title: Characterization of a Hormone-Responsive Organotypic Human Vaginal Tissue Model: Morphologic and Immunologic Effects.
abstract: Estrogen and progesterone regulate proliferation and differentiation of epithelial cells in the female genital tract. We investigated the effects of these hormones on reconstructed human organotypic vaginal epithelial tissue models (EpiVaginal). We ascertained that epithelial cells in the tissue models express estrogen and progesterone receptors. Treatment with estradiol-17β (E(2)) significantly increased epithelium thickness and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), whereas progesterone (P) treatment resulted in thinning of the epithelium and decreased TEER when compared with untreated controls. Exposure to E(2) increased (1) the expression of the progesterone receptor B (PR-B), (2) accumulation of glycogen in suprabasal cells, (3) epithelial differentiation, and (4) the expression of a number of gene pathways associated with innate immunity, epithelial differentiation, wound healing, and antiviral responses. These findings indicate that EpiVaginal tissues are hormone responsive and can be used to study the role of female reproductive hormones in innate immune responses, microbial infection, and drug delivery in the vaginal mucosa.
authors: Research and Development, MatTek Corporation, Ashland, MA, USA Sayehunie@mattek.com.
authors: Seyoum
authors: S
authors: Ayehunie
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Ayesha
authors: A
authors: Islam
authors: Research and Development, MatTek Corporation, Ashland, MA, USA.
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Cannon
authors: Research and Development, MatTek Corporation, Ashland, MA, USA.
authors: Timothy
authors: T
authors: Landry
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Jeffrey
authors: J
authors: Pudney
authors: Research and Development, MatTek Corporation, Ashland, MA, USA.
authors: Mitchell
authors: M
authors: Klausner
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Deborah J
authors: DJ
authors: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D060833:Cellular Microenvironment; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D006003:Glycogen
keywords: epithelium; estrogen; hormones; immunity; in vitro model; vagina