ABSTRACT: Gene expression profiling of uterine stromal and epithelial cells isolated from Msx1Msx2 floxed and Msx1Msx2 ablated mice on day 4 of pregnancy
Project description:Our study revealed that hypoxia inducible factor 2 alpha, Hif2 alpha, is a downstream target of estrogen signaling in mouse uterine stroma at the time of implantation. Further, conditional deletion of Hif2 alpha in mouse uterus leads to infertility due to impaired epithelial remodeling at the time of implantation. To identify the downstream targets of Hif2 alpha in the uterus, we performed gene expression profiling of uterine stromal cells isolated from Hif2 alpha-intact and -null mice on day 5 of pregnancy, overlapping the window of implantation. The microarray results revealed altered expression of mRNAs corresponding to factors involved in protein trafficking in uterine stroma of Hif2 alpha-ablated mice. These factors mediate crosstalk between uterine storma and epithelial cells to promote epithelial remodeling and implantation. Thus, Hif2 alpha regulates embryo implantation by controlled trafficking of secretory granules during early pregnancy.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of uterine epithelial cells isolated from Msx1Msx2 floxed and Msx1Msx2 ablated mice on day 4 of pregnancy
Project description:Our preliminary study revealed that the homeobox transcription factors, Msx1 and Msx2, are expressed in the mouse uterus during early pregnancy. Further, conditional deletion of Msx1 and Msx2 in mouse uterus leads to implantation failure due to impaired uterine epithelial receptivity. To identify the downstream targets of Msx1Msx2 in the uterus, we performed gene expression profling of uterine stromal cells isolated from Msx1Msx2-null mice and the corresponding controls on day4 of pregnancy (the time of implantation). The microarray results revealed elevated expression of mRNAs corresponding to several members of the fibroblast growth factor family and Wnts in uterine stroma of Msx1Msx2-ablated mice. We performed conditional ablation of Msx1Msx2 in the mouse uterus using the PRcre mouse model. we isolated uterine stromal cells from day4 pregnant mice (n=5 for each genotype), purified total RNA from these cells, pooled these samples and then hybridized to high density affymetrix microarrays.
Project description:Our previous study revealed that the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Hand2 is a downstream target of progesterone signaling in mouse uterine stroma at the time of implantation. Further, conditional deletion of Hand2 in mouse uterus leads to implantation failure due to impaired uterine epithelial receptivity. To identify the downstream targets of Hand2 in the uterus, we performed gene expression profling of uterine stromal cells isolated from Hand2-null mice and the corresponding controls on day4 of pregnancy (the time of implantation). The microarray results revealed elevated expression of mRNAs corresponding to several members of the fibroblast growth factor family in uterine stroma of Hand2-ablated mice. These factors act as paracrine mediators of mitogenic effects of estrogen on the epithleium. Thus, Hand2 is a critical regulator of the uteirne stromal-epithelial communication that directs proper steroid regulation conducive for establshment of pregnancy. We performed conditional ablation of Hand2 in the mouse uterus using the PRcre mouse model. As Hand2 expression is restricted to stromal comaprtment, we isolated uterine stromal cells from day4 pregnant mice (n=5 for each genotype), purified total RNA from these cells, pooled these samples and then hybridized to high density affymetrix microarrays. Control vs. KO.
Project description:Our preliminary study revealed that the homeobox transcription factors, Msx1 and Msx2, are expressed in the mouse uterus during early pregnancy. Further, conditional deletion of Msx1 and Msx2 in mouse uterus leads to implantation failure due to impaired uterine epithelial receptivity. To identify the downstream targets of Msx1Msx2 in the uterus, we performed gene expression profling of uterine stromal cells isolated from Msx1Msx2-null mice and the corresponding controls on day4 of pregnancy (the time of implantation). The microarray results revealed elevated expression of mRNAs corresponding to several members of the fibroblast growth factor family and Wnts in uterine stroma of Msx1Msx2-ablated mice.
Project description:Our previous study revealed that the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Hand2 is a downstream target of progesterone signaling in mouse uterine stroma at the time of implantation. Further, conditional deletion of Hand2 in mouse uterus leads to implantation failure due to impaired uterine epithelial receptivity. To identify the downstream targets of Hand2 in the uterus, we performed gene expression profling of uterine stromal cells isolated from Hand2-null mice and the corresponding controls on day4 of pregnancy (the time of implantation). The microarray results revealed elevated expression of mRNAs corresponding to several members of the fibroblast growth factor family in uterine stroma of Hand2-ablated mice. These factors act as paracrine mediators of mitogenic effects of estrogen on the epithleium. Thus, Hand2 is a critical regulator of the uteirne stromal-epithelial communication that directs proper steroid regulation conducive for establshment of pregnancy.
Project description:Embryo implantation into a receptive endometrium is tightly regulated by a variety of maternal factors, including cytokines, growth factors and transcription factors. Previous studies identified the leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), produced in uterine glands, as an essential factor for implantation. It was shown that LIF acts via its cell surface receptor to activate the transcription factor STAT3 in the uterine epithelial cells. However, the mechanisms via which STAT3 promotes uterine receptivity remain unknown. To address the molecular pathways regulated by STAT3 in the uterus, we created mice in which Stat3 gene is conditionally inactivated in uterine epithelium. These mutant mice are infertile due to implantation failure and exhibit a lack of embryo attachment to the luminal epithelium. Gene expression profiling of the epithelial tissue impaired in STAT3 activation revealed dysregulated expression of specific components of junctional complexes, including E-cadherin, M-NM-2-catenin, and claudins, which critically regulate epithelial cell polarity and embryo attachment. Additionally, mice lacking functional epithelial STAT3 showed markedly reduced stromal proliferation and differentiation, indicating that this transcription factor controls stromal function via a paracrine mechanism. The stromal defect arose from a drastic reduction in the production of several members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family in luminal epithelium of mutant uteri and consequent lack of activation of EGF receptor signaling and mitotic activity in the stromal cells. Collectively, our results uncovered intricate signaling networks operating downstream of STAT3 in uterine epithelium that regulate epithelial cell polarity, and stromal proliferation and differentiation, which are critical determinants of successful implantation. To identify the downstream targets of STAT3 in mouse uterine epithelial cells during pregnancy, we performed gene expression profling of mouse uterine epithelial cells on day 4 of pregnancy between Stat3 flox control and SW d/d mice. This led to the identification of several junctional molecules (Claudins and Catenins) that are negatively regulated by STAT3 at the time of implantation. Mouse uteirne epithelial cells were isolated from control and knockout mice on the morning of day 4 of pregnancy. (n=3 for each sample), pooled total RNA from these cells was then hybridized to high density affymetrix microarrays according to the Affymetrix protocol (Mouse Genome 430A 2.0 Array) .
Project description:RNA-seq analyses using embryos and uterine luminal layers collected from Lif-floxed, Lif uterine epithelial-specific KO (eKO), and recombinant Lif (rLif)-treated Lif eKO females on 8pm of day 4 of pregnancy.