scholarly journals Modelling the impact of decidual senescence on embryo implantation in human endometrial assembloids

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M Rawlings ◽  
Komal Makwana ◽  
Deborah M Taylor ◽  
Matteo A Molè ◽  
Katherine J Fishwick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Embryo Implantation ◽  
Implantation Window ◽  
Decidual Cells ◽  
Uterine Mucosa ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
New Treatments ◽  
The Impact

Decidual remodelling of midluteal endometrium leads to a short implantation window after which the uterine mucosa either breaks down or is transformed into a robust matrix that accommodates the placenta throughout pregnancy. To gain insights into the underlying mechanisms, we established and characterised endometrial assembloids, consisting of gland-like organoids and primary stromal cells. Single-cell transcriptomics revealed that decidualized assembloids closely resemble midluteal endometrium, harbouring differentiated and senescent subpopulations in both glands and stroma. We show that acute senescence in glandular epithelium drives secretion of multiple canonical implantation factors, whereas in the stroma it calibrates the emergence of anti-inflammatory decidual cells and pro-inflammatory senescent decidual cells. Pharmacological inhibition of stress responses in pre-decidual cells accelerated decidualization by eliminating the emergence of senescent decidual cells. In co-culture experiments, accelerated decidualization resulted in entrapment of collapsed human blastocysts in a robust, static decidual matrix. By contrast, the presence of senescent decidual cells created a dynamic implantation environment, enabling embryo expansion and attachment, although their persistence led to gradual disintegration of assembloids. Our findings suggest that decidual senescence controls endometrial fate decisions at implantation and highlight how endometrial assembloids may accelerate the discovery of new treatments to prevent reproductive failure.

scholarly journals Modelling the impact of decidual senescence on embryo implantation in human endometrial assembloids

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Rawlings ◽  
Komal Makwana ◽  
Deborah M. Taylor ◽  
Matteo A. Molè ◽  
Katherine J. Fishwick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Embryo Implantation ◽  
Implantation Window ◽  
Decidual Cells ◽  
Uterine Mucosa ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
New Treatments ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mesenchymal Epithelial Transition

AbstractDecidual remodelling of midluteal endometrium leads to a short implantation window after which the uterine mucosa either breaks down or is transformed into a robust matrix that accommodates the placenta throughout pregnancy. To gain insights into the underlying mechanisms, we established and characterised endometrial assembloids, consisting of gland organoids and primary stromal cells. Single-cell transcriptomics revealed that decidualized assembloids closely resemble midluteal endometrium, harbouring differentiated and senescent subpopulations in both glands and stroma. We show that acute senescence in glandular epithelium drives secretion of multiple canonical implantation factors, whereas in the stroma it calibrates the emergence of anti-inflammatory decidual cells and pro-inflammatory senescent decidual cells. Pharmacological inhibition of stress responses in pre-decidual cells accelerated decidualization by inhibiting senescence and mesenchymal-epithelial transition, processes involved in endometrial breakdown and regeneration, respectively. Accelerated decidualization resulted in entrapment of co-cultured human blastocysts in a largely static decidual matrix. By contrast, the presence of senescent decidual cells created a dynamic implantation environment, enabling embryo expansion and attachment, although their persistence led to gradual disintegration of assembloids. Our findings demonstrate that senescence controls endometrial fate decisions at implantation and highlight how endometrial assembloids may accelerate the discovery of new treatments to prevent reproductive failure.

scholarly journals Characterization of highly proliferative decidual precursor cells during the window of implantation in human endometrium

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Diniz-da-Costa ◽  
Chow-Seng Kong ◽  
Katherine J Fishwick ◽  
Thomas Rawlings ◽  
Paul John Brighton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Embryo Implantation ◽  
Gene Signature ◽  
Human Endometrium ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Endometrial Stromal Cells ◽  
Decidual Cells ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

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.

