Co-culture with endometrial stromal cells enhances the differentiation of XXXX embryonic stem cells into endometrium-like cells.

@entity1 @entity172 @entity5960 @entity32533 @entity1420 @entity18182 @entity18297
UNASSIGNED: In vitro differentiation of @entity1 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 @entity5960 ( @entity5960 ). Factors associated with endometrium cell function, namely the @entity172 and @entity1420 receptors (ER and PR), were also detected. At day 21 following the induction of differentiation, the expression levels of cytokeratin, @entity5960 , 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 @entity1420 and prolactin. In addition, the number of cytokeratin-positive or @entity5960 -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 @entity18297 was found to be significantly upregulated in the differentiated cells induced by feeder cells and co-culture with endometrial stromal cells; however, @entity18182 and @entity32533 expression levels were unaffected. Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of @entity18297 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 @entity18297 signaling may be involved in this process.
