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Capoferri D, Bignotti E, Ravaggi A, Mitola S, Romani C. Finding the junction between claudins and endometrial carcinoma. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:189019. [PMID: 37951482 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.189019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Endometrial carcinoma (EC) defines a heterogeneous group of neoplastic diseases originating from the transformation of endometrial cells that constitute the internal lining of the uterus. To date several molecular targets have been analysed to describe the natural course of the disease, claudins being among these. Claudins are the main components of tight junctions (TJs), and their main functions are ascribed to the compartmentalization of tissues and cell-cell communication by means of intracellular ions diffusion: these features are typical of epithelial cells. Their overexpression, mis-localization or loss contribute to the malignancy of EC cells. This review collected all available data regarding the expression, regulation and claudin-related signaling pathways to provide a comprehensive view on the influence of claudin in EC progression. Further, the translational potential of claudin differential expression was explored, indicating that their role in personalized medicine could also contribute to EC therapy besides their employment for diagnosis and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Capoferri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia 25123, Italy
| | - Eliana Bignotti
- Angelo Nocivelli Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia 25123, Italy; Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia 25123, Italy
| | - Antonella Ravaggi
- Angelo Nocivelli Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia 25123, Italy; Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia 25123, Italy
| | - Stefania Mitola
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia 25123, Italy
| | - Chiara Romani
- Angelo Nocivelli Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia 25123, Italy; Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia 25123, Italy.
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2
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Kohno T, Kojima T. Atypical Macropinocytosis Contributes to Malignant Progression: A Review of Recent Evidence in Endometrioid Endometrial Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14205056. [PMID: 36291839 PMCID: PMC9599675 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14205056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary A novel type of macropinocytosis has been identified as a trigger for the malignant progression of endometrial cancer. Transiently reducing epithelial barrier homeostasis leads to macropinocytosis by splitting between adjacent cells in endometrioid endometrial cancer. Macropinocytosis causes morphological changes in well-differentiated to poorly differentiated cancer cells. Inhibition of macropinocytosis promotes a persistent dormant state in the intrinsic KRAS-mutated cancer cell line Sawano. This review focuses on the mechanisms of atypical macropinocytosis and its effects on cellular function, and it describes the physiological processes involved in inducing resting conditions in endometrioid endometrial cancer cells. Abstract Macropinocytosis is an essential mechanism for the non-specific uptake of extracellular fluids and solutes. In recent years, additional functions have been identified in macropinocytosis, such as the intracellular introduction pathway of drugs, bacterial and viral infection pathways, and nutritional supplement pathway of cancer cells. However, little is known about the changes in cell function after macropinocytosis. Recently, it has been reported that macropinocytosis is essential for endometrial cancer cells to initiate malignant progression in a dormant state. Macropinocytosis is formed by a temporary split of adjacent bicellular junctions of epithelial sheets, rather than from the apical surface or basal membrane, as a result of the transient reduction of tight junction homeostasis. This novel type of macropinocytosis has been suggested to be associated with the malignant pathology of endometriosis and endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. This review outlines the induction of malignant progression of endometrial cancer cells by macropinocytosis based on a new mechanism and the potential preventive mechanism of its malignant progression.
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3
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Grund SC, Wu XX, Müller D, Wennemuth G, Grümmer R. Impact of endometrial claudin-3 deletion on murine implantation, decidualization and embryo development. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:984-997. [PMID: 35863769 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The composition of cell contacts in the endometrium plays an important role in the process of embryo implantation and the establishment of pregnancy. In previous studies, we showed an induction of the tight junction protein claudin-3 in the developing decidua from 6.5 dpc onwards. To evaluate the role if this specific claudin-3 distribution, we here evaluated the effect of an endometrial claudin-3 deletion in implantation and embryo development in claudin-3 knockout mice. Claudin-3 KO mice were fertile but revealed a slightly reduced amount of implantation sites as well as of litter size. Though implantation sites showed morphologically regularly developed embryos and deciduas, depth of ectoplacental cone invasion was reduced in tendency compared to controls. The weight of the implantation sites on 6.5 and 8.5 dpc as well as the weight of the embryos on 17.5 dpc, but not of the placentas, was significantly reduced in claudin-3 KO mice due to a maternal effect. This could be due to an impairment of decidualization as substantiated by a downregulation of the transcription of various decidua-associated genes in the early implantation sites of claudin-3 KO mice. The fact that claudin-3 KO mice are nevertheless fertile possibly may be compensated by the presence of other claudins like claudin-4 and claudin-10.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne C Grund
- Department of Anatomy, University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Xin Xin Wu
- Department of Anatomy, University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Dominik Müller
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Nephrology and Metabolic Diseases Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gunther Wennemuth
- Department of Anatomy, University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Ruth Grümmer
- Department of Anatomy, University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
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4
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Zhou W, Menkhorst E, Dimitriadis E. Jagged1 regulates endometrial receptivity in both humans and mice. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21784. [PMID: 34252231 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100590r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The human endometrium undergoes cycle-dependent changes and is only receptive to an implanting blastocyst within a narrow window of 2-4 days in the mid-secretory phase. Such functional changes require delicate interplay between a diversity of factors including cytokines and signaling pathways. The Notch signaling pathway members are expressed in human endometrium. We have previously demonstrated that Notch ligand Jagged1 (JAG1) localizes in the endometrial luminal epithelium (LE) and is abnormally reduced in infertile women during receptivity. However, the functional consequences of reduced JAG1 production on endometrial receptivity to implantation of the blastocyst are unknown. This study aimed to determine the role of JAG1 in regulating endometrial receptivity in humans and mice. Knockdown of JAG1 in both primary human endometrial epithelial cells and Ishikawa cells significantly reduced their adhesive capacity to HTR8/SVneo (trophoblast cell line) spheroids. We confirmed that in human endometrial epithelial cells, JAG1 interacted with Notch Receptor 3 (NOTCH3) and knockdown of JAG1 significantly reduced the expression of Notch signaling downstream target HEY1 and classical receptivity markers. Knockdown of Jag1 in mouse LE significantly impaired blastocyst implantation. We identified ten genes (related to tight junction, infertility, and cell adhesion) that were differentially expressed by Jag1 knockdown in LE in mice. Further analysis of the tight junction family members in both species revealed that JAG1 altered the expression of tight junction components only in mice. Together, our data demonstrated that JAG1 altered endometrial epithelial cell adhesive capacity and regulated endometrial receptivity in both humans and mice likely via different mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Gynaecology Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Ellen Menkhorst
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Gynaecology Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Evdokia Dimitriadis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Gynaecology Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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5
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Conditioned medium derived from seminal extracellular vesicles-exposed endometrial stromal cells induces inflammatory cytokine secretion by macrophages. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2021; 262:174-181. [PMID: 34034196 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2021.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Seminal plasma (SP) contains large numbers of sub-cellular structures called extracellular vesicles (EV) which have been postulated to have immunological functions due to their bioactive contents including proteins and small non-coding RNAs. Although the response of endometrial cells to seminal EV (SEV) is recently being elucidated, the impact of these signaling vesicles on stroma-immune crosstalk is still unknown. Herein, we aimed to investigate the effect of conditioned medium (CM) derived from SEV-exposed endometrial stromal cells (eSC) on cytokine secretion by macrophages. STUDY DESIGN SEV were isolated from SP samples of healthy donors and characterized by common methods needed for EV characterization, including size determination by dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and western blot analysis of EV markers. Endometrial biopsies were obtained from healthy individuals and eSC were isolated and characterized. EV internalization assay was performed by labeling the SEV with PKH67 green fluorescent dye. Then, the eSC were exposed to SEV and the CM was collected. Finally, the CM from SEV-exposed eSC was added to the macrophage culture and the level of inflammatory (interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines were measured in the culture supernatant of macrophages. RESULTS The results demonstrated that the CM derived from SEV-exposed eSC induce IL-1α and IL-6 secretion by the macrophages, while the secretion of IL-10 was reduced. CONCLUSION Our results support the idea that the stroma-immune interaction is affected by SEV. This effect may be a part of immunoregulatory function of SP inside upper female genital tract and have an obvious impact during peri-implantation period.
