OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from Wharton jelly of umbilical cord (WJ-MSCs) on ameliorating damaged human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs). DESIGN: Experimental study. SETTING: University-affiliated hospital. PATIENT(S): Sixteen endometrial tissues were obtained from women undergoing hysterectomy. Eight umbilical cords were obtained from full-term deliveries. INTERVENTION(S): ESCs were cultured with mifepristone to get damaged ESCs, then damaged ESCs were co-cultured with WJ-MSCs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The proliferation of ESCs was investigated by Cell Counting Kit 8, and the percentage of apoptosis by annexin-V-fluorescein isothiocyanate binding. The mRNA and protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and caspases 3, 8, and 9 were determined by one-step quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. RESULT(S): After exposure to mifepristone, the proliferation of ESCs decreased and the apoptosis percentage increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. At a certain dose and duration, this damage continued even after the withdrawal of mifepristone at 48 hours. When the damaged ESCs were cocultured with WJ-MSCs, the proliferation of these damaged cells was significantly increased and apoptosis percentage decreased. In addition, the level of VEGF mRNA and protein decreased and that of caspases 3, 8, and 9 increased. CONCLUSION(S): WJ-MSCs may serve as a promising treatment approach to ameliorate endometrial damage.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from Wharton jelly of umbilical cord (WJ-MSCs) on ameliorating damaged human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs). DESIGN: Experimental study. SETTING: University-affiliated hospital. PATIENT(S): Sixteen endometrial tissues were obtained from women undergoing hysterectomy. Eight umbilical cords were obtained from full-term deliveries. INTERVENTION(S): ESCs were cultured with mifepristone to get damaged ESCs, then damaged ESCs were co-cultured with WJ-MSCs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The proliferation of ESCs was investigated by Cell Counting Kit 8, and the percentage of apoptosis by annexin-V-fluorescein isothiocyanate binding. The mRNA and protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and caspases 3, 8, and 9 were determined by one-step quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. RESULT(S): After exposure to mifepristone, the proliferation of ESCs decreased and the apoptosis percentage increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. At a certain dose and duration, this damage continued even after the withdrawal of mifepristone at 48 hours. When the damaged ESCs were cocultured with WJ-MSCs, the proliferation of these damaged cells was significantly increased and apoptosis percentage decreased. In addition, the level of VEGF mRNA and protein decreased and that of caspases 3, 8, and 9 increased. CONCLUSION(S): WJ-MSCs may serve as a promising treatment approach to ameliorate endometrial damage.