Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, 4029, Australia.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia.
Sci Rep. 2022 Jun 7;12(1):9400. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-13488-4.
Endocannabinoids mediate cellular functions and their activity is controlled by a complex system of enzymes, membrane receptors and transport molecules. Endocannabinoids are present in endometrium, a cyclical regenerative tissue requiring tightly regulated cellular mechanisms for maturation. The objective of this study was to investigate the gene expression of key elements involved in the endocannabinoid system across the menstrual cycle. RNA was isolated from endometrial tissue and genome-wide gene expression datasets were generated using RNA-sequencing. An a priori set of 70 genes associated with endocannabinoid system were selected from published literature. Gene expression across the menstrual cycle was analyzed using a moderated t test, corrected for multiple testing with Bonferroni's method. A total of 40 of the 70 genes were present in > 90% of the samples, and significant differential gene expression identified for 29 genes. We identified 4 distinct regulation patterns for synthesizing enzymes, as well as a distinct regulation pattern for degradations and transporting enzymes. This study charts the expression of endometrial endocannabinoid system genes across the menstrual cycle. Altered expression of genes that control endocannabinoid may allow fine control over endocannabinoid concentrations and their influence on cellular function, maturation and differentiation as the endometrium matures through the menstrual cycle.
内源性大麻素调节细胞功能，其活性受一系列复杂的酶、膜受体和转运分子控制。内源性大麻素存在于子宫内膜中，这是一种周期性再生组织，需要成熟的细胞机制进行严格调控。本研究旨在调查参与内源性大麻素系统的关键要素在整个月经周期中的基因表达情况。从子宫内膜组织中分离 RNA，并使用 RNA 测序生成全基因组基因表达数据集。根据文献选择了一组与内源性大麻素系统相关的 70 个基因作为先验集。使用经 Bonferroni 方法校正多重检验的校正后的 moderated t 检验分析月经周期中的基因表达情况。70 个基因中有 40 个存在于>90%的样本中，有 29 个基因的表达存在显著差异。我们确定了合成酶的 4 种不同调控模式，以及降解酶和转运酶的一种独特调控模式。本研究绘制了整个月经周期中子宫内膜内源性大麻素系统基因的表达图谱。控制内源性大麻素的基因表达的改变可能允许对内源性大麻素浓度及其对细胞功能、成熟和分化的影响进行精细控制，因为子宫内膜在月经周期中成熟。
