, in HCC-94 cells and the culture supernatants used to determine effects of MNSFβ on the secretion of IL-4 and TNFα from mouse lymphocytes as detected by ELISA. A coculture model of mouse embryos and endometrial stromal cells was also utilized to determine the effects of a specific anti-MNSFβ antibody on hatching and growth of embryos in vitro. The results show that MNSFβ induced secretion of IL-4 and inhibited secretion of TNFα from mouse lymphocytes. Following immunoneutralization of MNSFβ protein in the HCC-94 supernatant, the stimulatory effect of MNSFβ on IL-4 secretion from mouse lymphocytes was reduced, while the inhibitory effect on secretion of TNFα was abrogated. Expression of MNSFβ was detected in both embryonic and endometrial stromal cells, and its immunoneutralization inhibited the hatching and spreading of embryos in an in vitro coculture model. These results indicated that MNSFβ may play critical roles during the peri-implantation process by regulating cytokine secretion of lymphocytes and by mediating the crosstalk between embryonic cells and endometrial stromal cells.

229. Identification of transforming growth factor beta2 (TGF-β2) and its receptors TGF-βRI and TGF-βRII in the possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) prostate: evidence of seasonal changes

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
H. Martyn ◽  
K. Pugazhenthi ◽  
B. McLeod ◽  
H. D. Nicholson
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Western Blots ◽  
Prostate Growth

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is an enlargement of the prostate affecting the ageing male population. The common Brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) has been identified as a possible model to study factors regulating prostate growth because its prostate grows and regresses seasonally. Transforming growth factor Beta 2 (TGF-β2) is present in human prostatic tissue. In vitro, TGF-β inhibits epithelial cell, but stimulates stromal cell proliferation (Mori et al. 1990). TGF-β2 binds to TGF-β receptor II (TGF-βRII), which then recruits the type 1 receptor (TGF-βRI) (Saez et al. 1998) The aim of this study was to identify any seasonal changes in expression of TGF-β2 and its receptors in the possum prostate. Six wild-caught possums were sacrificed in each of the months of January, March, May, July, September and November. The prostates were divided into a cranial and caudal region and immunohistochemistry and Western Blot analysis performed. In each animal the glandular and periurethral areas of the caudal and cranial prostates were examined separately. Immunohistochemistry identified the presence of TGF-β2 in both the stromal and epithelial cells of the glandular and periurethral areas of the cranial and caudal regions. In the cranial tissue, more immuno-positive stromal cells than epithelial cells were present, whereas in the caudal tissue immuno-reactivity was predominantly localised to the epithelial cells. Analysis of the western blots suggested that TGF-β2 expression was lowest immediately before and during the breeding season (March, May). Both TGF-βRI and TGF-βRII were identified in all regions of the prostate. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry revealed that the receptors were co-localised in the epithelial and stromal cells in all areas. TGF-β2 and its receptors are present in the possum prostate. TGF-β2 localisation varies between the caudal and cranial regions and as predicted from in vitro experiments TGF-β2 expression decreases during prostate growth. (1) Mori H. et al. (1990). The Prostate, 16, 71 - 80. (2) Saez C. et al. (1998). The Prostate, 37, 84 - 90.

Immunocytochemical localization of prostaglandin synthase in the ovine uterus during the oestrous cycle and in early pregnancy

1990 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 311 ◽  
Author(s):  
LA Salamonsen ◽  
JK Findlay
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Cellular Localization ◽  
In Vitro Release ◽  
Oestrous Cycle ◽  
Intense Staining ◽  
Endometrial Cells ◽  
Ovine Uterus

