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Wu J, Sheng J, Wu X, Wu Q. Ultrasound‑assessed endometrial receptivity measures for the prediction of in vitro fertilization‑embryo transfer clinical pregnancy outcomes: A meta‑analysis and systematic review. Exp Ther Med 2023; 26:453. [PMID: 37614426 PMCID: PMC10443051 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.12152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
At present, there are currently no reliable and consistent conclusions regarding transvaginal ultrasound assessment of endometrial receptivity in predicting clinical pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Thus, in the present study, a meta-analysis was performed on multiple endometrial receptivity indices detected by vaginal ultrasound, aiming to provide a diagnostic basis for clinical practice. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies published between the establishment of the databases through to January 2023. Studies that reported infertile women undergoing IVF-ET and undergoing vaginal ultrasound were included, but repeat publication, studies where the full text was not obtainable, studies where there was incomplete information provided or data extraction was not possible, studies on animals, case reports, reviews, and systematic reviews were excluded. STATA 15.1 was used to analyze the data. The pooled results showed that the endometrial thickness [Weighted mean difference (WMD)=0.03, 95% CI: 0.00-0.06; P=0.022] and endometrial volume (WMD=0.41, 95% CI: 0.07-0.74; P=0.017) of the pregnancy group after receiving IVF-ET were all significantly higher than that of the non-pregnancy group. The pooled results also showed that the vascularization index (VI) (WMD=0.79, 95% CI: 0.56-1.03; P=0.000), flow index (FI) (WMD=1.82, 95% CI: 0.83-2.81; P=0.000) and vascularization flow index (VFI) (WMD=1.58, 95% CI: 0.91-2.24; P=0.000) of the pregnancy group after receiving IVF-ET was significantly higher than that of the non-pregnancy group. Systolic/diastolic (S/D) (WMD=-4.92, 95%CI: -8.28- -1.56; P=0.004) of the uterine artery of the pregnancy group after receiving IVF-ET was significantly lower than that of the non-pregnancy group. However, the differences between the resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) in the pregnancy group vs. the non-pregnancy group after receiving IVF-ET were not statistically significant. Vaginal ultrasound can be used to predict the outcomes of pregnancy in infertile women undergoing IVF-ET by measuring the thickness and volume of the endometrium, combined with the S/D, VI, FI, and VFI of the uterine artery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhang Wu
- Department of Ultrasound, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian 350000, P.R. China
| | - Junfa Sheng
- Department of Ultrasound, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian 350000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoying Wu
- Department of Ultrasound, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian 350000, P.R. China
| | - Qiumei Wu
- Department of Ultrasound, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian 350000, P.R. China
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2
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Huang B, Jin L, Zhang L, Cui X, Zhang Z, Lu Y, Yu L, Ma T, Zhang H. Aquaporin-8 transports hydrogen peroxide to regulate granulosa cell autophagy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:897666. [PMID: 36081911 PMCID: PMC9445271 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.897666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aquaporin-8 (AQP8), a member of the aquaporin family, is strongly expressed in follicular granulosa cells, which could affect the hormone secretion level in females. AQP8, as a membrane protein, could mediate H2O2 into cells, thereby triggering various biological events. The deficiency of Aqp8 increases female fertility, resulting from the decrease in follicular atresia. The low cell death rate is related to the apoptosis of granulosa cells. However, the mechanism by which AQP8 regulates the autophagy of granulosa cells remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to explore the effect of AQP8 on autophagy in follicular atresia. We found that the expression of the autophagy marker light-chain protein 3 was significantly downregulated in the granulosa cells of Aqp8-knockout (Aqp8−/−) mice, compared with wild-type (Aqp8+/+) mice. Immunofluorescence staining and transmission electron microscopic examination indicated that the number of autophagosomes in the granulosa cells of Aqp8−/− mice decreased. Using a follicular granulosa cell autophagy model, namely a follicular atresia model, we verified that the concentration of H2O2 significantly increased during the autophagy of granulosa cells, consistent with the Aqp8 mRNA level. Intracellular H2O2 accumulation was modulated by endogenous AQP8 expression level, indicating that AQP8-mediated H2O2 was involved in the autophagy of granulosa cells. AQP8 deficiency impaired the elevation of H2O2 concentration through phosphorylated tyrosine activation. In addition, we carried out the analysis of transcriptome sequencing datasets in the ovary and found there were obvious differences in principal components, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and KEGG pathways, which might be involved in AQP8-regulated follicular atresia. Taken together, these findings indicated that AQP8-mediated H2O2 transport could mediate the autophagy of granulosa cells. AQP8 might be a potential target for diseases related to ovarian insufficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Huang
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Lingling Jin
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Luodan Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Anhui Provincial Children’s Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaolin Cui
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yongqi Lu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Lujia Yu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Tonghui Ma
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - He Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- *Correspondence: He Zhang,