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George AF, Jang KS, Nyegaard M, Neidleman J, Spitzer TL, Xie G, Chen JC, Herzig E, Laustsen A, Marques de Menezes EG, Houshdaran S, Pilcher CD, Norris PJ, Jakobsen MR, Greene WC, Giudice LC, Roan NR. Seminal plasma promotes decidualization of endometrial stromal fibroblasts in vitro from women with and without inflammatory disorders in a manner dependent on interleukin-11 signaling. Hum Reprod 2021; 35:617-640. [PMID: 32219408 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Do seminal plasma (SP) and its constituents affect the decidualization capacity and transcriptome of human primary endometrial stromal fibroblasts (eSFs)? SUMMARY ANSWER SP promotes decidualization of eSFs from women with and without inflammatory disorders (polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis) in a manner that is not mediated through semen amyloids and that is associated with a potent transcriptional response, including the induction of interleukin (IL)-11, a cytokine important for SP-induced decidualization. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Clinical studies have suggested that SP can promote implantation, and studies in vitro have demonstrated that SP can promote decidualization, a steroid hormone-driven program of eSF differentiation that is essential for embryo implantation and that is compromised in women with the inflammatory disorders PCOS and endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This is a cross-sectional study involving samples treated with vehicle alone versus treatment with SP or SP constituents. SP was tested for the ability to promote decidualization in vitro in eSFs from women with or without PCOS or endometriosis (n = 9). The role of semen amyloids and fractionated SP in mediating this effect and in eliciting transcriptional changes in eSFs was then studied. Finally, the role of IL-11, a cytokine with a key role in implantation and decidualization, was assessed as a mediator of the SP-facilitated decidualization. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS eSFs and endometrial epithelial cells (eECs) were isolated from endometrial biopsies from women of reproductive age undergoing benign gynecologic procedures and maintained in vitro. Assays were conducted to assess whether the treatment of eSFs with SP or SP constituents affects the rate and extent of decidualization in women with and without inflammatory disorders. To characterize the response of the endometrium to SP and SP constituents, RNA was isolated from treated eSFs or eECs and analyzed by RNA sequencing (RNAseq). Secreted factors in conditioned media from treated cells were analyzed by Luminex and ELISA. The role of IL-11 in SP-induced decidualization was assessed through Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas-9-mediated knockout experiments in primary eSFs. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE SP promoted decidualization both in the absence and presence of steroid hormones (P < 0.05 versus vehicle) in a manner that required seminal proteins. Semen amyloids did not promote decidualization and induced weak transcriptomic and secretomic responses in eSFs. In contrast, fractionated SP enriched for seminal microvesicles (MVs) promoted decidualization. IL-11 was one of the most potently SP-induced genes in eSFs and was important for SP-facilitated decidualization. LARGE SCALE DATA RNAseq data were deposited in the Gene Expression Omnibus repository under series accession number GSE135640. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This study is limited to in vitro analyses. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our results support the notion that SP promotes decidualization, including within eSFs from women with inflammatory disorders. Despite the general ability of amyloids to induce cytokines known to be important for implantation, semen amyloids poorly signaled to eSFs and did not promote their decidualization. In contrast, fractionated SP enriched for MVs promoted decidualization and induced a transcriptional response in eSFs that overlapped with that of SP. Our results suggest that SP constituents, possibly those associated with MVs, can promote decidualization of eSFs in an IL-11-dependent manner in preparation for implantation. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This project was supported by NIH (R21AI116252, R21AI122821 and R01AI127219) to N.R.R. and (P50HD055764) to L.C.G. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley F George
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Karen S Jang
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mette Nyegaard
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jason Neidleman
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Trimble L Spitzer
- Lt Col, USAF; Women's Health Clinic, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA, USA
| | - Guorui Xie
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Eytan Herzig
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Anders Laustsen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Erika G Marques de Menezes
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sahar Houshdaran
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Christopher D Pilcher
- Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Philip J Norris
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Warner C Greene
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Departments of Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Linda C Giudice
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nadia R Roan
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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7
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Marques de Menezes EG, Jang K, George AF, Nyegaard M, Neidleman J, Inglis HC, Danesh A, Deng X, Afshari A, Kim YH, Billaud JN, Marson K, Pilcher CD, Pillai SK, Norris PJ, Roan NR. Seminal Plasma-Derived Extracellular-Vesicle Fractions from HIV-Infected Men Exhibit Unique MicroRNA Signatures and Induce a Proinflammatory Response in Cells Isolated from the Female Reproductive Tract. J Virol 2020; 94:e00525-20. [PMID: 32434889 PMCID: PMC7394899 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00525-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The continuing spread of HIV/AIDS is predominantly fueled by sexual exposure to HIV-contaminated semen. Seminal plasma (SP), the liquid portion of semen, harbors a variety of factors that may favor HIV transmission by facilitating viral entry into host cells, eliciting the production of proinflammatory cytokines, and enhancing the translocation of HIV across the genital epithelium. One important and abundant class of factors in SP is extracellular vesicles (EVs), which, in general, are important intercellular signal transducers. Although numerous studies have characterized blood plasma-derived EVs from both uninfected and HIV-infected individuals, little is known about the properties of EVs from the semen of HIV-infected individuals. We report here that fractionated SP enriched for EVs from HIV-infected men induces potent transcriptional responses in epithelial and stromal cells that interface with the luminal contents of the female reproductive tract. Semen EV fractions from acutely infected individuals induced a more proinflammatory signature than those from uninfected individuals. This was not associated with any observable differences in the surface phenotypes of the vesicles. However, microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling analysis revealed that EV fractions from infected individuals exhibit a broader and more diverse profile than those from uninfected individuals. Taken together, our data suggest that SP EVs from HIV-infected individuals exhibit unique miRNA signatures and exert potent proinflammatory transcriptional changes in cells of the female reproductive tract, which may facilitate HIV transmission.IMPORTANCE Seminal plasma (SP), the major vehicle for HIV, can modulate HIV transmission risk through a variety of mechanisms. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are extremely abundant in semen, and because they play a key role in intercellular communication pathways and immune regulation, they may impact the likelihood of HIV transmission. However, little is known about the properties and signaling effects of SP-derived EVs in the context of HIV transmission. Here, we conduct a phenotypic, transcriptomic, and functional characterization of SP and SP-derived EVs from uninfected and HIV-infected men. We find that both SP and its associated EVs elicit potent proinflammatory transcriptional responses in cells that line the genital tract. EVs from HIV-infected men exhibit a more diverse repertoire of miRNAs than EVs from uninfected men. Our findings suggest that EVs from the semen of HIV-infected men may significantly impact the likelihood of HIV transmission through multiple mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika G Marques de Menezes
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Karen Jang
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Ashley F George
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Mette Nyegaard
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jason Neidleman
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Ali Danesh
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Xutao Deng
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Young H Kim
- Agilent Technologies, Inc., Santa Clara, California, USA
| | | | - Kara Marson
- Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Christopher D Pilcher
- Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Satish K Pillai
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Philip J Norris
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Nadia R Roan
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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8
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Matrix Metalloproteinases Expressed in Response to Bacterial Vaginosis Disrupt the Endocervical Epithelium, Increasing Transmigration of HIV. Infect Immun 2020; 88:IAI.00041-20. [PMID: 32094253 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00041-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a disorder of the female reproductive tract (FRT) in which a healthy Lactobacillus-dominant microflora is replaced by BV-associated bacteria (BVAB), can significantly increase the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition. Discerning the effect of BV on the mucosal epithelium of the FRT may yield novel preventatives and therapeutics for HIV infection. Here, we investigated barrier dysfunction of the endocervix by host-derived factors, secreted in response to BV, as a potential cause of HIV infection. Using a polarized endocervical cell culture system, we determined that conditioned media (CM) from endocervical cells cocultured with BVAB (endocervical+BVAB CM), as well as cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) from women with BV, disrupted epithelial polarization. We assessed host matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as the BV-associated secreted factors which disrupt the endocervical epithelium. MMPs were overexpressed in endocervical+BVAB CM and CVF from women with BV and were capable of disrupting endocervical epithelial polarization. When we cocultured polarized endocervical cells with HIV-1-infected lymphocyte-derived cells, we discovered endocervical+BVAB CM and MMPs significantly increased the transmigration of virus through the epithelium, and treatment with an MMP inhibitor decreased these effects. When we examined the effect of CVF on HIV-1 transmigration through endocervical epithelium, we demonstrated that CVF samples with greater concentrations of BV-associated MMPs increased viral transmigration. Our results suggest MMPs increase HIV-1 infection by disrupting the endocervical epithelium, permitting transmigration of virus through the epithelium to infect underlying target cells.
