Cyclic variability of stromal cell-derived factor-1 and endothelial progenitor cells during the menstrual cycle

Abstract

The endometrium goes through a unique cycle of physiological angiogenesis during the normal menstrual cycle (MC). We studied whether there is a correlation between endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and plasma and endometrial levels of angiogenic growth factors during the MC. Ten healthy, regularly menstruating women provided blood samples and another 16 supplied endometrial biopsies. Blood samples were obtained over a single MC: twice in the proliferative and once in the secretory phase and at ovulation. Endometrial biopsies were provided in the proliferative or in the secretory phase. We assessed plasma levels of vascular endothelial and fibroblast growth factors, granulocyte and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors and stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) by ELISA; EPCs by a colony-forming unit (CFU) assay; immunostaining for endometrial SDF-1 by computer-assisted software; and endothelial cell (EC) markers by flow cytometry. In the proliferative phase, SDF-1 levels were significantly higher than during the secretory phase. EPC-CFUs correlated negatively to SDF-1 levels. Endometrial SDF-1 expression tended to be higher in the secretory than in the proliferative phase. Furthermore, vascular endothelial growth factor receptors and Tie-2 EPCs showed a cyclic pattern over the MC. Our results point to SDF-1 as a novel mediator of EPC trafficking during the MC.

The immunomodulatory activity of extracellular vesicles derived from endometrial mesenchymal stem cells on CD4+ T cells is partially mediated by TGFbeta

“…Endometrial stem cells reside in the perivascular niche of the basal and functional layer of human endometrium maintaining the regenerative capacity of the tissue (Gargett, Schwab, & Deane, ). These cells migrate towards the functional layer during the menstrual cycle and participate in tissue remodelling that is required for the reconstruction of the endometrium (Elsheikh, Sylvén, Ericzon, Palmblad, & Mints, ). Although the bibliography shows different classifications, according to the review by Gargett, Nguyen, and Ye (), resident stem cells in the human endometrium could be classified as three different subsets: epithelial stem cells, endothelial stem cells, and MSCs.…”

Endometriosis, a disease of the macrophage

“…The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family and associated receptors and the angiopoietin–tyrosine kinase with Ig and epidermal growth factor homology domain (angiopoietin/Tie-2) system play an important role, since they connect hormonal levels to vessel remodeling (Girling and Rogers, 2009; Mints et al, 2010; Elsheikh et al, 2011; Lash et al, 2012). …”

Antitumor effects of Endostar on non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by regulating endothelial progenitor cells through protein kinase B-dependent pathway

“…Many factors have been reported to play important roles in the mobilization of EPCs [14]. Among them, VEGF plays a very important role in cell mobilization and promoting angiogenesis [15].…”