scholarly journals Cyclooxygenases and prostaglandin E synthases in the endometrium of the rhesus monkey during the menstrual cycle

Reproduction ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 127 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tong Sun ◽  
Shi-Jie Li ◽  
Hong-Lu Diao ◽  
Chun-Bo Teng ◽  
Hong-Bin Wang ◽  
...  

Cyclooxygenase (COX), a rate-limiting enzyme that produces prostaglandins (PGs) from arachidonic acid, exists in two isoforms, COX-1 and COX-2. PGE2 synthase (PGES) is a terminal prostanoid synthase and can enzymatically convert the cyclooxygenase product PGH2 to PGE2, including two isoforms: microsomal PGES (mPGES) and cytosolic PGES (cPGES). cPGES is predominantly linked with COX-1 to promote the immediate response. mPGES is preferentially coupled with the inducible COX-2 to promote delayed PGE2 generation. COX-2-deficient female mice are infertile with abnormalities in ovulation, fertilization, implantation and decidualization. The aim of this study was to examine immunohistochemically the expression pattern of COX-1, COX-2, mPGES and cPGES proteins in the endometrium of the rhesus monkey during the menstrual cycle. COX-1 immunostaining was mainly localized in the luminal epithelium and glandular epithelium near the lumen, and detected in all the stages during the menstrual cycle. COX-2 immunostaining was mainly localized in the luminal and glandular epithelium, and strongly shown during the mid-luteal phase (days 16 and 20) of the menstrual cycle. There was a strong cPGES immunostaining in the luminal and glandular epithelium on days 12, 16, 20 and 25 of the menstrual cycle. mPGES immunostaining was strongly detected in the glandular epithelium on days 20 and 25 of the menstrual cycle. These data suggest that the coupling of cPGES and COX-1 in the luminal epithelium may be responsible for the synthesis of PGE2 in monkey endometrium, and the coupling of mPGES and COX-2 in the glandular epithelium may be of importance for preparing the receptive endometrium.

1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Chakraborty ◽  
S K Das ◽  
J Wang ◽  
S K Dey

ABSTRACT Cyclo-oxygenase (COX) is a rate-limiting enzyme that converts arachidonic acid to prostaglandins (PGs) and exists in two isoforms, COX-1 and COX-2. In the rodent, increased uterine vascular permeability at sites of blastocyst apposition is one of the earliest prerequisite events in the implantation process. This event is preceded by generalized uterine edema and luminal closure, and coincides with the initial attachment reaction between the trophectoderm and luminal epithelium. Vasoactive PGs are implicated in these processes. Here we demonstrate that COX genes are differentially regulated in the peri-implantation mouse uterus. During the preimplantation period (days 1–4), the COX-1 gene was expressed in the uterine epithelium mainly on day 4 until the initiation of attachment reaction in the evening after which the expression was downregulated. This COX-1 expression coincides with the generalized uterine edema required for luminal closure. In contrast, the COX-2 gene was expressed in the luminal epithelium and subepithelial stromal cells at the anti-mesometrial pole exclusively surrounding the blastocyst at the time of attachment reaction on day 4 and persisted through the morning of day 5. This uterine gene was not expressed at the sites of blastocyst apposition during progesterone (P4) treated delayed implantation, but was readily induced in the uterus surrounding the activated blastocysts after termination of the delay by estradiol-17β (E2). The results suggest that PG synthesis catalyzed by COX-2 is important for localized increased uterine vascular permeability and attachment reaction. The COX-1 gene that was downregulated from the time of attachment reaction on day 4 was again expressed in the mesometrial and anti-mesometrial secondary decidual beds on days 7 and 8. These results suggest that PGs generated by COX-1 are involved in decidualization and/or continued localized endometrial vascular permeability observed during this period. In contrast, the COX-2 gene, expressed at the anti-mesometrial pole on days 4 and 5, switched its expression to the mesometrial pole from day 6 onward. These results suggest that PGs produced at this site by COX-2 are involved in angiogenesis for the establishment of placenta. In the ovariectomized mice, the COX-1 gene was induced in the epithelium by a combined treatment with P4 and E2. However, P4 and/or E2 treatments failed to influence the uterine COX-2 gene. Overall, the results suggest that the uterine COX-1 gene is influenced by ovarian steroids, while the COX-2 gene is regulated by the implanting blastocyst during early pregnancy.


