scholarly journals Gja1 acts downstream of Acvr1 to regulate uterine decidualization via Hand2 in mice

2017 ◽  
Vol 233 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai-Fan Yu ◽  
Zhan-Peng Yue ◽  
Kai Wang ◽  
Zhan-Qing Yang ◽  
Hong-Liang Zhang ◽  
...  

Although Gja1 has been proved to play an important role in uterine decidualization, its regulatory mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we showed that Gja1 was highly expressed in the decidual cells and promoted the proliferation of uterine stromal cells and expression of Prl8a2 and Prl3c1, which were two well-known differentiation markers for decidualization. Further analysis revealed that Gja1 might act downstream of Acvr1 and cAMP to regulate the differentiation of uterine stromal cells. Administration of cAMP analog 8-Br-cAMP to Acvr1 siRNA-transfected stromal cells resulted in an obvious increase of Gja1 expression, whereas PKA inhibitor H89 impeded the induction of Gja1 elicited by Acvr1 overexpression, indicating that cAMP–PKA signal mediates the regulation of Acvr1 on Gja1 expression. In uterine stromal cells, knockdown of Gja1 blocked the cAMP induction of Hand2. Moreover, siRNA-mediated downregulation of Hand2 impaired the stimulatory effects of Gja1 overexpression on the expression of Prl8a2 and Prl3c1, whereas constitutive expression of Hand2 reversed the inhibitory effects of Gja1 siRNA on stromal differentiation. Meanwhile, Gja1 might play a vital role in the crosstalk between Acvr1 and Hand2. Collectively, Gja1 may act downstream of cAMP–PKA signal to mediate the effects of Acvr1 on the differentiation of uterine stromal cells through targeting Hand2.

Endocrinology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 157 (7) ◽  
pp. 2883-2893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Muter ◽  
Paul J. Brighton ◽  
Emma S. Lucas ◽  
Lauren Lacey ◽  
Anatoly Shmygol ◽  
...  

Decidualization denotes the transformation of endometrial stromal cells into specialized decidual cells. In pregnancy, decidual cells form a protective matrix around the implanting embryo, enabling coordinated trophoblast invasion and formation of a functional placenta. Continuous progesterone (P4) signaling renders decidual cells resistant to various environmental stressors, whereas withdrawal inevitably triggers tissue breakdown and menstruation or miscarriage. Here, we show that PLCL1, coding phospholipase C (PLC)-related catalytically inactive protein 1 (PRIP-1), is highly induced in response to P4 signaling in decidualizing human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs). Knockdown experiments in undifferentiated HESCs revealed that PRIP-1 maintains basal phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Protein kinase B activity, which in turn prevents illicit nuclear translocation of the transcription factor forkhead box protein O1 and induction of the apoptotic activator BIM. By contrast, loss of this scaffold protein did not compromise survival of decidual cells. PRIP-1 knockdown did also not interfere with the responsiveness of HESCs to deciduogenic cues, although the overall expression of differentiation markers, such as PRL, IGFBP1, and WNT4, was blunted. Finally, we show that PRIP-1 in decidual cells uncouples PLC activation from intracellular Ca2+ release by attenuating inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate signaling. In summary, PRIP-1 is a multifaceted P4-inducible scaffold protein that gates the activity of major signal transduction pathways in the endometrium. It prevents apoptosis of proliferating stromal cells and contributes to the relative autonomy of decidual cells by silencing PLC signaling downstream of Gq protein-coupled receptors.


Endocrinology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 157 (8) ◽  
pp. 3023-3035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bona Jia ◽  
Yu Gao ◽  
Mingming Li ◽  
Jiandang Shi ◽  
Yanfei Peng ◽  
...  

