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Bao H, Sun Y, Deng N, Zhang L, Jia Y, Li G, Gao Y, Li X, Tang Y, Cai H, Lu J, Wang H, Deng W, Kong S. PR-SET7 epigenetically restrains uterine interferon response and cell death governing proper postnatal stromal development. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4920. [PMID: 38858353 PMCID: PMC11164956 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49342-6] [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: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The differentiation of the stroma is a hallmark event during postnatal uterine development. However, the spatiotemporal changes that occur during this process and the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we comprehensively delineated the dynamic development of the neonatal uterus at single-cell resolution and characterized two distinct stromal subpopulations, inner and outer stroma. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that uterine ablation of Pr-set7, the sole methyltransferase catalyzing H4K20me1, led to a reduced proportion of the inner stroma due to massive cell death, thus impeding uterine development. By combining RNA sequencing and epigenetic profiling of H4K20me1, we demonstrated that PR-SET7-H4K20me1 either directly repressed the transcription of interferon stimulated genes or indirectly restricted the interferon response via silencing endogenous retroviruses. Declined H4K20me1 level caused viral mimicry responses and ZBP1-mediated apoptosis and necroptosis in stromal cells. Collectively, our study provides insight into the epigenetic machinery governing postnatal uterine stromal development mediated by PR-SET7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haili Bao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Yang Sun
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Na Deng
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Leilei Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Yuanyuan Jia
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Gaizhen Li
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Yun Gao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Xinyi Li
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Yedong Tang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Han Cai
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Jinhua Lu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Haibin Wang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China.
| | - Wenbo Deng
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China.
| | - Shuangbo Kong
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China.
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Stadtmauer DJ, Basanta S, Maziarz JD, Cole AG, Dagdas G, Smith GR, van Breukelen F, Pavličev M, Wagner GP. Comparative single cell analysis reveals complex patterns of cell type and cell signaling innovations at the fetal-maternal interface. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.01.591945. [PMID: 38746137 PMCID: PMC11092578 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.01.591945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The decidual-placental interface is one of the most diverse and rapidly evolving tissues in mammals. Its origin as a chimeric fetal-maternal tissue poses a unique evolutionary puzzle. We present single-cell RNA sequencing atlases from the fetal-maternal interfaces of the opossum, a marsupial, the Malagasy common tenrec, an afrotherian with primitive reproductive features, and mouse, guinea pig, and human. Invasive trophoblast shares a common transcriptomic signature across eutherians, which we argue represents a cell type family that radiated following the evolution of hemochorial placentation. We find evidence that the eutherian decidual stromal cell evolved stepwise from a predecidual state retained in Tenrec , followed by a second decidual cell type originating in Boreoeutheria with endocrine characteristics. We reconstruct ligand-receptor signaling to test evolutionary hypotheses at scale. Novel trophoblast and decidual cell types display strong integration into signaling networks compared to other cells. Additionally, we find consistent disambiguation between fetal and maternal signaling. Using phylogenetic analysis, we infer the cell-cell signaling network of the Placental common ancestor, and identify increased rates of signaling evolution in Euarchontoglires. Together, our findings reveal novel cell type identities and cell signaling dynamics at the mammalian fetal-maternal interface.
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3
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Lee JW, Lee HY. Exploring distinct properties of endometrial stem cells through advanced single-cell analysis platforms. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:379. [PMID: 38124100 PMCID: PMC10734114 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03616-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The endometrium is a dynamic tissue that undergoes cyclic changes in response to ovarian hormones during the menstrual cycle. These changes are crucial for pregnancy establishment and maintenance. Endometrial stem cells play a pivotal role in endometrial regeneration and repair by differentiating into various cell types within the endometrium. However, their involvement in endometrial disorders such as endometriosis, infertility, and endometrial cancer is still not fully understood yet. Traditional bulk sequencing methods have limitations in capturing heterogeneity and complexity of endometrial stem cell populations. To overcome these limitations, recent single-cell analysis techniques, including single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq), single-cell ATAC sequencing (scATAC-Seq), and spatial transcriptomics, have emerged as valuable tools for studying endometrial stem cells. In this review, although there are still many technical limitations that require improvement, we will summarize the current state-of-the-art single-cell analysis techniques for endometrial stem cells and explore their relevance to related diseases. We will discuss studies utilizing various single-cell analysis platforms to identify and characterize distinct endometrial stem cell populations and investigate their dynamic changes in gene expression and epigenetic patterns during menstrual cycle and differentiation processes. These techniques enable the identification of rare cell populations, capture heterogeneity of cell populations within the endometrium, and provide potential targets for more effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Woo Lee
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, GAIHST, Gachon University, Incheon, 21999, Republic of Korea
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon, 406-840, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwa-Yong Lee
- Division of Science Education, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea.
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4
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Thapa R, Druessel L, Ma L, Torry DS, Bany BM. ATOH8 Expression Is Regulated by BMP2 and Plays a Key Role in Human Endometrial Stromal Cell Decidualization. Endocrinology 2023; 165:bqad188. [PMID: 38060684 PMCID: PMC10729865 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqad188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
During the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, elongated fibroblast-like mesenchymal cells in the uterine endometrium begin to transdifferentiate into polygonal epithelioid-like (decidual) cells. This decidualization process continues more broadly during early pregnancy, and the resulting decidual tissue supports successful embryo implantation and placental development. This study was carried out to determine if atonal basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor 8 (ATOH8) plays a role in human endometrial stromal fibroblast (ESF) decidualization. ATOH8 messenger RNA and protein expression levels significantly increased in human ESF cells undergoing in vitro decidualization, with the protein primarily localized to the nucleus. When ATOH8 expression was silenced, the ability of the cells to undergo decidualization was significantly diminished. Overexpression of ATOH8 enhanced the expression of many decidualization markers. Silencing the expression of ATOH8 reduced the expression of FZD4, FOXO1, and several known FOXO1-downstream targets during human ESF cell decidualization. Therefore, ATOH8 may be a major upstream regulator of the WNT/FZD-FOXO1 pathway, previously shown to be critical for human endometrial decidualization. Finally, we explored possible regulators of ATOH8 expression during human ESF decidualization. BMP2 significantly enhanced ATOH8 expression when cells were stimulated to undergo decidualization, while an ALK2/3 inhibitor reduced ATOH8 expression. Finally, although the steroids progesterone plus estradiol did not affect ATOH8 expression, the addition of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) analogue alone represented the major effect of ATOH8 expression when cells were stimulated to undergo decidualization. Our results suggest that ATOH8 plays a crucial role in human ESF decidualization and that BMP2 plus cAMP are major regulators of ATOH8 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupak Thapa
- Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
| | - Logan Druessel
- Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
| | - Liang Ma
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63018, USA
| | - Donald S Torry
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL 62702, USA
| | - Brent M Bany
- Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
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5
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Oh Y, Quiroz E, Wang T, Medina-Laver Y, Redecke SM, Dominguez F, Lydon JP, DeMayo FJ, Wu SP. The NR2F2-HAND2 signaling axis regulates progesterone actions in the uterus at early pregnancy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1229033. [PMID: 37664846 PMCID: PMC10473531 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1229033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometrial function is dependent on a tight crosstalk between the epithelial and stromal cells of the endometrium. This communication is critical to ensure a fertile uterus and relies on progesterone and estrogen signaling to prepare a receptive uterus for embryo implantation in early pregnancy. One of the key mediators of this crosstalk is the orphan nuclear receptor NR2F2, which regulates uterine epithelial receptivity and stromal cell differentiation. In order to determine the molecular mechanism regulated by NR2F2, RNAseq analysis was conducted on the uterus of PgrCre;Nr2f2f/f mice at Day 3.5 of pregnancy. This transcriptomic analysis demonstrated Nr2f2 ablation in Pgr-expressing cells leads to a reduction of Hand2 expression, increased levels of Hand2 downstream effectors Fgf1 and Fgf18, and a transcriptome manifesting suppressed progesterone signaling with an altered immune baseline. ChIPseq analysis conducted on the Day 3.5 pregnant mouse uterus for NR2F2 demonstrated the majority of NR2F2 occupies genomic regions that have H3K27ac and H3K4me1 histone modifications, including the loci of major uterine transcription regulators Hand2, Egr1, and Zbtb16. Furthermore, functional analysis of an NR2F2 occupying site that is conserved between human and mouse was capable to enhance endogenous HAND2 mRNA expression with the CRISPR activator in human endometrial stroma cells. These data establish the NR2F2 dependent regulation of Hand2 in the stroma and identify a cis-acting element for this action. In summary, our findings reveal a role of the NR2F2-HAND2 regulatory axis that determines the uterine transcriptomic pattern in preparation for the endometrial receptivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeongseok Oh
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
- Department of Life Science and Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Elvis Quiroz
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Tianyuan Wang
- Biostatistics & Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Yassmin Medina-Laver
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, IVI Foundation, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), Valencia, Spain
| | - Skylar Montague Redecke
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Francisco Dominguez
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, IVI Foundation, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), Valencia, Spain
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Francesco J. DeMayo
