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Jiao Y, Bei C, Wang Y, Liao A, Guo J, Li X, Jiang T, Liu X, Chen Y, Cong P, He Z. Bone morphogenetic protein 15 gene disruption affects the in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes by impairing spindle assembly and organelle function. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 267:131417. [PMID: 38582457 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) plays a crucial role in the porcine follicular development. However, its exact functions in the in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes remain largely unknown. Here, through cytoplasmic injection of a preassembled crRNA-tracrRNA-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complex, we achieved BMP15 disruption in approximately 54 % of the cultured porcine oocytes. Editing BMP15 impaired the IVM of porcine oocytes, as indicated by the significantly increased abnormal spindle assembly and reduced first polar body (PB1) extrusion. The editing also impaired cytoplasmic maturation of porcine oocytes, as reflected by reduced abundant of Golgi apparatus and impaired functions of mitochondria. The impaired IVM of porcine oocytes by editing BMP15 possibly was associated with the attenuated SMAD1/5 and EGFR-ERK1/2 signaling in the cumulus granulosa cells (CGCs) and the inhibited MOS/ERK1/2 signaling in oocytes. The attenuated MOS/ERK1/2 signaling may contribute to the inactivation of maturation promoting factor (MPF) and the increased abnormal spindle assembly, leading to reduced PB1 extrusion. It also may contribute to reduced Golgi apparatus formation, and impaired functions of mitochondria. These findings expand our understanding of the regulatory role of BMP15 in the IVM of porcine oocytes and provide a basis for manipulation of porcine reproductive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafei Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Chang Bei
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Yixian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Alian Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Jinming Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Xinran Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Tiantuan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Xiaohong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Yaosheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Peiqing Cong
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China.
| | - Zuyong He
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China.
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Norris RP, Jaffe LA. Granulosa Cells Alone, Without Theca Cells, Can Mediate LH-induced Oocyte Meiotic Resumption. Endocrinology 2024; 165:bqad200. [PMID: 38180498 PMCID: PMC10805430 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqad200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Signaling in the granulosa cells of mammalian ovarian follicles is necessary for maintaining prophase arrest in the oocyte and for mediating the resumption of meiosis in response to luteinizing hormone (LH). However, the follicle also includes an outer layer of theca cells, some of which express receptors for LH. To investigate whether theca cells are required for maintaining meiotic arrest and reinitiating meiosis in response to LH, we mechanically separated the granulosa cells and oocyte from the theca and basal lamina. This was accomplished by cutting a slit in the outer surface of isolated follicles such that the mural granulosa cells and cumulus-oocyte complex were extruded from the theca shell, forming a lawn of cells on an organotypic membrane. The remnant of theca cells and basal lamina was then removed. The separation of the granulosa cells from the theca cells and basal lamina was demonstrated by immunofluorescence localization of endomucin (blood vessels of the theca) and laminin gamma (basal lamina). Cells comprising these granulosa cell-oocyte complexes expressed LH receptors and were connected by gap junctions. Oocytes within these granulosa cell complexes maintained meiotic arrest and resumed meiosis in response to LH, showing that the granulosa cells alone, without theca cells, transduce these signals. This semi-intact and mostly 2-dimensional preparation could facilitate imaging studies of follicle physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael P Norris
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Laurinda A Jaffe
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
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Egbert JR, Silbern I, Uliasz TF, Lowther KM, Yee SP, Urlaub H, Jaffe LA. Phosphatases modified by LH signaling in ovarian follicles: testing their role in regulating the NPR2 guanylyl cyclase†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:102-115. [PMID: 37774352 PMCID: PMC10790345 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In response to luteinizing hormone (LH), multiple proteins in rat and mouse granulosa cells are rapidly dephosphorylated, but the responsible phosphatases remain to be identified. Because the phosphorylation state of phosphatases can regulate their interaction with substrates, we searched for phosphatases that might function in LH signaling by using quantitative mass spectrometry. We identified all proteins in rat ovarian follicles whose phosphorylation state changed detectably in response to a 30-min exposure to LH, and within this list, identified protein phosphatases or phosphatase regulatory subunits that showed changes in phosphorylation. Phosphatases in the phosphoprotein phosphatase (PPP) family were of particular interest because of their requirement for dephosphorylating the natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2) guanylyl cyclase in the granulosa cells, which triggers oocyte meiotic resumption. Among the PPP family regulatory subunits, PPP1R12A and PPP2R5D showed the largest increases in phosphorylation, with 4-10 fold increases in signal intensity on several sites. Although follicles from mice in which these phosphorylations were prevented by serine-to-alanine mutations in either Ppp1r12a or Ppp2r5d showed normal LH-induced NPR2 dephosphorylation, these regulatory subunits and others could act redundantly to dephosphorylate NPR2. Our identification of phosphatases and other proteins whose phosphorylation state is rapidly modified by LH provides clues about multiple signaling pathways in ovarian follicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy R Egbert
