Primary Cilia Restrain PI3K-AKT Signaling to Orchestrate Human Decidualization

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Cell biology
• Signaling pathways

Background:

• Endometrial decidualization is crucial for early pregnancy success.
• Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is linked to compromised decidualization.
• The role of primary cilia in human decidualization was previously unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence and function of primary cilia in human endometrial decidualization.
• To determine if primary cilia are implicated in recurrent implantation failure.
• To elucidate the signaling mechanisms involving primary cilia in decidualization.

Main Methods:

• Immunofluorescence staining to detect primary cilia in endometrial stromal cells.
• In vitro and in vivo studies of decidualization with progesterone treatment.
• Analysis of primary cilia in endometrial tissues from RIF patients.
• Investigating ciliogenesis and cilia length changes.
• Examining the roles of Trichoplein (TCHP)-Aurora A and PTEN-PI3K-AKT-FOXO1 signaling pathways.

Main Results:

• Primary cilia are present in human endometrial stromal cells.
• Progesterone increases ciliogenesis and cilia length during decidualization.
• Primary cilia exhibit abnormalities in the endometrium of RIF patients.
• Primary cilia are essential for human decidualization, involving both assembly and disassembly.
• Trichoplein (TCHP)-Aurora A signaling mediates cilia disassembly.
• Primary cilia modulate decidualization via the PTEN-PI3K-AKT-FOXO1 pathway.

Conclusions:

• Primary cilia are essential for human endometrial decidualization.
• Abnormal primary cilia are associated with recurrent implantation failure.
• Primary cilia represent a novel signaling pathway involved in human decidualization.