The potential role of tissue factor in regulating haemostasis, thrombosis and angiogenesis in human endometrium

2001 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-139
Author(s):  
F Schatz ◽  
G Krikun ◽  
CJ Lockwood

Decidual cells prevent peri-implantational endometrical bleedingDuring the menstrual cycle, the concerted effects of estradiol (E2) and progesterone induce human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) to undergo decidualization, the collection of morphological, proliferative and biochemical changes that transforms stromal cells to decidual cells. In the luteal phase, progesterone initiates E2-primed HESCs to decidualize around blood vessels. Under continued progesterone stimulation, decidualization spreads throughout the late luteal phase and gestational endometrium. Among species with a haemochorial placenta, human trophoblasts are the most intrinsically invasive and human endometrium undergoes the most extensive decidualization reaction. Implanting blastocyst-derived syncytiotrophoblasts breach endometrial blood vessels embedded in a matrix of decidual cells. This invasive process institutes the primordial uteroplacental circulation, and provides the embryo with oxygen and nutrients. That it risks bleeding is clear from the phenomenon of chemical pregnancy, in which trophoblast-derived human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) appears transiently in the maternal blood followed by localized decidual bleeding. After endovascular invasion by syncytiotrophoblasts, extravillous cytotrophoblasts penetrate uterine spiral arteries and initiate the morphological changes that lead to increased intervillous blood flow. The occurrence of decidual haemorrhage during this period is associated with spontaneous abortion, abruption and preterm birth. Ectopic pregnancies are most frequently complicated by haemorrhage in primate species lacking a true decidua, thus underscoring the importance of decidual cells in preventing uterine bleeding.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Diniz-da-Costa ◽  
Chow-Seng Kong ◽  
Katherine J Fishwick ◽  
Thomas Rawlings ◽  
Paul John Brighton ◽  
...  

Pregnancy depends on the wholesale transformation of the endometrium, a process driven by differentiation of endometrial stromal cells (EnSC) into specialist decidual cells. Upon embryo implantation, decidual cells impart the tissue plasticity needed to accommodate a rapidly growing conceptus and invading placenta, although the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here we characterize a discrete population of highly proliferative mesenchymal cells (hPMC) in midluteal human endometrium, coinciding with the window of embryo implantation. Single-cell transcriptomics demonstrated that hPMC express genes involved in chemotaxis and vascular transmigration. Although distinct from resident EnSC, hPMC also express genes encoding pivotal decidual transcription factors and markers, most prominently prolactin. We further show that hPMC are enriched around spiral arterioles, scattered throughout the stroma, and occasionally present in glandular and luminal epithelium. The abundance of hPMC correlated with the in vitro colony-forming unit activity of midluteal endometrium and, conversely, clonogenic cells in culture express a gene signature partially conserved in hPMC. Cross-referencing of single-cell RNA-sequencing data sets indicated that hPMC differentiate into a recently discovered decidual subpopulation in early pregnancy. Finally, we demonstrate that recurrent pregnancy loss is associated with hPMC depletion. Collectively, our findings characterize midluteal hPMC as novel decidual precursors that are likely derived from circulating bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells and integral to decidual plasticity in pregnancy.


Endocrinology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 157 (7) ◽  
pp. 2883-2893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Muter ◽  
Paul J. Brighton ◽  
Emma S. Lucas ◽  
Lauren Lacey ◽  
Anatoly Shmygol ◽  
...  

Decidualization denotes the transformation of endometrial stromal cells into specialized decidual cells. In pregnancy, decidual cells form a protective matrix around the implanting embryo, enabling coordinated trophoblast invasion and formation of a functional placenta. Continuous progesterone (P4) signaling renders decidual cells resistant to various environmental stressors, whereas withdrawal inevitably triggers tissue breakdown and menstruation or miscarriage. Here, we show that PLCL1, coding phospholipase C (PLC)-related catalytically inactive protein 1 (PRIP-1), is highly induced in response to P4 signaling in decidualizing human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs). Knockdown experiments in undifferentiated HESCs revealed that PRIP-1 maintains basal phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Protein kinase B activity, which in turn prevents illicit nuclear translocation of the transcription factor forkhead box protein O1 and induction of the apoptotic activator BIM. By contrast, loss of this scaffold protein did not compromise survival of decidual cells. PRIP-1 knockdown did also not interfere with the responsiveness of HESCs to deciduogenic cues, although the overall expression of differentiation markers, such as PRL, IGFBP1, and WNT4, was blunted. Finally, we show that PRIP-1 in decidual cells uncouples PLC activation from intracellular Ca2+ release by attenuating inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate signaling. In summary, PRIP-1 is a multifaceted P4-inducible scaffold protein that gates the activity of major signal transduction pathways in the endometrium. It prevents apoptosis of proliferating stromal cells and contributes to the relative autonomy of decidual cells by silencing PLC signaling downstream of Gq protein-coupled receptors.


2001 ◽  
Vol 86 (12) ◽  
pp. 5964-5972
Author(s):  
Antonis Makrigiannakis ◽  
George Coukos ◽  
Anastasia Mantani ◽  
Prokopis Prokopakis ◽  
Geoffrey Trew ◽  
...  

The Wilms’ tumor suppressor gene (WT1) encodes a zinc-finger containing transcription factor that is selectively expressed in the developing urogenital tract and functions as a tissue-specific developmental regulator. In addition to its gene-regulatory function through DNA binding properties, WT-1 also regulates transcription by formation of protein-protein complexes. These properties place WT-1 as a major regulator of cell growth and differentiation. In view of these observations, we studied WT1 mRNA and protein in human endometrial extracts and in endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) differentiating into decidual cells in vitro, by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. WT1 protein expression was also studied in situ in the proliferative and the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle in the early pregnant state. Analysis by PCR of total RNA prepared from human ESCs demonstrated the presence of WT1 mRNA and four WT1 mRNA splice variants. Western blot analysis of nuclear protein extracts from ESCs yielded one immunoreactive protein of the expected size (approximately 52–54 kDa) recognized by the WT1 antibody. Immunohistochemical staining showed that WT1 protein is localized only to nuclei of human endometrial stromal cells. It remains constant in the proliferative and the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle and is increased remarkably during decidualization in early pregnancy. ESCs decidualized in vitro were investigated for WT-1 expression, which confirmed that decidualizing stimuli (E2, medroxy-progesterone-acetate, and relaxin for 12 d or cAMP and progesterone for 1–4 d) induced WT-1 mRNA (P < 0.05) and increased protein levels (P < 0.05). These data indicate that in humans the WT1 gene is expressed in ESCs and its mRNA and protein levels remain constant in the proliferative and the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle and that WT1 mRNA and protein expression increases significantly in ESCs when these cells differentiate into decidual cells.


Steroids ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 67 (7) ◽  
pp. 655-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryu Matsuoka ◽  
Atsushi Yanaihara ◽  
Hiroshi Saito ◽  
Yoshiaki Furusawa ◽  
Yoshiro Toma ◽  
...  

2000 ◽  
pp. 477-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Gaffuri ◽  
L Airoldi ◽  
AM Di Blasio ◽  
P Vigano ◽  
AM Miragoli ◽  
...  

Although the mechanisms causing recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) remain frequently speculative, recent evidence indicates that a specific uterine immune-endocrine network plays a pivotal role in the continuation of pregnancy. We have recently demonstrated that an adhesion molecule of the immune system, named intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, is markedly expressed at both protein and mRNA levels in endometrial stromal cells and is able to mediate their interaction with lymphoid cells. Moreover, we have shown that the soluble form of ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) can be released by the endometrium in a hormone-dependent manner. The present study was designed to determine whether surface and/or sICAM-1 expression by cultured endometrial stromal cells could be related to early pregnancy loss in patients with a history of unexplained RSA. Luteal-phase endometrial biopsies were obtained from eight patients who had experienced three or more consecutive unexplained RSAs in the first trimester and 12 control fertile women. Surface ICAM-1 was similarly expressed on luteal-phase endometrial cells obtained from women with and without a history of unexplained RSA. In contrast, the endometrial release of sICAM-1 was significantly lower in abortion-prone patients than in control women. sICAM-1 is a cytokine-inducible molecule able to interfere with several immunological responses and the reduced levels of the protein shed by the endometrium in patients who have suffered from unexplained RSAs may reflect the presence of an altered immunological environment during the early phases of pregnancy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Muter ◽  
Chow-Seng Kong ◽  
Jan J. Brosens

In each menstrual cycle, the endometrium becomes receptive to embryo implantation while preparing for tissue breakdown and repair. Both pregnancy and menstruation are dependent on spontaneous decidualization of endometrial stromal cells, a progesterone-dependent process that follows rapid, oestrogen-dependent proliferation. During the implantation window, stromal cells mount an acute stress response, which leads to the emergence of functionally distinct decidual subsets, reflecting the level of replication stress incurred during the preceding proliferative phase. Progesterone-dependent, anti-inflammatory decidual cells (DeC) form a robust matrix that accommodates the conceptus whereas pro-inflammatory, progesterone-resistant stressed and senescent decidual cells (senDeC) control tissue remodelling and breakdown. To execute these functions, each decidual subset engages innate immune cells: DeC partner with uterine natural killer (uNK) cells to eliminate senDeC, while senDeC co-opt neutrophils and macrophages to assist with tissue breakdown and repair. Thus, successful transformation of cycling endometrium into the decidua of pregnancy not only requires continuous progesterone signalling but dominance of DeC over senDeC, aided by recruitment and differentiation of circulating NK cells and bone marrow-derived decidual progenitors. We discuss how the frequency of cycles resulting in imbalanced decidual subpopulations may determine the recurrence risk of miscarriage and highlight emerging therapeutic strategies.