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Huang Y, Tu M, Qian Y, Ma J, Chen L, Liu Y, Wu Y, Chen K, Liu J, Ying Y, Chen Y, Ye Y, Xing L, Zhang F, Hu Y, Zhang R, Ruan YC, Zhang D. Age-Dependent Metabolomic Profile of the Follicular Fluids From Women Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology Treatment. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:818888. [PMID: 35250874 PMCID: PMC8888916 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.818888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Female fertility declines with age, and this natural variation culminates in reproductive senescence. Human follicular fluids are rich in low-molecular weight metabolites which are responsible for the maturation of oocytes. The metabolomic approaches are powerful tools to study biochemical markers of oocyte quality in the follicular fluids. It is necessary to identify and quantify the reliable metabolites in follicular fluids reflecting oocyte developmental potential. The goal of this study is to conduct a metabolomic analysis of the follicular fluids in women of different ages and study the metabolomic profile of the follicular fluids in relationship with oocyte quality in assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. A total of 30 women seeking for ART treatment at the Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from October 2014 to April 2015 were recruited for the present study. Fifteen women aged from 39 to 47 were grouped as advanced maternal age, and the other 15 women aged from 27 to 34, as young controls. Ovarian stimulation and oocyte retrieval were conducted using a regular protocol involving mid-luteal pituitary down-regulation and controlled ovarian stimulation. Follicular fluids from mature follicles were collected and centrifuged for analyses. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) were used to perform the quantitative metabolomic analysis. The follicular fluid levels of 311 metabolites and the metabolic significance were assessed. 70 metabolites showed significant differences between women with young and advanced ages. Follicular fluids from women with advanced age showed significantly higher levels of creatine, histidine, methionine, trans-4-hydroxyproline, choline, mevalonate, N2,N2-dimethylguanosine and gamma-glutamylvaline, as compared to those from the young age group. 8 metabolites were found significantly correlated with maternal age positively. Moreover, 3 metabolites were correlated with the number of oocytes retrieved, and 5 metabolites were correlated with cleaved embryo numbers, both negatively. The follicular fluids from women undergoing ART treatment exhibited age-dependent metabolomic profile. Metabolites associated with oocyte quality were identified, suggesting them as potential biomarkers for oocyte maturation and ART outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Huang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mixue Tu
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuli Qian
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Junyan Ma
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lifen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yifeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yiqing Wu
- Key Laboratory of Women’s Reproductive Health Research of Zhejiang Province and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kai Chen
- Key Laboratory of Women’s Reproductive Health Research of Zhejiang Province and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Juan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanyun Ying
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yinghui Ye
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lanfeng Xing
- Key Laboratory of Women’s Reproductive Health Research of Zhejiang Province and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Women’s Reproductive Health Research of Zhejiang Province and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanjun Hu
- Key Laboratory of Women’s Reproductive Health Research of Zhejiang Province and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Runjv Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ye Chun Ruan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Women’s Reproductive Health Research of Zhejiang Province and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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Schaefer J, Vilos AG, Vilos GA, Bhattacharya M, Babwah AV. Uterine kisspeptin receptor critically regulates epithelial estrogen receptor α transcriptional activity at the time of embryo implantation in a mouse model. Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 27:gaab060. [PMID: 34524460 PMCID: PMC8786495 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaab060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryo implantation failure is a major cause of infertility in women of reproductive age and a better understanding of uterine factors that regulate implantation is required for developing effective treatments for female infertility. This study investigated the role of the uterine kisspeptin receptor (KISS1R) in the molecular regulation of implantation in a mouse model. To conduct this study, a conditional uterine knockout (KO) of Kiss1r was created using the Pgr-Cre (progesterone receptor-CRE recombinase) driver. Reproductive profiling revealed that while KO females exhibited normal ovarian function and mated successfully to stud males, they exhibited significantly fewer implantation sites, reduced litter size and increased neonatal mortality demonstrating that uterine KISS1R is required for embryo implantation and a healthy pregnancy. Strikingly, in the uterus of Kiss1r KO mice on day 4 (D4) of pregnancy, the day of embryo implantation, KO females exhibited aberrantly elevated epithelial ERα (estrogen receptor α) transcriptional activity. This led to the temporal misexpression of several epithelial genes [Cftr (Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator), Aqp5 (aquaporin 5), Aqp8 (aquaporin 8) and Cldn7 (claudin 7)] that mediate luminal fluid secretion and luminal opening. As a result, on D4 of pregnancy, the lumen remained open disrupting the final acquisition of endometrial receptivity and likely accounting for the reduction in implantation events. Our data clearly show that uterine KISS1R negatively regulates ERα signaling at the time of implantation, in part by inhibiting ERα overexpression and preventing detrimentally high ERα activity. To date, there are no reports on the regulation of ERα by KISS1R; therefore, this study has uncovered an important and powerful regulator of uterine ERα during early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Schaefer
