Alterations in mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase and extracellular regulated kinase signaling in theca cells contribute to excessive androgen production in polycystic ovary syndrome

We have investigated the involvement of the MAPK signaling pathway in increased androgen biosynthesis and CYP17 gene expression in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A comparison of MAPK kinase (MEK1/2) and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in propagated normal and PCOS theca cells, revealed that MEK1/2 phosphorylation was decreased more than 70%, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation was reduced 50% in PCOS cells as compared with normal cells. Infection with dominant-negative MEK1 increased CYP17 mRNA and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) abundance, whereas constitutively active MEK1 reduced DHEA production and CYP17 mRNA abundance. Similarly, the MEK inhibitor, PD98059, increased CYP17 mRNA accumulation and CYP17 promoter activity to levels observed in PCOS cells. Remarkably, in theca cells maintained in the complete absence of insulin, ERK1/2 phosphorylation was decreased in PCOS theca cells as compared with normal theca cells, and CYP17 mRNA and DHEA synthesis were increased in PCOS theca cells. These studies demonstrate that in PCOS cells reduced levels of activated MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 are correlated with increased androgen production, irrespective of the insulin concentration. These findings implicate alterations in the MAPK pathway in the pathogenesis of excessive ovarian androgen production in PCOS.     

Increased cytochrome P450 17alpha-hydroxylase promoter function in theca cells isolated from patients with polycystic ovary syndrome involves nuclear factor-1

Cytochrome P450 17alpha-hydroxylase (CYP17) gene expression and androgen biosynthesis are persistently elevated in theca cells isolated from ovaries of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We previously reported that -235 to -109 bp of the CYP17 promoter confers increased CYP17 promoter function in PCOS theca cells. In this report, additional deletion and mutational analyses of the CYP17 promoter were performed to identify the sequences that contribute to increased CYP17 promoter function in PCOS theca cells. Results of these analyses established that augmented promoter function in PCOS theca cells results from preferentially increased basal regulation conferred by sequences between -188 and -147 bp of the CYP17 promoter. Scanning mutant analysis demonstrated that mutations within a 16-bp sequence, spanning -174 to -158 bp of the promoter, ablated increased basal CYP17 promoter function in PCOS theca cells. EMSA analysis demonstrated that the NF-1 family member, NF-1C, bound this sequence. Cotransfection of several NF-1C isoforms expressed in normal and PCOS cells repressed CYP17 promoter function. NF-1C protein and DNA binding were reduced in PCOS theca cell nuclear extracts, as compared with normal. Another NF-1C site between -102 and -90 bp of the promoter was also identified. However, mutation of this site had no effect on differential promoter function in PCOS theca cells. These studies demonstrate that 1) augmented CYP17 promoter function in PCOS theca cells results from increased basal regulation, and 2) diminished NF-1C-dependent repression may be one mechanism underlying increased basal CYP17 promoter activity and altered gene expression in PCOS theca cells.     

Augmented androgen production is a stable steroidogenic phenotype of propagated theca cells from polycystic ovaries.

To test the hypothesis that the hyperandrogenemia associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) results from an intrinsic abnormality in ovarian theca cell steroidogenesis, we examined steroid hormone production, steroidogenic enzyme activity, and mRNA expression in normal and PCOS theca cells propagated in long-term culture. Progesterone (P4), 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP4), and testosterone (T) production per cell were markedly increased in PCOS theca cell cultures. Moreover, basal and forskolin-stimulated pregnenolone, P4, and dehydroepiandrosterone metabolism were increased dramatically in PCOS theca cells. PCOS theca cells were capable of substantial metabolism of precursors into T, reflecting expression of an androgenic 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Forskolin-stimulated cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A) and 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-desmolase (CYP17) expression were augmented in PCOS theca cells compared with normal cells, whereas no differences were found in steroidogenic acute regulatory protein mRNA expression. Collectively, these observations establish that increased CYP11A and CYP17 mRNA expression, as well as increased CYP17, 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme activity per theca cell, and consequently increased production of P4, 17OHP4, and T, are stable properties of PCOS theca cells. These findings are consistent with the notion that there is an intrinsic alteration in the steroidogenic activity of PCOS thecal cells that encompasses multiple steps in the biosynthetic pathway.     

