Biomedical subjects

Zuzana Strakova

Publications and source records attributed to Zuzana Strakova.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Decidualization regulates the expression of the endometrial chorionic gonadotropin receptor in the primate.

Chorionic gonadotropin (CG) plays an important role in establishing a receptive endometrium by directly modulating the function of both endometrial stromal and epithelial cells in the baboon. The focus of this study was to characterize changes in CG receptor (LHCGR, also known as CG-R) expression during the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy, particularly during decidualization. LHCGR was localized by using a peptide-specific antibody generated against the extracellular domain. Immunostaining was absent in any of the cell types during the proliferative phase of the cycle. In contrast, during the secretory phase, both luminal and glandular epithelial cells stained positively. Stromal staining was confined to the cells around spiral arteries (SAs) and in the basalis layer. This stromal staining pattern persisted at the implantation site between Days 18 and 25 of pregnancy and after CG infusion. However, as pregnancy progressed (Days 40 to 60), staining for LHCGR was dramatically decreased in the stromal cells. These data were confirmed by nonisotopic in situ hybridization. To confirm whether the loss of LHCGR was associated with a decidual response, stromal fibroblasts were decidualized in vitro, and cell lysates obtained after 3, 6, and 12 days of culture were analyzed by Western blotting. LHCGR protein decreased with the onset of decidualization in vitro, confirming the in vivo results. Addition of CG to decidualized cells resulted in the reinduction of LHCGR in the absence of dbcAMP. We propose that CG acting via its R on stromal cells modulates SA in preparation for pregnancy and trophoblast invasion. As pregnancy progresses, further modification of SA by migrating endovascular trophoblasts and subsequent decidualization results in the downregulation of LHCGR. This inhibition of LHCGR expression also coincides with the decrease of measurable CG in peripheral circulation.

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PubMed2006

Human chorionic gonadotropin and decidualization in vitro inhibits cytochalasin-D-induced apoptosis in cultured endometrial stromal fibroblasts.

Endometrial apoptosis increases from the proliferative phase through the secretory phase and peaks at menses. However, with the onset of pregnancy, the corpus luteum is rescued and stromal cells, instead of undergoing apoptosis, reorganize the cytoskeleton and then begin to differentiate. We hypothesized that in the presence of hormones (estradiol-17beta and medroxyprogesterone acetate), chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as an early embryonic signal, and induction of decidualization by dibutyryl-cAMP (dbcAMP), endometrial stromal cells are rescued by the regulation of proteins that inhibit apoptosis. The percentage of cells stained with annexin V, an early apoptotic marker, increased dramatically after cytoskeletal disruption with cytochalasin D compared with non-cytochalasin-D-treated controls (P < 0.05). However, treatment of cells with hCG or dbcAMP in the presence of hormones significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the percentage of annexin-V-stained cells compared with cells treated with cytochalasin D alone. This inhibition was further confirmed by immunodetection of cleaved caspase-3 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining. The inhibition of apoptosis by hCG and dbcAMP was via the intrinsic pathway because the cytochalasin-D-treated cells stained intensely for Bax, whereas the cells treated with hormones, hCG, or dbcAMP stained predominantly for Bcl-2. Treatment of cytochalasin-D-treated cells with hormones and dbcAMP resulted in an increase in the secretion of IGF-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) and prolactin. Treatment of cytochalasin-D-treated cells with recombinant IGFBP-1 and prolactin also inhibited apoptosis. These data suggest that under in vitro conditions, both hCG and the induction of decidualization play a direct role in preventing uterine stromal cells from undergoing apoptosis. Furthermore, this inhibition of apoptosis may be mediated in part by IGFBP-1 and prolactin and the alteration in the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.

Annexin A5↗

PubMed2005

In vivo infusion of interleukin-1beta and chorionic gonadotropin induces endometrial changes that mimic early pregnancy events in the baboon.

