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Biomolecules
Special Issues
Properties and Functions of Endometrial Stromal Cells
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Properties and Functions of Endometrial Stromal Cells

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Reproduction".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 2457

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Toshihiro Sakurai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Pharmaceutical Science, Ohu University, Fukushima 963-8611, Japan
Interests: placentation; implantation; endogenous retrovirus; gene expression; transfection; cell culture; gene regulation; PCR; DNA; cloning
Dr. Mikihiro Yoshie

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Endocrine Pharmacology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
Interests: phosphorylation; signaling; endocrinology; proteins; p53; cell differentiation; apoptosis; protein kinases; signaling pathways; reproductive endocrinology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The endometrium is the reproductive tissue lining the uterus and undergoes extensive cyclic growth, regeneration, differentiation, and shedding throughout the menstrual cycle in response to steroid hormones. Endometrium abnormalities may be associated with repeated embryonic implantation failure, recurrent spontaneous abortions, and other physiological features contributing to female infertility. We hope that this Special Issue, titled "Properties and Functions of Endometrial Stromal Cells", will serve as a stepping stone to propose solutions for the abnormalities resulting from endometrial dysfunction in humans. This Special Issue welcomes your contributions in the form of original articles, reviews, or perspective articles on any aspect of recent advances in reproduction.

Dr. Toshihiro Sakurai
Dr. Mikihiro Yoshie
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • endometrium
  • endometriosis
  • molecular reproduction
  • implantation
  • decidualization
  • placentation
  • inflammation
  • reproductive endocrinology
  • assisted reproductive technology
  • molecular reproductive biology

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 14165 KiB  
Article
LIFR-Mediated ERBB2 Signaling Is Essential for Successful Embryo Implantation in Mice
by Jumpei Terakawa, Sakura Nakamura, Mana Ohtomo, Saki Uehara, Yui Kawata, Shunsuke Takarabe, Hibiki Sugita, Takafumi Namiki, Atsuko Kageyama, Michiko Noguchi, Hironobu Murakami, Naomi Kashiwazaki and Junya Ito
Biomolecules 2025, 15(5), 698; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15050698 - 10 May 2025
Viewed by 347
Abstract
In eutherian mammals, embryo implantation is a critical process for a successful pregnancy. In mice, the activation of the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) receptor–STAT3 signaling axis induces embryo adhesion and decidualization. The LIF receptor is believed to function as a heterodimer composed of [...] Read more.
In eutherian mammals, embryo implantation is a critical process for a successful pregnancy. In mice, the activation of the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) receptor–STAT3 signaling axis induces embryo adhesion and decidualization. The LIF receptor is believed to function as a heterodimer composed of LIFR (encoded by Lifr) and GP130 (encoded by Il6st); however, their distinct expression patterns in the uterine epithelium immediately prior to implantation suggest divergent functional roles. In this study, we generated uterine epithelium-specific Lifr knockout (Lifr eKO) mice and conducted a comprehensive gene expression analysis of the endometrium before implantation. We compared these results with those from uterine epithelium-specific Gp130 knockout (Gp130 eKO) mice. Similarly to Gp130 eKO mice, Lifr eKO mice were completely infertile. We identified 299 genes with expression changes greater than twofold following gene deletion; among these, 31 genes were downregulated and 57 genes were upregulated in both eKO models. Many of the downregulated genes were previously implicated in uterine function. Hub gene analysis identified Erbb2 and c-Fos as key regulators in both models. Further experiments using an ERBB2 inhibitor suggested that LIFR–ERBB2-mediated signaling plays a crucial role in embryo implantation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Properties and Functions of Endometrial Stromal Cells)
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11 pages, 1974 KiB  
Article
Decidualized Endometrial Stromal Cells Promote Mitochondrial Beta-Oxidation to Produce the Octanoic Acid Required for Implantation
by Yumi Mizuno, Shunsuke Tamaru, Hideno Tochigi, Tomomi Sato, Miyuko Kishi, Akira Ohtake, Osamu Ishihara and Takeshi Kajihara
Biomolecules 2024, 14(8), 1014; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14081014 - 16 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1611
Abstract
Decidualization denotes the morphological and biological differentiating process of human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs). Fatty acid pathways are critical for endometrial decidualization. However, the participation of fatty acids as an energy source and their role in endometrial decidualization have received little attention. To [...] Read more.
Decidualization denotes the morphological and biological differentiating process of human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs). Fatty acid pathways are critical for endometrial decidualization. However, the participation of fatty acids as an energy source and their role in endometrial decidualization have received little attention. To identify fatty acids and clarify their role in decidualization, we comprehensively evaluated free fatty acid profiles using liquid chromatography/Fourier transform mass spectrometry (LC/FT-MS). LC/FT-MS analysis detected 26 kinds of fatty acids in the culture medium of decidualized or un-decidualized HESCs. Only the production of octanoic acid, which is an essential energy source for embryonic development, was increased upon decidualization. The expressions of genes related to octanoic acid metabolism including ACADL, ACADM, and ACADS; genes encoding proteins catalyzing the first step of mitochondrial fatty acid beta-oxidation; and ACSL5 and ACSM5; genes encoding fatty acid synthesis proteins were significantly altered upon decidualization. These results suggest that decidualization promotes lipid metabolism, implying that decidualized HESCs require energy metabolism of the mitochondria in embryo implantation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Properties and Functions of Endometrial Stromal Cells)
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