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Thej C, Roy R, Cheng Z, Garikipati VNS, Truongcao MM, Joladarashi D, Mallaredy V, Cimini M, Gonzalez C, Magadum A, Ghosh J, Benedict C, Koch WJ, Kishore R. Epigenetic mechanisms regulate sex differences in cardiac reparative functions of bone marrow progenitor cells. NPJ Regen Med 2024; 9:17. [PMID: 38684697 PMCID: PMC11058271 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-024-00362-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Historically, a lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and related deaths in women as compared with men of the same age has been attributed to female sex hormones, particularly estrogen and its receptors. Autologous bone marrow stem cell (BMSC) clinical trials for cardiac cell therapy overwhelmingly included male patients. However, meta-analysis data from these trials suggest a better functional outcome in postmenopausal women as compared with aged-matched men. Mechanisms governing sex-specific cardiac reparative activity in BMSCs, with and without the influence of sex hormones, remain unexplored. To discover these mechanisms, Male (M), female (F), and ovariectomized female (OVX) mice-derived EPCs were subjected to a series of molecular and epigenetic analyses followed by in vivo functional assessments of cardiac repair. F-EPCs and OVX EPCs show a lower inflammatory profile and promote enhanced cardiac reparative activity after intra-cardiac injections in a male mouse model of myocardial infarction (MI). Epigenetic sequencing revealed a marked difference in the occupancy of the gene repressive H3K9me3 mark, particularly at transcription start sites of key angiogenic and proinflammatory genes in M-EPCs compared with F-EPCs and OVX-EPCs. Our study unveiled that functional sex differences in EPCs are, in part, mediated by differential epigenetic regulation of the proinflammatory and anti-angiogenic gene CCL3, orchestrated by the control of H3K9me3 by histone methyltransferase, G9a/Ehmt2. Our research highlights the importance of considering the sex of donor cells for progenitor-based tissue repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charan Thej
- Aging and Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Rajika Roy
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Zhongjian Cheng
- Aging and Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | | | - May M Truongcao
- Aging and Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Darukeshwara Joladarashi
- Aging and Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Vandana Mallaredy
- Aging and Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Maria Cimini
- Aging and Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Carolina Gonzalez
- Aging and Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Ajit Magadum
- Aging and Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Jayashri Ghosh
- Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Cindy Benedict
- Aging and Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Walter J Koch
- Aging and Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Raj Kishore
- Aging and Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA.
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA.
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2
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Kumar P, Brooks HL. Sex-specific epigenetic programming in renal fibrosis and inflammation. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2023; 325:F578-F594. [PMID: 37560775 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00091.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The growing prevalence of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity along with an aging population is leading to a higher incidence of renal diseases in society. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized mainly by persistent inflammation, fibrosis, and gradual loss of renal function leading to renal failure. Sex is a known contributor to the differences in incidence and progression of CKD. Epigenetic programming is an essential regulator of renal physiology and is critically involved in the pathophysiology of renal injury and fibrosis. Epigenetic signaling integrates intrinsic and extrinsic signals onto the genome, and various environmental and hormonal stimuli, including sex hormones, which regulate gene expression and downstream cellular responses. The most extensively studied epigenetic alterations that play a critical role in renal damage include histone modifications and DNA methylation. Notably, these epigenetic alterations are reversible, making them candidates for potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of renal diseases. Here, we will summarize the current knowledge on sex differences in epigenetic modulation of renal fibrosis and inflammation and highlight some possible epigenetic therapeutic strategies for CKD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prerna Kumar
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - Heddwen L Brooks
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
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3
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Risk Assessment of Transgender People: Development of Rodent Models Mimicking Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapies and Identification of Sex-Dimorphic Liver Genes as Novel Biomarkers of Sex Transition. Cells 2023; 12:cells12030474. [PMID: 36766819 PMCID: PMC9913858 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Transgender (TG) describes individuals whose gender identity differs from the social norms. TG people undergoing gender-affirming hormone therapy (HT) may be considered a sub-group of the population susceptible to environmental contaminants for their targets and modes of action. The aim of this study is to set appropriate HT doses and identify specific biomarkers to implement TG animal models. Four adult rats/group/sex were subcutaneously exposed to three doses of HT (plus control) selected starting from available data. The demasculinizing-feminizing models (dMF) were β-estradiol plus cyproterone acetate, at 0.09 + 0.33, 0.09 + 0.93 and 0.18 + 0.33 mg, respectively, five times/week. The defeminizing-masculinizing models (dFM) were testosterone (T) at 0.45, 0.95 and 2.05 mg, two times/week. Clitoral gain and sperm count, histopathological analysis of reproductive organs and liver, hormone serum levels and gene expression of sex-dimorphic CYP450 were evaluated. In the dMF model, the selected doses-leading to T serum levels at the range of the corresponding cisgender-induced strong general toxicity and cannot be used in long-term studies. In the dFM model, 0.45 mg of T represents the correct dose. In addition, the endpoints selected are considered suitable and reliable to implement the animal model. The sex-specific CYP expression is a suitable biomarker to set proper (de)masculinizing/(de)feminizing HT and to implement TG animal models.
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4
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AlOgayil N, Bauermeister K, Galvez JH, Venkatesh VS, Zhuang QKW, Chang ML, Davey RA, Zajac JD, Ida K, Kamiya A, Taketo T, Bourque G, Naumova AK. Distinct roles of androgen receptor, estrogen receptor alpha, and BCL6 in the establishment of sex-biased DNA methylation in mouse liver. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13766. [PMID: 34215813 PMCID: PMC8253761 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93216-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism in gene regulation, including DNA methylation, is the main driver of sexual dimorphism in phenotypes. However, the questions of how and when sex shapes DNA methylation remain unresolved. Recently, using mice with different combinations of genetic and phenotypic sex, we identified sex-associated differentially methylated regions (sDMRs) that depended on the sex phenotype. Focusing on a panel of validated sex-phenotype dependent male- and female-biased sDMRs, we tested the developmental dynamics of sex bias in liver methylation and the impacts of mutations in the androgen receptor, estrogen receptor alpha, or the transcriptional repressor Bcl6 gene. True hermaphrodites that carry both unilateral ovaries and contralateral testes were also tested. Our data show that sex bias in methylation either coincides with or follows sex bias in the expression of sDMR-proximal genes, suggesting that sex bias in gene expression may be required for demethylation at certain sDMRs. Global ablation of AR, ESR1, or a liver-specific loss of BCL6, all alter sDMR methylation, whereas presence of both an ovary and a testis delays the establishment of male-type methylation levels in hermaphrodites. Moreover, the Bcl6-LKO shows dissociation between expression and methylation, suggesting a distinct role of BCL6 in demethylation of intragenic sDMRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najla AlOgayil
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | | | - Varun S Venkatesh
- Department of Medicine, Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | | | - Matthew L Chang
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Rachel A Davey
- Department of Medicine, Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Jeffrey D Zajac
- Department of Medicine, Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Kinuyo Ida
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan
| | - Akihide Kamiya
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan
| | - Teruko Taketo
- The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 1J3, Canada.,Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Guillaume Bourque
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Canadian Centre for Computational Genomics, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Anna K Naumova
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada. .,The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 1J3, Canada. .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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5
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Takaya J. Calcium-Deficiency during Pregnancy Affects Insulin Resistance in Offspring. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22137008. [PMID: 34209784 PMCID: PMC8268058 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22137008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal malnutrition is known to affect the phenotype of the offspring through changes in epigenetic regulation. Growing evidence suggests that epigenetics is one of the mechanisms by which nutrients and minerals affect metabolic traits. Although the perinatal period is the time of highest phenotypic plasticity, which contributes largely to developmental programming, there is evidence of nutritional influence on epigenetic regulation during adulthood. Calcium (Ca) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance syndrome. Cortisol, the most important glucocorticoid, is considered to lead to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 is a key enzyme that catalyzes the intracellular conversion of cortisone to physiologically active cortisol. This brief review aims to identify the effects of Ca deficiency during pregnancy and/or lactation on insulin resistance in the offspring. Those findings demonstrate that maternal Ca deficiency during pregnancy may affect the epigenetic regulation of gene expression and thereby induce different metabolic phenotypes. We aim to address the need for Ca during pregnancy and propose the scaling-up of clinical and public health approaches that improved pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junji Takaya
- Department of Pediatrics, Kawachi General Hospital, 1-31 Yokomakura, Higashi-Osaka 578-0954, Osaka, Japan
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6
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Franco-Enzástiga Ú, García G, Murbartián J, González-Barrios R, Salinas-Abarca AB, Sánchez-Hernández B, Tavares-Ferreira D, Herrera LA, Barragán-Iglesias P, Delgado-Lezama R, Price TJ, Granados-Soto V. Sex-dependent pronociceptive role of spinal α 5 -GABA A receptor and its epigenetic regulation in neuropathic rodents. J Neurochem 2020; 156:897-916. [PMID: 32750173 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Extrasynaptic α5 -subunit containing GABAA (α5 -GABAA ) receptors participate in chronic pain. Previously, we reported a sex difference in the action of α5 -GABAA receptors in dysfunctional pain. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The aim of this study was to examine this sexual dimorphism in neuropathic rodents and the mechanisms involved. Female and male Wistar rats or ICR mice were subjected to nerve injury followed by α5 -GABAA receptor inverse agonist intrathecal administration, L-655,708. The drug produced an antiallodynic effect in nerve-injured female rats and mice, and a lower effect in males. We hypothesized that changes in α5 -GABAA receptor, probably influenced by hormonal and epigenetic status, might underlie this sex difference. Thus, we performed qPCR and western blot. Nerve injury increased α5 -GABAA mRNA and protein in female dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and decreased them in DRG and spinal cord of males. To investigate the hormonal influence over α5 -GABAA receptor actions, we performed nerve injury to ovariectomized rats and reconstituted them with 17β-estradiol (E2). Ovariectomy abrogated L-655,708 antiallodynic effect and E2 restored it. Ovariectomy decreased α5 -GABAA receptor and estrogen receptor α protein in DRG of neuropathic female rats, while E2 enhanced them. Since DNA methylation might contribute to α5 -GABAA receptor down-regulation in males, we examined CpG island DNA methylation of α5 -GABAA receptor coding gene through pyrosequencing. Nerve injury increased methylation in male, but not female rats. Pharmacological inhibition of DNA methyltransferases increased α5 -GABAA receptor and enabled L-655,708 antinociceptive effect in male rats. These results suggest that α5 -GABAA receptor is a suitable target to treat chronic pain in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Úrzula Franco-Enzástiga
- Neurobiology of Pain Laboratory, Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Guadalupe García
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Janet Murbartián
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Ana B Salinas-Abarca
- Neurobiology of Pain Laboratory, Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Beatriz Sánchez-Hernández
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Diana Tavares-Ferreira
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Luis A Herrera
- Cancer Biomedical Research Unit, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Paulino Barragán-Iglesias
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Center for Basic Sciences, Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
| | - Rodolfo Delgado-Lezama
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Cinvestav, Zacatenco, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Theodore J Price
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Vinicio Granados-Soto
- Neurobiology of Pain Laboratory, Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
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7
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Tartaglia N, Howell S, Davis S, Kowal K, Tanda T, Brown M, Boada C, Alston A, Crawford L, Thompson T, van Rijn S, Wilson R, Janusz J, Ross J. Early neurodevelopmental and medical profile in children with sex chromosome trisomies: Background for the prospective eXtraordinarY babies study to identify early risk factors and targets for intervention. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART C-SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2020; 184:428-443. [PMID: 32506668 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Sex chromosome trisomies (SCT), including Klinefelter syndrome/XXY, Trisomy X, and XYY syndrome, occur in 1 of every 500 births. The past decades of research have resulted in a broadening of known associated medical comorbidities as well as advances in psychological research. This review summarizes what is known about early neurodevelopmental, behavioral, and medical manifestations in young children with SCT. We focus on recent research and unanswered questions related to the risk for neurodevelopmental disorders that commonly present in the first years of life and discuss the medical and endocrine manifestations of SCT at this young age. The increasing rate of prenatal SCT diagnoses provides the opportunity to address gaps in the existing literature in a new birth cohort, leading to development of the eXtraordinarY Babies Study. This study aims to better describe and compare the natural history of SCT conditions, identify predictors of positive and negative outcomes in SCT, evaluate developmental and autism screening measures commonly used in primary care practices for the SCT population, and build a rich data set linked to a bank of biological samples for future study. Results from this study and ongoing international research efforts will inform evidence-based care and improve health and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Tartaglia
- eXtraordinarY Kids Clinic, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Developmental Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Susan Howell
- eXtraordinarY Kids Clinic, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Developmental Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Shanlee Davis
- eXtraordinarY Kids Clinic, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Karen Kowal
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Nemours-Dupont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Tanea Tanda
- Developmental Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Mariah Brown
- Developmental Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Cristina Boada
- Developmental Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Amanda Alston
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Nemours-Dupont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Leah Crawford
- Developmental Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Talia Thompson
- Developmental Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Sophie van Rijn
- Clinical Neurodevelopment Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rebecca Wilson
- eXtraordinarY Kids Clinic, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Developmental Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Jennifer Janusz
- eXtraordinarY Kids Clinic, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Neurology and Neuropsychology, University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Judith Ross
- Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Nemours-Dupont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware, USA
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8
