Biomaterial Database

Hormone and prostaglandin F2 alpha regulation of messenger ribonucleic acid encoding steroidogenic acute regulatory protein in human corpora lutea. 1998

P H Chung, and T W Sandhoff, and M P McLean

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa 33606, USA.

Steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein mediates the rapid increase in steroid hormone biosynthesis in response to tropic hormones by facilitating transport of cholesterol into the inner mitochondrial membrane. Although our laboratory has recently reported on the hormonal regulation of StAR mRNA in the rat ovary, the same regulation in the human corpus luteum requires analysis. To this end, a human StAR complementary DNA (cDNA) probe of 858 bp was generated using reverse transcriptase-PCR and RNA from human corpora lutea. The StAR sequence was confirmed by dideoxy chain-termination sequence analysis. Northern blot analysis using the StAR cDNA probe on human corpora lutea mRNA showed that the probe hybridized to a major 1.6-kb transcript and a minor 4.4-kb transcript. Examination of corpora lutea of different luteal phases revealed that the basal expression of the 1.6-kb transcript was significantly more abundant in the early (days 15-19) luteal phase than in the middle (days 20-23) or late (days 24-28) phases. To examine the hormonal regulation of StAR mRNA, corpora lutea were treated in vitro with increasing concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha). Following hCG stimulation, both 1.6- and 4.4-kb StAR transcripts were increased. A statistically significant increase of 2.2- and 1.8-fold in the 1.6-kb transcript was seen with hCG concentrations of 50 and 100 mIU/mL, respectively. This increase was coupled with a significant elevation in media progesterone levels. In contrast, PGF2 alpha treatment significantly decreased both StAR messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression and media progesterone levels at concentrations of 500 and 5000 ng/mL. This investigation demonstrated that StAR mRNA is regulated by tropic hormones and prostaglandins in the human corpus luteum. The parallel change in StAR mRNA in conjunction with a change in progesterone levels further supports StAR's putative role in the regulation of steroidogenesis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010750	Phosphoproteins		Phosphoprotein
D011374	Progesterone	The major progestational steroid that is secreted primarily by the CORPUS LUTEUM and the PLACENTA. Progesterone acts on the UTERUS, the MAMMARY GLANDS and the BRAIN. It is required in EMBRYO IMPLANTATION; PREGNANCY maintenance, and the development of mammary tissue for MILK production. Progesterone, converted from PREGNENOLONE, also serves as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of GONADAL STEROID HORMONES and adrenal CORTICOSTEROIDS.	Pregnenedione,Progesterone, (13 alpha,17 alpha)-(+-)-Isomer,Progesterone, (17 alpha)-Isomer,Progesterone, (9 beta,10 alpha)-Isomer
D003338	Corpus Luteum	The yellow body derived from the ruptured OVARIAN FOLLICLE after OVULATION. The process of corpus luteum formation, LUTEINIZATION, is regulated by LUTEINIZING HORMONE.	Corpora Lutea,Lutea, Corpora
D005260	Female		Females
D005786	Gene Expression Regulation	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control (induction or repression) of gene action at the level of transcription or translation.	Gene Action Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression,Expression Regulation, Gene,Regulation, Gene Action,Regulation, Gene Expression
D006063	Chorionic Gonadotropin	A gonadotropic glycoprotein hormone produced primarily by the PLACENTA. Similar to the pituitary LUTEINIZING HORMONE in structure and function, chorionic gonadotropin is involved in maintaining the CORPUS LUTEUM during pregnancy. CG consists of two noncovalently linked subunits, alpha and beta. Within a species, the alpha subunit is virtually identical to the alpha subunits of the three pituitary glycoprotein hormones (TSH, LH, and FSH), but the beta subunit is unique and confers its biological specificity (CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN, BETA SUBUNIT, HUMAN).	Chorionic Gonadotropin, Human,HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin),Biogonadil,Choriogonadotropin,Choriogonin,Chorulon,Gonabion,Human Chorionic Gonadotropin,Pregnyl,Gonadotropin, Chorionic,Gonadotropin, Human Chorionic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D012194	RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase	An enzyme that synthesizes DNA on an RNA template. It is encoded by the pol gene of retroviruses and by certain retrovirus-like elements. EC 2.7.7.49.	DNA Polymerase, RNA-Directed,RNA-Dependent DNA Polymerase,Reverse Transcriptase,RNA Transcriptase,Revertase,DNA Polymerase, RNA Directed,DNA Polymerase, RNA-Dependent,RNA Dependent DNA Polymerase,RNA Directed DNA Polymerase
D012333	RNA, Messenger	RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm.	Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated