SSEA-1 isolates human endometrial basal glandular epithelial cells: phenotypic and functional characterization and implications in the pathogenesis of endometriosis

Can the basal epithelial compartment of the human endometrium be defined by specific markers? SUMMARY ANSWER: Human endometrial epithelial cells from the basalis express nuclear SOX9 and the cell-surface marker SSEA-1, with some cells expressing nuclear beta-catenin. In vitro, primary endometrial epithelial cells enriched for SSEA-1+ show some features expected of the basalis epithelium. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: The endometrial glands of the functionalis regenerate from the basalis gland stumps following menstruation. Endometriosis is thought to originate from abnormal dislocation of the basalis endometrium. In the highly regenerative intestinal epithelium, SOX9 and nuclear beta-catenin are more highly expressed in the intestinal crypt, the stem/progenitor cell region. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: A large prospective observational study analysing full-thickness human endometrial hysterectomy samples from 115 premenopausal women, 15 post-menopausal women and ectopic endometriotic lesions from 20 women with endometriosis. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Full-thickness endometrium from hysterectomy tissues was analysed by immunohistochemistry for SSEA-1, SOX9 and beta-catenin. Primary human endometrial epithelial cells from short-term cultures were sorted into SSEA1+/- fractions with a cell sorter or magnetic beads and analysed for markers of differentiation and pluripotency and telomere lengths (TLs) using qPCR, telomerase activity [telomere repeat amplification protocol (TRAP)] and growth in 3D culture. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Similar to the intestinal crypt epithelium, human endometrial basal glandular epithelial cells expressed nuclear SOX9 and contained a rare subpopulation of cells with nuclear beta-catenin suggestive of an activated Wnt pathway. The embryonic stem cell-surface marker, SSEA-1, also marked the human endometrial basal glandular epithelial cells, and isolated SSEA-1+ epithelial cells grown in monolayer showed si