1
|
Hai L, Maurya VK, DeMayo FJ, Lydon JP. Establishment of Murine Pregnancy Requires the Promyelocytic Leukemia Zinc Finger Transcription Factor. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3451. [PMID: 38542422 PMCID: PMC10970820 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Using an established human primary cell culture model, we previously demonstrated that the promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) transcription factor is a direct target of the progesterone receptor (PGR) and is essential for progestin-dependent decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs). These in vitro findings were supported by immunohistochemical analysis of human endometrial tissue biopsies, which showed that the strongest immunoreactivity for endometrial PLZF is detected during the progesterone (P4)-dominant secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. While these human studies provided critical clinical support for the important role of PLZF in P4-dependent HESC decidualization, functional validation in vivo was not possible due to the absence of suitable animal models. To address this deficiency, we recently generated a conditional knockout mouse model in which PLZF is ablated in PGR-positive cells of the mouse (Plzf d/d). The Plzf d/d female was phenotypically analyzed using immunoblotting, real-time PCR, and immunohistochemistry. Reproductive function was tested using the timed natural pregnancy model as well as the artificial decidual response assay. Even though ovarian activity is not affected, female Plzf d/d mice exhibit an infertility phenotype due to an inability of the embryo to implant into the Plzf d/d endometrium. Initial cellular and molecular phenotyping investigations reveal that the Plzf d/d endometrium is unable to develop a transient receptive state, which is reflected at the molecular level by a blunted response to P4 exposure with a concomitant unopposed response to 17-β estradiol. In addition to a defect in P4-dependent receptivity, the Plzf d/d endometrium fails to undergo decidualization in response to an artificial decidual stimulus, providing the in vivo validation for our earlier HESC culture findings. Collectively, our new Plzf d/d mouse model underscores the physiological importance of the PLZF transcription factor not only in endometrial stromal cell decidualization but also uterine receptivity, two uterine cellular processes that are indispensable for the establishment of pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lan Hai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (L.H.); (V.K.M.)
| | - Vineet K. Maurya
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (L.H.); (V.K.M.)
| | - Francesco J. DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27709, USA;
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (L.H.); (V.K.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bui BN, Ardisasmita AI, Kuijk E, Altmäe S, Steba G, Mackens S, Fuchs S, Broekmans F, Nieuwenhuis E. An unbiased approach of molecular characterization of the endometrium: toward defining endometrial-based infertility. Hum Reprod 2024; 39:275-281. [PMID: 38099857 PMCID: PMC10833067 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Infertility is a complex condition affecting millions of couples worldwide. The current definition of infertility, based on clinical criteria, fails to account for the molecular and cellular changes that may occur during the development of infertility. Recent advancements in sequencing technology and single-cell analysis offer new opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of these changes. The endometrium has a potential role in infertility and has been extensively studied to identify gene expression profiles associated with (impaired) endometrial receptivity. However, limited overlap among studies hampers the identification of relevant downstream pathways that could play a role in the development of endometrial-related infertility. To address these challenges, we propose sequencing the endometrial transcriptome of healthy and infertile women at the single-cell level to consistently identify molecular signatures. Establishing consensus on physiological patterns in endometrial samples can aid in identifying deviations in infertile patients. A similar strategy has been used with great success in cancer research. However, large collaborative initiatives, international uniform protocols of sample collection and processing are crucial to ensure reliability and reproducibility. Overall, the proposed approach holds promise for an objective and accurate classification of endometrial-based infertility and has the potential to improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bich Ngoc Bui
- Department of Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ewart Kuijk
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Signe Altmäe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Gaby Steba
- Department of Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Shari Mackens
- Brussels IVF, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sabine Fuchs
- Department of Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Frank Broekmans
- Department of Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Centre for Infertility Care, Dijklander Ziekenhuis, Purmerend, The Netherlands
| | - Edward Nieuwenhuis