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Claudins: New Players in Human Fertility and Reproductive System Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12030711. [PMID: 32197343 PMCID: PMC7140004 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12030711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Claudins are major integral proteins of tight junctions (TJs), the apical cell-cell adhesions that enable maintaining polarity of epithelial cells, their differentiation, and cell signaling. A number of studies have indicated that claudins might play a crucial role in both physiology and pathogenesis. Their tissue-specific expression was originally linked to the development of different types of cancer and triggered a hope to use them as diagnostic or prognostic markers. However, it seems that their expression is more complex than that, and undoubtedly, claudins participate in one of the most important molecular events in cells. This review summarizes the recent research evaluating the role of claudins in fertility and the most common endocrine-dependent cancers in the reproductive system and highlights the crucial role of claudins both in human fertility and the most common cancers.
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10
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Hoerscher A, Horné F, Dietze R, Berkes E, Oehmke F, Tinneberg HR, Meinhold-Heerlein I, Konrad L. Localization of claudin-2 and claudin-3 in eutopic and ectopic endometrium is highly similar. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2020; 301:1003-1011. [PMID: 32140805 PMCID: PMC8222039 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-020-05472-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Claudins as the major components of tight junctions are important in maintaining cell-cell integrity and thus function as a barrier. Dysregulation of the claudins is often associated with loss of the epithelial phenotype, a process called epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which most often results in gain of migrative and invasive properties. However, the role of claudins in the endometrium or endometriosis has only rarely been examined. METHODS In this study, we investigated localization of claudin-2 and claudin-3 in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium with immunohistochemistry. A detailed quantification with HSCORE was performed for claudin-2 and claudin-3 in endometrium without endometriosis and in cases with endometriosis compared to the three endometriotic entities: peritoneal, ovarian, and deep-infiltrating endometriosis. RESULTS We found a preferential localization of both claudins in the glandular and the luminal epithelial cells in the endometrium with and without endometriosis. Quantification of localization of both claudins showed no differences in eutopic endometrium of control cases compared to cases with endometriosis. Furthermore, both claudins are localized highly similar in the ectopic compared to the eutopic endometrium, which is in clear contrast to previously published data for claudin-3. CONCLUSION From our results, we conclude that localization of claudin-2 and claudin-3 is highly stable in eutopic and ectopic endometrium without any loss of the epithelial phenotype and thus do not contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Hoerscher
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Justus Liebig University, University of Giessen, Feulgenstr. 10-12, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Fabian Horné
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Justus Liebig University, University of Giessen, Feulgenstr. 10-12, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Raimund Dietze
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Justus Liebig University, University of Giessen, Feulgenstr. 10-12, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Eniko Berkes
- Department of Gynecology, UKE Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Frank Oehmke
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Justus Liebig University, University of Giessen, Feulgenstr. 10-12, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Ivo Meinhold-Heerlein
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Justus Liebig University, University of Giessen, Feulgenstr. 10-12, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Lutz Konrad
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Justus Liebig University, University of Giessen, Feulgenstr. 10-12, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
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11
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Jalali BM, Lukasik K, Witek K, Baclawska A, Skarzynski DJ. Changes in the expression and distribution of junction and polarity proteins in the porcine endometrium during early pregnancy period. Theriogenology 2020; 142:196-206. [PMID: 31606658 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.09.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The maternal endometrium undergoes transformations during early pregnancy period to regulate the paracellular permeability across the epithelium and to enable adhesion between the trophoblast and endometrial epithelial cells. These transformations, under the influence of ovarian hormones, are associated with a partial loss in polarity of epithelial cell that is regulated by tight junctions (TJ), adherens junctions (AJ) and associated polarity protein complexes. This study examined the change in expression and distribution of proteins associated with TJs, AJs and apical partition defective (PAR) complex in porcine endometrium on Days 10, 13 and 16 of estrous cycle and pregnancy. Moreover, effect of hormones, progesterone (P4) and 17-β estradiol (E2) on polar phenotype of endometrial epithelial cells was also investigated in vitro. There was pregnancy induced increase in gene and protein expression of TJ associated claudin-1 (CLDN1) on Day 13 of pregnancy as compared to corresponding day of estrous cycle and a decrease in TJ protein, zona occludens-1 (ZO-1) and PAR complex associated PAR6 expression levels on Day 16 of pregnancy (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence studies revealed that on Days 10 and 13, TJ proteins occludin (OCLN) and ZO-1were primarily present in the apical region of lateral epithelial membrane. On Day 16 of pregnancy, whereas, OCLN redistributed into cytoplasm, ZO-1 decreased apically but was found to localize in the basal epithelium. The AJ proteins cadherin and β-catenin were located at the apical epithelium on Day 10 of estrous cycle and pregnancy and Day 13 of estrous cycle. On Days 13 and 16 of pregnancy both proteins were expressed in the lateral membrane and co-localization between these proteins was observed on Day 16. On Day 10, PAR complex proteins PAR3, cell division control protein 42 (CDC42) and atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) ζ were observed in apical epithelium and in lateral membrane and CDC42 was also present in the cytoplasm of epithelium. Pregnancy induced redistribution of aPKCζ to cytoplasm and CDC42 to apical surface of luminal epithelium was observed on Days 13 and 16. The in vitro P4 and E2 treatment of epithelial cells mimicked in vivo results. These results indicate that P4 and E2 regulate alterations in epithelium that may facilitate embryo implantation and given the role of cadherin, catenin and CDC42 in embryo invasion, change in distribution of these proteins may limit the invasiveness of porcine conceptuses into the stroma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beenu Moza Jalali
- Division of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748, Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Karolina Lukasik
- Division of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Witek
- Division of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Baclawska
- Division of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Dariusz J Skarzynski
- Division of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748, Olsztyn, Poland
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12
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The menstrual cycle may not be limited to the endometrium but also may impact gut permeability. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2019; 31:294-304. [PMID: 31364524 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2019.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine associations between IgA responses to Gram-negative gut commensal bacteria and peri-menstrual symptoms and sex hormone levels during the menstrual cycle in women with and without premenstrual symptoms. METHODS Forty women aged 18-45 years completed the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP) during all 28 consecutive days of the menstrual cycle. We assayed, in plasma, IgA responses to six Gram-negative bacteria, that is, Hafnei alvei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Morganella morganii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas putida and Citobacter koseri, progesterone and oestradiol at days 7, 14, 21 and 28 of the menstrual cycle. RESULTS Significant changes in Δ (actual - 1 week earlier) IgA to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of the six Gram-negative bacteria during the menstrual cycle were observed with peak IgA levels at T4 (day 28) and lows at T1 or T2 (day 7 or 14). The ΔIgA changes in H. alvei, M. Morganii, P. putida during the menstrual cycle were significantly and positively associated with changes in the total DRSP score, and severity of physio-somatic, anxiety and breast-craving, but not depressive, symptoms. The changes in IgA responses to LPS were largely predicted by changes in progesterone and steady-state levels of progesterone averaged over the luteal phase. DISCUSSION Menstrual cycle-associated changes in IgA directed against LPS and by inference bacterial translocation may be driven by the effects of progesterone on transcellular, paracellular and vascular pathways (leaky gut) thereby contributing to the severity of physio-somatic and anxiety symptoms as well as fatigue, breast swelling and food cravings.
