Potential Modulatory Role of Phoenixin-14 in Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition of Endometriotic 12Z Cells

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Endometriosis is a painful chronic condition in which the endometrium grows outside the uterus. The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is critical to endometriosis progression, where cells lose epithelial traits and gain invasiveness. <b>Methods&l...

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Main Authors: Karolina Iwona Kulinska, Magdalena Wierzbicka, Anna Dera-Szymanowska, Krzysztof Szymanowski, Mirosław Andrusiewicz, Maria Wołuń-Cholewa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Biomedicines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/1/158
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author Karolina Iwona Kulinska
Magdalena Wierzbicka
Anna Dera-Szymanowska
Krzysztof Szymanowski
Mirosław Andrusiewicz
Maria Wołuń-Cholewa
author_facet Karolina Iwona Kulinska
Magdalena Wierzbicka
Anna Dera-Szymanowska
Krzysztof Szymanowski
Mirosław Andrusiewicz
Maria Wołuń-Cholewa
author_sort Karolina Iwona Kulinska
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Endometriosis is a painful chronic condition in which the endometrium grows outside the uterus. The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is critical to endometriosis progression, where cells lose epithelial traits and gain invasiveness. <b>Methods</b>: This study investigates the effects of phoenixin-14 (PNX-14), a neuropeptide found at reduced levels in endometriosis patients, on the expression of two molecular EMT markers, CDH1 (E-cadherin) and THBS2 (thrombospondin 2), as well as cell viability in the endometriosis-derived 12Z cell line. Cells were treated with physiological (0.2 nM) and endometriosis-relevant (0.05 nM) concentrations of PNX-14. Gene expression was analyzed using RT-qPCR, while protein localization was assessed by immunocytochemistry. Cell viability was measured using an XTT assay. <b>Results</b>: <i>THBS2</i> gene expression was significantly decreased, and <i>CDH1</i> remained unchanged in cells stimulated by 0.05 nM PNX-14. Immunolocalization indicates a weaker THBS2 and CDH1 protein immunosignal reaction for 0.05 nM PNX-14. PNX-14 treatment also exhibited a biphasic effect on cell viability. Lower concentration initially decreased viability at 48 h but then significantly increased it at 72 h. This increase coincided with the decrease in <i>THBS2</i> expression, suggesting a potential link between PNX-14, <i>THBS2</i>, and cell viability. <b>Conclusions</b>: A negative correlation between cell viability and the expression of both EMT markers further highlights their possible involvement in the survival and adaptability of ectopic epithelial cells. Our findings suggest a complex interplay between PNX-14, EMT markers, and cell viability in ectopic epithelial cells. PNX-14’s ability to modulate these factors warrants further investigation to elucidate its role in endometriosis.
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spelling doaj-art-330752bc34ae4ac28ee51867927ac5a82025-01-24T13:24:13ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-01-0113115810.3390/biomedicines13010158Potential Modulatory Role of Phoenixin-14 in Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition of Endometriotic 12Z CellsKarolina Iwona Kulinska0Magdalena Wierzbicka1Anna Dera-Szymanowska2Krzysztof Szymanowski3Mirosław Andrusiewicz4Maria Wołuń-Cholewa5Department of Cell Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Cell Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznań, PolandClinic of Perinatology and Gynaecology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-535 Poznań, PolandClinic of Perinatology and Gynaecology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-535 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Cell Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Cell Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznań, Poland<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Endometriosis is a painful chronic condition in which the endometrium grows outside the uterus. The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is critical to endometriosis progression, where cells lose epithelial traits and gain invasiveness. <b>Methods</b>: This study investigates the effects of phoenixin-14 (PNX-14), a neuropeptide found at reduced levels in endometriosis patients, on the expression of two molecular EMT markers, CDH1 (E-cadherin) and THBS2 (thrombospondin 2), as well as cell viability in the endometriosis-derived 12Z cell line. Cells were treated with physiological (0.2 nM) and endometriosis-relevant (0.05 nM) concentrations of PNX-14. Gene expression was analyzed using RT-qPCR, while protein localization was assessed by immunocytochemistry. Cell viability was measured using an XTT assay. <b>Results</b>: <i>THBS2</i> gene expression was significantly decreased, and <i>CDH1</i> remained unchanged in cells stimulated by 0.05 nM PNX-14. Immunolocalization indicates a weaker THBS2 and CDH1 protein immunosignal reaction for 0.05 nM PNX-14. PNX-14 treatment also exhibited a biphasic effect on cell viability. Lower concentration initially decreased viability at 48 h but then significantly increased it at 72 h. This increase coincided with the decrease in <i>THBS2</i> expression, suggesting a potential link between PNX-14, <i>THBS2</i>, and cell viability. <b>Conclusions</b>: A negative correlation between cell viability and the expression of both EMT markers further highlights their possible involvement in the survival and adaptability of ectopic epithelial cells. Our findings suggest a complex interplay between PNX-14, EMT markers, and cell viability in ectopic epithelial cells. PNX-14’s ability to modulate these factors warrants further investigation to elucidate its role in endometriosis.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/1/158endometriosis12Z human ectopic epithelial cell linephoenixin-14 (PNX-14)epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin/<i>CDH1</i>)thrombospondin 2 (<i>THBS2</i>)
spellingShingle Karolina Iwona Kulinska
Magdalena Wierzbicka
Anna Dera-Szymanowska
Krzysztof Szymanowski
Mirosław Andrusiewicz
Maria Wołuń-Cholewa
Potential Modulatory Role of Phoenixin-14 in Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition of Endometriotic 12Z Cells
Biomedicines
endometriosis
12Z human ectopic epithelial cell line
phoenixin-14 (PNX-14)
epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin/<i>CDH1</i>)
thrombospondin 2 (<i>THBS2</i>)
title Potential Modulatory Role of Phoenixin-14 in Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition of Endometriotic 12Z Cells
title_full Potential Modulatory Role of Phoenixin-14 in Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition of Endometriotic 12Z Cells
title_fullStr Potential Modulatory Role of Phoenixin-14 in Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition of Endometriotic 12Z Cells
title_full_unstemmed Potential Modulatory Role of Phoenixin-14 in Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition of Endometriotic 12Z Cells
title_short Potential Modulatory Role of Phoenixin-14 in Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition of Endometriotic 12Z Cells
title_sort potential modulatory role of phoenixin 14 in epithelial mesenchymal transition of endometriotic 12z cells
topic endometriosis
12Z human ectopic epithelial cell line
phoenixin-14 (PNX-14)
epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin/<i>CDH1</i>)
thrombospondin 2 (<i>THBS2</i>)
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/1/158
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