Haploinsufficiency of cytochrome P450 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20 lyase (CYP17) causes infertility in male mice

Cytochrome P450 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (CYP17) is critical in determining cortisol and sex steroid biosynthesis. To investigate how CYP17 functions in vivo, we generated mice with a targeted deletion of CYP17. Although in chimeric mice Leydig cell CYP17 mRNA and intratesticular and circulating testosterone levels were dramatically reduced (80%), the remaining testosterone was sufficient to support spermatogenesis as evidenced by the generation of phenotypical black C57BL/6 mice. However, male chimeras consistently failed to generate heterozygous CYP17 mice and after five matings chimeric mice stopped mating indicating a change in sexual behavior. These results suggested that CYP17 deletion caused a primary phenotype (infertility), probably not due to the anticipated androgen imbalance and a secondary phenotype (change in sexual behavior) due to the androgen imbalance. Surprisingly, CYP17 mRNA was found in mature sperm, and serial analysis of gene expression identified CYP17 mRNA in other testicular germ cells. CYP17 mRNA levels were directly related to percent chimerism. Moreover, more than 50% of the sperm from high-percentage chimeric mice were morphologically abnormal, and half of them failed the swim test. Furthermore, 60% of swimming abnormal sperm was devoid of CYP17. These results suggest that CYP17, in addition to its role in steroidogenesis and androgen formation, is present in germ cells where it is essential for sperm function, and deletion of one allele prevents genetic transmission of mutant and wild-type alleles causing infertility followed by change in sexual behavior due to androgen imbalance.     

Subtype- and species-specific knockdown of PKC using short interfering RNA

RNA interference (RNAi), the targeted mRNA degradation induced by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), is a powerful tool for analyzing gene function in many organisms. Recently, it has been shown that RNAi is also applicable to cultured mammalian cells by using short interfering RNA (siRNA) [Nature 411 (2001) 494]. To examine whether this siRNA method is useful for analyzing the subtype-specific functions of protein kinase C (PKC), we first prepared siRNAs which target human alphaPKC and human deltaPKC and applied them into mammalian cells to suppress the expression of endogenous alphaPKC and deltaPKC, respectively. Each siRNA for alpha or deltaPKC specifically suppressed the endogenous expression of corresponding PKC subtype in human-derived cell lines such as HEK-293 and HeLa cells, but not in cells derived from rat species. The suppression level of deltaPKC reached maximum 48-72h after the transfection of siRNA. In addition, the siRNA targeting rat deltaPKC suppressed endogenous and exogenous rat deltaPKCs but not human deltaPKC, suggesting that siRNAs targeting PKCs effectively knocked down endogenous/exogenous PKCs in mammalian cells, in subtype- and species-specific manner. Furthermore, we also developed the method to discriminate the siRNA-transfected cells using the antibody recognizing thymine dimer. Our present results strongly suggest that siRNA method enable us to examine the subtype-specific function of PKC, not only by knockdown of the endogenous target PKC subtype, but also by subsequent compensation with the exogenous corresponding wild/mutant PKC derived from other species.     

Sequence,chemical, and structural variation of small interfering RNAs and short hairpin RNAs and the effect on mammalian gene silencing

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) induce sequence-specific gene silencing in mammalian cells and guide mRNA degradation in the process of RNA interference (RNAi). By targeting endogenous lamin A/C mRNA in human HeLa or mouse SW3T3 cells, we investigated the positional variation of siRNA-mediated gene silencing. We find cell-type-dependent global effects and cell-type-independent positional effects. HeLa cells were about 2-fold more responsive to siRNAs than SW3T3 cells but displayed a very similar pattern of positional variation of lamin A/C silencing. In HeLa cells, 26 of 44 tested standard 21-nucleotide (nt) siRNA duplexes reduced the protein expression by at least 90%, and only 2 duplexes reduced the lamin A/C proteins to <50%. Fluorescent chromophores did not perturb gene silencing when conjugated to the 5'-end or 3'-end of the sense siRNA strand and the 5'-end of the antisense siRNA strand, but conjugation to the 3'-end of the antisense siRNA abolished gene silencing. RNase-protecting phosphorothioate and 2'-fluoropyrimidine RNA backbone modifications of siRNAs did not significantly affect silencing efficiency, although cytotoxic effects were observed when every second phosphate of an siRNA duplex was replaced by phosphorothioate. Synthetic RNA hairpin loops were subsequently evaluated for lamin A/C silencing as a function of stem length and loop composition. As long as the 5'-end of the guide strand coincided with the 5'-end of the hairpin RNA, 19-29 base pair (bp) hairpins effectively silenced lamin A/C, but when the hairpin started with the 5'-end of the sense strand, only 21-29 bp hairpins were highly active.     