Recruitment of circulating NK cells through decidual tissues: a possible mechanism controlling NK cell accumulation in the uterus during early pregnancy

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 111 (6) ◽  
pp. 3108-3115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Carlino ◽  
Helena Stabile ◽  
Stefania Morrone ◽  
Roberta Bulla ◽  
Alessandra Soriani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Chemokine Receptor ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Distinct Pattern ◽  
Cell Accumulation ◽  
Decidual Cells ◽  
Uterine Mucosa

Abstract During early pregnancy, uterine mucosa decidualization is accompanied by a drastic enrichment of CD56highCD16− natural killer (NK) cells. Decidual NK (dNK) cells differ from peripheral blood NK (pbNK) cells in several ways, but their origin is still unclear. Our results demonstrate that chemokines present in the uterus can support pbNK cell migration through human endothelial and stromal decidual cells. Notably, we observed that pregnant women's pbNK cells are endowed with higher migratory ability compared with nonpregnant women's or male donors' pbNK cells. Moreover, NK cell migration through decidual stromal cells was increased when progesterone-cultured stromal cells were used as substrate, and this correlated with the ability of progesterone to up-regulate stromal cell chemokine expression. Furthermore, we demonstrate that dNK cells migrate through stromal cells using a distinct pattern of chemokines. Finally, we found that pbNK cells acquire a chemokine receptor pattern similar to that of dNK cells when they contact decidual stromal cells. Collectively these results strongly suggest that pbNK cell recruitment to the uterus contributes to the accumulation of NK cells during early pregnancy; that progesterone plays a crucial role in this event; and that pbNK cells undergo reprogramming of their chemokine receptor profile once exposed to uterine microenvironment.

scholarly journals The Role of Decidual Subpopulations in Implantation, Menstruation and Miscarriage

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Muter ◽  
Chow-Seng Kong ◽  
Jan J. Brosens
Keyword(s):  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Embryo Implantation ◽  
Recurrence Risk ◽  
Tissue Remodelling ◽  
Endometrial Stromal Cells ◽  
Decidual Cells ◽  
Unk Cells ◽  
Acute Stress Response

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.

scholarly journals Cyclin G1 inhibits the proliferation of mouse endometrial stromal cell in decidualization

2017 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-81
Author(s):  
Qian Xu ◽  
Dong-zhi Yuan ◽  
Sheng Zhang ◽  
Ting Qu ◽  
Shi-mao Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Stromal Cell ◽  
Embryo Implantation ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Cell Cycle Regulators ◽  
Cyclin G1 ◽  
Decidual Cells

Uterine stromal cell decidualization is a dynamic physiological process in which cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis are orchestrated and occur in a temporal and cell-specific manner. This process is important for successful embryo implantation. Many cell-cycle regulators are involved in decidualization. The protein cyclin G1 is a unique regulator of the cell cycle with dual functions in cell proliferation. It was reported that cyclin G1 is expressed in mouse uterine stromal cells during the period of peri-implantation. To prove the function of cyclin G1 in mouse uterine stromal cells during this period, immunohistochemistry was used to stain mouse uterine tissues on days 4-8 of pregnancy. The results showed obvious spatial and temporal expression of cyclin G1 in uterine stromal cells, and that it is expressed in the cells of the primary decidual zone (PDZ) on day 5 and secondary decidual zone (SDZ) on days 6 and 7, when the stromal cells experienced active proliferation and differentiation was initiated. Applying the decidualization model of cultured primary stromal cells in vitro, we further revealed that the expression of cyclin G1 is associated with decidualization of stromal cells induced by medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and estradiol-17? (E2). RNA interference was used for the knockdown of cyclin G1 in the induced decidual cells. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that the proportion of cells in the S stage was increased, and decreased in the G2/M phase. Our study indicates that cyclin G1, as a negative regulator of the cell cycle, plays an important role in the process of decidualization in mouse uterine stromal cells by inhibiting cell-cycle progression.

Thyroid Hormone Facilitates in vitro Decidualization of Human Endometrial Stromal Cells via Thyroid Hormone Receptors

