Seminal plasma (SP) induces a rapid transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1)—independent up-regulation of epithelial–mesenchymal transdifferentiation (EMT) and myofibroblastic metaplasia-markers in endometriotic (EM) and endometrial cells

Immune Regulation of Seminal Plasma on the Endometrial Microenvironment: Physiological and Pathological Conditions

Seminal plasma (SP) accounts for more than 90% of semen volume. It induces inflammation, regulates immune tolerance, and facilitates embryonic development and implantation in the female reproductive tract. In the physiological state, SP promotes endometrial decidualization and causes changes in immune cells such as macrophages, natural killer cells, regulatory T cells, and dendritic cells. This leads to the secretion of cytokines and chemokines and also results in the alteration of miRNA profiles and the expression of genes related to endometrial tolerance and angiogenesis. Together, these changes modulate the endometrial immune microenvironment and contribute to implantation and pregnancy. However, in pathological situations, abnormal alterations in SP due to advanced age or poor diet in men can interfere with a woman's immune adaptation to pregnancy, negatively affecting embryo implantation and even the health of the offspring. Uterine pathologies such as endometriosis and endometritis can cause the endometrium to respond negatively to SP, which can further contribute to pathological progress and interfere with conception. The research on the mechanism of SP in the endometrium is conducive to the development of new targets for intervention to improve reproductive outcomes and may also provide new ideas for semen-assisted treatment of clinical infertility.

Extracellular vesicles would be involved in the release and delivery of seminal TGF-β isoforms in pigs

Introduction

Pig seminal plasma (SP) is rich in active forms of all three isoforms (1-3) of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), a chemokine modulatory of the immune environment in the female genital tract once semen is delivered during mating or artificial insemination (AI). The present study aimed to examine how TGF-βs are secreted by the epithelium of the male reproductive tract and how they are transported in semen, emphasizing the interplay with seminal extracellular vesicles (sEVs).

Methods

Source of TGF-βs was examined by immunohistochemistry in testis, epididymis, and accessory sex glands, by immunocytochemistry in ejaculated spermatozoa, and by Luminex xMAP® technology in SP and sEVs retrieved from healthy, fertile male pigs used as breeders in AI programs.

Results

All three TGF-β isoforms were expressed in all reproductive tissues explored and would be released into ductal lumen either in soluble form or associated with sEVs. Ejaculated spermatozoa expressed all three TGF-β isoforms, both inside and outside, probably the outer one associated with membrane-bound sEVs. The results confirmed that pig SP contains all three TGF-β isoforms and demonstrated that a substantial portion of them is associated with sEVs.

Discussion

Seminal EVs would be involved in the cellular secretion of the active forms of seminal TGF-β isoforms and in their safe transport from the male to the female reproductive tract.

TGF-β1 in Seminal Plasma Promotes Endometrial Mesenchymal Stem Cell Growth via p42/44 and Akt Pathway in Patients With or Without Endometriosis

The cause of endometriosis, which is characterized by the existence of functional endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity, is poorly understood. Seminal plasma (SP) is rich in multiple cytokines that may promote endometrial tissue survival. Here, we evaluated the effect of SP on growth of endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from women with endometriosis (E-MSCs) and women without endometriosis (NE-MSCs). Proliferation, cell foci formation, cell cycle progression, and growth marker expression of E- and NE-MSCs were promoted by SP. These effects may be mediated through activation of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), Akt, and p42/44 signaling, which enhances CDK2 and CDK6 expression and accelerates cell cycle progression. Xenografts exposed to SP exhibited a three-fold increase in volume and four-fold increase in weight after 14 days. Our findings demonstrate that TGF-β1 in SP may promote endometrial tissue survival which will allow us to understand the pathogenesis and develop novel approaches for prevention and therapies of endometriosis.

Comparative study on the biological characteristics of menstrual blood- and endometrium-derived endometrial cells

During a woman's reproductive period, the endometrial tissue is shed and regenerated every month to prepare for pregnancy or for the next cycle. The aim of the present study was to isolate, culture and characterize human endometrial cells (ECs) derived from menstrual blood (MB) and the endometrium (E). MB-derived ECs (MB-ECs) were isolated from women's MB. E-derived ECs (E-ECs) were isolated from women's endometrial tissues. The present study investigated the epithelial cell marker cytokeratin 18 (CK18) in MB-ECs and E-ECs. Cell proliferation analyses indicated that E-ECs (population doubling time, 20.85 h) grew faster than MB-ECs (population doubling time, 22.05 h; P<0.05). Cell migration ability was found to be significantly greater for MB-ECs than for E-ECs at 48 h (P<0.01). MB-ECs incubated with TGF-β1 (3 ng/ml) exhibited significantly decreased CK18 mRNA expression (P<0.01), and significantly increased vimentin (Vim) mRNA (P<0.05) and protein (P<0.01) expression at 6 and 12 h, respectively. E-EC incubation with TGF-β1 (3 ng/ml) significantly decreased CK18 mRNA expression (P<0.01) at 12 h and significantly increased Vim mRNA (P<0.01) and protein expression (P<0.05) at 6 h. The present results indicated that MB-ECs and E-ECs were biologically different, and that epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation could be induced by TGF-β1 treatment.

miR-373-3p inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition via regulation of TGFβR2 in choriocarcinoma

AIM

Previous studies have indicated that early metastasis is a major cause of mortality in patients with choriocarcinoma. However, what determines whether early metastasis of choriocarcinoma has occurred is unknown. The emerging role of miRNA in regulating cancer development and progression has been recognized. miR-373 has been shown to play pivotal roles in tumorigenesis and metastasis. However, whether miR-373 functions to promote choriocarcinoma metastasis is not clear. The purpose of this study is to determine the function of miR-373-3p in the progression of this cancer.

