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Updated: May 18, 2026

Two Methods for Establishing Primary Human Endometrial Stromal Cells from Hysterectomy Specimens
Published on: May 23, 2014
Progestin-induced heart and neural crest derivatives expressed transcript 2 is associated with fibulin-1 expression
Hisayuu Cho1, Hidetaka Okada1, Tomoko Tsuzuki1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
Objective:
To investigate whether heart and neural crest derivatives expressed transcript 2 (HAND2) regulates fibulin-1 (FBLN1) expression during decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs).
Design:
In vitro experiment.
Setting:
Research laboratory.
Patient(S):
Twenty-four patients undergoing hysterectomy for benign reasons.
Intervention(S):
ESCs were cultured with various progestins (medroxyprogesterone acetate [MPA], norethisterone, levonorgestrel, dienogest, and P), E(2), dexamethasone, and/or 8-bromoadenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP). HAND2 and FBLN1 were silenced by small interfering RNA technology.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
HAND2 and FBLN1 expression levels were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis.
Result(S):
MPA or E(2) + MPA increased HAND2 mRNA levels in ESCs in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and this stimulatory effect was blocked by RU-486 (P receptor antagonist). HAND2 was increased by E(2) + MPA earlier than FBLN1. Simultaneous MPA and 8-Br-cAMP treatment synergistically enhanced HAND2 mRNA levels. P and all the progestins significantly increased HAND2 mRNA levels, whereas E(2), 8-Br-cAMP, or dexamethasone alone had no effect. Silencing of HAND2 expression significantly reduced FBLN1 expression, whereas FBLN1 silencing had no effect on HAND2 expression.
Conclusion(S):
These results suggest that progestin-induced HAND2 contributes to FBLN1 expression in human ESCs.

