1
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Hai L, Maurya VK, DeMayo FJ, Lydon JP. Establishment of Murine Pregnancy Requires the Promyelocytic Leukemia Zinc Finger Transcription Factor. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3451. [PMID: 38542422 PMCID: PMC10970820 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Using an established human primary cell culture model, we previously demonstrated that the promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) transcription factor is a direct target of the progesterone receptor (PGR) and is essential for progestin-dependent decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs). These in vitro findings were supported by immunohistochemical analysis of human endometrial tissue biopsies, which showed that the strongest immunoreactivity for endometrial PLZF is detected during the progesterone (P4)-dominant secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. While these human studies provided critical clinical support for the important role of PLZF in P4-dependent HESC decidualization, functional validation in vivo was not possible due to the absence of suitable animal models. To address this deficiency, we recently generated a conditional knockout mouse model in which PLZF is ablated in PGR-positive cells of the mouse (Plzf d/d). The Plzf d/d female was phenotypically analyzed using immunoblotting, real-time PCR, and immunohistochemistry. Reproductive function was tested using the timed natural pregnancy model as well as the artificial decidual response assay. Even though ovarian activity is not affected, female Plzf d/d mice exhibit an infertility phenotype due to an inability of the embryo to implant into the Plzf d/d endometrium. Initial cellular and molecular phenotyping investigations reveal that the Plzf d/d endometrium is unable to develop a transient receptive state, which is reflected at the molecular level by a blunted response to P4 exposure with a concomitant unopposed response to 17-β estradiol. In addition to a defect in P4-dependent receptivity, the Plzf d/d endometrium fails to undergo decidualization in response to an artificial decidual stimulus, providing the in vivo validation for our earlier HESC culture findings. Collectively, our new Plzf d/d mouse model underscores the physiological importance of the PLZF transcription factor not only in endometrial stromal cell decidualization but also uterine receptivity, two uterine cellular processes that are indispensable for the establishment of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Hai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (L.H.); (V.K.M.)
| | - Vineet K. Maurya
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (L.H.); (V.K.M.)
| | - Francesco J. DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27709, USA;
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (L.H.); (V.K.M.)
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2
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Chadchan SB, Popli P, Liao Z, Andreas E, Dias M, Wang T, Gunderson SJ, Jimenez PT, Lanza DG, Lanz RB, Foulds CE, Monsivais D, DeMayo FJ, Yalamanchili HK, Jungheim ES, Heaney JD, Lydon JP, Moley KH, O'Malley BW, Kommagani R. A GREB1-steroid receptor feedforward mechanism governs differential GREB1 action in endometrial function and endometriosis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1947. [PMID: 38431630 PMCID: PMC10908778 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46180-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cellular responses to the steroid hormones, estrogen (E2), and progesterone (P4) are governed by their cognate receptor's transcriptional output. However, the feed-forward mechanisms that shape cell-type-specific transcriptional fulcrums for steroid receptors are unidentified. Herein, we found that a common feed-forward mechanism between GREB1 and steroid receptors regulates the differential effect of GREB1 on steroid hormones in a physiological or pathological context. In physiological (receptive) endometrium, GREB1 controls P4-responses in uterine stroma, affecting endometrial receptivity and decidualization, while not affecting E2-mediated epithelial proliferation. Of mechanism, progesterone-induced GREB1 physically interacts with the progesterone receptor, acting as a cofactor in a positive feedback mechanism to regulate P4-responsive genes. Conversely, in endometrial pathology (endometriosis), E2-induced GREB1 modulates E2-dependent gene expression to promote the growth of endometriotic lesions in mice. This differential action of GREB1 exerted by a common feed-forward mechanism with steroid receptors advances our understanding of mechanisms that underlie cell- and tissue-specific steroid hormone actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangappa B Chadchan
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Pooja Popli
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Zian Liao
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Eryk Andreas
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Michelle Dias
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Tianyuan Wang
- Integrative Bioinformatics, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Stephanie J Gunderson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Patricia T Jimenez
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Denise G Lanza
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Rainer B Lanz
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Charles E Foulds
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Diana Monsivais
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Hari Krishna Yalamanchili
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Emily S Jungheim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fienberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 77030, USA
| | - Jason D Heaney
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kelle H Moley
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Bert W O'Malley
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ramakrishna Kommagani
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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3
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Maurya VK, Szwarc MM, Lonard DM, Kommagani R, Wu SP, O’Malley BW, DeMayo FJ, Lydon JP. Steroid receptor coactivator-2 drives epithelial reprogramming that enables murine embryo implantation. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23313. [PMID: 37962238 PMCID: PMC10655894 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301581r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Although we have shown that steroid receptor coactivator-2 (SRC-2), a member of the p160/SRC family of transcriptional coregulators, is essential for decidualization of both human and murine endometrial stromal cells, SRC-2's role in the earlier stages of the implantation process have not been adequately addressed. Using a conditional SRC-2 knockout mouse (SRC-2d/d ) in timed natural pregnancy studies, we show that endometrial SRC-2 is required for embryo attachment and adherence to the luminal epithelium. Implantation failure is associated with the persistent expression of Mucin 1 and E-cadherin on the apical surface and basolateral adherens junctions of the SRC-2d/d luminal epithelium, respectively. These findings indicate that the SRC-2d/d luminal epithelium fails to exhibit a plasma membrane transformation (PMT) state known to be required for the development of uterine receptivity. Transcriptomics demonstrated that the expression of genes involved in steroid hormone control of uterine receptivity were significantly disrupted in the SRC-2d/d endometrium as well as genes that control epithelial tight junctional biology and the emergence of the epithelial mesenchymal transition state, with the latter sharing similar biological properties with PMT. Collectively, these findings uncover a new role for endometrial SRC-2 in the induction of the luminal epithelial PMT state, which is a prerequisite for the development of uterine receptivity and early pregnancy establishment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vineet K. Maurya
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Coregulator Research
| | - Maria M. Szwarc
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Coregulator Research
| | - David M. Lonard
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Coregulator Research
| | - Ramakrishna Kommagani
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - San Pin Wu
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Bert W. O’Malley
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Coregulator Research
| | - Francesco J. DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Coregulator Research
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4
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Brown M, Leon A, Kedzierska K, Moore C, Belnoue‐Davis HL, Flach S, Lydon JP, DeMayo FJ, Lewis A, Bosse T, Tomlinson I, Church DN. Functional analysis reveals driver cooperativity and novel mechanisms in endometrial carcinogenesis. EMBO Mol Med 2023; 15:e17094. [PMID: 37589076 PMCID: PMC10565641 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202217094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
High-risk endometrial cancer has poor prognosis and is increasing in incidence. However, understanding of the molecular mechanisms which drive this disease is limited. We used genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) to determine the functional consequences of missense and loss of function mutations in Fbxw7, Pten and Tp53, which collectively occur in nearly 90% of high-risk endometrial cancers. We show that Trp53 deletion and missense mutation cause different phenotypes, with the latter a substantially stronger driver of endometrial carcinogenesis. We also show that Fbxw7 missense mutation does not cause endometrial neoplasia on its own, but potently accelerates carcinogenesis caused by Pten loss or Trp53 missense mutation. By transcriptomic analysis, we identify LEF1 signalling as upregulated in Fbxw7/FBXW7-mutant mouse and human endometrial cancers, and in human isogenic cell lines carrying FBXW7 mutation, and validate LEF1 and the additional Wnt pathway effector TCF7L2 as novel FBXW7 substrates. Our study provides new insights into the biology of high-risk endometrial cancer and suggests that targeting LEF1 may be worthy of investigation in this treatment-resistant cancer subgroup.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Brown
- Cancer Genomics and Immunology Group, Wellcome Centre for Human GeneticsUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Oxford NIHR Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustOxfordUK
| | - Alicia Leon
- Department of PathologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Katarzyna Kedzierska
- Cancer Genomics and Immunology Group, Wellcome Centre for Human GeneticsUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Charlotte Moore
- Cancer Genomics and Immunology Group, Wellcome Centre for Human GeneticsUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Hayley L Belnoue‐Davis
- Gastrointestinal Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Wellcome Centre for Human GeneticsUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Susanne Flach
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck SurgeryLMU KlinikumMunichGermany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner SiteMunichGermany
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular BiologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTXUSA
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology LaboratoryNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesResearch Triangle ParkNCUSA
| | - Annabelle Lewis
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life SciencesBrunel University LondonUxbridgeUK
| | - Tjalling Bosse
- Department of PathologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Ian Tomlinson
- Institute of Genetics and CancerThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - David N Church
- Cancer Genomics and Immunology Group, Wellcome Centre for Human GeneticsUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Oxford NIHR Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustOxfordUK
- Oxford Cancer Centre, Churchill HospitalOxford University Hospitals Foundation NHS TrustOxfordUK
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5
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Oh Y, Quiroz E, Wang T, Medina-Laver Y, Redecke SM, Dominguez F, Lydon JP, DeMayo FJ, Wu SP. The NR2F2-HAND2 signaling axis regulates progesterone actions in the uterus at early pregnancy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1229033. [PMID: 37664846 PMCID: PMC10473531 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1229033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometrial function is dependent on a tight crosstalk between the epithelial and stromal cells of the endometrium. This communication is critical to ensure a fertile uterus and relies on progesterone and estrogen signaling to prepare a receptive uterus for embryo implantation in early pregnancy. One of the key mediators of this crosstalk is the orphan nuclear receptor NR2F2, which regulates uterine epithelial receptivity and stromal cell differentiation. In order to determine the molecular mechanism regulated by NR2F2, RNAseq analysis was conducted on the uterus of PgrCre;Nr2f2f/f mice at Day 3.5 of pregnancy. This transcriptomic analysis demonstrated Nr2f2 ablation in Pgr-expressing cells leads to a reduction of Hand2 expression, increased levels of Hand2 downstream effectors Fgf1 and Fgf18, and a transcriptome manifesting suppressed progesterone signaling with an altered immune baseline. ChIPseq analysis conducted on the Day 3.5 pregnant mouse uterus for NR2F2 demonstrated the majority of NR2F2 occupies genomic regions that have H3K27ac and H3K4me1 histone modifications, including the loci of major uterine transcription regulators Hand2, Egr1, and Zbtb16. Furthermore, functional analysis of an NR2F2 occupying site that is conserved between human and mouse was capable to enhance endogenous HAND2 mRNA expression with the CRISPR activator in human endometrial stroma cells. These data establish the NR2F2 dependent regulation of Hand2 in the stroma and identify a cis-acting element for this action. In summary, our findings reveal a role of the NR2F2-HAND2 regulatory axis that determines the uterine transcriptomic pattern in preparation for the endometrial receptivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeongseok Oh
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
- Department of Life Science and Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Elvis Quiroz
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Tianyuan Wang
- Biostatistics & Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Yassmin Medina-Laver
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, IVI Foundation, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), Valencia, Spain
| | - Skylar Montague Redecke
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Francisco Dominguez
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, IVI Foundation, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), Valencia, Spain
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Francesco J. DeMayo
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - San-Pin Wu
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
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6
