Retinoic acid suppresses in-vitro decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells.
All-trans retinoic acid (RA) has potent effects on cell differentiation and gene expression. Previous studies have demonstrated that human endometrial stromal cells express mRNA for retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and cellular RA-binding protein-II (CRABP-II). We examined whether RA regulates stromal cell differentiation (decidualization), a critical process in preparation of the uterus for blastocyst implantation. Decidualization was induced by incubating cultured stromal cells with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and oestradiol. Decidualization was defined by the induction of prolactin, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), appearance of a differentiated phenotype and changes in fibronectin expression. RA treatment significantly (P < 0.05) suppressed prolactin and IGFBP-1 production associated with stromal cells decidualization. The formation of differentiated cells was inhibited by RA, and consistent with maintenance of the undifferentiated phenotype, fibronectin mRNA content was approximately 3.5-times greater than in the absence of RA. Upon induction of decidualization, the expression of mRNA for the major RA receptor sub-types (RAR-alpha, -beta and -gamma) was maintained while the relative amounts of CRABP-II mRNA progressively decreased with differentiation. With RA treatment, RAR-alpha and RAR-gamma mRNA concentrations were approximately 70 and 25% respectively of those in cells decidualized in the absence of RA. The effects of RA appear to be partially mediated by inhibition of cAMP action. RA suppressed intracellular cAMP concentrations induced by MPA and oestradiol to approximately 35% of those in cells without RA. Addition of 50 microM dibutyryl cAMP to stromal cells treated with MPA and oestradiol only partially reversed the suppression of decidualization and prolactin release by RA. In summary, we have demonstrated that in-vitro decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells induced by MPA and oestradiol treatment is suppressed by RA.
Brar
A K
AK
Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039, USA.
Kessler
C A
CA
Meyer
A J
AJ
Cedars
M I
MI
Jikihara
H
H
D003994:Bucladesine / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D003656:Decidua / Q000166:cytology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D000072482:Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000097768:Retinoic Acid Receptor gamma
D003994:Bucladesine; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D004967:Estrogens; D005353:Fibronectins; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D011374:Progesterone; D011388:Prolactin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D000072482:Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha; D014212:Tretinoin; D000097768:Retinoic Acid Receptor gamma; C000607071:RARA protein, human; C082928:retinoic acid binding protein II, cellular; C082925:retinoic acid receptor beta