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - San-Pin Wu
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
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6
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Massri N, Loia R, Sones JL, Arora R, Douglas NC. Vascular changes in the cycling and early pregnant uterus. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e163422. [PMID: 37288662 PMCID: PMC10393238 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.163422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Uterine vascular remodeling is intrinsic to the cycling and early pregnant endometrium. Maternal regulatory factors such as ovarian hormones, VEGF, angiopoietins, Notch, and uterine natural killer cells significantly mediate these vascular changes. In the absence of pregnancy, changes in uterine vessel morphology and function correlate with different stages of the human menstrual cycle. During early pregnancy, vascular remodeling in rodents and humans results in decreased uterine vascular resistance and increased vascular permeability necessary for pregnancy success. Aberrations in these adaptive vascular processes contribute to increased risk of infertility, abnormal fetal growth, and/or preeclampsia. This Review comprehensively summarizes uterine vascular remodeling in the human menstrual cycle, and in the peri- and post-implantation stages in rodent species (mice and rats).
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Affiliation(s)
- Noura Massri
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program and
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Rachel Loia
- School of Graduate Studies, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Sones
- Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Ripla Arora
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Nataki C. Douglas
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Health and
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
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7
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Miller D, Garcia-Flores V, Romero R, Galaz J, Pique-Regi R, Gomez-Lopez N. Single-Cell Immunobiology of the Maternal-Fetal Interface. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:1450-1464. [PMID: 36192116 PMCID: PMC9536179 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy success requires constant dialogue between the mother and developing conceptus. Such crosstalk is facilitated through complex interactions between maternal and fetal cells at distinct tissue sites, collectively termed the "maternal-fetal interface." The emergence of single-cell technologies has enabled a deeper understanding of the unique processes taking place at the maternal-fetal interface as well as the discovery of novel pathways and immune and nonimmune cell types. Single-cell approaches have also been applied to decipher the cellular dynamics throughout pregnancy, in parturition, and in obstetrical syndromes such as recurrent spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia, and preterm labor. Furthermore, single-cell technologies have been used during the recent COVID-19 pandemic to evaluate placental viral cell entry and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on maternal and fetal immunity. In this brief review, we summarize the current knowledge of cellular immunobiology in pregnancy and its complications that has been generated through single-cell investigations of the maternal-fetal interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Miller
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Valeria Garcia-Flores
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
- Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI
| | - Jose Galaz
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and
| | - Roger Pique-Regi
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI;
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
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Wu SP, Wang T, Yao ZC, Peavey MC, Li X, Zhou L, Larina IV, DeMayo FJ. Myometrial progesterone receptor determines a transcription program for uterine remodeling and contractions during pregnancy. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac155. [PMID: 36120506 PMCID: PMC9470376 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The uterine myometrium expands and maintains contractile quiescence before parturition. While the steroid hormone progesterone blocks labor, the role of progesterone signaling in myometrial expansion remains elusive. This study investigated the myometrial functions of the progesterone receptor, PGR. Pgr ablation in mouse smooth muscle leads to subfertility, oviductal embryo retention, and impaired myometrial adaptation to pregnancy. While gross morphology between mutant and control uteri are comparable, mutant uteri manifest a decrease of 76.6% oxytocin-stimulated contractility in a pseudopregnant context with a reduced expression of intracellular calcium homeostasis genes including Pde5a and Plcb4. At mid-pregnancy, the mutant myometrium exhibits discontinuous myofibers and disarrayed extracellular matrix at the conceptus site. Transcriptome of the mutant mid-pregnant uterine wall manifests altered muscle and extracellular matrix profiles and resembles that of late-pregnancy control tissues. A survey of PGR occupancy, H3K27ac histone marks, and chromatin looping annotates cis-acting elements that may direct gene expression of mid-pregnancy uteri for uterine remodeling. Further analyses suggest that major muscle and matrix regulators Myocd and Ccn2 and smooth muscle building block genes are PGR direct downstream targets. Cataloging enhancers that are topologically associated with progesterone downstream genes reveals distinctive patterns of transcription factor binding motifs in groups of enhancers and identifies potential regulatory partners of PGR outside its occupying sites. Finally, conserved correlations are found between estimated PGR activities and RNA abundance of downstream muscle and matrix genes in human myometrial tissues. In summary, PGR is pivotal to direct the molecular program for the uterus to remodel and support pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- San-Pin Wu
