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Paul M, Barreda AP, Gregson A, Kahl R, King M, Hussein WM, Walker FR, Smith R, Zakar T, Paul JW. Regulation of 20α-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Expression in Term Pregnant Human Myometrium Ex Vivo. Reprod Sci 2024; 31:150-161. [PMID: 37648943 PMCID: PMC10784398 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01333-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic inactivation of progesterone within uterine myocytes by 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20α-HSD) has been postulated as a mechanism contributing to functional progesterone withdrawal at term. In humans, 20α-HSD is encoded by the gene AKR1C1. Myometrial AKR1C1 mRNA abundance has been reported to increase significantly during labor at term. In spontaneous preterm labor, however, we previously found no increase in AKR1C1 mRNA level in the myometrium except for preterm labor associated with clinical chorioamnionitis. This suggests that increased 20α-HSD activity is a mechanism through which inflammation drives progesterone withdrawal in preterm labor. In this study, we have determined the effects of various treatments of therapeutic relevance on AKR1C1 expression in pregnant human myometrium in an ex vivo culture system. AKR1C1 expression increased spontaneously during 48 h culture (p < 0.0001), consistent with the myometrium transitioning to a labor-like phenotype ex vivo, as reported previously. Serum supplementation, prostaglandin F2α, phorbol myristate acetate, and mechanical stretch had no effect on the culture-induced increase, whereas progesterone (p = 0.0058) and cAMP (p = 0.0202) further upregulated AKR1C1 expression. In contrast, culture-induced upregulation of AKR1C1 expression was dose-dependently repressed by three histone/protein deacetylase inhibitors: trichostatin A at 5 (p = 0.0172) and 25 µM (p = 0.0115); suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid at 0.5 (p = 0.0070), 1 (p = 0.0045), 2.5 (p = 0.0181), 5 (p = 0.0066) and 25 µM (p = 0.0014); and suberoyl bis-hydroxamic acid at 5 (p = 0.0480) and 25 µM (p = 0.0238). We propose the inhibition of histone/protein deacetylation helps to maintain the anti-inflammatory, pro-quiescence signaling of progesterone in pregnant human myometrium by blocking its metabolic inactivation. Histone deacetylase inhibitors may represent a class of agents that preserve or restore the progesterone sensitivity of the pregnant uterus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Paul
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
- Centre for Rehab Innovations, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Anna Paredes Barreda
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
- Mothers and Babies Research Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Amy Gregson
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
- Mothers and Babies Research Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Richard Kahl
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
- Mothers and Babies Research Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Madeline King
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
- Mothers and Babies Research Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Waleed M Hussein
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Frederick R Walker
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
- Centre for Rehab Innovations, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Roger Smith
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
- Mothers and Babies Research Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
- John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Tamas Zakar
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
- Mothers and Babies Research Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
- John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Jonathan W Paul
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia.
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
- Mothers and Babies Research Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia.
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