PTGER2 activation induces PTGS-2 and growth factor gene expression in endometrial epithelial cells of cattle

Abstract

The prostaglandin E₂ receptor 2 (PTGER2) is present in the endometrium and its gene expression is accompanied with endometrial growth, however, it is unknown whether there is endometrial repair through stimulation of growth factor gene expression that is promoted by PTGER2 activation in cattle. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PTGER2 activation can induce prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase-2 (PTGS-2) and growth factor gene expression by activating PKA and ERK signaling pathways in endometrial epithelial cells of cattle. Results demonstrated that the PTGER2 agonist, butaprost, induced cAMP/PKA and ERK activation and up-regulated PTGS-2, VEGF, CTGF, TGF-β1 and IL-8 gene expression. These activations were less after PTGER2 antagonist, AH6809, treatment. Data suggested that PTGS-2 gene expression was induced by PTGER2 activation through the PKA and ERK pathways. Furthermore, PTGER2 activation promoted several growth factor gene expressions in endometrial epithelial cells. One potential implication of this finding is that PTGER2 activation in the endometrium of cattle could induce endometrial repair by stimulating VEGF, CTGF, TGF-β1 and IL-8 gene expression.

Keywords: Bovine endometrial epithelial cell; Growth factors; PTGER2 activation; PTGS-2.