title: Stathmin 1 plays a role in endometrial decidualisation by regulating hypoxia inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor during embryo implantation.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to explore the potential mechanism underlying stathmin 1 (Stmn1) regulation of embryo implantation, as a continuation of previous proteomic research. Adult healthy female mice were mated naturally with fertile males. Murine uterine tissue was collected during the peri-implantation period. Local expression of Stmn1 during embryo implantation was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), which showed that Stmn1 was extensively expressed in endometrial glandular epithelium, vascular endothelium, luminal epithelium and the underlying stromal cells at the implantation site on Day 5. The role of Stmn1 during embryo implantation was evaluated by transient knockdown of Stmn1 in vivo using short interference (si) RNA, and some associated factors including Akt, phosphorylated (p-) Akt, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, prolactin (PRL), insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were examined by western blotting analysis and ELISA. The number of embryos implanted after Stmn1-siRNA infusion into the lumen of one uterine horn was lower than that with normal pregnancies (2.2±1.5 vs 8.6±0.5 respectively; P<0.05). The expression of VEGF, HIF-1α, p-Akt and the decidualisation biomarkers PRL and IGFBP 1 was upregulated at the implantation site on Day 5, but downregulated after Stmn1-siRNA infusion. These findings suggest that during embryo implantation, knockdown of Stmn1 suppresses decidualisation by inhibiting the expression of p-Akt, HIF-1α and VEGF, thus leading to impaired embryo implantation. These findings provide clues for understanding the complicated process of embryo implantation and the potential role of Stmn1 during embryo implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China.
authors.forename: Jinhai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gou
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China.
authors.forename: Juntao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Sichuan Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, No.20, Section 3, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhengyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015536:Down-Regulation; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D050777:Stathmin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C497443:Hif1a protein, mouse; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D050777:Stathmin; C493994:Stmn1 protein, mouse; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D011388:Prolactin; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt