Project description:We report that developmental exposure to the endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) diethylstilbestrol increases the estrogen action in myometrial stem cells (MMSCs), the origin from which UFs originate. The expression of reprogrammed estrogen responsive genes (ERGs) is driven by activated mixed lineage leukemia protein-1 (MLL1) in MMSCs. Deactivation of MLL1 reverses reprogramming of ERG expression. In addition, upregulation of ERGs occurs via DNA hypomethylation mechanism. Furthermore, the secretome of reprogrammed MMSCs enhances the proliferation of differentiated myometrial cells through activation of β-catenin signaling. This work identifies epigenetic mechanisms of MLL1/DNA methyltransferase- mediated MMSC reprogramming, and EDC exposure epigenetically targets MMSCs and imparts a hormonal imprint on the ERGs resulting in a “hyper-estrogenized” phenotype and increased hormone-dependent risk of UFs.
Project description:We report that developmental exposure to the endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) diethylstilbestrol increases the estrogen action in myometrial stem cells (MMSCs), the origin from which UFs originate. The expression of reprogrammed estrogen responsive genes (ERGs) is driven by activated mixed lineage leukemia protein-1 (MLL1) in MMSCs. Deactivation of MLL1 reverses reprogramming of ERG expression. In addition, upregulation of ERGs occurs via DNA hypomethylation mechanism. Furthermore, the secretome of reprogrammed MMSCs enhances the proliferation of differentiated myometrial cells through activation of β-catenin signaling. This work identifies epigenetic mechanisms of MLL1/DNA methyltransferase- mediated MMSC reprogramming, and EDC exposure epigenetically targets MMSCs and imparts a hormonal imprint on the ERGs resulting in a "hyper-estrogenized" phenotype and increased hormone-dependent risk of UFs.
Project description:We report that developmental exposure to the endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) diethylstilbestrol increases the estrogen action in myometrial stem cells (MMSCs), the origin from which UFs originate. The expression of reprogrammed estrogen responsive genes (ERGs) is driven by activated mixed lineage leukemia protein-1 (MLL1) in MMSCs. Deactivation of MLL1 reverses reprogramming of ERG expression. In addition, upregulation of ERGs occurs via DNA hypomethylation mechanism. Furthermore, the secretome of reprogrammed MMSCs enhances the proliferation of differentiated myometrial cells through activation of β-catenin signaling. This work identifies epigenetic mechanisms of MLL1/DNA methyltransferase- mediated MMSC reprogramming, and EDC exposure epigenetically targets MMSCs and imparts a hormonal imprint on the ERGs resulting in a “hyper-estrogenized” phenotype and increased hormone-dependent risk of UFs.
Project description:BackgroundThe stage, when tissues and organs are growing, is very vulnerable to environmental influences, but it's not clear how exposure during this time causes changes to the epigenome and increases the risk of hormone-related illnesses like uterine fibroids (UFs).MethodsDevelopmental reprogramming of myometrial stem cells (MMSCs), the putative origin from which UFs originate, was investigated in vitro and in the Eker rat model by RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, RRBS, gain/loss of function analysis, and luciferase activity assays.ResultsWhen exposed to the endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) diethylstilbestrol during Eker rat development, MMSCs undergo a reprogramming of their estrogen-responsive transcriptome. The reprogrammed genes in MMSCs are known as estrogen-responsive genes (ERGs) and are activated by mixed lineage leukemia protein-1 (MLL1) and DNA hypo-methylation mechanisms. Additionally, we observed a notable elevation in the expression of ERGs in MMSCs from Eker rats exposed to natural steroids after developmental exposure to EDC, thereby augmenting estrogen activity.ConclusionOur studies identify epigenetic mechanisms of MLL1/DNA hypo-methylation-mediated MMSC reprogramming. EDC exposure epigenetically targets MMSCs and leads to persistent changes in the expression of a subset of ERGs, imparting a hormonal imprint on the ERGs, resulting in a "hyper-estrogenic" phenotype, and increasing the hormone-dependent risk of UFs.
Project description:Our study represents a new strategy for identifying drivers and risk factors of uterine fibroids (F) by identifying genes and pathways differentially regulated in myometrial stem cells (SCs) isolated from myometrium without fibroids (MyoN) and from myometrium adjacent to uterine fibroids (MyoF) using RNA-seq approach. Moreover, we will perform the comparison analysis of the transcriptome between MyoF SCs and fibroid SCs to identify differentially expressed genes.
Project description:Objective: To study the possible role for HMGA2 overexpression in differentiated myometrial cells and its potential to induce a stem cell-like or dedifferentiating phenotype and drive fibroid development. Design: Myometrial cells were immortalized and transduced with an HMGA2 lentivirus to produce HMGA2hi cells. In vitro stem cell assays were conducted, and ribonucleic acid from HMGA2hi and control cells as well as fibroid-free myometrial and HMGA2 fibroid (HMGA2F) tissues were submitted for ribonucleic acid sequencing. Setting: University research laboratory. Patient(s): Women who underwent hysterectomy for symptomatic uterine fibroids or other gynecological conditions. Intervention(s): Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure(s): In vitro stem cell-like properties from myometrial cell lines. Ribonucleic acid sequencing and collagen production of HMGA2-overexpressing primary leiomyoma tissue and cell lines. Result(s): HMGA2hicellshadenhancedself-renewalcapacity,decreasedproliferation,andagreaterabilitytodifferentiateintoother mesenchymal cell types. HMGA2hi cells exhibited a stem cell-like signature and shared transcriptomic similarities with HMGA2F. Moreover, dysregulated extracellular matrix pathways were observed in both HMGA2hi cells and HMGA2F. Conclusion(s): Our findings show that HMGA2 overexpression may drive myometrial cells to dedifferentiate into a more plastic phenotype and provide evidence for an alternative mechanism for fibroid etiology, suggesting that fibroids arise not only from a mutated stem cell but also from a mutated differentiated myometrial cell.