Down-Regulation of Casein Kinase 1α Contributes to Endometriosis through Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog/Autophagy-Related 7–Mediated Autophagy

Aixiu Zhou, Zhou A, Qiongyi Cai, Cai Q, Hong Y, Yiting Hong, Lv Y, Yuchun Lv
The American Journal of Pathology · 2021 · vol. 191(12) , pp. 2195–2202 · doi:10.1016/j.ajpath.2021.08.015 · PMID:34809787 · W3214969409
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This study investigated how casein kinase 1α down-regulation contributes to endometriosis by modulating the PTEN/autophagy-related 7 pathway to influence autophagy.

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Abstract

The present study aimed to explore the roles of casein kinase 1α (CK1α) in endometriosis and its underlying mechanisms. Endometrial specimen were collected from the patients and healthy volunteers. The expression patterns of CK1α, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), and autophagy-related proteins were determined using immunohistochemistry staining, Western blot analysis, and quantitative RT-PCR. Besides, the CK1α-overexpressing cells and PTEN knockdown cells were constructed in the endometrial stromal cells isolated from endometriosis patients. In addition, the cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1-CK1α or pcDNA3.1-CK1α plus siRNA- PTEN. The expressions of CK1α, PTEN, and autophagy-related proteins were determined using Western blot and quantitative RT-PCR. The expressions of CK1α and autophagy-related 7 (Atg7) were significantly decreased in the ectopic endometrium compared with the eutopic endometrium. Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed positive correlations between CK1α and PTEN, CK1α and Atg7, and PTEN and Atg7. In addition, CK1α, PTEN, and autophagy-related proteins were down-regulated in ectopic endometrium. Interestingly, overexpression of CK1α significantly increased the expressions of autophagy-related proteins, whereas the protein expression of autophagy-related proteins was decreased with PTEN knock-down. CK1α regulated PTEN/Atg7-mediated autophagy in endometriosis.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Autophagy Casein Kinase Ialpha Endometriosis Uterine Diseases Adult Autophagy Autophagy Autophagy-Related Protein 7 Autophagy-Related Protein 7 Case-Control Studies Casein Kinase Ialpha Casein Kinase Ialpha Down-Regulation Down-Regulation Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic Humans PTEN Phosphohydrolase

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