Lymphatics in the human endometrium disappear during decidualization

Volchek, Mila; Girling, Jane E.; Lash, Gendie E.; Cann, Leonie; Kumar, Beena; Robson, Stephen C.; Bulmer, Judith N.; Rogers, Peter A. W.

doi:10.1093/humrep/deq224

Cited by 45 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 22 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Notably, not only PDPN-negative PECAM1-positive decidual veins were being invaded by interstitial mononuclear EVTs, but also many PDPN-positive PECAM1-positive decidual lymphatic vessels were in fact being invaded by interstitial mononuclear EVTs between W5.5-W12 (N = 11 out of 12 analyzed) (Fig 4B). We observed dilated PDPN-positive lymphatics encircling (or insulating) spiral arteries to create characteristic round structures (data not shown), confirming findings by Volchek and colleagues (2010) [27]. The biological significance of these characteristic structures remains to be investigated.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

“…To exclude that the PECAM1-positive ACTA2-negative vessels were lymphatic vessels instead of veins, we investigated the expression of PDPN in the decidua [25–27]. Notably, not only PDPN-negative PECAM1-positive decidual veins were being invaded by interstitial mononuclear EVTs, but also many PDPN-positive PECAM1-positive decidual lymphatic vessels were in fact being invaded by interstitial mononuclear EVTs between W5.5-W12 (N = 11 out of 12 analyzed) (Fig 4B).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Human Extravillous Trophoblasts Penetrate Decidual Veins and Lymphatics before Remodeling Spiral Arteries during Early Pregnancy

Iperen

Jong

et al. 2017

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In humans, the defective invasion of the maternal endometrium by fetal extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) can lead to insufficient perfusion of the placenta, resulting in pregnancy complications that can put both mother and baby at risk. To study the invasion of maternal endometrium between (W)5.5–12 weeks of gestation by EVTs, we combined fluorescence in situ hybridization, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry to determine the presence of (male) EVTs in the vasculature of the maternal decidua. We observed that interstitial mononuclear EVTs directly entered decidual veins and lymphatics from W5.5. This invasion of decidual veins and lymphatics occurred long before endovascular EVTs remodelled decidual spiral arteries. This unexpected early entrance of interstitial mononuclear EVTs in the maternal circulation does not seem to contribute to the materno-placental vascular connection directly, but rather to establish (and expand) the materno-fetal interface through an alternative vascular route.

show abstract

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human Extravillous Trophoblasts Penetrate Decidual Veins and Lymphatics before Remodeling Spiral Arteries during Early Pregnancy

Iperen

Jong

et al. 2017

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is accompanied by significant vascular remodelling of both blood and lymphatic vessels [14], [15] as part of the process of ensuring an adequate blood supply to the placenta. In humans, decidualisation commences during the mid-late secretory phase under the influence of luteal progesterone regardless of whether embryo implantation has occurred.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dilated Thin-Walled Blood and Lymphatic Vessels in Human Endometrium: A Potential Role for VEGF-D in Progestin-Induced Break-Through Bleeding

et al. 2012

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Progestins provide safe, effective and cheap options for contraception as well as the treatment of a variety of gynaecological disorders. Episodes of irregular endometrial bleeding or breakthrough bleeding (BTB) are a major unwanted side effect of progestin treatment, such that BTB is the leading cause for discontinued use of an otherwise effective and popular medication. The cellular mechanisms leading to BTB are poorly understood. In this study, we make the novel finding that the large, dilated, thin walled vessels characteristic of human progestin-treated endometrium include both blood and lymphatic vessels. Increased blood and lymphatic vessel diameter are features of VEGF-D action in other tissues and we show by immunolocalisation and Western blotting that stromal cell decidualisation results in a significant increase in VEGF-D protein production, particularly of the proteolytically processed 21 kD form. Using a NOD/scid mouse model with xenografted human endometrium we were able to show that progestin treatment causes decidualisation, VEGF-D production and endometrial vessel dilation. Our results lead to a novel hypothesis to explain BTB, with stromal cell decidualisation rather than progestin treatment per se being the proposed causative event, and VEGF-D being the proposed effector agent.

show abstract

“…For example, the expression of chemoattractants for T cell infiltration, such as CCL5 and CXCL9, are synergistically induced in the myometrium, whereas their expression remains at low levels in the dedidua, via a repressive promoter regulatory status presented by the histone H3 trimethyl lysine 27 (H3K27me3) mark (Nancy et al, 2012; Reinhardt et al, 2003). In humans, T cells have also been reported to be relatively rare in the decidua, and chemoattractant CXCL10 is expressed only locally in decidual tissues, in association with periglandular leukocyte aggregations (Bulmer et al, 2010; Marlin et al, 2011; Red-Horse et al, 2001; Volchek et al, 2010). …”

Section: Molecular Basis Of Decidualizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological and molecular determinants of embryo implantation

Zhang

Lin

Kong

et al. 2013

Molecular Aspects of Medicine

439

480

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Embryo implantation involves the intimate interaction between an implantation-competent blastocyst and a receptive uterus, which occurs in a limited time period known as the window of implantation. Emerging evidence shows that defects originating during embryo implantation induce ripple effects with adverse consequences on later gestation events, highlighting the significance of this event for pregnancy success. Although a multitude of cellular events and molecular pathways involved in embryo-uterine crosstalk during implantation have been identified through gene expression studies and genetically engineered mouse models, a comprehensive understanding of the nature of embryo implantation is still missing. This review focuses on recent progress with particular attention to physiological and molecular determinants of blastocyst activation, uterine receptivity, blastocyst attachment and uterine decidualization. A better understanding of underlying mechanisms governing embryo implantation should generate new strategies to rectify implantation failure and improve pregnancy rates in women.

show abstract

Lymphatics in the human endometrium disappear during decidualization

Abstract: We have made novel observations on lymphatics in the placental bed and their relationship with other structures throughout pregnancy. Endometrial stromal cell decidualization results in a loss of lymphatics, with this phenomenon being particularly apparent around the spiral arteries.

Cited by 45 publications

References 22 publications

Human Extravillous Trophoblasts Penetrate Decidual Veins and Lymphatics before Remodeling Spiral Arteries during Early Pregnancy

Human Extravillous Trophoblasts Penetrate Decidual Veins and Lymphatics before Remodeling Spiral Arteries during Early Pregnancy

Dilated Thin-Walled Blood and Lymphatic Vessels in Human Endometrium: A Potential Role for VEGF-D in Progestin-Induced Break-Through Bleeding

Physiological and molecular determinants of embryo implantation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About