Metformin InhibitsStARExpression in Human Endometriotic Stromal Cells via AMPK-Mediated Disruption of CREB-CRTC2 Complex Formation

Jia-Ning Xu, Jianing Xu, Cheng Zeng, Yan Zhou, Chao Peng, Yingfang Zhou, Ying-Fang Zhou, Qing Xue
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2014 · vol. 99(8) , pp. 2795–2803 · doi:10.1210/jc.2014-1593 · PMID:24823468 · W1976514743
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Metformin inhibits StAR expression in endometriotic stromal cells by activating AMPK, which disrupts the CREB-CRTC2 complex and blocks CRTC2 translocation necessary for StAR gene transcription.

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Abstract

CONTEXT: Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease affecting reproductive women. Metformin could have a therapeutic effect on endometriosis through regulation of local estrogen production. OBJECTS: The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanism by which metformin regulates StAR expression in human endometriotic stromal cells (ESCs). METHODS: ESCs derived from ovarian endometriomas were cultured with metformin and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). StAR mRNA was measured by quantitative PCR; pregnenolone, progesterone, and estrogen production were measured by ELISA kits; steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), AMP-activated protein kinase, cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), and CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 2 (CRTC2) protein expression were measured by Western blot assay; and CRTC2 translocation and its association with CREB were assessed by coimmunoprecipitation assay and CRTC2-CREB complex binding by a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. RESULTS: 1) StAR mRNA levels in ESCs are 264 times higher than those in endometrial cells. 2) Metformin downregulates the StAR mRNA expression (maximum 31.7%) stimulated by PGE2 (2.4-fold) in ESCs. 3) PGE2 induces CRTC2 translocation and enhances its association with CREB to form a transcription complex that binds to the StAR promoter region. 4) Metformin prevents the nuclear translocation of CRTC2 by increasing AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylation. This inhibits transcription of StAR by disrupting formation of the CREB-CRTC2 complex, involved in activation of the StAR promoter cAMP response element. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated a detailed mechanistic analysis of StAR expression regulated by metformin in ESCs. Our data highlight a role for CRTC2 in the mechanism by which metformin inhibits StAR expression.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases Endometrium Metformin Phosphoproteins Stromal Cells Adult AMP-Activated Protein Kinases Cells, Cultured Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein Down-Regulation Down-Regulation Down-Regulation Endometrium Endometrium Female Humans Metformin Phosphoproteins Phosphoproteins

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