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Hewitt SC, Gruzdev A, Willson CJ, Wu SP, Lydon JP, Galjart N, DeMayo FJ. Chromatin architectural factor CTCF is essential for progesterone-dependent uterine maturation. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23103. [PMID: 37489832 PMCID: PMC10372848 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202300862r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Receptors for estrogen and progesterone frequently interact, via Cohesin/CTCF loop extrusion, at enhancers distal from regulated genes. Loss-of-function CTCF mutation in >20% of human endometrial tumors indicates its importance in uterine homeostasis. To better understand how CTCF-mediated enhancer-gene interactions impact endometrial development and function, the Ctcf gene was selectively deleted in female reproductive tissues of mice. Prepubertal Ctcfd/d uterine tissue exhibited a marked reduction in the number of uterine glands compared to those without Ctcf deletion (Ctcff/f mice). Post-pubertal Ctcfd/d uteri were hypoplastic with significant reduction in both the amount of the endometrial stroma and number of glands. Transcriptional profiling revealed increased expression of stem cell molecules Lif, EOMES, and Lgr5, and enhanced inflammation pathways following Ctcf deletion. Analysis of the response of the uterus to steroid hormone stimulation showed that CTCF deletion affects a subset of progesterone-responsive genes. This finding indicates (1) Progesterone-mediated signaling remains functional following Ctcf deletion and (2) certain progesterone-regulated genes are sensitive to Ctcf deletion, suggesting they depend on gene-enhancer interactions that require CTCF. The progesterone-responsive genes altered by CTCF ablation included Ihh, Fst, and Errfi1. CTCF-dependent progesterone-responsive uterine genes enhance critical processes including anti-tumorigenesis, which is relevant to the known effectiveness of progesterone in inhibiting progression of early-stage endometrial tumors. Overall, our findings reveal that uterine Ctcf plays a key role in progesterone-dependent expression of uterine genes underlying optimal post-pubertal uterine development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - San-Pin Wu
- Pregnancy & Female Reproduction, DIR RDBL, NIEHS RTP, NC
| | | | - Niels Galjart
- Dept. of Cell Biology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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7
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Li R, Wang T, Marquardt RM, Lydon JP, Wu SP, DeMayo FJ. TRIM28 modulates nuclear receptor signaling to regulate uterine function. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4605. [PMID: 37528140 PMCID: PMC10393996 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40395-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Estrogen and progesterone, acting through their cognate receptors the estrogen receptor α (ERα) and the progesterone receptor (PR) respectively, regulate uterine biology. Using rapid immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry (RIME) and co-immunoprecipitation, we identified TRIM28 (Tripartite motif containing 28) as a protein which complexes with ERα and PR in the regulation of uterine function. Impairment of TRIM28 expression results in the inability of the uterus to support early pregnancy through altered PR and ERα action in the uterine epithelium and stroma by suppressing PR and ERα chromatin binding. Furthermore, TRIM28 ablation in PR-expressing uterine cells results in the enrichment of a subset of TRIM28 positive and PR negative pericytes and epithelial cells with progenitor potential. In summary, our study reveals the important roles of TRIM28 in regulating endometrial cell composition and function in women, and also implies its critical functions in other hormone regulated systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Li
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Tianyuan Wang
- Integrative Bioinformatics, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Ryan M Marquardt
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - San-Pin Wu
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
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8
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Maurya VK, Ying Y, Lanza DG, Heaney JD, Lydon JP. A CRISPR/Cas9-engineered mouse carrying a conditional knockout allele for the early growth response-1 transcription factor. Genesis 2023; 61:e23515. [PMID: 36949241 PMCID: PMC10514223 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Early growth response 1 (EGR1) mediates transcriptional programs that are indispensable for cell division, differentiation, and apoptosis in numerous physiologies and pathophysiologies. Whole-body EGR1 knockouts in mice (Egr1KO ) have advanced our understanding of EGR1 function in an in vivo context. To extend the utility of the mouse to investigate EGR1 responses in a tissue- and/or cell-type-specific manner, we generated a mouse model in which exon 2 of the mouse Egr1 gene is floxed by CRISPR/Cas9 engineering. The floxed Egr1 alleles (Egr1f/f ) are designed to enable spatiotemporal control of Cre-mediated EGR1 ablation in the mouse. To confirm that the Egr1f/f alleles can be abrogated using a Cre driver, we crossed the Egr1f/f mouse with a global Cre driver to generate the Egr1 conditional knockout (Egr1d/d ) mouse in which EGR1 expression is ablated in all tissues. Genetic and protein analysis confirmed the absence of exon 2 and loss of EGR1 expression in the Egr1d/d mouse, respectively. Moreover, the Egr1d/d female exhibits overt reproductive phenotypes previously reported for the Egr1KO mouse. Therefore, studies described in this short technical report underscore the potential utility of the murine Egr1 floxed allele to further resolve EGR1 function at a tissue- and/or cell-type-specific level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vineet K. Maurya
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Yan Ying
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Denise G. Lanza
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - Jason D. Heaney
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, 77030
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, 77030
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9
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Yang SC, Park M, Hong KH, La H, Park C, Wang P, Li G, Chen Q, Choi Y, DeMayo FJ, Lydon JP, Skalnik DG, Lim HJ, Hong SH, Park SH, Kim YS, Kim HR, Song H. CFP1 governs uterine epigenetic landscapes to intervene in progesterone responses for uterine physiology and suppression of endometriosis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3220. [PMID: 37270588 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39008-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Progesterone (P4) is required for the preparation of the endometrium for a successful pregnancy. P4 resistance is a leading cause of the pathogenesis of endometrial disorders like endometriosis, often leading to infertility; however, the underlying epigenetic cause remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that CFP1, a regulator of H3K4me3, is required for maintaining epigenetic landscapes of P4-progesterone receptor (PGR) signaling networks in the mouse uterus. Cfp1f/f;Pgr-Cre (Cfp1d/d) mice showed impaired P4 responses, leading to complete failure of embryo implantation. mRNA and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analyses showed that CFP1 regulates uterine mRNA profiles not only in H3K4me3-dependent but also in H3K4me3-independent manners. CFP1 directly regulates important P4 response genes, including Gata2, Sox17, and Ihh, which activate smoothened signaling pathway in the uterus. In a mouse model of endometriosis, Cfp1d/d ectopic lesions showed P4 resistance, which was rescued by a smoothened agonist. In human endometriosis, CFP1 was significantly downregulated, and expression levels between CFP1 and these P4 targets are positively related regardless of PGR levels. In brief, our study provides that CFP1 intervenes in the P4-epigenome-transcriptome networks for uterine receptivity for embryo implantation and the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Chel Yang
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, 13488, Korea
| | - Mira Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, 13488, Korea
| | - Kwon-Ho Hong
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Korea
| | - Hyeonwoo La
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Korea
| | - Chanhyeok Park
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Korea
| | - Peike Wang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Gaizhen Li
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Qionghua Chen
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Youngsok Choi
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Korea
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Department of Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, 12233, USA
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - David G Skalnik
- Department of Biology, School of Science, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Hyunjung J Lim
- Department of Veterinary Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Korea
| | - Seok-Ho Hong
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 24431, Korea
- KW-Bio Co., Ltd, Wonju, 26493, Korea
| | - So Hee Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, 13488, Korea
| | - Yeon Sun Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, 13488, Korea
| | - Hye-Ryun Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, 13488, Korea
| | - Haengseok Song
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, 13488, Korea.
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10
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Popli P, Tang S, Chadchan SB, Talwar C, Rucker EB, Guan X, Monsivais D, Lydon JP, Stallings CL, Moley KH, Kommagani R. Beclin-1-dependent autophagy, but not apoptosis, is critical for stem-cell-mediated endometrial programming and the establishment of pregnancy. Dev Cell 2023; 58:885-897.e4. [PMID: 37040770 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
The human endometrium shows a remarkable regenerative capacity that enables cyclical regeneration and remodeling throughout a woman's reproductive life. Although early postnatal uterine developmental cues direct this regeneration, the vital factors that govern early endometrial programming are largely unknown. We report that Beclin-1, an essential autophagy-associated protein, plays an integral role in uterine morphogenesis during the early postnatal period. We show that conditional depletion of Beclin-1 in the uterus triggers apoptosis and causes progressive loss of Lgr5+/Aldh1a1+ endometrial progenitor stem cells, with concomitant loss of Wnt signaling, which is crucial for stem cell renewal and epithelial gland development. Beclin-1 knockin (Becn1 KI) mice with disabled apoptosis exhibit normal uterine development. Importantly, the restoration of Beclin-1-driven autophagy, but not apoptosis, promotes normal uterine adenogenesis and morphogenesis. Together, the data suggest that Beclin-1-mediated autophagy acts as a molecular switch that governs the early uterine morphogenetic program by maintaining the endometrial progenitor stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Popli
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Suni Tang
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sangappa B Chadchan
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Chandni Talwar
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Edmund B Rucker
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Xiaoming Guan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Diana Monsivais
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Christina L Stallings
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center for Women's Infectious Disease Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kelle H Moley
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ramakrishna Kommagani
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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11
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Li Y, Martin TE, Hancock JM, Li R, Viswanathan S, Lydon JP, Zheng Y, Ye X. Visualization of preimplantation uterine fluid absorption in mice using Alexa Fluor™ 488 Hydrazide†. Biol Reprod 2023; 108:204-217. [PMID: 36308434 PMCID: PMC9930399 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Uterine fluid plays important roles in supporting early pregnancy events and its timely absorption is critical for embryo implantation. In mice, its volume is maximum on day 0.5 post-coitum (D0.5) and approaches minimum upon embryo attachment ~D4.0. Its secretion and absorption in ovariectomized rodents were shown to be promoted by estrogen and progesterone (P4), respectively. The temporal mechanisms in preimplantation uterine fluid absorption remain to be elucidated. We have established an approach using intraluminally injected Alexa Fluor™ 488 Hydrazide (AH) in preimplantation control (RhoAf/f) and P4-deficient RhoAf/fPgrCre/+ mice. In control mice, bulk entry (seen as smeared cellular staining) via uterine luminal epithelium (LE) decreases from D0.5 to D3.5. In P4-deficient RhoAf/fPgrCre/+ mice, bulk entry on D0.5 and D3.5 is impaired. Exogenous P4 treatment on D1.5 and D2.5 increases bulk entry in D3.5 P4-deficient RhoAf/fPgrCre/+ LE, while progesterone receptor (PR) antagonist RU486 treatment on D1.5 and D2.5 diminishes bulk entry in D3.5 control LE. The abundance of autofluorescent apical fine dots, presumptively endocytic vesicles to reflect endocytosis, in the LE cells is generally increased from D0.5 to D3.5 but its regulation by exogenous P4 or RU486 is not obvious under our experimental setting. In the glandular epithelium (GE), bulk entry is rarely observed and green cellular dots do not show any consistent differences among all the investigated conditions. This study demonstrates the dominant role of LE but not GE, the temporal mechanisms of bulk entry and endocytosis in the LE, and the inhibitory effects of P4-deficiency and RU486 on bulk entry in the LE in preimplantation uterine fluid absorption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuehuan Li
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Taylor Elijah Martin
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Jonathan Matthew Hancock
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Rong Li
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Suvitha Viswanathan
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yi Zheng
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Xiaoqin Ye
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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12
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Sagae Y, Horie A, Yanai A, Ohara T, Nakakita B, Kitawaki Y, Okunomiya A, Tani H, Yamaguchi K, Hamanishi J, Lydon JP, Daikoku T, Watanabe H, Mandai M. Versican provides the provisional matrix for uterine spiral artery dilation and fetal growth. Matrix Biol 2023; 115:16-31. [PMID: 36423736 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2022.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) in the endometrium plays a crucial role in mammalian pregnancy. We have shown that versican secreted from the endometrial epithelium promotes embryo implantation. Versican is a proteoglycan, a major player in the provisional matrix, and versikine, its N-terminal fragment cleaved by ADAMTS proteinases, serves as a bioactive molecule. Here, since versican expression in the placenta was dynamically altered in humans and mice, we investigated the role of versican in pregnancy using uterine-specific Vcan deletion mice (uKO mice) and ADAMTS-resistant versican expressing mice (V1R mice). uKO mice exhibited insufficient spiral artery dilation, followed by fetal growth restriction and maternal hypertension. Further analysis revealed impaired proliferation of tissue-resident natural killer cells required for spiral artery dilation. V1R mice showed the same results as the control, eliminating the involvement of versikine. Our results provide a new concept that versican, one factor of ECM, contributes to placentation and following fetal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Sagae
