Fig. 1

Quercetin inhibits eSC proliferation and enhances decidualization.(A) Control endometrial stromal cells (eSCs) were treated with vehicle (Veh) or quercetin (Q, 6.25-50 µM) for 72 h and the relative cell number was determined. Each point represents data from one individual’s eSCs, with the group mean ± SD for vehicle and each Q dose. (B-C) Control eSCs were treated with vehicle (Veh) or quercetin (1.56-50 µM) for 4 h prior to the addition of cAMP alone (B) or cAMP + MPA (C). After 48 h, decidualization was analyzed by measuring IGFBP1 levels by ELISA. Each point represents data from one individual’s eSCs, as IGFBP1 (percent Veh, where 100% = Veh + cAMP alone (IGFBP1) (B) or Veh + cAMP + MPA (IGFBP1) (C), with the group median ± interquartile range (IQR) for each Q dose. (D) eSCs from two control subjects were treated with vehicle (Veh) or quercetin (Q, 25µM) for 4 h followed by vehicle or cAMP + MPA prior to immunofluorescent staining and confocal imaging; images show IGFBP1 (red), phalloidin (green), and DAPI (blue) staining (at 20x magnification). The scale bars (20 μm) are indicated. IGFBP1 + cells are indicated by yellow arrows. Images showing individual channels are in Supplementary Fig. 2. (E–G) The effects of quercetin (Q, 25 µM) on decidualization when added 4 h pre-cAMP ± MPA (E) versus at the same time as (0 h pre-) cAMP ± MPA (F) or 20 h post-cAMP ± MPA stimulation (G). IGFBP1 levels were measured by ELISA 48 h post cAMP ± MPA stimulation. Data are shown as IGFBP1 (% Veh) where 100% = Veh + cAMP alone (IGFBP1). Each point represents data from one individual’s eSCs, with the median ± IQR shown for each group comparing Veh vs. Q. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; ****p < 0.0001; ns = non-significant