Preliminary Screening and Study of Key Gene Expression in Endometrial Window Period.

BACKGROUND

Implantation is a highly coordinated event involving both embryonic and endometrial participation. The endometrium expresses a complex array of proteins during the menstrual cycle many of which help to define a period of receptivity collectively known as the "window of implantation."

OBJECTIVE

Using high-throughput RNA sequencing technology analysis to find differentially expressed genes before and after the endometrial window, and search for key marker genes of the membrane implantation window.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective study.

SETTING

This study was performed in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taizhou People's Hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty patients with repeated implantation failure in in vitro fertilization were selected and were divided into (1) the normal window group (36 cases); (2) the window forward group (8 cases); and (3) the window backward group (6 cases) based on endometrial biopsy findings.

INTERVENTIONS: Using RNA sequencing technology combined with biological information analysis tools to analyze the differentially-expressed genes in 9 samples. Gene Ontology databases were used for the functional annotation of these differentially-expressed genes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis was used to draw a signal path diagram.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) Screening of differentially-expressed genes and (2) functional analysis of the differential genes.

RESULTS

A total of 22 differentially-expressed genes related to endometrial receptivity were obtained by transcriptome sequencing. Seven of the 22 differentially-expressed genes have been shown to have a close relationship with the endometrial receptive window period. Further, it was proved that the Wnt signaling pathway and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway were closely related to endometrial receptivity.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study identified a series of key genes and pathways that may be involved in the endometrial window period, providing an experimental and theoretical basis for exploring the personalized embryo transfer program.