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Transcriptomics and proteomics reveal associations between myometrium and intrauterine adhesions.

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) is a gynecological condition with a poor therapeutic prognosis, that severely threatens the fertility and the reproductive physiology and psychological health of women. Our previous research on the use of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) for treating IUAs revealed that CM-Dil-labelled HUCMSCs were barely distributed in the endometrial epithelium. Instead, these cells were predominantly found in the myometrium, with no statistically significant difference in distribution compared to the endometrial stromal cells. Therefore, we aimed to explore the associations between the myometrium and IUAs. METHODS: Eight patients with moderate and 5 severe lesional IUAs were included in the experimental group. The control group included 7 patients whose inner and outer myometrium were normal. We used H&E, Masson's trichrome and immunohistochemical staining to obtain the pathological features of the tissues. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were conducted to identify differentially expressed genes, proteins and enrichment pathways. RESULTS: Both IUAs lesion tissues expressed the smooth muscle markers &#x3b1;-SMA and H-caldesmon, and there was no significant difference between severe IUAs tissue and normal myometrium (p&#x2009;>&#x2009;0.05). Transcriptomic and proteomic data revealed that genes and proteins involved in cell mitosis, such as KIF14, KIF4A, and CIT, were downregulated in both IUAs lesion tissues compared with the inner myometrium (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Additionally, some genes or proteins that participate in activating the complement-coagulation cascade system and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation also significantly differed (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Transcriptomic and proteomic data revealed a correlation between endometrial injury and the myometrium. These findings preliminarily revealed that the myometrium possibly contributes to the aetiology and progression of IUAs through dual mechanisms. On the one hand, the myometrium inhibits endometrial regeneration by suppressing the cell mitogenic pathway. On the other hand, it promotes fibrosis by activating the complement-coagulation cascade system and inhibiting the ECM degradation pathway. These new findings increase our understanding of the pathogenesis of IUAs and potentially contribute to the application of precision clinical treatment for IUAs.

Humans

Beta-adrenoceptors in the pregnant and non-pregnant myometrium of the goat and cow.

The muscle relaxing effect of beta-adrenoceptor agonists was examined without and with the presence of beta-adrenoceptor antagonists in strips from the pregnant and non-pregnant myometrium of the goat and from the pregnant myometrium of the cow. Isoprenaline, salbutamol and ritodrine caused a dose-dependent reduction of the spontaneous contractions of the pregnant myometrium and a dose-related and parallel shift to the right of the isoprenaline dose-response curve was obtained with butoxamine but not with practolol. Isoprenaline but neither salbutamol nor ritodrine caused a dose-related reduction of the spontaneous contractions in the non-pregnant myometrium and a dose-related and parallel shift to the right of the dose-response curve of isoprenaline was brought about with propranolol but not with either butoxamine or practolol. The muscle relaxing effect of ritodrine on the pregnant myometrium of the goat and cow shown in vitro was also demonstrated in vivo in the same species within eight hours of delivery. It is concluded that the beta-adrenoceptors in the pregnant myometrium of the goat and cow belong to the beta2-group whereas those in the non-pregnant myometrium cannot be classified as either beta1- or beta2-adrenoceptors.

Albuterol

Relaxin Modulates the Genomic Actions and Biological Effects of Estrogen in the Myometrium.

Estradiol (E2) and relaxin (Rln) are steroid and polypeptide hormones, respectively, with important roles in the female reproductive tract, including myometrium. Some actions of Rln, which are mediated by its membrane receptor RXFP1, require or are augmented by E2 signaling through its cognate nuclear steroid receptor, estrogen receptor alpha (ER&#x3b1;). In contrast, other actions of Rln act in opposition to the effects of E2. Here we explored the molecular and genomic mechanisms that underlie the functional interplay between E2 and Rln in the myometrium. We used both ovariectomized female mice and immortalized human myometrial cells expressing wild-type or mutant ER&#x3b1; (hTERT-HM-ER&#x3b1; cells). Our results indicate that Rln modulates the genomic actions and biological effects of estrogen in the myometrium and myometrial cells by reducing phosphorylation of ER&#x3b1; on serine 118 (S118), as well as by reducing the E2-dependent binding of ER&#x3b1; across the genome. These effects were associated with changes in the hormone-regulated transcriptome, including a decrease in the E2-dependent expression of some genes and enhanced expression of others. The inhibitory effects of Rln cotreatment on the E2-dependent phosphorylation of ER&#x3b1; required the nuclear dual-specificity phosphatases DUSP1 and DUSP5. Moreover, the inhibitory effects of Rln were reflected in a concomitant inhibition of the E2-dependent contraction of myometrial cells. Collectively, our results identify a pathway that integrates Rln/RXFP1 and E2/ER&#x3b1; signaling, resulting in a convergence of membrane and nuclear signaling pathways to control genomic and biological outcomes.

