Fig. 3

The rise-to-decline changes of PGRMC1 are required for decidualization. (A): Schematic representation of in vitro decidualization system after PGRMC1 downregulation by siRNA. qRT-PCR analysis of PGRMC1 mRNA expression changes in T-HESCs transfected with either 10 nM of siRNA against PGRMC1 (siPGRMC1) or 10 nM control siRNA (siCTL) for up to 10 days (B). The PRL mRNA expression level in T-HESCs after MPA/cAMP-induced decidualization upon transfection with 10 nM siPGRMC1 or siCTL, analyzed with qRT-PCR (C). The workflow for PGRMC1 downregulation after decidualization induction (D). mRNA expression levels of PGRMC1 (E, G) and PRL (F, H) in T-HESCs treated with MPA/cAMP for decidualization induction (red line) and non-induction (black line). Blue lines indicate the mRNA levels of PGRMC1 and PRL when transfected with 10 nM siPGRMC1 on the second (E, F) and fourth (G, H) day after decidualization induction, respectively. The statistical analysis of mRNA levels of PGRMC1 (and PRL) between cells with non-induction and induction indicated by red stars, or cells with PGRMC1 knockdown after induction indicated by blue stars. Results are shown as the mean ± SEM from three independent biological replicates. Statistical analysis was performed by two-way ANOVA. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001