Expression and Regulation of Periostin/OSF-2 Gene in Rat Uterus and Human Endometrium

Abstract

Abstract. Periostin/OSF2 is a ligand for αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrins and activates the Akt/PKB pathway. Recent reports of periostin/OSF2 gene disrupted mice indicate that periostin/OSF-2 plays an important role in implantation. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that the expression of periostin/OSF-2 mRNA in rat uteri was reduced to approximately 10% at 12 h after 17β-estradiol (E2) injection, but was not changed after progesterone (P) injection. RT-PCR revealed the expression of periostin/OSF-2 in human endometrium, cultured human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), and cultured human endometrial epithelial cells. In ESCs, the expression of periostin/OSF-2 mRNA was reduced to approximately 50% at 6 h after E2 treatment. The amount of periostin/OSF2 mRNA in human endometrium significantly increased during midproliferative and early secretory phases of menstrual cycle, and decreased during late-proliferative, mid-secretory and late secretory phases. The expression of periostin/OSF2 mRNA significantly decreased in ESCs decidualized by treatment with E2 and P for 7 and 11 days. By immunohistochemistry, the expression of periostin/OSF-2 was strongly detected in endometrial stromal cells during early proliferative, mid-proliferative and early secretory phases, and was strongly detected in endometrial epithelial cells during late secretory phase. This study demonstrated that the expression of periostin/OSF-2 is regulated by ovarian steroid hormones in rat uterus and human endometrium.

Periostin and implantation: a new biomarker of embryo-endometrial cross talk

“…Due to the critical role of POSTN in metastatic processes, it is very likely that this protein may influence some crucial steps in the implantation process and in the early phases of pregnancy development. Recent reports on null POSTN mice, indicate that POSTN, plays an important role in implantation (59,60). We suggest that POSTN might be involved in regulating the cross-talk between embryonic migrating cells and the endometrium modifying the microenvironment of the target site so as to form a "receptive niche" and allowing blastocyst migration, attachment and invasion.…”

“…Studies on animal models (60,61) showed that POSTN was mainly hyper-expressed in the early secretory stage, the same phase in which there was an increase of integrin α v β 3 and α v β 5 expression too. In this specific phase, POSTN may induce endometrial decidualization, trophoblastic cells migration and invasion through the activation of integrins and the Akt/PKB pathway (60,62). Furthermore, POSTN might activate EMT process via integrins and AKT downstream signaling.…”

“…Mechanisms by which POSTN expression regulates the embryo endometrial cross-talk promoting the implantation has not yet been clarified but they should not be different from those involved in tumor metastasis. Hiroi et al (60) suggested that POSTN might mediate estrogen-action via integrin both activating Akt/PKB and FAK-mediated pathways in the endometrium. Studies on animal models (60,61) showed that POSTN was mainly hyper-expressed in the early secretory stage, the same phase in which there was an increase of integrin α v β 3 and α v β 5 expression too.…”

“…Hiroi et al (60) suggested that POSTN might mediate estrogen-action via integrin both activating Akt/PKB and FAK-mediated pathways in the endometrium. Studies on animal models (60,61) showed that POSTN was mainly hyper-expressed in the early secretory stage, the same phase in which there was an increase of integrin α v β 3 and α v β 5 expression too. In this specific phase, POSTN may induce endometrial decidualization, trophoblastic cells migration and invasion through the activation of integrins and the Akt/PKB pathway (60,62).…”

Circulating periostin level in asthmatic pregnancy

“…It induces endometrial decidualization and promotes migration of trophoblastic cells [30,31]. It is also required for normal embryogenesis [32,33,34,35].…”