- Laboratory of Human Growth and Reproductive Development, Department of Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- School of Graduate Studies, Joint Graduate Program in Toxicology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Angelos G Vilos
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - George A Vilos
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Moshmi Bhattacharya
- Department of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Andy V Babwah
- Laboratory of Human Growth and Reproductive Development, Department of Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- School of Graduate Studies, Joint Graduate Program in Toxicology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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5
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Zhu C, Li X, Bazer FW, Johnson GA, Burghardt RC, Jiang Z, Wu G. Dietary L-arginine supplementation during days 14-25 of gestation enhances aquaporin expression in the placentae and endometria of gestating gilts. Amino Acids 2021; 53:1287-1295. [PMID: 34241695 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-021-03038-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
This study tested the hypothesis that dietary L-arginine (Arg) supplementation to pregnant gilts enhanced the expression of water channel proteins [aquaporins (AQPs)] in their placentae and endometria. Gilts were fed twice daily 1 kg of a corn and soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 0.0%, 0.4%, or 0.8% Arg between Days 14 and 25 of gestation. On Days 25 and 60 of gestation, gilts were hysterectomized to obtain placentae and endometria. On Day 25 of gestation, supplementation with 0.4% Arg increased (P < 0.05) the abundance of placental AQP9 protein, whereas supplementation with 0.8% Arg increased (P < 0.05) placental AQP1 and AQP9 proteins, compared with controls. On Day 60 of gestation, supplementation with 0.4% Arg increased (P < 0.05) endometrial AQP1 protein, whereas supplementation with 0.8% Arg increased (P < 0.05) endometrial AQP5 and AQP9 proteins. Supplementation with 0.8% Arg increased the endometrial expression of AQP1, AQP5, and AQP9 proteins located in the luminal epithelium and glandular epithelium of endometria, and placental transport of 3H2O. Collectively, these results indicate that dietary Arg supplementation stimulates the expression of selective AQPs in porcine placenta and endometria, thereby enhancing water transport from mother to fetus and expanding the chorioallantoic membranes during the period of placentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cui Zhu
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Xilong Li
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Fuller W Bazer
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Gregory A Johnson
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Robert C Burghardt
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Zongyong Jiang
- Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, China
| | - Guoyao Wu
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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Ribeiro JC, Alves MG, Yeste M, Cho YS, Calamita G, Oliveira PF. Aquaporins and (in)fertility: More than just water transport. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1867:166039. [PMID: 33338597 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.166039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of channel proteins that facilitate the transport of water and small solutes across biological membranes. They are widely distributed throughout the organism, having a number of key functions, some of them unexpected, both in health and disease. Among the various diseases in which AQPs are involved, infertility has been overlooked. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) infertility is a global public health problem with one third of the couples suffering from subfertility or even infertility due to male or female factors alone or combined. Thus, there is an urgent need to unveil the molecular mechanisms that control gametes production, maturation and fertilization-related events, to more specifically determine infertility causes. In addition, as more couples seek for fertility treatment through assisted reproductive technologies (ART), it is pivotal to understand how these techniques can be improved. AQPs are heterogeneously expressed throughout the male and female reproductive tracts, highlighting a possible regulatory role for these proteins in conception. In fact, their function, far beyond water transport, highlights potential intervention points to enhance ART. In this review we discuss AQPs distribution and structural organization, functions, and modulation throughout the male and female reproductive tracts and their relevance to the reproductive success. We also highlight the most recent advances and research trends regarding how the different AQPs are involved and regulated in specific mechanisms underlying (in)fertility. Finally, we discuss the involvement of AQPs in ART-related processes and how their handling can lead to improvement of infertility treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- João C Ribeiro
- Department of Anatomy, and Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; QOPNA & LAQV, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Marco G Alves
- Department of Anatomy, and Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Marc Yeste
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona, Spain; Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Yoon S Cho
- Centro di Procreazione Medicalmente Assistita, Ospedale Santa Maria, Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Calamita
- Dept. of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Pedro F Oliveira
- QOPNA & LAQV, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Portugal.