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13
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Liman N, Ateş N. Abundances and localizations of Claudin-1 and Claudin-5 in the domestic cat (Felis catus) ovary during the estrous cycle. Anim Reprod Sci 2019; 212:106247. [PMID: 31864490 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2019.106247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Claudins (CLDNs) are major Ca2+-independent cell adhesion molecules functioning at tight junctions (TJ). The presence and localization of cell adhesion molecules are important for understanding the mechanisms associated with follicular and luteal development in the ovary. In this study, there was an examination of whether CLDN-1 and CLDN-5 are present in a cell- and stage-specific manner during follicular and luteal development in the domestic cat ovary using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. While results from immunoblot analyses revealed there were relatively similar abundances of CLDN-5 protein in three phases of the ovarian cycle, the abundance of CLDN-1 in the luteal phase was greater than those measured in the follicular and anestrous phases (P < 0.01). Results with immunohistochemistry indicate CLDN-1 and -5 are mainly localized in the cell nuclei and cytoplasm of all tissues of the cat ovary. In follicles, throughout the development from primordial to large antral follicles, CLDN-1 and -5 were present in oocytes, and the granulosa and theca cell layers. In follicles at all stages of atresia, there were cell-type and stage-specific protein distributions with immunostaining present in granulosa, thecal interstitial, and fibroblast-like cells. In corpora lutea, both small and large luteal cells stained positively for both claudins. In conclusion, the specific presence and localization patterns of CLDN-1 and -5 in the cat ovary is suggestive that these TJ proteins could have local functions in the regulation of most ovarian functions such as follicle development and atresia, ovulation, and corpus luteum formation and regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narin Liman
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, 38090, Kayseri, Turkey.
| | - Nermin Ateş
- Republic of Turkey Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, 13700, Bitlis, Turkey
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14
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Martin JW, Chen JC, Neidleman J, Tatsumi K, Hu J, Giudice LC, Greene WC, Roan NR. Potent and rapid activation of tropomyosin-receptor kinase A in endometrial stromal fibroblasts by seminal plasma. Biol Reprod 2019. [PMID: 29518187 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Seminal plasma (SP), the liquid fraction of semen, is not mandatory for conception, but clinical studies suggest that SP improves implantation rates. Prior in vitro studies examining the effects of SP on the endometrium, the site of implantation, surprisingly revealed that SP induces transcriptional profiles associated with neurogenesis. We investigated the presence and activity of neurogenesis pathways in the endometrium, focusing on TrkA, one of the canonical receptors associated with neurotrophic signaling. We demonstrate that TrkA is expressed in the endometrium. To determine if SP activates TrkA signaling, we isolated the two most abundant endometrial cell types-endometrial epithelial cells (eEC) and endometrial stromal fibroblasts (eSF)-and examined TrkA activity in these cells after SP exposure. While SP only moderately activated TrkA in eEC, it potently and rapidly activated TrkA in eSF. This activation occurred in both non-decidualized and decidualized eSF. Blocking this pathway resulted in dysregulation of SP-induced cytokine production by eSF. Surprisingly, while the canonical TrkA agonist nerve growth factor was detected in SP, TrkA activation was principally induced by a 30-100-kDa protein whose identity remains to be established. Our results show that TrkA signaling is highly active in eSF and is rapidly induced by SP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy W Martin
- Department of Urology, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA.,Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Joseph C Chen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jason Neidleman
- Department of Urology, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA.,Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Keiji Tatsumi
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, National Hospital Organization Osaka National Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - James Hu
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Linda C Giudice
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Warner C Greene
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA.,Department of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Nadia R Roan
- Department of Urology, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA.,Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
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15
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Kohno T, Konno T, Kojima T. Role of Tricellular Tight Junction Protein Lipolysis-Stimulated Lipoprotein Receptor (LSR) in Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E3555. [PMID: 31330820 PMCID: PMC6679224 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20143555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Maintaining a robust epithelial barrier requires the accumulation of tight junction proteins, LSR/angulin-1 and tricellulin, at the tricellular contacts. Alterations in the localization of these proteins temporarily cause epithelial barrier dysfunction, which is closely associated with not only physiological differentiation but also cancer progression and metastasis. In normal human endometrial tissues, the endometrial cells undergo repeated proliferation and differentiation under physiological conditions. Recent observations have revealed that the localization and expression of LSR/angulin-1 and tricellulin are altered in a menstrual cycle-dependent manner. Moreover, it has been shown that endometrial cancer progression affects these alterations. This review highlights the differences in the localization and expression of tight junction proteins in normal endometrial cells and endometrial cancers and how they cause functional changes in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Kohno
- Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
| | - Takumi Konno
- Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan
| | - Takashi Kojima
- Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan
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16
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Dolat L, Valdivia RH. A renewed tool kit to explore Chlamydia pathogenesis: from molecular genetics to new infection models. F1000Res 2019; 8. [PMID: 31249676 PMCID: PMC6589931 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.18832.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen and the leading cause of preventable blindness in the developing world.
C. trachomatis invades the epithelium of the conjunctiva and genital tract and replicates within an intracellular membrane-bound compartment termed the inclusion. To invade and replicate in mammalian cells,
Chlamydia remodels epithelial surfaces by reorganizing the cytoskeleton and cell–cell adhesions, reprograms membrane trafficking, and modulates cell signaling to dampen innate immune responses. If the infection ascends to the upper female genital tract, it can result in pelvic inflammatory disease and tissue scarring.
C. trachomatis infections are associated with infertility, ectopic pregnancies, the fibrotic disorder endometriosis, and potentially cancers of the cervix and uterus. Unfortunately, the molecular mechanisms by which this clinically important human pathogen subverts host cellular functions and causes disease have remained relatively poorly understood because of the dearth of molecular genetic tools to study
Chlamydiae and limitations of both
in vivo and
in vitro infection models. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the experimental molecular tool kit available to dissect
C. trachomatis infections with a special focus on
Chlamydia-induced epithelial barrier disruption by regulating the structure, function, and dynamics of epithelial cell–cell junctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Dolat
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, USA
| | - Raphael H Valdivia
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, USA
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17
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Orr SE, Gokulan K, Boudreau M, Cerniglia CE, Khare S. Alteration in the mRNA expression of genes associated with gastrointestinal permeability and ileal TNF-α secretion due to the exposure of silver nanoparticles in Sprague-Dawley rats. J Nanobiotechnology 2019; 17:63. [PMID: 31084603 PMCID: PMC6513523 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-019-0499-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Silver ions from silver nanoparticles (AgNP) or AgNPs themselves itself that are ingested from consumer health care products or indirectly from absorbed food contact material can interact with the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The permeability of the GIT is strictly regulated to maintain barrier function and proper nutrient absorption. The single layer intestinal epithelium adheres and communicates actively to neighboring cells and the extracellular matrix through different cell junctions. In the current study, we hypothesized that oral exposure to AgNPs may alter the intestinal permeability and expression of genes controlling cell junctions. Changes in cell junction gene expression in the ileum of male and female rats administered different sizes of AgNP for 13-weeks were assessed using qPCR. RESULTS The results of this study indicate that AgNPs have an altering effect on cell junctions that are known to dictate intestinal permeability. mRNA expression of genes representing tight junction (Cldn1, Cldn5, Cldn6, Cldn10 and Pecam1), focal adhesion (Cav1, Cav2, and Itgb2), adherens junction (Pvrl1, Notch1, and Notch2), and hemidesmosome (Dst) groups were upregulated significantly in females treated with 10 nm AgNP, while no change or downregulation of same genes was detected in male animals. In addition, a higher concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNF-α, was noticed in AgNP-treated female animals as compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS This study proposes that interaction of silver with GIT could potentially initiate an inflammatory process that could lead to changes in the gastrointestinal permeability and/or nutrient deficiencies in sex-specific manner. Fully understanding the mechanistic consequences of oral AgNP exposure may lead to stricter regulation for the commercial usage of AgNPs and/or improved clinical therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Orr
- Division of Microbiology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72029, USA
| | - Kuppan Gokulan
- Division of Microbiology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72029, USA
| | - Mary Boudreau
- Division of Biochemical Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72029, USA
| | - Carl E Cerniglia
- Division of Microbiology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72029, USA
| | - Sangeeta Khare
- Division of Microbiology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72029, USA.
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18
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Direct Cell⁻Cell Interactions in the Endometrium and in Endometrial Pathophysiology. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19082227. [PMID: 30061539 PMCID: PMC6121364 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19082227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell contacts exhibit a considerable influence on tissue physiology and homeostasis by controlling paracellular and intercellular transport processes, as well as by affecting signaling pathways. Since they maintain cell polarity, they play an important role in cell plasticity. The knowledge about the junctional protein families and their interactions has increased considerably during recent years. In contrast to most other tissues, the endometrium undergoes extensive physiological changes and reveals an extraordinary plasticity due to its crucial role in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. These complex changes are accompanied by changes in direct cell–cell contacts to meet the various requirements in the respective developmental stage. Impairment of this sophisticated differentiation process may lead to failure of implantation and embryo development and may be involved in the pathogenesis of endometrial diseases. In this article, we focus on the knowledge about the distribution and regulation of the different junctional proteins in the endometrium during cycling and pregnancy, as well as in pathologic conditions such as endometriosis and cancer. Decoding these sophisticated interactions should improve our understanding of endometrial physiology as well as of the mechanisms involved in pathological conditions.
