title: MicroRNA-181a is involved in the regulation of human endometrial stromal cell decidualization by inhibiting Krüppel-like factor 12.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The transformation of endometrium into decidua is essential for normal implantation of the blastocyst. However, the post-transcriptional regulation and the miRNAs involved in decidualization remain poorly understood. Here, we examined microRNA-181a (miR-181a) expression in decidualized human endometrial stromal cell (hESC). In addition, we investigated the functional effect of miR-181a on hESC decidualization in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the profile of miR-181a in decidualized hESC. qRT-PCR, enzyme-linked fluorescent assay, and immunofluorescence assay were performed to investigate decidualization marker genes' expression after enhancing or inhibition of miR-181a expression in hESC. Luciferase reporter assay, western blotting, qRT-PCR, and immunofluorescence assay were carried out to identify the relationship between miR-181a and Krüppel-like factor 12 (KLF12).
  
  
  RESULTS
  miR-181a expression levels increased dramatically in hESC treated with 8-Br-cAMP and MPA. Increased miR-181a expression promoted hESC decidualization-related gene expression and morphological transformation; conversely, inhibition of miR-181a expression compromised hESC decidualization in vitro. Further analysis confirmed that miR-181a interacted with the 3' untranslated region of the transcription factor KLF12 and down-regulated KLF12 at the transcriptional and translational levels. KLF12 overexpression abolished miR-181a-induced decidualization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that miR-181a plays a functionally important role in human endometrial stromal cell decidualization in vitro by inhibiting KLF12.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, Jiangsu, China. yuanxiao-0223@163.com.
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Drum Tower Clinic Medical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China. hellozhanghui@sina.cn.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, Jiangsu, China. jiangyue85@163.com.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Drum Tower Clinic Medical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China. xbdoc2010@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Bai
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, Jiangsu, China. 1728569449@qq.com.
authors.forename: Zhenyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Diao
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, Jiangsu, China. xmljding@163.com.
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, Jiangsu, China. yanguijun33@163.com.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, Jiangsu, China. stevensunz@163.com.
authors.forename: Haixiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, Jiangsu, China. yanguijun55@163.com.
authors.forename: Guijun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, Jiangsu, China. glyyhuyali@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Yali
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D015536:Down-Regulation; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C436492:KLF12 protein, human; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; C540193:MIrn181 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs