Shannon Whirledge, PhD, MSc
Associate Professor Term; Associate Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences; Assistant Professor, Environmental Health 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
Coauthors
Research Interests
Endocrinology; Infertility, Female; Leiomyoma; Molecular Biology; Pregnancy Complications; Uterus; Reproductive Medicine; Endocrine Disruptors
Selected Publications
- Decidualization dampens toll-like receptor mediated inflammatory responses in human endometrial stromal cells by upregulating IκBαTong M, Scott J, Whirledge S, Abrahams V. Decidualization dampens toll-like receptor mediated inflammatory responses in human endometrial stromal cells by upregulating IκBα. Journal Of Reproductive Immunology 2023, 159: 103988. PMID: 37451159, PMCID: PMC10530124, DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2023.103988.
- LOCAL ACTIVATION OF GLUCOCORTICOID SIGNALING IN UTERINE FIBROID CELLS DRIVES GROWTHGlenn T, Silva E, Suarez P, Flannery C, Whirledge S. LOCAL ACTIVATION OF GLUCOCORTICOID SIGNALING IN UTERINE FIBROID CELLS DRIVES GROWTH. Fertility And Sterility 2021, 116: e419-e420. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.07.1121.
- Combinatorial actions of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid stress hormone receptors are required for preventing neurodegeneration of the mouse hippocampusOakley R, Whirledge S, Petrillo M, Riddick N, Xu X, Moy S, Cidlowski J. Combinatorial actions of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid stress hormone receptors are required for preventing neurodegeneration of the mouse hippocampus. Neurobiology Of Stress 2021, 15: 100369. PMID: 34368410, PMCID: PMC8326231, DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100369.
- Obesity Induces Elevated Oxidative Stress in Uteri of Reproductive Age MiceHuang J, Xiao E, Tal A, Kelly K, Kim J, Whirledge S, Flannery C. Obesity Induces Elevated Oxidative Stress in Uteri of Reproductive Age Mice. Journal Of The Endocrine Society 2021, 5: a752-a752. DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvab048.1529.
- Chapter 9 Mechanism of glucocorticoid action in immunology—Basic conceptsWood M, Whirledge S. Chapter 9 Mechanism of glucocorticoid action in immunology—Basic concepts. 2021, 147-170. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-818508-7.00020-8.
- SUN-019 The Selective Progesterone Receptor Modulator Ulipristal Acetate Blocks Glucocorticoid Receptor TransactivationSmalls B, Millard C, Kisanga E, Flannery C, Al-Hendy A, Whirledge S. SUN-019 The Selective Progesterone Receptor Modulator Ulipristal Acetate Blocks Glucocorticoid Receptor Transactivation. Journal Of The Endocrine Society 2019, 3: sun-019. PMCID: PMC6553416, DOI: 10.1210/js.2019-sun-019.
- SAT-005 Gene Expression and Behavioral Alterations in Mice with Conditional Knockout of GR, MR, or Both GR and MR in the HippocampusOakley R, Whirledge S, Riddick N, Quinn M, Xu X, Moy S, Cidlowski J. SAT-005 Gene Expression and Behavioral Alterations in Mice with Conditional Knockout of GR, MR, or Both GR and MR in the Hippocampus. Journal Of The Endocrine Society 2019, 3: sat-005. PMCID: PMC6552087, DOI: 10.1210/js.2019-sat-005.
- In Vitro Assays to Evaluate the Migration, Invasion, and Proliferation of Immortalized Human First-trimester Trophoblast Cell LinesKisanga E, Tang Z, Guller S, Whirledge S. In Vitro Assays to Evaluate the Migration, Invasion, and Proliferation of Immortalized Human First-trimester Trophoblast Cell Lines. Journal Of Visualized Experiments 2019 DOI: 10.3791/58942-v.
- Chapter 5 Steroid Hormone ActionWhirledge S, Cidlowski J. Chapter 5 Steroid Hormone Action. 2019, 115-131.e4. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-47912-7.00005-6.
- Stress and Implantation FailureDeaton J, Patel B, Johnston-MacAnanny E, Yu J, Whirledge S, Wilson A, David Wininger J, Shu Y, Taylor R, Berga S. Stress and Implantation Failure. 2017, 103-124. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-71967-2_7.
- Pioneer Factors FOXA1 and FOXA2 Assist Selective Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling in Human Endometrial CellsWhirledge 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.
- Generating diversity in human glucocorticoid signaling through a racially diverse polymorphism in the beta isoform of the glucocorticoid receptorWhirledge 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 2017, 97: 1282-1295. PMID: 28759007, PMCID: PMC5759773, DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.2017.76.
