title: Knockdown of IGF-binding protein 7 inhibits transformation of the endometrial gland in an in vitro model.
abstract: Uterine endometrial glands and their secretory products are critical for the implantation and survival of the peri-implantation embryo, and for the establishment of uterine receptivity. We previously reported that insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) is abundantly expressed in uterine glandular epithelial cells during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. In the present study, we used a cultured glandular epithelial cell line of human (EM1) to investigate the significance of IGFBP7 in the function of endometrial glands. EM1 cells formed a mesh-like structure on Matrigel, which was accompanied by elevated levels of intracellular cyclic AMP. However, these morphological changes were blocked by treatment with protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor (H89). IGFBP7 knockdown using specific short interference RNA (siRNA) inhibited the formation of the mesh-like structure on Matrigel. Cyclic AMP analogs, dibutyryl-cAMP, and N(6)-phenyl-cAMP induced the expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) which is essential for the onset of implantation. Enhanced LIF expression was suppressed by IGFBP7 siRNA treatment. Western blot analysis revealed that IGFBP7 knockdown results in the aberrant, constitutive expression of the MAPK signaling pathway. These results suggest that IGFBP7 regulates morphological changes of glandular cells by interfering with the normal PKA and MAPK signaling pathways that are associated with the transformation and/or differentiation of endometrial glands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrine Pharmacology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kutsukake
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Mikihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshie
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tachikawa
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D048430:Cell Shape; D003094:Collagen; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007797:Laminin; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011509:Proteoglycans; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D007797:Laminin; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D011509:Proteoglycans; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C102529:insulin-like growth factor binding protein-related protein 1; C059485:matrigel; D003094:Collagen; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases