Transcriptomics of receptive endometrium in women with sonographic features of adenomyosis
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ABSTRACT: Purpose: We compared endometrial transcriptome profiles during the window of implantation (WOI) between women with and without uterine adenomyosis. Methods: We obtained endometrial biopsies luteinizing hormone (LH)-timed to the WOI from women with sonographic features of adenomyosis (n=10) and controls (n=10). Isolated RNA samples were subjected to RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and endometrial receptivity classification with a molecular tool for menstrual cycle phase dating (beREADY®, CCHT). RNA-seq data were analysed in the setting of the result of accurate endometrial dating. Results: Out of 20 endometrial samples, 2 were dated to the early receptive phase, 13 to the receptive phase and 5 to the late receptive phase. Comparison of the transcriptomics data from all 20 samples provided 909 DEGs (p<0.05; nonsignificant after adjusted p value) in the adenomyosis group but only 4 enriched pathways (Bonferroni p value < 0.05). The analysis of 13 samples only dated to the receptive phase provided suggestive 382 DEGs (p<0.05; nonsignificant after adjusted p value) in the adenomyosis group, leading to 33 enriched pathways (Bonferroni p value < 0.05). These included pathways were already associated with endometrial biology, such as “Expression of interferon (IFN)-induced genes” and “Response to IFN-alpha”. Conclusion: Accurate endometrial dating and RNA-seq analysis resulted in the identification of altered response to IFN signalling as the most promising candidate of impaired uterine receptivity in adenomyosis.
Project description:The molecular mechanisms underlying window of implantation (WOI) displacement in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) remain unclear. This study aims to explore the transcriptomic signatures of endometrium with normal and displaced WOIs during HRT cycles and to identify the causes of endometrial receptivity (ER) abnormalities and WOI displacement in RIF patients. 40 RIF patients were recruited and underwent personalized embryo transfer (pET) guided by the predicted results of endometrial receptivity diagnosis (ERD) model. Transcriptome analysis of endometrium from patients with clinical pregnancies after pET was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with WOI displacement. The ERD results indicated that 67.5% of RIF patients (27/40) were non-receptive in the conventional WOI (P+5) of the HRT cycle. The clinical pregnancy rate in RIF patients improved to 65% (26/40) after ERD-guided pET, indicating the effectiveness of transcriptome-based WOI prediction. Among the 26 patients with clinical pregnancy, the gene expression profiles of P+5 endometrium from advanced (n=6), normal (n=10) and delayed (n=10) WOI groups were significantly different from each other. 10 DEGs (CES4A, LRRC1, SLC25A48, TM4SF4, DPP4, CXCR1, CXCR2, OSM, LCN2 and TNFRSF10C ) identified among P+5 endometrium of 3 groups were involved in immunomodulation, transmembrane transport and tissue regeneration, which could accurately classify the endometrium with different WOIs.
