Reversing Uteropathies Including Cancer-Like Changes in Mice by Transplanting Mesenchymal Stromal Cells or XAR Treatment

Pluripotent, very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) and tissue-committed 'progenitors' termed endometrial stem cells (EnSCs) are reported in mouse uterus. They express gonadal and gonadotropin hormone receptors and thus are vulnerable to early-life endocrine insults. Neonatal exposure of mouse pups to endocrine disruption cause stem/progenitor cells to undergo epigenetic changes, excessive self-renewal, and blocked differentiation that results in various uteropathies including non-receptive endometrium, hyperplasia, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and cancer-like changes in adult life. Present study investigated reversal of these uteropathies, by normalizing functions of VSELs and EnSCs. Two strategies were evaluated including (i) transplanting mesenchymal stromal cells (provide paracrine support) on D60 or (ii) oral administration of XAR (epigenetic regulator) daily from days 60-100 and effects were studied later in 100 days old mice. Results show normalization of stem/progenitor cells (Oct-4, Oct-4A, Sox-2, Nanog) and Wnt signalling (Wnt-4, β-catenin, Axin-2) specific transcripts. Flow cytometry results showed reduced numbers of 2-6 µm, LIN-CD45-SCA-1 + VSELs. Hyperplasia (Ki67) of epithelial (Pax-8, Foxa-2) and myometrial (α-Sma, Tgf-β) cells was reduced, adenogenesis (differentiation of glands) was restored, endometrial receptivity and differentiation (LIF, c-KIT, SOX-9, NUMB) and stromal cells niche (CD90, VIMENTIN, Pdgfra, Vimentin) were improved, cancer stem cells markers (OCT-4, CD166) were reduced while tumor suppressor genes (PTEN, P53) and epigenetic regulators (Ezh-2, Sirt-1) were increased. To conclude, normalizing VSELs/EnSCs to manage uteropathies provides a novel basis for initiating clinical studies. The study falls under the umbrella of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all of all ages.

Preventing/Reversing Adverse Effects of Endocrine Disruption on Mouse Testes by Normalizing Tissue Resident VSELs

Reproductive health of men is declining in today's world due to increased developmental exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). We earlier reported that neonatal exposure to endocrine disruption resulted in reduced numbers of seminiferous tubules in Stage VIII, decreased sperm count, and infertility along with testicular tumors in 65% of diethylstilbestrol (DES) treated mice. Epigenetic changes due to EDCs, pushed the VSELs out of a quiescent state to enter cell cycle and undergo excessive self-renewal while transition of c-KIT- stem cells into c-KIT + germ cells was blocked due to altered MMR axis (Np95, Pcna, Dnmts), global hypomethylation (reduced expression of 5-methylcytosine) and loss of imprinting at Igf2-H19 and Dlk1-Meg3 loci. The present study was undertaken to firstly show similar defects in FACS sorted VSELs from DES treated testis and to further explore the reversal of these testicular pathologies by (i) oral administration of XAR (a nano-formulation of resveratrol) or (ii) inter-tubular transplantation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Similar defects as reported earlier in the testes were evident, based on RNAseq data, on FACS sorted VSELs from DES treated mice. Both strategies were found effective, improved spermatogenesis, increased number of tubules in Stage VIII, normalized numbers of VSELs and c-KIT + cells, improved epigenetic status of VSELs to restore quiescent state, and reduced cancer incidence from 65% after DES to 13.33% and 20% after XAR treatment or MSCs transplantation respectively. Results provide a basis for initiating clinical studies and the study falls under the umbrella of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all of all ages.