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a vital role in malignant transformation and progression of prostate cancer (PCa), and accumulating evidence suggests an enhancing effect of estrogens on PCa. The present study aimed to investigate the possible origin of prostate CAFs and the effects of estrogen receptors, G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) and estrogen receptor (ER)-α, on stromal cell activation. High expression of fibroblast activation protein (FAP), CD44, and nonmuscle myosin heavy chain B (SMemb) accompanied by low expression of smooth muscle differentiation markers was found in the stromal cells of PCa tissues and in cultured human prostate CAFs. Additionally, SMemb expression, which is coupled to cell phenotype switching and proliferation, was coexpressed with FAP, a marker of activated stromal cells, and with the stem cell marker CD44 in the stromal cells of PCa tissue. Prostate CAFs showed high GPR30 and low ERα expression. Moreover, GPR30 was coexpressed with FAP, CD44, and SMemb. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that the overexpression of GPR30 or the knockdown of ERα in prostate stromal cells induced the up-regulation of FAP, CD44, Smemb, and the down-regulation of smooth muscle markers. The conditioned medium from these cells promoted the proliferation and migration of LNCaP and PC3 PCa cells. GPR30 knockdown or ERα overexpression showed opposite effects. Finally, we present a novel mechanism whereby GPR30 limits ERα expression via inhibition of the cAMP/protein kinase A signaling pathway. These results suggest that stem-like cells within the stroma are a possible source of prostate CAFs and that the negative regulation of ERα expression by GPR30 is centrally involved in prostate stromal cell activation.


2005 ◽  
Vol 90 (7) ◽  
pp. 4191-4197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Liu ◽  
Stephen J. Hill ◽  
Raheela N. Khan

Abstract Context: Little is known about the crosstalk between the decidua and myometrium in relation to human labor. The hormone oxytocin (OT) is considered to be a key mediator of uterine contractility during parturition, exerting some of its effects through calcium channels. Objective: The objective was to characterize the effect of OT on the T-type calcium channel in human decidual stromal cells before and after the onset of labor. Design: The nystatin-perforated patch-clamp technique was used to record inward T-type calcium current (ICa(T)) from acutely dispersed decidual stromal cells obtained from women at either elective cesarean section [CS (nonlabor)] or after normal spontaneous vaginal delivery [SVD (labor)]. Setting: These studies took place at the University of Nottingham Medical School. Results: I Ca(T) of both SVD and CS cells were blocked by nickel (IC50 of 5.6 μm) and cobalt chloride (1 mm) but unaffected by nifedipine (10 μm). OT (1 nm to 3.5 μm) inhibited ICa(T) of SVD cells in a concentration-dependent manner, with a maximal inhibition of 79.0% compared with 26.2% in decidual cells of the CS group. OT-evoked reduction of ICa(T) was prevented by preincubation with the OT antagonist L371,257 in the SVD but not CS group. OT, in a concentration-dependent manner, displaced the steady-state inactivation curve for ICa(T) to the left in the SVD group with no significant effect on curves of the CS group. Conclusion: Inhibition of ICa(T) by OT in decidual cells obtained during labor may signify important functional remodeling of uterine signaling during this period.


2013 ◽  
Vol 220 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dang-Dang Li ◽  
Ying-Jie Gao ◽  
Xue-Chao Tian ◽  
Zhan-Qing Yang ◽  
Hang Cao ◽  
...  

Tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (Tdo2) is a rate-limiting enzyme which directs the conversion of tryptophan to kynurenine. The aim of this study was to examine the expression and regulation of Tdo2 in mouse uterus during decidualization. Tdo2 mRNA was mainly expressed in the decidua on days 6–8 of pregnancy. By real-time PCR, a high level of Tdo2 expression was observed in the uteri from days 6 to 8 of pregnancy, although Tdo2 expression was observed on days 1–8. Simultaneously, Tdo2 mRNA was also detected under in vivo and in vitro artificial decidualization. Estrogen, progesterone, and 8-bromoadenosine-cAMP could induce the expression of Tdo2 in the ovariectomized mouse uterus and uterine stromal cells. Tdo2 could regulate cell proliferation and stimulate the expression of decidual marker Dtprp in the uterine stromal cells and decidual cells. Overexpression of Tdo2 could upregulate the expression of Ahr, Cox2, and Vegf genes in uterine stromal cells, while Tdo2 inhibitor 680C91 could downregulate the expression of Cox2 and Vegf genes in uterine decidual cells. These data indicate that Tdo2 may play an important role during mouse decidualization and be regulated by estrogen, progesterone, and cAMP.


Stem Cells ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 2634-2643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Ben-Shoshan ◽  
Shulamit Schwartz ◽  
Galia Luboshits ◽  
Sofia Maysel-Auslender ◽  
Aya Barzelay ◽  
...  

