A time-course regulatory and kinetic expression study of steroid metabolizing enzymes by calcitriol in primary cultured human placental cells. Issue 167 (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Noyola-Martínez, Nancy; Halhali, Ali; Zaga-Clavellina, Verónica; Olmos-Ortiz, Andrea; Larrea, Fernando; Barrera, David
• Is Part Of: Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology. Issue 167(2017)
• Page Start: 98
• Page End: 105
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: Trophoblast -- Calcitriol -- Cytochromes -- Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases -- Placenta; Steroid hormones -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Hormones -- Periodicals; Molecular Biology -- Periodicals; Hormones stéroïdes -- Périodiques; Steroid hormones; Periodicals; 572.579
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2016.11.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-0760

Abstract

Highlights: Syncytiotrophoblasts shows higher expression of the steroideogenic enzymes than cytotrophoblasts. Short time calcitriol treatment increases the CYP11A1, CYP19A1 and 3β-HSDI expression in human placenta. CYP17A1 and 17β-HSD3 gene are expressed in low levels in human placenta. Calcitriol effects are dependent on the treatment time and the differentiation process of trophoblast cells. Abstract: 1, 25-dihydroxivitamin D3 (calcitriol), is a secoesteroid involved in several placental functions. In particular, we and others showed that calcitriol regulates peptides, proteins, cytokines and hormones production in human trophoblastic cells. On the other hand, calcitriol modifies the activity and expression of some steroidogenic enzymes, a process that is considered tissue-specific. However, the effects of calcitriol on the expression of enzymes involved in the synthesis of sex steroids in placental tissue have not yet been entirely studied. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of calcitriol upon gene expression of several steroid enzymes such as cytochrome P450scc ( CYP11A1 ), type 1 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase( 3β-HSDI ), 17β-HSD3, 17α-hydroxylase/17, 20 lyase ( CYP17A1 ) and aromatase ( CYP19A1 ) in primary cultures of human placental cells. Cell cultures were performed using placentas obtained immediately after delivery by caesarean section from normotensive healthy women and calcitriol effects were evaluated, at level of transcription, by qPCR. The results showed that: 1) from basal expression values of the five genes studied, 3β-HSDI was the most expressed gene (P < 0.05); 2) basal expression of all enzymes was significantly higher in cultured syncytiotrophoblast than in cytotrophoblasts (P < 0.05); 3) the presence of calcitriol in cultured trophoblast cells generally resulted in a stimulatory effect of CYP11A1, CYP19A1 and 17β-HSD3 gene expression at 3 h of treatment whereas 3β-HSDI was induced at 6 h (P < 0.05). However, a time-dependent variable was also observed; 4) protein expression of CYP11A1 and 3β-HSDI were not modified significantly by calcitriol, however that of CYP19A1 was regulated in similar fashion as gene expression. In conclusion, calcitriol affected in a time-dependent manner the expression of steroids metabolizing enzymes in human placental cell cultures.