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akihito Horie
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Akihiro Yanai
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Ohara
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Baku Nakakita
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshimi Kitawaki
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Asuka Okunomiya
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hirohiko Tani
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shizuoka General Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Ken Yamaguchi
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Junzo Hamanishi
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Center for Drug Discovery, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Takiko Daikoku
- Division of Animal Disease Model, Research Center for Experimental Modeling of Human Disease, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Hideto Watanabe
- Institute for Molecular Science of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan
| | - Masaki Mandai
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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13
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Maurya VK, Szwarc MM, Lonard DM, Gibbons WE, Wu SP, O’Malley BW, DeMayo FJ, Lydon JP. Decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells requires steroid receptor coactivator-3. Front Reprod Health 2022; 4:1033581. [PMID: 36505394 PMCID: PMC9730893 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2022.1033581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Steroid receptor coactivator-3 (SRC-3; also known as NCOA3 or AIB1) is a member of the multifunctional p160/SRC family of coactivators, which also includes SRC-1 and SRC-2. Clinical and cell-based studies as well as investigations on mice have demonstrated pivotal roles for each SRC in numerous physiological and pathophysiological contexts, underscoring their functional pleiotropy. We previously demonstrated the critical involvement of SRC-2 in murine embryo implantation as well as in human endometrial stromal cell (HESC) decidualization, a cellular transformation process required for trophoblast invasion and ultimately placentation. We show here that, like SRC-2, SRC-3 is expressed in the epithelial and stromal cellular compartments of the human endometrium during the proliferative and secretory phase of the menstrual cycle as well as in cultured HESCs. We also found that SRC-3 depletion in cultured HESCs results in a significant attenuation in the induction of a wide-range of established biomarkers of decidualization, despite exposure of these cells to a deciduogenic stimulus and normal progesterone receptor expression. These molecular findings are supported at the cellular level by the inability of HESCs to morphologically transform from a stromal fibroblastoid cell to an epithelioid decidual cell when endogenous SRC-3 levels are markedly reduced. To identify genes, signaling pathways and networks that are controlled by SRC-3 and potentially important for hormone-dependent decidualization, we performed RNA-sequencing on HESCs in which SRC-3 levels were significantly reduced at the time of administering the deciduogenic stimulus. Comparing HESC controls with HESCs deficient in SRC-3, gene enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed gene set revealed an overrepresentation of genes involved in chromatin remodeling, cell proliferation/motility, and programmed cell death. These predictive bioanalytic results were confirmed by the demonstration that SRC-3 is required for the expansion, migratory and invasive activities of the HESC population, cellular properties that are required in vivo in the formation or functioning of the decidua. Collectively, our results support SRC-3 as an important coregulator in HESC decidualization. Since perturbation of normal homeostatic levels of SRC-3 is linked with common gynecological disorders diagnosed in reproductive age women, this endometrial coregulator-along with its new molecular targets described here-may open novel clinical avenues in the diagnosis and/or treatment of a non-receptive endometrium, particularly in patients presenting non-aneuploid early pregnancy loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vineet K. Maurya
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Maria M. Szwarc
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - David M. Lonard
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - William E. Gibbons
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - San-Pin Wu
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Bert W. O’Malley
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Francesco J. DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, United States
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Correspondence: John P. Lydon
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14
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Yu X, Yi P, Panigrahi AK, Lumahan LEV, Lydon JP, Lonard DM, Lutdke SJ, Wang Z, O'Malley BW. Spatial definition of the human progesterone receptor-B transcriptional complex. iScience 2022; 25:105321. [PMID: 36325049 PMCID: PMC9618773 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
We report the quaternary structure of core transcriptional complex for the full-length human progesterone receptor-B (PR-B) homodimer with primary coactivator steroid receptor coactivator-2 (SRC-2) and the secondary coactivator p300/CREB-binding protein (CBP). The PR-B homodimer engages one SRC-2 mainly through its activation function 1 (AF1) in N-terminus. SRC-2 is positioned between PR-B and p300 leaving space for direct interaction between PR-B and p300 through PR-B's C-terminal AF2 and its unique AF3. Direct AF3/p300 interaction provides long-desired structural insights into the known functional differences between PR-B and the PR-A isoform lacking AF3. We reveal the contributions of each AF and demonstrate their structural basis in forming the PR-B dimer interface and PR-B/coactivator complex. Comparison of the PR-B/coactivator complex with other steroid receptor (estrogen receptor and androgen receptor) complexes also shows that each receptor has its unique mechanism for recruiting coactivators due to the highly variable N-termini among receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinzhe Yu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ping Yi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Center for Nuclear Receptor and Cell Signaling, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Anil K Panigrahi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lance Edward V Lumahan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - David M Lonard
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Steven J Lutdke
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,CryoEM/ET Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zhao Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,CryoEM/ET Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Bert W O'Malley
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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15
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Szwarc MM, Hai L, Maurya VK, Rajapakshe K, Perera D, Ittmann MM, Mo Q, Lin Y, Bettini ML, Coarfa C, Lydon JP. Histopathologic and transcriptomic phenotypes of a conditional RANKL transgenic mouse thymus. Cytokine 2022; 160:156022. [PMID: 36099756 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.156022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Although conventional knockout and transgenic mouse models have significantly advanced our understanding of Receptor Activator of NF-κB Ligand (RANKL) signaling in intra-thymic crosstalk that establishes self-tolerance and later stages of lymphopoiesis, the unique advantages of conditional mouse transgenesis have yet to be explored. A main advantage of conditional transgenesis is the ability to express a transgene in a spatiotemporal restricted manner, enabling the induction (or de-induction) of transgene expression during predetermined stages of embryogenesis or during defined postnatal developmental or physiological states, such as puberty, adulthood, and pregnancy. Here, we describe the K5: RANKL bigenic mouse, in which transgene derived RANKL expression is induced by doxycycline and targeted to cytokeratin 5 positive medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). Short-term doxycycline induction reveals that RANKL transgene expression is significantly induced in the thymic medulla and only in response to doxycycline. Prolonged doxycycline induction in the K5: RANKL bigenic results in a significantly enlarged thymus in which mTECs are hyperproliferative. Flow cytometry showed that there is a marked enrichment of CD4+ and CD8+ single positive thymocytes with a concomitant depletion of CD4+ CD8+ double positives. Furthermore, there is an increase in the number of FOXP3+ T regulatory (Treg) cells and Ulex Europaeus Agglutinin 1+ (UEA1+) mTECs. Transcriptomics revealed that a remarkable array of signals-cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, transcription factors, and morphogens-are governed by RANKL and drive in part the K5: RANKL thymic phenotype. Extended doxycycline administration to 6-weeks results in a K5: RANKL thymus that begins to display distinct histopathological features, such as medullary epithelial hyperplasia, extensive immune cell infiltration, and central tissue necrosis. As there are intense efforts to develop clinical approaches to restore thymic medullary function in the adult to treat immunopathological conditions in which immune cell function is compromised following cancer therapy or toxin exposure, an improved molecular understanding of RANKL's involvement in thymic medulla enlargement will be required. We believe the versatility of the conditional K5: RANKL mouse represents a tractable model system to assist in addressing this requirement as well as many other questions related to RANKL's role in thymic normal physiology and disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M Szwarc
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States
| | - Lan Hai
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States
| | - Vineet K Maurya
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States
| | | | - Dimuthu Perera
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States
| | - Michael M Ittmann
- Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Qianxing Mo
- Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Yong Lin
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Matthew L Bettini
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Cristian Coarfa
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States.
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16
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Maurya VK, Szwarc MM, Fernandez-Valdivia R, Lonard DM, Song Y, Joshi N, Fazleabas AT, Lydon JP. Early growth response 1 transcription factor is essential for the pathogenic properties of human endometriotic epithelial cells. Reproduction 2022; 164:41-54. [PMID: 35679138 PMCID: PMC9339520 DOI: 10.1530/rep-22-0123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Although a non-malignant gynecological disorder, endometriosis displays some pathogenic features of malignancy, such as cell proliferation, migration, invasion and adaptation to hypoxia. Current treatments of endometriosis include pharmacotherapy and/or surgery, which are of limited efficacy and often associated with adverse side effects. Therefore, to develop more effective therapies to treat this disease, a broader understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms that underpin endometriosis needs to be attained. Using immortalized human endometriotic epithelial and stromal cell lines, we demonstrate that the early growth response 1 (EGR1) transcription factor is essential for cell proliferation, migration and invasion, which represent some of the pathogenic properties of endometriotic cells. Genome-wide transcriptomics identified an EGR1-dependent transcriptome in human endometriotic epithelial cells that potentially encodes a diverse spectrum of proteins that are known to be involved in tissue pathologies. To underscore the utility of this transcriptomic data set, we demonstrate that carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9), a homeostatic regulator of intracellular pH, is not only a molecular target of EGR1 but is also important for maintaining many of the cellular properties of human endometriotic epithelial cells that are also ascribed to EGR1. Considering therapeutic intervention strategies are actively being developed for EGR1 and CAIX in the treatment of other pathologies, we believe EGR1 and its transcriptome (which includes CA9) will offer not only a new conceptual framework to advance our understanding of endometriosis but will also furnish new molecular vulnerabilities to be leveraged as potential therapeutic options in the future treatment of endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vineet K. Maurya
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Maria M. Szwarc
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - David M. Lonard
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yong Song
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Niraj Joshi
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Asgerally T. Fazleabas
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA,Correspondence should be addressed to JP Lydon;
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17
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Madhavan MK, DeMayo FJ, Lydon JP, Joshi NR, Fazleabas AT, Arora R. Aberrant uterine folding in mice disrupts implantation chamber formation and alignment of embryo-uterine axes. Development 2022; 149:275675. [PMID: 35575097 PMCID: PMC9245188 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The uterine luminal epithelium folds characteristically in mammals, including humans, horses and rodents. Improper uterine folding in horses results in pregnancy failure, but the precise function of folds remains unknown. Here, we uncover dynamic changes in the 3D uterine folding pattern during early pregnancy with the entire lumen forming pre-implantation transverse folds along the mesometrial-antimesometrial axis. Using a time course, we show that transverse folds are formed before embryo spacing, whereas implantation chambers form as the embryo begins attachment. Thus, folds and chambers are two distinct structures. Transverse folds resolve to form a flat implantation region, after which an embryo arrives at its center to attach and form the post-implantation chamber. Our data also suggest that the implantation chamber facilitates embryo rotation and its alignment along the uterine mesometrial-antimesometrial axis. Using WNT5A- and RBPJ-deficient mice that display aberrant folds, we show that embryos trapped in longitudinal folds display misalignment of the embryo-uterine axes, abnormal chamber formation and defective post-implantation morphogenesis. These mouse models with disrupted uterine folding provide an opportunity to understand uterine structure-based mechanisms that are crucial for implantation and pregnancy success.
