Expression of galectin-1 mRNA in the mouse uterus is under the control of ovarian steroids during blastocyst implantation

Galectin-1 is a member of β-galactoside-binding lectins expressed in a variety of mammalian tissues. We report here that galectin-1 mRNA is abundantly expressed in the mouse reproductive organs such as the uterus and ovary. Uterine expression of galectin-1 mRNA is specifically regulated in the embryonic implantation process. Its expression increased at a high level on the fifth day post coitum (dpc 5) when embryos hatched into the endometrial epithelial cells. In the absence of embryos, however, galectin-1 expression in the mouse uterus decreased on dpc 5. In the delayed implantation mice, galectin-1 mRNA level was augmented by the termination of the delay of implantation. Ovarian steroids progesterone and estrogen differentially regulated galectin-1 mRNA level in uterine tissues. Treatment with RU486, a progesterone receptor antagonist, blocked progesterone-induced galectin-1 mRNA level in uterine tissues of ovariectomized mouse. ICI182780, a pure estrogen receptor antagonist, clearly blocked the estrogen effect. Taken together, galectin-1 gene expression in the uterine tissues was regulated by ovarian steroids and this regulation correlated with the implantation process. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 48:261–266, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Brain region-specific up-regulation of mouse apolipoprotein E by pharmacological estrogen treatments

Cerebral apolipoprotein E (apoE) has been implicated in neuronal protection and repair. Due to the variable levels and types of estrogen receptors within different brain regions, the effect of estrogen on apoE and the mechanism of this effect may vary within different regions. Ovariectomized female C57BL/6 mice were treated with pharmacological levels of 17 beta-estradiol or placebo for 5 days, resulting in supraphysiological plasma levels of estradiol in the treated mice. ApoE and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels were measured in the cortex, hippocampus and diencephalon. 17 beta-Estradiol up-regulated apoE but not GFAP in the cortex and diencephalon, whereas in the hippocampus, GFAP and apoE were equally up-regulated. Treatment of estrogen receptor (ER) alpha knockout mice with 17 beta-estradiol or treatment of C57BL/6 mice with 17 alpha-estradiol, a poor estrogen receptor agonist, specifically induced apoE in the cortex, but not in the diencephalon. These results indicate that 17 beta-estradiol effects on apoE are either directly or indirectly mediated by ER alpha in the diencephalon, while the effects in the cortex may be mediated by a non-classical mechanism or by ER beta. Measurement of mRNA levels in estrogen versus placebo-treated wild-type mice indicated that the effect of 17 beta-estradiol on apoE was not associated with changes in apoE mRNA levels.     

17β-雌二醇通过PI3K/Akt/mTOR通路抑制白介素1β诱导的大鼠椎间盘髓核细胞的凋亡

髓核细胞(nucleus pulposus cells,NPCs)的异常凋亡是导致椎间盘退变(intervertebral disc degeneration,IVDD)的主要原因。本研究组前期研究显示,17β-雌二醇(17β-estradiol,E2)能够通过PI3K/Akt信号通路抑制白介素1β(interleukin-1β,IL-1β)诱导的大鼠椎间盘NPCs凋亡。本研究旨在探讨PI3K/Akt途径的下游蛋白是否参与E2对NPCs凋亡的抑制作用。用胰蛋白酶消化法分离原代大鼠NPCs,采用E2和PI3K/Akt信号通路下游蛋白的不同抑制剂预处理后用IL-1β处理,用Annexin V/PI染色法检测凋亡率,用CCK-8法检测细胞活力,用细胞黏附试验检测NPCs与Ⅱ型胶原的黏附能力,用Western blot检测哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(mammalian target of Rapamycin,mTOR)、糖原合成酶激酶-3β(glycogen synthase kinase-3β,GSK-3β)和核因子κB(nuclear factor kappaB,NF-κB)磷酸化水平。结果显示,E2显著抑制IL-1β诱导的NPCs凋亡,逆转由IL-1β引起的细胞活力和黏附能力的降低,抑制IL-1β对mTOR磷酸化水平的下调作用,而雷帕霉素可以阻断E2的这些保护作用。以上结果提示,E2可能通过PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号通路抑制IL-1β诱导的NPCs凋亡。     

恶臭假单胞菌SJTE-1中氧化17β-雌二醇的17β-羟甾类脱氢酶2及其转录调控因子AraC的鉴定

[目的]假单胞菌SJTE-1可高效转化17β-雌二醇,但其代谢机制尚不清楚。本文鉴定和表征了该菌株中参与雌二醇降解与调控过程的17β-羟甾类脱氢酶2(17β-HSD2)和转录调控因子AraC。[方法]我们通过荧光定量PCR分析了17β-hsd2和araC的转录水平;我们在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)菌株中异源表达了17β-HSD2和AraC基因,并利用金属离子亲和层析法纯化获得了重组蛋白;我们体外表征了17β-HSD2的酶学性质,利用高效液相色谱鉴定了其产物;通过电泳迁移转移法和DNase酶I足迹试验,我们鉴定了重组蛋白AraC的结合能力与结合位点。[结果]17β-HSD2和AraC可被17β-雌二醇诱导表达;蛋白序列比对结果表明17β-HSD2含有短链脱氢酶/还原酶(SDR)和β-羟甾类脱氢酶的保守结构与残基。该酶以NAD+为辅助因子,在C17位点氧化17β-雌二醇,其Km值为0.082 mmol/L,Vmax值为56.26±0.02μmol/(min·mg);5 min内可转化97.4%以上的雌二醇。转录调控因子AraC可直接结合17β-hsd2基因启动子区的特异位点;雌二醇与雌酮可解除这一结合,启动17β-hsd2基因转录;过表达AraC蛋白可抑制17β-hsd2的转录。[结论]假单胞菌SJTE-1的17β-羟甾类脱氢酶2可高效催化17β-雌二醇转化,并受到转录因子AraC的直接调控。本工作可推进细菌的雌激素降解酶学机制与调控网络研究。     

