Effect of the steroid hormones pregesterone and estriol on the proliferation of RINm5F cells - an in vitro model for the study of beta cell physiology in pregnancy

• Grant number: 15/20055-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2016
• End date: July 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Anna Karenina Azevedo Martins
• Grantee: Leticia Rodrigues Santos
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

During pregnancy occur great adjustments on maternal organism. The carbohydrate metabolism is one of the most affected aspects. Significant changes are observed on the insulin sensitivity, however the variations of glycemia are normally slight, because of the plasticity of pancreatic beta-cells. Nevertheless, evidences suggest that high concentrations of estrogens and progestogens in pregnancy could contribute to the insufficient adaptation of insulin secretion in contrast to the increased demand for this hormone, leading to the development of gestational diabetes (GD). Our group showed that progesterone (PG) induces death of pancreatic beta-cells, by apoptosis, and its effect may be potentiated by 17b-oestradiol. Although PG can to promote death of beta-cells, in others studies was observed the proliferative effect of this hormone on this cell type, as also in breast tumor cells. Others authors, however, have shown that PG caused inhibition of cell proliferation in human uterine tissue. Thus, since little is known about the effects of steroid hormones on the physiology of beta-cell in pregnancy, this project aims to study the RINm5F cell proliferation kinetics treated with steroid hormones: PG and estriol. From the results of this project, it is expected to contribute to the understanding of the effects of steroid hormones on the physiology of beta-cells and their interaction during pregnancy.