1
|
Nelson LM, Spencer H, Hijane K, Thinuan P, Nelson CW, Vincent AJ, Gordon CM, Plant TM, Fazeli PK. My 28 Days - a global digital women's health initiative for evaluation and management of secondary amenorrhea: case report and literature review. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1227253. [PMID: 37772077 PMCID: PMC10523024 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1227253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a need to close the gap between knowledge and action in health care. Effective care requires a convenient and reliable distribution process. As global internet and mobile communication increase capacity, innovative approaches to digital health education platforms and care delivery are feasible. We report the case of a young African woman who developed acute secondary amenorrhea at age 18. Subsequently, she experienced a 10-year delay in the diagnosis of the underlying cause. A global digital medical hub focused on women's health and secondary amenorrhea could reduce the chance of such mismanagement. Such a hub would establish more efficient information integration and exchange processes to better serve patients, family caregivers, health care providers, and investigators. Here, we show proof of concept for a global digital medical hub for women's health. First, we describe the physiological control systems that govern the normal menstrual cycle, and review the pathophysiology and management of secondary amenorrhea. The symptom may lead to broad and profound health implications for the patient and extended family members. In specific situations, there may be significant morbidity related to estradiol deficiency: (1) reduced bone mineral density, 2) cardiovascular disease, and 3) cognitive decline. Using primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) as the paradigm condition, the Mary Elizabeth Conover Foundation has been able to address the specific global educational needs of these women. The Foundation did this by creating a professionally managed Facebook group specifically for these women. POI most commonly presents with secondary amenorrhea. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of conducting a natural history study on secondary amenorrhea with international reach to be coordinated by a global digital medical hub. Such an approach takes full advantage of internet and mobile device communication systems. We refer to this global digital women's health initiative as My 28 Days®.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence M. Nelson
- Digital Women's Health Initiative, Mary Elizabeth Conover Foundation, Tysons, VA, United States
| | - Hillary Spencer
- Digital Women's Health Initiative, Mary Elizabeth Conover Foundation, Tysons, VA, United States
| | - Karima Hijane
- Digital Women's Health Initiative, Mary Elizabeth Conover Foundation, Tysons, VA, United States
| | - Payom Thinuan
- Faculty of Nursing, Boromarajonani College of Nursing Nakhon, Lampang, Thailand
| | - Chaninan W. Nelson
- Digital Women's Health Initiative, Mary Elizabeth Conover Foundation, Tysons, VA, United States
| | - Amanda J. Vincent
- Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Catherine M. Gordon
- Endocrinology and Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Tony M. Plant
- Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Pouneh K. Fazeli
- Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nelson LM. Editorial: A year in review: discussions in developmental endocrinology. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1213095. [PMID: 37305051 PMCID: PMC10248505 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1213095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
|
3
|
Kinkead R, Ambrozio-Marques D, Fournier S, Gagnon M, Guay LM. Estrogens, age, and, neonatal stress: panic disorders and novel views on the contribution of non-medullary structures to respiratory control and CO 2 responses. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1183933. [PMID: 37265841 PMCID: PMC10229816 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1183933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
CO2 is a fundamental component of living matter. This chemical signal requires close monitoring to ensure proper match between metabolic production and elimination by lung ventilation. Besides ventilatory adjustments, CO2 can also trigger innate behavioral and physiological responses associated with fear and escape but the changes in brain CO2/pH required to induce ventilatory adjustments are generally lower than those evoking fear and escape. However, for patients suffering from panic disorder (PD), the thresholds for CO2-evoked hyperventilation, fear and escape are reduced and the magnitude of those reactions are excessive. To explain these clinical observations, Klein proposed the false suffocation alarm hypothesis which states that many spontaneous panics occur when the brain's suffocation monitor erroneously signals a lack of useful air, thereby maladaptively triggering an evolved suffocation alarm system. After 30 years of basic and clinical research, it is now well established that anomalies in respiratory control (including the CO2 sensing system) are key to PD. Here, we explore how a stress-related affective disorder such as PD can disrupt respiratory control. We discuss rodent models of PD as the concepts emerging from this research has influenced our comprehension of the CO2 chemosensitivity network, especially structure that are not located in the medulla, and how factors such as stress and biological sex modulate its functionality. Thus, elucidating why hormonal fluctuations can lead to excessive responsiveness to CO2 offers a unique opportunity to gain insights into the neuroendocrine mechanisms regulating this key aspect of respiratory control and the pathophysiology of respiratory manifestations of PD.
