乙烯利暴露对早孕小鼠子宫内膜蜕膜化的影响

该研究主要探讨乙烯利(ethephon,ETH)暴露对早孕小鼠子宫内膜蜕膜化的影响。从孕第一天开始每天经口灌胃给予CD1小鼠0、71.25、142.5和285 mg/kg ETH后,于孕第七天处死小鼠。观察子宫胚胎着床数量,记录子宫重量及体重,采用酶联免疫吸附实验(enzyme linked immunesorbent assay,ELISA)检测孕鼠血清雌孕激素水平,RT-PCR、Western blot和免疫组化法(immunohistochemistry,IHC)检测HOXA10、COX2和BMP2等蜕膜化标记分子的mRNA和蛋白表达水平。构建假孕小鼠体内人工诱导蜕膜化模型,RT-PCR检测蜕膜化标记分子HOXA10、COX2和BMP2的mRNA表达水平。结果表明,在285 mg/kg ETH暴露下,小鼠孕第七天子宫胚胎着床数量显著降低(P0.001),其绝对子宫重量和相对子宫重量均显著低于对照组(P0.001)。RT-PCR结果显示,285 mg/kg ETH暴露组BMP2和HOXA10 mRNA表达水平显著低于对照组(P0.001),COX2表达水平显著高于对照组(P0.001)。Western blot结果显示,与对照组相比,285 mg/kg ETH暴露组其子宫内膜蜕膜化标记分子HOXA10蛋白表达水平显著降低,COX2、MMP9、PR表达水平显著升高。IHC结果显示,与对照组相比,285 mg/kg ETH暴露组其子宫内膜蜕膜化标记分子HOXA10和BMP2蛋白表达水平显著降低。ELISA检测结果表明,285 mg/kg ETH暴露组其血清孕激素水平显著降低(P0.001)。体内人工诱导蜕膜化模型检测结果显示,ETH暴露组人工诱导蜕膜化反应程度降低,诱导侧子宫重量与非诱导侧子宫重量之比显著低于对照组,蜕膜化标记分子HOXA10和BMP2 mRNA表达水平显著降低。该研究结果表明,孕早期ETH暴露会损害小鼠子宫内膜蜕膜化。     

米非司酮对恒河猴母胎界面细胞凋亡和凋亡分子p53表达的影响

胎盘形成过程中发生活跃的细胞增殖、迁移和凋亡等活动。p53蛋白是参与调节细胞周期和凋亡过程的原癌基因。本实验用原位末端标记、蛋白印迹和免疫组织化学方法研究正常和米非司酮(RU486)处理后恒河猴母胎界面绒毛和蜕膜组织细胞凋亡及p53蛋白表达。在正常妊娠的恒河猴母胎界面,凋亡信号主要集中在合体滋养层和细胞柱内的一些滋养层细胞;p53蛋白主要定位于细胞滋养层。在母体蜕膜中,也在部分基质细胞中检测到细胞凋亡和p53蛋白表达。经过RU486处理2d后,胎盘绒毛和母体蜕膜中凋亡细胞数都显著增加,绒毛中增加的凋亡信号集中于细胞滋养层。同时,RU486处理也导致绒毛细胞滋养层和蜕膜基质细胞中p53表达明显增加。以上结果提示,在正常妊娠中,生理性的细胞凋亡和p53表达可能是控制细胞滋养层细胞增殖、保持胎盘组织动态平衡的一个重要机制;RU486终止早孕的可能途径之一是促进母胎界面细胞凋亡,推测p53参与这一过程。     

子宫内膜蜕膜化的特征及其调节因素

子宫内膜向蜕膜的转化是正常着床和妊娠的一个重要特征,对于胚泡着床是必不可少的。在蜕膜化过程中,子宫内膜基质细胞在形态和生理等方面都发生了很大的变化。蜕膜化过程受多种因素的调节,包括cAMP、胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白-1(IGFBP-1)、自然杀伤细胞、同源盒基因-10(HOXA10)、激活素等。但对蜕膜化的机制及调节等仍不清楚。     