Female

Regulation of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity in myometrium from pregnant and spayed rhesus monkeys.

The activities of myometrial cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) and the sensitivity of these enzymes to the effector molecules, cGMP and cAMP, were determined in the 100,000 g supernatant of homogenates from pregnant and spayed rhesus monkeys. The specific activities (per mg nitrogen) of the myometrial cyclic nucleotide PDEs in the supernatant from spayed monkeys were higher than those from pregnant monkeys at all substrate levels studied. However, when calculated on the basis of the DNA content of the myometrium, which was 8 times higher in the spayed than in the pregnant animals, the specific activities were lower in the tissue from spayed animals. At substrate levels of 2 . 5 micron-cAMP, low levels of cGMP (0 . 1-1 . 0 micron) caused the same percentage increase in cGMP-PDE activity in both tissues. At high substrate levels of 100 micron-cAMP, 1 micron-cGMP inhibited only the cAMP-PDE from spayed monkeys, and the enzyme from spayed monkeys was more effectively inhibited by 10 and 40 micron-cGMP than was the enzyme from pregnant animals. The cGMP-PDE activity was inhibited by cAMP (1 . 0-50 . 0 micron), and the percentage inhibition with increasing levels of cAMP appeared to be similar in the two series. The levels of cGMP and cAMP that modify the rate of hydrolysis of the other nucleotide in rhesus myometrium seem to be within the physiological range for these compounds in situ. It therefore appears possible that cAMP and cGMP are each involved in regulating the degradation of the other nucleotide in rhesus myometrium.

2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases

Progesterone-binding proteins from endometrium and myometrium of sheep uterus: a comparative study.

The binding of tritiated proesterone to the cytoplasmic progestogen receptors from oestrogen-primed sheep endometrium and myometrium has been investigated. The binding characteristics of the progesterone receptors from both sources were determined in the supernatant fractions obtained after high speed centrifugation of the myometrial and endometrial homogenates. High affinity binding proteins with identical association constants for progesterone (1 times 10-9 M-1) were detected in both endometrium and myometrium. The concentration of binding sites was also of the same order of magnitude in both tissues. After centrifugation on surcrose gradients, these binding proteins were shown to have similar sedimentation constants, 7S in a gradient containing no added KC1 and 4S in a gradient containing 0.4 M KC1. The binding peaks from both sources could be abolished by heating the cytosol at 60 degrees C for half an hour. The proteinaceous nature of the binding materials was demonstrated by incubation of the endometrial and myometrial cytosols with pronase, DNase and RNase: the binding was totally eliminated by the proteolytic action of pronase whereas DNase and RNase had no effect. The ligand specificity of the two progesterone binding proteins was studied using a competitive protein-binding technique. Both the endometrial and the myometrial receptor proteins were shown to bind only steroids which are known potent progestogens. In addition, the relative affinities of the binding proteins for 37 steroidal compounds closely resembled each other. Thus, the physiochemical and binding data obtained show that a very close similarity exists between the progesterone-binding proteins in the endometrium and myometrium of ovariectomized sheep after oestradiol treatment.

Animals

Effect of Indomethacin on cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in myometrium from pregnant rhesus monkeys.

