Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (Epcam) CD9 Present as High Receptivity and Stem Cell-Like in Endometrium Cells

Abstract The endometrium is the dynamic layer which functional layer differentiation, proliferation and regeneration follow by menstruation and estrous cycle, receptivity and decodialization is vital for endometrium fertility. Epcam and CD9 have been proved expression on embryonic stem (ES) cells, however, functions underpinning the roles of Epcam and CD9 in endometrium receptivity, regeneration and regulating expression of estrogen and progesterone remain incompletely understood. Fertility women and infertility patients endometrium cell sample were collected and detected by flow cytometry, Western blot and Q-PCR. Primary Epcam + CD9 + and Epcam-CD9- endometrium cells sorted by cell cytometry then test the expression of receptivity factors, stem-cell-like factors and decidualized factors by Western Blot and Q-pcr. Primary endometrium cells were cultured in the medium addition with of estrogen, progesterone, fulvestrant and mifepristone, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed by using Pearson's correlation analysis and unpaired samples T-test. Fertile women endometrium cell samples shown higher expression of receptivity, EPCAM and CD9 expression compared with infertility patient samples, and Epcam or CD9 positive corrected receptivity factors (P < 0.05). Epcam + CD9 + endometrium cells were highly expression in fertility women than infertility patients samples(P < 0.05). Primary sorted Epcam + CD9 + endometrium cells illustrated higher expression of receptivity factors, stem-cell-like factors and decidualized factors than Epcam-CD9- in endometrium cells(P < 0.05). Primary endometrial cell culture with estrogen, progesterone, fulvestrant and mifepristone, respectively.Our results have shown Epcam adhesion factor and CD9 associated with endometrium receptive and regeneration, and shed light on the possibility of receptivity marker (Epcam + CD9+) of endometrial epithelial cells for stem cell biology studies.