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Aksglaede L, Davis SM, Ross JL, Juul A. Minipuberty in Klinefelter syndrome: Current status and future directions. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART C-SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2020; 184:320-326. [PMID: 32476267 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Klinefelter syndrome is highly underdiagnosed and diagnosis is often delayed. With the introduction of non-invasive prenatal screening, the diagnostic pattern will require an updated description of the clinical and biochemical presentation of infants with Klinefelter syndrome. In the first months of life, the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG)-axis is transiently activated in healthy males during the so-called minipuberty. This period represents a "window of opportunity" for evaluation of the HPG-axis before puberty and without stimulation tests. Infants with Klinefelter syndrome present with a hormonal surge during the minipuberty. However, only a limited number of studies exist, and the results are contradictory. Further studies are needed to clarify whether infants with Klinefelter syndrome present with impaired testosterone production during the minipuberty. The aim of this review is to describe the clinical and biochemical characteristics of the neonate and infant with Klinefelter syndrome with special focus on the minipuberty and to update the clinical recommendations for Klinefelter syndrome during infancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lise Aksglaede
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Shanlee M Davis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,eXtraordinarY Kids Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Judith L Ross
- Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware, USA
| | - Anders Juul
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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9
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Moravek MB, Kinnear HM, George J, Batchelor J, Shikanov A, Padmanabhan V, Randolph JF. Impact of Exogenous Testosterone on Reproduction in Transgender Men. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5762628. [PMID: 32105330 PMCID: PMC7046016 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Studies show that a subset of transgender men desire children; however, there is a paucity of literature on the effect of gender-affirming testosterone therapy on reproductive function. In this manuscript, we will review the process of gender-affirming hormone therapy for transgender men and what is known about ovarian and uterine consequences of testosterone exposure in transgender men; draw parallels with existing animal models of androgen exposure; summarize the existing literature on parenting experiences and desires in transgender people; discuss considerations for assisted reproductive technologies and fertility preservation; and identify gaps in the literature and opportunities for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly B Moravek
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Correspondence: Molly B. Moravek, MD, MPH, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, 475 Market Place, Building 1, Suite B, Ann Arbor, MI 48108. E-mail
| | - Hadrian M Kinnear
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jenny George
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | | | - Ariella Shikanov
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Vasantha Padmanabhan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - John F Randolph
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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10
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Davis SM, Reynolds RM, Dabelea DM, Zeitler PS, Tartaglia NR. Testosterone Treatment in Infants With 47,XXY: Effects on Body Composition. J Endocr Soc 2019; 3:2276-2285. [PMID: 31737857 PMCID: PMC6846330 DOI: 10.1210/js.2019-00274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Context Boys with XXY have greater adiposity and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Infants with XXY have lower testosterone concentrations than typical boys, but no studies have evaluated adiposity in infants with XXY or the physiologic effects of giving testosterone replacement. Objective To determine the effect of testosterone on body composition in infants with XXY. Design Prospective, randomized trial. Setting Tertiary care pediatric referral center. Participants 20 infants 6 to 15 weeks of age with 47,XXY. Intervention Testosterone cypionate 25 mg intramuscularly monthly for three doses vs no treatment. Main Outcome Measures Difference in change in adiposity (percent fat mass z scores); other body composition measures, penile length, and safety outcomes between treated and untreated infants; and comparison with typical infants. Results The increase in percent fat mass (%FM) z scores was greater in the untreated group than in the treated group (+0.92 ± 0.62 vs −0.12 ± 0.65, P = 0.004). Increases in secondary outcomes were greater in the testosterone-treated group for total mass, fat-free mass, length z score, stretched penile length, and growth velocity (P < 0.002 for all). At 5 months of age, adiposity in untreated infants with XXY was 26.7% compared with 23.2% in healthy male infants of the same age (P = 0.0037); there was no difference in %FM between the treated XXY boys and controls. Reported side effects were minimal and self-limited; no serious adverse events occurred. Conclusions Adiposity of untreated infants was 15% greater than that of male controls by 5 months of age. Testosterone treatment for infants with XXY resulted in positive changes in body composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanlee M Davis
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Endocrinology, Aurora, Colorado.,Children's Hospital Colorado, eXtraordinarY Kids Clinic, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Regina M Reynolds
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Dana M Dabelea
- University of Colorado, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Philip S Zeitler
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Endocrinology, Aurora, Colorado.,Children's Hospital Colorado, eXtraordinarY Kids Clinic, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Nicole R Tartaglia
- Children's Hospital Colorado, eXtraordinarY Kids Clinic, Aurora, Colorado.,University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Pediatrics, Aurora, Colorado
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11
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Genetic resistance to DEHP-induced transgenerational endocrine disruption. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0208371. [PMID: 31181066 PMCID: PMC6557477 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) interferes with sex hormones signaling pathways (SHP). C57BL/6J mice prenatally exposed to 300 mg/kg/day DEHP develop a testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS) at adulthood, but similarly-exposed FVB/N mice are not affected. Here we aim to understand the reasons behind this drastic difference that should depend on the genome of the strain. In both backgrounds, pregnant female mice received per os either DEHP or corn oil vehicle and the male filiations were examined. Computer-assisted sperm analysis showed a DEHP-induced decreased sperm count and velocities in C57BL/6J. Sperm RNA sequencing experiments resulted in the identification of the 62 most differentially expressed RNAs. These RNAs, mainly regulated by hormones, produced strain-specific transcriptional responses to prenatal exposure to DEHP; a pool of RNAs was increased in FVB, another pool of RNAs was decreased in C57BL/6J. In FVB/N, analysis of non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) impacting SHP identified rs387782768 and rs29315913 respectively associated with absence of the Forkhead Box A3 (Foxa3) RNA and increased expression of estrogen receptor 1 variant 4 (NM_001302533) RNA. Analysis of the role of SNPs modifying SHP binding sites in function of strain-specific responses to DEHP revealed a DEHP-resistance allele in FVB/N containing an additional FOXA1-3 binding site at rs30973633 and four DEHP-induced beta-defensins (Defb42, Defb30, Defb47 and Defb48). A DEHP-susceptibility allele in C57BL/6J contained five SNPs (rs28279710, rs32977910, rs46648903, rs46677594 and rs48287999) affecting SHP and six genes (Svs2, Svs3b, Svs4, Svs3a, Svs6 and Svs5) epigenetically silenced by DEHP. Finally, targeted experiments confirmed increased methylation in the Svs3ab promoter with decreased SEMG2 persisting across generations, providing a molecular explanation for the transgenerational sperm velocity decrease found in C57BL/6J after DEHP exposure. We conclude that the existence of SNP-dependent mechanisms in FVB/N inbred mice may confer resistance to transgenerational endocrine disruption.
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Hartman RJG, Huisman SE, den Ruijter HM. Sex differences in cardiovascular epigenetics-a systematic review. Biol Sex Differ 2018; 9:19. [PMID: 29792221 PMCID: PMC5966883 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-018-0180-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Differences in cardiovascular diseases are evident in men and women throughout life and are mainly attributed to the presence of sex hormones and chromosomes. Epigenetic mechanisms drive the regulation of the biological processes that may lead to CVD and are possibly influenced by sex. In order to gain an overview of the status quo on sex differences in cardiovascular epigenetics, we performed a systematic review. Materials and methods A systematic search was performed on PubMed and Embase for studies mentioning cardiovascular disease, epigenetics, and anything related to sex differences. The search returned 3071 publications to be screened. Primary included publications focused on cardiovascular and epigenetics research. Subsequently, papers were assessed for including both sexes in their studies and checked for appropriate sex stratification of results. Results Two independent screeners identified 75 papers in the proper domains that had included both sexes. Only 17% (13 papers out of 75) of these publications stratified some of their data according to sex. All remaining papers focused on DNA methylation solely as an epigenetic mechanism. Of the excluded papers that included only one sex, 86% (24 out 28) studied males, while 14% (4 out of 28) studied females. Conclusion Our overview indicates that the majority of studies into cardiovascular epigenetics do not show their data stratified by sex, despite the well-known sex differences in CVD. All included and sex-stratified papers focus on DNA methylation, indicating that a lot of ground is still to gain regarding other epigenetic mechanisms, like chromatin architecture, and histone modifications. More attention to sex in epigenetic studies is warranted as such integration will advance our understanding of cardiovascular disease mechanisms in men and women. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13293-018-0180-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin J G Hartman
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah E Huisman
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hester M den Ruijter
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Goetz TG, Mamillapalli R, Sahin C, Majidi-Zolbin M, Ge G, Mani A, Taylor HS. Addition of Estradiol to Cross-Sex Testosterone Therapy Reduces Atherosclerosis Plaque Formation in Female ApoE-/- Mice. Endocrinology 2018; 159:754-762. [PMID: 29253190 PMCID: PMC5774248 DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-00884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The contributions of estradiol and testosterone to atherosclerotic lesion progression are not entirely understood. Cross-sex hormone therapy (XHT) for transgender individuals dramatically alters estrogen and testosterone levels and consequently could have widespread consequences for cardiovascular health. Yet, no preclinical research has assessed atherosclerosis risk after XHT. We examined the effects of testosterone XHT after ovariectomy on atherosclerosis plaque formation in female mice and evaluated whether adding low-dose estradiol to cross-sex testosterone treatments after ovariectomy reduced lesion formation. Six-week-old female ApoE-/- C57BL/6 mice underwent ovariectomy and began treatments with