Immortalized Human Endometrial Stromal Cells (HESC)

Decidualization of the endometrium, mainly induced by progesterone, is a process of endometrial remodelling where the endometrial stromal cells differentiate into secretory decidual cells in preparation for pregnancy. Decidualized endometrial stromal cells are characterized by release of prolactin (PRL), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), tissue factor (TF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and expression of basal lamina components such as laminin, collagen IV, and fibronectin.Immortalized Human Endometrial Stromal Cells (HESC) are unique in that 1) they display normal karyotype and 2) they respond to hormone stimulation and retain the morphological pattern and biochemical endpoints of decidualization after treatment of estradiol and medroxyprogesterone, making this cell line a valuable tool in endometrium homeostasis and female reproductive studies.Note: The cells were collected from the endometrium of women who underwent hysterectomy, thus there is no specific age as the cells are pooled together to generate this cell line.