环状RNA circCapzb在早孕小鼠围植入期子宫内膜中的表达

环状RNA(circular RNA,circRNA)是一类新型内源性非编码RNA,与多种疾病的发生、发展密切相关,但在胚胎着床的过程中罕见报道。该文旨在探讨环状RNA circCapzb在早孕小鼠围植入期子宫内膜中的表达。采用Real-time PCR检测正常妊娠小鼠孕第5天(d5)至第7天(d7)胚胎着床点及胚胎着床旁组织中circCapzb的表达水平;分别构建小鼠体内人工诱导蜕膜化模型和原代小鼠子宫内膜基质细胞体外人工诱导蜕膜化模型,采用Real-time PCR分别检测circCapzb在组织及细胞蜕膜化诱导模型中的表达;通过生物信息学预测circCapzb下游靶miRNA:miR-377-3p和miR-7005-5p,并采用Real-time PCR检测其在蜕膜化诱导模型中的表达。结果表明,circCapzb在小鼠孕第5天至第7天胚胎着床点的表达明显高于着床旁;circCapzb在组织及体内外细胞蜕膜化诱导模型中诱导组的表达明显高于未诱导组(对照组);circCapzb下游靶miR-377-3p和miR-7005-5p在组织及体内外细胞蜕膜化诱导模型中诱导组的表达明显低于未诱导组。该研究初步表明,circCapzb在小鼠早孕期胚胎着床点高表达,在组织及体内外细胞蜕膜化诱导模型中高表达,在小鼠妊娠早期子宫内膜蜕膜化过程中可能发挥作用,但具体机制有待进一步研究。     

低糖应激对成肌细胞增殖的影响及其机制

利用小鼠骨骼肌成肌细胞系(C2C12)作为细胞模型,通过检测低糖应激对C2C12成肌细胞增殖、细胞周期分布、线粒体功能、去乙酰化酶1(sirtuin1,SIRT1)及其下游基因m RNA表达的影响,探讨低糖应激对成肌细胞增殖影响及其机制。研究发现,低糖应激(5 mmol/L)第3 d导致C2C12成肌细胞增殖下降(P0.01)、细胞周期停滞于G0/G1期、活性氧和线粒体膜电位显著性降低;低糖应激也增加了线粒体ATP(adenosine triphosphate,ATP)合成(P0.05),同时促进了SIRT1、FOXO3a(forkhead box O3a)、p27(p27/Kip1)m RNA表达(P0.05)。结果表明,低糖应激可能经SIRT1/FOXO3a轴上调p27 m RNA表达,促使增殖活性下降和细胞周期停滞G0/G1。同时,低糖应激也提升了成肌细胞线粒体能量代谢的高效性。     

HBXIP基因对乙肝病毒X蛋白诱导细胞凋亡的影响

探讨乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白结合蛋白(hepatitisBXinteractingprotein ,HBXIP)基因在乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白(HBX)诱导肝癌细胞凋亡时对细胞周期的影响.构建HBXIP基因真核表达载体pcDNA3 hbxip ,进行瞬时基因转染,将克隆有HBx基因的pCMV X (分别为1μg、2 μg和3μg)和pcDNA3 hbxip质粒分别和共转染至人H74 0 2肝癌细胞中(总体积分别为5 0 μl) .发现瞬时转染3μgpCMV X质粒后,肝癌细胞凋亡发生率为34 4 % ,肝癌细胞的细胞周期相关蛋白p2 7表达水平发生明显上调;与对照组相比,瞬时转染1μg、2 μg和3μg时,细胞周期蛋白D和细胞周期蛋白E的表达水平均发生明显上调,但随着HBX水平的增加细胞周期蛋白D和细胞周期蛋白E的表达水平发生明显下降;在稳定转染pCMV X质粒的H74 0 2 X肝癌细胞中无明显的细胞凋亡发生,研究发现p2 7的表达水平发生了明显下调,而细胞周期蛋白D和细胞周期蛋白E的表达水平发生了明显上调;当pcDNA3 hbxip质粒与pCMV X质粒进行共瞬时转染时,细胞凋亡发生率由pcDNA3质粒与pCMV X质粒共转染时的2 9 2 %下降为13 3% ,p2 7的表达水平发生了下调,但细胞周期蛋白D和细胞周期蛋白E的表达水平无明显变化.研究结果表明,瞬时转染一定剂量的x基因可导致肝癌细胞发生凋亡,细胞周期相关蛋白p2 7、细胞周期蛋白D和     

EB病毒感染人胎鼻咽上皮细胞逃避老化期过程中抑制p16INK4a表达

细胞周期调控紊乱是细胞永生化进程中一个重要的分子事件,本文利用Western blotting和S-P法分别检测p16~(INK4a)、p53、p21~(WAF1/CIP1)和E2F1的蛋白表达,试图从细胞周期调控的角度,探讨EB病毒诱导人胎鼻咽上皮细胞逃避老化期的分子机制。结果表明,EB病毒通过抑制p16~(INK4a)表达而阻断p16~(INK4a)/Rb途径,上调转录因子E2F1,而对p53、p21~(WAF1/CIP1)表达无明显的影响。结果初步揭示,EB病毒介导的p16~(INK4a)/Rb/E2F1细胞周期调控紊乱参与了人胎鼻咽上皮细胞逃避老化期过程,为进一步探讨鼻咽癌发病机制提供了科学依据。     