2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 254
Author(s):  
C. A. White ◽  
E. Dimitriadis ◽  
A. Sharkey ◽  
C. J. Stoikos ◽  
L. A. Salamonsen

Differentiation of endometrial stromal cells into decidual cells is essential for successful embryo implantation. Interleukin (IL)-11 signalling is required for decidualisation in the mouse (1,2) and the expression pattern of IL-11 and its receptors during the menstrual cycle suggests a role for IL-11 in human decidualisation (3). Exogenous IL-11 has been shown to enhance hormone-induced decidualisation of human endometrial stromal cells in culture (4). This study aimed to determine the effects of IL-11 on downstream gene expression in endometrial stromal cells following 12 days of progesterone-induced decidualisation, and to examine the expression and functional significance of IL-11 target genes during this process. Stromal cells isolated from endometrial biopsies (n = 6) were decidualised with 17β-oestradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate (EP) or EP with 100 ng/mL recombinant human IL-11. Medium was changed every 48 h, and total RNA extracted on Day 12 for gene expression analysis using custom-made 15K cDNA microarrays. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR was performed on the same samples to confirm gene expression levels. In subsequent experiments (n = 2), cells were cytocentrifuged onto glass slides for immunocytochemistry using specific antibodies. Microarray analysis revealed 16 upregulated and 11 downregulated cDNAs in EP + IL-11 compared to EP treated cells. Among these were IL-1β (6.1-fold upregulated) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-5 (3.6-fold downregulated). Using real-time RT-PCR, IL-11 was confirmed to increase IL-1β (fold change 1.3–107.1) and decrease IGFBP-5 (fold change 2.8–469.0) transcript abundance in 6 patients. Immunolocalisation of IL-1β in EP and EP + IL-11 treated cells revealed more intense vesicular cytoplasmic staining with IL-11 treatment, while staining intensity for IGFBP-5 was not affected. Interactions between IL-11 and its downstream targets IL-1β and IGFBP-5 are likely to have functional importance in early pregnancy, and may provide novel targets for the manipulation of human fertility. (1) Robb L, Li R, Hartley L, Nandurkar HH, Koentgen F, Begley CG (1998) Nat. Med. 4, 303–308. (2) Bilinski P, Roopenian D, Gossler A (1998) Gene Dev. 12, 2234–2243. (3) Dimitriadis E, Salamonsen LA, Robb L (2000) Mol. Hum. Reprod. 6, 907–914. (4) Dimitriadis E, Robb L, Salamonsen LA (2002) Mol. Hum. Reprod. 8, 636–643.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yajie Li ◽  
Xinliu Zeng ◽  
Dingheng Lu ◽  
Minuo Yin ◽  
Meirong Shan ◽  
...  

Abstract STUDY QUESTION Could erastin activate ferroptosis to regress endometriotic lesions? SUMMARY ANSWER Erastin could induce ferroptosis to regress endometriotic lesions in endometriosis. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Ectopic endometrial stromal cells (EESCs) are in an iron overloading microenvironment and tend to be more sensitive to oxidative damage. The feature of erastin-induced ferroptosis is iron-dependent accumulation of lethal lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS). STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Eleven patients without endometriosis and 21 patients with endometriosis were recruited in this study. Primary normal and ectopic endometrial stromal cells were isolated, cultured and subjected to various treatments. The in vivo study involved 10 C57BL/6 female mice to establish the model of endometriosis. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The markers of ferroptosis were assessed by cell viability, lipid peroxidation level and morphological changes. The cell viability was measured by colorimetric method, lipid peroxidation levels were measured by flow cytometry, and morphological changes were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Immunohistochemistry and western blot were used to detect ferroportin (FPN) expression. Prussian blue staining and immunofluorescent microscopy of catalytic ferrous iron were semi-quantified the levels of iron. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression and siRNA-mediated knockdown were used to investigate the role of FPN on erastin-induced ferroptosis in EESCs. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE EESCs were more susceptible to erastin treatment, compared to normal endometrial stromal cells (NESCs) (P<0.05). Treatment of cultured EESCs with erastin dramatically increased the total ROS level (P<0.05, versus control), lipid ROS level (P<0.05, versus NESCs) and intracellular iron level (P<0.05, versus NESCs). The cytotoxicity of erastin could be attenuated by iron chelator, deferoxamine (DFO), and ferroptosis inhibitors, ferrostatin-1 and liproxstatin-1, (P<0.05, versus erastin) in EESCs. In EESCs with erastin treatment, shorter and condensed mitochondria were observed by electron microscopy. These findings together suggest that erastin is capable to induce EESC death by ferroptosis. However, the influence of erastin on NESCs was slight. The process of erastin-induced ferroptosis in EESCs accompanied iron accumulation and decreased FPN expression. The overexpression of FPN ablated erastin-induced ferroptosis in EESCs. In addition, knockdown of FPN accelerated erastin-induced ferroptosis in EESCs. In a mouse model of endometriosis, we found ectopic lesions were regressed after erastin administration. LARGE SCALE DATA N/A LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This study was mainly conducted in primary human endometrial stromal cells. Therefore, the function of FPN in vivo need to be further investigated. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our findings reveal that erastin may serve as a potential therapeutic treatment for endometriosis. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. The authors declare no conflict of interest.


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