siRNA抑制c—myc基因的表达对宫颈癌细胞增殖的影响

目的：利用siRNA（small interference RNA）技术研究C-myc基因的对宫颈癌HeLa细胞增殖的影响。方法：依据Promega公司在网上提供的设计软件,设计针对C-myc基因的siRNA,合成DNA模板,体外转录合成siRNA。通过阳离子聚合物jet—SITM—ENDO将合成的siRNA转染入HeLa细胞,以未转染细胞以及错义序列siRNA—scr转染细胞为对照。用细胞计数法检测siRNA对HeLa细胞增殖的影响。流式细胞法检测细胞周期及蛋白表达的变化,RT—PCR法比较转染前后C-myc mRNA表达水平的变化。结果：细胞计数法结果显示,转染24h后c-myc基因siRNA明显抑制MCF-7细胞增殖,转染48h后,抑制效率稳定。c-myc基因siRNA转染后能有效地抑制HeLa细胞的增殖,阻滞细胞周期于G0／G1期,siRNA转染组c-myc mRNA、蛋白的表达量明显低于空白对照组、错义序列组。结论：体外转录合成的siRNA可有效降低HeLa细胞c-myc基因的表达,抑制细胞增殖。     

靶向ADAM17基因RNA干扰慢病毒载体的构建及慢病毒包装

目的构建靶向ADAM17基因RNA干扰（RNAi）慢病毒载体及包装慢病毒。方法根据人ADAM17mRNA序列设计4个靶序列,合成4对寡核苷酸序列,同时合成1对阴性对照寡核苷酸序列;将以上5对寡核苷酸序列退火后连入pLVTHM质粒,经酶切和测序鉴定。将重组慢病毒质粒转染至A549细胞,以Real-time PCR检测A549细胞中ADAM17 mRNA表达。将干扰效果最佳的质粒载体和包装质粒共转染至293T细胞,包装产生病毒颗粒。以流式细胞术检测重组慢病毒的滴度。结果酶切和测序证实干扰靶序列已被准确克隆到pLVTHM质粒载体。pLVTHM-ADAM17-siRNA1-4均可显著抑制A549细胞ADAM17 mRNA的表达,其中pLVTHM-ADAM17-siRNA4的抑制效果最佳。LV-ADAM17-siRNA4重组慢病毒的滴度为2.16×108TU/ml。结论成功构建了靶向人ADAM17基因RNAi慢病毒载体及包装了重组慢病毒。     

Small interfering RNA and gene expression analysis using a multiplex branched DNA assay without RNA purification

The authors have developed a novel multiplex detection system that quantitatively measures the expression level of 11 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) directly from cell lysates or tissue homogenates without RNA purification. The system incorporates branched DNA (bDNA) technology from Bayer and a multiplex bead array platform from Luminex. In this study, a 21-nt synthetic small interfering RNA (siRNA; specifically designed to knockdown interleukin-8 [IL-8] expression) was delivered into HeLa cells. Using the multiplex bDNA assay, gene expression levels were measured simultaneously from cell lysates for 11 genes. After treating the HeLa cells for 20 h with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), IL-8 mRNA levels were induced by almost 50-fold; transfection with 30 nM IL-8-specific siRNA reduced the PMA-induced IL-8 mRNA by 80%. In addition, PMA induced mRNA expression in IL-1alpha (3-fold) and IL-6 (4-fold); however, the IL-8 siRNA did not affect the expression of either of these 2 cytokine genes, indicating that the siRNA was selective for IL-8 mRNA expression. Three housekeeping genes' expression levels were measured under all conditions tested. The multiplex bDNA assay provides a powerful tool for quantitative multiplex gene expression analysis directly from cell lysates, which could be extremely valuable for conservation of rare or difficult-to-obtain samples.     

