Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Volume number: 22

Issue number: 12

eISSN: 1422-0067

Open access status: Gold

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22126586

Publisher: MDPI

Abstract: 
Oxygen causes white matter damage in preterm infants and male sex is a major risk factor for poor neurological outcome, which speculates the role of steroid hormones in sex-based differences. Preterm birth is accompanied by a drop in 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and progesterone along with increased levels of fetal zone steroids (FZS). We performed a sex-based analysis on the FZS concentration differences in urine samples collected from preterm and term infants. We show that, in preterm urine samples, the total concentration of FZS, and in particular the 16 alpha-OH-DHEA concentration, is significantly higher in ill female infants as compared to males. Since we previously identified Nup133 as a novel target protein affected by hyperoxia, here we studied the effect of FZS, allopregnanolone (Allo) and E2 on differentiation and Nup133 signaling using mouse-derived primary oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). We show that the steroids could reverse the effect of hyperoxia-mediated downregulation of Nup133 in cultured male OPCs. The addition of FZS and E2 protected cells from oxidative stress. However, E2, in presence of 16 alpha-OH-DHEA, showed a negative effect on male cells. These results assert the importance of sex-based differences and their potential implications in preterm stress response.

Harvard Citation style: Sunny, D., Hammer, E., Ittermann, T., Krueger, E., Huebner, S., Hartmann, M., et al. (2021) Fetal Zone Steroids and Estrogen Show Sex Specific Effects on Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells in Response to Oxidative Damage, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(12), Article 6586. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22126586

APA Citation style: Sunny, D., Hammer, E., Ittermann, T., Krueger, E., Huebner, S., Hartmann, M., Wudy, S., Voelker, U., & Heckmann, M. (2021). Fetal Zone Steroids and Estrogen Show Sex Specific Effects on Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells in Response to Oxidative Damage. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 22(12), Article 6586. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22126586