Effect of Steroid Hormones, Prostaglandins (E2 and F2α), Oxytocin, and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha on Membrane Progesterone (P4) Receptors Gene Expression in Bovine Myometrial Cells

PLA inhibits TNF-α-induced PANoptosis of prostate cancer cells through metabolic reprogramming

Previous studies have shown that phenyllactic acid (alpha-Hydroxyhydrocinnamic acid, 2-Hydroxy-3-phenylpropionic acid, PLA), a type of organic acid metabolite, has excellent diagnostic efficacy when used to differentiate between prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and prostatitis. This research aims to explore the molecular mechanism by which PLA influences the PANoptosis of prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines. First, we found that PLA was detected in all prostate cancer cell lines (PC-3, PC-3 M, DU145, LNCAP). Further experiments showed that the addition of PLA to prostate cancer cells could promote ATP generation, enhance cysteine desulfurase (NFS1) expression, and reduce tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels, thereby inhibiting apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. Notably, overexpression of NFS1 can inhibit the binding of TNF-α to serpin mRNA binding protein 1 (SERBP1), suggesting that NFS1 competes with TNF-α for binding to SERBP1. Knockdown of SERBP1 significantly reduced the level of small ubiquity-related modifier (SUMO) modification of TNF-α. This suggests that NFS1 reduces the SUMO modification of TNF-α by competing with SERBP1, thereby reducing the expression and stability of TNF-α and ultimately inhibiting apoptosis in prostate cancer cell lines. In conclusion, PLA inhibits TNF-α induced panapoptosis of prostate cancer cells through metabolic reprogramming, providing a new idea for targeted treatment of prostate cancer.

Uterine secretome: What do the proteins say about maternal-fetal communication in buffaloes?

The aim was to compare the UF proteomics of pregnant and non-pregnant buffalo during early pregnancy. Forty-four females were submitted to hormonal estrus synchronization and randomly divided into two groups: pregnant (n = 30) and non-pregnant (n = 14). The pregnant group was artificially inseminated and divided into a further two groups: P12 (n = 15) and P18 (n = 15). Conceptus and uterine fluid samples were collected during slaughter at, respectively, 12 and 18 days after insemination. Of all the inseminated females, only eight animals in each group were pregnant, which reduced the sample of the groups to P12 (n = 8) and P18 (n = 8). The non-pregnant group was also re-divided into two groups at the end of synchronization: NP12 (n = 7) and NP18 (n = 7). The UF samples were processed for proteomic analysis. The results were submitted to multivariate and univariate analysis. A total of 1068 proteins were found in the uterine fluid in both groups. Our results describe proteins involved in the conceptus elongation and maternal recognition of pregnancy, and their action was associated with cell growth, endometrial remodeling, and modulation of immune and antioxidant protection, mechanisms necessary for embryonic maintenance in the uterine environment. SIGNIFICANCE: Uterine fluid is a substance synthesized and secreted by the endometrium that plays essential roles during pregnancy in ruminants, contributing significantly to embryonic development. Understanding the functions that the proteins present in the UF perform during early pregnancy, a period marked by embryonic implantation, and maternal recognition of pregnancy is of fundamental importance to understanding the mechanisms necessary for the maintenance of pregnancy. The present study characterized and compared the UF proteome at the beginning of pregnancy in pregnant and non-pregnant buffaloes to correlate the functions of the proteins and the stage of development of the conceptus and unravel their processes in maternal recognition of pregnancy. The proteins found were involved in cell growth and endometrial remodeling, in addition to acting in the immunological protection of the conceptus and performing antioxidant actions necessary for establishing a pregnancy.

Ovarian activity, hormone profile, pro-inflammatory cytokines and reproductive performance of buffalo cows fed diets with different estrogenicity

Buffalo cows play a vital role in milk and meat production; however, they are characterised by several reproductive disorders. Feeding diets with high oestrogenic activity may be a disrupting factor. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of feeding roughages with different oestrogenic activity on the reproductive performance of early postpartum buffalo cows. A total of 30 buffalo cows were equally stratified into two experimental groups and fed either Trifolium alexandrinum (Berseem clover, phytoestrogenic roughage) or corn silage (nonoestrogenic roughage) for 90 consecutive days. After 35 days from the beginning of the feeding treatments, buffalo cows in both groups were synchronized for oestrus using a double i.m. injection of 2 mL prostaglandin F2α , 11 days apart, subsequently, overt signs of oestrus were observed and recorded. Moreover, ovarian structures, numbers and sizes of follicles and corpora lutea, were ultrasonography examined at day-12 (represents Day 35 of feeding treatment), Day 0 (day of oestrus) and Day 11 after oestrous synchronization (mid-luteal phase). Pregnancy was diagnosed 35 days postinsemination. Blood serum samples were analysed for progesterone (P4 ), estradiol (E2 ), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interlukein-1β (IL-1β) and nitric oxide (NO). The high performance liquid chromatography-analysis of roughages showed the abundance of isoflavones in Berseem clover, with about 58 times higher concentration than that in corn silage group. During the experimental period, the numbers of ovarian follicles of all size categories were higher in the Berseem clover group than that in the corn silage group. No significant difference in the numbers of corpora lutea was observed between both experimental groups, but lower (p < 0.05) diameter of corpus luteum was observed in the Berseem clover group than that in the corn silage group. The Berseem clover group had higher (p < 0.05) overall concentrations of blood serum E2 , IL-1β and TNF-α, but lower (p < 0.05) overall concentrations of blood serum P4 than those recorded in the corn silage group. Oestrous rate, onset of oestrus time and oestrous duration were not significantly affected by the treatment. The conception rate was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the Berseem clover group compared with that in the corn silage group. In conclusion, feeding roughage with a high oestrogenic activity such as Berseem clover can negatively affect the conception rate of buffalo cows. This reproductive loss seems to be associated with inadequate luteal function and P4 concentration during early pregnancy.

Progesterone Signaling and Mammalian Ovarian Follicle Growth Mediated by Progesterone Receptor Membrane Component Family Members

How progesterone influences ovarian follicle growth is a difficult question to answer because ovarian cells synthesize progesterone and express not only the classic nuclear progesterone receptor but also members of the progestin and adipoQ receptor family and the progesterone receptor membrane component (PGRMC) family. Which type of progestin receptor is expressed depends on the ovarian cell type as well as the stage of the estrous/menstrual cycle. Given the complex nature of the mammalian ovary, this review will focus on progesterone signaling that is transduced by PGRMC1 and PGRMC2 specifically as it relates to ovarian follicle growth. PGRMC1 was identified as a progesterone binding protein cloned from porcine liver in 1996 and detected in the mammalian ovary in 2005. Subsequent studies focused on PGRMC family members as regulators of granulosa cell proliferation and survival, two physiological processes required for follicle development. This review will present evidence that demonstrates a causal relationship between PGRMC family members and the promotion of ovarian follicle growth. The mechanisms through which PGRMC-dependent signaling regulates granulosa cell proliferation and viability will also be discussed in order to provide a more complete understanding of our current concept of how progesterone regulates ovarian follicle growth.