DNA损伤反应中细胞周期检查点蛋白p27~(Kip1)表达及其调控机制

为了研究DNA损伤反应中p2 7Kip1的表达及其调控机制 ,应用免疫印迹的实验结果表明 :10Gy 60 Coγ射线照射后 3h ,HeLa细胞中p2 7Kip1蛋白水平开始下降并持续到 2 4h ,进而失去它对CDKs的抑制功能 .Northern印迹结果显示 ,电离辐射 (IR)对p2 7Kip1mRNA表达水平无明显影响 ,说明电离辐射诱导p2 7Kip1表达水平的降低主要与蛋白质降解相关 ,但其具体的调控机制还不清楚 .已知在G1—S期p2 7Kip1蛋白的降低主要依赖细胞周期蛋白E Cdk2激酶将其磷酸化后的泛素化蛋白酶体途径 (ubiquitin proteasomepathway) .酶动力学研究结果揭示 :电离辐射后细胞周期蛋白E Cdk2激酶活性增高 ,12h细胞周期蛋白E Cdk2激酶活性达到最大 .当在照前用细胞周期蛋白E Cdk2抑制剂olomoucine (10 μmol L)抑制细胞周期蛋白E Cdk2激酶活性时 ,p2 7Kip1蛋白表达水平增加 .此外 ,还观察到电离辐射可诱导p2 7Kip1泛素化水平的增高 ,而在使用蛋白酶体抑制剂MG 132 (5 μmol L)处理HeLa细胞后 ,可抑制辐射诱导p2 7Kip1蛋白水平的下调 .研究结果提示 :泛素化蛋白酶体途径参与了辐射诱导P2 7Kip1蛋白表达下调的降解机制 .     

对羟基苯甲酸甲酯对早孕小鼠子宫内膜蜕膜化的影响

该研究主要探讨对羟基苯甲酸甲酯(methylparaben,MP)对早孕小鼠子宫内膜蜕膜化的影响。从孕第1天开始,每日经口灌胃给予CD1小鼠0、10.0、62.5、250.0、1 000.0 mg/kg浓度的MP后,于孕第7天处死小鼠。采用酶联免疫法(ELISA)检测血清雌孕激素水平,观察并计数着床胚胎数量,采用免疫组化法和免疫印迹法检测子宫内膜蜕膜化标志物BMP2、MMP2、MMP9、HOXA10等蛋白的表达水平。结果显示,在1 000.0 mg/kg MP暴露下,小鼠孕第7天着床胚胎数量显著下降(P0.05)。免疫组化和免疫印迹结果显示,与正常对照组相比较,1 000.0 mg/kg组孕鼠蜕膜化标志物BMP2、MMP2、MMP9、HOXA10的蛋白表达水平显著降低。ELISA检测结果显示,MP暴露后孕鼠血清雌孕激素水平均明显下降(P0.05)。该研究提示,MP孕期暴露可能影响孕鼠子宫内膜蜕膜化。     

Improving murine embryonic stem cell differentiation into cardiomyocytes with neuregulin-1: differential expression of microRNA

Identification of factors that direct embryonic stem (ES) cell (ESC) differentiation into functional cardiomyocytes is essential for successful use of ESC-based therapy for cardiac repair. Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) and microRNA play important roles in the cardiac differentiation of ESCs. Understanding how NRG1 regulates microRNA will provide new mechanistic insights into the role of NRG1 on ESCs. It may also lead to the discovery of novel microRNAs that are important for ESC cardiac differentiation. The objective of this study was to assess the microRNA expression profile during NRG1-induced ESC cardiac differentiation. Murine ESCs were incubated with a recombinant NRG1β or an inhibitor of ErbB2 or ErbB4 during hanging drop-induced cardiac differentiation. The expression of cardiac-specific markers and microRNAs was analyzed by RT-PCR and microRNA array, respectively. We found that the expression of NRG1 and the ErbB receptors was increased during hanging drop-induced cardiac differentiation of ESCs. NRG1 stimulation during a specific developmental window enhanced, while inhibition of the ErbB2 or ErbB4 receptor inhibited, cardiac differentiation of ESCs. NRG1 increased the expression of mmu-miR-296-3p and mmu-miR-200c*, and decreased mmu-miR-465b-5p. Inhibition of mmu-miR-296-3p or mmu-miR-200c* decreased, while inhibition of mmu-miR-465-5p increased, the differentiation of ESCs into the cardiac lineage. This is the first report demonstrating that microRNAs are differentially regulated by NRG1-ErbB signaling during cardiac differentiation of ESCs. This study has also identified new microRNAs that are important for ESC cardiac differentiation.     

