Immortalized Human Endometrial Stromal Cells (HESC)

Decidualization of the endometrium, mainly induced by progesterone, is a process of endometrial remodelling where the endometrial stromal cells differentiate into secretory decidual cells in preparation for pregnancy. Decidualized endometrial stromal cells are characterized by release of prolactin (PRL), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), tissue factor (TF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and expression of basal lamina components such as laminin, collagen IV, and fibronectin.


Immortalized Human Endometrial Stromal Cells (HESC) are unique in that 1) they display normal karyotype and 2) they respond to hormone stimulation and retain the morphological pattern and biochemical endpoints of decidualization after treatment of estradiol and medroxyprogesterone, making this cell line a valuable tool in endometrium homeostasis and female reproductive studies.

Note: The cells were collected from the endometrium of women who underwent hysterectomy, thus there is no specific age as the cells are pooled together to generate T0533.

Immortalization Method: Serial passaging and transduction with retroviruses expressing hTERT from the supernatant of pA317-hTERT cell line

BioSafety Level: II

Species: Human

Source Organ: Endometria

Growth Properties: Adherent

Morphology: Fibroblast-like

Population Doubling: 32-42 hours

Seeding Density: 10,000 – 20,000 cells/cm² Recommended split ratio of 1:3 to 1:6

Markers: IGFBP-1, PRL, TF, PAI-1 at decidualization endpoints

Donor Age: Adult

Donor Gender: Female

Donor Ethnicity: N/A

Propagation: The base medium for this cell line is Prigrow IV medium available from abm (TM004). To make the complete growth medium, add the following components to the base medium: charcoal-stripped fetal bovine serum to a final concentration of 10%, L-glutamine (G275) at a final concentration of 1%, and Penicillin/Streptomycin Solution (G255) to a final concentration of 1%.
Stimulation of HESC can be done using 10^-8 M estradiol (E₂) and/or 10^-7 M medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). The cells do not require puromycin for growth, but 800 ng puromycin was used for selection (see quality control).
Carbon dioxide (CO₂): 5%, Temperature: +37.0°C.

Quality Control: 1) TRAPezeELISA was used to detect the telomerase activity in the immortalized cells; 2) ELISA and RT-PCR were performed to detect IGFBP-1, FN, PRL and PAI-1 secretion and mRNA expression; 3) Western blot and densitometry were conducted to determine the expression of TF and Fas/Fas ligand; 4) 800 ng puromycin was used for selection.

Shipping Condition: Dry Ice

Storage Condition: liquid nitrogen or -180°C