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. 2011:11:1762-9.
doi: 10.1100/2011/949823. Epub 2011 Oct 18.

mRNA-expression of ERα, ERβ, and PR in clonal stem cell cultures obtained from human endometrial biopsies

A N Schüring  1 , J Braun, S Wüllner, L Kiesel, M Götte
Affiliations

mRNA-expression of ERα, ERβ, and PR in clonal stem cell cultures obtained from human endometrial biopsies

A N Schüring et al. ScientificWorldJournal. 2011.

Abstract

Background. Proliferation and differentiation of the endometrium are regulated by estrogen and progesterone. The enormous regenerative capacity of the endometrium is thought to be based on the activity of adult stem cells. However, information on endocrine regulatory mechanisms in human endometrial stem cells is scarce. In the present study, we investigated the expression of ERα, ERβ, and PR in clonal cultures of human endometrial stem cells derived from transcervical biopsies. Methods. Endometrial tissue of 11 patients was obtained by transcervical biopsy. Stromal cell suspensions were plated at clonal density and incubated for 15 days. Expression of ERα, ERβ and PR was determined by qPCR prior to and after one cloning round, and normalized to 18 S rRNA expression. Results. Expression of ERα and ERβ was downregulated by 64% and 89%, respectively (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001). In contrast, PR was not significantly downregulated, due to a more heterogenous expression pattern. Conclusions. Culture of human endometrial stroma cells results in a downregulation of ERα and ERβ, while expression of PR remained unchanged in our patient collective. These results support the hypothesis that stem cells may not be subject to direct stimulation by sex steroids, but rather by paracrine mechanisms within the stem cell niche.

Keywords: and endometriosis.; endometrium; estrogen receptor; progesterone receptor; stem cells.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
ΔCt values relative to 18S rRNA expression of hormone receptor expression in endometrial stroma cell cultures after the first cloning round. Please note that a higher ΔCt value corresponds to a comparably lower expression level. Error bars = SEM, n = 11.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Fold change of hormone receptor expression in endometrial stroma cell cultures after the first cloning round. Error bars = SEM, n = 11, ∗∗ = P < 0.01, ∗∗∗ = P < 0.001.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Ratio of ERβ- to ERα-expression in endometrial stroma cell cultures after the first cloning round. Error bars = SEM, n = 11, P = n.s.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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