Collapse
|
4
|
Song D, He H, Indukuri R, Huang Z, Stepanauskaite L, Sinha I, Haldosén LA, Zhao C, Williams C. ERα and ERβ Homodimers in the Same Cellular Context Regulate Distinct Transcriptomes and Functions. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:930227. [PMID: 35872983 PMCID: PMC9299245 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.930227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The two estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ are nuclear receptors that bind estrogen (E2) and function as ligand-inducible transcription factors. They are homologues and can form dimers with each other and bind to the same estrogen-response element motifs in the DNA. ERα drives breast cancer growth whereas ERβ has been reported to be anti-proliferative. However, they are rarely expressed in the same cells, and it is not fully investigated to which extent their functions are different because of inherent differences or because of different cellular context. To dissect their similarities and differences, we here generated a novel estrogen-dependent cell model where ERα homodimers can be directly compared to ERβ homodimers within the identical cellular context. By using CRISPR-cas9 to delete ERα in breast cancer MCF7 cells with Tet-Off-inducible ERβ expression, we generated MCF7 cells that express ERβ but not ERα. MCF7 (ERβ only) cells exhibited regulation of estrogen-responsive targets in a ligand-dependent manner. We demonstrated that either ER was required for MCF7 proliferation, but while E2 increased proliferation via ERα, it reduced proliferation through a G2/M arrest via ERβ. The two ERs also impacted migration differently. In absence of ligand, ERβ increased migration, but upon E2 treatment, ERβ reduced migration. E2 via ERα, on the other hand, had no significant impact on migration. RNA sequencing revealed that E2 regulated a transcriptome of around 800 genes via each receptor, but over half were specific for either ERα or ERβ (417 and 503 genes, respectively). Functional gene ontology enrichment analysis reinforced that E2 regulated cell proliferation in opposite directions depending on the ER, and that ERβ specifically impacted extracellular matrix organization. We corroborated that ERβ bound to cis-regulatory chromatin of its unique proposed migration-related direct targets ANXA9 and TFAP2C. In conclusion, we demonstrate that within the same cellular context, the two ERs regulate cell proliferation in the opposite manner, impact migration differently, and each receptor also regulates a distinct set of target genes in response to E2. The developed cell model provides a novel and valuable resource to further complement the mechanistic understanding of the two different ER isoforms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Song
- Clinical Medical Research Center for Women and Children Diseases, Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Shandong Province, Jinan, China
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Huan He
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Rajitha Indukuri
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Solna, Sweden
| | - Zhiqiang Huang
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Lina Stepanauskaite
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Solna, Sweden
| | - Indranil Sinha
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars-Arne Haldosén
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Chunyan Zhao
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Williams
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Solna, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Cecilia Williams,
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Granados ST, Latorre R, Torres YP. The Membrane Cholesterol Modulates the Interaction Between 17-βEstradiol and the BK Channel. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:687360. [PMID: 34177597 PMCID: PMC8226216 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.687360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BK channels are composed by the pore forming α subunit and, in some tissues, is associated with different accessory β subunits. These proteins modify the biophysical properties of the channel, amplifying the range of BK channel activation according to the physiological context. In the vascular cells, the pore forming BKα subunit is expressed with the β1 subunit, where they play an essential role in the modulation of arterial tone and blood pressure. In eukaryotes, cholesterol is a structural lipid of the cellular membrane. Changes in the ratio of cholesterol content in the plasma membrane (PM) regulates the BK channel activation altering its open probability, and hence, vascular contraction. It has been shown that the estrogen 17β-Estradiol (E2) causes a vasodilator effect in vascular cells, inducing a leftward shift in the V0.5 of the GV curve. Here, we evaluate whether changes in the membrane cholesterol concentration modify the effect that E2 induces on the BKα/β1 channel activity. Using binding and electrophysiology assays after cholesterol depletion or enrichment, we show that the cholesterol enrichment significantly decreases the expression of the α subunit, while cholesterol depletion increased the expression of that α subunit. Additionally, we demonstrated that changes in the membrane cholesterol cause the loss of the modulatory effect of E2 on the BKα/β1 channel activity, without affecting the E2 binding to the complex. Our data suggest that changes in membrane cholesterol content could affect channel properties related to the E2 effect on BKα/β1 channel activity. Finally, the results suggest that an optimal membrane cholesterol content is essential for the activation of BK channels through the β1 subunit.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara T Granados
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia.,Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Ramon Latorre
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Yolima P Torres
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gagne C, Piot A, Brake WG. Depression, Estrogens, and Neuroinflammation: A Preclinical Review of Ketamine Treatment for Mood Disorders in Women. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:797577. [PMID: 35115970 PMCID: PMC8804176 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.797577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ketamine has been shown to acutely and rapidly ameliorate depression symptoms and suicidality. Given that women suffer from major depression at twice the rate of men, it is important to understand how ketamine works in the female brain. This review explores three themes. First, it examines our current understanding of the etiology of depression in women. Second, it examines preclinical research on ketamine's antidepressant effects at a neurobiological level as well as how ovarian hormones present a unique challenge in interpreting these findings. Lastly, the neuroinflammatory hypothesis of depression is highlighted to help better understand how ovarian hormones might interact with ketamine in the female brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Collin Gagne
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Studies in Behavioural Neurobiology Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alexandre Piot
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Studies in Behavioural Neurobiology Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Wayne G Brake
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Studies in Behavioural Neurobiology Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
Estrogens such as estradiol (E2) are potent effectors of neural structure and function via peripheral and central synthesis. In the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), neural E2 synthesis is among the highest reported in homeotherms due to the abundant constitutive expression of aromatase (E-synthase) in discrete neuronal pools across the forebrain. Following penetrating or concussive trauma, E2 synthesis increases even further via the induced expression of aromatase in reactive astrocytes around the site of damage. Injury-associated astrocytic aromatization occurs in the brains of both sexes regardless of the site of injury and can remain elevated for weeks following trauma. Interestingly, penetrating injury induces astrocytic aromatase more rapidly in females compared to males, but this sex difference is not detectable 24 h posttrauma. Indeed, unilateral penetrating injury can increase E2 content 4-fold relative to the contralateral uninjured hemisphere, suggesting that glial aromatization may be a powerful source of neural E2 available to circuits. Glial aromatization is neuroprotective as inhibition of injury-induced aromatase increases neuroinflammation, gliosis, necrosis, apoptosis, and infarct size. These effects are ameliorated upon replacement with E2, suggesting that the songbird may have evolved a rapidly responsive neurosteroidogenic system to protect vulnerable brain circuits. The precise signals that induce aromatase expression in astrocytes include elements of the inflammatory cascade and underscore the sentinel role of the innate immune system as a crucial effector of trauma-associated E2 provision in the vertebrate brain. This review will describe the inductive signals of astroglial aromatase and the neuroprotective role for glial E2 synthesis in the adult songbird brains of both sexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Colin J Saldanha
- Departments of Neuroscience, Biology, Psychology & The Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC, United States
| |
Collapse
|