Estrogen regulates the expression of the small proline-rich 2 gene family in the mouse uterus.
Small proline-rich (SPRR) proteins are structural components of the cornified cell envelope (CE), a specialized structure beneath the plasma membrane of stratified squamous epithelia. They are divided into four families, of which SPRR2 is the most complex consisting of 11 members (2a-2k) in the mouse. To assess the possible influence of estrogen on expression of the SPRR2 family in the uterus, we examined the effect of 17b-estradiol (E2) on SPRR2 mRNA levels on ovariectomized (OVX) adult mice. We employed a combination of laser capture microdissection (LCM) and semiquantitative RT-PCR to examine expression in particular uterine cell types - luminal epithelia, and stromal and muscle cells. We also used quantitative real-time PCR to measure levels of the mRNA of several SPRR2 proteins in the mouse uterus over the estrous cycle and during early pregnancy. Expression of SPRR2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f and 2g mRNA was increased by estrogen treatment. SPRR2a, 2b, 2d and 2e were highly expressed on day 1 and 2 of pregnancy, but decreased markedly by days 3-6. Interestingly, several members of the SPRR2 family were preferentially up-regulated at implantation sites compared to inter-implantation sites around day 4 of pregnancy. They were abundant during proestrus and estrus but declined rapidly during metestrus. These results indicate that estrogen is a key regulator of the expression of the SPRR2 family in the mouse uterus during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy. In addition, they suggest that some members of the family play an important role in uterine processes such as the estrous cycle, early pregnancy and implantation.
Hong
Seok Ho
SH
Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, Korea.
Nah
Hee Young
HY
Lee
Ji Yoon
JY
Lee
Young Jin
YJ
Lee
Ji Won
JW
Gye
Myung Chan
MC
Kim
Chung Hoon
CH
Kang
Byung Moon
BM
Kim
Moon Kyoo
MK
D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D032342:Muscle Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*
D017931:DNA Primers; D004967:Estrogens; D011506:Proteins; D004958:Estradiol