title: Human chorionic gonadotropin confers resistance to oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in decidualizing human endometrial stromal cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of hCG on the expression of genes involved in oxidative stress resistance observed in decidualizing human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro experiment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Saitama Medical University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Premenopausal women undergoing hysterectomy for myoma uteri.
  
  
  METHODS
  HESCs from hysterectomy specimens were isolated and incubated with 8-bromo-cyclic adenosine monophosphate and medroxyprogesterone acetate in the presence or absence of recombinant hCG (rhCG) at various concentrations. Hydrogen peroxide was used as the source of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Apoptotic cells, FOXO1, superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), Bax, and Bcl-2 protein expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a dose-dependent manner, rhCG conferred additional protection to decidualizing HESCs against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. In parallel, rhCG augmented the expression of the forkhead transcription factor FOXO1 and its downstream target, the ROS scavenger SOD2. rhCG also inhibited the expression of the proapoptotic Bax protein and up-regulated antiapoptotic Bcl-2 levels in decidualizing HESCs exposed to ROS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that hCG might improve the uterine environment upon implantation by suppressing apoptotic responses in the maternal decidua under oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan. kajihara@saitama-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kajihara
authors.forename: Satomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uchino
authors.forename: Motoharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Atsuo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Itakura
authors.forename: Jan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Brosens
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ishihara
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000502:physiology*; D003656:Decidua / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin