Open Access

Co‑culture with endometrial stromal cells enhances the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into endometrium‑like cells

  • Authors:
    • Wenzhu Yu
    • Wenbin Niu
    • Shuna Wang
    • Xuemei Chen
    • Bo Sun
    • Fang Wang
    • Yingpu Sun
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 12, 2015     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2490
  • Pages: 43-50
  • Copyright: © Yu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

In vitro differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into endometrium‑like cells may provide a useful tool for clinical treatment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the differentiation potential of hESCs into endometrium‑like cells using three methods, which included induction by feeder cells, co‑culture with endometrial stromal cells and induction with embryoid bodies. Following differentiation, the majority of cells positively expressed cytokeratin and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EPCAM). Factors associated with endometrium cell function, namely the estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PR), were also detected. At day 21 following the induction of differentiation, the expression levels of cytokeratin, EPCAM, ER and PR were significantly increased in the co‑culture method group, as compared with the other two methods. Furthermore, these cells became decidualized in response to progesterone and prolactin. In addition, the number of cytokeratin‑positive or EPCAM‑positive cells significantly increased following the induction of differentiation using the co‑culture method, as compared with the other two methods. The mRNA expression levels of Wnt members that are associated with endometrial development were subsequently examined, and Wnt5a was found to be significantly upregulated in the differentiated cells induced by feeder cells and co‑culture with endometrial stromal cells; however, Wnt4 and Wnt7a expression levels were unaffected. Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of Wnt5a in the differentiated cells co‑cultured with endometrial stromal cells were higher when compared with those induced by feeder cells. In conclusion, the present findings indicated that the co‑culture system is the optimal protocol for the induction of hESC differentiation into endometrium‑like cells, and Wnt5a signaling may be involved in this process.
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July-2015
Volume 10 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Yu W, Niu W, Wang S, Chen X, Sun B, Wang F and Sun Y: Co‑culture with endometrial stromal cells enhances the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into endometrium‑like cells. Exp Ther Med 10: 43-50, 2015
APA
Yu, W., Niu, W., Wang, S., Chen, X., Sun, B., Wang, F., & Sun, Y. (2015). Co‑culture with endometrial stromal cells enhances the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into endometrium‑like cells. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 10, 43-50. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2490
MLA
Yu, W., Niu, W., Wang, S., Chen, X., Sun, B., Wang, F., Sun, Y."Co‑culture with endometrial stromal cells enhances the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into endometrium‑like cells". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 10.1 (2015): 43-50.
Chicago
Yu, W., Niu, W., Wang, S., Chen, X., Sun, B., Wang, F., Sun, Y."Co‑culture with endometrial stromal cells enhances the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into endometrium‑like cells". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 10, no. 1 (2015): 43-50. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2490