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19
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Shimada H, Satohisa S, Kohno T, Takahashi S, Hatakeyama T, Konno T, Tsujiwaki M, Saito T, Kojima T. The roles of tricellular tight junction protein lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor in malignancy of human endometrial cancer cells. Oncotarget 2017; 7:27735-52. [PMID: 27036040 PMCID: PMC5053684 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor (LSR) has been identified as a novel molecular constituent of tricellular contacts that have a barrier function for the cellular sheet. LSR recruits tricellulin (TRIC), which is the first molecular component of tricellular tight junctions. Knockdown of LSR increases cell motility and invasion of certain cancer cells. However, the behavior and the roles of LSR in endometrial cancer remain unknown. In the present study, we investigated the behavior and roles of LSR in normal and endometrial cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. In endometriosis and endometrial cancer, LSR was observed not only in the subapical region but also throughout the lateral region as well as in normal endometrial epithelial cells in the secretory phase, and LSR in the cancer was reduced in correlation with the malignancy. Knockdown of LSR by the siRNA in cells of the endometrial cancer cell line Sawano, induced cell migration, invasion and proliferation, while TRIC relocalized from the tricellular region to the bicellular region at the membrane. In Sawano cells and normal HEEs, a decrease of LSR induced by leptin and an increase of LSR induced by adiponectin and the drugs for type 2 diabetes metformin and berberine were observed via distinct signaling pathways including JAK2/STAT. In Sawano cells, metformin and berberine prevented cell migration and invasion induced by downregulation of LSR by the siRNA and leptin treatment. The dissection of the mechanism in the downregulation of endometrial LSR during obesity is important in developing new diagnostic and therapy for endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Shimada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.,Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Seiro Satohisa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kohno
- Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Syunta Takahashi
- Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tsubasa Hatakeyama
- Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takumi Konno
- Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Tsujiwaki
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Saito
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takashi Kojima
- Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
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20
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Thurman AR, Yousefieh N, Chandra N, Kimble T, Asin S, Rollenhagen C, Anderson SM, Herold BC, Freiermuth JL, Starkman BS, Mesquita PM, Richardson-Harman N, Cunningham T, Hillier S, Rabe L, Schwartz JL, Doncel GF. Comparison of Mucosal Markers of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Susceptibility in Healthy Premenopausal Versus Postmenopausal Women. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2017; 33:807-819. [PMID: 28398069 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2016.0320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to characterize cervicovaginal (CV) mucosal factors modulating susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition in healthy premenopausal (PRE) and postmenopausal (POST) women before and after treatment with estradiol (E2). We compared CV mucosal epithelial histology and immune cells, vaginal microbiota, antimicrobial activity of and soluble mucosal protein concentrations in the CV fluid lavage (CVL), and p24 antigen production after ex vivo infection of ectocervical tissues with HIV-1BaL among PRE women (n = 20) in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle and POST women (n = 17) at baseline and after ∼1 month of treatment with 0.01% vaginal E2 cream. Compared to PRE women, we measured higher levels of p24 antigen after ex vivo infection in tissues from POST women. POST women had a significantly thinner vaginal epithelium with decreased tight junction proteins and a higher density of mucosal immune T cells and lower levels of CD1a antigen-presenting cells, antimicrobial peptides, and inflammatory cytokines in the CVL (p values <.05). POST women had higher vaginal pH and lower vaginal Lactobacilli (p values <.05) than PRE women. After vaginal E2 therapy, CV endpoints and ex vivo HIV replication in POST tissues were similar to those observed in PRE tissues. The CV mucosa in POST women is thinned and compromised, with increased HIV-target immune cells and decreased antimicrobial factors, being more susceptible to HIV infection. After POST women receive topical E2 treatment, mucosal endpoints are similar to PRE levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ries Thurman
- CONRAD Clinical Research Center, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia
| | - Nazita Yousefieh
- CONRAD Clinical Research Center, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia
| | - Neelima Chandra
- CONRAD Clinical Research Center, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia
| | - Thomas Kimble
- CONRAD Clinical Research Center, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia
| | - Susana Asin
- V.A. Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Christiane Rollenhagen
- V.A. Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Sharon M. Anderson
- CONRAD Clinical Research Center, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Tina Cunningham
- Center for Health Analytics and Discovery, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia
| | - Sharon Hillier
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Lorna Rabe
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jill L. Schwartz
- CONRAD Clinical Research Center, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia
| | - Gustavo F. Doncel
- CONRAD Clinical Research Center, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia
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21
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Kohno T, Kikuchi S, Ninomiya T, Kojima T. The bicellular tensile force sorts the localization of LSRs in bicellular and tricellular junctions. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2017; 1397:185-194. [PMID: 28493278 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2016] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptors (LSRs) localize to tricellular tight junctions. Recent studies have shown that changes in the localization and expression profiles of LSRs are associated with malignancy of endometrial carcinomas, although the precise mechanisms by which malignant progression induces changes in the localization of LSRs are still unknown. In this study, we found that changes in cell tension correlated with alterations in the junctional localization of LSRs in endometrial cancer Sawano cells. At high cell densities, myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1) localized to bicellular junctions, whereas activated myosin regulatory light chain 2 (MRLC2) was dislocated from these regions, suggesting that circumferential tensile forces decreased at high cell densities. Under these conditions, LSRs localized to tricellular junctions. In contrast, a phosphorylated form of MRLC2 localized to bicellular regions, while MYPT1 was excluded from these regions, suggesting that tensile forces formed along the circumferential edge at low cell densities. It is noteworthy that, when cells were cultured under these conditions, LSRs localized to bicellular regions. Upon treatment with a myosin inhibitor, LSR localization in bicellular junctions decreased at low cell densities. Overall, our results indicate that the modulation of cellular tension was involved in the translocation of LSRs from bicellular to tricellular tight junctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Kohno
- Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Shin Kikuchi
- Department of Anatomy, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | | | - Takashi Kojima
- Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
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22
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Runggaldier D, Pradas LG, Neckel PH, Mack AF, Hirt B, Gleiser C. Claudin expression in the rat endolymphatic duct and sac - first insights into regulation of the paracellular barrier by vasopressin. Sci Rep 2017; 7:45482. [PMID: 28374851 PMCID: PMC5379655 DOI: 10.1038/srep45482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hearing and balance functions of the inner ear rely on the homeostasis of the endolymphatic fluid. When disturbed, pathologic endolymphatic hydrops evolves as observed in Menière’s disease. The molecular basis of inner ear fluid regulation across the endolymphatic epithelium is largely unknown. In this study we identified the specific expression of the tight junction (TJ) molecules Claudin 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 16 in epithelial preparations of the rat inner ear endolymphatic duct (ED) and endolymphatic sac (ES) by high-throughput qPCR and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. Further we showed that Claudin 4 in the ES is a target of arginine-vasopressin (AVP), a hormone elevated in Menière’s disease. Moreover, our transmission-electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed that the TJs of the ED were shallow and shorter compared to the TJ of the ES indicating facilitation of a paracellular fluid transport across the ED epithelium. The significant differences in the subcellular localization of the barrier-forming protein Claudin 3 between the ED and ES epithelium further support the TEM observations. Our results indicate a high relevance of Claudin 3 and Claudin 4 as important paracellular barrier molecules in the ED and ES epithelium with potential involvement in the pathophysiology of Menière’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Runggaldier
- Institute of Clinical Anatomy and Cell Analysis, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lidia Garcia Pradas
