Role of phosphoprotein phosphatases in the corpus luteum: II Control of progesterone secretion by isolated rat luteal cells

1996 ◽  
Vol 150 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
D R E Abayasekara ◽  
S L Ford ◽  
S J Persaud ◽  
P M Jones

Abstract The key role of protein kinases and protein phosphorylation in the regulation of luteal steroidogenesis is well documented. However the role of phosphoprotein phosphatases (PP) and dephosphorylation in the regulation of luteal cell progesterone secretion is as yet unknown. We have recently demonstrated the presence and activity of PP1 and PP2A in rat luteal cells and the present study was undertaken to determine the consequences of inhibiting PP activity in terms of progesterone secretion. Three structurally dissimilar inhibitors of PP1/2A, okadaic acid, calyculin A and cantharidin each caused a dose-dependent inhibition of LH-induced progesterone secretion without affecting cyclic AMP accumulation. The less potent derivative of okadaic acid, norokadaone, had no effect on either parameter, suggesting that the inhibitory actions on progesterone secretion are due to their specific actions on PP activity and that this inhibition occurs principally at a locus which is distal to the generation of cyclic AMP. In contrast to the inhibitory effects of PP1/2A inhibitors on progesterone biosynthesis, a PP2B inhibitor, cypermethrin, had no effect on LH-stimulated steroidogenesis. The three PP1/2A inhibitors also caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of dibutyryl cyclic AMP-stimulated progesterone secretion. However, none of the inhibitors affected 22R-hydroxycholesterol-supported steroidogenesis, clearly demonstrating that the inhibitors did not interfere with the activity of steroidogenic enzymes. These results suggest that cycles of phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of specific proteins are required for the sustained production of progesterone. Whilst the precise location and function of putative PP substrates is uncertain, the present results indicate that they are involved in regulating the availability of free cholesterol to steroidogenic enzymes within mitochondria. Journal of Endocrinology (1996) 150, 213–221

1996 ◽  
Vol 150 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
S L Ford ◽  
D R E Abayasekara ◽  
S J Persaud ◽  
P M Jones

Abstract Although the role of protein kinases and phosphorylation in steroidogenesis has received much attention, very little is known about the activities of phosphoprotein phosphatases (PP) and dephosphorylation in steroidogenic tissues. The aims of the present study were therefore to identify which of those serine/threonine PPs more commonly involved in intracellular signalling are expressed in rat luteal cells; to quantify, in vitro, the effects of inhibitors on PP activity extracted from purified rat luteal cells; and to measure the effects of PP inhibitors on the phosphorylation of endogenous luteal cell proteins. Polyclonal antibodies raised against the catalytic subunits of PP types 1 and 2A, and a monoclonal antibody raised against the Ca2+-binding subunit of PP2B, were used to identify immunoreactive proteins that migrated on SDS-PAGE with approximate molecular masses of 37, 34 and 16 kDa, corresponding well with the reported molecular mass of PP1, PP2A and PP2B respectively. Five selective inhibitors of PP1/PP2A: okadaic acid, calyculin A, cantharidin, tautomycin and microcystin-RR, each caused a dose-dependent decrease in the activity of PPs in luteal cell homogenates, and also enhanced 32P incorporation into numerous luteal cell proteins; most notably, proteins with approximate molecular masses of 20 and 22 kDa. The results of this study suggest that PPs may play an important role in the regulation of rat luteal cell functions. Journal of Endocrinology (1996) 150, 205–211


Reproduction ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 133 (3) ◽  
pp. 641-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Borowczyk ◽  
Mary Lynn Johnson ◽  
Jerzy J Bilski ◽  
Magda A Bilska ◽  
Dale A Redmer ◽  
...  

To evaluate the role of gap junctions in the regulation of progesterone secretion, two experiments were conducted. In Experiment 1, luteal cells obtained on days 5, 10, and 15 were cultured overnight at densities of 50×103, 100×103, 300×103, and 600×103cells/dish in medium containing: (1) no treatment (control), (2) LH, or (3) dbcAMP. In Experiment 2, luteal cells from days 5 and 10 of the estrous cycle were transfected with siRNA, which targeted the connexin (Cx) 43 gene. In Experiment 1, progesterone secretion, Cx43 mRNA expression, and the rates of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC), were affected by the day of the estrous cycle, cell density, and treatments (LH or dbcAMP). The changes in progesterone secretion were positively correlated with the changes in Cx43 mRNA expression and the rates of GJIC. Cx43 was detected on the luteal cell borders in every culture, and luteal cells expressed 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. In Experiment 2, twoCx43gene-targeted sequences decreased Cx43 mRNA expression and progesterone production by luteal cells. The changes in Cx43 mRNA expression were positively correlated with changes in progesterone concentration in media. Thus, our data demonstrate a relationship between gap junctions and progesterone secretion that was supported by (1) the positive correlations between progesterone secretion and Cx43 mRNA expression and GJIC of luteal cells and (2) the inhibition of Cx43 mRNA expression by siRNA that resulted in decreased production of progesterone by luteal cells. This suggests that gap junctions may be involved in the regulation of steroidogenesis in the ovine corpus luteum.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Zonghao Tang ◽  
Jiajie Chen ◽  
Zhenghong Zhang ◽  
Jingjing Bi ◽  
Renfeng Xu ◽  
...  

