Figure 4.

Secretome analysis of eSFs following SP treatment reveals a potent upregulation of interleukin-11, a cytokine crucial for implantation. (A) eSFs from three donors (Donors K–M) were treated for 6 h with media alone, SP or SP depleted of HIV-enhancing amyloids, after which cell supernatants were collected for Luminex analysis. Both SP and SP depleted of HIV-enhancing amyloids induced secretion of multiple cytokines in eSFs (see Table IV for full list). To control for endogenous levels of the cytokines, the equivalent concentration of SP (‘SP alone’) was also assayed in parallel. ^*P < 0.05 as determined using a two-tailed Student’s t-test comparing each treatment condition (SP and SP(depleted)) to the corresponding mock-treated samples. nd indicates not detectable. (B) eSF culture supernatants set up as described in panel A were assayed for interleukin (IL)-11 levels by ELISA. ^**P < 0.01 as determined using a two-tailed Student’s t-test comparing each treatment condition (SP and SP(depleted)) to the mock-treated samples. (C) eSFs were treated with media alone, estradiol with progesterone (E₂P₄), SP or E2 + SP. After 4 or 12 days of treatment, culture supernatants were assessed for decidualization by measuring IGFBP1 levels by ELISA. ^**P < 0.01 and ^***P < 0.001 as determined using a two-tailed Student’s t-test comparing the E₂P₄ and E₂P₄ + SP treatment conditions.