Association of endogenous circulating sex steroids and condition-specific quality of life domains in postmenopausal women with pelvic floor disorders

Relationship of steroid sex hormones with female sexual dysfunction in female patients having urinary incontinence

To investigate serum estradiol, progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone levels on FSD in females having urinary incontinence (UI), we studied 150 females [100 having UI (50 with FSD and 50 without FSD) and 50 controls]. There were significant lower estradiol and progesterone and higher DHEA serum levels in patients than controls (P = 0.001for all). In UI patients, females having sexual disruption had significantly low levels of estradiol (p = 0.001). Low estradiol serum level represented an isolated predictive factor for sexual dysfunction in incontinent female patients (p = 0.001). A low estradiol serum level might be a possible risk factor for FSD in women having UI.

The impact of calcitriol and estradiol on the SARS-CoV-2 biological activity: a molecular modeling approach

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is currently a big concern around the world. Recent reports show that the disease severity and mortality of COVID-19 infected patients may vary from gender to gender with a very high risk of death for seniors. In addition, some steroid structures have been reported to affect coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, function and activity. The entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells depends on the binding of coronavirus spike protein to angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2). Viral main protease is essential for the replication of SARS-CoV-2. It was hypothesized that steroid molecules (e.g., estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, prednisone and calcitriol) could occupy the active site of the protease and could alter the interaction of spike protein with ACE2. Computational data showed that estradiol interacted more strongly with the main protease active site. In the presence of calcitriol, the binding energy of the spike protein to ACE2 was increased, and transferring Apo to Locked S conformer of spike trimer was facilitated. Together, the interaction between spike protein and ACE2 can be disrupted by calcitriol. Potential use of estradiol and calcitriol to reduce virus invasion and replication needs clinical investigation.

Therapeutic Effects of 17β-Estradiol on Pelvic Organ Prolapse by Inhibiting Mfn2 Expression: An In Vitro Study

Objective

To assess the effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) on proliferation, apoptosis, and protein expressions of fibroblasts at different concentrations and time intervals to reveal the mechanism of E2 in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

Study Design

The uterosacral ligament fibroblasts were collected from seven POP patients for primary culture of fibroblasts. The culture media containing 0, 10-6, 10-7, 10-8, and 10-9 mol/L E2 were used for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h.

Main Outcome Measures

The cells were collected for cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), apoptosis, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and Western blotting assays.

Results

Compared with the control group, in the values of fibroblasts cultured in 10-8 mol/L E2 for 72 h, the proliferation, mRNA and protein expression of Mitofusin-2 (Mfn2) separately increased (P < 0.05), decreased (P<0.001) and decreased (P<0.001). However, the expression level of procollagen 1A1/1A2/3A1 and cyclinD1 markedly increased (P<0.001, all), which was consistent with the results of protein level. What's more, the expression of estrogen receptor α(ERα), estrogen receptor β(ERβ) and G protein-coupled receptor 30(GPR30) were significantly increased in 10-8 mol/L E2 group.

Conclusions

E2 can inhibit the progress of POP by inhibiting the expression level of Mfn2, as well as promoting expression of procollagens and proliferation of fibroblasts. This effect is time- and concentration-dependent. Only when the estrogen concentration reaches 10-8 mol/L, the therapeutic effect is the greatest after 72 h.