title: Human chorionic gonadotropin enhances trophoblast-epithelial interaction in an in vitro model of human implantation.
abstract: Embryo implantation, which is an absolute requirement for reproduction, starts with blastocyst apposition to the uterine endometrium, followed by attachment to the endometrial surface epithelium. Recent clinical studies reported an increase in implantation and pregnancy rates among women receiving intrauterine human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) prior to embryo transfer suggesting that, at least in some cases, female infertility is a result of inadequate secretion of hCG. In this study, we characterized the effect of hCG on trophoblast-epithelial interaction by further developing our recently described in vitro model of implantation. Here, we confirmed hCG increased attachment of trophoblast to epithelial cells, using a single-cell trophoblast-epithelial coculture system in addition to a blastocyst-like spheroid-epithelial coculture system. Furthermore, we discovered that the source and concentration was pivotal; the first preparation of hCG affected 2 molecules related to implantation, MUC16 and osteopontin, while the second preparation required additional cytokines to mimic the effects. Using this system, we can develop a comprehensive knowledge of the cellular and gene targets of hCG and other factors involved in embryo apposition and implantation and potentially increase the number of therapeutic targets for subfertile patients.
authors: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors: Karen E
authors: KE
authors: Racicot
authors: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors: Vera
authors: V
authors: Wünsche
authors: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors: Ben
authors: B
authors: Auerbach
authors: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors: Paulomi
authors: P
authors: Aldo
authors: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Silasi
authors: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Reproductive Immunology Unit, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA gil.mor@yale.edu.
authors: Gil
authors: G
authors: Mor
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin
keywords: hCG; implantation; pregnancy