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Aberrant activation of canonical Notch1 signaling in the mouse uterus decreases progesterone receptor by hypermethylation and leads to infertility. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:2300-5. [PMID: 26858409 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1520441113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammalian reproduction, implantation is one of the most critical events. Failure of implantation and the subsequent decidualization contribute to more than 75% of pregnancy losses in women. Our laboratory has previously reported that inhibition of Notch signaling results in impaired decidualization in both women and a transgenic mouse model. In this study, we generated a Notch gain-of-function transgenic mouse by conditionally overexpressing the Notch1 intracellular domain (N1ICD) in the reproductive tract driven by a progesterone receptor (Pgr) -Cre. We show that the overexpression of N1ICD in the uterus results in complete infertility as a consequence of multiple developmental and physiological defects, including the absence of uterine glands and dysregulation of progesterone and estrogen signaling by a Recombination Signal Binding Protein Jκ-dependent signaling mechanism. We further show that the inhibition of progesterone signaling is caused by hypermethylation of its receptor Pgr by Notch1 overexpression through the transcription factor PU.1 and DNA methyltransferase 3b (Dnmt3b). We have generated a mouse model to study the consequence of increased Notch signaling in female reproduction and provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that Notch signaling can regulate epigenetic modification of the Pgr.
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Monsivais D, Clementi C, Peng J, Titus MM, Barrish JP, Creighton CJ, Lydon JP, DeMayo FJ, Matzuk MM. Uterine ALK3 is essential during the window of implantation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E387-95. [PMID: 26721398 PMCID: PMC4725477 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1523758113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The window of implantation is defined by the inhibition of uterine epithelial proliferation, structural epithelial cell remodeling, and attenuated estrogen (E2) response. These changes occur via paracrine signaling between the uterine epithelium and stroma. Because implantation defects are a major cause of infertility in women, identifying these signaling pathways will improve infertility interventions. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are TGF-β family members that regulate the postimplantation and midgestation stages of pregnancy. In this study, we discovered that signaling via activin-like kinase 3 (ALK3/BMPR1A), a BMP type 1 receptor, is necessary for blastocyst attachment. Conditional knockout (cKO) of ALK3 in the uterus was obtained by producing Alk3(flox) (/flox)-Pgr-cre-positive females. Alk3 cKO mice are sterile and have defects in the luminal uterine epithelium, including increased microvilli density and maintenance of apical cell polarity. Moreover, Alk3 cKO mice exhibit an elevated uterine E2 response and unopposed epithelial cell proliferation during the window of implantation. We determined that dual transcriptional regulation of Kruppel-like factor 15 (Klf15), by both the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) transcription factor SMAD family member 4 (SMAD4) and progesterone receptor (PR), is necessary to inhibit uterine epithelial cell proliferation, a key step for embryo implantation. Our findings present a convergence of BMP and steroid hormone signaling pathways in the regulation of uterine receptivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Monsivais
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Caterina Clementi
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Jia Peng
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Mary M Titus
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - James P Barrish
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Chad J Creighton
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - John P Lydon
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
| | - Martin M Matzuk
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
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Pawar S, Laws MJ, Bagchi IC, Bagchi MK. Uterine Epithelial Estrogen Receptor-α Controls Decidualization via a Paracrine Mechanism. Mol Endocrinol 2015; 29:1362-74. [PMID: 26241389 DOI: 10.1210/me.2015-1142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Steroid hormone-regulated differentiation of uterine stromal cells, known as decidualization, is essential for embryo implantation. The role of the estrogen receptor-α (ESR1) during this differentiation process is unclear. Development of conditional Esr1-null mice showed that deletion of this gene in both epithelial and stromal compartments of the uterus leads to a complete blockade of decidualization, indicating a critical role of ESR1 during this process. To further elucidate the cell type-specific function of ESR1 in the uterus, we created WE(d/d) mice in which Esr1 is ablated in uterine luminal and glandular epithelia but is retained in the stroma. Uteri of WE(d/d) mice failed to undergo decidualization, indicating that epithelial ESR1 contributes to stromal differentiation via a paracrine mechanism. We noted markedly reduced production of the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in WE(d/d) uteri. Supplementation with LIF restored decidualization in WE(d/d) mice. Our study indicated that LIF acts synergistically with progesterone to induce the expression of Indian hedgehog (IHH) in uterine epithelium and its receptor patched homolog 1 in the stroma. IHH then induces the expression of chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factor II, a transcription factor that promotes stromal differentiation. To address the mechanism by which LIF induces IHH expression, we used mice lacking uterine epithelial signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, a well-known mediator of LIF signaling. Our study revealed that LIF-mediated induction of IHH occurs without the activation of epithelial signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 but uses an alternate pathway involving the activation of the ERK1/2 kinase. Collectively our results provide unique insights into the paracrine mechanisms by which ESR1 directs epithelial-stromal dialogue during pregnancy establishment.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Pawar
