Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a ubiquitously expressed gene involved in many cellular processes, has been recently recognized as a factor related to endometrial receptivity. However, the precise biological function of Gal-3 in the endometrium and its regulation is still unclear. In this study, we detected the antiapoptotic role of Gal-3 in endometrial cells and the expression of Gal-3 regulated by estrogen and progesterone. We found that expression of Gal-3 increased when exposed to the apoptosis inducer staurosporine. Gal-3-silenced endometrial cells were more sensitive to the apoptosis inducer. Estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) up-regulated Gal-3 expression, which in turn decreased the apoptotic rate of endometrial cells. Our results strongly suggested that hormonal activation of Gal-3 by E2 and P4 is involved in inhibiting endometrial cell apoptosis, playing key roles in embryo implantation.
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6 June 2012
The Antiapoptotic Effect of Galectin-3 in Human Endometrial Cells under the Regulation of Estrogen and Progesterone
Huan Yang,
Caixia Lei,
Chao Cheng,
Yuzhe Feng,
Wei Zhang,
Rafaella Gehm Petracco,
Sharif Sak
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Biology of Reproduction
Vol. 87 • No. 2
August 2012
Vol. 87 • No. 2
August 2012
Apoptosis
Endometrium
estrogen
Galectin-3
progesterone