Cytoskeletal regulation of the Hippo and Notch1 signaling pathways in endometrial stromal cell decidualization and endometriosis

项目总结 子宫内膜间质细胞蜕膜化是生殖成功的关键。非女性化的过程包括 子宫内膜间质细胞的形态和功能变化。肌动蛋白-肌球蛋白细胞骨架的作用 对细胞形态的改变，并可能在细胞内关键蛋白的穿梭中发挥作用 蜕膜化。蜕膜化是人子宫内膜间质细胞对 孕酮水平升高，并在整个妊娠期间由胚胎信号和孕酮维持。 这一过程中的缺陷与子宫内膜异位症等疾病的生殖失败有关。 子宫内膜异位症的特征是在异位部位发现子宫内膜样组织，这种疾病与 有明显的盆腔疼痛、不孕不育和痛经，但其病理生理仍难以捉摸。这样做的目的是 建议是了解细胞骨架在蜕膜化过程中的功能作用并确定 子宫内膜异位症患者的间质细胞中这种异常可能是导致不孕的原因之一。这个 已知河马靶向同源物YAP和TAZ以及Notch1信号介导了 蜕膜化反应，但在蜕膜化过程中是什么调节这些途径仍不清楚。上一首 研究还表明，细胞骨架的显著变化与子宫内膜间质有关。 细胞蜕膜化。此外，细胞骨架动力学和Notch1和YAP/TAZ信号通路在 子宫内膜异位症。我们假设，细胞骨架介导蜕膜化反应，并存在缺陷。 患有子宫内膜异位症的不孕妇女。为了验证我们在目标1中的总体假设，我们将研究直接肌动蛋白-肌球蛋白 子宫内膜中河马/YAP/TAZ和NOTCH1信号通路的细胞骨架调控 间质细胞蜕膜化和在目标2中，我们将确定改变的细胞骨架如何妥协 子宫内膜异位症不孕症患者间质细胞的蜕膜化。拟议的研究将涉及 细胞骨架调控基质细胞蜕膜化的关键分子机制。这些研究 将极大地扩展申请者在细胞和分子生物学方面的技术专长。这些经历 与赞助商、共同赞助商和计划支持的专业发展相结合，将有助于 申请者必须具备从事基础科学研究事业所需的技能。

PROJECT SUMMARY Endometrial stromal cell decidualization is critical to reproductive success. The decidualization process involves morphological and functional changes of endometrial stromal cells. The actin-myosin cytoskeleton contributes to changes in cell morphology and likely plays a role in the intracellular shuttling of proteins critical in decidualization. Decidualization is the terminal differentiation of human endometrial stromal cells in response to rising progesterone levels and is maintained throughout pregnancy by embryonic signals and progesterone. Defects in this process are associated with reproductive failure in diseases such as endometriosis. Endometriosis is characterized by endometrial-like tissue found at ectopic sites and the disease is associated with significant pelvic pain, infertility, and dysmenorrhea, but its pathophysiology remains elusive. The aim of this proposal is to understand the functional role of the cytoskeleton in the decidualization process and determine how this is aberrant in the stromal cells of women with endometriosis which may contribute to their infertility. The Hippo target homologs, YAP and TAZ, and Notch1 signaling are known to mediate the initiation of the decidualization response, but what regulates these pathways during decidualization remains unknown. Previous research has also shown that significant changes in the cytoskeleton are associated with endometrial stromal cell decidualization. In addition, cytoskeleton dynamics and Notch1 and YAP/TAZ signaling are dysregulated in endometriosis. We hypothesize that the cytoskeleton mediates the decidualization response and is defective in infertile women with endometriosis. To test our overall hypothesis in Aim 1 we will investigate direct actin-myosin cytoskeleton regulation of the Hippo/YAP/TAZ and NOTCH1 signaling pathways in the context of endometrial stromal cell decidualization and in Aim 2, we will determine how an altered cytoskeleton compromises decidualization in stromal cells from infertile women with endometriosis. The proposed studies will address cytoskeletal regulation of key molecular mechanisms that regulate stromal cell decidualization. These studies will greatly expand the technical expertise in cell and molecular biology of the applicant. These experiences combined with professional development supported by the sponsor, co-sponsor, and program will help the applicant to develop the skill set required to pursue a career in basic science research.