The increase of oxidative stress is one of the important characteristics of mammalian luteal regression. Previous investigations have revealed the essential role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in luteal cell death during luteolysis, while it is unknown how ROS is regulated in this process. Considering the decrease of blood flow and increase of PGF2α during luteolysis, we hypothesized that the HIF-1α pathway may be involved in the regulation of ROS in the luteal cell of the late corpus luteum (CL). Here, by using a pseudopregnant rat model, we showed that the level of both HIF-1α and its downstream BNIP3 was increased during luteal regression. Consistently, we observed the increase of autophagy level during luteolysis, which is regulated in a Beclin1-independent manner. Comparing with early (Day 7 of pseudopregnancy) and middle CL (Day 14), the level of ROS was significantly increased in late CL, indicating the contribution of oxidative stress in luteolysis. Inhibition of HIF-1α by echinomycin (Ech), a potent HIF-1α inhibitor, ameliorated the upregulation of BNIP3 and NIX, as well as the induction of autophagy and the accumulation of ROS in luteal cells on Day 21 of pseudopregnancy. Morphologically, Ech treatment delayed the atrophy of the luteal structure at the late-luteal stage. An in vitro study indicated that inhibition of HIF-1α can also attenuate PGF2α-induced ROS and luteal cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the decrease of cell apoptosis can also be observed by ROS inhibition under PGF2α treatment. Taken together, our results indicated that HIF-1α signaling is involved in the regression of CL by modulating ROS production via orchestrating autophagy. Inhibition of HIF-1α could obviously hamper the apoptosis of luteal cells and the process of luteal regression.


1985 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. O'Shaughnessy ◽  
D. C. Wathes

ABSTRACT The morphological and functional characteristics of cultured bovine luteal cells were examined. Dispersed luteal cells were cultured in either Ham's F12 medium or Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM), plus 10% adult bovine serum. After 18 h of culture, fibronectin was observed to be associated with some cells showing histochemical 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) activity. In DMEM, cells adopted a fibroblast-like appearance with a doubling time of 34 h while in Ham's F12, cells retained an epithelial-like morphology with a doubling time of 91 h. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) but not LH slowed proliferation and altered cell morphology in DMEM. Addition of insulin and dbcAMP was required to maintain 3β-HSD activity in cells cultured for more than 3 days. Progesterone secretion was significantly greater in Ham's F12 than in DMEM although there was a rapid decline in basal secretion during culture in either medium. Both LH and dbcAMP stimulated progesterone secretion although the effects of dbcAMP were significantly greater than those of LH after 18 h of culture. Addition of insulin significantly enhanced basal, LH-stimulated and dbcAMP-stimulated progesterone secretion after 3 days of culture whereas several antioxidants were without effect. These studies indicate that the morphological and functional characteristics of cultured luteal cells may be best maintained in Ham's F12 plus dbcAMP and insulin. J. Endocr. (1985) 104, 355–361


2009 ◽  
Vol 219 (3) ◽  
pp. 652-658 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manabu Niimura ◽  
Takashi Miki ◽  
Tadao Shibasaki ◽  
Wakako Fujimoto ◽  
Toshihiko Iwanaga ◽  
...  

1981 ◽  
Vol 196 (3) ◽  
pp. 771-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Claude Henquin

