Characteristic and Regenerative Potential of Human Endometrial Stem Cells and Progenitors Publisher



Ghamari A¹ ; Daghigh F^{1, 2} ; Mohebbi A^{1, 2} ; Rahimi Y³ ; Shojaie L^{3, 4} ; Zolbin MM³
Source: Stem cells: From Potential to Promise Published:2021

Abstract

The endometrium has stem cell niches that contribute to the regeneration of the endometrial tissue following menstruation. These cells potentially could serve as a foundation of adult stem cells aimed at autologous stem cell-based therapies. A mechanistic understanding of these cells and their role in endometrial regeneration may aid to the intentional stimulation of a patient’s endometrial stem cell niche for regenerative therapies. The first evidence reporting their presence described endometrial stem cell as a clonogenic cell population in the human epithelial and stromal endometrium. Clonogenicity of epithelial cells was well supported by transforming growth factor-α (TGFα), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB). Leukemia-inhibitory factor, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), stem-cell factor (SCF), and insulin-like growth factor-I (IFG-I) were inadequately supportive and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) did not affect clonogenicity of epithelial cells. About 3% of epithelial and 6% of stromal cells in mouse endometrium are label-retaining cells (LRCs). Moreover, CD146+ PDGF-Rβ+ human endometrial stem cell shows MSCs-like properties. Stromal cells are abundant in colony-forming cells that undergo differentiation into mesenchymal lineages and express MSC-specific surface markers CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, and CD105. Further investigations have corroborated the evidence for MSC presence in endometrial stroma. The book chapter will provide an in-depth insight into the importance of uterine stem cell and their role in the pathogenesis of female reproductive tract diseases. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021.