The c-Abl expression in uterine epithelium during the mouse estrus cycle

miR-203a-3p, ABL1 and TP63 gene expression is altered in the endometrium of women with endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

Many genes and miRNAs have been shown to be associated with the pathogenesis of endometriosis. TP63 (p63) is implicated in lineage specification, proliferative potential, differentiation, cell death and survival. The ABL1 proto-oncogene encodes a cytoplasmic and nuclear protein tyrosine kinase implicated in cell differentiation, cell division, and cell adhesion. Moreover, hsa-miR-203a-3p was reported to play pivotal roles in tumor progression by targeting multiple genes, including ABL1 and TP63. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of ABL1, TP63, and miR-203a-3p in endometriosis.

METHODS

This study included 30 women with endometriosis (stage III: n = 12 and stage IV: n = 18) and 30 age-matched controls. Total RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis were performed, and a quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique was used to determine the expression of miR-203a-3p, TP63, and ABL1.

RESULTS

TP63 and ABL1 were significantly overexpressed in stages III and IV endometriosis as compared to controls (p < .0001). Moreover, overexpression of ABL1 and TP63 was observed in stage IV compared to stage III (p = .0006 and p = .0002, respectively). Furthermore, significant increase miR-203a-3p expression has been seen in stage IV endometriosis compared to controls (p = .006). The expression of miR-203a-3p in stage III was not significant compared to stage IV and control (p = .33 and p = .43, respectively).

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that miR-203a-3p, ABL1 and TP63 gene expression is altered in the endometrium of patients with endometriosis. It is also suggested that miR-203a-3p, ABL1, and TP63 might be candidate factors for the pathogenesis of endometriosis and suggesting its therapeutic potential in endometriosis.

Determination of c-Abl tyrosine kinase and mTERT catalytic subunit of telomerase expression level during prenatal-postnatal mouse ovary-testis development

Expression levels of genes involved in the development of germ cells vary throughout the process from bipotential gonadal period to adult gonadal formation. In mice, developments of female and male reproductive system are regulated by germ cell-specific factors and hormones, and determinative days in this regulation are very important. c-Abl is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase with cellular functions including cell proliferation, growth and development. mTERT is involved in maintaining telomerase activity and proliferation of surviving cells. We suggested that c-Abl and mTERT might be important for the healthy development of prenatal and postnatal mouse ovary and testis. We aim to demonstrate localization and expressions of c-Abl and mTERT in crucial days of ovary and testis development in prenatal and postnatal period in mouse by immunofluorescence staining and qRT-PCR, respectively. The importance of c-Abl and mTERT expressions during the healthy gonadal development is indicated in the prenatal and postnatal gonadal development. Also, protein expression levels were detected by Western Blot in only postnatal ovary and testis. Determining the functions of the c-Abl and mTERT throughout the process will be important in terms of understanding the infertility cases in the female and male with future studies.

Interaction of the mTERT telomerase catalytic subunit with the c-Abl tyrosine kinase in mouse granulosa cells

Context: Oocyte and granulosa cells (GCs) have bidirectional communication and GCs play an important role in folliculogenesis and proliferation of GCs is very important for the development of ovulatory follicle. DNA double-strand breaks activate c-Abl protein tyrosine kinase and c-Abl has a functional role in repairement of DNA and control of telomere.Objective: In this study, we hypothesized that c-Abl has a regulative role on mTERT in mouse ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) and we aimed to detect c-Abl and mTERT interaction in mouse primary culture of GCs.Materials and methods: Mouse ovarian granulosa cell were cultured and siRNA-mediated knockdown approach was used to knockdown c-Abl expression.Results: We showed c-Abl and mTERT immunolocalization in vivo and in vitro mouse GCs. c-Abl and mTERT were constitutively expressed in mouse granulosa cells and c-Abl presented more intense expression in granulosa cells than mTERT expression. The interaction of the c-Abl-mTERT is supported by the exhibition that c-Abl siRNA knockdown cells show decreased mTERT expression. We also present an interaction between c-Abl and mTERT by immunoprecipitation. In addition, our results indicated that the down-regulation of c-Abl was also accompanied by reduced expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in GCs.Conclusions: We suggest that mTERT may associate with the c-Abl in mouse GCs and the interactions between c-Abl and mTERT suggest a role for c-Abl in the regulation of telomerase function and proliferation in mouse granulosa cells.