Mélissa Côté

Implication of GPER1 in neuroprotection in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

This study investigated the contribution of the new G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1) in neuroprotection by 17β-estradiol in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of Parkinsons disease. In intact mice, administration of GPER1 agonist G1 reproduced the effect of 17β-estradiol in increasing striatal dopamine metabolite concentrations as well as the turnover of dopamine. GPER1 antagonist G15 blocked the effect of G1 on homovanillic acid/dopamine ratio and partially for 17β-estradiol. MPTP mice treated with G15 were more susceptible to MPTP toxicity with a greater decrease in striatal dopamine concentration and dopamine transporter specific binding. In MPTP mice, dopamine concentrations as well as dopamine and vesicular monoamine transporter 2 specific binding showed that G1 treatment was as potent as 17β-estradiol in protecting striatum and substantia nigra. G15 antagonized completely the neuroprotective effects of G1 in the striatum and substantia nigra as well as protection by 17β-estradiol in the striatum but partially in the substantia nigra. This study showed an important role of GPER1 in neuroprotection and that G1 is as potent as 17β-estradiol in mediating beneficial effects.

Gene expression profile of androgen modulated genes in the murine fetal developing lung

BackgroundAccumulating evidences suggest that sex affects lung development. Indeed, a higher incidence of respiratory distress syndrome is observed in male compared to female preterm neonates at comparable developmental stage and experimental studies demonstrated an androgen-related delay in male lung maturation. However, the precise mechanisms underlying these deleterious effects of androgens in lung maturation are only partially understood.MethodsTo build up a better understanding of the effect of androgens on lung development, we analyzed by microarrays the expression of genes showing a sexual difference and those modulated by androgens. Lungs of murine fetuses resulting from a timely mating window of 1 hour were studied at gestational day 17 (GD17) and GD18, corresponding to the period of surge of surfactant production. Using injections of the antiandrogen flutamide to pregnant mice, we hunted for genes in fetal lungs which are transcriptionally modulated by androgens.ResultsResults revealed that 1844 genes were expressed with a sexual difference at GD17 and 833 at GD18. Many genes were significantly modulated by flutamide: 1597 at GD17 and 1775 at GD18. Datasets were analyzed by using in silico tools for reconstruction of cellular pathways. Between GD17 and GD18, male lungs showed an intensive transcriptional activity of proliferative pathways along with the onset of lung differentiation. Among the genes showing a sex difference or an antiandrogen modulation of their expression, we specifically identified androgen receptor interacting genes, surfactant related genes in particularly those involved in the pathway leading to phospholipid synthesis, and several genes of lung development regulator pathways. Among these latter, some genes related to Shh, FGF, TGF-beta, BMP, and Wnt signaling are modulated by sex and/or antiandrogen treatment.ConclusionOur results show clearly that there is a real delay in lung maturation between male and female in this period, the latter pursuing already lung maturation while the proper is not yet fully engaged in the differentiation processes at GD17. In addition, this study provides a list of genes which are under the control of androgens within the lung at the moment of surge of surfactant production in murine fetal lung.

Epithelial cells are the major site of hydroxysteroid (17β) dehydrogenase 2 and androgen receptor expression in fetal mouse lungs during the period overlapping the surge of surfactant

Many genes involved in the peripheral metabolism of androgens, including hydroxysteroid (17beta) dehydrogenases (HSD17B) 2 and 5, steroid 5alpha reductase 1, and 3alpha-HSD, are expressed in the developing lung. Because lung development is delayed by androgens and pathologies related to lung immaturity are major concerns for preterm neonates, we are interested in the elucidation of the androgen metabolism in developing lung. In the present report we have identified the cell types expressing HSD17B2 (testosterone into androstenedione) and androgen receptor in normal male and female mouse developing lung between the gestation days 15.5 and 17.5. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry revealed that HSD17B2 is expressed in epithelial cells of respiratory and conducting zones, and in mesenchymal cells. The androgen receptor protein was observed in the same cell types that HSD17B2, and in alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive cells surrounding arteries. No difference was observed for the location of HSD17B2 and androgen receptor expression at any time points studied, or according to sex. Taken together, our results are in concordance with the hypothesis that in mouse fetal lungs the level of androgen receptor occupancy is finely tuned by local HSD17B2 expression.

Expression of genes related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in murine fetal lungs in late gestation

BackgroundLung maturation is modulated by several factors, including glucocorticoids. Expression of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis-related components, with proposed or described local regulatory systems analogous to the HPA axis, was reported in peripheral tissues. Here, HPA axis-related genes were studied in the mouse developing lung during a period overlapping the surge of surfactant production.MethodsExpression of genes encoding for corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), CRH receptors (CRHR) 1 and 2beta, CRH-binding protein, proopiomelanocortin (POMC), melanocortin receptor 2 (MC2R), and glucocorticoid receptor was quantified by real-time PCR and localized by in situ hydridization in fetal lungs at gestational days (GD) 15.5, 16.5, and 17.5, and was also quantified in primary mesenchymal- and epithelial cell-enriched cultures. In addition, the capability of CRH and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to stimulate pulmonary expression of enzymes involved in the adrenal pathway of glucocorticoid synthesis was addressed, as well as the glucocorticoid production by fetal lung explants.ResultsWe report that all the studied genes are expressed in fetal lungs according to different patterns. On GD 15.5, Mc2r showed peaks in expression in samples that have previously presented high mRNA levels for glucocorticoid synthesizing enzymes, including 11beta-hydroxylase (Cyp11b1). Crhr1 mRNA co-localized with Pomc mRNA in cells surrounding the proximal epithelium on GD 15.5 and 16.5. A transition in expression sites toward distal epithelial cells was observed between GD 15.5 and 17.5 for all the studied genes. CRH or ACTH stimulation of genes involved in the adrenal pathway of glucocorticoid synthesis was not observed in lung explants on GD 15.5, whereas CRH significantly increased expression of 21-hydroxylase (Cyp21a1) on GD 17.5. A deoxycorticosterone production by fetal lung explants was observed.ConclusionsTemporal and spatial modulations of expression of HPA axis-related genes in late gestation are consistent with roles for these genes in lung development. Our data are likely to lead to valuable insights in relation to lung diseases originating from lung immaturity.

Apolipoprotein C-II and lipoprotein lipase show a temporal and geographic correlation with surfactant lipid synthesis in preparation for birth

BackgroundFatty acids are precursors in the synthesis of surfactant phospholipids. Recently, we showed expression of apolipoprotein C-II (apoC-II), the essential cofactor of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), in the fetal mouse lung and found the protein on the day of the surge of surfactant synthesis (gestation day 17.5) in secretory granule-like structures in the distal epithelium. In the present study, we will answer the following questions: Does apoC-II protein localization change according to the stage of lung development, thus according to the need in surfactant? Are LPL molecules translocated to the luminal surface of capillaries? Do the sites of apoC-II and LPL gene expression change according to the stage of lung development and to protein localization?ResultsThe present study investigated whether the sites of apoC-II and LPL mRNA and protein accumulation are regulated in the mouse lung between gestation day 15 and postnatal day 10. The major sites of apoC-II and LPL gene expression changed over time and were found mainly in the distal epithelium at the end of gestation but not after birth. Accumulation of apoC-II in secretory granule-like structures was not systematically observed, but was found in the distal epithelium only at the end of gestation and soon after birth, mainly in epithelia with no or small lumina. A noticeable increase in surfactant lipid content was measured before the end of gestation day 18, which correlates temporally with the presence of apoC-II in secretory granules in distal epithelium with no or small lumina but not with large lumina. LPL was detected in capillaries at all the developmental times studied.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that apoC-II and LPL mRNAs correlate temporally and geographically with surfactant lipid synthesis in preparation for birth and suggests that fatty acid recruitment from the circulation by apoC-II-activated LPL is regionally modulated by apoC-II secretion. We propose a model where apoC-II is retained in secretory granules in distal epithelial cells until the lumina reaches a minimum size, and is then secreted when the rate of surfactant production becomes optimal.

Apolipoprotein A-I, A-II, and H mRNA and protein accumulation sites in the developing lung in late gestation

BackgroundExpression of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), A-II, and H was previously observed at 16 to 50-fold higher levels in the fetal than the adult mouse lung. Here, sites of apoA-I, A-II, and H mRNA and protein accumulation were determined in mouse fetal lungs by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in late gestation.ResultsExpression sites vary for the three genes and change for the distal epithelium before the end of the canalicular stage, thus where and when the surge of surfactant synthesis occurs. Messenger of apoH, but not those of apoA-I and A-II, was also observed in the proximal epithelium and smooth muscles surrounding arteries. In contrast to apoC-II protein, none of the three studied apolipoproteins accumulated within secretory granule-like structures. Immunohistochemistry revealed that apoA-I and apoH accumulated mainly in capillaries. Three different positive signals with the anti-apoA-II antibody were found: one transient signal in the nucleus of a portion of mesenchymal cells, a second at lower levels throughout the mesenchyme, and another in capillaries with a specific increase from gestation day 17.5/18.5.ConclusionTemporal and geographic co-expression of apoAI, AII, and H genes with surfactant production site suggests that the three apolipoproteins are secreted to play roles supporting the lung-specific surfactant lipid-related metabolism.

Early immune response in MPTP-induced neuroinflammation in the mouse myenteric plexus and central nervous system

Nerve/glial antigen 2 (NG2) proteoglycan, is expressed by oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), essential for remyelination, and pericytes, crucial for blood–brain-barrier (BBB) integrity. We postulated that NG2 might play a role in the pathogenesis and/or progression of inflammatory autoimmune diseases of the CNS such as multiple sclerosis. Accordingly, we have used NG2KO mice to investigate the possible involvement of NG2 in the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for multiple sclerosis associated with remyelination failure and blood– brain barrier (BBB) leakage. NG2KO mice developed milder EAE compared to wild-type (WT) mice, with reduced demyelination. Histological examination of CNS tissue showed significantly reduction in IBA-1-, GFAP-, and iNOS-positive cell numbers in these mice. There was no difference in the numbers of infiltrated T cells in CNS of EAEaffected NG2KO as compared to WT mice. While OPC numbers did not differ between naïve NG2KO andWTmice, their sharp decrease seen in WT mice during EAE did not occur in NG2KOmice, suggesting reduced OPC death in these mice. Albeit not leaky, the BBB was altered in both healthy and EAE-affected NG2KO mice, with re-arrangement of microvessel molecules and a reversal to the healthy WT profile in EAEaffected NG2KO mice. At the immune cell level, we showed that, in addition to macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), NG2 is also expressed on T cells in naïve WT mice. Addressing the effect of NG2KO on immune cell functions, we showed that NG2KO is associated with highly increased IL-4 expression and production by T cells, suggesting that NG2KO T cells may have a less pro-inflammatory profile. Production of IL-12 by activated NG2KO DCwas also impaired. Chimera experiments showed milder EAE upon reconstitution of WT mice with NG2KO immune cells, confirming some role for NG2 in immune cell function. However, adoptive transfer with MOG35−55-specific line T cells demonstrated that T cells from NG2KO or WT have the same encephalitogenic potential per se. Overall these results suggest that NG2 expressed on OPC and immune cells play a relevant role in EAE pathogenesis contributing to BBB stability and pathogenic immune responses.