Differentiation of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells into Endometrial Epithelial Cells

Objective:This study aimed to investigate the differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells(hASCs)into endometrial epithelial cells(EECs)under certain induction conditions and to a further step provide a promising approach for ASCs in clinical practice to the treatment of severe intrauterine adhesion.Methods:Four groups of hASCs were separately cultured as follows:in Group 1,hASCs were cultured in a control medium(5%fetal bovine serum[FBS]+α-minimum Eagle’s medium[α-MEM]);in Group 2,hASCs were cultured in an induction medium(5%FBS+α-MEM+[1×10-7 mol/L 17β-estradiol]+10 ng/mL transforming growth factorβ1[TGF-β1]+10 ng/mL epidermal growth factor[EGF]+10 ng/mL platelet-derived growth factor BB[PDGF-BB]);in Group 3,hASCs and human endometrium cells(hEMCs)were cocultured in the control medium;and in Group 4,hASCs and hEMCs were cocultured in the induction medium.Results:When cocultured with hEMCs,the morphology of hASCs became similar with EECs,and the addition of factors such as EGF,TGFβ,PDGF-BB,and 17β-estradiol promoted differentiation.This study,for the first time,demonstrated estrogen receptor(ER)αand ERβexpression in hASCs and preliminarily explored changes in ERα,ERβ,β-catenin,and H19 mRNA expression during hASC differentiation.Furthermore,we concluded that H19 mRNA expression was negatively correlated with differentiation,which is seemingly related to the estrogen signaling pathway.Conclusions:hASCs revealed the potential for differentiating to EECs when cocultured with hEMCs.