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Impaired Development of Early Endometriotic Lesions in CD44 Knockout Mice

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Abstract

Previous studies have shown endometrial cell (EC) CD44 and peritoneal mesothelial cell (PMC)-associated hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid [HA]) are involved in the attachment of endometrial stroma and epithelial cells to peritoneal mesothelium. Here we assess the CD44–HA interaction in the formation of the early endometriotic lesion using CD44–/– (knockout) mice. Using an established murine model and crossover technique, endometrial tissue from donor mice (wild type [WT] and CD44–/–) was used to induce endometriosis in recipient mice (WT and CD44–/–). Endometriotic lesions were visualized by fluorescent microscopy and confirmed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Early endometriotic lesions were decreased when CD44–/– endometrium was placed in WT recipients and when WT endometrium was placed in CD44–/– recipients (P = .002). Early endometriotic lesions were also significantly decreased when both peritoneal and endometrial tissues lacked CD44 expression (P < .01). These studies demonstrate that both EC and PMC CD44 play a role in the development of early endometriotic lesion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, 78229, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Jennifer F. Knudtson MD, Rajeshwar R. Tekmal PhD, Marlen Tellez Santos BS, Peter A. Binkley BS, Naveen Krishnegowda MD & Robert S. Schenken MD

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Philip Valente MD

Authors
  1. Jennifer F. Knudtson MD
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  2. Rajeshwar R. Tekmal PhD
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  3. Marlen Tellez Santos BS
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  4. Peter A. Binkley BS
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  5. Naveen Krishnegowda MD
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  6. Philip Valente MD
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  7. Robert S. Schenken MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer F. Knudtson MD.

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Knudtson, J.F., Tekmal, R.R., Santos, M.T. et al. Impaired Development of Early Endometriotic Lesions in CD44 Knockout Mice. Reprod. Sci. 23, 87–91 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719115594022

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