Rapid Effects of Oestrogen on Intracellular Ca2+ in the Uterine Junctional Myometrium of Patients With and Without Adenomyosis in Different Phases of the Menstrual Cycle

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Oestrogen rapidly increases intracellular calcium in uterine junctional zone smooth muscle cells via ESR1 and the phospholipase C pathway, with potential implications for adenomyosis.

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This study examined how rapid, non-genomic estrogen signaling through estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) regulates intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in uterine junctional zone smooth muscle cells (JZSMCs) isolated from 17 controls and 24 patients with adenomyosis, analyzing differences across proliferative versus secretory menstrual phases. Membrane ESR1 and [Ca2+]i were higher in controls during the proliferative phase, while adenomyosis patients showed elevated ESR1 and [Ca2+]i in both proliferative and secretory phases; oestradiol rapidly increased [Ca2+]i in JZSMCs from both groups. Pretreatment with the ESR1 antagonist ICI 182,780 reduced the oestradiol-induced increase in [Ca2+]i in both groups (though the between-group differences were not significant), while extracellular calcium removal did not change the effect; phospholipase C inhibition (U73122) and a calcium signaling modulator (2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate) significantly reduced the oestradiol-induced calcium flux, and thapsigargin-depleted cells showed no oestradiol-driven flux, indicating ESR1-mediated, PLC-dependent calcium flux. A stated limitation is the small, tissue-isolation-based sample with membrane/protein and calcium-flux assays rather than direct functional peristalsis measurements. Relevance to endometriosis: although the paper focuses on adenomyosis, it discusses adenomyosis-related uterine junctional zone biology and ESR1 and calcium dysregulation in a disease context adjacent to endometriosis.

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Abstract

We investigated the role of oestrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) in regulating the [Ca2+]i concentration in the junctional zone (JZ) and its effect on adenomyosis. JZ smooth muscle cells (JZSMCs) were isolated from 17 control and 24 adenomyotic uteri, and membrane proteins were extracted from the cells. In the control group, the levels of membrane ESR1 and [Ca2+]i in the proliferative phase were significantly greater than they were in the secretory phase. While no difference was detected between the two phases, ESR1 and [Ca2+]i levels in the adenomyosis group were significantly higher in the proliferative and secretory phases than they were in the control groups. Oestradiol induced a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i in the JZSMCs of both groups. When pretreated with the ESR1 antagonist ICI 182,780, the increase in [Ca2+]i was clearly reduced in both groups compared with the control, but the differences were not significant. Filtered E-6-BSA also induced [Ca2+]i, and its actions were similar to those of oestrogen. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ did not alter the effect of oestradiol, but the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 (10 μM) and 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (5 μM) significantly reduced the oestradiol-induced [Ca2+]i flux. Oestradiol was unable to induce a [Ca2+]i flux in thapsigargin-depleted cells; this result indicated that oestradiol mediates the [Ca2+]i flux in JZSMCs through ESR1, which activates the phospholipase C pathway. ESR1 levels were assessed by Western blotting. Changes in the [Ca2+]i concentration induced by oestrogen stimulation were analysed by immunofluorescence. The ΔFCa2+ was calculated as the difference between baseline and peak fluorescence response to stimulation. We found that the abnormal intracellular [Ca2+]i response to oestrogen could account for aberrant JZ peristalsis.
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Abstract

We investigated the role of oestrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) in regulating the [Ca2+]i concentration in the junctional zone (JZ) and its effect on adenomyosis. JZ smooth muscle cells (JZSMCs) were isolated from 17 control and 24 adenomyotic uteri, and membrane proteins were extracted from the cells. In the control group, the levels of membrane ESR1 and [Ca2+]i in the proliferative phase were significantly greater than they were in the secretory phase. While no difference was detected between the two phases, ESR1 and [Ca2+]i levels in the adenomyosis group were significantly higher in the proliferative and secretory phases than they were in the control groups. Oestradiol induced a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i in the JZSMCs of both groups. When pretreated with the ESR1 antagonist ICI 182,780, the increase in [Ca2+]i was clearly reduced in both groups compared with the control, but the differences were not significant. Filtered E-6-BSA also induced [Ca2+]i, and its actions were similar to those of oestrogen. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ did not alter the effect of oestradiol, but the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 (10 μM) and 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (5 μM) significantly reduced the oestradiol-induced [Ca2+]i flux. Oestradiol was unable to induce a [Ca2+]i flux in thapsigargin-depleted cells; this result indicated that oestradiol mediates the [Ca2+]i flux in JZSMCs through ESR1, which activates the phospholipase C pathway. ESR1 levels were assessed by Western blotting. Changes in the [Ca2+]i concentration induced by oestrogen stimulation were analysed by immunofluorescence. The ΔFCa2+ was calculated as the difference between baseline and peak fluorescence response to stimulation. We found that the abnormal intracellular [Ca2+]i response to oestrogen could account for aberrant JZ peristalsis. Similar content being viewed by others Data Availability All analysis results are displayed on the results. For specific experimental data, please contact the corresponding author.

References

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Additional information Publisher’s Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Wang, S., Duan, H. & Li, B. Rapid Effects of Oestrogen on Intracellular Ca2+ in the Uterine Junctional Myometrium of Patients With and Without Adenomyosis in Different Phases of the Menstrual Cycle. Reprod. Sci. 27, 1992–2001 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-020-00218-2 Received: Accepted: Published: Version of record: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-020-00218-2

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adenomyosis

MeSH descriptors

Adenomyosis Calcium Estradiol Estrogen Receptor alpha Menstrual Cycle Myometrium Uterus Adenomyosis Calcium Cells, Cultured Estradiol Estradiol Estrogen Receptor alpha Female Humans Menstrual Cycle Myometrium Myometrium Uterus Uterus

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