Antisteroidal compounds and steroid withdrawal down-regulate cadherin-11 mRNA and protein expression levels in human endometrial stromal cells undergoing decidualisation in vitro

Estradiol promotes M1-like macrophage activation through cadherin-11 to aggravate temporomandibular joint inflammation in rats

Macrophages play a major role in joint inflammation. Estrogen is involved in rheumatoid arthritis and temporomandibular disorders. However, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. This study was done to verify and test how estrogen affects M1/M2-like macrophage polarization and then contributes to joint inflammation. Female rats were ovariectomized and treated with increasing doses of 17β-estradiol for 10 d and then intra-articularly injected with CFA to induce temporomandibular joint (TMJ) inflammation. The polarization of macrophages and expression of cadherin-11 was evaluated at 24 h after the induction of TMJ inflammation and after blocking cadherin-11 or estrogen receptors. NR8383 macrophages were treated with estradiol and TNF-α, with or without blocking cadherin-11 or estrogen receptors, to evaluate the expression of the M1/M2-like macrophage-associated genes. We found that estradiol increased the infiltration of macrophages with a proinflammatory M1-like predominant profile in the synovium of inflamed TMJ. In addition, estradiol dose-dependently upregulated the expressions of the M1-associated proinflammatory factor inducible NO synthase (iNOS) but repressed the expressions of the M2-associated genes IL-10 and arginase in NR8383 macrophages. Furthermore, estradiol mainly promoted cadherin-11 expression in M1-like macrophages of inflamed TMJ. By contrast, blockage of cadherin-11 concurrently reversed estradiol-potentiated M1-like macrophage activation and TMJ inflammation, as well as reversed TNF-α-induced induction of inducible NO synthase and NO in NR8383 macrophages. The blocking of estrogen receptors reversed estradiol-potentiated M1-like macrophage activation and cadherin-11 expression. These results suggested that estradiol could promote M1-like macrophage activation through cadherin-11 to aggravate the acute inflammation of TMJs.

Gonadal steroids regulate the expression of aggrecanases in human endometrial stromal cells in vitro

The human endometrium undergoes cyclic change during each menstrual cycle in response to gonadal steroids. Proteolysis of endometrial extracellular matrix (ECM) is necessary to prepare this dynamic tissue for pregnancy. Proteolytic enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and closely related a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) have been assigned key roles in the highly regulated cyclic remodelling of the endometrial ECM. We have previously shown that ADAMTS-1 undergoes spatiotemporal changes in human endometrial stromal cells under the regulation of gonadal steroids. This suggests that other ADAMTS subtypes, known as aggrecanases, may contribute to the ECM remodelling events that occur in female physiological cycles and in preparation for pregnancy. To determine whether progesterone (P4), 17β-estradiol (E2), or dihydrotestosterone (DHT), alone or in combination, are capable of regulating ADAMTS-4, -5, -8 or -9 expression in human endometrial stromal cells in vitro. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis were used to measure ADAMTSs mRNA and protein levels in primary cultures of human endometrial stromal cells (n = 12). P4, DHT but not E2 have regulatory effects on ADAMTS-8, -9 and -5 expression. Combined treatment with gonadal steroids did not show any synergistic or antagonistic effects. However, the synthetic steroid antagonists RU486 and hydroxyflutamide specifically inhibited the P4- or DHT-mediated regulatory effects on ADAMTS expression. These studies provide evidence that the regulation of aggrecanases by gonadal steroids in human endometrial stromal cells may play an important role during decidualization.

Regulation of A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase with ThromboSpondin repeats-1 expression in human endometrial stromal cells by gonadal steroids involves progestins, androgens, and estrogens

CONTEXT

Gonadal steroids are key regulators of the extracellular matrix remodeling events that occur in the human endometrium during each menstrual cycle. The spatiotemporal expression of A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase with ThromboSpondin repeats (ADAMTS)-1 in human endometrial stroma in vivo suggests that this novel metalloproteinase may contribute to this tightly regulated developmental process.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to determine whether progesterone (P4), 17beta-estradiol (E2), or the nonaromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT), alone or in combination, is capable of regulating ADAMTS-1 mRNA and protein levels in human endometrial stromal cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner.

DESIGN

A real-time quantitative PCR strategy and Western blotting were used to examine ADAMTS-1 mRNA and protein expression levels in primary cultures of human endometrial stromal cells.