- Glucocorticoids and Reproduction: Traffic Control on the Road to ReproductionWhirledge S, Cidlowski JA. Glucocorticoids and Reproduction: Traffic Control on the Road to Reproduction. Trends In Endocrinology And Metabolism 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 decidualizationWhirledge 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: 15166-15171. PMID: 26598666, PMCID: PMC4679013, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1508056112.
- Ghrelin Partially Protects Against Cisplatin-Induced Male Murine Gonadal Toxicity in a GHSR-1a-Dependent Manner1Whirledge SD, Garcia JM, Smith RG, Lamb DJ. Ghrelin Partially Protects Against Cisplatin-Induced Male Murine Gonadal Toxicity in a GHSR-1a-Dependent Manner1. Biology Of Reproduction 2015, 92: 76, 1-11. PMID: 25631345, PMCID: PMC4367966, DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.114.123570.
- Genistein Disrupts Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling in Human Uterine Endometrial Ishikawa CellsWhirledge S, Senbanjo LT, Cidlowski JA. Genistein Disrupts Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling in Human Uterine Endometrial Ishikawa Cells. Environmental Health Perspectives 2014, 123: 80-87. PMID: 25136773, PMCID: PMC4286279, DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1408437.
- A Role for Glucocorticoids in Stress-Impaired Reproduction: Beyond the Hypothalamus and PituitaryWhirledge S, Cidlowski JA. A Role for Glucocorticoids in Stress-Impaired Reproduction: Beyond the Hypothalamus and Pituitary. Endocrinology 2013, 154: 4450-4468. PMID: 24064362, PMCID: PMC3836069, DOI: 10.1210/en.2013-1652.
- Global Gene Expression Analysis in Human Uterine Epithelial Cells Defines New Targets of Glucocorticoid and Estradiol Antagonism1Whirledge S, Xu X, Cidlowski JA. Global Gene Expression Analysis in Human Uterine Epithelial Cells Defines New Targets of Glucocorticoid and Estradiol Antagonism1. Biology Of Reproduction 2013, 89: 66, 1-17. PMID: 23843231, PMCID: PMC4435104, DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.111054.
- Estradiol Antagonism of Glucocorticoid-Induced GILZ Expression in Human Uterine Epithelial Cells and Murine UterusWhirledge S, Cidlowski JA. Estradiol Antagonism of Glucocorticoid-Induced GILZ Expression in Human Uterine Epithelial Cells and Murine Uterus. Endocrinology 2012, 154: 499-510. PMID: 23183181, PMCID: PMC3529382, DOI: 10.1210/en.2012-1748.
- Glucocorticoids Regulate Gene Expression and Repress Cellular Proliferation in Human Uterine Leiomyoma CellsWhirledge S, Dixon D, Cidlowski JA. Glucocorticoids Regulate Gene Expression and Repress Cellular Proliferation in Human Uterine Leiomyoma Cells. Discover Oncology 2012, 3: 79-92. PMID: 22311344, PMCID: PMC4772901, DOI: 10.1007/s12672-012-0103-0.
- Glucocorticoids, stress, and fertility.Whirledge S, Cidlowski JA. Glucocorticoids, stress, and fertility. Minerva Endocrinologica 2010, 35: 109-25. PMID: 20595939, PMCID: PMC3547681.
- GHRELIN AND LEPTIN INTERPLAY IN PREVENTION OF TESTICULAR DAMAGE DUE TO CRYPTORCHIDISMAlukal J, Whirledge S, Louet M, Sun Y, Smith R, Lamb D. GHRELIN AND LEPTIN INTERPLAY IN PREVENTION OF TESTICULAR DAMAGE DUE TO CRYPTORCHIDISM. Journal Of Urology 2009, 181: 683. DOI: 10.1016/s0022-5347(09)61913-3.
- Ghrelin and leptin influence differential gene expression in the post-pubertal murine sertoli cellAlukal J, Louet M, Whirledge S, Sun Y, Smith R, Lamb D. Ghrelin and leptin influence differential gene expression in the post-pubertal murine sertoli cell. Fertility And Sterility 2008, 90: s63-s64. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.07.796.
- O-113 Ghrelin and leptin interplay in proper gonadal functionLamb D, Whirledge S, Smith R. O-113 Ghrelin and leptin interplay in proper gonadal function. Fertility And Sterility 2006, 86: s48. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2006.07.132.
- 45 Therapeutic Potential of Stem Cells in Aging-Related DiseasesWhirledge S, Lo K, Lamb D. 45 Therapeutic Potential of Stem Cells in Aging-Related Diseases. 2006, 563-574. DOI: 10.1016/b978-012369391-4/50046-1.
- Stem cells: Implications for urologyLo K, Whirledge S, Lamb D. Stem cells: Implications for urology. Current Urology Reports 2005, 6: 49-54. PMID: 15610697, DOI: 10.1007/s11934-005-0067-5.