Fig 1: Decidualization of HESCs alters the expression of genes involved in growth factor signalling, which is impaired by HF. HESCs were treated with decidualization agents in the presence or absence of 100 nM HF. After 4 days, RNA was extracted and utilised for next generation sequencing. (A) The top differentially expressed genes encoding growth factors and receptor tyrosine kinases are shown for three contrasts: HESCs cultured in decidualizing media compared to undecidualizing media (D versus UD), HESCs cultured in decidualizing media with and without HF (D HF versus D) and HESCs cultured in undecidualizing media with and without HF (UD HF versus UD). Red and blue bars indicate genes encoding growth factors that were upregulated and downregulated, respectively. Green bars indicate receptor tyrosine kinases that were differentially expressed. (B) A heatmap showing gene expression values for the TGFβ signalling pathway was plotted for the four treatments. The expression values were normalised to counts per million (CPM) and then adjusted to reflect the Z‐score. Genes that increased expression with decidualization and decreased with HF (indicated in the black box) were plotted in STRING, with key GO terms indicated. (C) Normalised CPM of selected genes corresponding to the TGFβ signalling pathway: TGFB1, SMAD9, PPP2R1B, CDKN2B and FMOD. HESCs, human endometrial stromal cells; HF, halofuginone.