The sialyltransferase ST3Gal3 facilitates the receptivity of the uterine endometrium in vitro and in vivo

FEBS Lett. 2018 Nov;592(22):3696-3707. doi: 10.1002/1873-3468.13252. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Abstract

The receptive uterine endometrium specifically expresses certain glycosyltransferases, and the corresponding oligosaccharides play important roles in accepting the embryo. The sialyltransferase β-galactoside-α2,3-sialyltransferase III (ST3Gal3) is the key enzyme responsible for sialyl Lewis X (sLeX) oligosaccharide biosynthesis, but the expression and function of ST3Gal3 in the receptive endometrium is still elusive. Here, we found that human endometrial tissues at secretory phase expressed a 4-fold higher ST3Gal3 level relative to the tissues at proliferative phase. Meanwhile, downregulation of ST3Gal3 or sLeX epitope blockage significantly impaired the receptive ability of human endometrial RL95-2 cells to trophoblastic cells in vitro and inhibited implantation in pregnant mice. This study suggests that ST3Gal3 facilitates endometrial receptivity through increasing sLeX oligosaccharide, which gives a better understanding of the glycobiology of implantation.

Keywords: sLeX; ST3Gal3; embryo implantation; endometrial receptivity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Embryo Implantation
  • Endometrium / enzymology
  • Endometrium / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Oligosaccharides / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • RNA Interference
  • Sialyl Lewis X Antigen
  • Sialyltransferases / genetics*
  • Sialyltransferases / metabolism
  • Uterus / enzymology
  • Uterus / metabolism*

Substances

  • Oligosaccharides
  • Sialyl Lewis X Antigen
  • ST3GAL3 protein, human
  • Sialyltransferases