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Ivan Silbern
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Tracy F Uliasz
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Katie M Lowther
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
- Center for Mouse Genome Modification, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington CT, USA
| | - Siu-Pok Yee
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
- Center for Mouse Genome Modification, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington CT, USA
| | - Henning Urlaub
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging: From Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells” (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Laurinda A Jaffe
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
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Gilchrist RB, Ho TM, De Vos M, Sanchez F, Romero S, Ledger WL, Anckaert E, Vuong LN, Smitz J. A fresh start for IVM: capacitating the oocyte for development using pre-IVM. Hum Reprod Update 2024; 30:3-25. [PMID: 37639630 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmad023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While oocyte IVM is practiced sporadically it has not achieved widespread clinical practice globally. However, recently there have been some seminal advances in our understanding of basic aspects of oocyte biology and ovulation from animal studies that have led to novel approaches to IVM. A significant recent advance in IVM technology is the use of biphasic IVM approaches. These involve the collection of immature oocytes from small antral follicles from minimally stimulated patients/animals (without hCG-priming) and an ∼24 h pre-culture of oocytes in an advanced culture system ('pre-IVM') prior to IVM, followed by routine IVF procedures. If safe and efficacious, this novel procedure may stand to make a significant impact on human ART practices. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE The objectives of this review are to examine the major scientific advances in ovarian biology with a unique focus on the development of pre-IVM methodologies, to provide an insight into biphasic IVM procedures, and to report on outcomes from animal and clinical human data, including safety data. The potential future impact of biphasic IVM on ART practice is discussed. SEARCH METHODS Peer review original and review articles were selected from PubMed and Web of Science searches for this narrative review. Searches were performed using the following keywords: oocyte IVM, pre-IVM, biphasic IVM, CAPA-IVM, hCG-triggered/primed IVM, natural cycle IVF/M, ex-vivo IVM, OTO-IVM, oocyte maturation, meiotic competence, oocyte developmental competence, oocyte capacitation, follicle size, cumulus cell (CC), granulosa cell, COC, gap-junction communication, trans-zonal process, cAMP and IVM, cGMP and IVM, CNP and IVM, EGF-like peptide and IVM, minimal stimulation ART, PCOS. OUTCOMES Minimizing gonadotrophin use means IVM oocytes will be collected from small antral (pre-dominant) follicles containing oocytes that are still developing. Standard IVM yields suboptimal clinical outcomes using such oocytes, whereas pre-IVM aims to continue the oocyte's development ex vivo, prior to IVM. Pre-IVM achieves this by eliciting profound cellular changes in the oocyte's CCs, which continue to meet the oocyte's developmental needs during the pre-IVM phase. The literature contains 25 years of animal research on various pre-IVM and biphasic IVM procedures, which serves as a large knowledge base for new approaches to human IVM. A pre-IVM procedure based on c-type natriuretic peptide (named 'capacitation-IVM' (CAPA-IVM)) has undergone pre-clinical human safety and efficacy trials and its adoption into clinical practice resulted in healthy live birth rates not different from conventional IVF. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Over many decades, improvements in clinical IVM have been gradual and incremental but there has likely been a turning of the tide in the past few years, with landmark discoveries in animal oocyte biology finally making their way into clinical practice leading to improved outcomes for patients. Demonstration of favorable clinical results with CAPA-IVM, as the first clinically tested biphasic IVM system, has led to renewed interest in IVM as an alternative, low-intervention, low-cost, safe, patient-friendly ART approach, and especially for patients with PCOS. The same new approach is being used as part of fertility preservation in patients with cancer and holds promise for social oocyte freezing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert B Gilchrist
- Fertility & Research Centre, Discipline of Women's Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Tuong M Ho
- IVFMD, My Duc Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Michel De Vos
- Brussels IVF, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Follicle Biology Laboratory, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Flor Sanchez
- Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones en Biología y Medicina Reproductiva, Lima, Peru
| | - Sergio Romero
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology and Fertility Preservation, Cayetano Heredia University (UPCH), Lima, Peru
- Centro de Fertilidad y Reproducción Asistida, Lima, Peru
| | - William L Ledger
- Fertility & Research Centre, Discipline of Women's Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia
- City Fertility, Global CHA IVF Partners, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ellen Anckaert
- Follicle Biology Laboratory, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lan N Vuong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Johan Smitz
- Follicle Biology Laboratory, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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Das M, Son WY. In vitro maturation (IVM) of human immature oocytes: is it still relevant? Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2023; 21:110. [PMID: 37993914 PMCID: PMC10664544 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-023-01162-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In vitro maturation (IVM) of human immature oocytes has been shown to be a viable option for patients at risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), those seeking urgent fertility preservation and in circumstances where controlled ovarian stimulation is not feasible. Moreover, IVM techniques can be combined with ovarian tissue cryobanking to increase the chances of conception in cancer survivors. The clinical applications of IVM in the field of reproductive medicine are rapidly expanding and the technique is now classified as non-experimental. In contrast to conventional IVF (in vitro fertilization), IVM offers several advantages, such as reduced gonadotropin stimulation, minimal risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), reduced treatment times and lower costs. However, the technical expertise involved in performing IVM and its lower success rates compared to traditional IVF cycles, still pose significant challenges. Despite recent advances, such as innovative biphasic IVM systems, IVM is still an evolving technique and research is ongoing to refine protocols and identify techniques to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. A comprehensive understanding of the distinct mechanisms of oocyte maturation is crucial for obtaining more viable oocytes through in vitro methods, which will in turn lead to significantly improved success rates. In this review, the present state of human IVM programs and future research directions will be discussed, aiming to promote a better understanding of IVM and identify potential strategies to improve the overall efficiency and success rates of IVM programs, which will in turn lead to better clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mausumi Das
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Queen Charlotte and Hammersmith Hospitals, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Telfer EE, Grosbois J, Odey YL, Rosario R, Anderson RA. Making a good egg: human oocyte health, aging, and in vitro development. Physiol Rev 2023; 103:2623-2677. [PMID: 37171807 PMCID: PMC10625843 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00032.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian eggs (oocytes) are formed during fetal life and establish associations with somatic cells to form primordial follicles that create a store of germ cells (the primordial pool). The size of this pool is influenced by key events during the formation of germ cells and by factors that influence the subsequent activation of follicle growth. These regulatory pathways must ensure that the reserve of oocytes within primordial follicles in humans lasts for up to 50 years, yet only approximately 0.1% will ever be ovulated with the rest undergoing degeneration. This review outlines the mechanisms and regulatory pathways that govern the processes of oocyte and follicle formation and later growth, within the ovarian stroma, through to ovulation with particular reference to human oocytes/follicles. In addition, the effects of aging on female reproductive capacity through changes in oocyte number and quality are emphasized, with both the cellular mechanisms and clinical implications discussed. Finally, the details of current developments in culture systems that support all stages of follicle growth to generate mature oocytes in vitro and emerging prospects for making new oocytes from stem cells are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn E Telfer
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Johanne Grosbois
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Yvonne L Odey
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Roseanne Rosario
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Richard A Anderson
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Egbert JR, Silbern I, Uliasz TF, Lowther KM, Yee SP, Urlaub H, Jaffe LA. Phosphatases modified by LH signaling in ovarian follicles: testing their role in regulating the NPR2 guanylyl cyclase. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.12.544636. [PMID: 37333193 PMCID: PMC10274890 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.12.544636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
