Shannon Whirledge, PhD, MSc
Associate Professor Term; Associate Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Locations
Research Summary
The Whirledge lab seeks to discover the mechanisms by which stress regulates fertility. Glucocorticoids are primary stress hormones with potent immune-modulating functions. For this reason, stress and inflammation are intimately linked. The immune system plays an important role in all stages of pregnancy, including endometrial receptivity, implantation, and fetal tolerance. It is not currently well understood the pathways by which stress signaling impacts the ability to get pregnant or pregnancy outcomes. Her research is concentrated in three areas:
- Understanding the basic processes of reproduction governed by glucocorticoid signaling
- Investigating the cross-talk between the glucocorticoid receptor and estrogen and progesterone receptors
- Examining the influence of environmental agents on glucocorticoid signaling in the female reproductive tract
Research Interests
Endocrinology; Infertility, Female; Leiomyoma; Molecular Biology; Pregnancy Complications; Uterus; Reproductive Medicine; Endocrine Disruptors
Selected Publications
- Glucocorticoids, stress, and fertility.Whirledge S, Cidlowski JA. Glucocorticoids, stress, and fertility. Minerva Endocrinologica 2010, 35: 109-25. PMID: 20595939, PMCID: PMC3547681.
- Glucocorticoids regulate gene expression and repress cellular proliferation in human uterine leiomyoma cells.Whirledge S, Dixon D, Cidlowski JA. Glucocorticoids regulate gene expression and repress cellular proliferation in human uterine leiomyoma cells. Hormones & Cancer 2012, 3: 79-92. PMID: 22311344, PMCID: PMC4772901, DOI: 10.1007/s12672-012-0103-0.
- Estradiol antagonism of glucocorticoid-induced GILZ expression in human uterine epithelial cells and murine uterus.Whirledge S, Cidlowski JA. Estradiol antagonism of glucocorticoid-induced GILZ expression in human uterine epithelial cells and murine uterus. Endocrinology 2013, 154: 499-510. PMID: 23183181, PMCID: PMC3529382, DOI: 10.1210/en.2012-1748.
- Global gene expression analysis in human uterine epithelial cells defines new targets of glucocorticoid and estradiol antagonism.Whirledge S, Xu X, Cidlowski JA. Global gene expression analysis in human uterine epithelial cells defines new targets of glucocorticoid and estradiol antagonism. Biology Of Reproduction 2013, 89: 66. PMID: 23843231, PMCID: PMC4435104, DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.111054.
- A role for glucocorticoids in stress-impaired reproduction: beyond the hypothalamus and pituitary.Whirledge S, Cidlowski JA. A role for glucocorticoids in stress-impaired reproduction: beyond the hypothalamus and pituitary. Endocrinology 2013, 154: 4450-68. PMID: 24064362, PMCID: PMC3836069, DOI: 10.1210/en.2013-1652.
- Genistein disrupts glucocorticoid receptor signaling in human uterine endometrial Ishikawa cells.Whirledge S, Senbanjo LT, Cidlowski JA. Genistein disrupts glucocorticoid receptor signaling in human uterine endometrial Ishikawa cells. Environmental Health Perspectives 2015, 123: 80-7. PMID: 25136773, PMCID: PMC4286279, DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1408437.
- Ghrelin partially protects against cisplatin-induced male murine gonadal toxicity in a GHSR-1a-dependent manner.Whirledge SD, Garcia JM, Smith RG, Lamb DJ. Ghrelin partially protects against cisplatin-induced male murine gonadal toxicity in a GHSR-1a-dependent manner. Biology Of Reproduction 2015, 92: 76. PMID: 25631345, PMCID: PMC4367966, DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.114.123570.
- Glucocorticoids and Reproduction: Traffic Control on the Road to Reproduction.Whirledge S, Cidlowski JA. Glucocorticoids and Reproduction: Traffic Control on the Road to Reproduction. Trends In Endocrinology And Metabolism: TEM 2017, 28: 399-415. PMID: 28274682, PMCID: PMC5438761, DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2017.02.005.
- Uterine glucocorticoid receptors are critical for fertility in mice through control of embryo implantation and decidualization.Whirledge SD, Oakley RH, Myers PH, Lydon JP, DeMayo F, Cidlowski JA. Uterine glucocorticoid receptors are critical for fertility in mice through control of embryo implantation and decidualization. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2015, 112: 15166-71. PMID: 26598666, PMCID: PMC4679013, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1508056112.
- Generating diversity in human glucocorticoid signaling through a racially diverse polymorphism in the beta isoform of the glucocorticoid receptor.Whirledge SD, Jewell CM, Barber LM, Xu X, Katen KS, Garantziotis S, Cidlowski JA. Generating diversity in human glucocorticoid signaling through a racially diverse polymorphism in the beta isoform of the glucocorticoid receptor. Laboratory Investigation; A Journal Of Technical Methods And Pathology 2017, 97: 1282-1295. PMID: 28759007, PMCID: PMC5759773, DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.2017.76.
- Pioneer Factors FOXA1 and FOXA2 Assist Selective Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling in Human Endometrial Cells.Whirledge S, Kisanga EP, Taylor RN, Cidlowski JA. Pioneer Factors FOXA1 and FOXA2 Assist Selective Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling in Human Endometrial Cells. Endocrinology 2017, 158: 4076-4092. PMID: 28938408, PMCID: PMC5695839, DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-00361.