Prostaglandin (PG) synthase has been localized by immunocytochemistry within the ovine uterus throughout the oestrous cycle and in early pregnancy. On Day 4 of the cycle, PG synthase was located primarily in the stromal cells in caruncular and intercaruncular tissue with little staining in the epithelium. On Days 14 through to 16, the most intense staining was in the luminal epithelial cells (caruncular and intercaruncular) and in epithelial cells of glands close to the uterine lumen. PG synthase was also located in the intercaruncular stromal cells, particularly close to the myometrium. Staining for the enzyme on Day 10 was intermediate between that of Day 4 and Day 14. On Day 15 of pregnancy, the pattern of staining was identical to that on Day 15 of the cycle, with no detectable difference in intensity. When endometrial cells (cycle, Day 14) were cultured with and without ovine trophoblast protein-1 (3 ng mL-1) in vitro, release of PGE and PGF2 alpha was attenuated (54% and 47% of control respectively) but no differences were observed in the intensity of staining for PG synthase in the cells. These results demonstrate marked cyclical changes in the endometrial cell types producing PGs, suggesting differential regulation of PG synthase. In addition, it appears that conceptus-induced changes in PGF2 alpha release do not occur via changes in the concentration or cellular localization of PG synthase, but rather that the activity of the enzyme is modified.

scholarly journals Activin A and Inhibin A Differentially Regulate Human Uterine Matrix Metalloproteinases: Potential Interactions during Decidualization and Trophoblast Invasion

Endocrinology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 147 (2) ◽  
pp. 724-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Jones ◽  
Jock K. Findlay ◽  
Paul G. Farnworth ◽  
David M. Robertson ◽  
Euan Wallace ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Matrix Metalloproteinases ◽  
Embryo Implantation ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Activin A ◽  
Trophoblast Invasion ◽  
Inhibin A ◽  
Data Support ◽  
Extravillous Cytotrophoblasts ◽  
Implantation Sites

Embryo implantation and trophoblast invasion are tightly regulated processes, involving sophisticated communication between maternal decidual and fetal trophoblast cells. Decidualization is a prerequisite for successful implantation and is promoted by a number of paracrine agents, including activin A. To understand the downstream mechanisms of activin-promoted decidualization, the effects of activin on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) (important mediators of decidualization) were investigated. Activin A stimulated endometrial production of proMMPs-2, -3, -7, -9, and active MMP-2. In contrast, inhibin A was a potent inhibitor of proMMP-2, and antagonized the effect of activin on MMPs. Activin is up-regulated with decidualization, and MMPs-2, -3, and -9 increase in parallel. Furthermore, proMMP-2 production is stimulated when decidualization is accelerated with activin, and suppressed when activin is neutralized, attenuating decidualization. These data support that activin A promotes decidualization through up-regulating MMPs. Previous in vitro evidence proposes further roles for activin and MMPs in promoting trophoblast invasion; therefore, we examined their interrelationships in early human implantation sites. MMPs-7 and -9 were produced by static cytotrophoblast subpopulations, whereas MMP-2 was strikingly up-regulated in invasive extravillous cytotrophoblasts (EVT). Maternal decidua is the primary source of activin, where a role in stimulating MMP-2 in iEVTs can be envisaged. Inhibin was absent from cytotrophoblast populations, except for a dramatic up-regulation in endovascular EVT plugs, coinciding with a down-regulation of MMP-2. This suggests that inhibin may have a role in the cessation of vascular invasion. These data support that activin, via effects on MMPs, is an important factor in the maternal-fetal dialog regulating implantation.

177 ISOLATION AND CULTURE OF MOUSE ENDOMETRIAL CELLS IN A THREE-DIMENSIONAL CULTURE SYSTEM

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 205
Author(s):  
T.-Y. Fu ◽  
P.-C. Tang ◽  
J.-C. Ju
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Culture System ◽  
Type I Collagen ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Type I ◽  
Cytokeratin 18 ◽  
Basal Nucleus ◽  
Endometrial Cells