- Departments of Molecular and Integrative Physiology (S.P., M.K.B.) and Comparative Biosciences (M.J.L., I.C.B.), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - M J Laws
- Departments of Molecular and Integrative Physiology (S.P., M.K.B.) and Comparative Biosciences (M.J.L., I.C.B.), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - I C Bagchi
- Departments of Molecular and Integrative Physiology (S.P., M.K.B.) and Comparative Biosciences (M.J.L., I.C.B.), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - M K Bagchi
- Departments of Molecular and Integrative Physiology (S.P., M.K.B.) and Comparative Biosciences (M.J.L., I.C.B.), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
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The Role of Steroid Hormone Receptors in the Establishment of Pregnancy in Rodents. ADVANCES IN ANATOMY EMBRYOLOGY AND CELL BIOLOGY 2015; 216:27-49. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-15856-3_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Pawar S, Hantak AM, Bagchi IC, Bagchi MK. Minireview: Steroid-regulated paracrine mechanisms controlling implantation. Mol Endocrinol 2014; 28:1408-22. [PMID: 25051170 DOI: 10.1210/me.2014-1074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Implantation is an essential process during establishment of pregnancy in mammals. It is initiated with the attachment of the blastocyst to a receptive uterine epithelium followed by its invasion into the stromal tissue. These events are profoundly regulated by the steroid hormones 17β-estradiol and progesterone. During the past several years, mouse models harboring conditional gene knockout mutations have become powerful tools for determining the functional roles of cellular factors involved in various aspects of implantation biology. Studies using these genetic models as well as primary cultures of human endometrial cells have established that the estrogen receptor α, the progesterone receptor, and their downstream target genes critically regulate uterine growth and differentiation, which in turn control embryo-endometrial interactions during early pregnancy. These studies have uncovered a diverse array of molecular cues, which are produced under the influence of estrogen receptor α and progesterone receptor and exchanged between the epithelial and stromal compartments of the uterus during the progressive phases of implantation. These paracrine signals are critical for acquisition of uterine receptivity and functional interactions with the embryo. This review highlights recent work describing paracrine mechanisms that govern steroid-regulated uterine epithelial-stromal dialogue during implantation and their roles in fertility and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Pawar
- Departments of Molecular and Integrative Physiology (S.P., A.M.H., M.K.B.) and Comparative Biosciences (I.C.B.), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
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Bondesson M, Hao R, Lin CY, Williams C, Gustafsson JÅ. Estrogen receptor signaling during vertebrate development. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2014; 1849:142-51. [PMID: 24954179 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2014.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Revised: 06/09/2014] [Accepted: 06/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Estrogen receptors are expressed and their cognate ligands produced in all vertebrates, indicative of important and conserved functions. Through evolution estrogen has been involved in controlling reproduction, affecting both the development of reproductive organs and reproductive behavior. This review broadly describes the synthesis of estrogens and the expression patterns of aromatase and the estrogen receptors, in relation to estrogen functions in the developing fetus and child. We focus on the role of estrogens for the development of reproductive tissues, as well as non-reproductive effects on the developing brain. We collate data from human, rodent, bird and fish studies and highlight common and species-specific effects of estrogen signaling on fetal development. Morphological malformations originating from perturbed estrogen signaling in estrogen receptor and aromatase knockout mice are discussed, as well as the clinical manifestations of rare estrogen receptor alpha and aromatase gene mutations in humans. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Nuclear receptors in animal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bondesson
- Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Ruixin Hao
- Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; DuPont Haskell Global Centers for Health and Environmental Sciences, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Chin-Yo Lin
- Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, TX, USA
| | - Cecilia Williams
- Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jan-Åke Gustafsson
- Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, TX, USA; Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 14183 Huddinge, Sweden
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