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He R, Han W, Hu Y, Chen X, Hu X, Zhu Y. AQP2 is regulated by estradiol in human endometrium and is associated with spheroid attachment in vitro. Mol Med Rep 2019; 20:1306-1312. [PMID: 31173216 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
17β‑estradiol (E2) and aquaporin 2 (AQP2) are associated with endometrial receptivity, and E2 directly regulates AQP2 expression in endometrial cancer cells. The present study aimed to investigate the role of AQP2 in embryo implantation. Normal endometrial samples were collected at the Women's Hospital (Hangzhou, China) from women seeking in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer; women with endometrial abnormalities were excluded from the study. Samples were categorized into early‑mid proliferative, late proliferative, early secretory, mid‑secretory and late secretory phase groups, according to the menstrual cycle. The mRNA and protein expression levels of AQP2 were assessed in normal human endometrium in response to E2 via reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. The effects of AQP2 on spheroid attachment were assessed using an in vitro co‑culture assay with small interfering (si)RNA against AQP2. The highest expression levels of AQP2 were observed in the late proliferative and mid‑secretory phases, with the lowest levels detected in the early proliferative and late secretory phases. In addition, treatment with 10‑9 or 10‑7 M E2 for 24 h upregulated AQP2 in the cultured endometrium. Knockdown of AQP2 by siRNA significantly decreased JAr spheroid attachment; however, this effect was significantly reversed when AQP2 siRNA‑transfected cells were treated with 10‑7 M E2. The results of the present study suggested that AQP2 expression levels in human endometrium may be mediated by estrogen, and low AQP2 expression levels may be a potential cause of impaired uterine receptivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronghuan He
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China
| | - Wenlun Han
- Department of Nephrology, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, P.R. China
| | - Yanjun Hu
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China
| | - Xijing Chen
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoling Hu
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China
| | - Yimin Zhu
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China
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8
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Zhao MD, Cheng JL, Yan JJ, Chen FY, Sheng JZ, Sun DL, Chen J, Miao J, Zhang RJ, Zheng CH, Huang HF. Hyaluronic acid reagent functional chitosan-PEI conjugate with AQP2-siRNA suppressed endometriotic lesion formation. Int J Nanomedicine 2016; 11:1323-36. [PMID: 27099493 PMCID: PMC4821386 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s99692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
To identify a new drug candidate for treating endometriosis which has fewer side effects, a new polymeric nanoparticle gene delivery system consisting of polyethylenimine-grafted chitosan oligosaccharide (CSO-PEI) with hyaluronic acid (HA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) was designed. There was no obvious difference in sizes observed between (CSO-PEI/siRNA)HA and CSO-PEI/siRNA, but the fluorescence accumulation in the endometriotic lesion was more significant for (CSO-PEI/siRNA)HA compared with CSO-PEI/siRNA due to the specific binding of HA to CD44. In addition, the (CSO-PEI/siRNA)HA nanoparticle gene therapy significantly decreased the endometriotic lesion sizes with atrophy and degeneration of the ectopic endometrium. The epithelial cells of ectopic endometrium from rat models of endometriosis showed a significantly lower CD44 expression than control after treatment with (CSO-PEI/siRNA)HA. Furthermore, observation under an electron microscope showed no obvious toxic effect on the reproductive organs. Therefore, (CSO-PEI/siRNA)HA gene delivery system can be used as an effective method for the treatment of endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Dan Zhao
- Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin-Lin Cheng
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing-Jing Yan
- Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng-Ying Chen
- Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian-Zhong Sheng
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Dong-Li Sun
- Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Miao
- The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Run-Ju Zhang
- Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Cai-Hong Zheng
- Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - He-Feng Huang
- Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China; International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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