Both human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and IL-1beta induce changes in the endometrium that are associated with the establishment of pregnancy. We investigated the synergistic effect of these two embryonic signals on endometrial function using a baboon model of simulated pregnancy. Recombinant hCG (30 IU/d) was infused between d 6 and 10 post ovulation (PO) to mimic blastocyst transit. On the expected day of implantation (d 10 PO), IL-1beta (12 ng/d) or IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra; 12 ng/d) was infused for an additional 5 d. Endometria were harvested on d 15 PO. Both hCG and hCG plus IL-1beta induced marked differences in the distribution of alpha-smooth muscle actin, proliferation marker Ki67, decidualization marker IGF-binding protein-1, and cyclooxygenase-1. The most marked effect of IL-1beta was the induction of IGF-binding protein-1 protein in stromal cells close to the apical surface, whereas cyclooxygenase-1 was down-regulated in the glandular epithelium. Protein arrays of uterine flushings showed significant suppression of death receptors, Fas and TNF receptor 1, in the hCG- with or without IL-1beta-treated groups, suggesting an inhibition of apoptosis. Additionally, cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4, matrix metalloproteinase-3, and IL-4 were suppressed in treated animals compared with controls. However, no differences were observed in cytokine profile between hCG-treated and hCG- plus IL-1beta-treated baboons. This study confirms that in preparation for pregnancy, the primate endometrium undergoes both morphological and functional changes, which are modulated by hCG and IL-1beta, that lead to the inhibition of apoptosis and the development of an immunotolerant environment. These changes suggest that infusion of IL-1beta at the time of implantation into the nonpregnant baboon treated with hCG synergizes with hCG and mimics the early endometrial events associated with the presence of an embryo.

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PubMed2004

Chorionic gonadotropin and uterine dialogue in the primate.

Implantation is a complex spatio-temporal interaction between the growing embryo and the mother, where both players need to be highly synchronized to be able to establish an effective communication to ensure a successful pregnancy. Using our in vivo baboon model we have shown that Chorionic Gonadotropin (CG), as the major trophoblast derived signal, not only rescues the corpus luteum but also modulates the uterine environment in preparation for implantation. This response is characterized by an alteration in both the morphological and biochemical activity in the three major cell types: luminal and glandular epithelium and stromal fibroblasts. Furthermore, CG and factors from the ovary have a synergistic effect on the receptive endometrium. Novel local effects of CG which influence the immune system to permit the survival of the fetal allograft and prevent endometrial cell death are also discussed in this review. An alternate extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation pathway observed in epithelial endometrial cells and the possibility of differential expression of the CG/LH-R isoforms during gestation, open many questions regarding the mechanism of action of CG and its signal transduction pathway within the primate endometrium.

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PubMed2003

Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases prevents the synthesis of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 during decidualization in the baboon.

During pregnancy in the primate, uterine stromal fibroblasts are transformed into decidual cells. Decidualization is associated with extensive remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a pivotal role in ECM degradation. We hypothesized that MMPs also contribute to regulation of IGF binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), a biochemical marker of primate decidual cells. We reported that IL-1beta (10 ng/ml) with steroid hormones [36 nm estradiol-17beta, 1 microm medroxyprogesterone acetate (P), and 100 ng/ml relaxin] induces in vitro IGFBP-1 synthesis. This study demonstrates that IL-1beta also induces stromelysin-1 (MMP-3) mRNA and synthesis of the latent form of MMP-3 (pro-MMP-3) protein in baboon stromal fibroblasts. In contrast, hormones (particularly P) negatively regulate MMP-3 because their addition decreases IL-1beta-induced pro-MMP-3 protein. The ERK and p38 MAPK pathways induced by IL-1beta regulate pro-MMP-3 because inhibitors PD98059 (20 microm) and SB203580 (1 microm) prevent its synthesis. The nuclear factor-kappaB inhibitory peptide, SN50 (50 microg/ml), or proteasome inhibitor, MG-132 (1 microm), did not inhibit pro-MMP-3 synthesis but appeared to enhance it. The role of MMPs in IGFBP-1 induction was investigated using a broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor, doxycycline, and specific MMP-3 inhibitor, N-Isobutyl-N-(4-methoxyphenylsulfonyl)-glycylhydroxamic acid (NNGH). Both inhibitors caused the dose-dependent decrease of IGFBP-1. alpha-Smooth muscle actin, which is down-regulated during decidualization, was partially up-regulated by doxycycline or N-Isobutyl-N-(4-methoxyphenylsulfonyl)-glycylhydroxamic acid. This suggests that alpha-smooth muscle actin is modulated by changes in ECM caused by the action of MMPs/MMP-3. Disruption of actin filaments enhances IGFBP-1 induction. Thus, our data imply that IL-1beta-induced MMPs and particularly MMP-3 may up-regulate IGFBP-1 by disrupting the actin cytoskeleton as a result of ECM degradation.

