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Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Human Ovarian Surface Epithelium Organoids as a Platform to Study Tissue Regeneration
Published on: August 16, 2024
3beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases and pre-receptor steroid metabolism in the human ovarian surface epithelium
Georgia Papacleovoulou1, Richard J Edmondson, Hilary O D Critchley
1Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Centre for Reproductive Biology, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.
Abstract:
Ovulation-associated inflammation with accompanied cytokines and reproductive hormones impact upon the human ovarian surface epithelium (hOSE) and probably have a role in the aetiology of ovarian cancer. Progesterone and progestin-related events, i.e. pregnancy and oral contraception, protect from the disease. We have investigated the pre-receptor metabolism of progesterone in primary hOSE cells and an immortalised hOSE cell line, OSE-C2, focusing on transcriptional regulation of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) by inflammatory, anti-inflammatory and apoptotic factors. In hOSE cells, we show that anti-inflammatory effects of IL-1alpha and IL-4 on 3beta-HSD2 mRNA involve a p38 MAPK signalling pathway, whereas pro-inflammatory response of IL-1alpha to 3beta-HSD1 mRNA involves a NF-kappaB inflammatory pathway. In OSE-C2 cells, retinoic acid and transforming growth factor-beta1 massively induce 3beta-HSD1 mRNA levels. In conclusion, we elaborate several mechanisms for intracrine formation of progesterone in hOSE that could contribute in the development of novel strategies to prevent, diagnose and/or treat ovarian cancer.
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