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Hyperandrogenism Decreases GRP78 Protein Level and Glucose Uptake in Human Endometrial Stromal Cells

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Abstract

Background

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) exhibit a low fertility by chronic hyperandrogenemia. Different evidence have shown that androgens could regulate the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis and glucose metabolism. However, it is unclear whether androgens can exert these effects on human endometrial stromal cells. Our goal was to study the protein content of GRP78 (an ER homeostasis marker) in endometria from women with PCOS and healthy women and to assess the GRP78 protein levels and its relationship with glucose uptake on a human endometrial stromal cell line stimulated with testosterone.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry assays for GRP78 were performed on endometrial samples obtained from women with PCOS (n = 8) and control women subjected to hysterectomy (n = 8). Western blot analysis for GRP78 and glucose uptake was assessed in a telomerase-immortalized human endometrial stromal cell line (T-HESC) exposed to testosterone for 24 or 48 hours and challenged to an insulin short-term stimulation. Tukey test was performed for human samples comparison. Student t test or ANOVA–Bonferroni test was carried out according to the in vitro experiment. P < .05 was considered as significant.

Results

GRP78 stromal immunostaining was reduced in PCOS endometria compared to controls (P < .05). The T-HESC shows a testosterone-dependent downregulation of GRP78 protein content (P < .05), concomitant with half-reduction in glucose uptake compared to controls (P < .05). Moreover, enhanced small interfering RNA against GRP78 messenger RNA leads to a decrease in glucose uptake (P < .05). Such effects were reverted by hydroxyflutamide, an inhibitor of androgen receptor.

Conclusion

These results suggest that hyperandrogenemic PCOS environment could compromise the endometrial homeostasis confirmed by the decrease in glucose uptake induced by testosterone and exhibited by stromal cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Endocrinology and Reproductive Biology, University of Chile Clinical Hospital, Av. Santos Dumont #999, Independencia, Santiago, Chile

    Carlos Rosas PhD, Lorena Oróstica PhD, Cristian Poblete MsC, Rodrigo Carvajal MD, PhD, Carmen Romero PhD & Margarita Vega PhD

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chile Clinical Hospital, Santiago, Chile

    Rodrigo Carvajal MD, PhD, Carmen Romero PhD & Margarita Vega PhD

  3. Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Fernando Gabler MD, Sergio Lavandero PhD & Margarita Vega PhD

  4. Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDIS), Faculty of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Sergio Lavandero PhD

  5. Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDIS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Sergio Lavandero PhD

Authors
  1. Carlos Rosas PhD
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  2. Lorena Oróstica PhD
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  3. Cristian Poblete MsC
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  4. Rodrigo Carvajal MD, PhD
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  5. Fernando Gabler MD
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  6. Carmen Romero PhD
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  7. Sergio Lavandero PhD
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  8. Margarita Vega PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Margarita Vega PhD.

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Rosas, C., Oróstica, L., Poblete, C. et al. Hyperandrogenism Decreases GRP78 Protein Level and Glucose Uptake in Human Endometrial Stromal Cells. Reprod. Sci. 23, 761–770 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719115618283

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719115618283

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