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Nuclear expression of VDR and AHR is mutually exclusive in glandular cells in endometriosis

Francesco De Pascali1,2, Livio Casarini2,3, Christina Kuhn1

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Maistrasse 11, 80337, Munich, Germany.

Histochemistry and Cell Biology
|June 22, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Researchers found that the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) have mutually exclusive expression in endometriosis glandular cells, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for this common disease.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Molecular endocrinology
  • Cellular biology

Background:

  • Endometriosis is a prevalent gynecological disease with no definitive pharmacological cure.
  • The vitamin D receptor (VDR) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) are nuclear receptors implicated in endometriosis pathogenesis.
  • Understanding the expression patterns of VDR and AHR is crucial for developing targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the protein-level localization and expression of VDR and AHR in normal endometrium and endometriosis.
  • To explore the potential of VDR and AHR as therapeutic targets for endometriosis.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate VDR and AHR protein expression.
  • Tissue samples from three normal endometrial phases (proliferative, early secretory, late secretory) and endometriosis were analyzed.
  • Anti-VDR and anti-AHR antibodies were employed for detection.

Main Results:

  • In endometriosis glandular cells, VDR and AHR nuclear expression is mutually exclusive: high expression of one correlates with low expression of the other.
  • A significant change in glandular cytoplasmic AHR expression was observed between the proliferative and late secretory phases of normal endometrium.

Conclusions:

  • The inverse relationship between nuclear VDR and AHR in endometriosis suggests a potential co-targeting strategy for treatment.
  • Dynamic changes in cytoplasmic AHR expression during the menstrual cycle warrant further investigation in the context of endometriosis.
Keywords:
AHREndometriosisImmunohistochemistryNuclear receptorsVDR

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