Premium
Cadherin‐11 is a hormonally regulated cellular marker of decidualization in human endometrial stromal cells
Author(s) -
Chen George T.C.,
Getsios Spiro,
MacCalman Colin D.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2795(199902)52:2<158::aid-mrd6>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - decidualization , stromal cell , biology , decidua , endometrium , decidual cells , endocrinology , medicine , luteal phase , microbiology and biotechnology , andrology , cancer research , follicular phase , placenta , fetus , pregnancy , genetics
Abstract Cultured human endometrial stromal cells respond to the gonadal steroids, progesterone and 17β‐estradiol, with morphological and biochemical changes that are characteristic of decidualization in vivo. To date, the cellular mechanisms involved in the terminal differentiation of human endometrial stromal cells into decidual cells remain poorly understood. We have recently determined that the novel cadherin subtype, known as cadherin‐11, is expressed by endometrial stromal cells undergoing decidualization during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and the decidua of pregnancy. In these studies, we have examined cadherin‐11 mRNA and protein expression levels in human endometrial stromal cells undergoing steroid‐mediated decidualization in vitro. Progesterone or a combination of progesterone and 17β‐estradiol increased stromal cadherin‐11 mRNA and protein expression levels with time in culture. Maximum levels of cadherin‐11 expression in these cell cultures correlated with a marked increase in IGFBP‐1 mRNA levels, a biochemical marker of decidualization. In contrast, 17β‐estradiol had no effect on stromal cad‐11 mRNA and protein expression or the levels of the IGFBP‐1 mRNA transcript. Taken together, these observations demonstrate that cadherin‐11 mRNA and protein expression levels are up‐regulated during the terminal differentiation of endometrial stromal cells—suggesting that this cell adhesion molecule may serve as a useful cellular marker for decidualization. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 52:158–165, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.