Nnamani MC, Plaza S, Romero R, Wagner GP. Evidence for independent evolution of functional progesterone withdrawal in primates and guinea pigs.
EVOLUTION MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2013;
2013:273-88. [PMID:
24481205 PMCID:
PMC3875370 DOI:
10.1093/emph/eot022]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Humans and guinea pigs differ from other mammals by maintaining high progesterone levels in pregnancy all the way through birth. Here we investigated the evolutionary history of this condition and conclude that it evolved independently in the human and the guinea pig lineages. Furthermore we investigated the gene expression during cervical re-modelling and found only a small number of gene regulatory events that seem to be common between humans and guinea pigs.
Background and objectives: Cervix remodeling (CRM) is a critical process in preparation for parturition. Early cervix shortening is a powerful clinical predictor of preterm birth, and thus understanding how CRM is regulated is important for the prevention of prematurity. Humans and other primates differ from most other mammals by the maintenance of high levels of systemic progesterone concentrations. Humans have been hypothesized to perform functional progesterone withdrawal (FPW). Guinea pigs are similar to humans in maintaining high-progesterone concentrations through parturition, thus making them a prime model for studying CRM. Here, we analyze the phylogenetic history of FPW and document gene expression in the guinea pig uterine cervix.
Methodology: Data on progesterone withdrawal were collected from the literature, and character evolution was analyzed. Uterine cervix samples were collected from non-pregnant, mid-pregnant and late pregnant guinea pigs. RNA was extracted and sequenced. Relative transcript levels were estimated and compared among sample groups.
Results: The phylogenetic analysis shows that FPW evolved independently in primates and guinea pigs. The transcriptome data confirms that guinea pigs down-regulate progesterone receptor toward parturition, in contrast to humans. Some of the similarities between human and guinea pig are: down-regulation of estrogen receptor, up-regulation of VCAN and IGFBP4 as well as likely involvement of prostaglandins.
Conclusions and implications: (i) FPW in guinea pigs evolved independently from that in primates. (ii) A small set of conserved gene regulatory changes has been detected.
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