Regulation of decidualization and angiogenesis in the human endometrium: Mini review
Open Access
- 22 April 2014
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research
- Vol. 40 (5), 1180-1187
- https://doi.org/10.1111/jog.12392
Abstract
Aim The human endometrium is a dynamic tissue that undergoes regular cycles of menstruation, menstrual repair, proliferation and secretory differentiation in response to hypoxia and the female sex hormones. Methods We identified new target genes that are regulated by progesterone during the decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells (ESC), including interleukin‐15 (IL‐15), fibulin‐1 (FBLN‐1), and heart and neural crest derivatives expressed transcript 2 (HAND2). Results IL‐15 is deeply involved in the hormonal control of the human endometrium by progesterone and may be important in embryo implantation. FBLN‐1 has been shown to be an important extracellular matrix that mediates progesterone action in human ESC differentiation toward implantation. Moreover, progestin‐induced HAND2 is a transcription factor that contributes to the increased levels of FBLN‐1 in human ESC. Several mediators, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin (ANGPT) and stromal cell‐derived factor 1 (SDF‐1), regulate human endometrial angiogenesis. Hypoxia increased the expression of VEGF and decreased the expression of SDF‐1 in ESCs. Furthermore, hypoxia reduced ANGPT1 levels in ESC; however, ANGPT2 levels were unaffected. Estradiol simultaneously induced the expressions of VEGF and SDF‐1, suppressing ANGPT1 production. Therefore, hypoxia and estradiol caused an increase in the ANGPT2/ANGPT1 ratio. Conclusion Hypoxia and female sex hormones are involved in the regulation of angiogenic factors in an independent manner in human ESC. Analysis of the process of decidualization and angiogenesis in the human endometrium would provide useful information for the fields of reproductive biology, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.Keywords
Funding Information
- JSPS KAKENHI (23592425, 23592426)
This publication has 49 references indexed in Scilit:
- The concentration of human follicular fluid stromal cell-derived factor-1 is correlated with luteinization in folliclesGynecological Endocrinology, 2012
- The progesterone receptor regulates implantation, decidualization, and glandular development via a complex paracrine signaling networkMolecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 2012
- Angiopoietin 1 and angiopoietin 2 in follicular fluid of women undergoing a long protocolFertility and Sterility, 2011
- Evidence for a conserved function of heart and neural crest derivatives expressed transcript 2 in mouse and human decidualizationReproduction, 2011
- The Antiproliferative Action of Progesterone in Uterine Epithelium Is Mediated by Hand2Science, 2011
- Estrogen induces stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1/CXCL12) production in human endometrial stromal cells: a possible role of endometrial epithelial cell growthFertility and Sterility, 2011
- Endometrial Decidualization: Of Mice and MenSeminars in Reproductive Medicine, 2010
- VEGF blockade inhibits angiogenesis and reepithelialization of endometriumThe FASEB Journal, 2008
- Recent advances in endometrial angiogenesis researchAngiogenesis, 2005
- Steroid hormone regulation of angiogenesis in the primate endometriumFrontiers in Bioscience-Landmark, 2003