Decidualization modulates a signal transduction system via protease-activated receptor-1 in endometrial stromal cells
Abstract
Decidual cells are thought to be involved in the maintenance of pregnancy. We conducted this study to evaluate the cellular function of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) transitioning to decidualization. Normal endometrial specimens were obtained from premenopausal patients who had undergone hysterectomies for subserosal leiomyomas. Decidualization of the ESCs (DSCs) was induced by incubating subconfluent cells in media containing medroxyprogesterone acetate and dibutyryl-cyclic adenosine monophosphate. We first analyzed the expression profile of protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) between ESCs and DSCs. To investigate the intracellular signal transduction system in the DSCs, we incubated cells with thrombin receptor activator peptide 6 (TRAP-6). The levels of IL-8, monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor in the culture medium were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The activation of the MAP kinase signaling pathway was detected by a Western blot analysis. The activation was evaluated for the expression of p21. PAR-1 receptor expression is upregulated in DSCs. The productions of chemokine and MMP-1 increased in the DSCs with the addition of TRAP...Continue Reading
References
Citations
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Arterial-Venous in Development & Disease
Arterial-venous development may play a crucial role in cardiovascular diseases. Here is the latest research.