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Henríquez S, Valdivia MJ, Mainigi M, Villarroel C, Velasquez L, Strauss Iii JF, Devoto L. The role of estrogen metabolites in human ovarian function. Steroids 2024; 203:109368. [PMID: 38278282 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2024.109368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Estrogens produced by the ovary play diverse roles in controlling physiological changes in the function of the female reproductive system. Although estradiol acts through classical nuclear receptors, its metabolites (EMs) act by alternative pathways. It has been postulated that EMs act through paracrine-autocrine pathways to regulate key processes involved in normal follicular growth, corpus luteum (CL) development, function, and regression. The present review describes recent advances in understanding the role of EMs in human ovarian physiology during the menstrual cycle, including their role in anovulatory disorders and their action in other target tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soledad Henríquez
- Institute for Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile; Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Biomedical Sciences (I3CBSEK), Faculty of Health Sciences, SEK University, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Maria Jose Valdivia
- Institute for Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Monica Mainigi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Claudio Villarroel
- Institute for Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luis Velasquez
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Biomedical Sciences (I3CBSEK), Faculty of Health Sciences, SEK University, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jerome F Strauss Iii
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Luigi Devoto
- Institute for Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
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2
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Zomer HD, Cooke PS. Targeting estrogen signaling and biosynthesis for aged skin repair. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1281071. [PMID: 38028803 PMCID: PMC10645088 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1281071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-healing skin wounds are disproportionally prevalent in older adults. Current treatments do not account for the particularities of aged skin and result in inadequate outcomes. Overall, healing chronic wounds in the elderly remains a major unmet clinical need. Estrogens play a critical role in reproduction but also have important actions in non-reproductive organs. Estrogen biosynthesis and signaling pathways are locally activated during physiological wound healing, processes that are inhibited in elderly estrogen-deprived skin. Estrogen deprivation has been shown to be a critical mediator of impaired wound healing in both postmenopausal women and aged men, and topical estrogen application reverses age-associated delayed wound healing in both elderly men and women. These data indicate that adequate estrogen biosynthesis and properly regulated estrogen signaling pathways are essential for normal wound healing and can be targeted to optimize tissue repair in the elderly. However, due to fundamental questions regarding how to safely restore estrogen signaling locally in skin wounds, there are currently no therapeutic strategies addressing estrogen deficiency in elderly chronic wounds. This review discusses established and recent literature in this area and proposes the hypothesis that estrogen plays a pleiotropic role in skin aging and that targeting estrogen signaling and biosynthesis could promote skin repair in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena D. Zomer
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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3
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Dela Justina V, Dos Passos Júnior RR, Lima VV, Giachini FR. Evidence of Nitric Oxide Impairment During Hypertensive Pregnancies. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1428:99-125. [PMID: 37466771 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-32554-0_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy complicate up to 10% of pregnancies worldwide, and they can be classified into (1) gestational hypertension, (2) preeclampsia, (3) chronic hypertension and (4) chronic hypertension with preeclampsia. Nitric oxide (NO) plays an essential role in the haemodynamic adaptations observed during pregnancy. It has been shown that the nitric oxide pathway's dysfunction during pregnancy is associated with placental- and vascular-related diseases such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. This review aims to present a brief definition of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and physiological maternal cardiovascular adaptations during pregnancy. We also detail how NO signalling is altered in the (a) systemic vasculature, (b) uterine artery/spiral arteries, (c) implantation and (d) placenta of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. We conclude by summarizing the anti-hypertensive therapy of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy as a specific management strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Dela Justina
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Rinaldo Rodrigues Dos Passos Júnior
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
- Institute of Health Sciences and Health, Universidad Federal De Mato Grosso, Barra do Garcas, Brazil
| | - Victor Vitorino Lima
- Institute of Health Sciences and Health, Universidad Federal De Mato Grosso, Barra do Garcas, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Regina Giachini
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
- Institute of Health Sciences and Health, Universidad Federal De Mato Grosso, Barra do Garcas, Brazil
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4