Immunomodulatory Role of Surfactant Protein-D in a Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate (TRAMP) Model

Surfactant protein D (SP-D), a pattern recognition molecule, is emerging as a potent anti-tumoural innate immune defense molecule in a range of cancers. Previously, SP-D expression was found to be significantly downregulated at the malignant sites of human prostate adenocarcinoma and associated with an increasing Gleason score and severity. We recently reported selective induction of intrinsic apoptosis by a recombinant fragment of human SP-D (rfhSP-D) in the human Prostate cancer (PCa) biopsy explants and cells with glucose regulated protein of 78 (GRP78) as one of the key interacting partners. The present study evaluated the expression of SP-D in early and advanced stages of PCa using transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate (TRAMP) model. Both early and late stages of PCa showed significantly decreased SP-D mRNA expression and increased proteolytic degradation of SP-D protein. Systemic and tumoural immunophenotyping of TRAMP model revealed increased serine proteases producing granulocytes and polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN MDSCs) in the late stage; the serine proteases secreted by these cells could be involved in the degradation of SP-D. Susceptibility of rfhSP-D to elastase-mediated proteolysis provided the rationale to use an elastase-inhibitor to sustain intact rfhSP-D in the tumour microenvironment. The study revealed an immunomodulatory potential of rfhSP-D and elastase inhibitor, sivelestat, to induce macrophage polarization towards M1 with downregulation of PMN MDSCs in ex-vivo cultured TRAMP tumours. Furthermore, rfhSP-D induced immunogenic cell death in murine PCa cells and in TRAMP explants. The findings highlight that SP-D plays an anti-tumourigenic role in PCa by inducing immunogenic cell death and immunomodulation while the prostate tumour milieu adversely impacts SP-D by inhibiting its transcription, and enhancing its proteolytic degradation. Transformation of an immunologically “cold tumour” into a “hot tumour” implicates therapeutic potential of rfhSP-D in PCa.

Mice Uterine Stem Cells are Affected by Neonatal Endocrine Disruption & Initiate Uteropathies in Adult Life Independent of Circulatory Ovarian Hormones

It is generally believed that ovarian hormones regulate uterine functions and their altered levels result in various uteropathies like non-receptive uterus, endometrial hyperplasia, adenomyosis, endometriosis, leiomyomas and cancer. Uterus harbors two populations of stem cells including pluripotent, very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) and tissue-specific progenitors (endometrial stem cells, EnSCs). Unlike endometrial mesenchymal stem/ stromal cells, VSELs/EnSCs express ERα, ERβ and PR which makes them directly vulnerable to perinatal endocrine insults. Present study was undertaken to evaluate whether uteropathies occur due to altered hormones and/or intrinsic changes in stem/progenitor cells. Mice pups, exposed to estradiol (20 µg/pup/day) on postnatal days 3-7 or vehicle, were subjected to bilateral ovariectomy on day 30 and later exposed sequentially to estradiol and progesterone resulting in receptive uterus in control mice. Despite similar hormonal exposure, endocrine disruption resulted in non-receptive uterus with noticeable endometrial and myometrial hyperplasia and up-regulation of stem cell markers (Oct-4A, Oct-4, Sox2, Nanog). Glands were poorly formed and 'defective' epithelial progenitors were found disseminated into myometrium and blood vessels revealing how adenomyosis and endometriosis possibly initiate. Progesterone resistance and estradiol dominance due to downregulation of Erα & Pr and upregulation of Erβ transcripts was observed in both intact uterus and stem cells enriched from uterus. Transcripts specific for DNA mismatch repair axis (Pcna, NP95 and Dnmt1), repair enzymes (Brca-1, Rad51 and Mlh1) were dysregulated whereas Ki67 was ten-folds increased suggestive of genomic instability. Study reveals role of stem cells in initiating uteropathies during adult life independent of circulatory ovarian hormones. Endocrine disruption affects tissue resident stem/progenitor cells (VSELs/EnSCs) in both endometrium and myometrium, result in epithelial cells hyperplasia, non-receptive endometrium, adenomyosis and defective stem cells and epithelial progenitors were detected in the perimetrium from where they can mobilize to ectopic sites to initiate endometriosis. Study shows stem cell basis for various uteropathies. VSEL: Very small embryonic like stem cell; EnSC: Endometrial stem cell; E + P: Estradiol + Progesterone; E: Endometrium; P: Perimetrium; M: Myometrium; ACD: Asymmetrical cell division; SCD: Symmetrical cell division; CE: Clonal expansion; G: Gland; S: Stromal cell; US: Undifferentiated stromal cell; LE: Luminal epithelium; GE: Glandular epithelium; EP: Epithelial progenitors; SMC: Spindle-shaped myometrial cell; OMC: Oval-shaped myometrial cell.