Implantation of mammalian embryos occurs only during a restricted narrow window. The endometrium becomes highly receptive for the embryos during this period of time. The objective of this study was to establish an in vitro culture system for pre- and post-implantation mouse embryos. In Experiment 1, mouse uterine horns were excised at Day 3.5 post-coitus. After being washed with Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered solution (DPBS), the uterine horns were cut open and incubated with 0.05% trypsin in DPBS at 4&deg;C for 2 h. After trypsinization, the tissues were incubated at 37&deg;C for an additional 30 min. The solution containing epithelial cell suspension was recovered after 30 s of vortexing. The trypsinized uterine horns were then cut into 1-mm3 pieces and digested with collagenase (type I, 1 mg mL-1 in DPBS) at 37&deg;C for 3 h with vigorous shaking. At the end of digestion, the solution was filtered through 40-&micro;m nylon mesh and the flowthrough containing stromal cells was collected. The isolated epithelial and stromal cells were characterized by their morphology and immunocytochemistry. Both types of cells showed positive immunocytochemical reaction with desmin antibody. The cultured epithelial cells formed polyhedral shapes, and more than 95% expressed epithelium-specific protein, cytokeratin-18. On the other hand, most of the spindle-like stromal cells had no signal for cytokeratin-18 expression, although a few scattered cells were positively labeled. In Experiment 2, for construction of the 3-dimensional culture system, epithelial cells obtained by the method described in Experiment 1 were seeded on an artificial basal membrane (ECMatrixTM; Millipore/Upstate/Chemicon, Temecula, CA, USA) with underlying stromal cells embedded in the type I collagen matrix. The whole system was settled in a Millicell&reg; (Millipore) hanging in a 24-well culture plate, and immersed in DMEM medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 20 ng mL-1 epidermal growth factor, 63.5 nmol progesterone, and 7.14 nmol 17β-estradiol. The morphology of epithelial cells on the matrix became cuboidal after 48 h of culture. Additionally, the columnar cells with a basal nucleus were observed on the paraffin wax sections. In Experiment 3, mouse E3.5 embryos were recovered and cultured in this established culture system. Normal hatching and/or attachment of the blastocysts were observed after 2 days of culture. In conclusion, our results showed that epithelial cells formed morphologically columnar monolayers and apparently interacted with blastocyst embryos. Successful construction of this model system would facilitate the study of early embryo development through the implantation stage.

scholarly journals Mechanisms of Adiponectin Action in Fertility: An Overview from Gametogenesis to Gestation in Humans and Animal Models in Normal and Pathological Conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 1526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alix Barbe ◽  
Alice Bongrani ◽  
Namya Mellouk ◽  
Anthony Estienne ◽  
Patrycja Kurowska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Polycystic Ovary ◽  
Embryo Implantation ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Trophoblast Invasion ◽  
Endometrial Cells ◽  
Foetal Growth ◽  
Foetal Growth Restriction

Adiponectin is the most abundant plasma adipokine. It mainly derives from white adipose tissue and plays a key role in the control of energy metabolism thanks to its insulin-sensitising, anti-inflammatory, and antiatherogenic properties. In vitro and in vivo evidence shows that adiponectin could also be one of the hormones controlling the interaction between energy balance and fertility in several species, including humans. Indeed, its two receptors—AdipoR1 and AdipoR2—are expressed in hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and their activation regulates Kiss, GnRH and gonadotropin expression and/or secretion. In male gonads, adiponectin modulates several functions of both somatic and germ cells, such as steroidogenesis, proliferation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. In females, it controls steroidogenesis of ovarian granulosa and theca cells, oocyte maturation, and embryo development. Adiponectin receptors were also found in placental and endometrial cells, suggesting that this adipokine might play a crucial role in embryo implantation, trophoblast invasion and foetal growth. The aim of this review is to characterise adiponectin expression and its mechanism of action in male and female reproductive tract. Further, since features of metabolic syndrome are associated with some reproductive diseases, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, endometriosis, foetal growth restriction and ovarian and endometrial cancers, evidence regarding the emerging role of adiponectin in these disorders is also discussed.

scholarly journals Different macrophages equally induce EMT in endometria of adenomyosis and normal

Reproduction ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 154 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min An ◽  
Dong Li ◽  
Ming Yuan ◽  
Qiuju Li ◽  
Lu Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Immunohistochemical Analysis ◽  
Secretory Phase ◽  
Normal Endometrium ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Endometrial Cells

Endometrial cells and microenvironment are two important factors in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis. Our previous study demonstrated that macrophages can induce eutopic epithelial cells of adenomyosis to suffer from epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). The aim of this study is to detect whether macrophages interacting with epithelial cells equally induce the EMT process in normal and eutopic endometria of healthy and adenomyotic patients; and whether macrophages parallelly polarize to M2. We investigated the expression levels of epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), neural cadherin (N-cadherin), cytokeratin7 (CK7), vimentin, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFB1), SMAD3 and pSMAD3 using immunohistochemistry and western blot, and then estimated the genetic levels of CD163, IL10 and MMP12 using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in macrophages. Eutopic and normal endometrial tissues were obtained from 20 patients with adenomyosis and 11 control patients without adenomyosis, respectively. The immunohistochemical analysis shows distinct EMT in eutopic endometria in secretory phase; the expression levels of TGFB1, SMAD3 and pSMAD3 that indicate signal pathway of EMT were also higher in secretory phase. Macrophages can induce EMT process in primary endometrial epithelial cells derived from normal and eutopic endometria. After co-culturing, THP-1-derived macrophages polarized to M2. Compared with the eutopic endometrium group, further polarization to M2 was observed in the normal endometrium group. These results indicate that adenomyosis may be promoted by the pathologic EMT of epithelial cells, which is induced by macrophages that incapably polarize to M2.

scholarly journals Endometrial regeneration with endometrial epithelium: homologous orchestration with endometrial stroma as a feeder

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryo Yokomizo ◽  
Yukiko Fujiki ◽  
Harue Kishigami ◽  
Hiroshi Kishi ◽  
Tohru Kiyono ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Fertility Treatment ◽  
Feeder Cells ◽  
Endometrial Stromal Cells ◽  
Thin Endometrium ◽  
Endometrial Epithelial Cells

Abstract Background Thin endometrium adversely affects reproductive success rates with fertility treatment. Autologous transplantation of exogenously prepared endometrium can be a promising therapeutic option for thin endometrium; however, endometrial epithelial cells have limited expansion potential, which needs to be overcome in order to make regenerative medicine a therapeutic strategy for refractory thin endometrium. Here, we aimed to perform long-term culture of endometrial epithelial cells in vitro. Methods We prepared primary human endometrial epithelial cells and endometrial stromal cells and investigated whether endometrial stromal cells and human embryonic stem cell-derived feeder cells could support proliferation of endometrial epithelial cells. We also investigated whether three-dimensional culture can be achieved using thawed endometrial epithelial cells and endometrial stromal cells. Results Co-cultivation with the feeder cells dramatically increased the proliferation rate of the endometrial epithelial cells. We serially passaged the endometrial epithelial cells on mouse embryonic fibroblasts up to passage 6 for 4 months. Among the human-derived feeder cells, endometrial stromal cells exhibited the best feeder activity for proliferation of the endometrial epithelial cells. We continued to propagate the endometrial epithelial cells on endometrial stromal cells up to passage 5 for 81 days. Furthermore, endometrial epithelium and stroma, after the freeze-thaw procedure and sequential culture, were able to establish an endometrial three-dimensional model. Conclusions We herein established a model of in vitro cultured endometrium as a potential therapeutic option for refractory thin endometrium. The three-dimensional culture model with endometrial epithelial and stromal cell orchestration via cytokines, membrane-bound molecules, extracellular matrices, and gap junction will provide a new framework for exploring the mechanisms underlying the phenomenon of implantation. Additionally, modified embryo culture, so-called “in vitro implantation”, will be possible therapeutic approaches in fertility treatment.

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