In response to luteinizing hormone, multiple proteins in rat and mouse granulosa cells are rapidly dephosphorylated, but the responsible phosphatases remain to be identified. Because the phosphorylation state of phosphatases can regulate their interaction with substrates, we searched for phosphatases that might function in LH signaling by using quantitative mass spectrometry. We identified all proteins in rat ovarian follicles whose phosphorylation state changed detectably in response to a 30-minute exposure to LH, and within this list, identified protein phosphatases or phosphatase regulatory subunits that showed changes in phosphorylation. Phosphatases in the PPP family were of particular interest because of their requirement for dephosphorylating the natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2) guanylyl cyclase in the granulosa cells, which triggers oocyte meiotic resumption. Among the PPP family regulatory subunits, PPP1R12A and PPP2R5D showed the largest increases in phosphorylation, with 4-10 fold increases in signal intensity on several sites. Although follicles from mice in which these phosphorylations were prevented by serine-to-alanine mutations in either Ppp1r12a or Ppp2r5d showed normal LH-induced NPR2 dephosphorylation, these regulatory subunits and others could act redundantly to dephosphorylate NPR2. Our identification of phosphatases and other proteins whose phosphorylation state is rapidly modified by LH provides clues about multiple signaling pathways in ovarian follicles. Summary sentence Quantitative mass spectrometric analysis of phosphatases whose phosphorylation state is rapidly modified by luteinizing hormone provides clues about how LH signaling dephosphorylates NPR2 as well as a resource for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy R. Egbert
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington CT 06030 USA
| | - Ivan Silbern
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Goettingen, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Tracy F. Uliasz
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington CT 06030 USA
| | - Katie M. Lowther
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington CT 06030 USA
- Center for Mouse Genome Modification, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington CT 06030 USA
| | - Siu-Pok Yee
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington CT 06030 USA
- Center for Mouse Genome Modification, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington CT 06030 USA
| | - Henning Urlaub
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Goettingen, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: From Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Laurinda A. Jaffe
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington CT 06030 USA
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Meinecke B, Meinecke-Tillmann S. Lab partners: oocytes, embryos and company. A personal view on aspects of oocyte maturation and the development of monozygotic twins. Anim Reprod 2023; 20:e20230049. [PMID: 37547564 PMCID: PMC10399133 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2023-0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The present review addresses the oocyte and the preimplantation embryo, and is intended to highlight the underlying principle of the "nature versus/and nurture" question. Given the diversity in mammalian oocyte maturation, this review will not be comprehensive but instead will focus on the porcine oocyte. Historically, oogenesis was seen as the development of a passive cell nursed and determined by its somatic compartment. Currently, the advanced analysis of the cross-talk between the maternal environment and the oocyte shows a more balanced relationship: Granulosa cells nurse the oocyte, whereas the latter secretes diffusible factors that regulate proliferation and differentiation of the granulosa cells. Signal molecules of the granulosa cells either prevent the precocious initiation of meiotic maturation or enable oocyte maturation following hormonal stimulation. A similar question emerges in research on monozygotic twins or multiples: In Greek and medieval times, twins were not seen as the result of the common course of nature but were classified as faults. This seems still valid today for the rare and until now mainly unknown genesis of facultative monozygotic twins in mammals. Monozygotic twins are unique subjects for studies of the conceptus-maternal dialogue, the intra-pair similarity and dissimilarity, and the elucidation of the interplay between nature and nurture. In the course of in vivo collections of preimplantation sheep embryos and experiments on embryo splitting and other microsurgical interventions we recorded observations on double blastocysts within a single zona pellucida, double inner cell masses in zona-enclosed blastocysts and double germinal discs in elongating embryos. On the basis of these observations we add some pieces to the puzzle of the post-zygotic genesis of monozygotic twins and on maternal influences on the developing conceptus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burkhard Meinecke
- Institut für Reproduktionsbiologie, Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, Hanover, Germany
- Ambulatorische und Geburtshilfliche Veterinärklinik, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Sabine Meinecke-Tillmann
- Institut für Reproduktionsbiologie, Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, Hanover, Germany
- Institut für Tierzucht und Haustiergenetik, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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9
