Insight on the Intracrinology of Menopause: Androgen Production within the Human Vagina.

In this study, we investigated steroidogenic gene mRNA expression in human vaginas and verified the ability of human vagina smooth muscle cells (hvSMCs) to synthesize androgens from upstream precursor dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). As a readout for androgen receptor (AR) activation, we evaluated the mRNA expression of various androgen-dependent markers. hvSMCs were isolated from vagina tissues of women undergoing surgery for benign gynecological diseases. In these cells, we evaluated mRNA expression of several steroidogenic enzymes and sex steroid receptors using real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Androgen production was quantified with liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In vaginal tissues, AR mRNA was significantly less expressed than estrogen receptor α, whereas in hvSMCs, its mRNA expression was higher than progestin and both estrogen receptors. In hvSMCs and in vaginal tissue, when compared to ovaries, the mRNA expression of proandrogenic steroidogenic enzymes (HSD3β1/β2, HSD17β3/β5), along with 5α-reductase isoforms and sulfotransferase, resulted as being more abundant. In addition, enzymes involved in androgen inactivation were less expressed than in the ovaries. The LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that, in hvSMCs, short-term DHEA supplementation increased Δ4-androstenedione levels in spent medium, while increasing testosterone and DHT secretion after longer incubation. Finally, androgenic signaling activation was evaluated through AR-dependent marker mRNA expression, after DHEA and T stimulation. This study confirmed that the human vagina is an androgen-target organ with the ability to synthesize androgens, thus providing support for the use of androgens for local symptoms of genitourinary syndrome in menopause. © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Citation

Ilaria Cellai, Vincenza Di Stasi, Paolo Comeglio, Elisa Maseroli, Tommaso Todisco, Chiara Corno, Sandra Filippi, Sarah Cipriani, Flavia Sorbi, Massimiliano Fambrini, Felice Petraglia, Irene Scavello, Giulia Rastrelli, Gabriele Acciai, Fabio Villanelli, Giovanna Danza, Erica Sarchielli, Giulia Guarnieri, Annamaria Morelli, Mario Maggi, Linda Vignozzi. Insight on the Intracrinology of Menopause: Androgen Production within the Human Vagina. Endocrinology. 2021 Feb 01;162(2)

Mesh Tags

Substances

PMID: 33247714

search → result