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Science, University College Roosevelt, Middelburg, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Li H, Su N, Zhu Y, Wang W, Cai M, Luo X, Xia W, Quan S. Growth hormone inhibits the JAK/STAT3 pathway by regulating SOCS1 in endometrial cells in vitro: a clue to enhance endometrial receptivity in recurrent implantation failure. Eur J Histochem 2022; 67:3580. [PMID: 36546418 PMCID: PMC9827423 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2023.3580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is defined as failure to achieve clinical pregnancy after at least 3 transfers of good-quality embryos by natural or artificial means. RIF is often a complex problem with a wide variety of etiologies and mechanisms as well as treatment options. In this study, using immunohistochemistry and Western blot, we demonstrated that the expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), Janus kinase 1 (JAK1), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was increased, while that of suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) was decreased in RIF patients. Growth hormone (GH) administration proved to have positive effects on embryo implantation in RIF patients, but the action mechanism of GH has not been elucidated yet. To this aim, we studied the effects of GH on the proliferation in vitro of endometrial adenocarcinoma Ishikawa cells. GH stimulated the expression of LIF and SOCS1, and through SOCS1 inhibits the expression of phosphorylated STAT3, and finally inhibits the occurrence of RIF. Excessive phosphorylation of STAT can lead to decreased endometrial receptivity and abnormal embryo implantation. We also examined the effects of LIF overexpression and an LIF inhibitor (EC330) on the JAK/STAT pathway. LIF promoted cell proliferation, and the up-regulation of LIF increased the expression of SOCS1 and JAK1/STAT3 pathway-related genes in Ishikawa cells. As GH can inhibit the JAK1/STAT3 pathway through LIF, we hypothesize that upregulating SOCS1 may be a potential approach to treat RIF at the molecular level. GH can inhibit the JAK1/STAT3 pathway through LIF, up-regulating SOCS1 to treat RIF at the molecular level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou,Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ning Su
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yaqiao Zhu
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Meihong Cai
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaohuan Luo
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Xia
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Song Quan
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou,Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Çağlayan A, Horsanali MO, Buyrukcu BA. The role of sperm DNA integrity in couples with recurrent implantation failure following IVF treatment. Andrologia 2022; 54:e14496. [PMID: 35671775 DOI: 10.1111/and.14496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing evidence from the literature that indicates the association between impaired sperm DNA integrity and male infertility. However, the data is insufficient regarding recurrent implantation failure (RIF) and sperm DNA damage. This study aimed to investigate the association between sperm DNA fragmentation and RIF cases. Basic semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) of men whose partner was suffering from RIF were compared with men whose partner was diagnosed with unexplained infertility (UEI) but had clinical pregnancies following IVF treatment. A retrospective analysis from a large-volume IVF center has been performed, and a total of 197 couples underwent analysis. Two groups were formed, couples with RIF and couples diagnosed with UEI but had clinical pregnancies (controls) following IVF cycles. The mean number of cycles showed significant differences between the groups. However, no statistical difference was observed between RIF and the control group regarding patient characteristics, semen parameters, and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI). Also, no statistically significant correlation was found between sperm DFI and clinical pregnancies in the unexplained infertility cohort. Our results show that sperm DNA fragmentation may not be an important contributing factor to RIF cases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alper Çağlayan
- Department of Urology, Izmir Bakırçay University Çiğli Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
The Role of Endometrial Stem/Progenitor Cells in Recurrent Reproductive Failure. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12050775. [PMID: 35629197 PMCID: PMC9143189 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12050775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), collectively referred to as recurrent reproductive failure (RRF), are both challenging conditions with many unanswered questions relating to causes and management options. Both conditions are proposed to be related to an aberrant endometrial microenvironment, with different proposed aetiologies related to a restrictive or permissive endometrium for an invading embryo. The impressive regenerative capacity of the human endometrium has been well-established and has led to the isolation and characterisation of several subtypes of endometrial stem/progenitor cells (eSPCs). eSPCs are known to be involved in the pathogenesis of endometrium-related disorders (such as endometriosis) and have been proposed to be implicated in the pathogenesis of RRF. This review appraises the current knowledge of eSPCs, and their involvement in RRF, highlighting the considerable unknown aspects in this field, and providing avenues for future research to facilitate much-needed advances in the diagnosis and management of millions of women suffering with RRF.
Collapse
|