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Progesterone receptor-A and -B have opposite effects on proinflammatory gene expression in human myometrial cells: implications for progesterone actions in human pregnancy and parturition.

ABSTRACT: Progesterone promotes uterine relaxation during pregnancy and its withdrawal induces labor. Progesterone withdrawal in human parturition is mediated in part by changes in the relative levels of the nuclear progesterone receptor isoforms, PR-A and PR-B, in myometrial cells. Parturition also involves myometrial inflammation; however, the functional link between nuclear PR-mediated progesterone actions and inflammation in human myometrial cells is unclear.Our objective was to determine how PR-A and PR-B regulate progesterone action in human myometrial cells and specifically the expression of genes encoding contraction-associated proteins and proinflammatory mediators.Effects of PR-A and PR-B on the capacity for progesterone to modulate gene expression was determined using an immortalized human myometrial cell line stably transfected with inducible PR-A and PR-B expression transgenes and conditioned to express various PR-A and PR-B levels. Gene expression was assessed by genome wide transcriptome analysis, quantitative RT-PCR and immunoblotting.PR-A and PR-B were each transcriptionally active in response to progesterone and affected the expression of distinct gene cohorts. The capacity for progesterone to affect gene expression was dependent on the PR-A to PR-B ratio. This was especially apparent for the expression of proinflammatory genes. Progesterone decreased proinflammatory gene expression when the PR-A to PR-B ratio favored PR-B and increased proinflammatory gene expression when the ratio favored PR-A. Progesterone via PR-B increased expression of inhibitor-?B?, a repressor of the nuclear factor-?B transcription factor, and inhibited basal and lipopolysaccharide-induced proinflammatory gene expression. Both of those PR-B-mediated effects were inhibited by PR-A.Our data suggest that during most of human pregnancy, when myometrial cells are PR-B dominant, progesterone promotes myometrial quiescence through PR-B-mediated antiinflammatory actions. At parturition, the rise in PR-A expression promotes labor by inhibiting the antiinflammatory actions of PR-B and stimulating proinflammatory gene expression in response to progesterone.

SUBMITTER: Tan H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3339884 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Progesterone receptor-A and -B have opposite effects on proinflammatory gene expression in human myometrial cells: implications for progesterone actions in human pregnancy and parturition.

Tan Huiqing H Yi Lijuan L Rote Neal S NS Hurd William W WW Mesiano Sam S

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 20120314 5

<h4>Context</h4>Progesterone promotes uterine relaxation during pregnancy and its withdrawal induces labor. Progesterone withdrawal in human parturition is mediated in part by changes in the relative levels of the nuclear progesterone receptor isoforms, PR-A and PR-B, in myometrial cells. Parturition also involves myometrial inflammation; however, the functional link between nuclear PR-mediated progesterone actions and inflammation in human myometrial cells is unclear.<h4>Objective</h4>Our objec ...[more]

PMID: 22419721

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Project description:The cervix undergoes extensive remodeling throughout pregnancy and parturition. This process involves both ECM collagen degradation and cellular remodeling, which includes cell proliferation, transition and migration. Progesterone (P4) has been used clinically to delay cervical ripening and prevent preterm birth (PTB). However, the mechanisms by which progesterone affects cell transition and the migration of cervical epithelial and stromal cells are not yet fully known. In this study, we documented the role of a gestational level of P4 in the cellular transition (epithelial-mesenchymal transition [EMT] and mesenchymal-epithelial transition [MET]), cell migration, and inflammatory responses of endocervical epithelial cells (EEC) and cervical stromal cells (CSC). EEC and CSC were treated with LPS and P4 for 6 days. The epithelial:mesenchymal ratio (regular microscopy and cell shape index analysis), shift in intermediate filaments (immunofluorescence microscopy and western blot analyses for cytokeratin [CK]-18 and vimentin), adhesion molecules and transcription factors (western blot analyses for E-cadherin, N-cadherin and SNAIL), were used to determine growth characteristics and EMT and MET changes in EEC and CSC under the indicated conditions. To test cell remodeling, scratch assays followed by cellular analyses as mentioned above were performed. Inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 [IL-6], tumor necrosis factor α [TNFα]) and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) were measured by ELISA. LPS promoted EMT (decreased cell shape index, decreased CK-18 and E-cadherin, increased vimentin, N-cadherin, and SNAIL), and increased IL-6 and MMP9 production by EEC. A gestational level of P4 prevented LPS-induced EMT in EEC and exhibited anti-inflammatory effect in both EEC and CSC. LPS slowed down wound healing in CSC but P4 treatment prevented the negative impact of LPS in CSC wound healing. These results may explain the cellular mechanisms by which P4 helps to stabilize the cervical epithelial barrier and preserve the mechanical and tensile strength of the cervical stromal layer, which are important in normal cervical remodeling processes during pregnancy.

Project description:Study hypothesisMyometrial explants represent a superior model compared with cell culture models for the study of human myometrial progesterone (P4) signalling in parturition.Study findingGene expression analysis showed myometrial explants closely resemble the in vivo condition and the anti-inflammatory action of P4 is not lost with labour onset.What is known alreadyCirculating P4 levels decline before the onset of parturition in most animals, but not in humans. This has led to the suggestion that there is a functional withdrawal of P4 action at the myometrial level prior to labour onset. However, to date, no evidence of a loss of P4 function has been provided, with studies hampered by a lack of a physiologically relevant model.Study design, samples/materials, methodsMyometrial biopsies obtained at Caesarean section were dissected into explants after a portion was immediately snap frozen (t = 0). Microarray analysis was used to compare gene expression of t = 0 with paired (i) explants, (ii) passage 4 myometrial cell cultures or (iii) the hTERT myometrial cell line. Western blotting and chemokine/cytokine assays were used to study P4 signalling in myometrial explants.Main results and the role of chanceGene expression comparison of t = 0 to the three models demonstrated that explants more closely resemble the in vivo status. At the protein level, explants maintain both P4 receptor (PR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) levels versus t = 0 whereas cells only maintain GR levels. Additionally, treatment with 1 µM P4 led to a reduction in interleukin-1 (IL-1) β-driven cyclooxygenase-2 in explants but not in cells. P4 signalling in explants was PR-mediated and associated with a repression of p65 and c-Jun phosphorylation. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory action of P4 was maintained after labour onset.Limitations/reasons for cautionThere is evidence of basal inflammation in the myometrial explant model.Wider implications of the findingsMyometrial explants constitute a novel model to study P4 signalling in the myometrium and can be used to further elucidate the mechanisms of P4 action in human labour.Large scale dataData deposited at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?token=gvmpggkurbgxfqf&acc=GSE77830.Study funding and competing interestThis work was supported by grants from the Joint Research Committee of the Westminster Medical School Research Trust, Borne (No. 1067412-7; a sub-charity of the Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity) and the Imperial NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS or the Department of Health. The authors have no conflict of interest.

Dataset Information

Progesterone receptor-A and -B have opposite effects on proinflammatory gene expression in human myometrial cells: implications for progesterone actions in human pregnancy and parturition.

Publications

Progesterone receptor-A and -B have opposite effects on proinflammatory gene expression in human myometrial cells: implications for progesterone actions in human pregnancy and parturition.

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