Estrogen regulation of phosphoserine phosphatase during regression and recrudescence of female reproductive organs.

Phosphoserine phosphatase (PSPH) is a well-known mediator of l-serine biosynthesis in a variety of tissues and its dysregulation causes various diseases, specifically most cancers. However, little is known about the expression and hormonal regulation of PSPH gene in the female reproductive tract. Therefore, in the current study, we focused on relationships between PSPH expression and estrogen during growth, development, differentiation, remodeling and recrudescence of the chicken oviduct and in the progression of epithelial-derived ovarian carcinogenesis in laying hens. The results revealed that PSPH mRNA and protein levels increased in the glandular (GE) and luminal epithelial (LE) cells in the developing oviduct of chicks treated with exogenous estrogen. Additionally, PSPH mRNA and protein expression was up-regulated in GE and LE of the oviduct in response to endogenous estrogen during the recrudescence phase after induced molting. Furthermore, PSPH mRNA and protein were predominantly detected in GE of cancerous, but not normal ovaries. In conclusion, PSPH is a novel estrogen-responsive gene involved in development of the oviduct of chicks and recrudescence of the oviduct of laying hens after molting. PSPH is also a potential target molecule that may help elucidate mechanism responsible for the progression of epithelial cell-derived ovarian carcinogenesis and be of use in therapeutic applications as a biomarker for early diagnosis of epithelial cell-derived ovarian cancer in laying hen as well as women.

Prostaglandin D2 synthase related to estrogen in the female reproductive tract.

Prostaglandin D2 synthase (PTGDS), also known as a glutathione-independent prostaglandin D synthase, catalyzes prostaglandin H2 to prostaglandin D2 that exhibits functions that include regulation of the central nervous system, contraction/relaxation of smooth muscle and inhibition of platelet aggregation. Gene profiling data based on our previous study indicated that PTGDS is significantly increased during development, differentiation and remodeling of the oviduct in chickens in response to estrogen. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to investigate expression of PTGDS in the oviduct and examine if the relationship between PTGDS and estrogen is conserved during development and remodeling of the oviduct. Results of our study indicate d that PTGDS expression is specifically localized to the luminal (LE) and glandular epithelial (GE) cells of the chicken oviduct in response to diethylstilbestrol, a synthetic estrogen. In addition, PTGDS expression increased during the regeneration phase of the oviduct in concert with increasing concentrations of estrogen in the circulation of laying hens during induced molting. Moreover, PTGDS mRNA and protein were expressed abundantly in GE of ovarian carcinoma, but not in normal ovaries. These results provide the first evidence that PTGDS is a novel estrogen-stimulated gene in oviductal epithelial cells, as well as a candidate biomarker for diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma.

Avian SERPINB12 expression in the avian oviduct is regulated by estrogen and up-regulated in epithelial cell-derived ovarian carcinomas of laying hens.

Serine protease inhibitors (SERPINs) are involved in a variety of biological processes such as blood clotting, angiogenesis, immune system, and embryogenesis. Although, of these, SERPINB12 is identified as the latest member of clade B in humans, little is known of it in chickens. Thus, in this study, we investigated SERPINB12 expression profiles in various tissues of chickens and focused on effects of steroid hormone regulation of its expression. In the chicken oviduct, SERPINB12 mRNA and protein are abundant in the luminal (LE) and glandular (GE) epithelia of the magnum in response to endogenous or exogenous estrogen. Furthermore, SERPINB12 mRNA and protein increase significantly in GE of cancerous ovaries of laying hens with epithelia-derived ovarian cancer. Collectively, these results indicate that SERPINB12 is a novel estrogen-stimulated gene that is up-regulated by estrogen in epithelial cells of the chicken oviduct and that it is a potential biomarker for early detection of ovarian carcinomas in laying hens and women.