Progesterone Increases Manganese Superoxide Dismutase Expression via a cAMP-Dependent Signaling Mediated by Noncanonical Wnt5a Pathway in Human Endometrial Stromal Cells

Patients and Methods: Endometrial tissues were collected from women with regular menstrual cycles; tissues were used for recovery of primary ESC or RNA extraction or were fixed for immunohistochemistry. Primary ESC were decidualized in vitro; some cells were treated with XCT790 (ERR inverse agonist). Results: Decidualization of ESC in vitro was associated with a significant increase in expression of transcripts encoding ERR and its coactivator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator-1 . Expression of ERR target genes was altered with increased expression of MCAD and PDK4 and reduced expression of PEPCK. Incubation of decidualized ESC with XCT790 reduced expression of ERR and markers of decidualization such as IGFBP-1. Conclusion: Increased expression of ERR may play a role in altering the bioenergetics of decidualized ESC in preparation for implantation of the embryo and successful establishment of early pregnancy.