testosterone, estradiol, testosterone with low-dose estradiol, or vehicle alone until euthanized at 23 weeks of age. Atherosclerosis lesion progression was measured by Oil Red O stain and confirmed histologically. We found reduced atherosclerosis in the estradiol- and combined testosterone/estradiol-treated mice compared with those treated with testosterone or vehicle only in the whole aorta (-75%), aortic arch (-80%), and thoracic aorta (-80%). Plaque size was similarly reduced in the aortic sinus. These reductions in lesion size after combined testosterone/estradiol treatment were comparable to those obtained with estrogen alone. Testosterone/estradiol combined therapy resulted in less atherosclerosis plaque formation than either vehicle or testosterone alone after ovariectomy. Testosterone/estradiol therapy was comparable to estradiol replacement alone, whereas mice treated with testosterone only fared no better than untreated controls after ovariectomy. Adding low-dose estrogen to cross-sex testosterone therapy after oophorectomy could improve cardiovascular outcomes for transgender patients. Additionally, these results contribute to understanding of the effects of estrogen and testosterone on atherosclerosis progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teddy G. Goetz
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Ramanaiah Mamillapalli
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Cagdas Sahin
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Masoumeh Majidi-Zolbin
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Guanghao Ge
- Yale Cardiovascular Genetics Program, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Arya Mani
- Yale Cardiovascular Genetics Program, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Hugh S. Taylor
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Correspondence: Hugh S. Taylor, MD, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, 310 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510. E-mail:
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14
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Goetz TG, Mamillapalli R, Devlin MJ, Robbins AE, Majidi-Zolbin M, Taylor HS. Cross-sex testosterone therapy in ovariectomized mice: addition of low-dose estrogen preserves bone architecture. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2017; 313:E540-E551. [PMID: 28765273 PMCID: PMC5792142 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00161.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Cross-sex hormone therapy (XHT) is widely used by transgender people to alter secondary sex characteristics to match their desired gender presentation. Here, we investigate the long-term effects of XHT on bone health using a murine model. Female mice underwent ovariectomy at either 6 or 10 wk and began weekly testosterone or vehicle injections. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was performed (20 wk) to measure bone mineral density (BMD), and microcomputed tomography was performed to compare femoral cortical and trabecular bone architecture. The 6-wk testosterone group had comparable BMD with controls by DXA but reduced bone volume fraction, trabecular number, and cortical area fraction and increased trabecular separation by microcomputed tomography. Ten-week ovariectomy/XHT maintained microarchitecture, suggesting that estrogen is critical for bone acquisition during adolescence and that late, but not early, estrogen loss can be sufficiently replaced by testosterone alone. Given these findings, we then compared effects of testosterone with effects of weekly estrogen or combined testosterone/low-dose estrogen treatment after a 6-wk ovariectomy. Estrogen treatment increased spine BMD and microarchitecture, including bone volume fraction, trabecular number, trabecular thickness, and connectivity density, and decreased trabecular separation. Combined testosterone-estrogen therapy caused similar increases in femur and spine BMD and improved architecture (increased bone volume fraction, trabecular number, trabecular thickness, and connectivity density) to estrogen therapy and were superior compared with mice treated with testosterone only. These results demonstrate estradiol is critical for bone acquisition and suggest a new cross-sex hormone therapy adding estrogens to testosterone treatments with potential future clinical implications for treating transgender youth or men with estrogen deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teddy G Goetz
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; and
| | - Ramanaiah Mamillapalli
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; and
| | - Maureen J Devlin
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Amy E Robbins
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Masoumeh Majidi-Zolbin
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; and
| | - Hugh S Taylor
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; and
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Ma X, Hayes E, Biswas A, Seger C, Prizant H, Hammes SR, Sen A. Androgens Regulate Ovarian Gene Expression Through Modulation of Ezh2 Expression and Activity. Endocrinology 2017; 158:2944-2954. [PMID: 28666321 PMCID: PMC5659665 DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-00145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A substantial amount of evidence suggests that androgen signaling through classical androgen receptors is critical for both normal and pathologic ovarian physiology. Specifically, we and others have shown that, in mouse granulosa cells, androgen actions through both extranuclear and nuclear androgen receptor signaling are critical for normal follicle development and ovulation. Here, we show that androgens through the PI3K/Akt pathway rapidly (within minutes) phosphorylate and inhibit activity of the Polycomb group protein enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (Ezh2). Over the course of 24 to 48 hours, androgens then induce expression of the microRNA miR-101, which targets Ezh2 messenger RNA (mRNA), leading to a nearly complete loss of Ezh2 protein expression. This long-term androgen-induced loss of Ezh2 actions ultimately results in sustained reduction of the H3K27me3-repressive mark in the promoter region of the Runt-related transcription factor-1 (Runx1) gene, a luteinizing hormone (LH)-induced transcription factor essential for ovulation, leading to increased Runx1 mRNA expression. Accordingly, blocking androgen-induced inhibition of Ezh2 in vivo adversely affects LH-induced Runx1 mRNA expression and subsequent ovulation. Importantly, although estrogen treatment of granulosa cells similarly causes rapid activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway and short-term phosphorylation of Ezh2, it does not induce miR-101 expression and thereby does not reduce overall Ezh2 expression, demonstrating the androgen specificity of long-term Ezh2 suppression. Thus, this study provides insight regarding how androgen-induced extranuclear kinase signaling and intranuclear transcription through Ezh2 modifications may influence the expression pattern of genes, ultimately affecting various downstream physiological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Ma
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Emily Hayes
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Anindita Biswas
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Christina Seger
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Hen Prizant
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Stephen R. Hammes
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Aritro Sen
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
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16
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Xu J, Li D, Cai Z, Zhang Y, Huang Y, Su B, Ma R. An integrative analysis of DNA methylation in osteosarcoma. J Bone Oncol 2017; 9:34-40. [PMID: 29234590 PMCID: PMC5715438 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbo.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The study aimed to analyze aberrantly methylated genes, relevant pathways and transcription factors (TFs) in osteosarcoma (OS) development. Methods Based on the DNA methylation microarray data GSE36002 that were downloaded from GEO database, the differentially methylated genes in promoter regions were identified between OS and normal samples. Pathway and function enrichment analyses of differentially methylated genes was performed. Subsequently, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, followed by identification of cancer-associated differentially methylated genes and significant differentially methylated TFs. Results A total of 1379 hyper-methylation regions and 169 hypo-methylation regions in promoter regions were identified in OS samples compared to normal samples. The differentially hyper-methylated genes were significantly enriched in Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway, and Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway. The differentially hypo-methylated genes were significantly enriched in Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. In PPI network, signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT3) had high degree (degree=21). MAX interactor 1, dimerization protein (MXI1), STAT3 and T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia 1 (TAL1) were significant TFs enriched with target genes in OS samples. They were found to be cancer-associated and hyper-methylated in OS samples. Conclusion Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, PPAR signaling, Toll-like receptor signaling pathways are implicated in OS. MXI1, STAT3, and TAL1 may be important TFs involved in OS development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Deng Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Zhiqing Cai
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Yingbin Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Yulin Huang
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Baohua Su
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Ruofan Ma
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
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Protective vaccination and blood-stage malaria modify DNA methylation of gene promoters in the liver of Balb/c mice. Parasitol Res 2017; 116:1463-1477. [PMID: 28315013 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5423-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation are increasingly recognized to be critical for vaccination efficacy and outcome of different infectious diseases, but corresponding information is scarcely available for host defense against malaria. In the experimental blood-stage malaria Plasmodium chabaudi, we investigate the possible effects of a blood-stage vaccine on DNA methylation of gene promoters in the liver, known as effector against blood-stage malaria, using DNA methylation microarrays. Naturally susceptible Balb/c mice acquire, by protective vaccination, the potency to survive P. chabaudi malaria and, concomitantly, modifications of constitutive DNA methylation of promoters of numerous genes in the liver; specifically, promoters of 256 genes are hyper(=up)- and 345 genes are hypo(=down)-methylated (p < 0.05). Protective vaccination also leads to changes in promoter DNA methylation upon challenge with P. chabaudi at peak parasitemia on day 8 post infection (p.i.), when 571 and 1013 gene promoters are up- and down-methylated, respectively, in relation to constitutive DNA methylation (p < 0.05). Gene set enrichment analyses reveal that both vaccination and P. chabaudi infections mainly modify promoters of those genes which are most statistically enriched with functions relating to regulation of transcription. Genes with down-methylated promoters encompass those encoding CX3CL1, GP130, and GATA2, known to be involved in monocyte recruitment, IL-6 trans-signaling, and onset of erythropoiesis, respectively. Our data suggest that vaccination may epigenetically improve parts of several effector functions of the liver against blood-stage malaria, as, e.g., recruitment of monocyte/macrophage to the liver accelerated liver regeneration and extramedullary hepatic erythropoiesis, thus leading to self-healing of otherwise lethal P. chabaudi blood-stage malaria.
