Notch-1 signaling activation and progesterone receptor expression in ectopic lesions of women with endometriosis

Context: Progesterone (P) resistance is a hallmark of endometriosis, but the underlying mechanism(s) for loss of P sensitivity leading to lesion establishment remains poorly understood. Objective: To evaluate the association between Notch-1 signaling activation and P resistance in the progression of endometriosis. Design: Case control study; archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. Setting: University hospitals (United States, Taiwan). Patients: Women with endometriosis; human endometrial stromal cell line (HESC). Intervention: Eutopic endometria (EU) and ectopic lesions (ECs) were collected from surgically diagnosed patients. Archived tissue sections of EU and ECs were identified. HESCs were treated with N- [N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-l-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester (DAPT) and valproic acid (VPA) to, respectively, suppress and induce Notch-1 activation. Outcome Measures: Tissues were analyzed for Notch Intra-Cellular Domain 1 (NICD1) and progesterone receptor (PGR) protein expression by immunohistochemistry and for transcript levels of NICD1 target genes HES1, PGR, and PGR-B by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. DAPT- or VPA-treated HESCs with and without P cotreatment were evaluated for cell numbers and for PGR, HES1, and PGR target gene DKK1 transcript levels. Results: Nuclear-localized stromal NICD1 protein levels were inversely associated with those of total PGR in EU and ECs. Stromal ECs displayed higher HES1 and lower total PGR and PGR-B transcript levels than EU. In HESCs, DAPT reduction of NICD1 decreased cell numbers and increased PGR transcript and nuclear PGR protein levels and, with P cotreatment, maintained P sensitivity. Conversely, VPA induction of NICD1 decreased PGR transcript levels and, with P cotreatment, abrogated P-induced DKK1 and maintained HES1 transcript levels. Conclusions: Aberrant Notch-1 activation is associated with decreased PGR that contributes to P resistance in endometriosis.