title: Progestogens regulate endothelial actin cytoskeleton and cell movement via the actin-binding protein moesin.
abstract: The endothelial effects of progestogens are poorly investigated. Actin remodeling and cell movement are fundamental for endothelial function and are controlled by the actin-binding protein moesin. In this work, we studied the effects of progesterone and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on actin remodeling, moesin activation and cell movement in human endothelial cells. Our findings show that progesterone and MPA trigger a rapid endothelial actin rearrangement, with the formation of cortical actin complexes, pseudopodia and membrane ruffles. Both progestogens trigger a rapid progesterone receptor (PR)-dependent moesin activation via a non-genomic signaling cascade involving G proteins, the small GTPase RhoA and the Rho-associated kinase (ROCK-2). In addition, MPA signaling also requires the recruitment of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K). Both progestogens enhance endothelial cell migration, which is prevented by moesin silencing or by blockade of PR, G proteins, PI3K, mitogen-activated protein kinases or ROCK-2. Progesterone and MPA potentiate 17beta-estradiol (E2) induced-moesin activation. However, they partially reduce cell migration induced by E2. In conclusion, progesterone and MPA regulate endothelial cell movement by rapidly signaling to the actin-binding protein moesin and to the actin cytoskeleton. These findings provide new information on the biological actions of progestins on human endothelial cells that are relevant for vascular function.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Gynecological Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Reproductive Medicine and Child Development, University of Pisa, Pisa 56100, Italy.
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flamini
authors.forename: Angel Matias
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goglia
authors.forename: Maria Silvia
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Giretti
authors.forename: Andrea R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Genazzani
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Simoncini
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011372:Progestins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D011372:Progestins; C071058:moesin; D011374:Progesterone; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate