scholarly journals Human chorionic gonadotrophin regulates FGF2 and other cytokines produced by human endometrial epithelial cells, providing a mechanism for enhancing endometrial receptivity

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1153-1162 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Paiva ◽  
N. J. Hannan ◽  
C. Hincks ◽  
K. L. Meehan ◽  
E. Pruysers ◽  
...  
2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 124
Author(s):  
P. Paiva ◽  
K. Meehan ◽  
L. A. Salamonsen ◽  
E. Dimitriadis

Emerging evidence suggests an important role for the early embryo product human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in embryo-endometrial interactions critical for successful embryo implantation1. The human endometrium is also a source of hCG, with maximal expression of hCG and its receptor, hCG/LHR, in endometrial epithelial cells during the window of implantation in vivo2,3, and in primary endometrial epithelial cells (EECs)3. Implantation is tightly regulated by growth and regulatory factors produced within the embryo-endometrial microenvironment. We hypothesise that embryo/endometrial-derived hCG mediates the molecular cross talk vital for successful implantation. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of hCG on the production of a selected cohort of 42 cytokines and growth factors by EECs. These included those with both known and previously unidentified roles during implantation. The secretory profile of cytokines/growth factors produced by EECs was also analysed. EECs (n=8 cultures) were isolated from biopsies collected from fertile cycling women. Cells were treated without or with recombinant hCG for 48 hr and conditioned media collected for quantitative analysis using LuminexTM multiplex technology. For the first time, a secretory profile of 42 cytokines and growth factors produced by EECs was established, as was the identification of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) secretion by human endometrial epithelium. hCG (2 IU/ml) significantly increased the production of a number factors including those with known roles during trophoblast migration and adhesion (CX3CL1; 71±31%, CXCL10; 67±24%, CCL4; 87±12%), in trophoblast differentiation (IL-1α ; 68±31%) and with unidentified roles during implantation (CCL22; 78±40%, GM-CSF; 45±16%, FGF-2; 50±25%; all p<0.05). Upregulation of the known hCG regulated proteins, VEGF and LIF, validated this study. These findings clearly support roles for the embryo/endometrium via hCG in actively contributing to the molecular cross-talk during the early stages of implantation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Kinnear ◽  
Lois A. Salamonsen ◽  
Mathias Francois ◽  
Vincent Harley ◽  
Jemma Evans

Abstract The yin and yang of female fertility is a complicated issue; large numbers of women/couples desire fertility and seek assisted reproduction intervention to achieve conception, while others seek to prevent pregnancy. Understanding specific molecules which control endometrial-embryo interactions is essential for both facilitating and preventing pregnancy. SOX17 has recently emerged as an important transcription factor involved in endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation. However, studies to date have examined mouse models of pregnancy which do not necessarily translate to the human. Demonstration of a role for ‘implantation factors’ in a human system is critical to provide a rationale for in depth clinical investigation and targeting of such factors. We demonstrate that SOX17is present within the receptive human endometrium and is up-regulated within human endometrial epithelial cells by combined estrogen & progesterone, the hormonal milieu during the receptive window. SOX17 localizes to the point of adhesive contact between human endometrial epithelial cells and a human ‘embryo mimic’ model (trophectodermal spheroid). Targeting SOX17 in endometrial epithelial cells using CRISPR/Cas9 knockdown or a SOX-F family inhibitor, MCC177, significantly inhibited adhesion of an trophectodermal spheroids to the epithelial cells thereby preventing ‘implantation’. These data confirm the important role of endometrial SOX17 in human endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation.


2022 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Segura-Benítez ◽  
María Cristina Carbajo-García ◽  
Ana Corachán ◽  
Amparo Faus ◽  
Antonio Pellicer ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Successful implantation is dependent on coordination between maternal endometrium and embryo, and the role of EVs in the required cross-talk cell-to-cell has been recently established. In this regard, it has been reported that EVs secreted by the maternal endometrium can be internalized by human trophoblastic cells transferring their contents and enhancing their adhesive and invasive capacity. This is the first study to comprehensively evaluate three EV isolation methods on human endometrial epithelial cells in culture and to describe the proteomic content of EVs secreted by pHEECs from fertile women. Methods Ishikawa cells and pHEECs were in vitro cultured and hormonally treated; subsequently, conditioned medium was collected and EVs isolated. Ishikawa cells were used for the comparison of EVs isolation methods ultracentrifugation, ExoQuick-TC and Norgen Cell Culture Media Exosome Purification Kit (n = 3 replicates/isolation method). pHEECs were isolated from endometrial biopsies (n = 8/replicate; 3 replicates) collected from healthy oocyte donors with confirmed fertility, and protein content of EVs isolated by the most efficient methodology was analysed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. EV concentration and size were analyzed by nanoparticle tracking analysis, EV morphology visualized by transmission electron microscopy and protein marker expression was determined by Western blotting. Results Ultracentrifugation was the most efficient methodology for EV isolation from medium of endometrial epithelial cells. EVs secreted by pHEECs and isolated by ultracentrifugation were heterogeneous in size and expressed EV protein markers HSP70, TSG101, CD9, and CD81. Proteomic analysis identified 218 proteins contained in these EVs enriched in biological processes involved in embryo implantation, including cell adhesion, differentiation, communication, migration, extracellular matrix organization, vasculature development, and reproductive processes. From these proteins, 82 were selected based on their functional relevance in implantation success as possible implantation biomarkers. Conclusions EV protein cargos are implicated in biological processes related to endometrial receptivity, embryo implantation, and early embryo development, supporting the concept of a communication system between the embryo and the maternal endometrium via EVs. Identified proteins may define new biomarkers of endometrial receptivity and implantation success.


Reproduction ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 159 (6) ◽  
pp. 733-743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Chen ◽  
Yong Fan ◽  
Xiaowei Zhou ◽  
Zheng Yan ◽  
Yanping Kuang ◽  
...  

Some studies have demonstrated that the implantation rate of fresh transfer cycles is lower in the gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-ant) protocol than in the GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) protocol during in vitro fertilization (IVF). This effect may be related to endometrial receptivity. However, the mechanisms are unclear. Here, endometrial tissues obtained from the mid-secretory phase of patients treated with GnRH-a or GnRH-ant protocols and from patients on their natural cycle were assessed. Endometrial expression of B-type creatine kinase (CKB), which plays important roles in the implantation phase, was significantly reduced in the GnRH-ant group. At the same time, expression of the endometrial receptivity marker HOXA10 was considerably reduced in the GnRH-ant group. GnRH-ant exposure in endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) in vitro decreased CKB expression and ATP generation and blocked polymerization of actin. Furthermore, in vitro GnRH-ant-exposed Ishikawa cells showed enhanced F-actin depolymerization, and these effects were rescued by CKB overexpression. Similar effects were observed after CKB knockdown, and these effects were rescued by CKB overexpression. Moreover, cell migration was decreased in CKB-knockdown Ishikawa cells compared with that in control cells, and this effect was also rescued by CKB overexpression. Overall, these findings showed that GnRH-ant affected CKB expression in EECs, resulting in cytoskeletal damage and migration failure. These results provide insight into the roles and molecular mechanisms of GnRH-ant treatment in the endometrium.


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 82
Author(s):  
S. G. Paule ◽  
G. Nie

Integrins are transmembrane glycoproteins composed of non-covalently associated α and β chains. Integrins participates in cell–cell interaction and binding to components of the extracellular matrix. Integrin expression changes during the establishment of receptivity for implantation. Integrins α1β1, α4β1 and αvβ3 are expressed in the endometrium during the window of implantation [1, 2] and deficiency in integrin αvβ3 is associated with idiopathic infertility and delayed endometrial maturation [1, 3, 4]. Proprotein convertases (PCs) cleave proproteins at the basic amino acids consensus motif (K/R)-(X)n-(K/R)↓ (where n = 0, 2, 4 or 6 and X is any aa) for activation. Integrins require post-translational cleavage for activation and are known to be cleaved by PCs. PC6 plays a critical role in the establishment of endometrial receptivity. We hypothesized that PC6 cleaves integrins for its activation in the endometrial epithelium for implantation. The aim of this study was to investigate the functional importance of PC6 in integrin cleavage, using a stable PC6-knockdown in HEC1A cells (HEC1A-HP) by siRNA technology.Cells transfected with a scrambled siRNA sequence (HEC1A-control) were used as the control. To determine the amount of functional integrins on the cell surface, HEC1A-PC6 and HEC1A-control were subjected to an integrin monoclonal antibody array. The amount of functional integrins α1, α3, α5, αv, αvβ3, β1, β3, β4 and α5β1 on the cell surfacewas much less in HEC1A-HP than HEC1A-control cells. Western blot analysis confirmed that cleavage of pro-integrin α5 into disulfide-linked heavy chain (110kDa) and light chain (35kDa) was greater in HEC1A-control compared to HEC1A-HP cells, suggesting that knockdown of PC6 affects integrin cleavage. Our studies imply that integrin cleavage is mediated by PC6 in endometrial epithelial cells for the establishment of receptivity for embryo implantation. (1) Lessey BA, et al., Integrin adhesion molecules in the human endometrium. Correlation with the normal and abnormal menstrual cycle. J Clin Invest, 1992. 90(1): 188–95.(2) Tabibzadeh S, Patterns of expression of integrin molecules in human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle. Hum Reprod, 1992. 7(6): 876–82.(3) Lessey BA, et al., Further characterization of endometrial integrins during the menstrual cycle and in pregnancy. Fertil Steril, 1994. 62(3): 497–506.(4) Lessey BA, et al., Aberrant integrin expression in the endometrium of women with endometriosis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 1994. 79(2): 643–9.


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