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Merico V, Zanoni M, Parada-Bustamante A, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. In Vitro Maturation of Fully Grown Mouse Antral Follicles in the Presence of 1 nM 2-Hydroxyestradiol Improves Oocytes' Developmental Competence. Reprod Sci 2020; 28:121-133. [PMID: 32757137 PMCID: PMC7782423 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-020-00276-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Cathecolestrogens are estradiol metabolites produced during folliculogenesis in the mammalian ovary. 2-Hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2) is one of the most abundant although its role remains unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the presence of 2-OHE2 during the germinal vesicle-to-metaphase II transition affects oocyte meiotic and preimplantation developmental competence. Mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), isolated from fully grown antral follicles, were in vitro–matured (IVM) in the presence of 2-OHE2 (0.1, 1, 10 or 100 nM) for 6 or 15 h; then, their meiotic and developmental competence was evaluated using a number of cytological quality markers. With the exception of the highest dose (100 nM), the addition of 2-OHE2 to the IVM medium, did not alter, compared with untreated control, the frequency of oocytes that reached the MII stage. Instead, IVM in the presence of 1 nM 2-OHE2 highly increased the rate of preimplantation development and blastocyst quality. To understand whether this positive effect could be attributed to the events occurring during meiosis resumption, we analysed a number of specific cytological quality markers of the asymmetric division, such as PB-I volume and position, presence and extension of the cortical F-actin cap, meiotic spindle shape and area, and microtubule organisation centre localisation. The results highlighted how the presence of 1 nM 2-OHE2 significantly improved the overall cytological organisation required for a correct asymmetric division. Our results contribute a first step to acknowledge a potential role of this estradiol metabolite during the GV-to-MII transition, contributing to the acquisition of oocytes developmental competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Merico
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy. .,Centre for Health Technologies (C.H.T.), University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Mario Zanoni
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy.,Centre for Health Technologies (C.H.T.), University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Alexis Parada-Bustamante
- Institute of Maternal and Child Research, School of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy. .,Centre for Health Technologies (C.H.T.), University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy. .,Centre for Health Technologies (C.H.T.), University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
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5
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Mandalà M. Influence of Estrogens on Uterine Vascular Adaptation in Normal and Preeclamptic Pregnancies. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072592. [PMID: 32276444 PMCID: PMC7177259 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
During pregnancy, the maternal cardiovascular system undergoes significant changes, including increased heart rate, cardiac output, plasma volume, and uteroplacental blood flow (UPBF) that are required for a successful pregnancy outcome. The increased UPBF is secondary to profound circumferential growth that extends from the downstream small spiral arteries to the upstream conduit main uterine artery. Although some of the mechanisms underlying uterine vascular remodeling are, in part, known, the factors that drive the remodeling are less clear. That higher circulating levels of estrogens are positively correlated with gestational uterine vascular remodeling suggests their involvement in this process. Estrogens binding to the estrogen receptors expressed in cytotrophoblast cells and in the uterine artery wall stimulate an outward hypertrophic remodeling of uterine vasculature. In preeclampsia, generally lower concentrations of estrogens limit the proper uterine remodeling, thereby reducing UPBF increases and restricting the growth of the fetus. This review aims to report estrogenic regulation of the maternal uterine circulatory adaptation in physiological and pathological pregnancy that favors vasodilation, and to consider the underlying molecular mechanisms by which estrogens regulate uteroplacental hemodynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Mandalà
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
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Kumar S, Gordon GH, Abbott DH, Mishra JS. Androgens in maternal vascular and placental function: implications for preeclampsia pathogenesis. Reproduction 2018; 156:R155-R167. [PMID: 30325182 PMCID: PMC6198264 DOI: 10.1530/rep-18-0278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Adequate maternal vascular adaptations and blood supply to the uterus and placenta are crucial for optimal oxygen and nutrient transport to growing fetuses of eutherian mammals, including humans. Multiple factors contribute to hemodynamics and structuring of placental vasculature essential for term pregnancy with minimal complications. In women, failure to achieve or sustain favorable pregnancy progression is, not surprisingly, associated with high incidence of antenatal complications, including preeclampsia, a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. While the pathogenesis of preeclampsia in women remains unknown, a role for androgens is emerging. The relationship between androgens and maternal cardiovascular and placental function deserves particular consideration because testosterone levels in the circulation of preeclamptic women are elevated approximately two- to three-fold and are positively correlated with vascular dysfunction. Preeclampsia is also associated with elevated placental androgen receptor (AR) gene expression. Studies in animal models mimicking the pattern and level of increase of adult female testosterone levels to those found in preeclamptic pregnancies, replicate key features of preeclampsia, including gestational hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, exaggerated vasoconstriction to angiotensin II, reduced spiral artery remodeling, placental hypoxia, decreased nutrient transport and fetal growth restriction. Taken together, these data strongly implicate AR-mediated testosterone action as an important pathway contributing to clinical manifestation of preeclampsia. This review critically addresses this hypothesis, taking into consideration both clinical and preclinical data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sathish Kumar
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Geoffrey H Gordon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - David H Abbott
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jay S Mishra
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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