Ciliated epithelial-specific and regional-specific expression and regulation of the estrogen receptor-beta2 in the fallopian tubes of immature rats: a possible mechanism for estrogen-mediated transport process in vivo
Journal article, 2007
Several ERbeta isoforms have been identified in human and rodent tissues, but it is unclear whether each isoform has distinctly different cellular targeting characteristics and physiological functions. We have investigated the intracellular localization and regulatory patterns for ERbeta isoforms in rat fallopian tubes. Western blot analysis reveals that two ERbeta isoforms corresponding to ERbeta1 and ERbeta2 are expressed in rat fallopian tubes. However, ERbeta2 is the predominant form of ERbeta in this tissue. High-resolution confocal imaging and immunohistochemical analysis provide ample evidence that ERbeta expression is limited almost exclusively to the ciliated epithelial cells, in contrast to ERalpha, which is widely distributed. Furthermore, within the ciliated epithelial cells, ERbeta is colocalized with beta-tubulin IV at stem portion of the cilia. We show that ERbeta2 protein expression is tightly regulated by E(2) or DPN in a time-dependent manner without changes in ERbeta1 expression. These estrogenic effects are inhibited by an ER antagonist, ICI 182,780. In addition, significant alteration of ERbeta immunoreactivity is detected only histologically in the ampullary region. Since the cilia are considered an essential determinant of tubal transport, we further demonstrate that E(2)- or DPN-induced ERbeta2 activation is associated with alterations in tubal protein expression crucial for the regulation of calcium-dependent ciliary beating. Given the coordinated regulation and interaction of ER and progesterone receptor in the cilia, we hypothesize that tubal ERbeta2 may facilitate the estrogen-mediated transport process by processing protein-protein interaction under physiological and/or pathological conditions. We show for the first time that a previously unrecognized localization of ERbeta isoform in rat fallopian tubes can combine with estrogen to individually control the expression of ER beta-isoforms in normal target tissues.
genetics
metabolism
genetics
pharmacology
metabolism
pharmacology
Organ Specificity
Animals
metabolism
Protein Isoforms
Female
Rats
Rats
Estrogen Receptor beta
Progesterone
drug effects
Sprague-Dawley
drug effects
metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation
Estradiol
Protein Transport
Epithelium
Sexual Maturation
Developmental
drug effects
Cilia
genetics
Tissue Distribution
Fallopian Tubes
metabolism
Signal Transduction
Author
Ruijin Shao
University of Gothenburg
Birgitta Weijdegård
University of Gothenburg
Julia Fernandez-Rodriguez
University of Gothenburg
Emil Egecioglu
University of Gothenburg
Changlian Zhu
University of Gothenburg
Niklas Andersson
University of Gothenburg
Ann Thurin-Kjellberg
University of Gothenburg
Christina Bergh
University of Gothenburg
Håkan Billig
University of Gothenburg
American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
0193-1849 (ISSN) 1522-1555 (eISSN)
Vol. 293 1 E147-58Subject Categories
Physiology
MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
DOI
10.1152/ajpendo.00101.2007