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Expression and regulation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and TNF‐receptor family members in the macaque corpus luteum during the menstrual cycle
Author(s) -
Peluffo Marina C.,
Young Kelly A.,
Hennebold Jon D.,
Stouffer Richard L.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.20970
Subject(s) - luteal phase , endocrinology , corpus luteum , medicine , biology , tumor necrosis factor alpha , fas ligand , apoptosis , hormone , programmed cell death , biochemistry
Members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐receptor (R) family may be involved in the tissue remodeling that occurs in the primate corpus luteum (CL) during development and regression. As a first step towards addressing this issue, studies assessed TNF ligand‐R expression and regulation in CL collected from monkeys during the early (ECL, Days 3–5), mid (MCL, Days 7–8), mid‐late (MLCL, Days 10–11), late (LCL, Days 14–16), and very late (VLCL, menses) luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. CL were also collected after gonadotropin and/or steroid ablation and replacement (with hLH and the progestin R5020) for 3 days at mid‐late luteal phase. TNF‐α, ‐β, FAS ligand (FASL), and TNF‐R1 mRNA levels were two‐ to sixfold greater ( P < 0.05) at the MLCL or LCL phase as compared to earlier (ECL, MCL). In contrast, TNF‐R2 and FAS mRNA levels did not change during the luteal phase. Immunohistochemical staining for TNF‐β, TNF‐R1, TNF‐R2, FAS, and FASL was observed in luteal cells, whereas only TNF‐β staining was observed in endothelial cells. Several TNF‐R components were influenced by LH and/or steroid ablation; notably, steroid ablation reduced ( P < 0.05) luteal TNF‐α, but not TNF‐β, mRNA levels, which was prevented by progestin treatment. In contrast, steroid ablation increased ( P < 0.05) luteal cell immunostaining for FAS and FASL, which was reduced by progestin treatment. Thus, several members of the TNF R‐ligand family are expressed in the primate CL in an LH‐ and/or progestin‐dependent manner. Peak expression in the late luteal phase may signify a role for the TNF‐R system in death receptor‐mediated apoptosis during luteolysis. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 76: 367–378, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.