Shao Xiaowen, Ai Guihai, Wang Lian, Qin Jinlong, Li Yue, Jiang Huici, Zhang Tingting, Zhou Linlin, Gao Zhengliang, Cheng Jiajing, Cheng Zhongping
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China.
Lifeng Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
Zygote. 2019 Dec;27(6):367-374. doi: 10.1017/S096719941900042X. Epub 2019 Aug 27.
Endometrial injury is an important cause of intrauterine adhesion (IUA), amenorrhea and infertility in women, with limited effective therapies. Recently, stem cells have been used in animal experiments to repair and improve injured endometrium. To date, our understanding of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in endometrial injury repair and their further therapeutic mechanisms is incomplete. Here, we examined the benefit of ADSCs in restoration of injured endometrium by applying a rat endometrial injury model. The results revealed by immunofluorescence showed that green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labelled ADSCs can differentiate into endometrial epithelial cells in vivo. At 30 days after ADSCs transplantation, injured endometrium was significantly improved, with increased microvessel density, endometrial thickness and glands when compared with the model group. Furthermore, the fertility of rats with injured endometrium in ADSCs group was improved and had a higher conception rate (60% vs 20%, P = 0.014) compared with the control phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group. However, there was no difference in the control group compared with the sham group. In addition, expression levels of the oestrogen receptor Eα/β (ERα, ERβ) and progesterone receptor (PR) detected by western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were higher in the ADSCs group than in the PBS group. Taken together, these results suggested that ADSC transplantation could improve endometrial injury as a novel therapy for IUA.
子宫内膜损伤是女性子宫内粘连（IUA）、闭经和不孕的重要原因，有效治疗方法有限。最近，干细胞已被用于动物实验以修复和改善受损的子宫内膜。迄今为止，我们对脂肪来源干细胞（ADSCs）在子宫内膜损伤修复中的作用及其进一步的治疗机制了解尚不完全。在此，我们通过应用大鼠子宫内膜损伤模型来研究ADSCs对受损子宫内膜修复的益处。免疫荧光结果显示，绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）标记的ADSCs在体内可分化为子宫内膜上皮细胞。ADSCs移植后30天，受损子宫内膜明显改善，与模型组相比，微血管密度增加、子宫内膜厚度增加且腺体增多。此外，与对照磷酸盐缓冲盐水（PBS）组相比，ADSCs组子宫内膜损伤大鼠的生育能力得到改善，受孕率更高（60%对20%，P = 0.014）。然而，对照组与假手术组相比无差异。另外，通过蛋白质印迹法和酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）检测发现，ADSCs组雌激素受体Eα/β（ERα、ERβ）和孕激素受体（PR）的表达水平高于PBS组。综上所述，这些结果表明ADSC移植作为一种治疗IUA的新方法可改善子宫内膜损伤。