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18
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Bissegger S, Langlois VS. Androgens modulate gene expression and specific DNA methylation pattern of steroid 5α-reductases in the frog Silurana tropicalis. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2016; 234:123-32. [PMID: 26987288 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In vertebrates, androgens are essential in many biological functions, including reproduction, immune system, metabolism, cardiovascular function, and the central nervous system. The most potent androgen 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT), which is actively involved in sexual differentiation and development, is converted from testosterone (T) by the steroid 5α-reductases type 1, 2, and 3 (Srd5α1, Srd5α2, and Srd5α3). Alternatively, steroid 5β-reductase (Srd5β) converts T to 5β-dihydrotestosterone (5β-DHT), a metabolite believed to be involved in steroid clearance. Recent studies suggested that Srd5 isoforms are targets for endocrine disruption. Thus, understanding the regulation of Srd5 is important to expand our knowledge on how exogenous compounds can interfere with these enzymes. In this study, we exposed frog brain, liver, and gonads ex vivo to T, 5α-DHT, and 5β-DHT in order to investigate the regulation of srd5 in response to androgens as a simulation of endocrine disrupting chemicals with androgenic properties. Androgens did not modulate srd5α2, suggesting that this isoform is not regulated by T and 5α-DHT in frogs. However, the DNA methylation of srd5α2 increased following 5α-DHT treatment suggesting that androgens can modulate epigenetic mechanisms in amphibians. In contrast, the DNA methylation of srd5α1 and srd5α3 remained stable after androgen exposure, but the mRNA levels of srd5α1 and srd5α3 were modulated by T, 5α-DHT, and 5β-DHT in a sex- and tissue-specific manner. While T positively regulates srd5α1 and srd5α3 in testes, T negatively regulates srd5α3 in ovaries. Moreover, exposure to T also increased the mRNA level of srd5β in the male brain suggesting a mechanism to protect the brain from androgen action by elimination of T into 5β-DHT. Thus, exogenous compounds with androgenic properties potentially interact with srd5 transcription and DNA methylation pattern, which could adversely affect biological functions of vertebrates during development and reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Bissegger
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Department, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Valerie S Langlois
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Department, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON, Canada.
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Dkhil MA, Al-Shaebi EM, Lubbad MY, Al-Quraishy S. Impact of sex differences in brain response to infection with Plasmodium berghei. Parasitol Res 2015; 115:415-22. [PMID: 26499384 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4803-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is considered to be one of the most prevalent diseases in the world. Severity of the disease between males and females is very important in clinical research areas. In this study, we investigated the impact of sex differences in brain response to infection with Plasmodium berghei. Male and female C57Bl/6 mice were infected with P. berghei-infected erythrocytes. The infection induced a significant change in weight loss in males (-7.2 % ± 0.5) than females (-4.9 % ± 0.6). The maximum parasitemia reached about 15 % at day 9 postinfection. Also, P. berghei infection caused histopathological changes in the brain of mice. These changes were in the form of inflammation, hemorrhage, and structural changes in Purkinje cells. In addition, P. berghei was able to induce a marked oxidative damage in mice brain. The infection induced a significant increase in male brain glutathione than females while the brain catalase level was significantly increased in infected females than infected males. Moreover, the change in brain neurotransmitters, dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, was more in infected males than infected females. At the molecular level, P. berghei was able to induce upregulations of Adam23, Cabp1, Cacnb4, Glrb, and Vdac3-mRNA in the brain of mice. These genes were significantly upregulated in infected males than in infected females. In general, P. berghei could induce structural, biochemical, and molecular alterations in mice brain. Severity of these alterations was different according to sex of mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A Dkhil
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box: 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia. .,Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Esam M Al-Shaebi
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box: 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud Y Lubbad
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box: 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.,General Directorate of Environmental and Occupational Health, Public Health Agency, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh Al-Quraishy
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box: 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
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Ongaro L, Salvetti NR, Giovambattista A, Spinedi E, Ortega HH. Neonatal androgenization-induced early endocrine–metabolic and ovary misprogramming in the female rat. Life Sci 2015; 130:66-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2015.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2014] [Revised: 03/08/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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