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 78
Author(s):  
N. J. Hannan ◽  
R. L. Jones ◽  
L. A. Salamonsen

Human embryo implantation is a complex process requiring the attachment of an activated blastocyst to receptive endometrial epithelium and subsequent trophoblast invasion throughout the first trimester of pregnancy. Chemokines, including fractalkine (FKN), MCP-3, HCC-1 and MIP-1β, are produced by human endometrial epithelial and decidual cells with maximal production around the time of implantation/early pregnancy.1,2 Chemokine and receptor expression was characterized in cell types at the human maternal–trophoblast interface. Highly abundant expression of chemokine receptors CX3CR1 and CCR1 was observed in first trimester placenta and in trophoblast cells.3 We hypothesized that CX3CR1 and CCR1 ligands (FKN, MCP-3, HCC-1 and MIP-1β) produced by endometrial epithelial and decidualised stromal cells at the time of implantation promote migration of human trophoblast. We aimed to localize specific chemokine receptors in human first trimester tissue, and to determine whether trophoblast migration could be stimulated by the endometrium and by chemokines. Cellular localisation of specific receptors was assessed by immunohistochemistry in human first trimester implantation sites. Using an in vitro assay, trophoblast migration was assessed in response to human endometrial epithelial (HEEC) and decidualised stromal cells (DESC) (serum-free) conditioned medium and to recombinant human FKN, MCP-3, HCC-1 and MIP-1β. CX3CR1 and CCR1 protein was localised to the vascular extravillous trophoblast (EVTs), but not to the invading interstitial EVTs, with weak staining on the syncytium. Significant migration of cells occurred in response to conditioned media from HEEC and DESC. FKN, MIP-1β and HCC-1, but not MCP-3 also promoted significant trophoblast migration. Neutralizing antibodies for FKN and MIP-1β but not MCP-3 significantly reduced migration to conditioned media, indicating that at least these two chemokines contributed to the effects. These data support a role for endometrial derived chemokines in promoting human trophoblast migration. (1)Jones et al. (2004). JCEM 89(12), 6155–6167.(2)Hannan et al. (2004). Reprod. Fert. Devel. 16(Suppl.), A225, p. 78.(3)Hannan et al. (2004). JCEM 89(12), 6119–6129.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1231
Author(s):  
Choi ◽  
Moon ◽  
Jung ◽  
Lim ◽  
Lee ◽  
...  

Background: The efficacy of interstitial vascular fraction (SVF) transplantation in the treatment of heart disease has been proven in a variety of in vivo studies. In a previous study, we found that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) altered their expression of several cardiomyogenic factors under hypoxic conditions. Methods: We hypothesized that hypoxia may also induce obtained adipose-derived adherent stromal cells (ADASs) from SVFs and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) to differentiate into cardiomyocytes and/or cells with comparable phenotypes. We examined the differentiation markers of cell lineages in ADASs and ASCs according to time by hypoxic stress and found that only ADASs expressed cardiomyogenic markers within 24 hours under hypoxic conditions in association with the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α (HIF-1α). Results: Differentially secreted proteins in a conditioned medium (CM) from ASCs and ADASs under normoxic or hypoxic conditions were detected using an antibody assay and may be associated with a dramatic increase in the expression of cardiomyogenic markers in only ADASs. Furthermore, the cardiomyogenic factors were expressed more rapidly in ADASs than in ASCs under hypoxic conditions in association with the expression of HIF-1α, and angiogenin, fibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF-19) and/or macrophage inhibitory factor (MIF) are related. Conclusions: These results provide new insights into the applicability of ADASs preconditioned by hypoxic stress in cardiac diseases.


