Polycomb repressive complex 1 controls uterine decidualization

Sci Rep. 2016 May 16:6:26061. doi: 10.1038/srep26061.

Abstract

Uterine stromal cell decidualization is an essential part of the reproductive process. Decidual tissue development requires a highly regulated control of the extracellular tissue remodeling; however the mechanism of this regulation remains unknown. Through systematic expression studies, we detected that Cbx4/2, Rybp, and Ring1B [components of polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1)] are predominantly utilized in antimesometrial decidualization with polyploidy. Immunofluorescence analyses revealed that PRC1 members are co-localized with its functional histone modifier H2AK119ub1 (mono ubiquitination of histone-H2A at lysine-119) in polyploid cell. A potent small-molecule inhibitor of Ring1A/B E3-ubiquitin ligase or siRNA-mediated suppression of Cbx4 caused inhibition of H2AK119ub1, in conjunction with perturbation of decidualization and polyploidy development, suggesting a role for Cbx4/Ring1B-containing PRC1 in these processes. Analyses of genetic signatures by RNA-seq studies showed that the inhibition of PRC1 function affects 238 genes (154 up and 84 down) during decidualization. Functional enrichment analyses identified that about 38% genes primarily involved in extracellular processes are specifically targeted by PRC1. Furthermore, ~15% of upregulated genes exhibited a significant overlap with the upregulated Bmp2 null-induced genes in mice. Overall, Cbx4/Ring1B-containing PRC1 controls decidualization via regulation of extracellular gene remodeling functions and sheds new insights into underlying molecular mechanism(s) through transcriptional repression regulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Decidua / pathology*
  • Epigenetic Repression
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Ligases / genetics
  • Ligases / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / genetics
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / metabolism*
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins / metabolism*
  • Polyploidy
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Stromal Cells / physiology*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Uterus / pathology*

Substances

  • Bmp2 protein, mouse
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2
  • Histones
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Rybp protein, mouse
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1
  • Rnf2 protein, mouse
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Ligases
  • Cbx4 protein, mouse