Expression of steroidogenic enzymes in human placenta according to the gestational age

Hong,So‑Hye; Kim,Seung  Chul; Park,Mee‑Na; Jeong,Jea  Sic; Yang,Seung  Yun; Lee,Young  Joo; Bae,Ok‑Nam; Yang,Hoe‑Saeng; Seo,Sungbaek; Lee,Kyu‑Sup; An,Beum‑Soo

doi:10.3892/mmr.2019.10048

May-2019 Volume 19 Issue 5

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May-2019 Volume 19 Issue 5

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Article

Expression of steroidogenic enzymes in human placenta according to the gestational age

Authors:
- So‑Hye Hong
- Seung Chul Kim
- Mee‑Na Park
- Jea Sic Jeong
- Seung Yun Yang
- Young Joo Lee
- Ok‑Nam Bae
- Hoe‑Saeng Yang
- Sungbaek Seo
- Kyu‑Sup Lee
- Beum‑Soo An
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Affiliations: Department of Biomaterials Science, College of Natural Resources and Life Science/Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Pusan National University, Busan, Gyeongsangnam 50463, Republic of Korea, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Biomedical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Gyeongsangnam 49241, Republic of Korea, College of Pharmacy, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi 15588, Republic of Korea, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea
Pages: 3903-3911
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Published online on: March 15, 2019

https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2019.10048
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Abstract

Female sex steroid hormones, including estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), serve significant physiological roles in pregnancy. In particular, E2 and P4 influence placenta formation, maintain pregnancy and stimulate milk production. These hormones are produced by ovaries, adrenal glands and the placenta, of which the latter is a major endocrine organ during pregnancy. However, the mechanism of hormone production during pregnancy remains unclear. In the present study, the regulation of steroid hormones and steroidogenic enzymes was examined in human placenta according to gestational age. In human placental tissues, expression levels of steroidogenic enzymes were determined with reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The mRNA and protein expression of CYP17A1, HSD17B3 and CYP19A1, which are associated with the synthesis of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and E2, was elevated at different gestational ages in human placenta. In addition, to evaluate the correlation between serum and placental‑produced hormones, steroid hormone levels, including pregnenolone (PG), DHEA, P4, testosterone (T) and E2, were examined in serum and placenta. Serum and placenta expression of DHEA and E2 increased with gestational age, whereas T and P4 were differently regulated in placenta and serum. To confirm the mechanism of steroidogenesis in vitro, placental BeWo cells were treated with E2 and P4, which are the most important hormones during pregnancy. The mRNA and protein expression of steroidogenic enzymes was significantly altered by E2 in vitro. These results demonstrated that concentration of steroid hormones was differently regulated by steroidogenic enzymes in the placenta depending on the type of the hormones, which may be critical to maintain pregnancy.

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Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Oncology

Molecular Medicine Reports

Oncology Reports

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Oncology Letters

Biomedical Reports

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

World Academy of Sciences Journal

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Epigenetics

Medicine International

Expression of steroidogenic enzymes in human placenta according to the gestational age

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