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β-Arrestin mediates oxytocin receptor signaling, which regulates uterine contractility and cellular migration.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Grotegut, CA; Feng, L; Mao, L; Heine, RP; Murtha, AP; Rockman, HA
Published in: Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab
March 2011

Desensitization of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) in the setting of prolonged oxytocin exposure may lead to dysfunctional labor, which increases the risk for cesarean delivery, and uterine atony, which may result in postpartum hemorrhage. The molecular mechanism for OXTR desensitization is through the agonist-mediated recruitment of the multifunctional protein β-arrestin. In addition to its desensitizing function, β-arrestins have recently been shown to simultaneously activate downstream signaling. We tested whether oxytocin stimulation promotes β-arrestin-mediated OXTR desensitization in vivo and activates β-arrestin-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) growth signaling. Uterine muscle strips isolated from wild-type mice exhibited diminished uterine contractility following repeated exposure to oxytocin, whereas uterine muscle strips from β-arrestin-1 and β-arrestin-2 knockout mice showed no desensitization. Utilizing siRNA knockdown of β-arrestin-1 and β-arrestin-2 in HEK-293 cells expressing the OXTR, we demonstrated oxytocin-mediated MAPK signaling that was dependent on β-arrestin-1 and β-arrestin-2. Wild-type and β-arrestin-1 and β-arrestin-2 knockout mice receiving intravenous oxytocin also demonstrated oxytocin-mediated MAPK signaling that was dependent on β-arrestin-1 and β-arrestin-2. Finally, to test the significance of β-arrestin-mediated signaling from the OXTR, HEK-293 cells expressing the OXTR showed β-arrestin-dependent proliferation in a cell migration assay following oxytocin treatment. In conclusion, β-arrestin is a multifunctional scaffold protein that mediates both desensitization of the OXTR, leading to decreases in uterine contractility, and MAPK growth signaling following stimulation by oxytocin. The development of unique OXTR ligands that prevent receptor desensitization may be a novel approach in the treatment of adverse clinical events secondary to prolonged oxytocin therapy.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab

DOI

EISSN

1522-1555

Publication Date

March 2011

Volume

300

Issue

3

Start / End Page

E468 / E477

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • beta-Arrestins
  • beta-Arrestin 2
  • beta-Arrestin 1
  • Uterus
  • Uterine Contraction
  • Transfection
  • Stimulation, Chemical
  • Signal Transduction
  • Receptors, Oxytocin
  • RNA, Small Interfering
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Grotegut, C. A., Feng, L., Mao, L., Heine, R. P., Murtha, A. P., & Rockman, H. A. (2011). β-Arrestin mediates oxytocin receptor signaling, which regulates uterine contractility and cellular migration. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 300(3), E468–E477. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00390.2010
Grotegut, Chad A., Liping Feng, Lan Mao, R Phillips Heine, Amy P. Murtha, and Howard A. Rockman. “β-Arrestin mediates oxytocin receptor signaling, which regulates uterine contractility and cellular migration.Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 300, no. 3 (March 2011): E468–77. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00390.2010.
Grotegut CA, Feng L, Mao L, Heine RP, Murtha AP, Rockman HA. β-Arrestin mediates oxytocin receptor signaling, which regulates uterine contractility and cellular migration. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Mar;300(3):E468–77.
Grotegut, Chad A., et al. “β-Arrestin mediates oxytocin receptor signaling, which regulates uterine contractility and cellular migration.Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, vol. 300, no. 3, Mar. 2011, pp. E468–77. Pubmed, doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00390.2010.
Grotegut CA, Feng L, Mao L, Heine RP, Murtha AP, Rockman HA. β-Arrestin mediates oxytocin receptor signaling, which regulates uterine contractility and cellular migration. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Mar;300(3):E468–E477.

Published In

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab

DOI

EISSN

1522-1555

Publication Date

March 2011

Volume

300

Issue

3

Start / End Page

E468 / E477

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • beta-Arrestins
  • beta-Arrestin 2
  • beta-Arrestin 1
  • Uterus
  • Uterine Contraction
  • Transfection
  • Stimulation, Chemical
  • Signal Transduction
  • Receptors, Oxytocin
  • RNA, Small Interfering