Cell-specific transcriptional profiling reveals candidate mechanisms regulating development and function of uterine epithelia in mice.
All mammalian uteri have luminal (LE) and glandular epithelia (GE) in their endometrium. The LE mediates uterine receptivity and blastocyst attachment for implantation, and the GE synthesize and secrete or transport bioactive substances involved in blastocyst implantation, uterine receptivity, and stromal cell decidualization. However, the mechanisms governing uterine epithelial development after birth and their function in the adult are not fully understood. Here, comprehensive microarray analysis was conducted on LE and GE isolated by laser capture microdissection from uteri on Postnatal Day 10 (PD 10) and day of pseudopregnancy (DOPP) 2.5 and 3.5. This data was integrated with analysis of uteri from gland-containing control and aglandular progesterone-induced uterine gland knockout mice from PD 10 and DOPP 3.5. Many genes were expressed in both epithelia, but there was greater expression of genes in the LE than in the GE. In the neonate, GE-expressed genes were enriched for morphogenesis, development, migration, and retinoic acid signaling. In the adult, LE-expressed genes were enriched for metabolic processes and steroid biosynthesis, whereas retinoid signaling, tight junction, extracellular matrix, and regulation of kinase activity were enriched in the GE. The transcriptome differences in the epithelia support the idea that each cell type has a distinct and complementary function in the uterus. The candidate genes and regulatory networks identified here provide a framework to discover new mechanisms regulating development of epithelia in the postnatal uterus and their functions in early pregnancy.
Department of Animal Sciences and Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.
Justyna
J
Filant
Thomas E
TE
Spencer
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003656:Decidua / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000494:pharmacology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D061346:Laser Capture Microdissection; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011555:Pseudopregnancy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000187:drug effects; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D011374:Progesterone
endometrium; gene expression; guinea pigs; implantation; mice; rodents (rats; uterus; voles)