Relatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in human uterine decidualization. Over the past few years, our laboratory has developed an in vitro model system of human decidualization that indicates that prolactin is a model gene with which to delineate the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of decidualization. We have identified several DNA binding proteins in nuclear extracts of undecidualized endometrial stromal cells that are downregulated during decidualization and several binding proteins that are induced during decidualization. Two of these binding proteins appear to be decidua- specific. Our central hypothesis is that delineation of the cis- and transacting factors regulating the expression of decidual prolactin during decidualization will provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in the decidualization process.
Our specific aims are to 1) determine the cis-acting DNA elements on the decidual prolactin promoter that are critical for induction of prolactin gene expression during decidualization, 2) identify and characterize the transcription factors that mediate induction of the prolactin gene during decidualization, and 3) test the hypothesis that transcription factors that mediate induction of prolactin gene expression during decidualization are also involved in the determination of decidualization and the associated changes in gene expression. Particular emphasis will be given to characterization of novel decidua- specific transcription factors.
Aim 1 will utilize EMSAs, DNase 1 footprinting and transfection studies with deletion and site-directed mutants of the decidual prolactin promoter in primary cultures of human endometrial cells.
Aim 2 will utilize supershift and competitive binding assays, and the sequence of a novel transcription factor(s) will be determined after expression cloning of a human decidual library.
In Aim 3, undecidualized endometrial stromal cells will be transfected with expression plasmids that overexpress the transcription factors identified in Aim 2 to determine whether these factors, alone and in combination, induce the cells to express prolactin and acquire other phenotypic changes characteristic of decidualized endometrial stromal cells. Taken together, these investigations should provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in the cascade of transcription factors involved in prolactin gene expression and the regulation of human decidualization and. Such investigations are of practical importance since decidualization is essential for successful uterine implantation and abnormalities of decidualization are frequent causes of spontaneous human abortion.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01HD015201-18A1
Application #
2701907
Study Section
Human Embryology and Development Subcommittee 1 (HED)
Project Start
1981-04-01
Project End
2002-07-31
Budget Start
1998-08-01
Budget End
1999-07-31
Support Year
18
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
071284913
City
Cincinnati
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
45229
Sherafat-Kazemzadeh, Rosa; Schroeder, Jennifer K; Kessler, Cherie A et al. (2011) Parathyroid hormone-like hormone (PTHLH) represses decidualization of human uterine fibroblast cells by an autocrine/paracrine mechanism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 96:509-14
Schroeder, Jennifer K; Kessler, Cherie A; Handwerger, Stuart (2011) Critical role for TWIST1 in the induction of human uterine decidualization. Endocrinology 152:4368-76
Tang, Meiyi; Naidu, Devendra; Hearing, Patrick et al. (2010) LEFTY, a member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily, inhibits uterine stromal cell differentiation: a novel autocrine role. Endocrinology 151:1320-30
Eyal, Ori; Jomain, Jean-Baptiste; Kessler, Cherie et al. (2007) Autocrine prolactin inhibits human uterine decidualization: a novel role for prolactin. Biol Reprod 76:777-83
Kong, Sue; Aronow, Bruce J; Handwerger, Stuart (2006) Gene expression microarray data analysis of decidual and placental cell differentiation. Methods Mol Med 121:425-38
Grinius, L; Kessler, C; Schroeder, J et al. (2006) Forkhead transcription factor FOXO1A is critical for induction of human decidualization. J Endocrinol 189:179-87
Moghadam, Kenneth K; Kessler, Cherie A; Schroeder, Jennifer K et al. (2005) Cannabinoid receptor I activation markedly inhibits human decidualization. Mol Cell Endocrinol 229:65-74
Brar, A K; Kessler, C A; Handwerger, S (2002) An Ets motif in the proximal decidual prolactin promoter is essential for basal gene expression. J Mol Endocrinol 29:99-112
Brar, A K; Handwerger, S; Kessler, C A et al. (2001) Gene induction and categorical reprogramming during in vitro human endometrial fibroblast decidualization. Physiol Genomics 7:135-48
Brar, A K; Kanda, Y; Kessler, C A et al. (1999) N5 endometrial stromal cell line: a model system to study decidual prolactin gene expression. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 35:150-4

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