The investigators have found that NLRP7 was upregulated and nuclear translocated in an in vitro model of decidualization. Knock-down or overexpression of NLRP7 reduced or enhanced the expression of decidual marker IGFBP-1. NLRP7 was also found to promote progesterone receptor (PR) activity. So, the investigators hypothesized that NLRP7 may regulate progesterone-induced decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells. Part I is to explore how NLRP7 is induced during the decidualization. According to the luciferase activities of NLRP7 promoter luciferase reporter systems, the region from -100 to +37 or from -1200 to -100 had positive or negative regulatory elements, respectively, in the in vitro decidualization. Part II is to explore how NLRP7 contributes the decidualization of endometrial stromal cells. By immunoprecipitations of NLRP7 or PR, the investigators found NLRP7 might involve in the transcriptional complex of PR in the in vitro decidualization. The NLRP7 interacting protein in the co-immunoprecipitations the investigatorsre analyzed by LC/MS-MS. Part III is to explore the effects of NLRP7 mutations on in vitro decidualization and macrophage differentiation. Comparing to RFP control, the investigators found wild-type NLRP7 enhanced but NLRP7 mutants reduced IGFBP-1 expression in the in vitro decidualization. In the M1 macrophage differentiation of THP-1, wild-type and mutant NLRP7 reduced IL-1β expression compared to the RFP control. Part IV is to explore a role of MPA in macrophage differentiation. MPA drives THP-1 cells a M2-like macrophage differentiation toward a phenotype of decidual macrophages, which promoted in vitro decidualization and trophoblastic invasion, but tolerated TLR ligands stimulations. In conclusion, NLRP7 contributes in vitro decidualization of endometrial stromal cells; NLRP7 mutation may impede in vitro decidualization; NLRP7 may suppress IL-1 expression in M1 macrophage differentiation; MPA drives M2 macrophage differentiation toward a phenotype of decidual macrophage.
The investigators have found that NLRP7 was upregulated and nuclear translocated in an in vitro model of decidualization. Knock-down or overexpression of NLRP7 reduced or enhanced the expression of decidual marker IGFBP-1. NLRP7 was also found to promote progesterone receptor (PR) activity. So, the investigators hypothesized that NLRP7 may regulate progesterone-induced decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells. Part I is to explore how NLRP7 is induced during the decidualization. According to the luciferase activities of NLRP7 promoter luciferase reporter systems, the region from -100 to +37 or from -1200 to -100 had positive or negative regulatory elements, respectively, in the in vitro decidualization. Part II is to explore how NLRP7 contributes the decidualization of endometrial stromal cells. By immunoprecipitations of NLRP7 or PR, the investigators found NLRP7 might involve in the transcriptional complex of PR in the in vitro decidualization. The NLRP7 interacting protein in the co-immunoprecipitations the investigatorsre analyzed by LC/MS-MS. Part III is to explore the effects of NLRP7 mutations on in vitro decidualization and macrophage differentiation.~Comparing to RFP control, the investigators found wild-type NLRP7 enhanced but NLRP7 mutants reduced IGFBP-1 expression in the in vitro decidualization. In the M1 macrophage differentiation of THP-1, wild-type and mutant NLRP7 reduced IL-1β expression compared to the RFP control. Part IV is to explore a role of MPA in macrophage differentiation. MPA drives THP-1 cells a M2-like macrophage differentiation toward a phenotype of decidual macrophages, which promoted in vitro decidualization and trophoblastic invasion, but tolerated TLR ligands stimulations. In conclusion, NLRP7 contributes in vitro decidualization of endometrial stromal cells; NLRP7 mutation may impede in vitro decidualization; NLRP7 may suppress IL-1 expression in M1 macrophage differentiation; MPA drives M2 macrophage differentiation toward a phenotype of decidual macrophage.