Progestin induction of PLZF expression in hESCs undergoing decidualization.

<p><b>A)</b> Relative transcript levels of <i>PLZF</i>, <i>IGFBP-1</i>, <i>and PRL</i> in hESCs cultured with vehicle (black bar (control)) or the EPC cocktail (red bar) at the indicated time points of cell culture. Note: Day 0 is the first day that hESCs were treated with vehicle or the EPC cocktail. <b>B)</b> Immunofluorescent detection of PLZF protein expression in hESCs cultured with vehicle or the EPC cocktail at the indicated time points of culture. Left and right columns show images of the same cell field stained for DAPI and PLZF immunopositivity respectively. After 6 days of EPC treatment, note the prominent nuclear staining for PLZF expression in a decidualized hESC cell (arrowhead). <b>C)</b> Relative transcript levels of <i>PLZF</i> in hESCs cultured for 6 days in vehicle control, E2, cAMP, or MPA alone. Note: For each transcript type (panel A) or reagent (panel C), results are reported relative to day 0 or vehicle treatment group respectively as the mean ± standard error (SE) from triplicate samples from one subject (three subjects were tested in total). *P<0.05, **P<0.01, and ***P<0.001. <b>D-F)</b> Immunohistochemical analysis of PLZF expression in human endometrial tissue biopsied during proliferative phase (D) and secretory phase (E and F) of the menstrual cycle. Black and white arrowheads in panel D and E indicate glandular epithelial and stromal cells respectively; white arrowhead in panel F indicates the nuclear localization of PLZF protein in stromal cells. Scale bar in panel D denotes 100 μm and applies to panel E; scale bar in panel F represents 100 μm.