title: Mesenchymal stem cells derived from Wharton jelly of the human umbilical cord ameliorate damage to human endometrial stromal cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from Wharton jelly of umbilical cord (WJ-MSCs) on ameliorating damaged human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-affiliated hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen endometrial tissues were obtained from women undergoing hysterectomy. Eight umbilical cords were obtained from full-term deliveries.
  
  
  METHODS
  ESCs were cultured with mifepristone to get damaged ESCs, then damaged ESCs were co-cultured with WJ-MSCs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The proliferation of ESCs was investigated by Cell Counting Kit 8, and the percentage of apoptosis by annexin-V-fluorescein isothiocyanate binding. The mRNA and protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and caspases 3, 8, and 9 were determined by one-step quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After exposure to mifepristone, the proliferation of ESCs decreased and the apoptosis percentage increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. At a certain dose and duration, this damage continued even after the withdrawal of mifepristone at 48 hours. When the damaged ESCs were cocultured with WJ-MSCs, the proliferation of these damaged cells was significantly increased and apoptosis percentage decreased. In addition, the level of VEGF mRNA and protein decreased and that of caspases 3, 8, and 9 increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WJ-MSCs may serve as a promising treatment approach to ameliorate endometrial damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, JiangSu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Mu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuquan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015735:Mifepristone