- Institute of Clinical Anatomy and Cell Analysis, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter H Neckel
- Institute of Clinical Anatomy and Cell Analysis, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas F Mack
- Institute of Clinical Anatomy and Cell Analysis, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hirt
- Institute of Clinical Anatomy and Cell Analysis, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Corinna Gleiser
- Institute of Clinical Anatomy and Cell Analysis, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Neidleman JA, Chen JC, Kohgadai N, Müller JA, Laustsen A, Thavachelvam K, Jang KS, Stürzel CM, Jones JJ, Ochsenbauer C, Chitre A, Somsouk M, Garcia MM, Smith JF, Greenblatt RM, Münch J, Jakobsen MR, Giudice LC, Greene WC, Roan NR. Mucosal stromal fibroblasts markedly enhance HIV infection of CD4+ T cells. PLoS Pathog 2017; 13:e1006163. [PMID: 28207890 PMCID: PMC5312882 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding early events of HIV transmission within mucosal tissues is vital for developing effective prevention strategies. Here, we report that primary stromal fibroblasts isolated from endometrium, cervix, foreskin, male urethra, and intestines significantly increase HIV infection of CD4+ T cells-by up to 37-fold for R5-tropic HIV and 100-fold for X4-tropic HIV-without themselves becoming infected. Fibroblasts were more efficient than dendritic cells at trans-infection and mediate this response in the absence of the DC-SIGN and Siglec-1 receptors. In comparison, mucosal epithelial cells secrete antivirals and inhibit HIV infection. These data suggest that breaches in the epithelium allow external or luminal HIV to escape an antiviral environment to access the infection-favorable environment of the stromal fibroblasts, and suggest that resident fibroblasts have a central, but previously unrecognized, role in HIV acquisition at mucosal sites. Inhibiting fibroblast-mediated enhancement of HIV infection should be considered as a novel prevention strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason A. Neidleman
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Joseph C. Chen
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Nargis Kohgadai
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Janis A. Müller
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anders Laustsen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Karen S. Jang
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Jennifer J. Jones
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Christina Ochsenbauer
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
- Center for AIDS Research, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Avantika Chitre
- Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Ma Somsouk
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, San Francisco General Hospital and University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Maurice M. Garcia
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - James F. Smith
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Ruth M. Greenblatt
- Departments of Clinical Pharmacy, Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA United States of America
| | - Jan Münch
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Martin R. Jakobsen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Aarhus Research Centre for Innate Immunology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Linda C. Giudice
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Warner C. Greene
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Nadia R. Roan
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
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24
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Poon CE, Madawala RJ, Dowland SN, Murphy CR. Nectin-3 Is Increased in the Cell Junctions of the Uterine Epithelium at Implantation. Reprod Sci 2016; 23:1580-1592. [DOI: 10.1177/1933719116648216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Connie E. Poon
- Cell and Reproductive Biology Laboratory, School of Medical Sciences (Discipline of Anatomy and Histology), The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Romanthi J. Madawala
- Cell and Reproductive Biology Laboratory, School of Medical Sciences (Discipline of Anatomy and Histology), The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Samson N. Dowland
- Cell and Reproductive Biology Laboratory, School of Medical Sciences (Discipline of Anatomy and Histology), The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Christopher R. Murphy
- Cell and Reproductive Biology Laboratory, School of Medical Sciences (Discipline of Anatomy and Histology), The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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25
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Ak H, Zeybek B, Atay S, Askar N, Akdemir A, Aydin HH. Microarray gene expression analysis of uterosacral ligaments in uterine prolapse. Clin Biochem 2016; 49:1238-1242. [PMID: 27521992 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2016.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2016] [Revised: 08/06/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a major health problem that impairs the quality of life with a wide clinical spectrum. Since the uterosacral ligaments provide primary support for the uterus and the upper vagina, we hypothesize that the disruption of these ligaments may lead to a loss of support and eventually contribute to POP. DESIGN AND METHODS In this study, we therefore investigated whether there are any differences in the transcription profile of uterosacral ligaments in patients with POP when compared to those of the control samples. Seventeen women with POP and 8 non-POP controls undergoing hysterectomy for benign conditions were included in the study. Affymetrix® Gene Chip microarrays (Human Hu 133 plus 2.0) were used for whole genome gene expression profiling analysis. RESULTS There was 1 significantly down-regulated gene, NKX2-3 in patients with POP compared to the controls (p=4.28464e-013). KIF11 gene was found to be significantly down-regulated in patients with ≥3 deliveries compared to patients with <3 deliveries (p=0.0156237). UGT1A1 (p=2.43388e-005), SCARB1 (p=1.19001e-006) and NKX2-3 (p=2.17966e-013) genes were found to be significantly down-regulated in the premenopausal patients compared to the premenopausal controls. UGT1A1 gene was also found to be significantly down-regulated in the post menopausal patients compared to the postmenopausal controls (p=0.0005). CONCLUSION This study provides evidence for a significant down-regulation of the genes that take role in cell cycle, proliferation and embryonic development along with cell adhesion process on the development of POP for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Handan Ak
- Ege University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Izmir, Turkey.
| | - Burak Zeybek
- Ege University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Sevcan Atay
- Ege University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Niyazi Askar
- Ege University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ali Akdemir
- Ege University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Hikmet Hakan Aydin
- Ege University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Izmir, Turkey.
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26
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Robertson SA, Sharkey DJ. Seminal fluid and fertility in women. Fertil Steril 2016; 106:511-9. [PMID: 27485480 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.07.1101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Revised: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Seminal fluid is often viewed as simply a vehicle to carry sperm to fertilize the oocyte, but a more complex function in influencing female reproductive physiology is now evident. Remarkably, seminal fluid contains soluble and exosome-born signaling agents that interact with the female reproductive tract to prime the immune response, with consequences for fertility and pregnancy outcome. Experiments in rodent models demonstrate a key role for seminal fluid in enabling robust embryo implantation and optimal placental development. In particular, seminal fluid promotes leukocyte recruitment and generation of regulatory T cells, which facilitate embryo implantation by suppressing inflammation, assisting uterine vascular adaptation, and sustaining tolerance of fetal antigens. There is emerging evidence of comparable effects in women, where seminal fluid provokes an adaptive immune response in the cervical tissues after contact at intercourse, and spermatozoa accessing the higher tract potentially affect the endometrium directly. These biological responses may have clinical significance, explaining why [1] intercourse in IVF ET cycles improves the likelihood of pregnancy, [2] inflammatory disorders of gestation are more common in women who conceive after limited exposure to seminal fluid of the prospective father, and [3] preeclampsia incidence is elevated after use of donor oocytes or donor sperm where prior contact with conceptus alloantigens has not occurred. It will be important to define the mechanisms through which seminal fluid interacts with female reproductive tissues, to provide knowledge that may assist in preconception planning and infertility treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Robertson
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
| | - David J Sharkey
