Cigarette Smoking Affects Uterine Receptivity Markers

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology and endocrinology
• Molecular and cellular biology
• Gynecologic oncology

Background:

• Smoking is known to negatively impact female fertility and increase the risk of endometrial diseases.
• Endometrial receptivity is crucial for successful implantation and is regulated by various cytokines.
• C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) are critical for endometrial function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the direct effects of smoking on endometrial physiology.
• To evaluate the expression of CXCL12 and FGF2 in response to smoking, both in vitro and in vivo.
• To determine the potential role of these markers in smoking-associated endometrial dysfunction and disease.

Main Methods:

• Human endometrial stromal cells (HESC) and primary cells were exposed to cigarette smoking extract (CSE).
• Female mice were exposed to cigarette smoke (CS) or room air (nonsmoke control) for 8 weeks.
• Expression of CXCL12 and FGF2 was analyzed using real-time RT-PCR in cell cultures and human samples, and via immunohistochemistry in mouse uterine tissue.

Main Results:

• CSE exposure significantly decreased CXCL12 and FGF2 mRNA expression in human endometrial cells.
• CS exposure led to lower protein expression of CXCL12 and FGF2 in mouse uterine tissue compared to controls.
• Smokers showed decreased endometrial expression of both CXCL12 and FGF2 compared to nonsmokers.

Conclusions:

• Reduced endometrial expression of CXCL12 and FGF2 contributes to impaired endometrial receptivity in smokers.
• These cytokine alterations may explain smoking's impact on fertility, endometriosis, and endometrial cancer rates.
• Smoking exerts direct effects on the endometrium, influencing both normal function and disease pathogenesis.