2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (2) ◽  
pp. C302-C309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyne I. Lemieux ◽  
Sherine S. Rahal ◽  
Chris R. J. Kennedy

Increased glomerular prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production is associated with the progression of diseases such as membranous nephropathy, nephrotic syndrome, and anti-Thy1 nephritis. We investigated the signaling pathways that regulate the synthesis and actions of PGE2 in glomerular podocytes. To study its actions, we assessed the ability of PGE2 to regulate the production of its own precursor, arachidonic acid (AA), in a mouse podocyte cell line. PGE2 dose-dependently reduced phorbol ester (PMA)-mediated AA release. Inhibition of PMA-stimulated AA release by PGE2 was found to be cAMP/PKA-dependent, because PGE2 significantly increased levels of this second messenger, whereas the inhibitory actions of PGE2 were reversed by PKA inhibition and reproduced by the cAMP-elevating agents forskolin and IBMX. PGE2 synthesis in this podocyte cell line increased fourfold at 60 min in response to PMA, coinciding with upregulation of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 but not COX-1 levels. However, PGE2 synthesis was significantly reduced by COX-1-selective inhibition, yet to a lesser extent by COX-2-selective inhibition. Our findings suggest that PMA-stimulated PGE2 synthesis in mouse podocytes requires both basal COX-1 activity and induced COX-2 expression, and that PGE2 reduces PMA-stimulated AA release in a cAMP/PKA-dependent manner. Such an autocrine regulatory loop might have important consequences for podocyte and glomerular function in the context of renal diseases involving PGE2 synthesis.


Reproduction ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Cong ◽  
Hong-Lu Diao ◽  
Yue-Chao Zhao ◽  
Hua Ni ◽  
Yun-Qin Yan ◽  
...  

It has been shown that both prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) and PGE2 are essential for mouse implantation, whereas only PGE2 is required for hamster implantation. To date, the expression and regulation of cyclooxygenase (COX) and prostaglandin E synthase (PGES), which are responsible for PGE2 production, have not been reported in the rat. The aim of this study was to examine the expression pattern and regulation of COX-1, COX-2, membrane-associated PGES-1 (mPGES-1), mPGES-2 and cytosolic PGES (cPGES) in rat uterus during early pregnancy and pseudopregnancy, and under delayed implantation. At implantation site on day 6 of pregnancy, COX-1 immunostaining was highly visible in the luminal epithelium, and COX-2 immunostaining was clearly observed in the subluminal stroma. Both mPGES-1 mRNA and protein were only observed in the subluminal stroma surrounding the implanting blastocyst at the implantation site on day 6 of pregancy , but were not seen in the inter-implantation site on day 6 of pregnancy and on day 6 of pseudopregnancy. Our data suggest that the presence of an active blastocyst is required for mPGES-1 expression at the implantation site. When pregnant rats on day 5 were treated with nimesulide for 24 h, mPGES-1 protein expression was completely inhibited. cPGES immunostaining was clearly observed in the luminal epithelium and subluminal stromal cells immediately surrounding the implanting blastocyst on day 6 of pregnancy. mPGES-2 immunostaining was clearly seen in the luminal epithelium at the implantation site. Additionally, immunostaining for prostaglandin I synthase (PGIS) was also strongly detected at the implantation site. In conclusion, our results indicate that PGE2 and PGI2 should have a very important role in rat implantation.


Zygote ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Saint-Dizier ◽  
Bénédicte Grimard ◽  
Catherine Guyader-Joly ◽  
Patrice Humblot ◽  
Andrew A. Ponter

SummaryProstaglandin E2 (PGE2) may play a major role in embryo development and the establishment of pregnancy in cattle. The biosynthesis of PGE2 implies the sequential transformation of arachidonic acid to PGH2 by cyclooxygenases (COXs), then the conversion of PGH2 to PGE2 by prostaglandin E synthases (PGESs). Quantitative RT-PCR was used to examine the expression of COX-1, COX-2, microsomal PGES-1 (mPGES-1), microsomal PGES-2 (mPGES-2) and cytosolic PGES (cPGES) mRNAs in day 7 in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos from oocytes collected by ovum pick-up in Holstein heifers. Transcripts for COX-2 and mPGES-1 were detected in all embryos, whereas transcripts for COX-1 and mPGES-2 were not detected and cPGESs were at the limit of detection in 40% of embryos. Levels of COX-2 and mPGES-1 mRNAs were significantly higher in blastocysts and expanded blastocysts than in morulae and early blastocysts. Furthermore, excellent-quality embryos (grade 1) displayed higher levels of both COX-2 and mPGES-1 than did embryos of good and medium qualities (grades 2–3). Our results suggest that bovine IVP embryos at the morula and blastocyst stages use exclusively the COX-2/mPGES-1 pathway for PGE2 biosynthesis, and that PGE2 is potentially involved in blastocyst expansion and developmental competence.


