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Two Methods for Establishing Primary Human Endometrial Stromal Cells from Hysterectomy Specimens
Published on: May 23, 2014
G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) expression in normal and abnormal endometrium
Beth J Plante1, Bruce A Lessey, Robert N Taylor
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. bethplante@gmail.com
G-protein coupled receptor 30 (GPER) expression in the endometrium is cyclic and regulated by estrogen and progesterone. Endometriosis is associated with dysregulated GPER expression in eutopic endometrial tissue.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Reproductive Biology
- Gynecology
Background:
- Estrogen exerts rapid effects via membrane receptors, including estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and G-protein coupled receptor 30 (GPER).
- Estrogen is crucial for endometrial physiology and endometriosis pathophysiology.
- Aberrant GPER expression may contribute to endometriosis development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cyclic expression of GPER in normal endometrium.
- To determine if GPER expression is altered in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis.
- To explore the regulation of GPER expression in endometrial cells.
Main Methods:
- Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for gene expression analysis.
- Immunohistochemical analysis to assess GPER protein levels.
- In vitro studies using Ishikawa cells treated with estrogen, ERα, or GPER agonists, and cells with altered progesterone receptor A expression.
Main Results:
- Normal endometrium exhibits cycle-regulated GPER expression, peaking in the proliferative phase.
- Endometriosis patients showed overexpression of GPER in eutopic endometrium compared to controls.
- Ishikawa cells expressed GPER, with increased levels upon estrogen or ERα agonist treatment, but not GPER-specific agonist.
- GPER expression decreased in Ishikawa cells with stable transfection of progesterone receptor A.
Conclusions:
- Endometrial GPER expression is normally cyclic and influenced by nuclear estrogen and progesterone receptors.
- GPER expression is dysregulated in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis.
- These findings suggest a potential role for GPER in endometriosis pathophysiology.
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