Overview
Progesterone (P4) is a steroid hormone essential for reproductive and metabolic functions. It acts through nuclear receptors to regulate gene expression and through membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs), which mediate rapid non-genomic signaling. mPRs play key roles in various biological systems, including the nervous and cardiovascular systems, reproductive tissues, the intestine, and immune and cancer cells, making them promising targets for treating hypertension, reproductive disorders, and metabolic diseases. However, the exact downstream signaling pathways of mPRs remain unclear. Our lab focuses on uncovering these signaling mechanisms in both healthy and diseased mammalian systems, as well as exploring the therapeutic potential of mPR activation to combat diabetes and reverse its symptoms.