Activating transcription factor 3 promotes embryo attachment via up-regulation of leukemia inhibitory factor in vitro

BACKGROUND: A receptive endometrium is essential for maternal-embryonic molecular communication during implantation. However, the specific molecular regulatory mechanisms of the endometrial capacity remain poorly understood. Here, we examined activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) expression in human endometria and the functional effect of ATF3 on embryo attachment in vitro. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to assess the ATF3 expression patterns in human endometria. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), western blotting and immunofluorescence (IF) studies were applied to explore ATF3 expression in Ishikawa cells upon estrogen (E(2)) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) treatment. qRT-PCR and western blotting were performed to inspect LIF (leukemia inhibitory factor) expression after enhancement or inhibition of ATF3, and a luciferase reporter assay and ChIP-PCR were used to confirm the regulatory mechanism of ATF3 to LIF. Endometrial epithelial capacity was assessed by an in vitro model of attachment of BeWo spheroids to Ishikawa cells. Western blotting was performed to compare the expression of ATF3 in endometrial samples of recurrent implantation failure (RIF) patients with that in samples from fertile women (FER) who had undergone no less than one successful embryo transplantation. RESULTS: ATF3 was located in human endometrial epithelial cells and stromal cells and was significantly induced by E(2) and MPA in Ishikawa cells. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of ATF3 in Ishikawa cells activated LIF promoter activity and enhanced its expression. Accordingly, the stimulation of BeWo spheroid adhesion promoted by ATF3 was inhibited by pretreatment with a specific antibody against LIF via the antibody-blocking assay. Moreover, ATF3 was aberrantly decreased in the endometria of RIF patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that ATF3 plays a significant role in regulating human endometrial receptivity and embryo attachment in vitro via up-regulation of leukemia inhibitory factor. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Construction and management of the Nanjing multi-center biobank. No. 2013-081-01. Registered 10 Dec. 2013. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12958-017-0260-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.