MSc Student
Advisor: Mihaela Pavlicev

Unit for Theoretical Biology, Department of Evolutionary Biology
University of Vienna

Abstract

A common human SNP is associated with both advantageous and adverse effects on female reproductive health. It is correlated with various diseases in estrogen-responsive tissues such as endometriosis and invasive cancers, while being protective against pregnancy complications like pre-term birth and preeclampsia. The mutation creates an estrogen receptor binding site on Wnt4, a key regulator of the structural changes in the endometrium before and during pregnancy. Alongside progesterone, Wnt4 drives the differentiation of endometrial stromal cells into decidual cells, specialized secretory cells which facilitate embryo implantation and support.
Previous research in a transgenic mouse model has shown that the mutation upregulates Wnt4 and many other pro-implantation genes in the endometrial stroma, potentially increasing tissue susceptibility to invasion and having consequences for both pregnancy and cancer.
This master’s thesis will investigate these molecular changes at the single cell level. ScRNA-sequencing will be used to characterize the uterine transcriptome and investigate the downstream effects of the alternate allele on stromal cell subpopulations. In particular, the intersection of hormonal regulation and gene expression will be studied. Results on hormone sensitivity and tissue invasibility may have important implications for human reproductive health.