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Global gene expression analysis in human uterine epithelial cells defines new targets of glucocorticoid and estradiol antagonism.

ABSTRACT: In preparation for embryo implantation and pregnancy, the uterine epithelium undergoes a genomic and biological transition that mediates adhesion and invasion of the blastocyst. These events resemble an inflammatory response, and the immune system likely takes an active role in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Although glucocorticoids are primary mediators of the immune system, the functional role of glucocorticoid signaling in the uterine epithelium is not well defined. To investigate the dynamic relationship between glucocorticoids and reproductive hormones, we performed whole-genome microarray analysis in a human uterine endometrial cancer cell line (ECC1 cells) treated with the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex) alone or in combination with estradiol (E?). Over 10,000 genes were significantly regulated in the presence of Dex and/or E?. Surprisingly, unique targets of Dex and E? together represented the largest group of regulated genes. Ingenuity pathway analysis found both overlapping and independent regulated networks for each hormone. Several hundred genes were found to be coregulated by Dex and E?, including several that were antagonistically regulated. The effects of glucocorticoids and E? are mediated primarily through the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) and estrogen receptor (ESR1), respectively. In silico promoter analysis revealed that NR3C1 and ESR1 response elements are enriched in antagonistically regulated genes, and signaling through these receptors was required for antagonism. Glucocorticoid and E? antagonism of target genes may represent a critical junction between the immune system and female reproductive system. Moreover, identification and ontology analysis of glucocorticoid-regulated genes in a uterine epithelial-like cell line suggests that glucocorticoid signaling regulates important biological functions, including immune cell trafficking and embryonic development.

SUBMITTER: Whirledge S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4435104 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Global gene expression analysis in human uterine epithelial cells defines new targets of glucocorticoid and estradiol antagonism.

Whirledge Shannon S Xu Xiaojiang X Cidlowski John A JA

Biology of reproduction 20130927 3

In preparation for embryo implantation and pregnancy, the uterine epithelium undergoes a genomic and biological transition that mediates adhesion and invasion of the blastocyst. These events resemble an inflammatory response, and the immune system likely takes an active role in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Although glucocorticoids are primary mediators of the immune system, the functional role of glucocorticoid signaling in the uterine epithelium is not well defined. To invest ...[more]

PMID: 23843231

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Project description:Somatostatin exhibits an inhibitory effect on pituitary hormone secretion, including inhibition of growth hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and it can have antisecretory and antitumor effects on neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) that express somatostatin receptors. Although the precise mechanism remains unclear, the finding that glucocorticoids downregulate somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2) expression has been used to explain the lack of efficacy of traditional SSTR2-targeting analogs in patients with ACTH-secreting NETs. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonism with mifepristone has been shown to reverse the glucocorticoid-induced downregulation of SSTR2; however, the effects of GR modulation on SSTR2 expression in ACTH-secreting NETs, particularly corticotroph pituitary tumors, are not well known. The current study presents new insight from in vitro data using the highly selective GR modulator relacorilant, showing that GR modulation can overcome dexamethasone-induced suppression of SSTR2 in the murine At-T20 cell line. Additional data presented from clinical case observations in patients with ACTH-secreting NETs suggest that upregulation of SSTR2 via GR modulation may re-sensitize tumors to endogenous somatostatin and/or somatostatin analogs. Clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings from 4 patients [2 ACTH-secreting bronchial tumors and 2 ACTH-secreting pituitary tumors (Cushing disease)] who were treated with relacorilant as part of two clinical studies (NCT02804750 and NCT02762981) are described. In the patients with ectopic ACTH secretion, SSTR2-based imaging (Octreoscan and 68Ga-DOTATATE positron emission tomography) performed before and after treatment with relacorilant showed increased radiotracer uptake by the tumor following treatment with relacorilant without change in tumor size at computed tomography. In the patients with Cushing disease who received relacorilant prior to scheduled pituitary surgery, magnetic resonance imaging after a 3-month course of relacorilant showed a reduction in tumor size. Based on these findings, we propose that GR modulation in patients with ACTH-secreting NETs upregulates previously suppressed SSTR2s, resulting in tumor-specific antisecretory and anti-proliferative effects. The effect of relacorilant on pituitary corticotroph tumors is being investigated in an ongoing phase 3 study (NCT03697109; EudraCT 2018-003096-35).

Project description:Glycogen content in mink uterine glandular and luminal epithelia (GE and LE) is maximal during estrus and is depleted before implantation while embryos are in diapause. Uterine glycogen synthesis in vivo is stimulated by estradiol (E2) while its mobilization is induced by progesterone (P4). Nevertheless, treatment of an immortalized mink uterine epithelial cell line (GMMe) with E2 did not affect glycogen production. Interestingly, insulin alone significantly increased synthesis of the nutrient and glycogen content in response to insulin + E2 was greater than for insulin alone. Our objectives were to determine: 1) If insulin receptor protein (INSR) is expressed by mink uterine GE and LE in vivo and if the amount differs between estrus, diapause and pregnancy; 2) if E2, P4 or insulin regulate insulin receptor gene (Insr) expression by GMMe cells, and 3) if E2 and P4 act independently to regulate glycogen metabolism by GMMe cells and/or if their effects are mediated in part through the actions of insulin. The mean (±S.E.) percent INSR content of uterine epithelia was greatest during diapause (GE: 15.65 ± 0.06, LE:16.56 ± 1.25), much less during pregnancy (GE: 2.53 ± 0.60, LE:2.25 ± 0.32) and barely detectable in estrus (GE: 0.03 ± 0.01, LE:0.02 ± 0.01). Glycogen concentrations in GMMe cells increased 10-fold in response to insulin and 20-fold with insulin + E2 when compared to controls. Expression of Insr was increased 2-fold by insulin and insulin + E2 when compared to controls and there was no difference between the two hormone treatments, indicating that E2 does not increase Insr expression in insulin-treated cells. To simulate E2-priming, cells were treated with Insulin + E2 for 24 h, followed by the same hormones + P4 for the second 24 h (Insulin + E2 → P4) which resulted in Insr and glycogen levels not different from controls. Similarly, cells treated with Insulin + P4 resulted in glycogen concentrations not different from controls. We conclude that the glycogenic actions of E2 on GMMe cells are due to increased responsiveness of the cells to insulin, but not as a result of up-regulation of the insulin receptor. Glycogen mobilization in response to P4 was the result of decreased glycogenesis and increased glycogenolysis occurring concomitantly with reduced Insr expression. Mink uterine glycogen metabolism appears to be regulated in a reproductive cycle-dependent manner in part as a result of the actions of E2 and P4 on cellular responsiveness to insulin.

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Global gene expression analysis in human uterine epithelial cells defines new targets of glucocorticoid and estradiol antagonism.

Publications

Global gene expression analysis in human uterine epithelial cells defines new targets of glucocorticoid and estradiol antagonism.

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