Our results indicate that indomethacin inhibits cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in the myometrium of the pregnant rhesus monkey under in vitro as well as in vivo conditions. Kinetic data on extracts of myometrium from pregnant rhesus monkeys indicated two cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activities. The apparent Km value for the high affinity enzyme averaged 3.9 muM and for the low affinity enzyme 23 muM; the Vmax values averaged 0.56 and 1.4 nmoles cyclic AMP hydrolized per mg protein min-1 respectively. When indomethacin was added to the myometrial extracts, the activity of the high Km phosphodiesterase was competitively inhibited, with an average Ki of 200 muM; the low Km enzyme was noncompetitively inhibited with an average Ki of 110 muM. Experiments on myometrial slices demonstrated that 10 muM indomethsacin potentiated the effect of PGE1 and epinephrine on cyclic AMP levels, presumably by inhibiting the phophodiesterase activity. The uterine relaxing effect of indomethacin is generally attributed to the inhibition of prostaglandin synthetase activity. However, treatment of pregnant rhesus monkeys with therapeutic doses of indomethacin resulted in a significant inhibition of myometrial cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in association with uterine relaxation and prolongation of gestation.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases

Control of intracellular Ca2+ activity in rat myometrium.

Four fractions enriched, respectively, in plasma membrane (PM), smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER), rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), and mitochondria were isolated from estrogen-dominated rat myometrium. Ca2+ uptake by these fractions was studied in order to estimate the relative potential of the corresponding organelles for controlling intracellular Ca2+ activity. Ca2+ uptake properties of the PM, SER, and RER fractions were similar except that potentiation by oxalate was in the order RER greater than or equal SER greater than PM. However, studies with the ionophores X-537A and A23187 suggested that Ca2+ was transported into the lumen of membrane vesicles of all these fractions. Unlike that of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum, Ca2+ uptake by the myometrial fractions was not supported by high-energy compounds other than ATP. Mitochondria took up much less Ca2+ at low, and much more Ca2+ at high, free Ca2+ concentrations than did the other fractions. The amount of Ca2+ taken up in 30 s from a 1 muM free Ca2+ solution in the presence of ATP was similar for all fractions. These results suggested that mitochondria may act as an important Ca2+ control system in rat myometrium when the intracellular Ca2+ concentration is near 1 muM or higher, whereas the PM, SER, and RER may be of major importance at Ca2+ levels of 0.3 muM or lower.

Adenosine Triphosphatases

Enzyme activities in human endometrium, myometrium and leiomyomas of the uterus.

Certain selected enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism were measured in samples of endometrium and myometrium from women who were premenopausal or postmenopausal. In addition, a number of samples of leiomyoma were obtained and assayed. Activities of several enzymes were higher in endometrium from premenopausal women compared to those in postmenopausal women; activities in myometrium were similar regardless of menopausal status. The activities of G6PD, ICD and GPI appeared to be lower in leiomyoma samples versus myometrial samples from premenopausal women; however, these differences were not apparent when enzyme activity was expressed per milligram protein.

Endometrium

Progesterone receptor of the human myometrium.

A progesterone binding protein was characterized in the cytosol of human myometrium. The receptor sedimented in the 4S region on sucrose gradients and had an equilibrium dissociation constant of 3.7 times 10-9M. Synthetic progestagens had an affinity equivalent to that of progesterone while cortisol had low affinity for the binding protein. These same progestagens showed very low binding to human CBG. In normally cycling women, the total levels of cytosol receptor were higher during the follicular phase than during the luteal phase. Subjects taking oral contraceptives and those who were pregnant had the lowest concentration of myometrial progesterone receptor. Postmenopausal women had levels of myometrial receptor lower than those of the secretory phase of the cycle. Estrogen therapy increased the receptor concentrations of the menopausal myometrium to those of the proliferative phase. The estradiol receptor levels of myometrial cytosol revealed similar changes in cycling women. When both binding proteins were measured concurrently in the same specimen, there was a significant positive correlation.

Anovulation

Comparative investigations of alpha- and beta-effects on the longitudinal and circular muscles of the pregnant rat myometrium.

