ATRA alleviated endometrial fibrosis in a rabbit intrauterine adhesions model through downregulation of the TGF-beta 1/smad4 signaling pathway

作者：Hu, Hai-Yan; Li, Hui-Juan; He, Yuan-Li^*; Wang, Xian

来源：International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, 2016, 9(6): 6171-6178.

• All-trans retinoic acid
• intrauterine adhesions
• fibrosis
• transforming growth factor

Background: Intrauterine adhesions (IUA) lead to menstrual and fertility disorders. The therapies to IUA are still difficult and the prognosis is poor up to now. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has been proved to exert anti-fibrosis effect in some fibrosis diseases. In this study, the effects of ATRA on endometrial fibrosis in a rabbit IUA model were evaluated and its possible mechanism was investigated. Materials and methods: The IUA models were established by using mechanical and infectious injury in adult female New Zealand white rabbits. Twenty-four female rabbits were randomly divided into sham, model, and ATRA groups. Eight rabbits in each group were sacrificed on day 14 after operation. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson staining were used for pathological analysis. TGF-beta 1 protein expression was observed in endometrium with immunohistochemistry. The expression of TGF-beta 1, smad4, COL1A1 and COL1A2 mRNAs were detected by real-time RT-PCR. The expression of TGF-beta 1, smad4, COL I proteins was analyzed by Western blot. Results: ATRA treatment decreased endometrial fibrosis and improved endometrial regeneration in a rabbit IUA model. Meanwhile, ATRA decreased the over-expression of TGF-beta 1, smad4, COL1A1 and COL1A2 mRNAs and TGF-beta 1, smad4, COL I proteins in IUA model. Conclusions: ATRA may ameliorate endometrial fibrosis through downregulation of the TGF-beta 1/smad4 signaling pathway.

• 出版日期2016
• 单位南方医科大学