Yap is essential for uterine decidualization through Rrm2/GSH/ROS pathway in response to Bmp2.

Yap is required for ovarian follicle and early embryo development, but little information is available regarding its physiological significance in decidualization. Here we determine the effects of YAP on decidualization, mitochondrial function, cell apoptosis and DNA damage, and explore its interplay with Bmp2, Rrm2, GSH and ROS. The results exhibited that Yap was abundant in decidual cells and its inactivation impaired the proliferation and differentiation of stromal cells along with the deferral of G1/S phase transition, indicating Yap importance in decidualization. Bmp2 via Alk2 receptor promoted nuclear translocation of Yap where it might interact with Tead and then bind to the promoter of Rrm2 whose activation rescued the faultiness of differentiation program and attenuated oxidative DNA damage caused by Yap impediment. Meanwhile, Yap had an important part in the crosstalk between Bmp2 and Rrm2. Furthermore, inactivation of Yap resulted in an obvious accumulation of intracellular ROS followed by the abnormal GR activity and GSH content dependent on Rrm2. Replenishment of GSH counteracted the regulation of Yap inactivation on stromal differentiation and DNA damage with distinct reduction for intracellular ROS. Additionally, blockage of Yap caused the enhancement of stromal cell apoptosis and brought about mitochondrial dysfunction as indicated by the aberration for ATP level, mtDNA copy number and mitochondrial membrane potential concomitant with the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore, but these abnormalities were neutralized by GSH. Administration of mitochondrial antioxidant Mito-TEMPO rescued the fault of stromal differentiation conferred by Yap inactivation. Collectively, Yap was essential for uterine decidualization through Rrm2/GSH/ROS pathway in response to Bmp2.