This article has an associated ‘The people behind the papers’ interview.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoj K. Madhavan
- Michigan State University 1 Department of Biomedical Engineering , , East Lansing, MI 48824 , USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering 2 , , East Lansing, MI 48824 , USA
- Michigan State University 2 , , East Lansing, MI 48824 , USA
| | - Francesco J. DeMayo
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 3 Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory , , Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 , USA
| | - John P. Lydon
- Baylor College of Medicine 4 Department of Molecular and Cell Biology , , Houston, TX 77030 , USA
| | - Niraj R. Joshi
- Michigan State University 5 Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology , , Grand Rapids, MI 49503 , USA
| | - Asgerally T. Fazleabas
- Michigan State University 5 Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology , , Grand Rapids, MI 49503 , USA
| | - Ripla Arora
- Michigan State University 1 Department of Biomedical Engineering , , East Lansing, MI 48824 , USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering 2 , , East Lansing, MI 48824 , USA
- Michigan State University 2 , , East Lansing, MI 48824 , USA
- Michigan State University 5 Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology , , Grand Rapids, MI 49503 , USA
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18
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Ahn SH, Nguyen SL, Kim TH, Jeong JW, Arora R, Lydon JP, Petroff MG. Nuclear Progesterone Receptor Expressed by the Cortical Thymic Epithelial Cells Dictates Thymus Involution in Murine Pregnancy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:846226. [PMID: 35498436 PMCID: PMC9046655 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.846226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Progesterone is a gonadal pro-gestational hormone that is absolutely necessary for the success of pregnancy. Most notable actions of progesterone are observed in the female reproductive organs, the uterus and the ovary. Acting through the nuclear progesterone receptor (PGR), progesterone prepares the endometrium for implantation of the embryo. Interestingly, the maternal thymus also is a known expressor of Pgr; its absence is associated with murine pregnancy complications. However, the localization of its expression and its functional importance were not known. Here, we used a transgenic dual fluorescent reporter mouse model and genetic deletion of Pgr in Foxn1+ thymic epithelial cells (TEC) to demonstrate TEC-specific Pgr expression in pregnancy, especially in the cortex where thymocyte maturation occurs. Using our TEC-specific Pgr deletion mouse model, we demonstrate that TEC-specific Pgr is necessary for pregnancy-induced thymic involution in pregnancy. Our investigation reveals that PGR expression is upregulated in the cortical thymic epithelial cells during pregnancy, and that PGR expression is important for thymic involution during murine pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Hyun Ahn
- Department of Pathobiology Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Sean L. Nguyen
- Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Tae Hoon Kim
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Jae-Wook Jeong
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Ripla Arora
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Margaret G. Petroff
- Department of Pathobiology Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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19
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Fang X, Ni N, Wang X, Tian Y, Ivanov I, Rijnkels M, Bayless KJ, Lydon JP, Li Q. EZH2 and Endometrial Cancer Development: Insights from a Mouse Model. Cells 2022; 11:cells11050909. [PMID: 35269532 PMCID: PMC8909840 DOI: 10.3390/cells11050909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a core component of polycomb repressive complex 2, plays an important role in cancer development. As both oncogenic and tumor suppressive functions of EZH2 have been documented in the literature, the objective of this study is to determine the impact of Ezh2 deletion on the development and progression of endometrial cancer induced by inactivation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a tumor suppressor gene frequently dysregulated in endometrial cancer patients. To this end, we created mice harboring uterine deletion of both Ezh2 and Pten using Cre recombinase driven by the progesterone receptor (Pgr) promoter. Our results showed reduced tumor burden in Ptend/d; Ezh2d/d mice compared with that of Ptend/d mice during early carcinogenesis. The decreased Ki67 index in EZH2 and PTEN-depleted uteri versus that in PTEN-depleted uteri indicated an oncogenic role of EZH2 during early tumor development. However, mice harboring uterine deletion of both Ezh2 and Pten developed unfavorable disease outcome, accompanied by exacerbated epithelial stratification and heightened inflammatory response. The observed effect was non-cell autonomous and mediated by altered immune response evidenced by massive accumulation of intraluminal neutrophils, a hallmark of endometrial carcinoma in Ptend/d; Ezh2d/d mice during disease progression. Hence, these results reveal dual roles of EZH2 in endometrial cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Fang
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (X.F.); (N.N.); (M.R.)
| | - Nan Ni
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (X.F.); (N.N.); (M.R.)
| | - Xiaofang Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX 75246, USA;
| | - Yanan Tian
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (Y.T.); (I.I.)
| | - Ivan Ivanov
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (Y.T.); (I.I.)
| | - Monique Rijnkels
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (X.F.); (N.N.); (M.R.)
| | - Kayla J. Bayless
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA;
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Qinglei Li
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (X.F.); (N.N.); (M.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-979-862-2009; Fax: +1-979-847-8981
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20
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Ahn SH, Nguyen SL, Kim TH, Jeong JW, Arora R, Lydon JP, Petroff MG. Corrigendum: Nuclear Progesterone Receptor Expressed by the Cortical Thymic Epithelial Cells Dictates Thymus Involution in Murine Pregnancy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:958735. [PMID: 35800431 PMCID: PMC9253860 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.958735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.846226.].
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Hyun Ahn
- Department of Pathobiology Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Sean L. Nguyen
- Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Tae Hoon Kim
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Jae-Wook Jeong
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Ripla Arora
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Margaret G. Petroff
- Department of Pathobiology Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- *Correspondence: Margaret G. Petroff,
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21
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Oestreich AK, Chadchan SB, Medvedeva A, Lydon JP, Jungheim ES, Moley KH, Kommagani R. The autophagy protein, FIP200 (RB1CC1) mediates progesterone responses governing uterine receptivity and decidualization†. Biol Reprod 2021; 102:843-851. [PMID: 31901086 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful establishment of pregnancy depends on steroid hormone-driven cellular changes in the uterus during the peri-implantation period. To become receptive to embryo implantation, uterine endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) must transdifferentiate into decidual cells that secrete factors necessary for embryo survival and trophoblast invasion. Autophagy is a key homeostatic process vital for cellular homeostasis. Although the uterus undergoes major cellular changes during early pregnancy, the precise role of autophagy in uterine function is unknown. Here, we report that conditional knockout of the autophagy protein FIP200 in the reproductive tract of female mice results in reduced fecundity due to an implantation defect. In the absence of FIP200, aberrant progesterone signaling results in sustained uterine epithelial proliferation and failure of stromal cells to decidualize. Additionally, loss of FIP200 impairs decidualization of human ESCs. We conclude that the autophagy protein FIP200 plays a crucial role in uterine receptivity, decidualization, and fertility. These data establish autophagy as a major cellular pathway required for uterine receptivity and decidualization in both mice and human ESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arin K Oestreich
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA and
| | - Sangappa B Chadchan
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA and
| | - Alexandra Medvedeva
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA and
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Emily S Jungheim
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA and
| | - Kelle H Moley
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA and
| | - Ramakrishna Kommagani
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA and
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22
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McGlade EA, Herrera GG, Stephens KK, Olsen SLW, Winuthayanon S, Guner J, Hewitt SC, Korach KS, DeMayo FJ, Lydon JP, Monsivais D, Winuthayanon W. Cell-type specific analysis of physiological action of estrogen in mouse oviducts. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21563. [PMID: 33818810 PMCID: PMC8189321 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202002747r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
One of the endogenous estrogens, 17β-estradiol (E2 ) is a female steroid hormone secreted from the ovary. It is well established that E2 causes biochemical and histological changes in the uterus. However, it is not completely understood how E2 regulates the oviductal environment in vivo. In this study, we assessed the effect of E2 on each oviductal cell type, using an ovariectomized-hormone-replacement mouse model, single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), in situ hybridization, and cell-type-specific deletion in mice. We found that each cell type in the oviduct responded to E2 distinctively, especially ciliated and secretory epithelial cells. The treatment of exogenous E2 did not drastically alter the transcriptomic profile from that of endogenous E2 produced during estrus. Moreover, we have identified and validated genes of interest in our datasets that may be used as cell- and region-specific markers in the oviduct. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf1) was characterized as an E2 -target gene in the mouse oviduct and was also expressed in human fallopian tubes. Deletion of Igf1 in progesterone receptor (Pgr)-expressing cells resulted in female subfertility, partially due to an embryo developmental defect and embryo retention within the oviduct. In summary, we have shown that oviductal cell types, including epithelial, stromal, and muscle cells, are differentially regulated by E2 and support gene expression changes, such as growth factors that are required for normal embryo development and transport in mouse models. Furthermore, we have identified cell-specific and region-specific gene markers for targeted studies and functional analysis in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A. McGlade
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Gerardo G. Herrera
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Kalli K. Stephens
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Sierra L. W. Olsen
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Sarayut Winuthayanon
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Joie Guner
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Center for Drug Discovery, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sylvia C. Hewitt
- Department of Health and Human Services, Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIEHS), NC, USA
| | - Kenneth S. Korach
- Department of Health and Human Services, Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIEHS), NC, USA
| | - Francesco J. DeMayo
- Department of Health and Human Services, Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIEHS), NC, USA
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Diana Monsivais
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Center for Drug Discovery, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wipawee Winuthayanon
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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23
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Park CJ, Lin PC, Zhou S, Barakat R, Bashir ST, Choi JM, Cacioppo JA, Oakley OR, Duffy DM, Lydon JP, Ko CJ. Progesterone Receptor Serves the Ovary as a Trigger of Ovulation and a Terminator of Inflammation. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107496. [PMID: 32294429 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.03.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovulation is triggered by the gonadotropin surge that induces the expression of two key genes, progesterone receptor (Pgr) and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (Ptgs2), in the granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles. Their gene products PGR and PTGS2 activate two separate pathways that are both essential for successful ovulation. Here, we show that the PGR plays an additional essential role: it attenuates ovulatory inflammation by diminishing the gonadotropin surge-induced Ptgs2 expression. PGR indirectly terminates Ptgs2 expression and PGE2 synthesis in granulosa cells by inhibiting the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), a transcription factor required for Ptgs2 expression. When the expression of PGR is ablated in granulosa cells, the ovary undergoes a hyperinflammatory condition manifested by excessive PGE2 synthesis, immune cell infiltration, oxidative damage, and neoplastic transformation of ovarian cells. The PGR-driven termination of PTGS2 expression may protect the ovary from ovulatory inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan Jin Park
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Po-Ching Lin
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Sherry Zhou
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Radwa Barakat
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA; Department of Toxicology and Forensic Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Qalyubia 13518, Egypt
| | - Shah Tauseef Bashir
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Jeong Moon Choi
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Joseph A Cacioppo
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Oliver R Oakley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY 40475, USA
| | - Diane M Duffy
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, PO Box 1980, Norfolk, VA 23501, USA
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - CheMyong J Ko
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
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24
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Wang X, Praça MSL, Wendel JRH, Emerson RE, DeMayo FJ, Lydon JP, Hawkins SM. Vaginal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Develops in Mice with Conditional Arid1a Loss and Gain of Oncogenic Kras Driven by Progesterone Receptor Cre. Am J Pathol 2021; 191:1281-1291. [PMID: 33882289 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2021.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Oncogenic KRAS mutations are a common finding in endometrial cancers. Recent sequencing studies indicate that loss-of-function mutations in the ARID1A gene are enriched in gynecologic malignant tumors. However, neither of these genetic insults alone are sufficient to develop gynecologic cancer. To determine the role of the combined effects of deletion of Arid1a and oncogenic Kras, Arid1aflox/flox mice were crossed with KrasLox-Stop-Lox-G12D/+ mice using progesterone receptor Cre (PgrCre/+). Histologic analysis and immunohistochemistry of survival studies were used to characterize the mutant mouse phenotype. Hormone dependence was evaluated by ovarian hormone depletion and estradiol replacement. Arid1aflox/flox; KrasLox-Stop-Lox-G12D/+; PgrCre/+ mice were euthanized early because of invasive vaginal squamous cell carcinoma. Younger mice had precancerous intraepithelial lesions. Immunohistochemistry supported the pathological diagnosis with abnormal expression and localization of cytokeratin 5, tumor protein P63, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A, and Ki-67, the marker of proliferation. Ovarian hormone deletion in Arid1aflox/flox; KrasLox-Stop-Lox-G12D/+; PgrCre/+ mice resulted in atrophic vaginal epithelium without evidence of vaginal tumors. Estradiol replacement in ovarian hormone-depleted Arid1aflox/flox; KrasLox-Stop-Lox-G12D/+; PgrCre/+ mice resulted in lesions that resembled the squamous cell carcinoma in intact mice. Therefore, this mouse can be used to study the transition from benign precursor lesions into invasive vaginal human papillomavirus-independent squamous cell carcinoma, offering insights into progression and pathogenesis of this rare disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyin Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Mariana S L Praça