Comparative effects of noradrenaline (10(-8)-10(-6) g/ml) and isoprenaline (10(-10)-10(-6) g/ml) on electrical and contractile activity were investigated in longitudinal and circular muscle strips of rat myometrium (13-19 days pregnant). When recorded with an intracellular microelectrode, spike potentials of longitudinal muscle discharged spontaneously in bursts. Treatment with either noradrenaline or isoprenaline hyperpolarized the membrane and increased membrane conductance, causing the cessation of spontaneous activity. Slow potential was dominant in the circular muscle, and it became prolonged after treatment with noradrenaline, leading to an increase in tension. Isoprenaline reduced the duration of the slow potential and depressed the contraction. The minimal concentration of isoprenaline needed to suppress the spontaneous activity in circular muscle was much higher than in longitudinal muscle. The excitatory effect of noradrenaline on circular muscle was antagonized by treatment with phentolamine, and the inhibitory effect of catecholamines on both longitudinal and circular muscles by propranolol. alpha-Adrenoceptor appears predominant in circular muscle, while beta-adrenoceptor in longitudinal muscle in rat myometrium during late-pregnancy.

Action Potentials

[Adenomatoid tumors in myometrium (author's transl)].

In 6000 cases of hysterectomy nine adenomatoid tumors of myometrium were observed. Macroscopically, the adenomatoid tumour appears as a round or ovoid mass of grey or whitegrey colour about the size of a hazel-nut. Microscopically, four types are distinguished: solid, angiomatoid, macrotubular and mixed types. The cytoplasma of the cells tends to be vacuolated, the glandlike spaces being probably derived by confluence of these vacuoles. The interstitial tissue contains cells of the same type and often lymphocytes. Several hypotheses concerning the histogenesis of adenomatoid tumors are reviewed. The adenomatoid tumor is more frequent in the myometrium than it has been hitherto known. Probably the tumor is often misinterpreted as leiomyoma of the uterus on the basis of macroscopical appearance only.

Adenoma

Hormonal control of uterine contraction. Characterization od cyclic AMP-dependent membrane properties in the myometrium.

A mitochondria-free membrane fraction prepared from rat myometrium accumulated 45Ca2+ in the presence of oxalic acid and ATP. The rate of transport of Ca2+ into the membranous vesicles was increased by greater than 50% in the presence of 3',5'-cyclic AMP, but not by 2',3'-cyclic AMP or 5'AMP. Membrane ATPase activity was stimulated by Mg2+; slight additional stimulation was obtained in the presence of Na+ and K+ but not in the presence of Ca+2. Despite the cyclic AMP sensitivity of membrane ATPase activity, the absence of any effect of inhibitors of Ca2+-transport suggest it has little to do with Ca2+ accumulation by the membranes. Cyclic AMP-induced increase in Ca2+-transport and membrane ATPase activity was duplicated in vivo by incubating uteri in 10(-4)M isoproterenol prior to membrane isolation. Isoproterenol has been previously shown to increase myometrial cyclic AMP levels, and changes in Ca2+-transport by cell membranes in relation to intracellular cyclic AMP levels may be the mechanism through which hormones modulate uterine contractility.

Adenosine Triphosphatases

Studies on the interaction of isoproterenol with plasma membranes isolated from rat myometrium.

Catecholamine stimulation of adenyl cyclase in plasma membranes from rat myometrium was typical of beta-adrenoceptor stimulation. Thus, isoproterenol was the most potent followed by epinephrine and norepinephrine; phenylephrine, a pure alpha-agonist, did not activate the enzyme. The catecholamine-induced activation was potently inhibited by propranolol, whereas phenozybenzamine was without effect. The ED50 for 1-isoproterenol activation was 10- minus 7 M. Binding of [3H]-d-isoproterenol to the same preparations bore little resemblance to the pattern of 1-isoproterenol activation of adenyl cyclase. Propranolol, even at high concentrations, was without significant effect. The degree of binding was inversely rflated to the osmolarity suggesting that diffusion may have contributed to the binding. This contention was further supported by the time course of binding which was biphasic- the first component (smaller than 4 min) being less affected by osmolarity than the second (greater than 4 min). The optimum pH for binding was 7.4.

Adenylyl Cyclases

Symptomatic plexiform tumor of the myometrium: report of a case.

The largest benign plexiform tumor of the myometrium on record is presented. The lesion, measuring 7.2 cm in diameter, was clinically palpable and symptomatic. The presence of scattered microfoci of typical smooth muscle differentiation within the tumor supports its smooth muscle origin.

Adult

Cyclic AMP binding to intracellular receptor proteins in rat myometrium. Effect of epinephrine and prostaglandin E1.

