Increased Local Testosterone Levels Alter Human Fallopian Tube mRNA Profile and Signaling

Fallopian tube epithelium (FTE) plays a critical role in reproduction and can be the site where High Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma (HGSOC) originates. Tumorigenic oviductal cells, which are the murine equivalent of human fallopian tube secretory epithelial cells (FTSEC), enhance testosterone secretion by the ovary when co-cultured with the ovary, suggesting that testosterone is part of the signaling axis between the ovary and FTSEC. Furthermore, testosterone promotes proliferation of oviductal cells. Oral contraceptives, tubal ligation, and salpingectomy, which are all protective against developing ovarian cancer, also decrease circulating levels of androgen. In the current study, we investigated the effect of increased testosterone on FTE and found that testosterone upregulates wingless-type MMTV integration family, member 4 (WNT4) and induces migration and invasion of immortalized human fallopian tube cells. We profiled primary human fallopian tissues grown in the microfluidic system SOLO-microfluidic platform –(MFP) by RNA sequencing and found that p53 and its downstream target genes, such as paired box gene 2 (PAX2), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDK1A or p21), and cluster of differentiation 82 (CD82 or KAI1) were downregulated in response to testosterone treatment. A microfluidic platform, the PREDICT-Multi Organ System (PREDICT-MOS) was engineered to support insert technology that allowed for the study of cancer cell migration and invasion through Matrigel. Using this system, we found that testosterone enhanced FTE migration and invasion, which was reversed by the androgen receptor (AR) antagonist, bicalutamide. Testosterone also enhanced FTSEC adhesion to the ovarian stroma using murine ovaries. Overall, these results indicate that primary human fallopian tube tissue and immortalized FTSEC respond to testosterone to shift expression of genes that regulate invasion, while leveraging a new strategy to study migration in the presence of dynamic fluid flow.

Proteomic Profiling of Fallopian Tube-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Using a Microfluidic Tissue-on-Chip System

The human fallopian tube epithelium (hFTE) is the site of fertilization, early embryo development, and the origin of most high-grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOCs). Little is known about the content and functions of hFTE-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) due to the limitations of biomaterials and proper culture methods. We have established a microfluidic platform to culture hFTE for EV collection with adequate yield for mass spectrometry-based proteomic profiling, and reported 295 common hFTE sEV proteins for the first time. These proteins are associated with exocytosis, neutrophil degranulation, and wound healing, and some are crucial for fertilization processes. In addition, by correlating sEV protein profiles with hFTE tissue transcripts characterized using GeoMx® Cancer Transcriptome Atlas, spatial transcriptomics analysis revealed cell-type-specific transcripts of hFTE that encode sEVs proteins, among which, FLNA, TUBB, JUP, and FLNC were differentially expressed in secretory cells, the precursor cells for HGSOC. Our study provides insights into the establishment of the baseline proteomic profile of sEVs derived from hFTE tissue, and its correlation with hFTE lineage-specific transcripts, which can be used to evaluate whether the fallopian tube shifts its sEV cargo during ovarian cancer carcinogenesis and the role of sEV proteins in fallopian tube reproductive functions.

Versican secreted by the ovary links ovulation and migration in fallopian tube derived serous cancer

High grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOC) predominantly arise in the fallopian tube epithelium (FTE) and colonize the ovary first, before further metastasis to the peritoneum. Ovarian cancer risk is directly related to the number of ovulations, suggesting that the ovary may secrete specific factors that act as chemoattractants for fallopian tube derived tumor cells during ovulation. We found that 3D ovarian organ culture produced a secreted factor that enhanced the migration of FTE non-tumorigenic cells as well as cells harboring specific pathway modifications commonly found in high grade serous cancers. Through size fractionation and a small molecule inhibitors screen, the secreted protein was determined to be 50-100kDa in size and acted through the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). To correlate the candidates with ovulation, the PREDICT organ-on-chip system was optimized to support ovulation in a perfused microfluidic platform. Versican was found in the correct molecular weight range, contained EGF-like domains, and correlated with ovulation in the PREDICT system. Exogenous versican increased migration, invasion, and enhanced adhesion of both murine and human FTE cells to the ovary in an EGFR-dependent manner. The identification of a protein secreted during ovulation that impacts the ability of FTE cells to colonize the ovary provides new insights into the development of strategies for limiting primary ovarian metastasis.

Exposure of human fallopian tube epithelium to elevated testosterone results in alteration of cilia gene expression and beating

STUDY QUESTION

How does exposure to a testosterone rich environment affect the function and gene expression of human fallopian tube epithelium (hFTE)?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Elevated testosterone level alters several gene transcripts that regulate cilia expression and negatively impacts the rate of cilia beating.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

The presence of estrogen in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle increases the human fallopian tube ciliary beating frequency. The luteal phase, triggered by ovulation and increasing progesterone, is marked by a decrease in ciliary beating. Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) may have twice the serum level of testosterone than ovulatory women. To date, the effect of elevated androgens on the function of the human fallopian tube is not well-understood. We chose to examine the impact of elevated testosterone on hFTE.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

A prospective basic science study of human fallopian tube specimens from reproductive-aged women undergoing benign gynecologic surgery was performed. Fallopian tube removal at a large US academic center was collected and provided to us to continue with epithelium isolation and culturing. A total of 12 patients were analyzed in the study.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Fallopian tube epithelium was isolated and exposed to two different conditions: normal with low testosterone concentration of 0.8 nM and PCOS-like, with high testosterone concentration of 2 nM. The study was conducted in both static and dynamic conditions in microfluidic devices for a total of 14 days, after which the tissue was collected for processing including RNA extraction, quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. After the first 7 days of each experiment, a sample of tissue from each condition was imaged to quantify cilia beating frequency.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

hFTE exposed to the 2 nM testosterone displayed slower cilia beating, inhibited estrogen signaling and decreased expression of the ciliary marker FOXJ1 when compared to stimulation with 0.8 nM testosterone.

LARGE SCALE DATA

N/A.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

The in vivo response to elevated testosterone may differ from in vitro studies. RNA amount was limited from tissue cultured in the microfluidic devices as compared to static culture.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Understanding elevated testosterone in tubal function may explain an additional contribution to subfertility in women with PCOS and other hyper-androgen disorders, aside from oligo-ovulation. Furthermore, this adds to the body of literature of fallopian tube function using a microfluidic device.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

NIH grants: UH3 ES029073 and R01 CA240301. There are no competing interests.

Correction: A high-throughput microfluidic microphysiological system (PREDICT-96) to recapitulate hepatocyte function in dynamic, re-circulating flow conditions

Correction for 'A high-throughput microfluidic microphysiological system (PREDICT-96) to recapitulate hepatocyte function in dynamic, re-circulating flow conditions' by Kelly Tan et al., Lab Chip, 2019, 19, 1556-1566, DOI: .

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