Endocrinology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 161 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maiko Kakita-Kobayashi ◽  
Hiromi Murata ◽  
Akemi Nishigaki ◽  
Yoshiko Hashimoto ◽  
Shinnosuke Komiya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Hormone ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Hormone Receptor ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Ovarian Steroid ◽  
Endometrial Stromal Cells ◽  
Decidual Cells ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Endometrial stromal cells differentiate into decidual cells through the process of decidualization. This differentiation is critical for embryo implantation and the successful establishment of pregnancy. Recent epidemiological studies have suggested that thyroid hormone is important in the endometrium during implantation, and it is commonly believed that thyroid hormone is essential for proper development, differentiation, growth, and metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the impact of thyroid hormone on decidualization in human endometrial stromal cells (hESCs) and define its physiological roles in vitro by gene targeting. To identify the expression patterns of thyroid hormone, we performed gene expression profiling of hESCs during decidualization after treating them with the thyroid hormone levothyroxine (LT4). A major increase in decidual response was observed after combined treatment with ovarian steroid hormones and thyroid hormone. Moreover, LT4 treatment also affected the regulation of many transcription factors important for decidualization. We found that type 3 deiodinase, which is particularly important in fetal and placental tissues, was upregulated during decidualization in the presence of thyroid hormone. Further, it was observed that progesterone receptor, an ovarian steroid hormone receptor, was involved in thyroid hormone–induced decidualization. In the absence of thyroid hormone receptor (TR), due to the simultaneous silencing of TRα and TRβ, thyroid hormone expression was unchanged during decidualization. In summary, we demonstrated that thyroid hormone is essential for decidualization in the endometrium. This is the first in vitro study to find impaired decidualization as a possible cause of infertility in subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) patients.

scholarly journals High Mobility Group Box 1 Regulates Uterine Decidualization through Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 and Plays a Role in Kruppel-Like Factor 5-Induced Stromal Differentiation

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 2399-2408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Wang ◽  
Zhan-Qing Yang ◽  
Hai-Fan Yu ◽  
Yu-Si Wang ◽  
Bin Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Embryo Implantation ◽  
High Mobility ◽  
High Mobility Group ◽  
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ◽  
Mouse Uterus ◽  
Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Decidual Cells ◽  
Reliable Differentiation

Background/Aims: High mobility group box 1 (Hmgb1) is associated with a variety of physiological processes including embryonic development, cell proliferation and differentiation, but little information is available regarding its biological role in decidualization. Methods: In situ hybridization, real-time PCR, RNA interference, gene overexpression and MTS assay were used to analyze the spatiotemporal expression of Hmgb1 in mouse uterus during the pre-implantation period, and explore its function and regulatory mechanisms during uterine decidualization. Results: Hmgb1 mRNA was obviously observed in uterine epithelium on day 2 and 3 of pregnancy, but its expression was scarcely detected on day 4 of pregnancy. With the onset of embryo implantation, abundant Hmgb1 expression was noted in the subluminal stromal cells around the implanting blastocyst at implantation sites. Meanwhile, the accumulation of Hmgb1 mRNA was visualized in the decidual cells. Hmgb1 advanced the proliferation of uterine stromal cells and induced the expression of prolactin family 8, subfamily a, member 2 (Prl8a2), a reliable differentiation marker for decidualization. In uterine stromal cells, cAMP analogue 8-Br-cAMP up-regulated the expression of Hmgb1, but the up-regulation was abrogated by protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H89. Silencing of Hmgb1 by specific siRNA impeded the induction of 8-Br-cAMP on Prl8a2. Further analysis evidenced that Hmgb1 was a critical mediator of Kruppel-like factor 5 (Klf5) function in stromal differentiation. Knockdown of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (Bmp2) prevented the up-regulation of Prl8a2 elicited by Hmgb1 overexpression, whereas addition of exogenous recombinant Bmp2 protein (rBmp2) reversed the repression of Hmgb1 siRNA on Prl8a2 expression. Conclusion: Hmgb1 may play an important role during mouse uterine decidualization.

scholarly journals Recurrent pregnancy loss is associated with a pro-senescent decidual response during the peri-implantation window

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma S Lucas ◽  
Pavle Vrljicak ◽  
Joanne Muter ◽  
Maria M Diniz-da-Costa ◽  
Paul J Brighton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Pregnancy Loss ◽  
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss ◽  
Single Cell Analysis ◽  
Immune Surveillance ◽  
Marker Genes ◽  
Implantation Window ◽  
Decidual Cells

