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Characterization of endoglin on mouse uterine stromal cells

During the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy, the uterus undergoes a variety of morphological and physiological modifications involving uterine cell proliferation and differentiation as well as extensive tissue remodelling. Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) has powerful effects on these events and thus is thought to have a critical role in uterine physiology. Endoglin is a transmembrane glycoprotein that binds TGF-β1 and -β3 and interacts with TGF-β signalling receptors to modulate many effects of this growth factor in different types of cell. Studies in mice revealed the highest concentrations of endoglin in the reproductive tract, notably on stromal cells of cyclic and pregnant uteri. The objective of the present study was to investigate the role of endoglin expressed on uterine stromal cells in binding TGF-β and in the cellular responses induced by this growth factor. Highly purified populations of uterine stromal cells were isolated by cell affinity to the monoclonal antibody MJ7/18, which is specific to mouse endoglin. Affinity labelling of these cells with ¹²⁵I-labelled TGF-β followed by immunoprecipitation with endoglin-specific polyclonal 1256:4b antiserum indicated that endoglin expressed at the surface of uterine stromal cells binds TGF-β1 and interacts with TGF-β signalling receptors. Treatment of uterine stromal cells with different concentrations of TGF-β1 induced a biphasic proliferative response and addition of MJ7/18 as well as neutralizing TGF-β antibodies showed endoglin to be a modulator of TGF-β-induced stromal cell proliferation. Given the importance of TGF-β in the regulation of uterine physiology, these results indicate a role for endoglin during uterine tissue remodelling and decidualization.