- Reproductive & Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Tianyuan Wang
- Integrative Bioinformatics Support Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Zheng-Chen Yao
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mary C Peavey
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Xilong Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lecong Zhou
- Integrative Bioinformatics Support Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Irina V Larina
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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9
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Wei XW, Zhang YC, Wu F, Tian FJ, Lin Y. The role of extravillous trophoblasts and uterine NK cells in vascular remodeling during pregnancy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:951482. [PMID: 37408837 PMCID: PMC10319396 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.951482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Successful embryo implantation requires both a receptive endometrium and competent blastocysts. After implantation, the maternal decidua undergoes a series of changes, including uterine spiral artery (SA) remodeling to accommodate the fetus and provide nutrients and oxygen for the fetus to survive. Uterine spiral arteries transform from small-diameter, high-resistance arteries to large-diameter and low-resistance arteries during pregnancy. This transformation includes many changes, such as increased permeability and dilation of vessels, phenotypic switching and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), transient loss of endothelial cells (ECs), endovascular invasion of extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs), and presence of intramural EVT, which are regulated by uterine NK (uNK) cells and EVTs. In this review, we mainly focus on the separate and combined roles of uNK cells and EVTs in uterine SA remodeling in establishing and maintaining pregnancy. New insight into related mechanisms will help us better understand the pathogenesis of pregnancy complications such as recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and preeclampsia (PE).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Wei Wei
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Birth Defects and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Chen Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fan Wu
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fu-Ju Tian
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Birth Defects and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Lin
- Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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10
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Fraser R, Zenclussen AC. Killer Timing: The Temporal Uterine Natural Killer Cell Differentiation Pathway and Implications for Female Reproductive Health. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:904744. [PMID: 35832424 PMCID: PMC9271944 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.904744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are the predominant maternal uterine immune cell component, and they densely populate uterine mucosa to promote key changes in the post-ovulatory endometrium and in early pregnancy. It is broadly accepted that (a) immature, inactive endometrial NK (eNK) cells in the pre-ovulatory endometrium become activated and transition into decidual NK (dNK) cells in the secretory stage, peri-implantation endometrium, and continue to mature into early pregnancy; and (b) that secretory-stage and early pregnancy dNK cells promote uterine vascular growth and mediate trophoblast invasion, but do not exert their killing function. However, this may be an overly simplistic view. Evidence of specific dNK functional killer roles, as well as opposing effects of dNK cells on the uterine vasculature before and after conception, indicates the presence of a transitory secretory-stage dNK cell (s-dNK) phenotype with a unique angiodevelopmental profile during the peri-implantation period, that is that is functionally distinct from the angiomodulatory dNK cells that promote vessel destabilisation and vascular cell apoptosis to facilitate uterine vascular changes in early pregnancy. It is possible that abnormal activation and differentiation into the proposed transitory s-dNK phenotype may have implications in uterine pathologies ranging from infertility to cancer, as well as downstream effects on dNK cell differentiation in early pregnancy. Further, dysregulated transition into the angiomodulatory dNK phenotype in early pregnancy will likely have potential repercussions for adverse pregnancy outcomes, since impaired dNK function is associated with several obstetric complications. A comprehensive understanding of the uterine NK cell temporal differentiation pathway may therefore have important translational potential due to likely NK phenotypic functional implications in a range of reproductive, obstetric, and gynaecological pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupsha Fraser
- Centre for Reproductive Health, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Rupsha Fraser,
| | - Ana Claudia Zenclussen
- Department of Environmental Immunology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Leipzig, Germany
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