Effects of Aurora kinase A on mouse decidualization via Stat3-plk1-cdk1 pathway

• Published in: Reproductive biology and endocrinology Vol. 19; no. 1; p. 162
• Main Authors: Wang, Peng-Chao, Chen, Si-Ting, Yang, Zeng-Ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 29.10.2021; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies; Aurora A; Aurora kinase; Aurora Kinase A - antagonists & inhibitors; Aurora Kinase A - biosynthesis; CDC2 Protein Kinase - antagonists & inhibitors; CDC2 Protein Kinase - metabolism; Cdk1; Cell cycle; Cell Cycle Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors; Cell Cycle Proteins - metabolism; Cell division; Cells, Cultured; Comparative analysis; Decidua; Decidua - drug effects; Decidua - metabolism; Decidualization; Embryos; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Female; Gene expression; Hybridization; Implantation; Kinases; Mice; Molecular modelling; mRNA; Phosphatase; Phosphorylation; Plk1; Polo-Like Kinase 1; Polymerase chain reaction; Pregnancy; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases - antagonists & inhibitors; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases - metabolism; Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - metabolism; Signal transduction; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Signal Transduction - physiology; Stat3; Stat3 protein; STAT3 Transcription Factor - antagonists & inhibitors; STAT3 Transcription Factor - metabolism; Uterus; Western blotting; China; Cdk1; Stat3; Plk1; Uterus; Aurora A; Decidualization
• ISSN: 1477-7827; 1477-7827
• DOI: 10.1186/s12958-021-00847-5

Decidualization is essential to the successful pregnancy in mice. The molecular mechanisms and effects of Aurora kinase A (Aurora A) remain poorly understood during pregnancy. This study is the first to investigate the expression and role of Aurora A during mouse decidualization. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and in situ hybridization were used to determine the expression of Aurora A in mouse uteri. Aurora A activity was inhibited by Aurora A inhibitor to explore the role of Aurora A on decidualization via regulating the Aurora A/Stat3/Plk1/Cdk1 signaling pathway. Aurora A was strongly expressed at implantation sites compared with inter-implantation sites. Furthermore, Aurora A was also significantly increased in oil-induced deciduoma compared with control. Both Aurora A mRNA and protein were significantly increased under in vitro decidualization. Under in vitro decidualization, Prl8a2, a marker of mouse decidualization, was significantly decreased by TC-S 7010, an Aurora A inhibitor. Additionally, Prl8a2 was reduced by Stat3 inhibitor, Plk1 inhibitor and Cdk1 inhibitor, respectively. Moreover, the protein levels of p-Stat3, p-Plk1 and p-Cdk1 were suppressed by TC-S 7010. The protein levels of p-Stat3, p-Plk1 and p-Cdk1 were also suppressed by S3I-201, a Stat3 inhibitor). SBE 13 HCl (Plk1 inhibitor) could reduce the protein levels of p-Plk1 and p-Cdk1. Collectively, Aurora A could regulate Stat3/Plk1/Cdk1 signaling pathway. Our study shows that Aurora A is expressed in decidual cells and should be important for mouse decidualization. Aurora A/Stat3/Plk1/Cdk1 signaling pathway may be involved in mouse decidualization.