Increased α2-6 sialylation of endometrial cells contributes to the development of endometriosis

Exp Mol Med. 2018 Dec 12;50(12):1-12. doi: 10.1038/s12276-018-0167-1.

Abstract

Endometriosis is a disease characterized by implants of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity and is strongly associated with infertility. Focal adhesion of endometrial tissue to the peritoneum is an indication of incipient endometriosis. In this study, we examined the effect of various cytokines that are known to be involved in the pathology of endometriosis on endometrial cell adhesion. Among the investigated cytokines, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) increased adhesion of endometrial cells to the mesothelium through induction of α2-6 sialylation. The expression levels of β-galactoside α2-6 sialyltransferase (ST6Gal) 1 and ST6Gal2 were increased through activation of TGF-βRI/SMAD2/3 signaling in endometrial cells. In addition, we discovered that terminal sialic acid glycan epitopes of endometrial cells engage with sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin-9 expressed on mesothelial cell surfaces. Interestingly, in an in vivo mouse endometriosis model, inhibition of endogenous sialic acid binding by a NeuAcα2-6Galβ1-4GlcNAc injection diminished TGF-β1-induced formation of endometriosis lesions. Based on these results, we suggest that increased sialylation of endometrial cells by TGF-β1 promotes the attachment of endometrium to the peritoneum, encouraging endometriosis outbreaks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endometriosis / metabolism*
  • Endometrium / pathology*
  • Epithelium / pathology*
  • Female
  • Focal Adhesions
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / metabolism
  • Peritoneum / pathology*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Sialic Acid Binding Immunoglobulin-like Lectins / metabolism
  • Sialyltransferases / genetics
  • Sialyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Smad2 Protein / metabolism
  • Smad3 Protein / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism
  • beta-D-Galactoside alpha 2-6-Sialyltransferase

Substances

  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • SMAD2 protein, human
  • SMAD3 protein, human
  • Sialic Acid Binding Immunoglobulin-like Lectins
  • Smad2 Protein
  • Smad3 Protein
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Sialyltransferases
  • N-Acetylneuraminic Acid
  • beta-D-Galactoside alpha 2-6-Sialyltransferase