Induction of superoxide dismutase by decidualization in human endometrial stromal cells

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of decidualization on superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression in human endometrial stromal cells (ESC). To induce decidualization, isolated ESC were incubated with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA, 10(-6) mol/l) and oestradiol (10(-8) mol/l) for 23 days. Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) was used as a marker of decidualization. SOD mRNA in ESC was significantly increased on day 12 of the hormone treatment (P < 0.01), which was concomitant with the onset of IGFBP-1 mRNA expression, and further increased until day 23 of the treatment in a manner similar to the change in IGFBP-1 expression. To examine the synergistic effect of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) with MPA and oestradiol on SOD and IGFBP-1 expression, ESC were incubated with HCG in the presence or absence of MPA and oestradiol. HCG had no synergistic effect on SOD and IGFBP-1 expression. SOD activities in the decidualized endometrial tissue obtained from patients given oestradiol and progesterone for 7-10 days were significantly higher than those in the non-decidualized endometrial tissue from patients without the hormone treatment (P < 0.01). In conclusion, SOD expression in ESC was induced by MPA and oestradiol accompanied by decidualization, suggesting that SOD may play important roles in decidualization of ESC.