title: Retinoids, sex steroids and glucocorticoids regulate ectocervical cell envelope formation but not the level of the envelope precursor, involucrin.
abstract: In spite of extensive study of the reproductive tract, little knowledge is available regarding the function of ectocervical epithelial (ECE) cells. In the present study we utilized a feeder layer of 3T3 cells to grow homogeneous cultures of human ectocervical epithelial cells and demonstrated the presence of the cornified envelope precursor, involucrin. Treatment of these cultures with 1 nM Ro 13-6298, a synthetic analogue of trans-retinoic acid, suppresses envelope formation 6-fold with half-maximal suppression at 0.005-0.01 nM. Treatment with 1 microM hydrocortisone elevates envelope production 2.5-fold. Sex steroids also regulate desquamation: 10 nM diethylstilbestrol, a synthetic estrogen, increases envelope levels 2- to 3-fold, while 300 nM progesterone reduces envelope production 2- to 3-fold. In spite of the retinoid-, glucocorticoid- and sex-steroid-stimulated changes in envelope production, the level of the envelope precursor, involucrin, remains constant. Our results suggest: (1) that, in vivo, ectocervical cell squame formation is regulated by the combined direct action of estrogens, progestins, glucocorticoids and retinoids; and (2) that envelope formation is not regulated by changes in the cellular content of the envelope precursor, involucrin. We present a model summarizing the estrogen, progestin, glucocorticoid and retinoid effects on ectocervical epithelial cell function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Gorodeski
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Eckert
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Utian
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sheean
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Rorke
mesh_terms: D001565:Benzoates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012176:Retinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012176:Retinoids; D011374:Progesterone; C032253:involucrin; C034814:ethyl-p-((E)-2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthyl)-1-propenyl)benzoic acid; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; D006854:Hydrocortisone