Distinct signaling properties of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases 4 (MKK4) and 7 (MKK7) in embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation

Signal transduction pathways are integral components of the developmental regulatory network that guides progressive cell fate determination. MKK4 and MKK7 are upstream kinases of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), responsible for channeling physiological and environmental signals to their cellular responses. Both kinases are essential for survival of mouse embryos, but because of embryonic lethality, their precise developmental roles remain largely unknown. Using gene knock-out mouse ESCs, we studied the roles of MKK4 and MKK7 in differentiation in vitro. While MKK4 and MKK7 were dispensable for ESC self-renewal and pluripotency maintenance, they exhibited unique signaling and functional properties in differentiation. MKK4 and MKK7 complemented each other in activation of the JNK-c-Jun cascades and loss of both led to senescence upon cell differentiation. On the other hand, MKK4 and MKK7 had opposite effects on activation of the p38 cascades during differentiation. Specifically, MKK7 reduced p38 activation, while Mkk7(-/-) ESCs had elevated phosphorylation of MKK4, p38, and ATF2, and increased MEF2C expression. Consequently, Mkk7(-/-) ESCs had higher expression of MHC and MLC and enhanced formation of contractile cardiomyocytes. In contrast, MKK4 was required for p38 activation and Mkk4(-/-) ESCs exhibited diminished p-ATF2 and MEF2C expression, resulting in impaired MHC induction and defective cardiomyocyte differentiation. Exogenous MKK4 expression partially restored the ability of Mkk4(-/-) ESCs to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. Our results uncover complementary and interdependent roles of MKK4 and MKK7 in development, and identify the essential requirement for MKK4 in p38 activation and cardiomyocyte differentiation.     

Mechanical stretch upregulates IGFBP-1 secretion from decidualized endometrial stromal cells

Decidualization is an essential process of endometrial differentiation for embryo implantation and maintenance of pregnancy. Recently, uterine movement-induced mechanical stress was noticed to have possible effects on endometrial functions. In this study, we addressed the possible effect of mechanical stress on the process of decidualization of endometrial stromal cells (ESC). ESC were cultured on flexible-bottomed culture plates. After decidualization was achieved with estradiol and progesterone for 12 days, cultures were continued for 24 h with or without cyclic stretch (25% elongation) in serum-free conditions at a rate of 2 cycles/min using a computer-operated cell tension system. Concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), a marker of decidualization, in the conditioned medium were measured by specific ELISA, and IGFBP-1 mRNA expression in the ESC was measured by RT-PCR. Cyclic stretch remarkably increased IGFBP-1 secretion from decidualized ESC. It also increased IGFBP-1 mRNA in decidualized ESC. The increase in IGFBP-1 secretion was inhibited by actinomycin D but not by indomethacin, PD-98059, or H-89. Conditioned medium of decidualized ESC cultured with cyclic stretch increased IGFBP-1 secretion from decidualized ESC cultured under stationary conditions. These findings imply that uterine movement modulates decidualization of the endometrium and has a regulatory effect on reproduction.     

Dynamic Status of REST in the Mouse ESC Pluripotency Network

Background

REST is abundantly expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Many genome-wide analyses have found REST to be an integral part of the ESC pluripotency network. However, experimental systems have produced contradictory findings: (1) REST is required for the maintenance of ESC pluripotency and loss of REST causes increased expression of differentiation markers, (2) REST is not required for the maintenance of ESC pluripotency and loss of REST does not change expression of differentiation markers, and (3) REST is not required for the maintenance of ESC pluripotency but loss of REST causes decreased expression of differentiation markers. These reports highlight gaps in our knowledge of the ESC network.

Methods

Employing biochemical and genome-wide analyses of various culture conditions and ESC lines, we have attempted to resolve some of the discrepancies in the literature.

