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Emodin Inhibits Migration and Invasion of Human Endometrial Stromal Cells by Facilitating the Mesenchymal–Epithelial Transition Through Targeting ILK

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A Correction to this article was published on 01 June 2022

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Abstract

Objective

To determine whether emodin facilitates the mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET) of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) as well as to explore the mechanism through which emodin favored the MET of ESCs.

Methods

Cell viability was tested by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. Cell migration and invasion abilities were detected by transwell assays. Levels of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins were detected by Western blot.

Results

Upregulated ILK and increased abilities of migration and invasion were confirmed in the eutopic and ectopic ESCs (EuSCs and EcSCs), especially in the EcSCs. After treated with emodin, the expression of ILK was statistically downregulated in EcSCs, resulting in the MET and decreased migration and invasion abilities of EcSCs. Additionally, silencing of the ILK gene in EcSCs also achieved the above-mentioned effects, which were strengthened by emodin. Furthermore, exogenous expression of ILK in control ESCs (CSCs) resulted in the EMT and increased abilities of migration and invasion of CSCs, which can be abrogated by emodin. Besides, exogenous expression of ILK also abrogated the effects of emodin on CSCs.

Conclusion

Emodin inhibits the migration and invasion abilities of human ESCs by facilitating the MET through targeting ILK.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People’s Republic of China

    Qiaomei Zheng PhD, Ying Xu PhD, Jingjing Lu MD, Jing Zhao MD, Xuan Wei MD & Peishu Liu PhD

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  1. Qiaomei Zheng PhD
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  2. Ying Xu PhD
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  3. Jingjing Lu MD
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  4. Jing Zhao MD
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  5. Xuan Wei MD
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  6. Peishu Liu PhD
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Correspondence to Peishu Liu PhD.

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Zheng, Q., Xu, Y., Lu, J. et al. Emodin Inhibits Migration and Invasion of Human Endometrial Stromal Cells by Facilitating the Mesenchymal–Epithelial Transition Through Targeting ILK. Reprod. Sci. 23, 1526–1535 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719116645192

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