A soluble molecule secreted by human blastocysts modulates regulation of HOXA10 expression in an epithelial endometrial cell line.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the existence of a soluble signal, secreted from the human blastocyst embryo, that induces HOXA10 gene expression before cell-cell contact.


METHODS
To analyze, by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), cell-free media that had contained human embryos cultured to the blastocyst stage for a soluble molecule that induces HOXA10 expression in an endometrial epithelial cell line (Ishikawa).


METHODS
Assisted reproduction technology program of Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.


METHODS
Patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Treatment of Ishikawa cells with blastocyst-conditioned media.


METHODS
Determination of HOXA10 gene expression.


RESULTS
We demonstrate that cell-free media that had contained human embryos cultured to the blastocyst stage contain a soluble molecule that induces HOXA10 expression in an endometrial epithelial cell line (Ishikawa). We found that hCG does not induce HOXA10 in Ishikawa cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Soluble molecules induce a well-characterized marker of endometrial receptivity in endometrial cells without blastocyst apposition. Additionally, HOXA10 induction can serve as a means of evaluating human embryos cultured for IVF and ET. High quality embryos may induce local endometrial receptivity before trophectoderm-endometrial contact.
Sakkas
Denny
D
Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
Lu
Christina
C
Zulfikaroglu
Ebru
E
Neuber
Evelyn
E
Taylor
Hugh S
HS
D001685:Biological Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D000080905:Homeobox A10 Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012995:Solubility; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
D001685:Biological Factors; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D000080905:Homeobox A10 Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C092119:Hoxa10 protein, mouse