The effect of human chorionic gonadotropin on plasma steroid levels in young and old men

Seven men, 21–30 years old, and six men, 72–90 years old, were given human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), 3,000 units a day for four days. The concentration of 17β-estradiol (1), estrone and testosterone were measured in plasma samples drawn before and during the course of HCG administration. The administration of HCG resulted in higher levels of both 17β-estradiol and testosterone in the younger as compared to the older men although the percentage increases over baseline levels were similar in both groups. HCG administration resulted in similar, absolute and relative increases of estrone in both young and old men. The levels of 17β-estradiol were higher on day 3 as compared to day 5 in young men. The relative ability to respond to exogenous gonadotropins appears to be preserved despite ageing and loss of libido and potentia. The absolute response is, however, somewhat less in old men as compared to young.     

Correspondency between different affinity states and target size of the bovine striatal D2 dopamine receptor

Target size analysis of the D2 dopamine receptor in the bovine striatum revealed the presence of two populations of this receptor, in terms of apparent molecular size. The size of large target was approximately 150 X 10(4) daltons, while that of small target was 11 X 10(4) daltons. The antagonist [3H]spiperone labeled both large and small sized D2 receptors, while agonist [3H]n-propylapomorphine (NPA) labeled only the former. In addition, the apparent molecular size of a functional unit for the GTP effect was calculated to be 150 X 10(4) daltons, such appearing to be identical to that of large target sized D2 dopamine receptors. Therefore, the large sized D2 receptor, probably an oligomeric complex consisting of D2 receptor recognition protein and guanine nucleotide regulatory protein, has a high affinity for both agonist and antagonist, while the small sized receptor, probably a monomeric or dimeric receptor recognition protein, has a high affinity for only the antagonist.     

17β-Estradiol inhibits soluble guanylate cyclase activity through a protein tyrosine phosphatase in PC12 cells

Besides its involvement in reproductive functions, estrogen protects against the development of cardiovascular diseases. The guanylate cyclase/cGMP system is known to exert potent effects on the regulation of blood pressure and electrolyte balance. We examined whether 17β-estradiol can affect soluble guanylate cyclase in PC12 cells. The results indicate that 17β-estradiol decreases cGMP levels in PC12 cells. 17β-Estradiol decreases sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-stimulated, but not atrial natriuretic factor-stimulated cGMP formation in PC12 cells, indicating that 17β-estradiol decreases cGMP levels by inhibiting the activity of soluble guanylate cyclase. 17β-Estradiol also stimulates protein tyrosine phosphatase activities in PC12 cells and dephosphorylates at least three proteins. Addition of sodium vanadate, a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, blocks the inhibitory effects of 17β-estradiol on soluble guanylate cyclase activity in PC12 cells. Furthermore, transfection of SHP-1, a protein tyrosine phosphatase, into PC12 cells inhibits both basal and SNP-stimulated guanylate cyclase activity. Amino acid analysis also reveals that the 70-kDa subunit of soluble guanylate cyclase contains the SHP-1 substrate consensus sequence. These results suggest that 17β-estradiol inhibits soluble guanylate cyclase activity through SHP-1.     

Overexpression of <Emphasis Type="Italic">WUSCHEL</Emphasis> in <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. chinense</Emphasis> causes ectopic morphogenesis

Capsicum chinense is a recalcitrant species for in vitro morphogenesis, and up to date there is no efficient system for genetic transformation and regeneration of this species via somatic embryogenesis. Here, we carried out an in vitro transformation of C. chinense via Agrobacterium tumefaciens co-cultivation with a system that expresses the heterologous gene WUSCHEL from Arabidopsis thaliana. WUSCHEL has been shown to promote the transition from vegetative to embryogenic state when overexpressed. We tested if the expression of WUSCHEL in C. chinense would promote an embryogenic response in this species. After 15 days of induction, the segments of transformed stems begun to form globular structures, suggesting that heterologus WUSCHEL was active and involved in the process of morphogenesis.     

Short-time effects of neuroactive steroids on rat cortical Ca2+-ATPase activity

Recent experimental evidence indicates that some steroid hormones, apart from their well-documented genomic actions, could produce non-genomic rapid effects, and are potent modulators of the plasma membrane proteins, including voltage- and ligand-operated ion channels or G protein-coupled receptors. Neuroactive steroids, 17β-estradiol, testosterone, pregnenolone sulfate and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, after a short-time incubation directly modulated the activity of plasma membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase purified from synaptosomal membranes of rat cortex. The sulfate derivatives of dehydroepiandrosterone and pregnenolone applied at concentrations of 10^?11–10^?6 M, showed an inverted U-shape potency in the regulation of Ca²⁺-ATPase activity. At physiologically relevant concentrations (10^?8–10^?9 M) a maximal enhancement of the basal activity reached 200%. Testosterone (10^?11–10^?6 M) and 17β-estradiol (10^?12–10^?9 M) caused a dose-dependent increase in the hydrolytic ability of Ca²⁺-ATPase, and the activity with the highest concentration of steroids reached 470% and 200%, respectively. All examined steroids decreased the stimulatory effect of a naturally existing activator of the calcium pump, calmodulin. The present study strongly suggests that the plasma membrane calcium pump could be one of the possible membrane targets for a non-genomic neuroactive steroid action.