Actins↗

PubMed2003

Signal transduction pathways activated by chorionic gonadotropin in the primate endometrial epithelial cells.

Successful implantation requires synergism between the developing embryo and the receptive endometrium. In the baboon, infusion of chorionic gonadotropin (CG) modulates both morphology and physiology of the epithelial and stromal cells of the receptive endometrium. This study explored the signal transduction pathways activated by CG in endometrial epithelial cells from baboon (BE) and human (HES). Incubations of BE and HES cells with CG did not significantly alter adenylyl cyclase activity or increase intracellular cAMP when compared with Chinese hamster ovarian cells stably transfected with the full-length human CG/luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor (CHO-LH cells). However, in BE and HES cells, CG induced the phosphorylation of several proteins, among them, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK 1/2). Phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 in uterine epithelial cells was protein kinase A (PKA) independent. This novel signaling pathway is functional because, in response to CG stimulation, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) was released into the media and increased significantly 2 h following CG stimulation. CG-stimulated PGE(2) synthesis in epithelial cells was inhibited by a specific mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK 1/2) inhibitor, PD 98059. In conclusion, immediate signal transduction pathways induced by CG in endometrial epithelial cells are cAMP independent and stimulate phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 via a MEK 1/2 pathway, leading to an increase in PGE(2) release as the possible result of cyclooxygenase-2 activation.

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PubMed2002

Endometrial function: cell specific changes in the uterine environment.

The uterus undergoes dynamic changes during the cycle and these events are largely driven by ovarian steroids. However, in the presence of an embryo, an additional series of changes that are not otherwise observed predominate. The ability of the embryo to modulate the uterine environment is restricted to a specific time of the cycle which is termed the 'window of receptivity'. Changes that occur within this window of receptivity and immediately following implantation can be divided into three distinct phases. The first phase, regulated by estrogen and progesterone, is characterized primarily by changes in both the luminal and glandular epithelial cells in preparation for blastocyst apposition and attachment. If the action of progesterone is antagonized, these changes are inhibited and the uterus is maintained in a pre-receptive state. The second phase is in the further modulation of these steroids induced changes by embryonic signals. In the primate, infusion of chorionic gonadotropin in a manner that mimics blastocyst transit, results in the endoreplication and plaque formation in the luminal epithelium. The glandular epithelium responds by increasing transcriptional and post-translational modifications of secretory proteins and the stromal fibroblasts initiate their differentiation process into a decidual phenotype. The final phase is associated with trophoblast invasion and remodeling of the endometrial stromal compartment. The most dramatic effect is on the stromal fibroblasts, which in response to embryonic stimuli, differentiate into decidual cells, the major cell type of the gestational endometrium. Thus, during the window of receptivity, signals from the embryo can dramatically alter the morphological and functional characteristics of the uterine endometrium. We suggest that these changes are critical to ensure prolonged maintenance of endometrial function during gestation and facilitate trophoblast invasion.

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