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Effects of galectin-3 inhibition on endometrial cell cycle and adhesion

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Abstract

Galectin-3 (gal-3) and its ligands have been implicated in cell transformation and cancer metastasis. Gal-3 protein has been found in uterine epithelial cells adjacent to implanting blastocysts in different cell types. In order to investigate the role of gal-3 in the establishment of human endometrial receptivity, the expression of gal-3 in human endometrial cell line RL95-2 was silenced by RNA interference technology using gal-3 specific small RNA. The expression of gal-3 was detected by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. After the suppression of gal-3, cell cycle changes and the expression of integrin β1 were detected by flow cytometry. The adhesive ability of RL95-2 cells was analyzed by the adhesion test. Gal-3 siRNA transfection efficiency reached 70%–90%. The expression of gal-3 mRNA and protein in RL95-2 cells was strongly inhibited by 70%–90% after RNA interference. Inhibition of gal-3 expression decreased S-phase but increased G1 phase cells. Integrin β1 expression was down-regulated, and the adhesive ability of RL95-2 cells to fibronectin (FN) was significantly reduced. Gal-3 may be involved in the establishment of endometrial receptivity by regulating the proliferation and adhesion of endometrial cells. The influence on adhesion may be related with the integrin modulation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China

    Lei Caixia, Zhang Wei, Sun Xiaowei, Du Guoping & Wang Li

  2. Institution of Liver Cancer, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China

    Liu Yinkun

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  1. Lei Caixia
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  2. Zhang Wei
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  3. Sun Xiaowei
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  4. Du Guoping
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  5. Wang Li
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  6. Liu Yinkun
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Correspondence to Zhang Wei.

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Translated from Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences, 2007, 34(2): 169–175 [译自: 复旦学报医学版]

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Lei, C., Zhang, W., Sun, X. et al. Effects of galectin-3 inhibition on endometrial cell cycle and adhesion. Front. Med. China 1, 390–397 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-007-0076-5

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