Spatial transcriptomic profiles of mouse uterine microenvironments at pregnancy day 7.5†.

Uterine dysfunctions lead to fertility disorders and pregnancy complications. Normal uterine functions at pregnancy depend on crosstalk among multiple cell types in uterine microenvironments. Here, we performed the spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA-seq assays to determine local gene expression profiles at the embryo implantation site of the mouse uterus on pregnancy day 7.

Progesterone receptor isoform B regulates the -- pathway to suppress uterine contractility.

Uterine contractile dysfunction leads to pregnancy complications such as preterm birth and labor dystocia. In humans, it is hypothesized that progesterone receptor isoform PGR-B promotes a relaxed state of the myometrium, and PGR-A facilitates uterine contraction. This hypothesis was tested in vivo using transgenic mouse models that overexpress PGR-A or PGR-B in smooth muscle cells.

Molecular Studies on Pregnancy with Mouse Models.

Pregnancy is a complex process that involves crosstalk among multiple cell types in both the endometrial and myometrial compartments at the maternal side to support the fetus. Genetic engineered mouse models have served as a major platform to dissect the convolute genetic interactions in a physiological context. Combining with various applications of next generation sequencing and genome editing, functional assays by mouse models have expanded the spectrum to include both coding and noncoding genome.

Dynamic transcriptome, accessible genome, and PGR cistrome profiles in the human myometrium.

The myometrium undergoes structural and functional remodeling during pregnancy. We hypothesize that myometrial genomic elements alter correspondingly in preparation for parturition. Human myometrial tissues from nonpregnant (NP) and term pregnant (TP) human subjects were examined by RNAseq, ATACseq, and PGR ChIPseq assays to profile transcriptome, assessible genome, and PGR occupancy.