Differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells into endometrial epithelial cells

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) into endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) under certain induction conditions and to a further step provide a promising approach for ASCs in clinical practice to the treatment of severe intrauterine adhesion. Methods: Four groups of hASCs were separately cultured as follows: in Group 1, hASCs were cultured in a control medium (5% fetal bovine serum [FBS] + alpha-minimum Eagle's medium [alpha-MEM]); in Group 2, hASCs were cultured in an induction medium (5% FBS + alpha-MEM + [1 x 10-7 mol/L 17 beta-estradiol] + 10 ng/mL transforming growth factor beta 1 [TGF-beta 1] + 10 ng/mL epidermal growth factor [EGF] + 10 ng/mL platelet-derived growth factor BB [PDGF-BB]); in Group 3, hASCs and human endometrium cells (hEMCs) were cocultured in the control medium; and in Group 4, hASCs and hEMCs were cocultured in the induction medium. Results: When cocultured with hEMCs, the morphology of hASCs became similar with EECs, and the addition of factors such as EGF, TGF beta, PDGF-BB, and 17 beta-estradiol promoted differentiation. This study, for the first time, demonstrated estrogen receptor (ER)alpha and ER beta expression in hASCs and preliminarily explored changes in ER alpha, ER beta, beta-catenin, and H19 mRNA expression during hASC differentiation. Furthermore, we concluded that H19 mRNA expression was negatively correlated with differentiation, which is seemingly related to the estrogen signaling pathway. Conclusions: hASCs revealed the potential for differentiating to EECs when cocultured with hEMCs.