Effect of mistletoe on endometrial stromal cell survival and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in patients with endometriosis

Cell Growth Factor and Estrogen Inducing Menstrual Blood-Derived Stem Cells (MenSC) Differentiate into Endometrial Epithelial Cells

Extracted MenSC (Menstrual blood-derived stem cells) from female menstrual blood. Added various exogenous factors in-vitro and simulated the female uterine environment to observe how to make MenSC differentiation into Endometrial epithelial cells by artificial induction. MenSCs were divided into 4 groups: 2.5×10−5 mol/L E group, 1.613 nmol/L EGF group, 2.5×10−5 mol/L E+1.613 nmol/L EGF group, control Group (only MenSCs); the relevant indicators of the experiment includes cell staining and Western Blot to detect CK and VIM protein content; RT-PCR to detect CK-19 mRNA and VIM mRNA. The cell staining results showed that E+EGF group had significant differentiation in 7 days and 14 days. CK-19mRNA of E+EGF group was significantly higher than other groups, and the EGF group expression was obviously higher than that of E group, and VIMmRNA expression is opposite to that. The protein expression had the similar performance. MenSC can differentiate into endometrial epithelial cells after induced by E and EFG; and the co-culture of E and EFG can achieve better differentiation, which proves their work together in MenSC differentiate towards endometrial epithelial cells.

Target identification and drug discovery by data-driven hypothesis and experimental validation in ovarian endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

To identify targets and discover drugs for ovarian endometriosis (OE) DESIGN: A basic study based on a data-driven hypothesis and experimental validation SETTING: Center for Reproductive Medicine PATIENT(S)/ANIMAL(S): Fourteen patients with OE and 7 healthy donors were recruited, and 15 female C57/BL6 mice were involved.

INTERVENTION(S)

Samples of OE lesions and normal endometrium were obtained. The ITPR1-knockdowned ectopic human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) were subjected to ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing, cell-counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining, and flow cytometry. Camptothecin was administered to HESCs and in an OE mouse model.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

ITPR1 expression in OE lesions and normal endometrium, cell proliferation and apoptosis of HESCs with ITPR1 knockdown or camptothecin treatment, and autograft volume in the OE mouse model RESULT(S): Two significant OE-relevant gene modules were identified and involved the PI3K/Akt and aging-relevant pathways. Fifteen hub genes were identified and confirmed, among which the most significant gene, ITPR1, was robustly elevated in OE lesions. RNA sequencing revealed that ITPR1 was highly relevant to cell proliferation and apoptosis, which was further confirmed by CCK-8 assay, EdU staining, and flow cytometry analysis. ITPR1 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and induced HESC apoptosis. The candidate drugs targeting these modules were screened, among which camptothecin and irinotecan were identified as promising drugs. Both compounds suppressed HESC proliferation and induced apoptosis; ITPR1 expression was suppressed by camptothecin. The therapeutic effect of camptothecin was also validated in the OE mouse model.

CONCLUSION(S)

This study identified the therapeutic targets and promising drugs for OE and shed light on the use of camptothecin in OE treatment.

Expression of nm23-H1, p53, and integrin β1 in endometriosis and their clinical significance

To investigate the expression and clinical significance of nucleoside diphosphate kinase A (nm23-H1), p53, and integrin β1 in endometriosis, normal and ectopic endometrial tissues were collected and the levels of nm23-H1, p53, and integrin β1 proteins were detected by western blotting. We also measured the mRNA expression of nm23-H1, p53, and integrin β1 in endometrial epithelial cells by droplet digital PCR, based on endometrial tissues using laser capture microdissection. Moreover, primary stromal cells from normal and ectopic endometrial tissues were also cultured and treated with different concentrations of estrogen. We assessed the mRNA levels of nm23-H1, p53, and integrin β1 by quantitative PCR. Compared with normal endometrial tissue, the levels of nm23-H1 and p53 proteins were significantly downregulated in ectopic endometrial tissues, while integrin β1 protein was upregulated. The same expression trend in the mRNA levels of nm23-H1, p53, and integrin β1 was also observed in both endometrial epithelial cells and stromal cells. In addition, with increasing estrogen concentration, nm23-H1 and p53 mRNA levels gradually decreased, while integrin β1 mRNA expression increased. Nm23-H1 and p53 may inhibit the progression of endometriosis, while integrin β1 has a promoting effect, and estrogen is involved in this process.