METHODS

In this study, we first compared epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers, which were inversely correlated with miR-373-3p expression in trophoblast and choriocarcinoma cell lines. Using PCR and Western blot, upregulation of miR-373-3p was observed to inhibit EMT progression. Similarly, gain- and loss-of-function studies revealed that ectopic miR-373-3p overexpression inhibited the migration by transwell methods of choriocarcinoma cells.

RESULTS

Our results revealed that miR-373-3p acted as an EMT inhibitor in JEG-3 and JAR cells; this was due to its mediation of the transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signaling pathway, which was responsible for EMT. miRNA microarray analysis demonstrated that miR-373-3p interacted with the 3' untranslated region of TGFβR2 mRNA, and then Western blot and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays verified this interaction.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that miR-373-3p upregulation partly accounts for TGFβR2 downregulation and leads to a restraint of EMT and migration. miR-373-3p may therefore serve as a valuable potential target in the treatment of choriocarcinoma.

Effects of Different Concentrations of Transforming Growth Factor β_1 (TGF-β_1) on the Number and Transdifferentiation of Endometrial Epithelial Cells in Endometrial Tissue

To study the influence of different concentrations of TGF-β_1 on the number and transdifferentiation of epithelial cells in endometrial tissue. 40 cases of normal endometrial tissue obtained by surgery in our hospital were collected, and epithelial cells were separated. According to the random number table method, cells were assigned into normal control groups (only with culture solution) and experimental groups (TGF-β1 was added on the basis of the above), the experimental group is further assigned into three groups, that is, low-dose (3 ng/ml), medium-dose (6 ng/ml) and high-dose (9 ng/ml) TGF-β_1 group followed by analysis of cell numbers, FN, α-SMA and Col-I level. FN secretion in normal control group was (0.469±0.010) ng/L, and ColI secretion was (0.532±0.033) ng/L. There was a difference between FN values and Col-I values in each experimental group (P < 0.01); α-SMA and other data in the experimental group had opposite effects compared with control group with significant differences for different concentrations of TGF-β_1. As concentration gradually increased, E-cadherin level in cytoplasm will gradually decrease. On the contrary, α-SMA level in cytoplasm will gradually increase (P < 0.05) (F = 145.125, 179.511, P < 0.01). TGF-β_1 stimulates the increase in of number of epithelial cells in endometrial tissue and induces them to transform into myofibroblasts dose dependently

Collagen I triggers directional migration, invasion and matrix remodeling of stroma cells in a 3D spheroid model of endometriosis

Endometriosis is a painful gynecological condition characterized by ectopic growth of endometrial cells. Little is known about its pathogenesis, which is partially due to a lack of suitable experimental models. Here, we use endometrial stromal (St-T1b), primary endometriotic stromal, epithelial endometriotic (12Z) and co-culture (1:1 St-T1b:12Z) spheroids to mimic the architecture of endometrium, and either collagen I or Matrigel to model ectopic locations. Stromal spheroids, but not single cells, assumed coordinated directional migration followed by matrix remodeling of collagen I on day 5 or 7, resembling ectopic lesions. While generally a higher area fold increase of spheroids occurred on collagen I compared to Matrigel, directional migration was not observed in co-culture or in 12Z cells. The fold increase in area on collagen I was significantly reduced by MMP inhibition in stromal but not 12Z cells. Inhibiting ROCK signalling responsible for actomyosin contraction increased the fold increase of area and metabolic activity compared to untreated controls on Matrigel. The number of protrusions emanating from 12Z spheroids on Matrigel was decreased by microRNA miR-200b and increased by miR-145. This study demonstrates that spheroid assay is a promising pre-clinical tool that can be used to evaluate small molecule drugs and microRNA-based therapeutics for endometriosis.

The inhibition of bone morphogenetic protein 1 attenuates endometriosis lesions in vivo and in vitro

PURPOSE

To investigate the potential role of Bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP1) in endometriosis lesions.

METHODS

Endometriosis model in mice was established. The expression of BMP1-3 expression in mice of endometriosis lesions was evaluated. The effect of the treatment with anti-BMP1 antibodies on the expression of MMP2, MMP9, TGF-β, IL-17, IL-1β, Col1a1 and Col1a2 levels in mice was evaluated. In endometriosis cell model, the expression of IL-17, IL-1β, MMP2 and MMP9 levels and MIF, YWHAZ, β-catenin and CAP39 mRNA levels was also detected.

RESULTS

The expression of BMP1-3 expression was upregulated in mice of endometriosis lesions (p < 0.01). Treatment with anti-BMP1 antibodies dose-dependently reduced MMP2, MMP9, TGF-β, IL-17, IL-1β, Col1a1 and Col1a2 levels in mice (p < 0.01). Treatment with anti-BMP1 antibodies suppressed TGF-β/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. In vitro cell, si-BMP1 suppressed TGF-β/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

The data support the hypothesis that the inhibition of BMP1 is involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis lesions.