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Kimberly K. Leslie

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Full-Text Articles in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Selective Down-Regulation Of Progesterone Receptor Isoform B In Poorly Differentiated Human Endometrial Cancer Cells: Implications For Unopposed Estrogen Action., N. Kumar, J. Richer, G. Owen, E. Litman, K. Horwitz, Kimberly Leslie Feb 2013

Selective Down-Regulation Of Progesterone Receptor Isoform B In Poorly Differentiated Human Endometrial Cancer Cells: Implications For Unopposed Estrogen Action., N. Kumar, J. Richer, G. Owen, E. Litman, K. Horwitz, Kimberly Leslie

Kimberly K. Leslie

The uterine endometrium responds to unopposed estrogen stimulation with rapid cell proliferation. Progesterone protects the endometrium against the hyperplastic effects of estradiol (E2) through progesterone receptors (PRs), of which two isoforms are expressed: human (h) PRA and PRB. hPRB has a longer NH2 terminus and may function differently from hPRA. Thus, the relative expression of hPRA:hPRB is likely to be important for the action of progesterone. We hypothesized that the hPRA:hPRB ratios may be abnormal in endometrial cancer, leading to a lack of normal progesterone protection against the growth-promoting effects of E2. To test this hypothesis, well-differentiated Ishikawa endometrial cancer …


Estrogen Receptors Are Present In Human Granulosa Cells., B. Hurst, M. Zilberstein, J. Chou, B. Litman, J. Stephens, Kimberly Leslie Feb 2013

Estrogen Receptors Are Present In Human Granulosa Cells., B. Hurst, M. Zilberstein, J. Chou, B. Litman, J. Stephens, Kimberly Leslie

Kimberly K. Leslie

Recent studies failed to detect estrogen receptors in primate follicles. This study was initiated to determine whether estrogen receptor (ER) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) is present in human granulosa cells and, further, if functional ER proteins are present. To evaluate the presence of ER, RNA from human granulosa cells obtained at the time of oocyte retrieval for assisted reproduction was extracted, and complementary DNA synthesis was performed by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Oligonucleotide primers were used to amplify basepairs 570-852 in the B- and C- domains of the ER mRNA. Southern blotting was performed and confirmed that the amplified …


Differential Gene Expression In The Amnion, Chorion, And Trophoblast Of The Human Placenta., C. Plouzek, Kimberly Leslie, J. Stephens, J. Chou Feb 2013

Differential Gene Expression In The Amnion, Chorion, And Trophoblast Of The Human Placenta., C. Plouzek, Kimberly Leslie, J. Stephens, J. Chou

Kimberly K. Leslie

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), and pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (PSG) are three major proteins produced by the trophoblast of the human placenta. Immunocytochemical studies suggest that PSG and hCG are also present in the human amnion. In this study, we examined whether amniotic and chorionic membranes were capable of expressing trophoblastic-specific genes. As previously reported, trophoblasts express high levels of hCG beta, hCG alpha, PLAP, and PSG. Both amnion and chorion were found to express PLAP and hCG beta mRNA. However, the hCG alpha transcript was expressed only by the amnion, but not by the chorion in the …


The Role Of Oestrogen In Follicular Development., B. Hurst, Kimberly Leslie Feb 2013

The Role Of Oestrogen In Follicular Development., B. Hurst, Kimberly Leslie

Kimberly K. Leslie

Most of our knowledge of ovarian physiology is based upon studies that have demonstrated functional oestrogen receptors in the ovaries of lower animal species. The presence of oestrogen receptors in primate granulosa cells has been questioned by some investigators. However, we have found oestrogen receptor messenger RNA in human granulosa cells by reverse transcriptase-PCR assay. Furthermore, using immortalized granulosa cell lines transfected with a plasmid containing an oestrogen response element, a functional oestrogen receptor was confirmed. These experiments strongly support the hypothesis that human granulosa cells express biologically active oestrogen receptor.


Linkage Of Two Human Pregnancy-Specific Beta 1-Glycoprotein Genes: One Is Associated With Hydatidiform Mole., Kimberly Leslie, S. Watanabe, K. Lei, D. Chou, C. Plouzek, H. Deng, J. Torres, J. Chou Feb 2013

Linkage Of Two Human Pregnancy-Specific Beta 1-Glycoprotein Genes: One Is Associated With Hydatidiform Mole., Kimberly Leslie, S. Watanabe, K. Lei, D. Chou, C. Plouzek, H. Deng, J. Torres, J. Chou

Kimberly K. Leslie

A genomic clone containing two linked human pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein (PS beta G) genes has been isolated and characterized. The two genes are arranged in the same 5'----3' orientation; the 3' region (including the A2 and B-C exons) of the upstream gene, PSGGA, is linked to the 5' region (including the 5'/L and L/N exons) of PSGGB, the downstream gene. Depending upon the domains compared, PSGGA and PSGGB share 92-98% nucleotide and 86-95% amino acid sequence identity with PSG93, the most abundant PS beta G transcript. The 3' exon (B-C) of PSGGA contains four alternative splice sites and three polyadenylylation …