ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The monthly regeneration of human endometrial tissue is maintained by the presence of human endometrial mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (eMSC), a cell population co-expressing the perivascular markers CD140b and CD146. Endometrial regeneration is impaired in the presence of intrauterine adhesions, leading to infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss and placental abnormalities. Several types of somatic stem cells have been used to repair the damaged endometrium in animal models, reporting successful pregnancy. However, the ability of endometrial stem cells to repair the damaged endometrium remains unknown. METHODS: Electrocoagulation was applied to the left uterine horn of NOD/SCID mice causing endometrial injury. Human eMSC or PBS was then injected into the left injured horn while the right normal horn served as controls. Mice were sacrificed at different timepoints (Day 3, 7 and 14) and the endometrial morphological changes as well as the degree of endometrial injury and repair were observed by histological staining. Gene expression of various inflammatory markers was assessed using qPCR. The functionality of the repaired endometrium was evaluated by fertility test. RESULTS: Human eMSC successfully incorporated into the injured uterine horn, which displayed significant morphological restoration. Also, endometrium in the eMSC group showed better cell proliferation and glands formation than the PBS group. Although the number of blood vessels were similar between the two groups, gene expression of VEGF-α significantly increased in the eMSC group. Moreover, eMSC had a positive impact on the regeneration of both stromal and epithelial components of the mouse endometrium, indicated by significantly higher vimentin and CK19 protein expression. Reduced endometrial fibrosis and down-regulation of fibrosis markers were also observed in the eMSC group. The eMSC group had a significantly higher gene expression of anti-inflammatory factor Il-10 and lower mRNA level of pro-inflammatory factors Ifng and Il-2, indicating the role of eMSC in regulation of inflammatory reactions. The eMSC group showed higher implantation sites than the PBS group, suggesting better endometrial receptivity with the presence of newly emerged endometrial lining. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest eMSC improves regeneration of injured endometrium in mice.
Subject(s)
Mesenchymal Stem Cells , Uterine Diseases , Mice , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Animals , Mice, Inbred NOD , Mice, SCID , Placenta/pathology , Endometrium/metabolism , Endometrium/pathology , Uterine Diseases/therapy , Uterine Diseases/metabolism , Uterine Diseases/pathology , FibrosisABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The monthly regeneration of human endometrial tissue is maintained by the presence of human endometrial mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (eMSC), a cell population co-expressing the perivascular markers CD140b and CD146. Endometrial regeneration is impaired in the presence of intrauterine adhesions, leading to infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss and placental abnormalities. Several types of somatic stem cells have been used to repair the damaged endometrium in animal models, reporting successful pregnancy. However, the ability of endometrial stem cells to repair the damaged endometrium remains unknown. METHODS: Electrocoagulation was applied to the left uterine horn of NOD/SCID mice causing endometrial injury. Human eMSC or PBS was then injected into the left injured horn while the right normal horn served as controls. Mice were sacrificed at different timepoints (Day 3, 7 and 14) and the endometrial morphological changes as well as the degree of endometrial injury and repair were observed by histological staining. Gene expression of various inflammatory markers was assessed using qPCR. The functionality of the repaired endometrium was evaluated by fertility test. RESULTS: Human eMSC successfully incorporated into the injured uterine horn, which displayed significant morphological restoration. Also, endometrium in the eMSC group showed better cell proliferation and glands formation than the PBS group. Although the number of blood vessels were similar between the two groups, gene expression of VEGF-α significantly increased in the eMSC group. Moreover, eMSC had a positive impact on the regeneration of both stromal and epithelial components of the mouse endometrium, indicated by significantly higher vimentin and CK19 protein expression. Reduced endometrial fibrosis and down-regulation of fibrosis markers were also observed in the eMSC group. The eMSC group had a significantly higher gene expression of anti-inflammatory factor Il-10 and lower mRNA level of pro-inflammatory factors Ifng and Il-2, indicating the role of eMSC in regulation of inflammatory reactions. The eMSC group showed higher implantation sites than the PBS group, suggesting better endometrial receptivity with the presence of newly emerged endometrial lining. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest eMSC improves regeneration of injured endometrium in mice.
Subject(s)
Humans , Animals , Female , Pregnancy , Mice , Uterine Diseases/metabolism , Uterine Diseases/pathology , Uterine Diseases/therapy , Mesenchymal Stem Cells , Placenta/pathology , Fibrosis , Mice, SCID , Mice, Inbred NOD , Endometrium/metabolism , Endometrium/pathologyABSTRACT
The responses of two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars, 'LY336' (shade tolerant) and 'LC803' (shade sensitive), to shade stress in a pot experiment conducted in the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons were investigated. The impact of 50% shade stress treatment on shoot biomass, photosynthetic parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content was evaluated. The shoot biomass of the two maize hybrids was decreased significantly by shade stress treatment, for shade stress 7 d, the LC803 and LY336 were reduced by 56.7% and 44.4% compared with natural light. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of LY336 were not significantly affected by shade stress, whereas those of LC803 were significantly affected, the Fo increased under shade stress; however Fm, FV/FM and ΦPSII were decreased under shade stress. Among photosynthetic parameters measured, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), and transpiration rate were significantly decreased compared with natural light, LY336 and LC803 reduction by 28.0%, 22.2%, 57.7% and 35.5%, 18.9%, 62.4%; however, intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) was significantly increased, for the two cultivars. Under shade stress for different durations (1, 3, 5, 7 d), Pn, Gs, Ci, and MDA content differed significantly between the two cultivars. Results indicated that different maize genotypes showed different responses to shading. Shade-tolerant genotypes are only weakly affected by shade stress.
As respostas de duas cultivares de milho (Zea mays L.), 'LY336' (tolerante à sombra) e 'LC803' (sensível à sombra), ao estresse de sombra em um experimento em vaso conduzido nas safras de 2015 e 2016 foram investigadas. O impacto do tratamento de estresse de sombra de 50% na biomassa da parte aérea, parâmetros fotossintéticos, fluorescência da clorofila e teor de malondialdeído (MDA) foi avaliado. A biomassa da parte aérea dos dois híbridos de milho foi reduzida significativamente pelo tratamento de estresse de sombra, para estresse de sombra 7 d, o LC803 e LY336 foram reduzidos em 56,7% e 44,4% em comparação com a luz natural. Os parâmetros de fluorescência da clorofila de LY336 não foram significativamente afetados pelo estresse de sombra, enquanto aqueles de LC803 foram significativamente afetados, o Fo aumentou sob estresse de sombra, porém Fm, FV / FM e ΦPSII diminuíram sob estresse de sombra. Entre os parâmetros fotossintéticos medidos, a taxa fotossintética líquida (Pn), a condutância estomática (Gs) e a taxa de transpiração diminuíram significativamente em comparação com a luz natural, redução de LY336 e LC803 em 28,0%, 22,2%, 57,7% e 35,5%, 18,9%, 62,4 %, porém a concentração intercelular de CO2 (Ci) aumentou significativamente para as duas cultivares. Sob estresse de sombra para diferentes durações (1, 3, 5, 7 d), os teores de Pn, Gs, Ci e MDA diferiram significativamente entre as duas cultivares. Os resultados indicam que diferentes genótipos de milho apresentam diferentes respostas ao sombreamento. Os genótipos tolerantes à sombra são apenas fracamente afetados pelo estresse de sombra.