Regulatory role of human endometrial gland secretome on macrophage differentiation

Leqian Lin; Kunfeng Bai; Jianlin Li; Philip C N Chiu; Cheuk-Lun Lee

doi:10.1016/j.jri.2023.104158

Regulatory role of human endometrial gland secretome on macrophage differentiation

J Reprod Immunol. 2023 Dec:160:104158. doi: 10.1016/j.jri.2023.104158. Epub 2023 Sep 30.

Authors

Leqian Lin¹, Kunfeng Bai², Jianlin Li³, Philip C N Chiu⁴, Cheuk-Lun Lee⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, 9 Jinsui Rd, Guangzhou 510623, China.
³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China. Electronic address: pchiucn@hku.hk.
⁵ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China. Electronic address: kcllee@hku.hk.

PMID: 37801890
DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2023.104158

Abstract

The human endometrial gland plays a vital role in maternal immune tolerance and placental development. Decidual macrophages are the major phagocytic cells that regulate tissue remodeling during pregnancy. This study examines the regulatory effect of endometrial gland secretome on macrophage polarization and functions using endometrial organoid. We demonstrated that endometrial organoids treated with hormones mimicking the environment of the secretory phase/early pregnancy polarize macrophages to acquire a decidua-like macrophage phenotype, including higher expressions of decidual macrophage markers, reduced phagocytic capacity and altered cytokine secretion. The results indicated that endometrial gland secretomes are critical for maintaining macrophage homeostasis at the maternal-fetal interface.

Keywords: Cytokine; Endometrial gland; Macrophage; Organoid; Phagocytosis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cell Differentiation
Decidua*
Female
Humans
Macrophages
Placenta*
Pregnancy
Secretome