Comparing thaw survival, implantation and live birth rates from cryopreserved zygotes, embryos and blastocysts.

Context: Most in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs employ embryo cryopreservation to enhance pregnancies from a single ovarian stimulation. More embryos are created, some of which are not transferred to the uterus immediately, generating a need for improved cryopreservation protocols. One protocol may involve growing embryos to a further stage of development, allowing only embryos with proven developmental capabilities to be cryopreserved.

Transcription factor KLF11 integrates progesterone receptor signaling and proliferation in uterine leiomyoma cells.

Uterine leiomyoma is the most common tumor of the female genital tract and the leading cause of hysterectomy. Although progesterone stimulates the proliferation of uterine leiomyoma cells, the mechanism of progesterone action is not well understood. We used chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-cloning approach to identify progesterone receptor (PR) target genes in primary uterine leiomyoma smooth muscle cells.

A novel promoter controls Cyp19a1 gene expression in mouse adipose tissue.

Background: Aromatase, the key enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis, is encoded by the Cyp19a1 gene. Thus far, 3 unique untranslated first exons associated with distinct promoters in the mouse Cyp19a1 gene have been described (brain, ovary, and testis-specific). It remains unknown whether aromatase is expressed in other mouse tissues via novel and tissue-specific promoters.

Estrogen receptor-beta mediates cyclooxygenase-2 expression and vascular prostanoid levels in human placental villous endothelial cells.

Objective: Regulation of fetoplacental blood flow is likely mediated by factors such as prostanoids. Estrogen and its receptors affect prostanoid biosynthesis. Previously, we demonstrated that villous endothelial cells express estrogen receptor-beta (ESR2), and we sought to determine its role in the mediation of fetoplacental vascular function.

Novel promoter I.8 and promoter usage in the CYP19 (aromatase) gene.

To date, 10 promoters were reported to regulate the expression of the human aromatase (CYP19) gene, giving rise to transcripts with an identical coding region but tissue-specific first exons comprising unique 5'-untranslated regions. We describe the identification and characterization of a new CYP19 exon I, designated exon I.8, in a 5'-rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends-generated library of human THP-1 monocytic cells.

Prostaglandin E(2) induces breast cancer related aromatase promoters via activation of p38 and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase in adipose fibroblasts.

Aromatase is the key enzyme for estrogen biosynthesis. A distal promoter, PI.4, maintains baseline levels of aromatase in normal breast adipose tissue.

Progesterone receptor regulates Bcl-2 gene expression through direct binding to its promoter region in uterine leiomyoma cells.

Context: Uterine leiomyomas are smooth muscle cell tumors that cause irregular uterine bleeding and pregnancy loss in many reproductive-age women. Progesterone stimulates their growth, whereas treatment with progesterone receptor (PR) antagonists or selective progesterone receptor modulators shrinks these tumors. Molecular mechanisms underlying these observations are unknown.

Promoter methylation regulates estrogen receptor 2 in human endometrium and endometriosis.

Steroid receptors in the stromal cells of endometrium and its disease counterpart tissue endometriosis play critical physiologic roles. We found that mRNA and protein levels of estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2) were strikingly higher, whereas levels of estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), total progesterone receptor (PGR), and progesterone receptor B (PGR B) were significantly lower in endometriotic versus endometrial stromal cells. Because ESR2 displayed the most striking levels of differential expression between endometriotic and endometrial cells, and the mechanisms for this difference are unknown, we tested the hypothesis that alteration in DNA methylation is a mechanism responsible for severely increased ESR2 mRNA levels in endometriotic cells.

Aromatase excess in cancers of breast, endometrium and ovary.

Pathogenesis and growth of three common women's cancers (breast, endometrium and ovary) are linked to estrogen. A single gene encodes the key enzyme for estrogen biosynthesis named aromatase, inhibition of which effectively eliminates estrogen production in the entire body. Aromatase inhibitors successfully treat breast cancer, whereas their roles in endometrial and ovarian cancers are less clear.

Regulation of 17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in human placental endothelial cells.

17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (HSD17B2) oxidizes estradiol to estrone, testosterone to androstenedione, and 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone to progesterone. HSD17B2 is highly expressed in human placental tissue where it is localized to placental endothelial cells lining the fetal compartment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of potential regulatory factors including progesterone, estradiol, and retinoic acid (RA) onHSD17B2 expression in primary human placental endothelial cells in culture.

Progesterone resistance in endometriosis: link to failure to metabolize estradiol.

Endometriosis is the most common cause of pelvic pain and affects an estimated 5 million women in the US. The biologically active estrogen estradiol (E2) is the best-defined mitogen for the growth and inflammation processes in the ectopic endometriotic tissue that commonly resides on the pelvic organs. Progesterone and progestins may relieve pain by limiting growth and inflammation in endometriosis but a portion of patients with endometriosis and pelvic pain do not respond to treatment with progestins.