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Jillian R H Wendel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Robert E Emerson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Shannon M Hawkins
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
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25
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Maurya VK, DeMayo FJ, Lydon JP. Illuminating the "Black Box" of Progesterone-Dependent Embryo Implantation Using Engineered Mice. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:640907. [PMID: 33898429 PMCID: PMC8058370 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.640907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Synchrony between progesterone-driven endometrial receptivity and the arrival of a euploid blastocyst is essential for embryo implantation, a prerequisite event in the establishment of a successful pregnancy. Advancement of embryo implantation within the uterus also requires stromal fibroblasts of the endometrium to transform into epithelioid decidual cells, a progesterone-dependent cellular transformation process termed decidualization. Although progesterone is indispensable for these cellular processes, the molecular underpinnings are not fully understood. Because human studies are restricted, much of our fundamental understanding of progesterone signaling in endometrial periimplantation biology comes from in vitro and in vivo experimental systems. In this review, we focus on the tremendous progress attained with the use of engineered mouse models together with high throughput genome-scale analysis in disclosing key signals, pathways and networks that are required for normal endometrial responses to progesterone during the periimplantation period. Many molecular mediators and modifiers of the progesterone response are implicated in cross talk signaling between epithelial and stromal cells of the endometrium, an intercellular communication system that is critical for the ordered spatiotemporal control of embryo invasion within the maternal compartment. Accordingly, derailment of these signaling systems is causally linked with infertility, early embryo miscarriage and gestational complications that symptomatically manifest later in pregnancy. Such aberrant progesterone molecular responses also contribute to endometrial pathologies such as endometriosis, endometrial hyperplasia and cancer. Therefore, our review makes the case that further identification and functional analysis of key molecular mediators and modifiers of the endometrial response to progesterone will not only provide much-needed molecular insight into the early endometrial cellular changes that promote pregnancy establishment but lend credible hope for the development of more effective mechanism-based molecular diagnostics and precision therapies in the clinical management of female infertility, subfertility and a subset of gynecological morbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vineet K Maurya
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, United States
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26
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Kim YS, Yang SC, Park M, Choi Y, DeMayo FJ, Lydon JP, Kim H, Lim HJ, Song H. Different Cre systems induce differential microRNA landscapes and abnormalities in the female reproductive tracts of Dgcr8 conditional knockout mice. Cell Prolif 2021; 54:e12996. [PMID: 33496365 PMCID: PMC7941225 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The female reproductive tract comprises several different cell types. Using three representative Cre systems, we comparatively analysed the phenotypes of Dgcr8 conditional knockout (cKO) mice to understand the function of Dgcr8, involved in canonical microRNA biogenesis, in the female reproductive tract. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dgcr8f/f mice were crossed with Ltficre/+ , Amhr2cre/+ or PRcre/+ mice to produce mice deficient in Dgcr8 in epithelial (Dgcr8ed/ed ), mesenchymal (Dgcr8md/md ) and all the compartments (Dgcr8td/td ) in the female reproductive tract. Reproductive phenotypes were evaluated in Dgcr8 cKO mice. Uteri and/or oviducts were used for small RNA-seq, mRNA-seq, real-time RT-PCR, and/or morphologic and histological analyses. RESULT Dgcr8ed/ed mice did not exhibit any distinct defects, whereas Dgcr8md/md mice showed sub-fertility and oviductal smooth muscle deformities. Dgcr8td/td mice were infertile due to anovulation and acute inflammation in the female reproductive tract and suffered from an atrophic uterus with myometrial defects. The microRNAs and mRNAs related to immune modulation and/or smooth muscle growth were systemically altered in the Dgcr8td/td uterus. Expression profiles of dysregulated microRNAs and mRNAs in the Dgcr8td/td uterus were different from those in other genotypes in a Cre-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS Dgcr8 deficiency with different Cre systems induces overlapping but distinct phenotypes as well as the profiles of microRNAs and their target mRNAs in the female reproductive tract, suggesting the importance of selecting the appropriate Cre driver to investigate the genes of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeon Sun Kim
- Department of Biomedical ScienceCHA UniversitySeongnamKorea
- Present address:
Division of reproductive sciencesDepartment of PediatricsCincinnati Children’s HospitalOHUSA
| | | | - Mira Park
- Department of Biomedical ScienceCHA UniversitySeongnamKorea
| | - Youngsok Choi
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative BiotechnologyKonkuk UniversitySeoulKorea
| | - Francesco J. DeMayo
- Department of Reproductive and Developmental Biology LaboratoryNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesResearch Triangle ParkNCUSA
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Reproductive MedicineBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTXUSA
| | - Hye‐Ryun Kim
- Department of Biomedical ScienceCHA UniversitySeongnamKorea
| | - Hyunjung Jade Lim
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary MedicineKonkuk UniversitySeoulKorea
| | - Haengseok Song
- Department of Biomedical ScienceCHA UniversitySeongnamKorea
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27
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Fang X, Ni N, Gao Y, Lydon JP, Ivanov I, Rijnkels M, Bayless KJ, Li Q. Transforming growth factor beta signaling and decidual integrity in mice†. Biol Reprod 2020; 103:1186-1198. [PMID: 32902612 PMCID: PMC7711917 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling regulates multifaceted reproductive processes. It has been shown that the type 1 receptor of TGFβ (TGFBR1) is indispensable for female reproductive tract development, implantation, placental development, and fertility. However, the role of TGFβ signaling in decidual development and function remains poorly defined. Our objective is to determine the impact of uterine-specific deletion of Tgfbr1 on decidual integrity, with a focus on the cellular and molecular properties of the decidua during development. Our results show that the developmental dynamics of the decidua is altered in TGFBR1 conditionally depleted uteri from embryonic day (E) 5.5 to E8.5, substantiated by downregulation of genes associated with inflammatory responses and uterine natural killer cell abundance, reduced presence of nondecidualized fibroblasts in the antimesometrial region, and altered decidual cell development. Notably, conditional ablation of TGFBR1 results in the formation of decidua containing more abundant alpha smooth muscle actin (ACTA2)-positive cells at the peripheral region of the antimesometrial side versus controls at E6.5-E8.5. This finding is corroborated by upregulation of a subset of smooth muscle marker genes in Tgfbr1 conditionally deleted decidua at E6.5 and E8.5. Moreover, increased cell proliferation and enhanced decidual ERK1/2 signaling were found in Tgfbr1 conditional knockout mice upon decidual regression. In summary, conditional ablation of TGFBR1 in the uterus profoundly impacts the cellular and molecular properties of the decidua. Our results suggest that TGFBR1 in uterine epithelial and stromal compartments is important for the integrity of the decidua, a transient but crucial structure that supports embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Fang
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Nan Ni
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ivan Ivanov
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Monique Rijnkels
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Kayla J Bayless
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Qinglei Li
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Chi RPA, Wang T, Huang CL, Wu SP, Young SL, Lydon JP, DeMayo FJ. WNK1 regulates uterine homeostasis and its ability to support pregnancy. JCI Insight 2020; 5:141832. [PMID: 33048843 PMCID: PMC7710275 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.141832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
WNK1 (with no lysine [K] kinase 1) is an atypical kinase protein ubiquitously expressed in humans and mice. A mutation in its encoding gene causes hypertension in humans, which is associated with abnormal ion homeostasis. WNK1 is critical for in vitro decidualization in human endometrial stromal cells, thereby demonstrating its importance in female reproduction. Using a mouse model, WNK1 was ablated in the female reproductive tract to define its in vivo role in uterine biology. Loss of WNK1 altered uterine morphology, causing endometrial epithelial hyperplasia, adenomyotic features, and a delay in embryo implantation, ultimately resulting in compromised fertility. Combining transcriptomic, proteomic, and interactomic analyses revealed a potentially novel regulatory pathway whereby WNK1 represses AKT phosphorylation through protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in endometrial cells from both humans and mice. We show that WNK1 interacted with PPP2R1A, the alpha isoform of the PP2A scaffold subunit. This maintained the levels of PP2A subunits and stabilized its activity, which then dephosphorylated AKT. Therefore, loss of WNK1 reduced PP2A activity, causing AKT hypersignaling. Using FOXO1 as a readout of AKT activity, we demonstrate that there was escalated FOXO1 phosphorylation and nuclear exclusion, leading to a disruption in the expression of genes that are crucial for embryo implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tianyuan Wang
- Integrative Bioinformatics Support Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Chou-Long Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa, Iowa, USA
| | - San-pin Wu
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory and
| | - Steven L. Young
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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Wetendorf M, Li R, Wu SP, Liu J, Creighton CJ, Wang T, Janardhan KS, Willson CJ, Lanz RB, Murphy BD, Lydon JP, DeMayo FJ. Constitutive expression of progesterone receptor isoforms promotes the development of hormone-dependent ovarian neoplasms. Sci Signal 2020; 13:13/652/eaaz9646. [PMID: 33023986 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aaz9646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Differences in the relative abundances of the progesterone receptor (PGR) isoforms PGRA and PGRB are often observed in women with reproductive tract cancers. To assess the importance of the PGR isoform ratio in the maintenance of the reproductive tract, we generated mice that overexpress PGRA or PGRB in all PGR-positive tissues. Whereas few PGRA-overexpressing mice developed reproductive tract tumors, all PGRB-overexpressing mice developed ovarian neoplasms that were derived from ovarian luteal cells. Transcriptomic analyses of the ovarian tumors from PGRB-overexpressing mice revealed enhanced AKT signaling and a gene expression signature similar to those of human ovarian and endometrial cancers. Treating PGRB-overexpressing mice with the PGR antagonist RU486 stalled tumor growth and decreased the expression of cell cycle-associated genes, indicating that tumor growth and cell proliferation were hormone dependent in addition to being isoform dependent. Analysis of the PGRB cistrome identified binding events at genes encoding proteins that are critical regulators of mitotic phase entry. This work suggests a mechanism whereby an increase in the abundance of PGRB relative to that of PGRA drives neoplasia in vivo by stimulating cell cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margeaux Wetendorf
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.,Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rong Li
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - San-Pin Wu
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Jian Liu
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Chad J Creighton
- Department of Medicine and Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Tianyuan Wang
- Integrative Bioinformatics, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Rainer B Lanz
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bruce D Murphy
- Centre de recherche en reproduction et fertilité, University of Montreal, St-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
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30
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Wang X, Wendel JRH, Emerson RE, Broaddus RR, Creighton CJ, Rusch DB, Buechlein A, DeMayo FJ, Lydon JP, Hawkins SM. Pten and Dicer1 loss in the mouse uterus causes poorly differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma. Oncogene 2020; 39:6286-6299. [PMID: 32843721 PMCID: PMC7541676 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01434-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Endometrial cancer remains the most common gynecological malignancy in the United States. While the loss of the tumor suppressor, PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog), is well studied in endometrial cancer, recent studies suggest that DICER1, the endoribonuclease responsible for miRNA genesis, also plays a significant role in endometrial adenocarcinoma. Conditional uterine deletion of Dicer1 and Pten in mice resulted in poorly differentiated endometrial adenocarcinomas, which expressed Napsin A and HNF1B (hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 homeobox B), markers of clear-cell adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinomas were hormone-independent. Treatment with progesterone did not mitigate poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, nor did it affect adnexal metastasis. Transcriptomic analyses of DICER1 deleted uteri or Ishikawa cells revealed unique transcriptomic profiles and global miRNA downregulation. Computational integration of miRNA with mRNA targets revealed deregulated let-7 and miR-16 target genes, similar to published human DICER1-mutant endometrial cancers from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas). Similar to human endometrial cancers, tumors exhibited dysregulation of ephrin-receptor signaling and transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathways. LIM kinase 2 (LIMK2), an essential molecule in p21 signal transduction, was significantly upregulated and represents a novel mechanism for hormone-independent pathogenesis of endometrial adenocarcinoma. This preclinical mouse model represents the first genetically engineered mouse model of poorly differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyin Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jillian R H Wendel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Robert E Emerson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Russell R Broaddus
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Chad J Creighton
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Douglas B Rusch
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Aaron Buechlein
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shannon M Hawkins
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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31