The possible involvement of calmodulin in insulin release was evaluated by studying the effects on intact islets of trifluoperazine and pimozide, two antipsychotic agents known to bind strongly to calmodulin in cell-free systems. Trifluoperazine (10–100μm) produced a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of the two phases of glucose-stimulated insulin release. The effect was not reversible by simple washing of the drug, but could be prevented by cytochalasin B or theophylline. Trifluoperazine also inhibited the release induced by glyceraldehyde, oxoisocaproate, tolbutamide or barium, but not that stimulated by 10mm-theophylline or 1mm-3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. Pimozide (0.5–10μm) also produced a dose-dependent inhibition of insulin release triggered by glucose, leucine or barium, but did not affect the release induced by methylxanthines. Glucose utilization by islet cells was not modified by trifluoperazine (25μm), which slightly increased cyclic AMP concentration in islets incubated without glucose. The drug did not prevent the increase in cyclic AMP concentration observed after 10min of glucose stimulation, but suppressed it after 60min. Basal or glucose-stimulated Ca2+ influx (5min) was unaffected by 25μm-trifluoperazine, whereas Ca2+net uptake (60min) was inhibited by 20%. Glucose-stimulated Ca2+ uptake was almost unaffected by pimozide. In a Ca2+-free medium, trifluoperazine decreased Ca2+ efflux from the islets and did not prevent the further decrease by glucose; in the presence of Ca2+, the drug again decreased Ca2+ efflux and inhibited the stimulation normally produced by glucose. In the absence of glucose, trifluoperazine lowered the rate of Rb+ efflux from the islets, decreased Rb+ influx (10min), but did not affect Rb+ net uptake (60min). It did not interfere with the ability of glucose to decrease Rb+ efflux rate further and to increase Rb+ net uptake. The results show thus that trifluoperazine does not alter the initial key events of the stimulus–secretion coupling. Its inhibition of insulin release suggests a role of calmodulin at late stages of the secretory process.


2021 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meeti Punetha ◽  
Sai Kumar ◽  
Avishek Paul ◽  
Bosco Jose ◽  
Jaya Bharati ◽  
...  

Abstract Background PGF2α is essential for the induction of the corpus luteum regression which in turn reduces progesterone production. Early growth response (EGR) proteins are Cys2-His2-type zinc-finger transcription factor that are strongly linked to cellular proliferation, survival and apoptosis. Rapid elevation of EGR1 was observed after luteolytic dose of PGF2α. EGR1 is involved in the transactivation of many genes, including TGFβ1, which plays an important role during luteal regression. Methods The current study was conducted in buffalo luteal cells with the aim to better understand the role of EGR1 in transactivation of TGFβ1 during PGF2α induced luteal regression. Luteal cells from mid stage corpus luteum of buffalo were cultured and treated with different doses of PGF2α for different time durations. Relative expression of mRNAs encoding for enzymes within the progesterone biosynthetic pathway (3βHSD, CYP11A1 and StAR); Caspase 3; AKT were analyzed to confirm the occurrence of luteolytic event. To determine if EGR1 is involved in the PGF2α induced luteal regression via induction of TGFβ1 expression, we knocked out the EGR1 gene by using CRISPR/Cas9. Result The present experiment determined whether EGR1 protein expression in luteal cells was responsive to PGF2α treatment. Quantification of EGR1 and TGFβ1 mRNA showed significant up regulation in luteal cells of buffalo at 12 h post PGF2α induction. In order to validate the role of PGF2α on stimulating the expression of TGFβ1 by an EGR1 dependent mechanism we knocked out EGR1. The EGR1 ablated luteal cells were stimulated with PGF2α and it was observed that EGR1 KO did not modulate the PGF2α induced expression of TGFβ1. In PGF2α treated EGR1 KO luteal cell, the mRNA expression of Caspase 3 was significantly increased compared to PGF2α treated wild type luteal cells maintained for 12 h. We also studied the influence of EGR1 on steroidogenesis. The EGR1 KO luteal cells with PGF2α treatment showed no substantial difference either in the progesterone concentration or in StAR mRNA expression with PGF2α-treated wild type luteal cells. Conclusion These results suggest that EGR1 signaling is not the only factor which plays a role in the regulation of PGF2α induced TGFβ1 signaling for luteolysis.


2022 ◽  
Vol 221 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory C. Addicks ◽  
Hongbo Zhang ◽  
Dongryeol Ryu ◽  
Goutham Vasam ◽  
Alexander E. Green ◽  
...  

Protein lysine acetylation is a post-translational modification that regulates protein structure and function. It is targeted to proteins by lysine acetyltransferases (KATs) or removed by lysine deacetylases. This work identifies a role for the KAT enzyme general control of amino acid synthesis protein 5 (GCN5; KAT2A) in regulating muscle integrity by inhibiting DNA binding of the transcription factor/repressor Yin Yang 1 (YY1). Here we report that a muscle-specific mouse knockout of GCN5 (Gcn5skm−/−) reduces the expression of key structural muscle proteins, including dystrophin, resulting in myopathy. GCN5 was found to acetylate YY1 at two residues (K392 and K393), disrupting the interaction between the YY1 zinc finger region and DNA. These findings were supported by human data, including an observed negative correlation between YY1 gene expression and muscle fiber diameter. Collectively, GCN5 positively regulates muscle integrity through maintenance of structural protein expression via acetylation-dependent inhibition of YY1. This work implicates the role of protein acetylation in the regulation of muscle health and for consideration in the design of novel therapeutic strategies to support healthy muscle during myopathy or aging.


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