Project description:Women with adenomyosis are characterized by having defective decidualization, impaired endometrial receptivity and/or embryo-maternal communication, and implantation failure. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying adenomyosis-related infertility remain unknown, mainly because of the restricted accessibility and the difficult preservation of endometrial tissue in vitro. We have recently shown that adenomyosis patient-derived endometrial organoids, maintain disease-specific features while differentiated into mid-secretory and gestational endometrial phase, overcoming these research barriers and providing a robust platform to study adenomyosis pathogenesis and the associated molecular dysregulation related to implantation and pregnancy disorders. For this reason, we aim to characterize the dysregulated mechanisms in the mid-secretory and gestational endometrium of patients with adenomyosis by RNA-sequencing. Endometrial organoids were derived from endometrial biopsies collected in the proliferative phase of women with adenomyosis (ADENO) or healthy oocyte donors (CONTROL) (n=15/group) and differentiated into mid-secretory (-SECorg) and gestational (-GESTorg) phases in vitro. Following RNA-sequencing, the significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (FDR<0.05) were identified, and the top 20 were selected for subsequent functional enrichment analysis and QIAGEN Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). Statistical differences in gene expression were evaluated with the Student’s t-test or Wilcoxon test. We identified 1,430 DEGs in ADENO-SECorg and 1,999 DEGs in ADENO-GESTorg. In ADENO-SECorg, upregulated genes included OLFM1, FXYD5, and RUNX2, which are involved in impaired endometrial receptivity and implantation failure, while downregulated genes included RRM2, SOSTDC1, and CHAC2 implicated in recurrent implantation failure. In ADENO-GESTorg, upregulated CXCL14 and CYP24A1 and downregulated PGR were related to pregnancy loss. IPA predicted a significant inhibition of ID1 signaling, histamine degradation, and activation of HMGB1 and Senescence pathways, which are related to implantation failure. Alternatively, IPA predicted an inhibition of D-myo-inositol biosynthesis and VEGF signaling, and upregulation of Rho pathway, which are related to pregnancy loss and preeclampsia. In conclusion, Identifying dysregulated molecular mechanisms in mid-secretory and gestational endometrium of adenomyosis women contributes to the understanding of adenomyosis-related implantation failure and/or pregnancy disorders revealing potential therapeutic targets. Following experimental validation of our transcriptomic and in silico findings, our differentiated adenomyosis patient-derived organoids have the potential to provide a reliable platform for drug discovery, development, and personalized drug screening for affected patients.
Project description:Despite great advances in assisted reproductive technology (ART), unexplained recurrent implantation failure (RIF) due to disorder of endometrial receptivity still cannot be effectively avoided. More importantly, cell characteristics and cell communication that regulate endometrial receptivity and differentiation, and its disorders in RIF at the window of implantation (WOI) remain rudimentary. Here we characterized the transcriptomes of four major cells in human endometrium from healthy control and RIF patients at single-cell resolution. We discovered the dynamic change characteristics of four major endometrial fibroblast-like cells with different endometrial receptivity, reported a novel pluripotent endometrial glandular epithelial cell with high levels of progesterone receptor and exosomes, and defined a unique ITGA1+CXCR4+ NK cell for connecting endometrial nonimmune cells and immune cell infiltration at the WOI. Additionally, we developed a systematic repository of cell-cell communication for endometrial differentiation and the opening of endometrial receptivity via the ligand-receptor complexes interactions. Our study provides deeper insights into aberrant molecular and cellular characterizations, and the endometrial microenvironmental disorders of RIF patients that are potentially applicable to improve the etiological diagnosis and therapeutics of unexplained RIF.
Project description:Purpose: Extracellular vescicles (EVs) of uterine origin have recently been identified, but they are not comprised by current diagnostics on endometrial receptivity. In order to test the possibility to use EVs as biomarker reservoirs for non-invasive monitoring of the endometrial status, we defined two experimental designs: in step a) we aimed at assessing the concordance between the transcriptome of endometrial tissue and uterine fluid-derived EVs (UF-EVs); in step b) we aimed at unraveling the transcriptomic profile of UF-EVs released during the receptive phase and associated with successful implantation Methods: RNAseq analysis was performed on total RNA isolated from a) endometrial biopsies and UF-EVs concomitantly collected from regularly cycling women; b) UF-EVs collected in the pre-receptive (LH+2) versus the receptive (LH+7) phase of provenly fertile women and in the receptive phase (LH+7) of women undergoing assisted reproduction and transfer of an euploid blastocyst. In the latter group, the outcomes of the following embryo transfer attempt were recorded, in order to compare the transcriptomic profile of women with successful versus failed implantation. Differential Gene Expression (DGE) and Gene Set Enrichment (GSEA) analyses were performed. Results: In the first experimental design, a highly significant correlation was found between the transcriptional profiles of endometrial tissue biopsies and corresponding UF-EVs (r=0.71 p<0.001; ρ=0.65 p<0.001). In the second experimental design, using a large group of 73 samples, 16,777 genes were overall found to be expressed in UF-EVs. Of these, DGE analysis showed that 942 were up-regulated and 1,305 down-regulated during the receptive phase in women with proven fertility and 97 were up-regulated and 64 down-regulated during the receptive phase of women achieving successful implantation versus women failing to achieve pregnancy in the subsequent cycle. 41 genes had a statistically significant different expression in both comparisons. We additionally tested wether transcripts used by current endometrial receptivity tests based on endometrial biopsies (Endometrial Receptivity Assay, ERA test) could also be detected in UF-EVs: out of 238 ERA test gene data-set, GSEA highlighted 219 genes with similar transcriptional profile in UF-EVs. We then performed another comparison adding the list of genes consisting of the ‘metasignature’ transcriptome derived from the published meta-analysis of endometrial receptivity associated transcripts, comprising 57 genes. This last intersection identified 38 genes expressed in UF-EVs that i) show differential expression with the same transcriptional profile (same trends) in both EVs and ERA test assay; ii) belong to the leading edge of genes with the most significant enrichment score in our analysis; iii) are identified as receptivity-associated genes by the current meta-analysis on endometrial transcriptome. Conclusions: This is the first study showing the capacity of UF-EVs to reflect the endometrial tissue transcriptional status and to establish a signature of genes expressed in UF-EVs that might serve as putative biomarkers for non-invasive endometrial receptivity tests.
Project description:Embryo implantation is a key step in establishing pregnancy and a major limiting factor in IVF. Implantation requires the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus, to transform from a non-receptive to a receptive state, to allow embryos to attach to the surface and enter into the tissue. However, the fundamental mechanisms governing receptivity are not well understood. Here we show that transmembrane protein podocalyxin is a major and clinically significant factor regulating human endometrial receptivity. Podocalyxin is expressed in all endometrial epithelial cells in the non-receptive state but is selectively down-regulated in the luminal epithelium at receptivity. We present evidence that podocalyxin critically governs the barrier function of the endometrial epithelium, likely as an intrinsic protective mechanism, rendering it non-receptive to an embryo. In addition, podocalyxin suppresses genes promoting receptivity (eg LIF, CSF1) but stimulates those inhibiting implantation (eg WNT7A, LEFTY2). Down-regulation of podocalyxin in the luminal epithelium, likely mediated by progesterone, selectively converts the endometrial surface to a more adhesive state that facilitates embryo attachment and penetration. Furthermore, inadequate down-regulation of podocalyxin in the endometrial luminal epithelium is associated with poorer implantation rates in IVF. We thus propose that podocalyxin promotes the barrier function of human endometrial epithelial cells and critically regulates receptivity for embryo implantation.
Project description:Understanding human endometrial dynamics remains a challenge, limiting early diagnosis and treatment of reproductive disorders. Here, we decoded the normal endometrial dynamics across the window of implantation (WOI) and its deficiency in endometrium from women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) by analyzing data from over 220,000 cells, together with developing a computational model StemVAE that is capable of both temporal prediction and pattern discovery. Our time-series atlas highlighted a two-stage stromal decidualization process whereas a gradual epithelial transitional process across the WOI allowing the identification of a time-varying gene set regulating epithelial receptivity. The epithelial receptivity genes were able to stratify the RIF endometrium into two classes of receptivity-deficiency involving early and late implantation. Further investigation uncovered epithelial cell dysfunction under hyperinflammatory microenvironment in RIF endometrium. The holistic characterization of physiological and pathophysiological WOI, and a computational tool trained on this temporal atlas provide a platform for future therapeutic developments.