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Nanjappa MK, Mesa AM, Medrano TI, Jefferson WN, DeMayo FJ, Williams CJ, Lydon JP, Levin ER, Cooke PS. The histone methyltransferase EZH2 is required for normal uterine development and function in mice†. Biol Reprod 2020; 101:306-317. [PMID: 31201420 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a rate-limiting catalytic subunit of a histone methyltransferase, polycomb repressive complex, which silences gene activity through the repressive histone mark H3K27me3. EZH2 is critical for epigenetic effects of early estrogen treatment, and may be involved in uterine development and pathologies. We investigated EZH2 expression, regulation, and its role in uterine development/function. Uterine epithelial EZH2 expression was associated with proliferation and was high neonatally then declined by weaning. Pre-weaning uterine EZH2 expression was comparable in wild-type and estrogen receptor 1 knockout mice, showing neonatal EZH2 expression is ESR1 independent. Epithelial EZH2 was upregulated by 17β-estradiol (E2) and inhibited by progesterone in adult uteri from ovariectomized mice. To investigate the uterine role of EZH2, we developed a EZH2 conditional knockout (Ezh2cKO) mouse using a cre recombinase driven by the progesterone receptor (Pgr) promoter that produced Ezh2cKO mice lacking EZH2 in Pgr-expressing tissues (e.g. uterus, mammary glands). In Ezh2cKO uteri, EZH2 was deleted neonatally. These uteri had reduced H3K27me3, were larger than WT, and showed adult cystic endometrial hyperplasia. Ovary-independent uterine epithelial proliferation and increased numbers of highly proliferative uterine glands were seen in adult Ezh2cKO mice. Female Ezh2cKO mice were initially subfertile, and then became infertile by 9 months. Mammary gland development in Ezh2cKO mice was inhibited. In summary, uterine EZH2 expression is developmentally and hormonally regulated, and its loss causes aberrant uterine epithelial proliferation, uterine hypertrophy, and cystic endometrial hyperplasia, indicating a critical role in uterine development and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjunatha K Nanjappa
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Ana M Mesa
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Theresa I Medrano
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Wendy N Jefferson
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Carmen J Williams
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ellis R Levin
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California, USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, Long Beach, California, USA
| | - Paul S Cooke
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Li R, Wu SP, Zhou L, Nicol B, Lydon JP, Yao HHC, DeMayo FJ. Increased FOXL2 expression alters uterine structures and functions†. Biol Reprod 2020; 103:951-965. [PMID: 32948877 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor forkhead box L2 (FOXL2) regulates sex differentiation and reproductive function. Elevated levels of this transcription factor have been observed in the diseases of the uterus, such as endometriosis. However, the impact of elevated FOXL2 expression on uterine physiology remains unknown. In order to determine the consequences of altered FOXL2 in the female reproductive axis, we generated mice with over-expression of FOXL2 (FOXL2OE) by crossing Foxl2LsL/+ with the Progesterone receptor Pgrcre model. FOXL2OE uterus showed severe morphological abnormality including abnormal epithelial stratification, blunted adenogenesis, increased endometrial fibrosis, and disrupted myometrial morphology. In contrast, increasing FOXL2 levels specifically in uterine epithelium by crossing the Foxl2LsL/+ with the lactoferrin Ltficre mice resulted in the eFOXL2OE mice with uterine epithelial stratification but without defects in endometrial fibrosis and adenogenesis, demonstrating a role of the endometrial stroma in the uterine abnormalities of the FOXL2OE mice. Transcriptomic analysis of 12 weeks old Pgrcre and FOXL2OE uterus at diestrus stage showed multiple signaling pathways related with cellular matrix, wnt/β-catenin, and altered cell cycle. Furthermore, we found FOXL2OE mice were sterile. The infertility was caused in part by a disruption of the hypophyseal ovarian axis resulting in an anovulatory phenotype. The FOXL2OE mice failed to show decidual responses during artificial decidualization in ovariectomized mice demonstrating the uterine contribution to the infertility phenotype. These data support that aberrantly increased FOXL2 expressions in the female reproductive tract can disrupt ovarian and uterine functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Li
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - San-Pin Wu
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Lecong Zhou
- Integrative Bioinformatics, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Barbara Nicol
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Humphrey H-C Yao
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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Nishio M, To Y, Maehama T, Aono Y, Otani J, Hikasa H, Kitagawa A, Mimori K, Sasaki T, Nishina H, Toyokuni S, Lydon JP, Nakao K, Wah Mak T, Kiyono T, Katabuchi H, Tashiro H, Suzuki A. Endogenous YAP1 activation drives immediate onset of cervical carcinoma in situ in mice. Cancer Sci 2020; 111:3576-3587. [PMID: 32716083 PMCID: PMC7541006 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer (CC) is usually initiated by infection with high‐risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV). The HPV E6 and E7 proteins target p53 and RB, respectively, but other cellular targets likely exist. We generated uterus‐specific MOB1A/B double KO (uMob1DKO) mice, which immediately developed cervical squamous cell carcinoma in situ. Mutant cervical epithelial cells showed YAP1‐dependent hyperproliferation, altered self‐renewal, impaired contact inhibition, and chromosomal instability. p53 activation was increased in uMob1DKO cells, and additional p53 loss in uMob1DKO mice accelerated tumor invasion. In human CC, strong YAP1 activation was observed from the precancerous stage. Human cells overexpressing HPV16 E6/E7 showed inactivation of not only p53 and RB but also PTPN14, boosting YAP1 activation. Estrogen, cigarette smoke condensate, and PI3K hyperactivation all increased YAP1 activity in human cervical epithelial cells, and PTPN14 depletion along with PI3K activation or estrogen treatment further enhanced YAP1. Thus, immediate CC onset may initiate when YAP1 activity exceeds an oncogenic threshold, making Hippo‐YAP1 signaling a major CC driver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miki Nishio
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.,Division of Cancer Genetics, MIB, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoko To
- Division of Cancer Genetics, MIB, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Maehama
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Yukari Aono
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Junji Otani
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Hiroki Hikasa
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kita-kyushu, Japan
| | - Akihiro Kitagawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Medical School and Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Koshi Mimori
- Department of Surgery, Kyushu University Beppu Hospital, Beppu, Japan
| | - Takehiko Sasaki
- Department of Biochemical Pathophysiology, MRI, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nishina
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, MRI, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinya Toyokuni
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kazuwa Nakao
- MIC, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tak Wah Mak
- The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, UHN, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, Toronto University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tohru Kiyono
- Division of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Katabuchi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hironori Tashiro
- Department of Women's Health Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Akira Suzuki
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.,Division of Cancer Genetics, MIB, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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DeMayo FJ, Lydon JP. 90 YEARS OF PROGESTERONE: New insights into progesterone receptor signaling in the endometrium required for embryo implantation. J Mol Endocrinol 2020; 65:T1-T14. [PMID: 31809260 PMCID: PMC7261627 DOI: 10.1530/jme-19-0212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Progesterone's ability to maintain pregnancy in eutherian mammals highlighted this steroid as the 'hormone of pregnancy'. It was the unique 'pro-gestational' bioactivity of progesterone that enabled eventual purification of this ovarian steroid to crystalline form by Willard Myron Allen in the early 1930s. While a functional connection between normal progesterone responses ('progestational proliferation') of the uterus with the maintenance of pregnancy was quickly appreciated, an understanding of progesterone's involvement in the early stages of pregnancy establishment was comparatively less well understood. With the aforementioned as historical backdrop, this review focuses on a selection of key advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which progesterone, through its nuclear receptor (the progesterone receptor), drives the development of endometrial receptivity, a transient uterine state that allows for embryo implantation and the establishment of pregnancy. Highlighted in this review are the significant contributions of advanced mouse engineering and genome-wide transcriptomic and cistromic analytics which reveal the pivotal molecular mediators and modifiers that are essential to progesterone-dependent endometrial receptivity and decidualization. With a clearer understanding of the molecular landscape that underpins uterine responsiveness to progesterone during the periimplantation period, we predict that common gynecologic morbidities due to abnormal progesterone responsiveness will be more effectively diagnosed and/or treated in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco J. DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030
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35
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Herrera GGB, Lierz SL, Harris EA, Donoghue LJ, Hewitt SC, Rodriguez KF, Jefferson WN, Lydon JP, DeMayo FJ, Williams CJ, Korach KS, Winuthayanon W. Oviductal Retention of Embryos in Female Mice Lacking Estrogen Receptor α in the Isthmus and the Uterus. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5688715. [PMID: 31883000 PMCID: PMC7295936 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqz033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Estrogen receptor α (ESR1; encoded by Esr1) is a crucial nuclear transcription factor for female reproduction and is expressed throughout the female reproductive tract. To assess the function of ESR1 in reproductive tissues without confounding effects from a potential developmental defect arising from global deletion of ESR1, we generated a mouse model in which Esr1 was specifically ablated during postnatal development. To accomplish this, a progesterone receptor Cre line (PgrCre) was bred with Esr1f/f mice to create conditional knockout of Esr1 in reproductive tissues (called PgrCreEsr1KO mice) beginning around 6 days after birth. In the PgrCreEsr1KO oviduct, ESR1 was most efficiently ablated in the isthmic region. We found that at 3.5 days post coitus (dpc), embryos were retrieved from the uterus in control littermates while all embryos were retained in the PgrCreEsr1KO oviduct. Additionally, serum progesterone (P4) levels were significantly lower in PgrCreEsr1KO compared to controls at 3.5 dpc. This finding suggests that expression of ESR1 in the isthmus and normal P4 levels allow for successful embryo transport from the oviduct to the uterus. Therefore, alterations in oviductal isthmus ESR1 signaling and circulating P4 levels could be related to female infertility conditions such as tubal pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo G B Herrera
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, US
| | - Sydney L Lierz
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIEHS), Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, US
| | - Emily A Harris
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, US
| | - Lauren J Donoghue
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIEHS), Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, US
| | - Sylvia C Hewitt
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIEHS), Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, US
| | - Karina F Rodriguez
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIEHS), Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, US
| | - Wendy N Jefferson
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIEHS), Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, US
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, US
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIEHS), Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, US
| | - Carmen J Williams
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIEHS), Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, US
| | - Kenneth S Korach
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIEHS), Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, US
| | - Wipawee Winuthayanon
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, US
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIEHS), Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, US
- Correspondence: Wipawee Winuthayanon, Biotechnology/Life Science Building, 1770 Stadium Way, Pullman, WA, US 99164. E-mail:
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Oestreich AK, Chadchan SB, Popli P, Medvedeva A, Rowen MN, Stephens CS, Xu R, Lydon JP, Demayo FJ, Jungheim ES, Moley KH, Kommagani R. The Autophagy Gene Atg16L1 is Necessary for Endometrial Decidualization. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5686885. [PMID: 31875883 PMCID: PMC6986551 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqz039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Uterine receptivity is critical for establishing and maintaining pregnancy. For the endometrium to become receptive, stromal cells must differentiate into decidual cells capable of secreting factors necessary for embryo survival and placental development. Although there are multiple reports of autophagy induction correlated with endometrial stromal cell (ESC) decidualization, the role of autophagy in decidualization has remained elusive. To determine the role of autophagy in decidualization, we utilized 2 genetic models carrying mutations to the autophagy gene Atg16L1. Although the hypomorphic Atg16L1 mouse was fertile and displayed proper decidualization, conditional knockout in the reproductive tract of female mice reduced fertility by decreasing the implantation rate. In the absence of Atg16L1, ESCs failed to properly decidualize and fewer blastocysts were able to implant. Additionally, small interfering RNA knock down of Atg16L1 was detrimental to the decidualization response of human ESCs. We conclude that Atg16L1 is necessary for decidualization, implantation, and overall fertility in mice. Furthermore, considering its requirement for human endometrial decidualization, these data suggest Atg16L1 may be a potential mediator of implantation success in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arin K Oestreich
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Sangappa B Chadchan
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Pooja Popli
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Alexandra Medvedeva
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Marina N Rowen
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Claire S Stephens
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Ran Xu
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Francesco J Demayo
- Reproductive & Developmental Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Emily S Jungheim
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Kelle H Moley
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Ramakrishna Kommagani
