17betaE2 promotes cell proliferation in endometriosis by decreasing PTEN via NFkappaB-dependent pathway.
The objective of this study was to explore the mechanism of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) loss in endometriosis. We found that aberrant PTEN expression and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)/ERK, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKt, and nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkappaB) signaling overactivities coexisted in endometriosis. In vitro, 17beta-estradiol rapidly activated the 3 pathways in endometriotic cells and specific inhibitions on the 3 pathways respectively blocked 17beta-estradiol-induced cell proliferation. 17beta-estradiol suppressed PTEN transcription and expression in endometriotic cells which was abolished by specific NFkappaB inhibition.


CONCLUSIONS
Total/nuclear PTEN-loss and MAPK/ERK, PI3K/AKt, and NFkappaB signal overactivities coexist in endometriosis. In vitro, 17beta-estradiol can promotes cell proliferation in endometriosis by activating PI3K/AKt pathway via an NFkappaB/PTEN-dependent pathway. For the first time we propose the possibility of the presence of a positive feedback-loop: 17beta-estradiol-->high NFkappaB-->low PTEN-->high PI3K-->high NFkappaB, in endometriosis, which may finally promote the proliferation of ectopic endometrial epithelial cells and in turn contributes to the progression of the disease.
Zhang
Hui
H
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, 324 Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong 250021, PR China.
Zhao
Xingbo
X
Liu
Shu
S
Li
Jijun
J
Wen
Zeqing
Z
Li
Mingjiang
M
D000328:Adult; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
D016328:NF-kappa B; D004958:Estradiol; D004247:DNA; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human