Effects of Electro-Acupuncture on Ovarian P450arom,P450c17α and mRNA Expression Induced by Letrozole in PCOS Rats

Hyperandrogenism is a core factor in the series of reproductive and endocrine metabolic disorders involved in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Abnormalities in enzymatic activity and the expression of ovarian granular cell layer P450arom and theca cell P450c17α can lead to an atypical environment of local ovarian hormones, including excessive androgen levels. Rat models prepared with letrozole exhibit similar endocrine and histological changes to those that occur in human PCOS. We used such a model to study the role of electro-acupuncture (EA) in regulating ovarian P450arom and P450c17α enzymatic activity and mRNA expression in PCOS rats. Female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats aged 42 days were randomly divided into 3 groups (control, PCOS, and PCOS EA) consisting of 10 rats each. The PCOS and PCOS EA groups were administered a gavage of 1.0 mg/kg⁻¹ of letrozole solution once daily for 21 consecutive days. Beginning in the ninth week, the PCOS EA group was administered low-frequency EA treatment daily for 14 consecutive days. After the treatment, we obtained the following results. The estrous cycles were restored in 8 of the 10 rats in the PCOS EA group, and their ovarian morphologies and ultrastructures normalized. The peripheral blood measurements (with ELISA) showed significantly decreased androgens (i.e., androstenedione and testosterone) with significantly increased estrogens (i.e., estrone, estradiol) and increased P450arom with decreased P450C17α. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting methods showed enhanced expression of ovarian granular cell layer P450arom as well as decreased expression of theca cell layer P450C17α. Fluorescence quantitative PCR methods showed enhanced expression of ovarian granular cell layer P450arom mRNA as well as decreased expression of theca cell layer P450C17α mRNA. These results may help explain the effects of electro-acupuncture in changing the local ovarian hyperandrogenic environment and improving reproductive and endocrine metabolic disorders in PCOS.     

Study of RNA interference inhibiting rat ovarian androgen biosynthesis by depressing 17alpha-hydroxylase/17, 20-lyase activity in vivo

Background  

17alpha-hydroxylase/17, 20-lyase encoded by CYP17 is the key enzyme in androgen biosynthesis pathway. Previous studies demonstrated the accentuation of the enzyme in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was the most important mechanism of androgen excess. We chose CYP17 as the therapeutic target, trying to suppress the activity of 17alpha-hydroxylase/17, 20-lyase and inhibit androgen biosynthesis by silencing the expression of CYP17 in the rat ovary.     

SiRNAs conjugated with aromatic compounds induce RISC-mediated antisense strand selection and strong gene-silencing activity

Short interference RNA (siRNA) is a powerful tool for suppressing gene expression in mammalian cells. In this study, we focused on the development of siRNAs conjugated with aromatic compounds in order to improve the potency of RNAi and thus to overcome several problems with siRNAs, such as cellular delivery and nuclease stability. The siRNAs conjugated with phenyl, hydroxyphenyl, naphthyl, and pyrenyl derivatives showed strong resistance to nuclease degradation, and were thermodynamically stable compared with unmodified siRNA. A high level of membrane permeability in HeLa cells was also observed. Moreover, these siRNAs exhibited enhanced RNAi efficacy, which exceeded that of locked nucleic acid (LNA)-modified siRNAs, against exogenous Renilla luciferase in HeLa cells. In particular, abundant cytoplasmic localization and strong gene-silencing efficacy were found in the siRNAs conjugated with phenyl and hydroxyphenyl derivatives. The novel siRNAs conjugated with aromatic compounds are promising candidates for a new generation of modified siRNAs that can solve many of the problems associated with RNAi technology.     

PLK1基因沉默抑制HeLa细胞凋亡

以高表达Polo样激酶1（Polo-like kinase 1,PLK1）的宫颈癌细胞系HeLa细胞为模型,观察针对PLK1基因的短发夹状RNA（short hairpin RNA,shRNA）对其凋亡和增殖的影响.设计并合成了针对PLK1的shRNA,将其导入构建的携带增强型绿色荧光蛋白（EGFP）的RNAi（RNA interference）表达载体中.通过 RT-PCR和Western 印迹分别检测HeLa细胞PLK1基因和蛋白水平的表达,以流式细胞仪和PI-Hochest双染法测细胞凋亡,MTT法检测细胞的增殖水平.成功构建了携带EGFP的RNAi表达载体pEGFP-H1.转染shRNA后,HeLa细胞PLK1的表达降低至30%.与对照组和空载体转染组相比,shRNA转染组的HeLa细胞凋亡率明显增加,其增殖活性则明显降低.本课题构建的RNAi表达载体便于观察靶基因的转染情况,且不影响H1启动子的体内转录.PLK1的基因沉默能明显增加HeLa细胞的凋亡,抑制该细胞的增殖,有可能为未来肿瘤的治疗找到新的靶点和有效途径.