Decidualization is critical for favorable uterine receptivity of the blastocyst during implantation and the survival of the embryo. Nevertheless, relatively little is known about the transcription factors and signaling molecules that regulate this vital process. We have demonstrated that human fibroblasts isolated from decidual tissue are precursors of decidual cells and that these cells are an excellent model system to study the regulation of decidualization. Using DNA microarray and RT-PCR analyses, we have identified and categorized many genes not previously known to be regulated during the decidualization process, including the transcription factors Ets-1, fork head in rhabdomyosarcoma (FKHR), Twist, and Id3. We subsequently showed that Ets-1 induces expression of the prolactin gene, which is a specific marker of decidualization; and others recently showed that FKHR induces prolactin gene expression. The overall goal of this proposal is to test the hypothesis that Ets-1, FKHR, Twist and Id3 are critical components of the genetic program that directs human decidualization.
Our specific aims are to test the hypotheses that 1) Ets-I and FKHR, which are up regulated early during decidualization, induce a cascade of transcription factors and signaling molecules that are critical for hormone production and other biochemical processes essential for human decidualization and decidual cell function; 2) Twist and Id3, which are critical for the differentiation of several cell types, are important for maintaining the differentiated state of decidual cells; and 3) the expression of Ets-1, FKHR, Twist and Id3 during decidualization is coordinately regulated by cAMP and Ets-1. The first and second specific aims will utilize experiments with adenoviruses that express the transcription factors as well as antisense oligonucleotides that block their translation.
The third aim will utilize transient transfections, gel shift assays, and site-directed mutagenesis. Since abnormalities of decidualization are frequent causes of spontaneous human abortion, a better understanding of the genetic program involved in decidualization may lead to the development of new drugs that will be useful in the treatment of infertility. The studies should also provide new insight into the mechanisms involved in the induction of prolactin in other extra pituitary tissues (such as lymphocytes and brain) and the genetic programs used by other human progenitor cells during differentiation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01HD015201-22A1
Application #
6630760
Study Section
Human Embryology and Development Subcommittee 1 (HED)
Program Officer
Ilekis, John V
Project Start
1981-04-01
Project End
2008-03-31
Budget Start
2003-04-01
Budget End
2004-03-31
Support Year
22
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$335,250
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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