2019 ◽  
Vol 317 (6) ◽  
pp. C1115-C1127
Author(s):  
Yang Zhang ◽  
Lu Yan ◽  
Jiali Liu ◽  
Sheng Cui ◽  
Jingtao Qiu

In the early phase of pregnancy, decidualization is an indispensable event after mammal embryo implantation, accompanied by proliferation and differentiation of uterine stromal cells. Type II cGMP-dependent protein kinase (Prkg2) belongs to the family of serine/threonine kinase, which plays multiple roles in cellular signaling pathways to control proliferation and differentiation. However, the regulatory function and molecular mechanism of Prkg2 in decidualization are still unknown. In this study, we show that Prkg2 has a gradually increased expression pattern during peri-implantation and artificial decidualization, and the expression of Prkg2 is induced by estrogen and progesterone in the ovariectomized mouse uteri and primary cultured uterine stromal cells, the process of which is blocked by treating with estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist (ICI-182,780) and progesterone receptor (PR) antagonist (RU-486). Inhibition of Prkg2 activity by HA-100 promotes uterine stromal cell proliferation but compromises decidualization with decreased expression of prolactin family 8, subfamily a, member 2. In addition, the functional regulation of decidualization by Prkg2 is accomplished by its induced phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) at serine-9, which results in accumulation of β-catenin in the decidual cells. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that estrogen and progesterone upregulate the expression of Prkg2 in uterine stromal cells depending on ER and PR; Prkg2 promotes phosphorylation of GSK-3β at serine-9 and inactivates it, leading to the accumulation of β-catenin and promoting the process of decidualization. In addition to revealing the regulatory mechanism of Prkg2 that ensures the success of uterine decidualization, our findings will contribute to the understanding in the maintenance of early pregnancy.


1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 977-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
C M Smas ◽  
L Chen ◽  
H S Sul

pref-1 is an epidermal growth factor-like repeat protein present on the surface of preadipocytes that functions in the maintenance of the preadipose state. pref-1 expression is completely abolished during 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. Bypassing this downregulation by constitutive expression of full-length transmembrane pref-1 in preadipocytes drastically inhibits differentiation. For the first time, we show processing of cell-associated pref-1 to generate both a soluble pref-1 protein of approximately 50 kDa that corresponds to the ectodomain and also smaller products of 24 to 25 kDa and 31 kDa. Furthermore, while all four of the alternately spliced forms of pref-1 produce cell-associated protein, only the two largest of the four alternately spliced isoforms undergo cleavage in the juxtamembrane region to release the soluble 50-kDa ectodomain. We demonstrate that addition of Escherichia coli-expressed pref-1 ectodomain to 3T3-L1 preadipocytes blocks differentiation, thus overriding the adipogenic actions of dexamethasone and methylisobutylxanthine. The inhibitory effects of the pref-1 ectodomain are blocked by preincubation of the protein with pref-1 antibody. That the ectodomain alone is sufficient for inhibition demonstrates that transmembrane pref-1 can be processed to generate an inhibitory soluble form, thereby greatly extending its range of action. Furthermore, we present evidence that alternate splicing is the mechanism that governs the production of transmembrane versus soluble pref-1, thereby determining the mode of action, juxtacrine or paracrine, of the pref-1 protein.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 111 (6) ◽  
pp. 3108-3115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Carlino ◽  
Helena Stabile ◽  
Stefania Morrone ◽  
Roberta Bulla ◽  
Alessandra Soriani ◽  
...  

Abstract During early pregnancy, uterine mucosa decidualization is accompanied by a drastic enrichment of CD56highCD16− natural killer (NK) cells. Decidual NK (dNK) cells differ from peripheral blood NK (pbNK) cells in several ways, but their origin is still unclear. Our results demonstrate that chemokines present in the uterus can support pbNK cell migration through human endothelial and stromal decidual cells. Notably, we observed that pregnant women's pbNK cells are endowed with higher migratory ability compared with nonpregnant women's or male donors' pbNK cells. Moreover, NK cell migration through decidual stromal cells was increased when progesterone-cultured stromal cells were used as substrate, and this correlated with the ability of progesterone to up-regulate stromal cell chemokine expression. Furthermore, we demonstrate that dNK cells migrate through stromal cells using a distinct pattern of chemokines. Finally, we found that pbNK cells acquire a chemokine receptor pattern similar to that of dNK cells when they contact decidual stromal cells. Collectively these results strongly suggest that pbNK cell recruitment to the uterus contributes to the accumulation of NK cells during early pregnancy; that progesterone plays a crucial role in this event; and that pbNK cells undergo reprogramming of their chemokine receptor profile once exposed to uterine microenvironment.


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