The hedgehog family of morphogens are regulators of cell proliferation, differentiation and cell-cell communication. These morphogens have been shown to have important roles in organogenesis, spermatogenesis, stem cell maintenance and oncogenesis. Indian hedgehog (encoded by Ihh) has been shown to be expressed in the uterine epithelium under the control of the steroid hormone, progesterone. Although in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that progesterone achieves its effects on uterine function through epithelial-stromal cross-talk, molecular mediator(s) for this cellular communication pathway have not been elucidated. Using new experimental approaches that ablate Ihh specifically in Pgr-positive uterine cells of the mouse, we demonstrate that Ihh is an essential mediator of Pgr action in the uterus, and expression of this factor is critical in mediating the communication between the uterine epithelium and stroma required for embryo implantation.

Progesterone (P4) acting through its cognate receptor, the progesterone receptor (PR), plays an important role in uterine physiology. The PR knockout (PRKO) mouse has demonstrated the importance of the P4-PR axis in the regulation of uterine function. To define the molecular pathways regulated by P4-PR in the mouse uterus, Affymetrix MG U74Av2 oligonucleotide arrays were used to identify alterations in gene expression after acute and chronic P4 treatments. PRKO and wild-type mice were ovariectomized and then treated with vehicle or 1 mg P4 every 12 h. Mice were killed either 4 h after the first injection (acute P4 treatment) or after the fourth injection of P4 (chronic P4 treatment). At the genomic level, the major change in gene expression after acute P4 treatment was an increase in the expression of 55 genes. Conversely, the major change in gene expression after chronic P4 treatment was an overall reduction in the expression of 102 genes. In the analysis, retinoic acid metabolic genes, cytochrome P 450 26a1 (Cyp26a1), alcohol dehydrogenase 5, and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1a1 (Aldh1a1); kallikrein genes, Klk5 and Klk6; and specific transcription factors, GATA-2 and Cited2 [cAMP-corticosterone-binding protein/p300-interacting transactivator with glutamic acid (E) and aspartic acid (D)-rich tail], were validated as regulated by the P4-PR axis. Identification and analysis of these responsive genes will help define the role of PR in regulating uterine biology.

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Steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3/p/CIP/AIB1/ACTR/RAC3/TRAM-1) is a member of the p160 family of nuclear receptor coactivators, which includes SRC-1 (NCoA-1) and SRC-2 (TIF2/GRIP1/NCoA2). Previous studies indicate that SRC-3 is required for normal animal growth and is often amplified or overexpressed in many cancers, including breast and prostate cancers. However, the mechanisms of SRC-3-mediated growth regulation remain unclear. In this study, we show that overexpression of SRC-3 stimulates cell growth to increase cell size in prostate cancer cell lines. Furthermore, our results indicate that overexpression of SRC-3 can modulate the AKT signaling pathway in a steroid-independent manner, which results in the activation of AKT/mTOR signaling concomitant with an increase in cell size. In contrast, down-regulation of SRC-3 expression in cells by small interfering RNA decreases cell growth, leading to a smaller cell size. Similarly, in SRC-3 null mutant mice, AKT signaling is down-regulated in normally SRC-3-expressing tissues. Taken together, these results suggest that SRC-3 is an important modulator for mammalian cell growth.Nuclear receptors (NRs) are ligand-inducible transcription factors that require coregulators (coactivators or corepressors) to regulate target genes involved in metabolism, development, and reproduction (32-34, 38, 50). The steroid receptor coactivators (SRCs), also known as p160 proteins, were among the first factors identified that interact with NRs and enhance their transactivation in a ligand-dependent manner (7). Members of the SRC family, which includes SRC-1/NCoA-1, SRC-2/

During embryonic development, Foxa2 is required for the formation of the node and notochord, and ablation of this gene results in defects in gastrulation, neural tube patterning, and gut morphogenesis. Foxa2 has been shown to be expressed specifically in the glandular epithelium of the murine uterus. To study the uterine function of Foxa2, this gene was conditionally ablated in the mouse uterus by crossing mice with floxed Foxa2 alleles, Foxa2(loxP/loxP), with the Pgr(cre) mouse model. Pgr(cre/+) Foxa2(loxP/loxP) mice showed significantly reduced fertility. Analysis of the uterus on Day 5.5 of pregnancy showed disrupted blastocyst implantation. Pgr(cre/+) Foxa2(loxP/loxP) mice also showed a severe impairment of the uterus to respond to the artificial induction of the decidual response. Morphological examination of the uteri of these mice showed a severe reduction in the number of endometrial glands. The loss of endometrial glands resulted in the reduction of leukemia inhibitory factor (Lif) expression. The lack of a decidual response could be partially rescued by an intrauterine injection of LIF before the initiation of the decidual response. This analysis demonstrates that Foxa2 regulates endometrial gland development and that mice with a loss of endometrial glands cannot support implantation in part due to the loss of LIF, which is a requisite for fertility in the mouse.

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Members of the steroid receptor coactivator (SRC) family, which include SRC-1 (NcoA-1/p160), SRC-2(TIF2/GRIP1/NcoA-2) and SRC-3(pCIP/RAC3/ACTR/pCIP/ AIB1/TRAM1), are critical mediators of steroid receptor action. Gene ablation studies previously identified SRC-1 and SRC-2 as being involved in the control of energy homeostasis. A more precise identification of the molecular pathways regulated by these coactivators is crucial for understanding the role of steroid receptor coactivators in the control of energy homeostasis and obesity. A genomic approach using microarray analysis was employed to identify the subsets of genes that are altered in the livers of SRC-1-/-, SRC-2-/-, and SRC-3-/- mice. Microarray analysis demonstrates that gene expression changes are specific and nonoverlapping for each SRC member in the liver. The overall pattern of altered gene expressions in the SRC-1-/- mice was up-regulation, whereas SRC-2-/- mice showed an overall down-regulation. Several key regulatory enzymes of energy metabolism were significantly altered in the liver of SRC-2-/- mice, which are consistent with the prior observation that SRC-2-/- mice have increased energy expenditure. This study demonstrates that the molecular targets of SRC-2 regulation in the murine liver stimulate fatty acid degradation and glycolytic pathway, whereas fatty acid, cholesterol, and steroid biosynthetic pathways are down-regulated.

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