AbstractBreakdown of the feto-maternal interface in early pregnancy causes miscarriage. The cycling endometrium becomes poised to transition to a pregnant state during the midluteal implantation window, coinciding with differentiation of stromal cells into decidual cells (DC) and emergence of senescent decidual cells (snDC). Emerging evidence suggests that DC engage uterine natural killer cells to eliminate their senescent counterparts, thus enabling formation of a robust decidual matrix in pregnancy. To examine if failure to constrain snDC during the peri-implantation window increases the risk of miscarriage, we reconstructed the decidual pathway at single-cell levelin vitroand demonstrated that, without immune surveillance, secondary senescence rapidly transforms DC into progesterone-resistant cells that abundantly express extracellular matrix remodelling factors. Additional single-cell analysis of midluteal endometrium identifiedDIO2andSCARA5as marker genes of a diverging decidual responsein vivo. Finally, we report a conspicuous link between a pro-senescent decidual response in luteal phase endometrium and recurrent pregnancy loss, suggesting that pre-pregnancy screening and intervention may reduce the burden of miscarriage.

scholarly journals Progesterone-induced RNA Hand2os1 regulates decidualization in mice uteri

Reproduction ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 159 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-314
Author(s):  
Yanni Jia ◽  
Rui Cai ◽  
Tong Yu ◽  
Ruixue Zhang ◽  
Shouqin Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Embryo Implantation ◽  
Pregnant Mouse ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
Decidual Cells ◽  
Functional Clustering Analysis

Decidualization is a critical process for successful embryo implantation and subsequent placenta formation. The characterization and physiological function of lncRNA during decidualization remain largely unknown. In the present study, we conducted RNA-sequencing analysis to compare gene expression between decidua of days 6 and 8, and normal pregnant endometrium (day 4). A total of 2332 high-confidence putative lncRNA transcripts were expressed. Functional clustering analysis of cis and trans lncRNA targets showed that differentially expressed lncRNAs may regulate multiple gene ontology terms and pathways that have important functions in decidualization. Subsequent analyses using qRT-PCR validated that eight of all lncRNAs were differentially regulated in mice uteri during decidualization, both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, we showed that differentially expressed lncRNA of Hand2os1 was specifically detected in stromal cells on days 2 to 5 of pregnancy and was strongly upregulated in decidual cells on days 6–8 of pregnancy. Similarly, Hand2os1 expression was also strongly expressed in decidualized cells following artificial decidualization, both in vivo and in vitro. In uterine stromal cells, P4 was able to significantly upregulate the expression of Hand2os1, but upregulation was impeded by RU486, whereas E2 appeared to have no regulating effect on Hand2os1 expression. Concurrently, Hand2os1 significantly promoted the decidual process in vitro and dramatically increased decidualization markers Prl8a2 and Prl3c1. Our results provide a valuable catalog for better understanding of the functional roles of lncRNAs in pregnant mouse uteri, as it relates to decidualization.

scholarly journals Hsa-miR-222 Is Involved in Differentiation of Endometrial Stromal Cells in Vitro

Endocrinology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 150 (10) ◽  
pp. 4734-4743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun Qian ◽  
Linli Hu ◽  
Hong Chen ◽  
Haixia Li ◽  
Na Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Embryo Implantation ◽  
Endometrial Stromal Cells ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Mirna Genes ◽  
False Discovery ◽  
Decidual Cells ◽  
Expression Variance

Abstract Decidualization is a critical step during embryo implantation and characterized by the differentiation of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) into decidual cells. Because miRNAs are important determinants of cellular fate specification, in this study, the miRNA expression in ESCs during in vitro decidualization was profiled by using a microarray. Significance analysis of microarrays revealed that 49 miRNA genes were differently (>2-fold) expressed between the noninduced ESCs and induced ESCs with a false discovery rate of 0. The expression variance of hsa-miR-222, 221, 143, 101, 30d, 30c, 181b, 27b, 29b, 507, and 23a was validated by using quantitative PCR (P < 0.05). Based on microRNA (miRNA) and mRNA expression variance and predicted target genes of miRNAs, a bioinformatic model of miRNAs controlling ESCs differentiation was formulated. Finally, we proved that down-regulation of has-miR-222 could decrease the number of cells in S phase during ESCs differentiation (P < 0.05). Antisense oligonucleotides of has-miR-222 could increase reporter gene expression by targeting the 3′ untranslated regions of CDKN1C/p57kip2 mRNAs as well as increase CDKN1C/p57kip2 protein levels (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that a subset of miRNAs play a key role in gene reprogramming during ESCs decidualization and that hsa-miR-222 participates in ESC differentiation by regulating ESCs terminally withdrawing from the cell cycle.

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