Nuclear F-actin formation is an integral part of decidualization in human endometrial stromal cells

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K09542
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: Tamura Isao 山口大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (40610663)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 宮本 圭 近畿大学, 生物理工学部, 准教授 (40740684)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 核内アクチン / 脱落膜化 / C/EBPβ / 子宮内膜間質細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

During decidualization, the actin cytoskeleton is dynamically reorganized for the endometrial stromal cell (ESC)s’ morphological and functional changes. Although actin dynamically alters its polymerized state upon external stimuli not only in the cytoplasm, but also in the nucleus, nuclear actin dynamics during decidualization have not been elucidated. We showed that nuclear F-actin was specifically formed during decidualization of human ESCs. RNA-seq analyses revealed that the forced disassembly of nuclear F-actin resulted in the suppression of decidualization, accompanied with the abnormal upregulation of cell proliferation genes, leading to incomplete cell cycle arrest. C/EBPβ, an important regulator for decidualization, was identified as a upstream factor regulating nuclear F-actin for decidualization. Taken together, nuclear F-actin regulated by C/EBPβinduces cell cycle arrest for establishing the decidualized state of ESCs.

Free Research Field

生殖内分泌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

細胞骨格の構成組織であるアクチンは細胞質でなく、核内にも存在することが明らかとなっており、その遺伝子発現制御への役割が着目されている。特に核内Fアクチンの形成はある一定の細胞・条件下においてのみ報告されているが、脱落膜化のような体細胞の生理学的変化に関わっているという報告はない。よって、本研究により核内Fアクチンが持つ新たな機能の証明につながったと考える。