Low STING expression promotes endometrial stromal cell invasion and migration via the STING/IRF-3/IFN-ß1 pathway in eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis.

Aims: The primary aim of the current study was to elucidate the function of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis. Materials and Methods: STING expression and signaling pathways were verified by western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry after si-STING treatment. Cell proliferation and invasion and migration were assessed using 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine and transwell assays, respectively. Results: Within endometriosis tissues, STING was primarily expressed in the stroma of the eutopic endometrium and glandular epithelium of the ectopic endometrium. However, STING expression was significantly lower in the eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis compared to controls (p < 0.05). Additionally, cell proliferation (0.2866 ± 0.01470 vs. 0.6911 ± 0.01796, ****p < 0.0001), invasion (130.0 ± 6.296 vs. 424.1 ± 22.31, ****p < 0.0001), and migration (82.93 ± 6.940 vs. 82.93 ± 6.940, ****p < 0.0001) were significantly increased in the si-STING groups. Moreover, following si-STING transfection, the expression of phosphorylated IRF-3 and TBK1 that are involved in STING/IRF3/IFNb1 signaling pathway decreased. The addition of exogenous IFN-ß1 effectively increased stromal cell invasion (IFN-ß1-NC vs. IFN-ß1-si-STING 274.7 ± 7.767 vs. 135.7 ± 12.63, ***p < 0.0001) and migration (IFN-ß1-NC and IFN-ß1-si-STING 28.53 ± 3.625 vs. 28.53 ± 3.625, ***p < 0.0001) without significantly impacting cell proliferation (si-STING vs. IFN-1ß-si-STING 0.6874 ± 0.02081 vs. 0.7187 ± 0.02638, p = 0.795). Conclusions: The STING signaling pathway plays an important role in endometrial stromal cell proliferation, invasion and migration associated with endometriosis.

Reproductive Outcomes of In Vitro Fertilization-Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection after Transcervical Resection of Adhesions: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate pregnancy and obstetric outcomes of patients with intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) after treatment with in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI) and fresh embryo transplantation after transcervical resection of adhesions (TCRA). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: University-based reproductive medical center. PATIENTS: A total of 535 patients with IUAs and with a history of TCRA and 1605 matched patients without a history of IUAs underwent IVF-ICSI and received fresh embryo transfers. INTERVENTIONS: Between January 2014 and December 2018, all patients underwent IVF-ICSI treatment and received fresh embryo transfers. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The patients in the TCRA group were matched with the control group according to strict criteria. Pregnancy and obstetric outcomes were compared. There were no significant differences in clinical pregnancies, ectopic pregnancies, live births, preterm births, and obstetric outcomes between the 2 groups (p >.05). However, the TCRA group had a higher risk of miscarriage than the control group (p = .048). CONCLUSION: TCRA improved the reproductive outcomes of patients with IUAs, but the risk of miscarriage was higher than that in the general population. To avoid miscarriage, careful monitoring is critical for pregnant patients with a history of TCRA who undergo embryo transfers during IVF treatment.