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Kohler TP, Scholz A, Kiachludis D, Hammerschmidt S. Induction of Central Host Signaling Kinases during Pneumococcal Infection of Human THP-1 Cells. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2016; 6:48. [PMID: 27200303 PMCID: PMC4844997 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2016.00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a widespread colonizer of the mucosal epithelia of the upper respiratory tract of human. However, pneumococci are also responsible for numerous local as well as severe systemic infections, especially in children under the age of five and the elderly. Under certain conditions, pneumococci are able to conquer the epithelial barrier, which can lead to a dissemination of the bacteria into underlying tissues and the bloodstream. Here, specialized macrophages represent an essential part of the innate immune system against bacterial intruders. Recognition of the bacteria through different receptors on the surface of macrophages leads thereby to an uptake and elimination of bacteria. Accompanied cytokine release triggers the migration of leukocytes from peripheral blood to the site of infection, where monocytes differentiate into mature macrophages. The rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton during phagocytosis, resulting in the engulfment of bacteria, is thereby tightly regulated by receptor-mediated phosphorylation cascades of different protein kinases. The molecular cellular processes including the modulation of central protein kinases are only partially solved. In this study, the human monocytic THP-1 cell line was used as a model system to examine the activation of Fcγ and complement receptor-independent signal cascades during infection with S. pneumoniae. Pneumococci cultured either in chemically defined or complex medium showed no significant differences in pneumococcal phagocytosis by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) differentiated THP-1 cells. Double immuno-fluorescence microscopy and antibiotic protection assays demonstrated a time-dependent uptake and killing of S. pneumoniae 35A inside of macrophages. Infections of THP-1 cells in the presence of specific pharmacological inhibitors revealed a crucial role of actin polymerization and importance of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Protein kinase B (Akt) as well during bacterial uptake. The participation of essential host cell signaling kinases in pneumococcal phagocytosis was deciphered for the kinase Akt, ERK1/2, and p38 and phosphoimmunoblots showed an increased phosphorylation and thus activation upon infection with pneumococci. Taken together, this study deciphers host cell kinases in innate immune cells that are induced upon infection with pneumococci and interfere with bacterial clearance after phagocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas P Kohler
- Department Genetics of Microorganisms, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität Greifswald Greifswald, Germany
| | - Annemarie Scholz
- Department Genetics of Microorganisms, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität Greifswald Greifswald, Germany
| | - Delia Kiachludis
- Department Genetics of Microorganisms, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität Greifswald Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sven Hammerschmidt
- Department Genetics of Microorganisms, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität Greifswald Greifswald, Germany
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28
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Abe A, Takano K, Kojima T, Nomura K, Kakuki T, Kaneko Y, Yamamoto M, Takahashi H, Himi T. Interferon-gamma increased epithelial barrier function via upregulating claudin-7 expression in human submandibular gland duct epithelium. J Mol Histol 2016; 47:353-63. [PMID: 26956365 DOI: 10.1007/s10735-016-9667-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tight junctions (TJs) are necessary for salivary gland function and may serve as indicators of salivary gland epithelial dysfunction. IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a newly recognized fibro-inflammatory condition which disrupts the TJ associated epithelial barrier. The salivary glands are one of the most frequently involved organs in IgG4-RD, however, changes of the TJ associated epithelial barrier in salivary gland duct epithelium is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the regulation and function of TJs in human submandibular gland ductal epithelial cells (HSDECs) in normal and IgG4-RD. We examined submandibular gland (SMG) tissue from eight control individuals and 22 patients with IgG4-RD and established an HSDEC culture system. Immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, western blotting, and measurement of transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) were performed. Claudin-4, claudin-7, occludin, and JAM-A were expressed at the apical side of the duct epithelium in submandibular gland (SMG) tissue and at the cell borders in HSDECs of normal and IgG4-RD. The expression and distribution of TJs in SMG tissue were not different in control individuals and patients with IgG4-RD in vivo and in vitro. Although interferon-gamma (IFNγ) generally disrupts the integrity and function of TJs, as manifested by decreased epithelial barrier function, IFNγ markedly increased the epithelial barrier function of HSDECs via upregulation of claudin-7 expression in HSDECs from patients with IgG4-RD. This is the first report showing an IFNγ-dependent increase in epithelial barrier function in the salivary gland duct epithelium. Our results provide insights into the functional significance of TJs in salivary gland duct epithelium in physiological and pathological conditions, including IgG4-RD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayumi Abe
- Department of Otolaryngology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, S1W16, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, 060-8543, Japan
| | - Kenichi Takano
- Department of Otolaryngology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, S1W16, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, 060-8543, Japan.
| | - Takashi Kojima
- Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Nomura
- Department of Otolaryngology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, S1W16, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, 060-8543, Japan
| | - Takuya Kakuki
- Department of Otolaryngology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, S1W16, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, 060-8543, Japan.,Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yakuto Kaneko
- Department of Otolaryngology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, S1W16, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, 060-8543, Japan.,Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Motohisa Yamamoto
- Department of the Gastroenterology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hiroki Takahashi
- Department of the Gastroenterology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Himi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, S1W16, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, 060-8543, Japan
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Increased expressions of claudin 4 and 7 in atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma of the lung. Med Mol Morphol 2016; 49:163-9. [PMID: 26872891 DOI: 10.1007/s00795-016-0135-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal expression of claudin (Cldn), the main constituent of tight junctions, may play a crucial role in carcinogenesis. To elucidate these abnormalities of tight junctions in lung adenocarcinoma during carcinogenesis, we examined immunohistochemical expressions of Cldn4 and Cldn7 in human lung resection materials. Lung resection specimens from 86 patients were studied, including 16 atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH), 19 adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), 32 invasive adenocarcinoma (ADC), 5 AIS with AAH, 2 ADC with AAH, 10 ADC with AIS, and 2 ADC with AIS and AAH. The immunohistochemical staining (IHC) score was defined for both the extent and intensity of staining. IHC score for Cldn4 in AIS and ADC was significantly higher than that in alveolar epithelium (AE) and AAH (p < 0.001 for both). In addition, the AAH score was significantly higher than that in AE (p < 0.001). The Cldn7 score in ADC was significantly increased compared with AE and AAH (p < 0.001 for both). These results suggested that increase of Cldn4-expression may be involved in early molecular events during carcinogenesis of adenocarcinoma, whereas increase of Cldn7-expression may be associated with tumor invasion or progression.
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30
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Claudin-3, claudin-7, and claudin-10 show different distribution patterns during decidualization and trophoblast invasion in mouse and human. Histochem Cell Biol 2015; 144:571-85. [PMID: 26340953 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-015-1361-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Implantation of the mammalian embryo requires profound endometrial changes for successful pregnancy, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition of the luminal epithelium and stromal-epithelial transition of the stromal cells resulting in decidualization. Claudins (Cldn) determine the variability in tight junction paracellular permeability and may play a role during these epithelial and decidual changes. We here localized Cldn3, Cldn7 and Cldn10 proteins in the different compartments of murine endometrium up to day 8.5 of pregnancy (dpc) as well as in human endometrium and first trimester decidua. In murine estrous endometrium, luminal and glandular epithelium exhibited Cldn3 and Cldn7, whereas Cldn10 was only detectable in glandular epithelium. At 4.5 dpc, Cldn3 protein shifted to an apical localization, whereas Cldn7 vanished in the epithelium of the implantation chamber. At this stage, there was no stromal signal for Cldn3 and Cldn7, but a strong induction of Cldn10 in the primary decidual zone. Cldn3 proteins emerged at 5.5 dpc spreading considerably from 6.5 dpc onward in the endothelial cells of the decidual blood sinusoids and in the decidual cells of the compact antimesometrial region. In addition to Cldn3, Cldn10 was identified in human endometrial epithelia. Both proteins were not detected in human first trimester decidual cells. Cldn3 was shown in murine trophoblast giant cells as well as in human extravillous trophoblast cells and thus may have an impact on trophoblast invasion in both species. We here showed a specific claudin signature during early decidualization pointing to a role in decidual angiogenesis and regulation of trophoblast invasion.
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31
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Zwanziger D, Rakov H, Engels K, Moeller LC, Führer D. Sex-Dependent Claudin-1 Expression in the Liver of Euthyroid and Hypothyroid Mice. Eur Thyroid J 2015; 4:67-73. [PMID: 26601075 PMCID: PMC4640300 DOI: 10.1159/000431316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Revised: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the liver the tight junction protein claudin-1 plays an important role in bile secretion by maintaining the paracellular barrier of bile canaliculi and the bile duct. A diminished bile excretion has been found in hypothyroid patients, and the prevalence of gallstones is increased in hypothyroidism. This association, however, only applies for men and is in contrast to the well-established female preponderance of biliary disease in the general population. OBJECTIVES We hypothesized that hypothyroidism could lead to altered claudin-1 expression in the liver, and that this effect may be sex specific. METHODS We characterized claudin-1 expression and localization in livers of euthyroid and hypothyroid male and female C57BL/6NTac mice by real-time PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence. RESULTS Claudin-1 is expressed in canalicular regions and the bile ducts of the murine liver. Livers of female mice showed lower claudin-1 expression than male livers. In hypothyroid livers, female animals showed an elevated claudin-1 expression, whereas reduced claudin-1 expression was found in male animals compared to the euthyroid controls. CONCLUSION We demonstrate a correlation between claudin-1 expression and hypothyroidism in the murine liver. Furthermore, a sex-dependent alteration of claudin-1 expression was found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Zwanziger
- *Denise Zwanziger, PhD, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism and Division of Laboratory Research, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, DE-45147 Essen (Germany), E-Mail
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32
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Ahn C, Shin DH, Lee D, Kang HY, Jeung EB. Uterine expression of tight junctions in the Canine uterus. J Biomed Res 2015. [DOI: 10.12729/jbr.2015.16.3.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Cuevas ME, Gaska JM, Gist AC, King JM, Sheller RA, Todd MC. Estrogen-dependent expression and subcellular localization of the tight junction protein claudin-4 in HEC-1A endometrial cancer cells. Int J Oncol 2015; 47:650-6. [PMID: 26043767 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2015.3030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer is the most common female reproductive cancer in the United States and is associated with deregulated tight junction protein expression. Given the highly estrogen-responsive nature of this tissue, we investigated the effects of estrogen and its agonist, 4-OH TAM, on the expression and subcellular localization of the tight junction protein claudin-4 (CLDN-4), in HEC-1A endometrial cancer cells. In untreated HEC-1A cells, we observed dramatic overexpression of claudin-4 protein. In addition, differential detergent extraction analysis indicated that claudin-4 was localized primarily in the membrane but also found in the cytosolic, nuclear and cytoskeletal fractions. Upon exposure of HEC-1A to estradiol (E2), we observed a biphasic effect both on the overall expression of claudin-4 protein and on its cytosolic and cytoskeletal presence as demonstrated by immunoblot analysis. Immunofluorescence analysis also revealed a biphasic effect of E2 on claudin-4 expression. In contrast, we observed no changes in expression levels nor in the subcellular distribution patterns of claudin-4 in HEC-1A cells treated with different concentrations of 4-OH TAM. The intracellular presence of CLDN-4 coupled with the biphasic effects of E2 on CLDN-4 expression in the cytoskeleton suggest that this protein may be involved in cell signaling to and from TJs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria E Cuevas
- Biology Department, Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX 78626, USA
| | - Jenna M Gaska
- Biology Department, Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX 78626, USA
| | - Andrea C Gist
- Biology Department, Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX 78626, USA
| | - Jonathan M King
- Biology Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA
| | - Rebecca A Sheller
- Biology Department, Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX 78626, USA
| | - Maria C Todd
- Biology Department, Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX 78626, USA
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Kohno T, Ninomiya T, Kikuchi S, Konno T, Kojima T. Staurosporine induces formation of two types of extra-long cell protrusions: actin-based filaments and microtubule-based shafts. Mol Pharmacol 2015; 87:815-24. [PMID: 25680752 DOI: 10.1124/mol.114.096982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Staurosporine (STS) has been known as a classic protein kinase C inhibitor and is a broad-spectrum inhibitor targeting over 250 protein kinases. In this study, we observed that STS treatment induced drastic morphologic changes, such as elongation of a very large number of nonbranched, actin-based long cell protrusions that reached up to 30 µm in an hour without caspase activation or PARP cleavage in fibroblasts and epithelial cells. These cell protrusions were elongated not only from the free cell edge but also from the cell-cell junctions. The elongation of STS-dependent protrusions was required for ATP hydrolysis and was dependent on myosin-X and fascin but independent of Cdc42 and VASP. Interestingly, in the presence of an actin polymerization inhibitor, namely, cytochalasin D, latrunculin A, or jasplakinolide, STS treatment induced excess tubulin polymerization, which resulted in the formation of many extra-long microtubule (MT)-based protrusions toward the outside of the cell. The unique MT-based protrusions were thick and linear compared with the STS-induced filaments or stationary filopodia. These protrusions, which were composed of microtubules, have been scarcely observed in cultured non-neuronal cells. Taken together, our findings revealed that STS-sensitive kinases are essential for the maintenance of normal cell morphology, and a common unidentified molecular mechanism is involved in the formation of the following two different types of protrusions: actin-based filaments and MT-based shafts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Kohno
- Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine (T.Koh., T.Kon., T.Koj.), and Department of Anatomy, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan (T.N., S.K.)
| | - Takafumi Ninomiya
- Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine (T.Koh., T.Kon., T.Koj.), and Department of Anatomy, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan (T.N., S.K.)
| | - Shin Kikuchi
- Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine (T.Koh., T.Kon., T.Koj.), and Department of Anatomy, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan (T.N., S.K.)
| | - Takumi Konno
- Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine (T.Koh., T.Kon., T.Koj.), and Department of Anatomy, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan (T.N., S.K.)
| | - Takashi Kojima
- Department of Cell Science, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine (T.Koh., T.Kon., T.Koj.), and Department of Anatomy, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan (T.N., S.K.)
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Chen JC, Johnson BA, Erikson DW, Piltonen TT, Barragan F, Chu S, Kohgadai N, Irwin JC, Greene WC, Giudice LC, Roan NR. Seminal plasma induces global transcriptomic changes associated with cell migration, proliferation and viability in endometrial epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts. Hum Reprod 2014; 29:1255-70. [PMID: 24626806 PMCID: PMC4017943 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deu047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2013] [Revised: 01/30/2014] [Accepted: 02/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION How does seminal plasma (SP) affect the transcriptome of human primary endometrial epithelial cells (eEC) and stromal fibroblasts (eSF)? SUMMARY ANSWER Exposure of eEC and eSF to SP in vitro increases expression of genes and secreted proteins associated with cellular migration, proliferation, viability and inhibition of cell death. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Studies in both humans and animals suggest that SP can access and induce physiological changes in the upper female reproductive tract (FRT), which may participate in promoting reproductive success. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This is a cross sectional study involving control samples versus treatment. SP (pooled from twenty donors) was first tested for dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic effects on eEC and eSF (n = 4). As exposure of eEC or eSF to 1% SP for 6 h proved to be non-toxic, a second set of eEC/eSF samples (n = 4) was treated under these conditions for transcriptome, protein and functional analysis. With a third set of samples (n = 3), we further compared the transcriptional response of the cells to SP versus fresh semen. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS eEC and eSF were isolated from endometrial biopsies from women of reproductive age undergoing benign gynecologic procedures and maintained in vitro. RNA was isolated and processed for microarray studies to analyze global transcriptomic changes. Secreted factors in conditioned media from SP-treated cells were analyzed by Luminex and for the ability to stimulate migration of CD14+ monocytes and CD4+ T cells. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Pathway identifications were determined using the Z-scoring system in Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (Z scores ≥|1.5|). SP induced transcriptomic changes (P < 0.05) associated with promoting leukocyte and endothelial cell recruitment, and proliferation of eEC and eSF. Cell viability pathways were induced, while those associated with cell death were suppressed (P < 0.05). SP and fresh semen induced similar sets of pathways, suggesting that SP can model the signaling effects of semen in the endometrium. SP also induced secretion of pro-inflammatory and pro-chemotactic cytokines, as well as pro-angiogenic and proliferative growth factors (P < 0.05) in both eEC and eSF. Finally, functional assays revealed that conditioned media from SP-treated eEC and eSF significantly increased (P < 0.05) chemotaxis of CD14+ monocytes and CD4+ T cells. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This study is limited to in vitro analyses of the effects of SP on endometrial cells. In addition, the measured response to SP was conducted in the absence of the ovarian hormones estradiol and progesterone, as well as epithelial-stromal paracrine signaling. While this study focused on establishing the baseline cellular response of endometrial cells to SP, future work should assess how hormone signaling in the presence of appropriate paracrine interactions affects SP-induced genes in these cells. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The results of this study support previous findings that SP and semen contain bioactive factors capable of eliciting chemotactic responses in the uterus, which can lead to recruitment of leukocytes to the endometrium. Future directions will explore if similar changes in gene expression do indeed occur after coitus in vivo, and how the signaling cascades initiated by SP in the endometrium can affect reproductive success, female reproductive health and susceptibility to sexually transmitted diseases. The gene list provided by the transcriptome analysis reported here should prove a valuable resource for understanding the response of the upper FRT to SP exposure. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This project was supported by NIH AI083050-04 (W.C.G./L.C.G.); NIH U54HD 055764 (L.C.G.); NIH 1F32HD074423-02 (J.C.C.); DOD W81XWH-11-1-0562 (W.C.G.); NIH 5K12-DK083021-04, NIH 1K99AI104262-01A1, The UCSF Hellman Award (N.R.R.). The authors have nothing to disclose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph C. Chen
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Brittni A. Johnson
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - David W. Erikson
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Terhi T. Piltonen
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center of Clinical Research, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Fatima Barragan
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Simon Chu
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nargis Kohgadai
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Juan C. Irwin
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Warner C. Greene
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, and Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Linda C. Giudice
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nadia R. Roan
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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