Results

We show that Rest+/− and Rest−/− AB-1 mutant ESCs, which did not exhibit a role of REST in ESC pluripotency when cultured in the presence of feeder cells, did show impaired self-renewal when compared with the parental cells under feeder-free culture conditions, but only in early passage cells. In late passage cells, both Rest+/− and Rest−/− AB-1 ESCs restored pluripotency, suggesting a passage and culture condition-dependent response. Genome-wide analysis followed by biochemical validation supported this response and further indicated that the restoration of pluripotency was associated by increased expression of the ESC pluripotency factors. E14Tg2a.4 ESCs with REST-knockdown, which earlier showed a REST-dependent pluripotency when cultured under feeder-free conditions, as well as Rest−/− AB-1 ESCs, showed no REST-dependent pluripotency when cultured in the presence of either feeder cells or laminin, indicating that extracellular matrix components can rescue REST''s role in ESC pluripotency.

Conclusions

REST regulates ESC pluripotency in culture condition- and ESC line-dependent fashion and ESC pluripotency needs to be evaluated in a context dependent manner.     

Transforming growth factor-beta1 attenuates expression of both the progesterone receptor and Dickkopf in differentiated human endometrial stromal cells

TGFbeta1 is thought to be intimately involved in cyclic tissue remodeling and inflammatory events associated with menstruation. Menstruation is initiated by progesterone withdrawal; however, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In the present study, we have tested the hypothesis that locally produced TGFbeta1 may influence expression of progesterone receptor (PR) or the Wnt antagonist Dickkopf-1 (DKK) with consequential impact on regulation of menstruation. Endometrial stromal cells (ESC) were isolated from endometrial biopsy samples collected from patients undergoing gynecological procedures for benign indications. Treatment of differentiated ESC with TGFbeta1 (10 ng/ml) significantly inhibited the expression of mRNAs encoding PR and DKK. TGFbeta1 also attenuated the protein expression of PR and secretion of DKK proteins in culture supernatants. Neutralization of endogenous TGFbeta1 signaling abolished the TGFbeta1-induced effects, significantly increased expression of PR, and increased DKK protein release levels to that of differentiated ESCs, confirming the specificity of the TGFbeta1 effect. Additionally, in vitro decidualization of ESCs significantly augmented DKK protein release. Moreover, although TGFbeta1 was capable of signaling via the Sma- and mothers against decapentaplegic (MAD)-related protein (SMAD) pathway, the inhibitory effect on DKK was SMAD independent. Conversely, the inhibitory effect of TGFbeta1 on PR was dependent on SMAD signal transduction. In conclusion, these results suggest that local TGFbeta1 signaling can potentiate progesterone withdrawal by suppressing expression of PR and may coordinate tissue remodeling associated with menstruation by inducing Wnt-signaling via inhibition of DKK, which we found to be up-regulated as a consequence of decidualization of ESCs.     

Acceleration of the Glycolytic Flux by Steroid Receptor Coactivator-2 Is Essential for Endometrial Decidualization

Early embryo miscarriage is linked to inadequate endometrial decidualization, a cellular transformation process that enables deep blastocyst invasion into the maternal compartment. Although much of the cellular events that underpin endometrial stromal cell (ESC) decidualization are well recognized, the individual gene(s) and molecular pathways that drive the initiation and progression of this process remain elusive. Using a genetic mouse model and a primary human ESC culture model, we demonstrate that steroid receptor coactivator-2 (SRC-2) is indispensable for rapid steroid hormone-dependent proliferation of ESCs, a critical cell-division step which precedes ESC terminal differentiation into decidual cells. We reveal that SRC-2 is required for increasing the glycolytic flux in human ESCs, which enables rapid proliferation to occur during the early stages of the decidualization program. Specifically, SRC-2 increases the glycolytic flux through induction of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2, 6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), a major rate-limiting glycolytic enzyme. Similarly, acute treatment of mice with a small molecule inhibitor of PFKFB3 significantly suppressed the ability of these animals to exhibit an endometrial decidual response. Together, these data strongly support a conserved mechanism of action by which SRC-2 accelerates the glycolytic flux through PFKFB3 induction to provide the necessary bioenergy and biomass to meet the demands of a high proliferation rate observed in ESCs prior to their differentiation into decidual cells. Because deregulation of endometrial SRC-2 expression has been associated with common gynecological disorders of reproductive-age women, this signaling pathway, involving SRC-2 and PFKFB3, promises to offer new clinical approaches in the diagnosis and/or treatment of a non-receptive uterus in patients presenting idiopathic infertility, recurrent early pregnancy loss, or increased time to pregnancy.