Progesterone increases rat neural progenitor cell cycle gene expression and proliferation via extracellularly regulated kinase and progesterone receptor membrane components 1 and 2.

TitleProgesterone increases rat neural progenitor cell cycle gene expression and proliferation via extracellularly regulated kinase and progesterone receptor membrane components 1 and 2.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsLiu L, Wang J, Zhao L, Nilsen J, McClure K, Wong K, Brinton RDiaz
JournalEndocrinology
Volume150
Issue7
Pagination3186-96
Date Published2009 Jul
ISSN1945-7170
KeywordsAnimals, Cell Cycle, Cell Cycle Proteins, Cell Proliferation, Dentate Gyrus, Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases, Membrane Proteins, Neurogenesis, Progesterone, Rats, Receptors, Progesterone, Signal Transduction, Stem Cells
Abstract

Progesterone receptor (PR) expression and regulation of neural progenitor cell (NPC) proliferation was investigated using NPC derived from adult rat brain. RT-PCR revealed that PRA mRNA was not detected in rat NPCs, whereas membrane-associated PRs, PR membrane components (PGRMCs) 1 and 2, mRNA were expressed. Progesterone-induced increase in 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation was confirmed by fluorescent-activated cell sorting analysis, which indicated that progesterone promoted rat NPC exit of G(0)/G(1) phase at 5 h, followed by an increase in S-phase at 6 h and M-phase at 8 h, respectively. Microarray analysis of cell-cycle genes, real-time PCR, and Western blot validation revealed that progesterone increased expression of genes that promote mitosis and decreased expression of genes that repress cell proliferation. Progesterone-induced proliferation was not dependent on conversion to metabolites and was antagonized by the ERK(1/2) inhibitor UO126. Progesterone-induced proliferation was isomer and steroid specific. PGRMC1 small interfering RNA treatment, together with computational structural analysis of progesterone and its isomers, indicated that the proliferative effect of progesterone is mediated by PGRMC1/2. Progesterone mediated NPC proliferation and concomitant regulation of mitotic cell cycle genes via a PGRMC/ERK pathway mechanism is a potential novel therapeutic target for promoting neurogenesis in the mammalian brain.

DOI10.1210/en.2008-1447
Alternate JournalEndocrinology
PubMed ID19359388
PubMed Central IDPMC2703530
Grant ListP01 AG026572 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
1 PO1 AG026572 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
Faculty Member Reference: 
Roberta Diaz Brinton, Ph.D