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Liu Y, Zhong Y, Shen X, Guo X, Wu R, Yang T, Chen M. Luteinizing hormone stimulates the expression of amphiregulin in human theca cells. J Ovarian Res 2022; 15:129. [PMID: 36476625 PMCID: PMC9730684 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-022-01062-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Luteinizing hormone (LH) can stimulate mural granulosa cells to produce Amphiregulin (AREG), which can induce the resumption of meiosis in oocytes. Theca cells are present in the outer layer of follicles, providing communication with the pituitary axis through the established vascular system around the follicle. As LH target cells, it is unknown whether theca cells can produce AREG after LH stimulation. METHODS Primary cultured human theca cells were treated with LH (with or without the inhibitor of PKA, H89), or agonists of adenylate cyclase (forskolin or db-cAMP). The mRNA and protein levels of AREG were evaluated by RT-qPCR, immunochemistry, immunofluorescence, western blotting, and ELISA. RESULTS Immunohistochemistry of normal ovarian tissue obtained in the early-mid follicle phase showed that AREG expression was absent in both the theca layer and the granulosa cell layer of antral follicles. Double immunofluorescent staining revealed colocalization of AREG and CYP17A1 in human theca cells and colocalization of FSHR and AREG in human granulosa cells isolated from follicular fluid collected during IVF/ICSI after hCG trigger. LH significantly increased the mRNA and protein levels of AREG in human theca cells and the concentration of AREG in the culture medium. Forskolin and db-cAMP, activators of the cAMP/PKA signalling pathway, also significantly increased the mRNA and protein levels of AREG in human theca cells and the concentration of AREG in the culture medium. H89 antagonized the stimulating effect of LH on AREG expression in human theca cells. In addition, the concentration of AREG was lower in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) follicular fluid than in normal follicular fluid. The mRNA levels of AREG were significantly lower in PCOS granulosa cells and theca cells than in normal granulosa cells and theca cells. CONCLUSION LH can stimulate the expression of AREG in human theca cells, and the adenylate cyclase/cAMP/PKA cascade may mediate this process. Expression of AREG is decreased in PCOS theca cells compared to normal theca cells, with or without LH stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- grid.412615.50000 0004 1803 6239Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhoushan 2 Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong People’s Republic of China ,grid.412615.50000 0004 1803 6239Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China ,grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiping Zhong
- grid.412615.50000 0004 1803 6239Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhoushan 2 Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong People’s Republic of China ,grid.412615.50000 0004 1803 6239Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoting Shen
- grid.412615.50000 0004 1803 6239Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhoushan 2 Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong People’s Republic of China ,grid.412615.50000 0004 1803 6239Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xi Guo
- grid.412615.50000 0004 1803 6239Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhoushan 2 Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong People’s Republic of China ,grid.412615.50000 0004 1803 6239Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rihan Wu
- grid.412615.50000 0004 1803 6239Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhoushan 2 Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong People’s Republic of China ,grid.412615.50000 0004 1803 6239Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Turui Yang
- grid.412615.50000 0004 1803 6239Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhoushan 2 Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong People’s Republic of China ,grid.412615.50000 0004 1803 6239Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Minghui Chen
- grid.412615.50000 0004 1803 6239Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhoushan 2 Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong People’s Republic of China ,grid.412615.50000 0004 1803 6239Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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10
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SphK-produced S1P in somatic cells is indispensable for LH-EGFR signaling-induced mouse oocyte maturation. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:963. [PMID: 36396932 PMCID: PMC9671891 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05415-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Germ cell division and differentiation require intimate contact and interaction with the surrounding somatic cells. Luteinizing hormone (LH) triggers epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factors to promote oocyte maturation and developmental competence by activating EGF receptor (EGFR) in somatic cells. Here, we showed that LH-EGFR signaling-activated sphingosine kinases (SphK) in somatic cells. The activation of EGFR by EGF increased S1P and calcium levels in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), and decreased the binding affinity of natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2) for natriuretic peptide type C (NPPC) to release the cGMP-mediated meiotic arrest. These functions of EGF were blocked by the SphK inhibitor SKI-II, which could be reversed by the addition of S1P. S1P also activated the Akt/mTOR cascade reaction in oocytes and promoted targeting protein for Xklp2 (TPX2) accumulation and oocyte developmental competence. Specifically depleting Sphk1/2 in somatic cells reduced S1P levels and impaired oocyte meiotic maturation and developmental competence, resulting in complete female infertility. Collectively, SphK-produced S1P in somatic cells serves as a functional transmitter of LH-EGFR signaling from somatic cells to oocytes: acting on somatic cells to induce oocyte meiotic maturation, and acting on oocytes to improve oocyte developmental competence.
