Liqin Zeng, Xiaozhuang Zhang, Qingjun Shen, Li He, Xiaohan Liu, Xiangyue Zeng, Qiaozhu Wu, Irene Ma, Shuangyun Zheng, Liqin Cheng, Ling Li, Paul Yao
{"title":"Exposure to Progestin 17-OHPC Induces Gastrointestinal Dysfunction through Claudin 1 Suppression in Female Mice with Increased Anxiety-Like Behaviors.","authors":"Liqin Zeng, Xiaozhuang Zhang, Qingjun Shen, Li He, Xiaohan Liu, Xiangyue Zeng, Qiaozhu Wu, Irene Ma, Shuangyun Zheng, Liqin Cheng, Ling Li, Paul Yao","doi":"10.1159/000538692","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"INTRODUCTION\nProgestin, commonly used in oral contraception and preventing preterm birth, elicits various off-target side effects on brain and gastrointestinal (GI) functions, yet the precise mechanisms remain elusive. This study aims to probe progestin's impact on GI function and anxiety-like behaviors in female mice.\n\n\nMETHODS\nColon stem cells were utilized to explore the mechanism underlying progestin 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC)-mediated suppression of claudin-1 (CLDN1), crucial for epithelial integrity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase assays identified potential progestin-response elements on the CLDN1 promoter, with subsequent assessment of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Manipulation of vitamin D receptor (VDR) or estrogen receptor β (ERβ) expression elucidated their roles in 17-OHPC-mediated effects. Intestine-specific VDR deficient mice were generated to evaluate 17-OHPC's impact on GI dysfunction and anxiety-like behaviors in female mice. Additionally, gene expression was analyzed in various brain regions, including the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus.\n\n\nRESULTS\nExposure to 17-OHPC suppressed CLDN1 expression via epigenetic modifications and VDR dissociation from the CLDN1 promoter. Furthermore, 17-OHPC intensified oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokine release. VDR knockdown partly mimicked, while overexpression of either VDR or ERβ partly restored 17-OHPC-mediated effects. Intestinal VDR deficiency partly mirrored 17-OHPC-induced GI dysfunction, with minimal impact on 17-OHPC-mediated anxiety-like behaviors.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\n17-OHPC suppresses CLDN1 expression through VDR, contributing to GI dysfunction in female mice, distinct from 17-OHPC-induced anxiety-like behaviors. This study reveals a new mechanism and potential negative impact of progestin exposure on the gastrointestinal tract, alongside inducing anxiety-like behaviors in female mice.","PeriodicalId":19117,"journal":{"name":"Neuroendocrinology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Neuroendocrinology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000538692","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Progestin, commonly used in oral contraception and preventing preterm birth, elicits various off-target side effects on brain and gastrointestinal (GI) functions, yet the precise mechanisms remain elusive. This study aims to probe progestin's impact on GI function and anxiety-like behaviors in female mice.
METHODS
Colon stem cells were utilized to explore the mechanism underlying progestin 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC)-mediated suppression of claudin-1 (CLDN1), crucial for epithelial integrity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase assays identified potential progestin-response elements on the CLDN1 promoter, with subsequent assessment of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Manipulation of vitamin D receptor (VDR) or estrogen receptor β (ERβ) expression elucidated their roles in 17-OHPC-mediated effects. Intestine-specific VDR deficient mice were generated to evaluate 17-OHPC's impact on GI dysfunction and anxiety-like behaviors in female mice. Additionally, gene expression was analyzed in various brain regions, including the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus.
RESULTS
Exposure to 17-OHPC suppressed CLDN1 expression via epigenetic modifications and VDR dissociation from the CLDN1 promoter. Furthermore, 17-OHPC intensified oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokine release. VDR knockdown partly mimicked, while overexpression of either VDR or ERβ partly restored 17-OHPC-mediated effects. Intestinal VDR deficiency partly mirrored 17-OHPC-induced GI dysfunction, with minimal impact on 17-OHPC-mediated anxiety-like behaviors.
CONCLUSIONS
17-OHPC suppresses CLDN1 expression through VDR, contributing to GI dysfunction in female mice, distinct from 17-OHPC-induced anxiety-like behaviors. This study reveals a new mechanism and potential negative impact of progestin exposure on the gastrointestinal tract, alongside inducing anxiety-like behaviors in female mice.
期刊介绍:
''Neuroendocrinology'' publishes papers reporting original research in basic and clinical neuroendocrinology. The journal explores the complex interactions between neuronal networks and endocrine glands (in some instances also immunecells) in both central and peripheral nervous systems. Original contributions cover all aspects of the field, from molecular and cellular neuroendocrinology, physiology, pharmacology, and the neuroanatomy of neuroendocrine systems to neuroendocrine correlates of behaviour, clinical neuroendocrinology and neuroendocrine cancers. Readers also benefit from reviews by noted experts, which highlight especially active areas of current research, and special focus editions of topical interest.