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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Toufaily C, Schang G, Zhou X, Wartenberg P, Boehm U, Lydon JP, Roelfsema F, Bernard DJ. Impaired LH surge amplitude in gonadotrope-specific progesterone receptor knockout mice. J Endocrinol 2020; 244:111-122. [PMID: 31585440 DOI: 10.1530/joe-19-0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The progesterone receptor (PR, encoded by Pgr) plays essential roles in reproduction. Female mice lacking the PR are infertile, due to the loss of the protein's functions in the brain, ovary, and uterus. PR is also expressed in pituitary gonadotrope cells, but its specific role therein has not been assessed in vivo. We therefore generated gonadotrope-specific Pgr conditional knockout mice (cKO) using the Cre-LoxP system. Overall, both female and male cKO mice appeared phenotypically normal. cKO females displayed regular estrous cycles (vaginal cytology) and normal fertility (litter size and frequency). Reproductive organ weights were comparable between wild-type and cKO mice of both sexes, as were production and secretion of the gonadotropins, LH and FSH, with one exception. On the afternoon of proestrus, the amplitude of the LH surge was blunted in cKO females relative to controls. Contrary to predictions of earlier models, this did not appear to derive from impaired GnRH self-priming. Collectively, these data indicate that PR function in gonadotropes may be limited to regulation of LH surge amplitude in female mice via a currently unknown mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chirine Toufaily
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Gauthier Schang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Philipp Wartenberg
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling, Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling, Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ferdinand Roelfsema
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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de Oliveira V, Schaefer J, Calder M, Lydon JP, DeMayo FJ, Bhattacharya M, Radovick S, Babwah AV. Uterine Gα q/11 signaling, in a progesterone-dependent manner, critically regulates the acquisition of uterine receptivity in the female mouse. FASEB J 2019; 33:9374-9387. [PMID: 31091422 PMCID: PMC6662978 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201900026r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
A nonreceptive uterus is a major cause of embryo implantation failure. This study examined the importance of the Gαq/11-coupled class of GPCRs as regulators of uterine receptivity. Mice were created lacking uterine Gαq and Gα11; as a result, signaling by all uterine Gαq/11-coupled receptors was disrupted. Reproductive profiling of the knockout females revealed that on d 4 of pregnancy, despite adequate serum progesterone (P4) levels and normal P4 receptor (PR) expression, there was no evidence of PR signaling. This resulted in the down-regulation of heart and neural crest derivatives expressed 2, Kruppel-like factor 15, and cyclin G1 and the subsequent persistent proliferation of the luminal epithelium. Aquaporin (Aqp) 11 was also potently down-regulated, whereas Aqp5/AQP5 expression persisted, resulting in the inhibition of luminal closure. Hypertrophy of the myometrial longitudinal muscle was also dramatically diminished, likely contributing to the observed implantation failure. Further analyses revealed that a major mechanism via which uterine Gαq/11 signaling induces PR signaling is through the transcriptional up-regulation of leucine-rich repeat-containing GPCR 4 (Lgr4). LGR4 was previously identified as a trigger of PR activation and signaling. Overall, this study establishes that Gαq/11 signaling, in a P4-dependent manner, critically regulates the acquisition of uterine receptivity in the female mouse, and disruption of such signaling results in P4 resistance.-de Oliveira, V., Schaefer, J., Calder, M., Lydon, J. P., DeMayo, F. J., Bhattacharya, M., Radovick, S., Babwah, A. V. Uterine Gαq/11 signaling, in a progesterone-dependent manner, critically regulates the acquisition of uterine receptivity in the female mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa de Oliveira
- Department of Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jennifer Schaefer
- Department of Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Michele Calder
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Francesco J. DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Moshmi Bhattacharya
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Sally Radovick
- Department of Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Andy V. Babwah
- Department of Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
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Hai L, Szwarc MM, He B, Lonard DM, Kommagani R, DeMayo FJ, Lydon JP. Uterine function in the mouse requires speckle-type poz protein. Biol Reprod 2019; 98:856-869. [PMID: 29546395 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Speckle-type poz protein (SPOP) is an E3-ubiquitin ligase adaptor for turnover of a diverse number of proteins involved in key cellular processes such as chromatin remodeling, transcriptional regulation, and cell signaling. Genomic analysis revealed that SPOP somatic mutations are found in a subset of endometrial cancers, suggesting that these mutations act as oncogenic drivers of this gynecologic malignancy. These studies also raise the question as to the role of wild-type SPOP in normal uterine function. To address this question, we generated a mouse model (Spopd/d) in which SPOP is ablated in uterine cells that express the PGR. Fertility studies demonstrated that SPOP is required for embryo implantation and for endometrial decidualization. Molecular analysis revealed that expression levels of the PGR at the protein and transcript level are significantly reduced in the Spopd/d uterus. While this result was unexpected, this finding explains in part the dysfunctional phenotype of the Spopd/d uterus. Moderate increased levels of the ESR1, GATA2, and SRC2 were detected in the Spopd/d uterus, suggesting that SPOP is required to maintain the proteome for normal uterine function. With age, the Spopd/d endometrium exhibits large glandular cysts with foci of epithelial proliferation, further supporting a role for SPOP in maintaining a healthy uterus. Collectively, studies on the Spopd/d mouse support an important role for SPOP in normal uterine function and suggest that this mouse model may prove useful to study the role of SPOP-loss-of-function mutations in the etiopathogenesis of endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Hai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Maria M Szwarc
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Bin He
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - David M Lonard
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ramakrishna Kommagani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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Hai L, Szwarc MM, Lonard DM, Rajapakshe K, Perera D, Coarfa C, Ittmann M, Fernandez-Valdivia R, Lydon JP. Short-term RANKL exposure initiates a neoplastic transcriptional program in the basal epithelium of the murine salivary gland. Cytokine 2019; 123:154745. [PMID: 31226438 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2019.154745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Although salivary gland cancers comprise only ∼3-6% of head and neck cancers, treatment options for patients with advanced-stage disease are limited. Because of their rarity, salivary gland malignancies are understudied compared to other exocrine tissue cancers. The comparative lack of progress in this cancer field is particularly evident when it comes to our incomplete understanding of the key molecular signals that are causal for the development and/or progression of salivary gland cancers. Using a novel conditional transgenic mouse (K5:RANKL), we demonstrate that Receptor Activator of NFkB Ligand (RANKL) targeted to cytokeratin 5-positive basal epithelial cells of the salivary gland causes aggressive tumorigenesis within a short period of RANKL exposure. Genome-wide transcriptomic analysis reveals that RANKL markedly increases the expression levels of numerous gene families involved in cellular proliferation, migration, and intra- and extra-tumoral communication. Importantly, cross-species comparison of the K5:RANKL transcriptomic dataset with The Cancer Genome Atlas cancer signatures reveals the strongest molecular similarity with cancer subtypes of the human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. These studies not only provide a much needed transcriptomic resource to mine for novel molecular targets for therapy and/or diagnosis but validates the K5:RANKL transgenic as a preclinical model to further investigate the in vivo oncogenic role of RANKL signaling in salivary gland tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Hai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Reproductive Medicine Center of Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, PR China
| | - Maria M Szwarc
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David M Lonard
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kimal Rajapakshe
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dimuthu Perera
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Cristian Coarfa
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michael Ittmann
- Department of Pathology, Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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41
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Hewitt SC, Lierz SL, Garcia M, Hamilton KJ, Gruzdev A, Grimm SA, Lydon JP, Demayo FJ, Korach KS. A distal super enhancer mediates estrogen-dependent mouse uterine-specific gene transcription of Igf1 ( insulin-like growth factor 1). J Biol Chem 2019; 294:9746-9759. [PMID: 31073032 PMCID: PMC6597841 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.008759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is primarily synthesized in and secreted from the liver; however, estrogen (E2), through E2 receptor α (ERα), increases uterine Igf1 mRNA levels. Previous ChIP-seq analyses of the murine uterus have revealed a potential enhancer region distal from the Igf1 transcription start site (TSS) with multiple E2-dependent ERα-binding regions. Here, we show E2-dependent super enhancer-associated characteristics and suggest contact between the distal enhancer and the Igf1 TSS. We hypothesized that this distal super-enhancer region controls E2-responsive induction of uterine Igf1 transcripts. We deleted 430 bp, encompassing one of the ERα-binding sites, thereby disrupting interactions of the enhancer with gene-regulatory factors. As a result, E2-mediated induction of mouse uterine Igf1 mRNA is completely eliminated, whereas hepatic Igf1 expression remains unaffected. This highlights the central role of a distal enhancer in the assembly of the factors necessary for E2-dependent interaction with the Igf1 TSS and induction of uterus-specific Igf1 transcription. Of note, loss of the enhancer did not affect fertility or uterine growth responses. Deletion of uterine Igf1 in a PgrCre;Igf1f/f model decreased female fertility but did not impact the E2-induced uterine growth response. Moreover, E2-dependent activation of uterine IGF1 signaling was not impaired by disrupting the distal enhancer or by deleting the coding transcript. This indicated a role for systemic IGF1, suggested that other growth mediators drive uterine response to E2, and suggested that uterine-derived IGF1 is essential for reproductive success. Our findings elucidate the role of a super enhancer in Igf1 regulation and uterine growth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Sara A Grimm
- the Integrative Bioinformatics Support Group, NIEHS, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 and
| | - John P Lydon
- the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Francesco J Demayo
- Pregnancy & Female Reproduction Group, Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory and
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Szwarc MM, Hai L, Gibbons WE, Peavey MC, White LD, Mo Q, Lonard DM, Kommagani R, Lanz RB, DeMayo FJ, Lydon JP. Human endometrial stromal cell decidualization requires transcriptional reprogramming by PLZF. Biol Reprod 2019; 98:15-27. [PMID: 29186366 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/iox161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Infertility and early embryo miscarriage is linked to inadequate endometrial decidualization. Although transcriptional reprogramming is known to drive decidualization in response to progesterone, the key signaling effectors that directly mediate this hormone response are not fully known. This knowledge gap is clinically significant because identifying the early signals that directly mediate progesterone-driven decidualization will address some of the current limitations in diagnosing and therapeutically treating patients at most risk for early pregnancy loss. We recently revealed that the promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) is a direct target of the progesterone receptor and is essential for decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells (hESCs). The purpose of this current work was to identify the genome-wide transcriptional program that is controlled by PLZF during hESC decidualization using an established in vitro hESC culture model, siRNA-mediated knockdown methods, and RNA-sequencing technology followed by bioinformatic analysis and validation. We discovered that PLZF is critical in the regulation of genes that are involved in cellular processes that are essential for the archetypal morphological and functional changes that occur when hESCs transform into epithelioid decidual cells such as proliferation and cell motility. We predict that the transcriptome datasets identified in this study will not only contribute to a broader understanding of PLZF-dependent endometrial decidualization at the molecular level but may advance the development of more effective molecular diagnostics and therapeutics for the clinical management of female infertility and subfertility that is based on a dysfunctional endometrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M Szwarc
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Lan Hai
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - William E Gibbons
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Mary C Peavey
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Lisa D White
- Genomic & RNA Profiling Core Facility, Departments of Molecular & Human Genetics and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Qianxing Mo
- Department of Medicine and Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - David M Lonard
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ramakrishna Kommagani
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Rainer B Lanz
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, USA
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Szwarc MM, Hai L, Gibbons WE, Mo Q, Lanz RB, DeMayo FJ, Lydon JP. Early growth response 1 transcriptionally primes the human endometrial stromal cell for decidualization. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2019; 189:283-290. [PMID: 30711473 PMCID: PMC6566904 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2019.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Mouse studies support a role for endometrial early growth response 1 (EGR1) in uterine receptivity and decidualization, which are processes controlled by estrogen and progesterone. However, the importance of this transcription factor in similar cellular processes in human is unclear. Analysis of clinical samples indicate that endometrial EGR1 levels are decreased in the endometrium of women with recurrent implantation failure, suggesting that tight control of EGR1 levels are necessary for normal endometrial function. Therefore, we used siRNA-mediated knockdown of EGR1 expression in cultured human endometrial stromal cells (hESCs) to assess the functional role of EGR1 in hESC decidualization. Protein expression studies revealed that EGR1 is highly expressed in pre-decidual hESCs. However, EGR1 protein levels rapidly decrease following administration of an established deciduogenic hormone stimulus containing estradiol, medroxyprogesterone acetate, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate. Intriguingly, EGR1 knockdown in pre-decidual hESCs blocks the ability of these cells to decidualize later, indicating that EGR1 is required to transcriptionally program pre-decidual hESCs for decidualization. Support for this proposal comes from the analysis of transcriptome and cistrome datasets, which shows that EGR1 target genes are primarily involved in transcriptional regulation, cell signaling, and proliferation. Collectively, our studies provide translational support for an evolutionary conserved role for human endometrial stromal EGR1 in the early events of pregnancy establishment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M Szwarc
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Lan Hai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, United States
| | - William E Gibbons
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Qianxing Mo
- Department of Medicine and Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, United States; Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Rainer B Lanz
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, United States.
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Fang X, Ni N, Lydon JP, Ivanov I, Bayless KJ, Rijnkels M, Li Q. Enhancer of Zeste 2 Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 Subunit Is Required for Uterine Epithelial Integrity. Am J Pathol 2019; 189:1212-1225. [PMID: 30954472 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2019.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Normal proliferation and differentiation of uterine epithelial cells are critical for uterine development and function. Enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit (EZH2), a core component of polycomb repressive complexes 2, possesses histone methyltransferase activity that catalyzes the trimethylation of lysine 27 of histone H3. EZH2 has been involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a key event in development and carcinogenesis. However, its role in uterine epithelial cell function remains unknown. To determine the role of uterine EZH2, Ezh2 was conditionally deleted using progesterone receptor Cre recombinase, which is expressed in both epithelial and mesenchymal compartments of the uterus. Loss of EZH2 promoted stratification of uterine epithelium, an uncommon and detrimental event in the uterus. The abnormal epithelium expressed basal cell markers, including tumor protein 63, cytokeratin 5 (KRT5), KRT6A, and KRT14. These results suggest that EZH2 serves as a guardian of uterine epithelial integrity, partially via inhibiting the differentiation of basal-like cells and preventing epithelial stratification. The observed epithelial abnormality was accompanied by fertility defects, altered uterine growth and function, and the development of endometrial hyperplasia. Thus, the Ezh2 conditional knockout mouse model may be useful to explore mechanisms that regulate endometrial homeostasis and uterine function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Fang
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Nan Ni
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Ivan Ivanov
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; Center for Translational Environmental Health Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Kayla J Bayless
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College Station, Texas
| | - Monique Rijnkels
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Qinglei Li
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
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45
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Hai L, Szwarc MM, Lanza DG, Heaney JD, Lydon JP. Cover Image, Volume 57, Issue 3. Genesis 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lan Hai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular BiologyBaylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza, Houston Texas
| | - Maria M. Szwarc
- Department of Molecular and Cellular BiologyBaylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza, Houston Texas
| | - Denise G. Lanza
- Department of Molecular and Human GeneticsBaylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza, Houston Texas
| | - Jason D. Heaney
- Department of Molecular and Human GeneticsBaylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza, Houston Texas
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular BiologyBaylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza, Houston Texas
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Hai L, Szwarc MM, Lanza DG, Heaney JD, Lydon JP. Using CRISPR/Cas9 engineering to generate a mouse with a conditional knockout allele for the promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger transcription factor. Genesis 2019; 57:e23281. [PMID: 30628160 PMCID: PMC6422732 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) transcription factor mediates a wide-range of biological processes. Accordingly, perturbation of PLZF function results in a myriad of physiologic defects, the most conspicuous of which is abnormal skeletal patterning. Although whole body knockout of Plzf in the mouse (Plzf KO ) has significantly expanded our understanding of Plzf function in vivo, a conditional knockout mouse model that enables tissue or cell-type specific ablation of Plzf has not been developed. Therefore, we used CRISPR/Cas 9 gene editing to generate a mouse model in which exon 2 of the murine Plzf gene is specifically flanked (or floxed) by LoxP sites (Plzf f/f ). Crossing our Plzf f/f mouse with a global cre-driver mouse to generate the Plzf d/d bigenic mouse, we demonstrate that exon 2 of the Plzf gene is ablated in the Plzf d/d bigenic. Similar to the previously reported Plzf KO mouse, the Plzf d/d mouse exhibits a severe defect in skeletal patterning of the hindlimb, indicating that the Plzf f/f mouse functions as designed. Therefore, studies in this short technical report demonstrate that the Plzf f/f mouse will be useful to investigators who wish to explore the role of the Plzf transcription factor in a specific tissue or cell-type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Hai
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Maria M. Szwarc
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Denise G. Lanza
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Jason D. Heaney
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas 77030
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Thiele K, Hierweger AM, Riquelme JIA, Solano ME, Lydon JP, Arck PC. Impaired Progesterone-Responsiveness of CD11c + Dendritic Cells Affects the Generation of CD4 + Regulatory T Cells and Is Associated With Intrauterine Growth Restriction in Mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:96. [PMID: 30858825 PMCID: PMC6397849 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Up to 10% of pregnancies in Western societies are affected by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). IUGR reduces short-term neonatal survival and impairs long-term health of the children. To date, the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of IUGR are largely unknown, but the failure to mount an adequate endocrine and immune response during pregnancy has been proposed to facilitate the occurrence of IUGR. A cross talk between the pregnancy hormone progesterone and innate immune cell subsets such as dendritic cells (DCs) is vital to ensure adequate placentation and fetal growth. However, experimental strategies to pinpoint distinct immune cell subsets interacting with progesterone in vivo have long been limited. In the present study, we have overcome this limitation by generating a mouse line with a specific deletion of the progesterone receptor (PR) on CD11c+ DCs. We took advantage of the cre/loxP system and assessed reproductive outcome in Balb/c-mated C57Bl/6 PRflox/floxCD11ccre/wt females. Balb/c-mated C57Bl/6 PRwt/wtCD11ccre/wt females served as controls. In all dams, fetal growth and development, placental function and maternal immune and endocrine adaptation were evaluated at different gestational time points. We observed a significantly reduced fetal weight on gestational day 13.5 and 18.5 in PRflox/floxCD11ccre/wt females. While frequencies of uterine CD11c+ cells were similar in both groups, an increased frequency of co-stimulatory molecules was observed on DCs in PRflox/floxCD11ccre/wt mice, along with reduced frequencies of CD4+ FoxP3+ and CD8+ CD122+ regulatory T (Treg) cells. Placental histomorphology revealed a skew toward increased junctional zone at the expense of the labyrinth in implantations of PRflox/floxCD11ccre/wt females, accompanied by increased plasma progesterone concentrations. Our results support that DCs are highly responsive to progesterone, subsequently adapting to a tolerogenic phenotype. If such cross talk between progesterone and DCs is impaired, the generation of pregnancy-protective immune cells subsets such as CD4+ and CD8+ Treg cells is reduced, which is associated with poor placentation and IUGR in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Thiele
- Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Kristin Thiele
| | - Alexandra Maximiliane Hierweger
- Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia Isabel Amambay Riquelme
- Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - María Emilia Solano
- Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Petra Clara Arck
- Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Petra Clara Arck
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Vasquez YM, Wang X, Wetendorf M, Franco HL, Mo Q, Wang T, Lanz RB, Young SL, Lessey BA, Spencer TE, Lydon JP, DeMayo FJ. FOXO1 regulates uterine epithelial integrity and progesterone receptor expression critical for embryo implantation. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007787. [PMID: 30452456 PMCID: PMC6277115 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful embryo implantation requires a receptive endometrium. Poor uterine receptivity can account for implantation failure in women who experience recurrent pregnancy loss or multiple rounds of unsuccessful in vitro fertilization cycles. Here, we demonstrate that the transcription factor Forkhead Box O1 (FOXO1) is a critical regulator of endometrial receptivity in vivo. Uterine ablation of Foxo1 using the progesterone receptor Cre (PgrCre) mouse model resulted in infertility due to altered epithelial cell polarity and apoptosis, preventing the embryo from penetrating the luminal epithelium. Analysis of the uterine transcriptome after Foxo1 ablation identified alterations in gene expression for transcripts involved in the activation of cell invasion, molecular transport, apoptosis, β-catenin (CTNNB1) signaling pathway, and an increase in PGR signaling. The increase of PGR signaling was due to PGR expression being retained in the uterine epithelium during the window of receptivity. Constitutive expression of epithelial PGR during this receptive period inhibited expression of FOXO1 in the nucleus of the uterine epithelium. The reciprocal expression of PGR and FOXO1 was conserved in human endometrial samples during the proliferative and secretory phase. This demonstrates that expression of FOXO1 and the loss of PGR during the window of receptivity are interrelated and critical for embryo implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin M. Vasquez
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Xiaoqiu Wang
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States of America
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - Margeaux Wetendorf
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States of America
| | - Heather L. Franco
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Qianxing Mo
- Department of Medicine and Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Tianyuan Wang
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States of America
| | - Rainer B. Lanz
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Steven L. Young
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Bruce A. Lessey
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville, SC, United States of America
| | - Thomas E. Spencer
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States of America
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Francesco J. DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States of America
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49
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Wang X, Li X, Wang T, Wu SP, Jeong JW, Kim TH, Young SL, Lessey BA, Lanz RB, Lydon JP, DeMayo FJ. SOX17 regulates uterine epithelial-stromal cross-talk acting via a distal enhancer upstream of Ihh. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4421. [PMID: 30356064 PMCID: PMC6200785 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06652-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian pregnancy depends on the ability of the uterus to support embryo implantation. Previous studies reveal the Sox17 gene as a downstream target of the Pgr-Gata2-dependent transcription network that directs genomic actions in the uterine endometrium receptive for embryo implantation. Here, we report that ablating Sox17 in the uterine epithelium impairs leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and Indian hedgehog homolog (IHH) signaling, leading to failure of embryo implantation. In vivo deletion of the SOX17-binding region 19 kb upstream of the Ihh locus by CRISPR-Cas technology reduces Ihh expression specifically in the uterus and alters proper endometrial epithelial-stromal interactions, thereby impairing pregnancy. This SOX17-binding interval is also bound by GATA2, FOXA2, and PGR. This cluster of transcription factor binding is common in 737 uterine genes and may represent a key regulatory element essential for uterine epithelial gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqiu Wang
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Xilong Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyuan Wang
- Integrative Bioinformatics Support Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - San-Pin Wu
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Jae-Wook Jeong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Tae Hoon Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Steven L Young
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Bruce A Lessey
- Deptartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville, SC, USA
| | - Rainer B Lanz
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
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50
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Hewitt SC, Li R, Adams N, Winuthayanon W, Hamilton KJ, Donoghue LJ, Lierz SL, Garcia M, Lydon JP, DeMayo FJ, Adelman K, Korach KS. Negative elongation factor is essential for endometrial function. FASEB J 2018; 33:3010-3023. [PMID: 30332301 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201801752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Pausing of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) during early transcription, mediated by the negative elongation factor (NELF) complex, allows cells to coordinate and appropriately respond to signals by modulating the rate of transcriptional pause release. Promoter proximal enrichment of Pol II occurs at uterine genes relevant to reproductive biology; thus, we hypothesized that pausing might impact endometrial response by coordinating hormonal signals involved in establishing and maintaining pregnancy. We deleted the NELF-B subunit in the mouse uterus using PgrCre (NELF-B UtcKO). Resulting females were infertile. Uterine response to the initial decidual stimulus of NELF-B UtcKO was similar to that of control mice; however, subsequent full decidual response was not observed. Cultured NELF-B UtcKO stromal cells exhibited perturbances in extracellular matrix components and also expressed elevated levels of the decidual prolactin Prl8a2, as well as altered levels of transcripts encoding enzymes involved in prostaglandin synthesis and metabolism. Because endometrial stromal cell decidualization is also critical to human reproductive health and fertility, we used small interfering to suppress NELF-B or NELF-E subunits in cultured human endometrial stromal cells, which inhibited decidualization, as reflected by the impaired induction of decidual markers PRL and IGFBP1. Overall, our study indicates NELF-mediated pausing is essential to coordinate endometrial responses and that disruption impairs uterine decidual development during pregnancy.-Hewitt, S. C., Li, R., Adams, N., Winuthayanon, W., Hamilton, K. J., Donoghue, L. J., Lierz, S. L., Garcia, M., Lydon, J. P., DeMayo, F. J., Adelman, K., Korach, K. S. Negative elongation factor is essential for endometrial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia C Hewitt
- Receptor Biology Section, Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rong Li
- Pregnancy and Female Reproduction Group, Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nyssa Adams
- Pregnancy and Female Reproduction Group, Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Wipawee Winuthayanon
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Katherine J Hamilton
- Receptor Biology Section, Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lauren J Donoghue
- Receptor Biology Section, Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sydney L Lierz
- Receptor Biology Section, Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Marleny Garcia
- Receptor Biology Section, Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA; and
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Pregnancy and Female Reproduction Group, Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Karen Adelman
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kenneth S Korach
- Receptor Biology Section, Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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