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Human Ovarian Surface Epithelium Organoids as a Platform to Study Tissue Regeneration
Published on: August 16, 2024
Thyroid hormone signaling in human ovarian surface epithelial cells
M T Rae1, O Gubbay, A Kostogiannou
1The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Centre for Reproductive Biology, The University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|October 13, 2006
Summary
Thyroid hormone (T3) directly causes inflammation and increases estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) expression in ovarian surface epithelial (OSE) cells. This finding may explain the link between hyperthyroidism and ovarian cancer risk.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Gynecology
- Oncology
Background:
- Ovarian surface epithelial (OSE) cells express nuclear hormone receptors, including thyroid hormone receptors (TR) and estrogen receptors (ER).
- Ovarian cancer is hormone-dependent, with hyperthyroidism linked to increased risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of triiodothyronine (T3) on human OSE cells in vitro.
- To determine if T3 influences (pre)receptor control, exhibits inflammatory properties, and affects ER expression in OSE cells.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of human ovaries.
- In vitro studies using primary human OSE cell cultures from 12 women (aged 29-50).
- Quantitative RT-PCR to assess gene expression.
Main Results:
- OSE cells express mRNA for TRs and deiodinases, with TR proteins localized to OSE.
- T3 treatment induced dose-dependent mRNA expression of inflammation-associated genes (e.g., cyclooxygenase-2).
- T3 significantly stimulated ERalpha mRNA expression, but not ERbeta1 or ERbeta2.
Conclusions:
- The ovarian surface is a potential target for T3.
- T3 has direct inflammatory effects on OSE cells in vitro.
- Increased ERalpha expression by T3 may contribute to the association between hyperthyroidism and ovarian cancer.
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