CD45-positive blood cells give rise to uterine epithelial cells in mice

Stem Cells. 2007 Nov;25(11):2820-6. doi: 10.1634/stemcells.2007-0301. Epub 2007 Jul 26.

Abstract

The uterine endometrium is composed of epithelial and stromal cells, which undergo extensive degeneration and regeneration in every estrous cycle, and dramatic changes occur during pregnancy. The high turnover of cells requires a correspondingly high level of cell division by progenitor cells in the uterus, but the character and source of these cells remain obscure. In the present study, using a novel transgenic mouse, we showed that CD45-positive hematopoietic progenitor cells colonize the uterine epithelium and that in pregnancy more than 80% of the epithelium can derive from these cells. Since we also found green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive uterine endothelial cells in long-term GFP bone marrow-transplanted mice, we conclude that circulating CD45+ cells play an important role in regenerating the uterine epithelium.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Aging / genetics
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation* / genetics
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology*
  • Epithelial Cells / physiology
  • Female
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / physiology
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens / biosynthesis*
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens / blood*
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Pregnancy
  • Uterus / cytology*
  • Uterus / physiology

Substances

  • Leukocyte Common Antigens