title: Role of Wnt5a in the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into endometrium-like cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of Wnt5a and Wint7a on the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into endometrium-like cells, and provide a basis for establishing endometrium-like cell models and a cell source for carrying out further endometrium-related experiments.
  
  
  METHODS
  The hESCs established by our center were differentiated into endometrium-like cells in 4 different media including Wnt5a (Group A), Wnt7a (Group B), secreted frizzled related protein (sFRP, an inhibitor of Wnt signal pathway, Group C) and medium alone (Group D). In the differentiated terminal cells, the expressions of cytokeratin (CK) and vimentin were detected with immunofluorescence, and the mRNA levels of CK18, epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EPCAM), estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) were determined with RT-PCR. At the same time, the differentiated terminal cells were incubated in medium containing medroxyprogesterone followed by determination of prolactin (PRL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  RT-PCR indicated that mRNA levels of CK18, EPCAM, ER and PR were significantly higher in Group A (Wnt5a) than in other groups (all P<0.05), but were significantly lower in Group C (sFRP2) than in other groups (all P<0.05). The changing trend of PRL mRNA was consistent with that of above genes in the 4 groups. Immunofluorescence displayed that the expression of cytokeratin was the strongest in Group A (Wnt5a), and the weakest in Group C (sFRP2) among the 4 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wnt5a has promotive effects on the differentiation of hESCs into endometrium-like cells, but Wnt7a has no marked effects.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou 450052, China ; Reproductive Research Institute, Henan Provincial People's Hospital (Reproductive research institute, Peoples Hospital of Zhengzhou University) Zhengzhou 450003, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Zhu
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou 450001, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou 450052, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Bin
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou 450052, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou 450052, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou 450052, China.
authors.forename: Ying-Pu
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D005260:Female; D000066449:Human Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000071818:Wnt-5a Protein; D000099274:Frizzled-Related Proteins
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007633:Keratins; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone; D011388:Prolactin; D011506:Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D000071818:Wnt-5a Protein; D000099274:Frizzled-Related Proteins; C085389:WNT5A protein, human; C092778:WNT7A protein, human
keywords: Wnt5a; Wnt7a; endometrium-like cells; human embryonic stem cells