ULK1 methylation promotes TGF‐β1‐induced endometrial fibrosis via the FOXP1/DNMT1 axis

Abstract Intrauterine adhesion (IUA) is the second most common cause of secondary infertility in women and can also lead to menstrual abnormalities and multiple adverse pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, elucidating the mechanism of its development is crucial for the prevention and treatment of IUA. Thi...

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Main Authors: Yuhua Zeng, Qing Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/kjm2.12915
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author Yuhua Zeng
Qing Feng
author_facet Yuhua Zeng
Qing Feng
author_sort Yuhua Zeng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Intrauterine adhesion (IUA) is the second most common cause of secondary infertility in women and can also lead to menstrual abnormalities and multiple adverse pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, elucidating the mechanism of its development is crucial for the prevention and treatment of IUA. This study will investigate the function and mechanism of forkhead box P1 (FOXP1)/DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1)/unc‐51‐like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) in IUA. Expression levels of key genes were detected using western blot and quantitative ‐ real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Cell proliferation was detected by CCK‐8 and EdU staining. Transcriptional regulation relationships were detected by dual luciferase reporter gene and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. Methylation station of ULK1 was detected by methylmion specific PCR (MSP). Fibrosis and pathological changes in the uterine cavity tissues were detected by Masson and hematoxylin and eosin staining. It was observed that the expression of FOXP1 and DNMT1 increased in transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1‐induced cells, while ULK1 expression decreased. Downregulation of FOXP1 could inhibit human endometrial stromal cells proliferation and autophagy, as well as decrease the expression of fibrogenic factors (collagen type I alpha 1 chain [COL1A1], fibronectin [FN], and alpha‐smooth muscle actin [α‐SMA]). The results of MSP and ChIP experiments showed that DNMT1 promotes methylation of the ULK1 promoter region and inhibits its transcription. In an animal model, knockdown of FOXP1 alleviated pathological fibrosis and uterine adhesions. Knockdown of FOXP1 can inhibit endometrial fibrosis in IUA rats; FOXP1 could be a potential target for the treatment of IUA.
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spelling doaj-art-3ef7cd66d2bc420fadcf9801db586a6b2025-01-11T05:35:55ZengWileyKaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences1607-551X2410-86502025-01-01411n/an/a10.1002/kjm2.12915ULK1 methylation promotes TGF‐β1‐induced endometrial fibrosis via the FOXP1/DNMT1 axisYuhua Zeng0Qing Feng1Health Management Medicine Center The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Changsha ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Changsha ChinaAbstract Intrauterine adhesion (IUA) is the second most common cause of secondary infertility in women and can also lead to menstrual abnormalities and multiple adverse pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, elucidating the mechanism of its development is crucial for the prevention and treatment of IUA. This study will investigate the function and mechanism of forkhead box P1 (FOXP1)/DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1)/unc‐51‐like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) in IUA. Expression levels of key genes were detected using western blot and quantitative ‐ real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Cell proliferation was detected by CCK‐8 and EdU staining. Transcriptional regulation relationships were detected by dual luciferase reporter gene and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. Methylation station of ULK1 was detected by methylmion specific PCR (MSP). Fibrosis and pathological changes in the uterine cavity tissues were detected by Masson and hematoxylin and eosin staining. It was observed that the expression of FOXP1 and DNMT1 increased in transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1‐induced cells, while ULK1 expression decreased. Downregulation of FOXP1 could inhibit human endometrial stromal cells proliferation and autophagy, as well as decrease the expression of fibrogenic factors (collagen type I alpha 1 chain [COL1A1], fibronectin [FN], and alpha‐smooth muscle actin [α‐SMA]). The results of MSP and ChIP experiments showed that DNMT1 promotes methylation of the ULK1 promoter region and inhibits its transcription. In an animal model, knockdown of FOXP1 alleviated pathological fibrosis and uterine adhesions. Knockdown of FOXP1 can inhibit endometrial fibrosis in IUA rats; FOXP1 could be a potential target for the treatment of IUA.https://doi.org/10.1002/kjm2.12915autophagyFOXP1IUAmethylationULK1
spellingShingle Yuhua Zeng
Qing Feng
ULK1 methylation promotes TGF‐β1‐induced endometrial fibrosis via the FOXP1/DNMT1 axis
Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
autophagy
FOXP1
IUA
methylation
ULK1
title ULK1 methylation promotes TGF‐β1‐induced endometrial fibrosis via the FOXP1/DNMT1 axis
title_full ULK1 methylation promotes TGF‐β1‐induced endometrial fibrosis via the FOXP1/DNMT1 axis
title_fullStr ULK1 methylation promotes TGF‐β1‐induced endometrial fibrosis via the FOXP1/DNMT1 axis
title_full_unstemmed ULK1 methylation promotes TGF‐β1‐induced endometrial fibrosis via the FOXP1/DNMT1 axis
title_short ULK1 methylation promotes TGF‐β1‐induced endometrial fibrosis via the FOXP1/DNMT1 axis
title_sort ulk1 methylation promotes tgf β1 induced endometrial fibrosis via the foxp1 dnmt1 axis
topic autophagy
FOXP1
IUA
methylation
ULK1
url https://doi.org/10.1002/kjm2.12915
work_keys_str_mv AT yuhuazeng ulk1methylationpromotestgfb1inducedendometrialfibrosisviathefoxp1dnmt1axis
AT qingfeng ulk1methylationpromotestgfb1inducedendometrialfibrosisviathefoxp1dnmt1axis