1
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Yu J, Yan Y, Li S, Xu Y, Parolia A, Rizvi S, Wang W, Zhai Y, Xiao R, Li X, Liao P, Zhou J, Okla K, Lin H, Lin X, Grove S, Wei S, Vatan L, Hu J, Szumilo J, Kotarski J, Freeman ZT, Skala S, Wicha M, Cho KR, Chinnaiyan AM, Schon S, Wen F, Kryczek I, Wang S, Chen L, Zou W. Progestogen-driven B7-H4 contributes to onco-fetal immune tolerance. Cell 2024:S0092-8674(24)00652-4. [PMID: 38968937 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.06.012] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Immune tolerance mechanisms are shared in cancer and pregnancy. Through cross-analyzing single-cell RNA-sequencing data from multiple human cancer types and the maternal-fetal interface, we found B7-H4 (VTCN1) is an onco-fetal immune tolerance checkpoint. We showed that genetic deficiency of B7-H4 resulted in immune activation and fetal resorption in allogeneic pregnancy models. Analogously, B7-H4 contributed to MPA/DMBA-induced breast cancer progression, accompanied by CD8+ T cell exhaustion. Female hormone screening revealed that progesterone stimulated B7-H4 expression in placental and breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, progesterone receptor (PR) bound to a newly identified -58 kb enhancer, thereby mediating B7-H4 transcription via the PR-P300-BRD4 axis. PR antagonist or BRD4 degrader potentiated immunotherapy in a murine B7-H4+ breast cancer model. Thus, our work unravels a mechanistic and biological connection of a female sex hormone (progesterone) to onco-fetal immune tolerance via B7-H4 and suggests that the PR-P300-BRD4 axis is targetable for treating B7-H4+ cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Yu
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yijian Yan
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Shasha Li
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ying Xu
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Abhijit Parolia
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Syed Rizvi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan School of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Weichao Wang
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yiwen Zhai
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rongxin Xiao
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Xiong Li
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Peng Liao
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jiajia Zhou
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Karolina Okla
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Oncological Gynecology and Gynecology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Heng Lin
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Xun Lin
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sara Grove
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Shuang Wei
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Linda Vatan
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jiantao Hu
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Justyna Szumilo
- Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Jan Kotarski
- Department of Oncological Gynecology and Gynecology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Zachary T Freeman
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Stephanie Skala
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Max Wicha
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kathleen R Cho
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Arul M Chinnaiyan
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Samantha Schon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Fei Wen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan School of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ilona Kryczek
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Shaomeng Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lieping Chen
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Weiping Zou
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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2
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Retis-Resendiz AM, Cid-Cruz Y, Velázquez-Hernández DM, Romero-Reyes J, León-Juárez M, García-Gómez E, Camacho-Arroyo I, Vázquez-Martínez ER. cAMP regulates the progesterone receptor gene expression through the protein kinase A pathway during decidualization in human immortalized endometrial stromal cells. Steroids 2024; 203:109363. [PMID: 38182066 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2024.109363] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Decidualization, a crucial process for successful pregnancy establishment and maintenance, involves endometrial stromal cell differentiation. This process is orchestrated by estradiol (E2), progesterone, and other stimuli that increase intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels. The intracellular progesterone receptor (PR), encoded by the PGR gene, has a key role in decidualization. This study aimed to understand the role of sex steroids and cAMP in regulating PGR expression during the in vitro decidualization of the human immortalized endometrial stromal cell line, T-HESC. We subjected the cells to individual and combined treatments of E2, medroxyprogesterone (MPA), and cAMP. Additionally, we treated cells with PR and estrogen receptor antagonists and a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor. We evaluated the expression of PGR isoforms and decidualization-associated genes by RT-qPCR. Our findings revealed that cAMP induced PGR-B and PGR-AB expression by activating the PKA signaling pathway, while MPA downregulated their expression through the PR. Furthermore, downstream genes involved in decidualization, such as those coding for prolactin (PRL), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP1), and Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), exhibited positive regulation via the cAMP-PKA pathway. Remarkably, MPA-activated PR signaling induced the expression of IGFBP1 and DKK1 but inhibited that of PRL. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that the PKA signaling pathway induces PGR gene expression during in vitro decidualization of the T-HESC human endometrial stromal cell line. This study has unraveled some of the intricate regulatory mechanisms governing PGR expression during this fundamental process for implantation and pregnancy maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Monserrat Retis-Resendiz
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología (INPer)-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 11000, Mexico
| | - Yesenia Cid-Cruz
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología (INPer)-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 11000, Mexico
| | - Dora María Velázquez-Hernández
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología (INPer)-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 11000, Mexico
| | - Jessica Romero-Reyes
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología (INPer)-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 11000, Mexico
| | - Moisés León-Juárez
- Departamento de Inmunobioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología (INPer), Mexico City 11000, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth García-Gómez
- Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)-Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología (INPer)-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 11000, Mexico
| | - Ignacio Camacho-Arroyo
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología (INPer)-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 11000, Mexico
| | - Edgar Ricardo Vázquez-Martínez
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología (INPer)-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 11000, Mexico.
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3
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Font-Mateu J, Sanllehí P, Sot J, Abad B, Mateos N, Torreno-Pina JA, Ferrari R, Wright RHG, Garcia-Parajo MF, Joglar J, Goñi FM, Beato M. A progesterone derivative linked to a stable phospholipid activates breast cancer cell response without leaving the cell membrane. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:98. [PMID: 38386110 PMCID: PMC10884080 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05116-3] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
In hormone-responsive breast cancer cells, progesterone (P4) has been shown to act via its nuclear receptor (nPR), a ligand-activated transcription factor. A small fraction of progesterone receptor is palmitoylated and anchored to the cell membrane (mbPR) forming a complex with estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). Upon hormone exposure, either directly or via interaction with ERα, mbPR activates the SRC/RAS/ERK kinase pathway leading to phosphorylation of nPR by ERK. Kinase activation is essential for P4 gene regulation, as the ERK and MSK1 kinases are recruited by the nPR to its genomic binding sites and trigger chromatin remodeling. An interesting open question is whether activation of mbPR can result in gene regulation in the absence of ligand binding to intracellular progesterone receptor (iPR). This matter has been investigated in the past using P4 attached to serum albumin, but the attachment is leaky and albumin can be endocytosed and degraded, liberating P4. Here, we propose a more stringent approach to address this issue by ensuring attachment of P4 to the cell membrane via covalent binding to a stable phospholipid. This strategy identifies the actions of P4 independent from hormone binding to iPR. We found that a membrane-attached progestin can activate mbPR, the ERK signaling pathway leading to iPR phosphorylation, initial gene regulation and entry into the cell cycle, in the absence of detectable intracellular progestin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jofre Font-Mateu
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pol Sanllehí
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia, IQAC-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jesús Sot
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940, Leioa, Spain
| | - Beatriz Abad
- SGIKER, Universidad del País Vasco, Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940, Leioa, Spain
| | - Nicolas Mateos
- The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotòniques, 08860, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Andres Torreno-Pina
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotòniques, 08860, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roberto Ferrari
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Roni H G Wright
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08195, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria F Garcia-Parajo
- The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotòniques, 08860, Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Pg. Lluis Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jesús Joglar
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia, IQAC-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Félix M Goñi
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940, Leioa, Spain.
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad del País Vasco, Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940, Leioa, Spain.
| | - Miguel Beato
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
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Hewitt SC, Wu SP, Wang T, Young SL, Spencer TE, DeMayo FJ. Progesterone Signaling in Endometrial Epithelial Organoids. Cells 2022; 11:1760. [PMID: 35681455 PMCID: PMC9179553 DOI: 10.3390/cells11111760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
For pregnancy to be established, uterine cells respond to the ovarian hormones, estrogen, and progesterone, via their nuclear receptors, the estrogen receptor (ESR1) and progesterone receptor (PGR). ESR1 and PGR regulate genes by binding chromatin at genes and at distal enhancer regions, which interact via dynamic 3-dimensional chromatin structures. Endometrial epithelial cells are the initial site of embryo attachment and invasion, and thus understanding the processes that yield their receptive state is important. Here, we cultured and treated organoids derived from human epithelial cells, isolated from endometrial biopsies, with estrogen and progesterone and evaluated their transcriptional profiles, their PGR cistrome, and their chromatin conformation. Progesterone attenuated estrogen-dependent gene responses but otherwise minimally impacted the organoid transcriptome. PGR ChIPseq peaks were co-localized with previously described organoid ESR1 peaks, and most PGR and ESR1 peaks were in B (inactive) compartment regions of chromatin. Significantly more ESR1 peaks were assigned to estrogen-regulated genes by considering chromatin loops identified using HiC than were identified using ESR1 peak location relative to closest genes. Overall, the organoids model allowed a definition of the chromatin regulatory components governing hormone responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia C. Hewitt
- Pregnancy and Female Reproduction, Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; (S.C.H.); (S.-p.W.)
| | - San-pin Wu
- Pregnancy and Female Reproduction, Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; (S.C.H.); (S.-p.W.)
| | - Tianyuan Wang
- Integrative Bioinformatics Support Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA;
| | - Steven L. Young
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
| | - Thomas E. Spencer
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MI 65211, USA;
| | - Francesco J. DeMayo
- Pregnancy and Female Reproduction, Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; (S.C.H.); (S.-p.W.)
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