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11
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Otto NM, Potter LR. Vicinal glutamates are better phosphomimetics: Phosphorylation is required for allosteric activation of guanylyl cyclase-A. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1012784. [DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1012784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Multisite phosphorylation of guanylyl cyclase (GC)-A, also known as NPR-A or NPR1, is required for receptor activation by natriuretic peptides (NPs) because alanine substitutions for the first four GC-A phosphorylation sites produce an enzyme that cannot be stimulated by NPs. In contrast, single Glu substitutions for the first six chemically identified GC-A phosphorylation sites to mimic the negative charge of phosphate produced an enzyme that is activated by NPs but had an elevated Michaelis constant (Km), resulting in low activity. Here, we show that vicinal (double adjacent) Glu substitutions for the same sites to mimic the two negative charges of phosphate produced a near wild type (WT) enzyme with a low Km. Unlike the enzyme with single glutamate substitutions, the vicinally substituted enzyme did not require the functionally identified Ser-473-Glu substitution to achieve WT-like activity. Importantly, the negative charge associated with either phosphorylation or glutamate substitutions was required for allosteric activation of GC-A by ATP. We conclude that vicinal Glu substitutions are better phosphomimetics than single Glu substitutions and that phosphorylation is required for allosteric activation of GC-A in the absence and presence of NP. Finally, we suggest that the putative functionally identified phosphorylation sites, Ser-473 in GC-A and Ser-489 in GC-B, are not phosphorylation sites at all.
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12
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Hao X, Yuan F, Cui Y, Zhang M. Oocyte-secreted factor TGFB2 enables mouse cumulus cell expansion in vitro. Mol Reprod Dev 2022; 89:554-562. [PMID: 36128893 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Cumulus expansion is necessary for the release of a fertilizable oocyte from the ovary, which is critical for the normal fertilization of mammals. Cumulus expansion requires cooperation between epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factors and oocyte paracrine factors. Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) are well-known paracrine factors secreted by oocytes. In addition, transforming growth factor-β2 (TGFB2) was primarily expressed in oocytes and its membrane receptors type 1 receptor (TGFBR1) and type 2 receptor (TGFBR2) were located in cumulus cells. In our present study, TGFB2 induced expansion of oocytectomized (OOX) complexes and increased the expression of expansion-related genes in the presence of EGF, suggesting that TGFB2 enables cumulus expansion. Inhibition of TGF-β signaling with SD208 blocked TGFB2-promoted cumulus expansion. Furthermore, in the culture of OOX complexes from mice of Tgfbr2-specific depletion in granulosa cells, TGFB2-promoted cumulus expansion and the expression of expansion-related genes were impaired. These results suggest that TGFB2 could induce cumulus expansion through TGFBR-SMAD2/3 signaling. Tgfb2-specific depletion in oocytes using Zp3-Cre mice had no effect on cumulus expansion in vivo, possibly due to the compensatory effect of other cumulus expansion-enabling factors. Taken together, TGFB2 is involved in expansion-related gene expression and consequent cumulus expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqiong Hao
- Department of Physiology, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, China.,Division of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Feifei Yuan
- Division of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanying Cui
- Division of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meijia Zhang
- Division of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
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13
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Wagner BM, Robinson JW, Prickett TCR, Espiner EA, Khosla S, Gaddy D, Suva LJ, Potter LR. Guanylyl Cyclase-B Dependent Bone Formation in Mice is Associated with Youth, Increased Osteoblasts, and Decreased Osteoclasts. Calcif Tissue Int 2022; 111:506-518. [PMID: 35947145 DOI: 10.1007/s00223-022-01014-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) activation of guanylyl cyclase-B (GC-B) catalyzes the synthesis of cGMP in chondrocytes and osteoblasts. Elevated cGMP stimulates long bone growth, and inactivating mutations in CNP or GC-B reduce cGMP, which causes dwarfism. GC-B7E/7E mice that express a GC-B mutant that cannot be inactivated by dephosphorylation exhibit increased CNP-dependent GC-B activity, which increases bone length, as well as bone mass and strength. Importantly, how GC-B increases bone mass is not known. Here, we injected 12-week-old, wild type mice once daily for 28 days with or without BMN-111 (Vosoritide), a proteolytically resistant CNP analog. We found that BMN-111 treated mice had elevated levels of osteocalcin and collagen 1 C-terminal telopeptide (CTX) as well as increased osteoblasts and osteoclasts. In BMN-111 injected mice, tibial mRNAs for Rank ligand and osteoprotegrin were increased and decreased, respectively, whereas sclerostin mRNA was elevated 400-fold, consistent with increased osteoclast activity and decreased osteoblast activity. Mineral apposition rates and trabecular bone mass were not elevated in response to BMN-111. Because 9-week-old male GC-B7E/7E mice have increased bone mass but do not exhibit increased mineral apposition rates, we examined 4-week-old male GC-B7E/7E mice and found that these animals had increased serum osteocalcin, but not CTX. Importantly, tibias from these mice had 37% more osteoblasts, 26% fewer osteoclasts as well as 36% and 40% higher mineral apposition and bone formation rates, respectively. We conclude that GC-B-dependent bone formation is coupled to an early juvenile process that requires both increased osteoblasts and decreased osteoclasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon M Wagner
