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The presence of heparins during decidualization modulates the response of human endometrial stromal cells to IL-1β in vitro

  • Reproductive Physiology and Disease
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to study the impact of heparin on the response of human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) to interleukin (IL)-1β during decidualization in vitro.

Methods

ESCs were isolated from hysterectomy specimens of premenopausal women undergoing hysterectomy for benign reasons; decidualized in vitro and incubated in parallel with unfractionated heparin or tinzaparin; and stimulated with IL-1β at days 0, 3, 6, and 9 during decidualization. IL-6, IL-11, and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) were analyzed using ELISAs and real-time RT-PCR. Cell viability was determined by a fluorometric assay.

Results

IL-1β dose-dependently stimulated IL-6, IL-11, and LIF in distinct patterns in ESCs during decidualization. Unfractionated heparin as well as tinzaparin attenuated the IL-1β-mediated induction of IL-6, IL-11, and LIF on protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. The relative effects of heparin and tinzaparin were getting more pronounced during the time course of decidualization.

Conclusions

Unfractionated heparin and the low molecular weight heparin tinzaparin have modulating effects on IL-1β-induced endometrial cytokines of the IL-6 family during decidualization. These effects of heparins beyond their classical anti-coagulatory properties might have implications on the regulation of endometrial receptivity and early implantation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Julia Spratte, Florian Schütz & Herbert Fluhr

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Sauerbruchstr, 17475, Greifswald, Germany

    Frauke Bornkessel & Marek Zygmunt

Authors
  1. Julia Spratte
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  2. Frauke Bornkessel
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  3. Florian Schütz
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  4. Marek Zygmunt
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  5. Herbert Fluhr
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julia Spratte.

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Author’s roles

JS and FB performed the experiments, analyzed the results, and revised the manuscript. FS and MZ supervised this study and revised the manuscript. HF initiated and coordinated this study, designed the experiments, interpreted the data, and wrote the manuscript.

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Capsule

There is an attenuated response of human ESCs to the stimulation by IL-1β when heparins are present during the time course of decidualization in vitro.

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Spratte, J., Bornkessel, F., Schütz, F. et al. The presence of heparins during decidualization modulates the response of human endometrial stromal cells to IL-1β in vitro. J Assist Reprod Genet 33, 949–957 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-016-0703-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-016-0703-7

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