Histological study of telocytes in mice intrauterine adhesion model and their positive effect on mesenchymal stem cells in vitro.

Intrauterine adhesions (IUA), the main cause of secondary infertility in women, result from irreversible fibrotic repair of the endometrium due to inflammation or human factors, accompanied by disruptions in the repair function of endometrial stem cells. This significantly impacts the physical and mental health of women in their childbearing years. Telocytes (TCs), a distinctive type of interstitial cells found in various tissues and organs, play diverse repair functions due to their unique spatial structure. In this study, we conduct the inaugural exploration of the changes in TCs in IUA disease and their potential impact on the function of stem cells. Our results show that in vivo, through double immunofluorescence staining (CD34+/Vimentin+; CD34+/CD31-), as endometrial fibrosis deepens, the number of TCs gradually decreases, telopodes shorten, and the three-dimensional structure becomes disrupted in the mouse IUA mode. In vitro, TCs can promote the proliferation and cycle of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) by promoting the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, which were inhibited using XAV939. TCs can promote the migrated ability of BMSCs and contribute to the repair of stem cells during endometrial injury. In addition, TCs can inhibit the apoptosis of BMSCs through the Bcl-2/Bax pathway. In conclusion, our study demonstrates, for the first time, the resistance role of TCs in IUA disease, shedding light on their potential involvement in endometrial repair through the modulation of stem cell function.

Association Between Dietary Fiber and Female Fertility: a NHANES-Based Study.

This study aimed to evaluate whether dietary fiber content and density were associated with female infertility in the USA. Data on current dietary fiber and current or past female infertility were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) in 2013-2014, 2015-2016, and 2017-2018 cycles. Infertility was identified with the question "Have you ever tried a year to become pregnant: ever attempted to become pregnant over a period of at least a year without becoming pregnant?" The association between dietary fiber and female infertility was analyzed by weighted multivariate logistic regression. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the body mass index (BMI) of women. False discovery rate (FDR)-adjusted P values (q values) < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. Totally 2370 women were eligible for analysis. Dietary fiber content was negatively associated with female infertility [odds ratio (OR) = 0.643, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.480-0.861, P = 0.004, q = 0.020]. Dietary fiber density was not associated with the odds of female infertility (OR = 0.734, 95% CI = 0.573-0.941, P = 0.016, q = 0.079). Subgroup analysis exhibited that dietary fiber content was not associated with infertility in underweight and normal-weight (OR = 0.620, 95% CI = 0.332-1.157, P = 0.130, q = 0.467) and overweight (OR = 0.764, 95% CI = 0.523-1.117, P = 0.160, q = 0.553) women; dietary fiber content was inversely associated with infertility in obese women (OR = 0.610, 95% CI = 0.443-0.841, P = 0.003, q = 0.015). There were no significant associations between dietary fiber density and female infertility in underweight and normal-weight (OR = 0.673, 95% CI = 0.393-1.153, P = 0.146, q = 0.410), overweight (OR = 0.769, 95% CI = 0.534-1.107, P = 0.153, q = 0.523), and obese (OR = 0.753, 95% CI = 0.581-0.975, P = 0.032, q = 0.160) populations. In conclusion, a negative association was found between dietary fiber content and female infertility especially among obese women. Future studies are warranted to confirm our findings and the causal relationship between dietary fiber, obesity, and female infertility.

Inhibitory effect of telocyte-induced M1 macrophages on endometriosis: Targeting angiogenesis and invasion.

PURPOSE: Telocytes (TCs), a novel type of stromal cells found in tissues, induce macrophage differentiation into classically activated macrophages (M1) types and enhance their phagocytic function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of TC-induced M1 macrophages on endometriosis (EMs). METHODS: mouse uterine primary TCs and endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) were isolated and identified using double immunofluorescence staining. For the in vitro study, ESCs were treated with TC-induced M1 macrophages, and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κb) genes were identified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) or western blotting (WB). For the in vivo study, an EMs mouse model received TC-conditioned medium (TCM) via abdominal administration, and characterized the inhibitory effects on growth (lesion weight, volume, and pathology), tissue-resident macrophages differentiation by immunostaining, angiogenic capacity (CD31 and VEGF), invasive capacity (MMP9), and NF-κb expression within EMs lesions. RESULTS: immunofluorescent staining showed that uterine TCs expressed CD34+ and vimentin+, whereas ESCs expressed vimentin+ and cytokeratin-. At the cellular level, TC-induced M1 macrophages can significantly inhibit the expression of VEGF and MMP9 in ESCs through WB or qRT-PCR, possibly by suppressing the NF-κb pathway. The in vivo study showed that macrophages switch from the alternatively activated macrophages (M2) in untreated EMs lesions to the M1 subtype after TCM exposure. Thereby, TC-induced M1 macrophages contributed to the inhibition of EMs lesions. More importantly, this effect may be achieved by suppressing the expression of NF-κb to inhibit angiogenesis (CD31 and VEGF) and invasion (MMP9) in the tissue. CONCLUSION: TC-induced M1 macrophages play a prevailing role in suppressing EMs by inhibiting angiogenic and invasive capacity through the NF-κb pathway, which provides a promising therapeutic approach for EMs.

Telocyte-Derived Exosomes Provide an Important Source of Wnts That Inhibits Fibrosis and Supports Regeneration and Repair of Endometrium.

Intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) often occurred after common obstetrical and gynecological procedures or infections in women of reproductive age. It was characterized by the formation of endometrial fibrosis and prevention of endometrial regeneration, usually with devastating fertility consequences and poor treatment outcomes so far. Telocytes (TCs), as a novel interstitial cell type, present in female uterus with in vitro therapeutic potential in decidualization-defective gynecologic diseases. This study aims to further investigate the role of TC-derived Wnt ligands carried by exosomes (Exo) in reversal of fibrosis and enhancement of regeneration repair in endometrium. IUA cellular and animal models were established from endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) and mice, followed with treatment of TC-conditioned medium (TCM) or TC-derived Exo. In cellular model, fibrosis markers (collagen type 1 alpha 1 [COL1A1], fibronectin [FN], and α-smooth muscle actin [α-SMA]), angiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]), and pathway protein (ß-catenin) were determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blotting (WB), and immunofluorescence. Results showed that, TCs (either TCM or TC-derived Exo) provide a source of Wnts that inhibit cellular fibrosis, as evidenced by significantly elevated VEGF and ß-catenin with decreased fibrotic markers, whereas TCs lost salvage on fibrosis after being blocked with Wnt/ß-catenin inhibitors (XAV939 or ETC-159). Further in mouse model, regeneration repair (endometrial thickness, number of glands, and fibrosis area ratio), fibrosis markers (fibronectin [FN]), mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) (E-cadherin, N-cadherin), and angiogenesis (VEGF, microvessel density [MVD]) were studied by hematoxylin-eosin (HE), Masson staining, and immunohistochemistry. Results demonstrated that TC-Exo treatment effectively promotes regeneration repair of endometrium by relieving fibrosis, enhancing MET, and angiogenesis. These results confirmed new evidence for therapeutic perspective of TC-derived Exo in IUAs.

Telocytes in Fibrosis Diseases: From Current Findings to Future Clinical Perspectives.

Telocytes (TCs), a distinct type of interstitial (stromal) cells, have been discovered in many organs of human and mammal animals. TCs, which have unique morphological characteristics and abundant paracrine substance, construct a three-dimensional (3D) interstitial network within the stromal compartment by homocellular and heterocellular communications which are important for tissue homeostasis and normal development. Fibrosis-related diseases remain a common but challenging problem in the field of medicine with unclear pathogenesis and limited therapeutic options. Recently, increasing evidences suggest that where TCs are morphologically or numerically destructed, many diseases continuously develop, finally lead to irreversible interstitial fibrosis. It is not difficult to find that TCs are associated with chronic inflammation and fibrosis. This review mainly discusses relationship between TCs and the occurrence of fibrosis in various diseases. We analyzed in detail the potential roles and speculated mechanisms of TCs in onset and progression of systemic fibrosis diseases, as well as providing the most up-to-date research on the current therapeutic roles of TCs and involved related pathways. Only through continuous research and exploration in the future can we uncover its magic veil and provide strategies for treatment of fibrosis-related disease.

CUL4A regulates endometrial cancer cell proliferation, invasion and migration by interacting with CSN6.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is a common malignant gynecological tumor arising from the endometrium, with an annually increasing morbidity and mortality. The present study aimed to investigate the functions of cullin 4A (CUL4A) in EC, as well as the underlying mechanisms. CUL4A expression was assessed in several human EC cells and normal human endometrial epithelial cells (hEECs) via reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Subsequently, short hairpin (sh)RNA­CULA4 was transfected into cells, and cell proliferation, invasion and migration were detected using Cell Counting kit­8, Transwell and wound healing assays, respectively. The STRING database identified that CSN6 interacted with CULA4, and immunoprecipitation was performed to verify the interaction. Subsequently, following CUL4A knockdown, pcDNA3.1­CSN6 was transfected into cells and its effects on cell proliferation, invasion and migration were assessed. The expression levels of matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)2, MMP9 and p53 were evaluated via western blotting. The results indicated that CUL4A was highly expressed in EC cells, compared with hEECs. CULA4­knockdown notably inhibited EC cell proliferation, invasion and migration. The expression levels of MMP2 and MMP9 were significantly decreased, while p53 expression was enhanced following CUL4A­knockdown. The immunoprecipitation assay verified that COP9 signalosome subunit 6 (CSN6) interacted with CULA4. Furthermore, CSN6­overexpression alleviated the inhibitory effects of CUL4A­knockdown on EC cell proliferation, invasion and migration. Similarly, CSN6 overexpression reversed CUL4A­knockdown­mediated effects on the expression of MMP2, MMP9 and p53. In summary, the results demonstrated that CUL4A regulated EC cell proliferation, invasion and migration by interacting with CSN6.