RESULTS

P4 and DHT but not E2 increased the levels of the ADAMTS-1 mRNA transcript and protein species (110 kDa) present in endometrial stromal cells in vitro in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. A combination of P4 and DHT resulted in an additional increase in stromal ADAMTS-1 expression, whereas E2 attenuated the regulatory effects of P4 and DHT in a concentration-dependent manner. The antisteroidal compounds, mifepristone (RU486) and hydroxyflutamide, were also found to inhibit specifically the P4- and DHT-mediated increase in ADAMTS-1 mRNA and protein expression levels in these primary cell cultures in a concentration-dependent manner, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

These studies demonstrate that progestins, androgens, and estrogens, alone and in combination, have distinct regulatory effects on ADAMTS-1 mRNA and protein expression levels in human endometrial stromal cells in vitro.

Sodium/potasium ATPase (Na+, K+-ATPase) and ouabain/related cardiac glycosides: a new paradigm for development of anti- breast cancer drugs?

Prolonged exposure to 17beta-estradiol (E2) is a key etiological factor for human breast cancer. The biological effects and carcinogenic effects of E2 are mediated via estrogen receptors (ERs), ERalpha and ERbeta. Anti-estrogens, e.g. tamoxifen, and aromatase inhibitors have been used to treat ER-positive breast cancer. While anti-estrogen therapy is initially successful, a major problem is that most tumors develop resistance and the disease ultimately progresses, pointing to the need of developing alternative drugs targeting to other critical targets in breast cancer cells. We have identified that Na+, K+-ATPase, a plasma membrane ion pump, has unique/valuable properties that could be used as a potentially important target for breast cancer treatment: (a) it is a key player of cell adhesion and is involved in cancer progression; (b) it serves as a versatile signal transducer and is a target for a number of hormones including estrogens and (d) its aberrant expression and activity are implicated in the development and progression of breast cancer. There are several lines of evidence indicating that ouabain and related digitalis (the potent inhibitors of Na+, K+-ATPase) possess potent anti-breast cancer activity. While it is not clear how the suggested anti-cancer activity of these drugs work, several observations point to ouabain and digitalis as being potential ER antagonists. We critically reviewed many lines of evidence and postulated a novel concept that Na+, K+-ATPase in combination with ERs could be important targets of anti-breast cancer drugs. Modulators, e.g. ouabain and related digitalis could be useful to develop valuable anti-breast cancer drugs as both Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitors and ER antagonists.

P-cadherin is up-regulated by the antiestrogen ICI 182,780 and promotes invasion of human breast cancer cells

P-cadherin expression in breast carcinomas has been associated with tumors of high histologic grade and lacking estrogen receptor-alpha, suggesting a link between these proteins. In the MCF-7/AZ breast cancer cell line, blocking estrogen receptor-alpha signaling with the antiestrogen ICI 182,780 induced an increase of P-cadherin, which coincided with induction of in vitro invasion. Retroviral transduction of MCF-7/AZ cells, as well as HEK 293T cells, showed the proinvasive activity of P-cadherin, which requires the juxtamembrane domain of its cytoplasmic tail. This study establishes a direct link between P-cadherin expression and the lack of estrogen receptor-alpha signaling in breast cancer cells and suggests a role for P-cadherin in invasion, through its interaction with proteins bound to the juxtamembrane domain.

Expression of cadherins and CD44 isoforms in human endometrium and peritoneal endometriosis

BACKGROUND

To evaluate (a) cadherins and CD44 expression in normal endometrium and in peritoneal endometriosis, and (b) to correlate, their expressions with clinicopathological parameters.

METHODS

E- and N-cadherin, CD44 isoforms, CD44v3 and CD44v6 expressions were evaluated: (a) by immunoblotting in endometrium (n = 6) and in peritoneal endometriotic samples (n = 7) and, (b) by immunohistochemistry in endometrium (n = 15) and in peritoneal endometriotic samples (n = 23).

RESULTS

By immunoblotting, endometrium expressed E- and N-cadherin, CD44 isoforms, CD44v3 and CD44v6. Similar results were observed in peritoneal endometriosis. By immunohistochemistry, in endometrium, E-cadherin was restricted to epithelial cells. Its expression remained constant throughout the menstrual cycle. N-cadherin was detected in both epithelial and stromal cells in the proliferative phase but was restricted to epithelial cells in the secretory phase. CD44 immunostaining was detected in the secretory but not in the proliferative phase. Decreased expression of E-cadherin (p < 0.01) and CD44 (p < 0.01) in epithelial cells was found in peritoneal endometriosis as compared with normal endometrium. In endometriotic stromal cells, decreased CD44 expression was found. In peritoneal endometriosis, we observed a decreased expression of E-cadherin in advanced stages of the disease (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that E-cadherin and CD44 proteins could be involved in the development of endometriotic lesions. Investigation of the mechanisms of altered adhesion molecule expression may contribute to the understanding of the behavior of endometriotic cells.