In estrogen-pretreated rat myometrium, the relaxing effect exerted by theophylline or epinephrine has been correlated with their ability to raise cyclic AMP levels (Vesin and Harbon, 1974). The present study demonstrates that such a correlation can be quantitatively extended to the degree of saturation of intracellular cyclic AMP receptors. The rise in cyclic AMP induced by theophylline and/or epinephrine in intact myometrial strips was accompanied by a decrease in the ability of the corresponding extracts to bind exogenous 3H-labeled cyclic AMP. Total intracellular cyclic AMP binding sites were not modified and averaged a value of 0.22 muM. Accurate estimation of intracellular receptor-cyclic AMP complex has been correlated with the corresponding level of cyclic AMP in the tissue, the apparent intracellular Kd for cyclic AMP has been evaluated at 450 nm. Stimulation of myometrial strips with prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) which has been shown previously to induce contractions, although elevating cyclic AMP levels, was accompanied by a parallel increase in the saturation of the endogenous receptor, in an identical manner to that found with epinephrine or theophylline. The postulated hypothesis for a compartmentalization of cyclic AMP, or an interference of PGE1 with the intracellular cyclic AMP binding equilibrium has not been verified. The cyclic AMP system cannot be considered as the exclusive mechanism regulating uterine relaxation.

Animals

Proteinase and proteinase-inhibitor activities of rat uterine myometrium during pregnancy and involution.

A supernatant fraction was prepared from rat uterine myometrium by homogenization, sonication and centrifugation. In this supernatant the protein concentration and the activities of an acid proteinase, an acid phosphatase and a proteinase inhibitor were measured. From the fibrous sediment, after washing with 0.5% Triton X-100 and with water, an actomyosin-containing solution was obtained by extraction with 0.6M-NaCl, and in this extract the protein concentration and a neutral proteinase activity were measured. The myometrial wet weight and the activities of the acid proteinase, acid phosphatase and proteinase inhibitor increased by factors of 3-15 during pregnancy and decreased to the same or a greater extent during involution. The amount of protein extracted with 0.6M-NaCl increased by a factor of only 2.3 and the neutral proteinase activity remained essentially constant during pregnancy and involution. The pH optimum of the neutral proteinase, and its pattern of activity compared with those of the lysosomal enzymes, show that the neutral proteinase is not of lysosomal origin. Actomyosin is degraded by the neutral proteinase activity in vitro. Since actomyosin is rapidly broken down only after parturition, the action of the neutral proteinase activity on actomyosin, if this occurs in vivo, must be regulated in some way. The proteinase-inhibitor activity measured in the first supernatant varied in a manner which suggested that it could be involved in this control.

Acid Phosphatase

Localization of the oxytocin receptor in the plasma membrane of rat myometrium.

The distribution of [3H]oxytocin binding sites among various subcellular fractions of rat myometrium paralleled the distribution of 5'-nucleotidase, a plasma membrane marker enzyme, but not of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase or succinate-cytochrome c reductase, which are endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial marker enzymes respectively. [3H]Oxytocin binding to the most enriched plasma membrane fraction showed the degree of selectivity with respect to hormone analogues that is expected for the oxytocin receptor. The binding of oxytocin to this fraction showed an apparent Kd of 1.98 X 10(-9) M and a capacity of 1.28 pmol mg-1. It is concluded that the oxytocin receptor is located on the plasma membrane of the smooth muscle cells of the rat uterus.

Animals

Calcium regulation in the myometrium of pregnant sheep.

Fractionation of pregnant sheep myometrium has been carried out and the fractions obtained analysed for their marker enzyme content and Ca2+ transporting properties. A fairly pure mitochondrial fraction and a very pure plasma membrane fraction were obtained. Both fractions could accumulate Ca2+ in the presence of ATP but the mechanisms were different, mitochondrial uptake had a high capacity and was inhibited by azide. Plasma membrane uptake was of low capacity and unaffected by azide. The effect of oxalate on plasma membrane suggests that there is an outwardly directed Ca2+ pump in the myometrial cell membrane. Both mitochondria and plasma membrane may be important in the Cas2+ accumulation of relaxation in this muscle.

Animals