Overexpression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and excessive vascularization in the peri-implantation endometrium of infertile women with chronic endometritis

作者：Zhenteng Liu, Xuemei Liu, Fenghua Li, Yuxia Sun, Lili Yu, Wei Zhang, Ping Zhu, Ding Ma, Xinrong Wang, Shoucui Lai, Hongchu Bao · 发表于：Frontiers in Endocrinology · 年份：2022 · DOI：10.3389/fendo.2022.1001437 · 被引用次数：17 · 研究领域：Reproductive System and Pregnancy、Endometriosis Research and Treatment、Reproductive Physiology in Livestock

Objective Chronic endometritis (CE) contributes to impaired endometrial receptivity and is closely associated with poor in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. However, the mechanisms underlying CE are unclear. Here, we investigated the role of the hypoxic microenvironment and endometrial vascularization in the peri-implantation endometrium of infertile women with CE. Methods This retrospective study involved 15 fertile women and 77 infertile patients diagnosed with CE based on CD138+ ≥1/10 high-power fields (HPFs). The CE patients were divided into Group 1 (CD138+ 1–4/10 HPFs, 53 cases) and Group 2 (CD138+ ≥5/10 HPFs, 24 cases). The expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in peri-implantation endometrium were assessed by qRT-PCR and western blot analyses. Spatial levels of HIF1α, VEGFA, and VEGFR2 in various endometrial compartments was determined using immunohistochemistry and H -score analysis. Microvascular density (MVD) was determined using CD34 staining and scored using Image J. Finally, we used qRT-PCR to assess changes in the expression of HIF1α, VEGFA, and VEGFR2 in CE patients after treatment with first-line antibiotics. Result(s) Relative to Group 1 and control group, during the implantation window, protein and mRNA levels of HIF1α, VEGFA, and VEGFR2 were markedly high in Group 2 ( P <0.05). H -score analysis showed that HIF1α, VEGFA, and...