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Membrane progesterone receptor expression in mammalian tissues: a review of regulation and physiological implications

Gwen E Dressing1, Jodi E Goldberg, Nathan J Charles

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.

Steroids
|September 28, 2010
PubMed

Insights

A newly discovered membrane progestin receptor (mPR), distinct from the classical progesterone receptor (PR), mediates non-traditional progestin actions in mammals. This review covers mPRs in various mammalian tissues and presents new data on immune cells and ovarian cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • A novel membrane progestin receptor (mPR), unrelated to the classical progesterone receptor (PR), has been identified in various species.
  • Early research focused on mPRs in fish oocyte maturation, but recent studies explore their roles in diverse mammalian systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of mPRs in mammalian reproductive and non-reproductive tissues.
  • To investigate mPR expression and function in immune cells and ovarian cancer.
  • To highlight the potential of mPRs as mediators of non-traditional progestin signaling.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of mPR research in mammalian systems.
  • Experimental analysis of mPR expression in RAW 264.7 immune cells and macrophages.
  • Assessment of mPR expression and downstream gene regulation in ovarian cancer cells.

Main Results:

  • mPRs are expressed in various mammalian tissues, including reproductive tracts, liver, neuroendocrine, and immune systems.
  • New data confirm mPR expression in RAW 264.7 cells and macrophages.
  • mPRs are present in ovarian cancer cells, influencing downstream gene regulation.

Conclusions:

  • Membrane progestin receptors (mPRs) represent a significant pathway for progestin action in mammals, particularly in PR-absent tissues.
  • mPRs have diverse roles across multiple organ systems and are implicated in diseases like ovarian cancer.
  • Further research into mPRs is crucial for understanding non-traditional progestin signaling and developing targeted therapies.

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