Project description:Successful embryo implantation into a receptive endometrium requires mutual endometrial-embryo communication. Recently, the function of extracellular vehicles (EVs) in cell-to-cell interaction in embryo-maternal interactions has been investigated. We explored isolated endometrial derived EVs, using RL95-2 cells as a model of a receptive endometrium, influenced by menstrual cycle hormones estrogen (E2; proliferative phase) progesterone (P4; secretory phase) and estrogen plus progesterone (E2P4; the receptive phase). EV sized particles were isolated by differential centrifugation and size exclusion chromatography. Nanoparticle tracking analysis was used to examine the different concentration and size of particles and EV proteomic analysis per-formed using shotgun label-free mass spectrometry. Our results showed that although endome-trial derived EVs were secreted in numbers independent of hormonal stimulation, EVs sizes were statistically modified by it. Proteomics analysis showed that hormone treatment changes affect the endometrial EVs proteome, with proteins enhanced within the EV E2P4 group shown to be in-volved in different processes such as embryo implantation, endometrial receptivity, and embryo development, supporting the concept of a communication system between the embryo and the maternal endometrium via EVs.
Project description:Current endometrial receptivity tests require an invasive method of collecting of endometrial biopsies that can cause general discomfort and adverse events such as infections, pain, and bleeding. Therefore, minimally-invasive methodologies for receptivity evaluation are needed. Cervical cells could offer a great potential for endometrial receptivity testing because cervical cell collection by cytobrush is a standardized, quick, simple, well tolerated, minimally invasive and routinely used sampling technique in everyday gynaecological practice. To date, no studies have evaluated the suitability of cervical cells for endometrial receptivity testing based on transcriptional profiling throughout the menstrual cycle. In this study, paired samples of the endometrium and cervical cells were obtained from 20 women in different menstrual cycle time-points in natural cycles and women undergoing hormonal replacement cycles. The gene expression profiles of cervical cells showed no apparent clustering according to their collection time and menstrual cycle phase. Transcriptome analysis identified only four (KIF2C, CENPF, HLA-DRB5 and CUTALP) differentially expressed genes between the early- and mid-secretory samples, suggesting that the transcriptomes of cervical cells, in contrast to endometrial tissue, do not exhibit significant differences during the window of implantation opening. The largest differences in the transcriptome of cervical cells were noticed in late-secretory phase, before initiation of menstruation. The results of our study suggested that cervical cells’ transcriptome does not reflect the gene expression pattern of endometrial tissue during the WOI and these cells offer little or no potential for endometrial receptivity diagnostics.
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act as important epigenetic post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. We aimed to gain more understanding to the complex gene expression regulation of endometrial receptivity by analysing miRNA signature of fertile human endometrium. We used Agilent miRNA arrays to define the miRNA expression pattern in receptive (LH+7, n = 3) vs. pre-receptive (LH<7, n = 4) endometrium from healthy fertile women.
Project description:Receptivity of the uterus is essential for embryo implantation and progression of pregnancy. Acquisition of receptivity involves major molecular and cellular changes in the endometrial lining of the uterus from its non-receptive state at ovulation, to its receptive state four days later. The precise molecular mechanisms underlying this transition remain to be fully characterized. Here, we aimed to generate a comprehensive profile of the uterine transcriptome in the peri-ovulatory and peri-implantation states, and to define the differences between them, in the mouse. High throughput RNA-sequencing was utilized to identify genes and pathways expressed in the endometrium of C57Bl/6 female mice on day 3.5 post-coitum after mating with BALB/c males, compared to the endometrium of unmated estrous females (n=3-4 biological replicates). RNA-sequencing and analysis using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software revealed that, compared to the endometrium at estrus, 388 genes were differentially expressed in the endometrium on day 3.5 post-coitum (FDR ≤ 0.05). Several upstream regulators are implicated in the transition to receptivity including several cytokines, steroid hormones, prostaglandin E2, and vascular endothelial growth factor A. The transcriptional changes indicate substantial changes in the uterine immune and vascular systems during the pre-implantation phase, with the functional terms Angiogenesis, Chemotaxis, and Lymphangiogenesis predominating. This analysis confirms that the transcriptome of a receptive uterus is vastly different to the non-receptive uterus and identifies several genes and regulatory pathways not previously associated with implantation. This dataset will serve as a valuable tool and resource for future research on the molecular mechanisms of uterine receptivity.