Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is a key regulatory enzyme in the production of prostaglandins (PG) during various physiological processes.
Mechanisms of COX-2 regulation in human endometrial stromal cells (human endometrial stromal cells) are not fully understood.
In this study, we investigate the role of TGF-β in the regulation of COX-2 in human uterine stromal cells.
Each TGF-β isoform decreases COX-2 protein level in human uterine stromal cells in Smad2/3-dependent manner.
The decrease in COX-2 is accompanied by a decrease in PG synthesis.
Knockdown of Smad4 using specific small interfering RNA prevents the decrease in COX-2 protein, confirming that Smad pathway is implicated in the regulation of COX-2 expression in human endometrial stromal cells.
Pretreatment with 26S proteasome inhibitor, MG132, significantly restores COX-2 protein and PG synthesis, indicating that COX-2 undergoes proteasomal degradation in the presence of TGF-β. In addition, each TGF-β isoform up-regulates endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mannosidase I (ERManI) implying that COX-2 degradation is mediated through ER-associated degradation pathway in these cells. Furthermore, inhibition of ERManI activity using the mannosidase inhibitor (kifunensine), or small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of ERManI, prevents TGF-β-induced COX-2 degradation.
Taken together, these studies suggest that TGF-β promotes COX-2 degradation in a Smad-dependent manner by up-regulating the expression of ERManI and thereby enhancing ER-associated degradation and proteasomal degradation pathways.
2011-12-23
Eng.
Department of Chemistry-Biology, University of Québec at Trois-Rivières, 3351 Boulevard des Forges, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada.
Endocrinology. 2012 Jan;153(1):426-37
© Galenicom 1999-2013