Stratification of mouse vaginal epithelium 2. Identification of factors inducing stratification

Biol Reprod. 2018 Oct 1;99(4):727-734. doi: 10.1093/biolre/ioy113.

Abstract

Stratification of the vaginal epithelium is regulated by stromal factors. To analyze the mechanisms of stratification in vitro, 3 dimensional (3D) co-culture models were established with clonal cell lines. In the models, stromal cells were embedded in collagen gel and epithelial cells were seeded on the gel. In the 3D co-culture, stromal SV-6c4a1b cells induced epithelial stratification but stromal MV-1e6g1a cells did not, suggesting that SV-6c4a1b cells secrete molecules to induce stratification. Microarray analyses of these stromal cell lines identified chordin-like 1 (Chrd1) and WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 2 (Wisp2) as candidate genes inducing stratification. Chrdl1 variant1 and variant2 mRNAs were expressed not only in stromal SV-6c4a1b and MV-1e6g1a cells but also in epithelial SV-4b6b cells. Wisp2-overexpressing MV-1e6g1a cells, secreting WISP2 as much as SV-6c4a1b cells, induced stratification of epithelial cells. In addition, Wisp2-knockdowned SV-6c4a1b cells were unable to induce epithelial stratification. These results suggest that WISP2 is one of the stromal factors inducing stratification of the mouse vaginal epithelium.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Clone Cells / cytology
  • Clone Cells / metabolism
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelium / anatomy & histology
  • Epithelium / growth & development
  • Epithelium / metabolism
  • Estradiol / pharmacology
  • Eye Proteins / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Genetic Variation
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Progesterone / pharmacology
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Stromal Cells / cytology
  • Stromal Cells / metabolism
  • Vagina / anatomy & histology*
  • Vagina / growth & development*
  • Vagina / metabolism

Substances

  • Chrdl1 protein, mouse
  • Eye Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • WISP-2 protein, mouse
  • Progesterone
  • Estradiol