title: Dysregulated cell mechanical properties of endometrial stromal cells from endometriosis patients.
abstract: Endometriosis, diagnosed with ectopically implanted endometrial stromal cells (ESC) and epithelial cells to a location outside the uterine cavity, seriously threaten the quality of life and reproductive ability of women, yet the mechanisms and the pathophysiology of the disease remain unclear. Specially, the functional changes of ESC during endometriosis progression need in-depth investigation. In this study, we characterized mechanical properties of normal ESC (NESC) from healthy women and eutopic ESC (EuESC) and ectopic ESC (EcESC) from endometriosis patients. We found the collagen lattice contractile ability of EuESC was significantly stronger than that of NESC, and the cell mobility of EuESC and EcESC was significantly greater than that of NESC. Furthermore, the expression of F-actin and vinculin in NESC, EuESC and EcESC cells progressively increased, and the Rho GTPase activity, of which RhoA exhibited the highest activity, in the three cells gradually increased. Collectively, these results suggest that the mechanical characteristics of NESC, EuESC and EcESC cells exhibited progressive abnormalities. Therefore, the biomechanics of endometrial stromal cells may be a potent target for intervention in patients with endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China ; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine 200240 Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine 200240 Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China ; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases Shanghai 200011, China.
authors.forename: Ming-Jun
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fengxian Central Hospital Shanghai 201400, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai 5th People's Hospital Medical Center of Fudan University No. 128 Rui-Li Road, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Shanghai 5th People's Hospital Medical Center of Fudan University No. 128 Rui-Li Road, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine 200240 Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine 200240 Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Gang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China ; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases Shanghai 200011, China ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University Shanghai 200032, China ; Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Cong-Jian
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016596:Vinculin / Q000378:metabolism; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; C488955:VCL protein, human; C066737:RHOA protein, human; D016596:Vinculin; D003094:Collagen; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein
keywords: Endometriosis; RhoA; cell mechanics; contraction; motility