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Profile of MicroRNA Expression in Endometrial Cell during In Vitro Culture According to Progesterone Concentration

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Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

Artificial uterus using endometrium implant can be a novel treatment strategy for infertile women with refractory endometrial dysfunction. At early pregnancy, the function of uterine endometrial cells for the communication between the conceptus of pre-implantation period and maternal reproductive system is essential. MicroRNA (miR) expression profile of endometrial cells according to progesterone, a crucial pregnancy-maintaining hormone, provides important data for in vitro endometrial cell culture strategy that is useful for engineering artificial uteri using endometrial implants. The present study aimed to evaluate the miR expression profile of in vitro cultured endometrial cells under hormonal milieu mimicking early pregnancy period in terms of progesterone concentration. We cultured murine uterine endometrial cells, human uterine endometrial carcinoma cells, and immortalized human uterine endometrial cells using different progesterone concentrations, and analyzed the expression of miRs critical for early pregnancy. The expression of miR-20a, -21, -196a, -199a, and -200a was differently regulated according to progesterone concentration in different endometrial cell lines. The analysis of candidate target genes showed that the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog, mucin 1 (MUC1), progesterone receptor, transforming growth factor β receptor II, matrix metallopeptidase-9 was up-regulated by progesterone treatment in mouse and human endometrial cell lines. These results indicate that physiological concentration range (10−7 and 10−9 M) of progesterone affect the survival and target gene expression via modulating miR expression. Taken together, progesterone can be a crucial factor in regulating miR expression on in vitro cultured endometrial cells.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants of Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (2016R1E1A1A01943455, 2016R1D1A1A02937287).

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Author notes

  1. Yong Jin Kim and Yoon Young Kim have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University Guro Hospital, 148 Gurodong-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul, 08308, Korea

    Yong Jin Kim

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Korea

    Yoon Young Kim, Hoon Kim & Seung-Yup Ku

  3. Mirae-Heemang Clinic, 68 Jukbong-daero, Seo-gu, Gwangju, 61932, Korea

    Dong Won Kim

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University, 179 Gudeok-ro, Seo-gu, Pusan, 49241, Korea

    Jong Kil Joo

  5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Korea

    Seung-Yup Ku

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  1. Yong Jin Kim
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Correspondence to Seung-Yup Ku.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Entire experimental procedures were approved by the institutional animal care unit committee (IACUC) of Seoul National University Hospital (No. 16-0005-C1A0(1)).

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Kim, Y.J., Kim, Y.Y., Kim, D.W. et al. Profile of MicroRNA Expression in Endometrial Cell during In Vitro Culture According to Progesterone Concentration. Tissue Eng Regen Med 14, 617–629 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-017-0080-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-017-0080-z

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