Gonadotropin and steroid hormones regulate pluripotent very small embryonic-like stem cells in adult mouse uterine endometrium

Background

Very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) exist in adult organs, express pluripotent markers and have the ability to differentiate into three germ layers in vitro. Testicular, ovarian and hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells express receptors for follicle stimulating (FSH) and ovarian hormones and are activated by them to undergo proliferation/differentiation. VSELs exist in mouse uterus and are regulated by physiological dose of estradiol (E) & progesterone (P) during endometrial growth, differentiation and regeneration/remodeling. In the present study, effects of daily administration of E (2 μg/day), P (1 mg/Kg/day) or FSH (5 IU/day) for 7 days on the endometrium and stem/progenitor cells was studied in bilaterally ovariectomized mice.

Results

E treatment resulted in hypertrophy whereas P resulted in hyperplasia and overcrowding of epithelial cells. FSH also directly stimulated the endometrial cells. Nuclear OCT-4A positive VSELs were visualized in ovariectomized (atrophied) endometrium and cytoplasmic OCT-4B positive epithelial, stromal and endothelial cells were observed after treatment. FSH treated uterine tissue showed presence of 4 alternately spliced FSHR isoforms by Western blotting. 3–5 μm VSELs with a surface phenotype of LIN-/CD45-/SCA-1+ were enumerated by flow cytometry and were found to express ER, PR, FSHR1 and FSHR3 by RT-PCR analysis. Differential effects of treatment were observed on pluripotent (Oct4A, Sox2, Nanog), progenitors (Oct-4, Sca-1), primordial germ cells (Stella, Fragilis) and proliferation (Pcna) specific transcripts by qRT-PCR analysis. FSH and P (rather than E) exerted profound, direct stimulatory effects on uterine VSELs. Asymmetric, symmetric divisions and clonal expansion of stem/progenitor cells was confirmed by co-expression of OCT-4 and NUMB.

Conclusions

Results confirm presence of VSELs and their regulation by circulatory hormones in mouse uterus. Stem cell activation was more prominent after P and FSH compared to E treatment. The results question whether epithelial cells proliferation is regulated by paracrine influence of stromal cells or due to direct action of hormones on stem cells. VSELs expressing nuclear OCT-4A are the most primitive and pluripotent stem cells, undergo asymmetric cell division to self-renew and differentiate into epithelial, stromal and endothelial cells with cytoplasmic OCT-4B. Role of follicle stimulating and steroid hormones on the stem cells needs to be studied in various uterine pathologies.

Evaluating KIND1 human embryonic stem cell-derived pancreatic progenitors to ameliorate streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mice

Background & objectives:

Diabetes is a global disease burden. Various stem cell types are being explored to serve as an alternative source of islets. This study was conducted to evaluate the ability of in-house developed human embryonic stem (hES) cells-derived pancreatic progenitors to ameliorate diabetic symptoms in mice.

Methods:

Pancreatic progenitors were packed in macro-capsules and transplanted into six male Swiss mice and four mice were taken as controls. Thirty days post-transplantation, diabetes was induced by streptozotocin treatment. Mice were then followed up for >100 days and body weight and blood glucose levels were regularly monitored.

Results:

Control mice lost weight, maintained high glucose levels and did not survive beyond 40 days, whereas transplanted group maintained body weight and four of the six mice had lowered blood glucose levels. About five-fold increase was observed in human C-peptide levels in the recipients of progenitor transplants as compared to diabetic control.