2006 ◽  
Vol 191 (1) ◽  
pp. 263-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Odau ◽  
Christoph Gabler ◽  
Christoph Holder ◽  
Ralf Einspanier

The aim of the present study was to investigate the enzymes for the local prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis present in the bovine oviduct during the estrous cycle to influence early reproductive events. Bovine oviducts were classified into four phases: pre-ovulatory, post-ovulatory, early-to-mid luteal, and late luteal phase, subdivided further into ipsi- or contralateral site and separated into ampulla or isthmus. Oviductal cells were gained by flushing the oviductal regions. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR was performed for the secretory and cytosolic phospholipases A2 (sPLA2IB, cPLA2α, and cPLA2β) and cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) as the first step enzymes of PG synthesis. COX-1 and cPLA2β showed significant highest mRNA expression around and before ovulation compared with the luteal phase respectively. sPLA2IB and cPLA2α mRNA expression was unregulated during the estrous cycle. Regional differences in mRNA content were found for sPLA2IB with higher mRNA expression in the ampulla than in the isthmus. Western blot analysis revealed the highest COX-1 protein content in the early-to-mid luteal phase. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that COX-1 was localized in epithelial and smooth muscle cells, whereas COX-2 was only localized in epithelial cells. COX-2 showed a differential distribution within the epithelial cell layer suggesting a regulation on a cellular level, although the COX-2 mRNA and protein amounts did not vary throughout the estrous cycle. A COX activity assay of oviductal cells revealed that COX activity originated predominantly from COX-1 than from COX-2. Treatment of primary oviductal cells with 10 pg/ml 17β-estradiol or 10 ng/ml progesterone resulted in a higher expression of COX-2 and cPLA2α, but not of the other enzymes. The expression pattern of these enzymes suggests that an estrous-cycle dependent and region-specific PG synthesis in the bovine oviduct may be required for a successful reproduction.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Pannunzio ◽  
Mauro Coluccia

Prostaglandins and thromboxane are lipid signaling molecules deriving from arachidonic acid by the action of the cyclooxygenase isoenzymes COX-1 and COX-2. The role of cyclooxygenases (particularly COX-2) and prostaglandins (particularly PGE2) in cancer-related inflammation has been extensively investigated. In contrast, COX-1 has received less attention, although its expression increases in several human cancers and a pathogenetic role emerges from experimental models. COX-1 and COX-2 isoforms seem to operate in a coordinate manner in cancer pathophysiology, especially in the tumorigenesis process. However, in some cases, exemplified by the serous ovarian carcinoma, COX-1 plays a pivotal role, suggesting that other histopathological and molecular subtypes of cancer disease could share this feature. Importantly, the analysis of functional implications of COX-1-signaling, as well as of pharmacological action of COX-1-selective inhibitors, should not be restricted to the COX pathway and to the effects of prostaglandins already known for their ability of affecting the tumor phenotype. A knowledge-based choice of the most appropriate tumor cell models, and a major effort in investigating the COX-1 issue in the more general context of arachidonic acid metabolic network by using the systems biology approaches, should be strongly encouraged.


Zygote ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Ning Tan ◽  
Ying Liu ◽  
Hong-Lu Diao ◽  
Zeng-Ming Yang

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is shown to be essential for female reproduction. Cyclooxygenase (COX) is a rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin synthesis from arachidonic acid and exists in two isoforms: COX-1 and COX-2. Prostaglandin E synthase (PGES) is a terminal prostanoid synthase and can catalyse the isomerization of the COX product PGH2 to PGE2, including microsomal PGES-1 (mPGES-1), cytosolic PGES (cPGES) and mPGES-2. This study examined the protein expression of COX-1, COX-2, mPGES-1, cPGES and mPGES-2 in preimplantation mouse embryos by immunohistochemistry. Embryos at different stages collected from oviducts or uteri were transferred into a flushed oviduct of non-pregnant mice. The oviducts containing embryos were paraffin-embedded and processed for immunostaining. COX-1 immunostaining was at a basal level in zygotes and a low level at the 2-cell stage, reaching a high level from the 4-cell to blastocyst stage. COX-2 immunostaining was at a low level at the zygote stage and was maintained at a high level from the 2-cell to blastocyst stages. A low level of mPGES-1 immunostaining was observed from the zygote to 8-cell stages. The signal for mPGES-1 immunostaining became stronger at the morula stage and was strongly seen at the blastocyst stage. cPGES immunostaining was strongly observed in zygotes, 2-cell and 8-cell embryos. There was a slight decrease in cPGES immunostaining at the 4-cell, morula and blastocyst stages. mPGES-2 immunostaining was at a low level from the zygote to morula stages and at a high level at the blastocyst stage. We found that the COX-1, COX-2, mPGES-1, cPGES and mPGES-2 protein signals were all at a high level at the blastocyst stage. PGE2 produced during the preimplantation development may play roles during embryo transport and implantation.


