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Mol. Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published online on November 27, 2008
Molecular Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/molehr/gan073
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© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

The IGF system in in-vitro human decidualization

C. Ganeff1,2, G. Chatel2, C. Munaut1, F. Frankenne1, J-M. Foidart1 and R. Winkler2,3

1Laboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, Center of Experimental Cancer Research (CECR), University of Liège, GIGA-R, B-4000 Liège, Belgium 2Molecular Oncology Unit, University of Liège, GIGA-R, B-4000 Liège, Belgium

3 Corresponding author. E-mail: rwinkler{at}ulg.ac.be

Decidualization of endometrial stromal cells is critical for a successful pregnancy but the molecular mechanisms of the process are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated whether the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) network is involved in this cellular process. Expression kinetics of members of the IGF system was examined at both mRNA and protein levels during in-vitro decidualization of cultured human endometrial stromal cells. We found a significant up-regulation of IGF-II as well as of IGF-I receptor and the A and B insulin receptor (InsR) isoforms. In addition, levels of the key adaptor proteins IRS-1 and IRS-2 increased, suggesting a potential involvement of the IGF signalling pathway in the decidualization process. Expression of two IGF binding proteins, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-4, which can inhibit IGF action, also increased. In order to further determine whether IGF signalling was activated during decidualization, the phosphorylation status of the receptors and the adaptor proteins was estimated. Only IRS-2 was slightly phosphorylated in decidualized cells and was further activated by the addition of exogenous IGF-II. These results suggest that the IGF signalling pathway could play a crucial role in the functions of decidualized endometrial cells.

Key Words: cAMP/decidualization/endometrium/insulin-like growth factor/progesterone

Submitted on January 10, 2008; resubmitted on October 20, 2008; accepted on November 21, 2008.


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