Interpretation & conclusions:

The beneficial effect of transplanted cells was not long-lasting. Further studies are required to critically evaluate and compare the potential of endogenous pluripotent stem cells and hES cells-derived progenitors before moving from bench to the bedside.

Use of ultrasound imaging for the diagnosis of abnormal uterine bleeding in the bonnet macaque ( Macaca radiata)

Ultrasound is a powerful, low-cost, non-invasive medical tool used by laboratory animal veterinarians for diagnostic imaging. Sonohysterography and transvaginal ultrasound are frequently used to assess uterine anomalies in women presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). In the present study, we have evaluated the abdominal ultrasound of bonnet monkeys ( n = 8) showing spontaneous ovulatory ( n = 5) and anovulatory ( n = 3) AUB. The ovulatory ( n = 5) macaques showed cyclic AUB for 7-8 days. The anovulatory ( n = 3) macaques had irregular AUB with menstrual cycles of 40-45 days. The B-mode abdominal, colour Doppler and 3D ultrasound scans were performed during the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. Ultrasound examination revealed endometrial polyps in five macaques and endometrial hyperplasia in three animals. The width and length of endometrial polyps was around 0.5-1 cm (average 0.51 ± 0.23 cm × 0.96 ± 0.16 cm) with significant increase in endometrial thickness ( P < 0.0002). 3D ultrasound also showed a homogeneous mass in the uterine cavity and colour Doppler ultrasound showed increased vascularity in the endometrial polyps. Endometrial hyperplasia characteristically appeared as a thickened echogenic endometrium ( P < 0.0002). This study demonstrates the use of non-invasive ultrasound techniques in the diagnosis of AUB in macaques.

Endometrial polyps associated with endometrial hyperplasia in an obese bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata): a case report

BACKGROUND

A 10-year-old, female bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata) showed abnormal menstrual cycle length with heavy menstrual bleeding for 6-8 days.

METHODS

Uterine ultrasound and histological examinations of endometrium by endometrial biopsy.

RESULTS

An ultrasound examination of the uterine cavity showed presence of an enlarged polypoid mass. Further endometrial histology confirmed the presence of simple endometrial hyperplasia.

CONCLUSIONS

We report for the first time that endometrial polyp is associated with endometrial hyperplasia in obese bonnet monkey.

Uterine secretome and its modulation in rat (Rattus norvegicus)

The present study identifies uterine fluid (UF) proteins that display differential abundance during the embryo-permissive phase in nonconception and conception cycles in rats. UF samples were collected from nonpregnant rats in the proestrous (n=17) and metestrous (n=18) phases and also from pregnant (n=17) and pseudopregnant (n=17) rats on day 4 post coitus. UF protein profile in the metestrous phase was compared with that in the proestrous phase. Similarly, UF protein profile of the pregnant rats was compared with that of the pseudopregnant rats. Two-dimensional PAGE, followed by densitometric analysis of the paired protein spots, revealed differential abundance of 44 proteins in the metestrous phase, compared with that in the proestrous phase. Of these, 29 proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight or liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Functional groups such as proteases, protease inhibitors, and oxidoreductases were enriched in differentially abundant proteins. Total protease activity in UF was found to be significantly (P<0.05; t-test) higher in the proestrous phase, compared with that in the metestrous phase. Furthermore, 41 UF proteins were found to be differentially abundant in pregnant rats, compared with pseudopregnant rats. Of these, 11 proteins could be identified. Immunoblotting analysis confirmed significantly higher (P<0.05; t-test) abundance of β-actin, Rho-specific guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor alpha (Rho-GDIα), and peroxiredoxin-2 and -6 in the metestrous phase, compared with that in the proestrous phase. Compared with pseudopregnant rats, pregnant rats had significantly higher (P<0.05; t-test) levels of UF β-actin and Rho-GDIα. Furthermore, these proteins could be detected in the culture supernatants of endometrial epithelial cell lines, thereby providing an evidence of their secretion from endometrial epithelial cells. Data obtained from the study expand our knowledge on the uterine milieu that favours embryo implantation.