2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. E8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Pfister ◽  
Rainer Ritz ◽  
Heike Pfrommer ◽  
Antje Bornemann ◽  
Marcos S. Tatagiba ◽  
...  

Object The current treatment for recurrent or malignant meningiomas with adjuvant therapies has not been satisfactory, and there is an intense interest in evaluating new molecular markers to act as therapeutic targets. Enzymes of the arachidonic acid (AA) cascade such as cyclooxygenase (COX)–2 or 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) are upregulated in a number of epithelial tumors, but to date there are hardly any data about the expression of these markers in meningiomas. To find possible targets for chemotherapeutic intervention, the authors evaluated the expression of AA derivatives at different molecular levels in meningiomas. Methods One hundred and twenty-four meningioma surgical specimens and normal human cortical tissue samples were immunohistochemically and cytochemically stained for COX-2, COX-1, 5-LO, and prostaglandin E receptor 4 (PTGER4). In addition, Western blot and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses were performed to detect the presence of eicosanoids in vivo and in vitro. Results Sixty (63%) of 95 benign meningiomas, 21 (88%) of 24 atypical meningiomas, all five malignant meningiomas, and all normal human cortex samples displayed high COX-2 immunoreactivity. All cultured specimens and IOMM-Lee cells stained positive for COX-2, COX-1, 5-LO, and PTGER4. The PCR analysis demonstrated no changes in eicosanoid expression among meningiomas of different World Health Organization grades and in normal human cortical and dura mater tissue. Conclusions Eicosanoid derivatives COX-1, COX-2, 5-LO, and PTGER4 enzymes show a high universal expression in meningiomas but are not upregulated in normal human cortex and dura tissue. This finding of the ubiquitous presence of these enzymes in meningiomas offers an excellent baseline for testing upcoming chemotherapeutic treatments.


1999 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 287-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pravit Akarasereenont ◽  
Kitirat Techatrisak ◽  
Sirikul Chotewuttakorn ◽  
Athiwat Thaworn

Prostaglandins (PGS) have numerous cardiovascular and inflammatory effects. Cyclooxygenase (COX), which exists as COX-1 and COX-2 isoforms, is the first enzyme in the pathway in which arachidonic acid is converted to PGs. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) exerts a variety of biological activities for the maintenance of local homeostasis in the body. Elucidation of PGE2 involvement in the signalling molecules such as COX could lead to potential therapeutic interventions. Here, we have investigated the effects of PGE2 on the induction of COX-2 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) treated with interleukin-1β (IL-1β 1 ng/ml). COX activity was measured by the production of 6-keto-PGF1α, PGE2, PGF2α and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) in the presence of exogenous arachidonic acids (10 μM for 10 min) using enzyme immunoassay (EIA). COX-1 and COX-2 protein was measured by immunoblotting using specific antibody. Untreated HUVEC contained only COX-1 protein while IL-1β treated HUVEC contained COX-1 and COX-2 protein. PGE2 (3 μM for 24 h) did not affect on COX activity and protein in untreated HUVEC. Interestingly, PGE2 (3 μM for 24 h) can inhibit COX-2 protein, but not COX-1 protein, expressed in HUVEC treated with IL1 β. This inhibition was reversed by coincubation with forskolin (100 μM). The increased COX activity in HUVEC treated with IL-1β was also inhibited by PGE2 (0.03, 0.3 and 3 μM for 24 h) in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, forskolin (10, 50 or 100 μM) can also reverse the inhibition of PGE2 on increased COX activity in IL-1β treated HUVEC. The results suggested that (i) PGE2 can initiate negative feedback regulation in the induction of COX-2 elicited by IL-1β in endothelial cells, (ii) the inhibition of PGE2 on COX-2 protein and activity in IL-1β treated HUVEC is mediated by cAMP and (iii) the therapeutic use of PGE2 in the condition which COX-2 has been involved may have different roles.


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