- Departments of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jerid W Robinson
- Departments of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, 6-155 Jackson Hall, 321 Church Street, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Eric A Espiner
- Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Sundeep Khosla
- Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging and Division of Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Dana Gaddy
- Departments of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Larry J Suva
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Lincoln R Potter
- Departments of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
- Departments of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, 6-155 Jackson Hall, 321 Church Street, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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14
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Egbert JR, Uliasz TF, Lowther KM, Kaback D, Wagner BM, Healy CL, O’Connell TD, Potter LR, Jaffe LA, Yee SP. Epitope-tagged and phosphomimetic mouse models for investigating natriuretic peptide-stimulated receptor guanylyl cyclases. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1007026. [PMID: 36340689 PMCID: PMC9627482 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1007026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The natriuretic peptide receptors NPR1 and NPR2, also known as guanylyl cyclase A and guanylyl cyclase B, have critical functions in many signaling pathways, but much remains unknown about their localization and function in vivo. To facilitate studies of these proteins, we developed genetically modified mouse lines in which endogenous NPR1 and NPR2 were tagged with the HA epitope. To investigate the role of phosphorylation in regulating NPR1 and NPR2 guanylyl cyclase activity, we developed mouse lines in which regulatory serines and threonines were substituted with glutamates, to mimic the negative charge of the phosphorylated forms (NPR1-8E and NPR2-7E). Here we describe the generation and applications of these mice. We show that the HA-NPR1 and HA-NPR2 mice can be used to characterize the relative expression levels of these proteins in different tissues. We describe studies using the NPR2-7E mice that indicate that dephosphorylation of NPR2 transduces signaling pathways in ovary and bone, and studies using the NPR1-8E mice that indicate that the phosphorylation state of NPR1 is a regulator of heart, testis, and adrenal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy R. Egbert
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, United States,*Correspondence: Jeremy R. Egbert,
| | - Tracy F. Uliasz
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Katie M. Lowther
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, United States,Center for Mouse Genome Modification, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Deborah Kaback
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, United States,Center for Mouse Genome Modification, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Brandon M. Wagner
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Chastity L. Healy
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Timothy D. O’Connell
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Lincoln R. Potter
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States,Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States,Lincoln R. Potter,
| | - Laurinda A. Jaffe
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, United States,Laurinda A. Jaffe,
| | - Siu-Pok Yee
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, United States,Center for Mouse Genome Modification, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, United States,Siu-Pok Yee,
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15
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Das D, Arur S. Regulation of oocyte maturation: Role of conserved ERK signaling. Mol Reprod Dev 2022; 89:353-374. [PMID: 35908193 PMCID: PMC9492652 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
During oogenesis, oocytes arrest at meiotic prophase I to acquire competencies for resuming meiosis, fertilization, and early embryonic development. Following this arrested period, oocytes resume meiosis in response to species-specific hormones, a process known as oocyte maturation, that precedes ovulation and fertilization. Involvement of endocrine and autocrine/paracrine factors and signaling events during maintenance of prophase I arrest, and resumption of meiosis is an area of active research. Studies in vertebrate and invertebrate model organisms have delineated the molecular determinants and signaling pathways that regulate oocyte maturation. Cell cycle regulators, such as cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK1), polo-like kinase (PLK1), Wee1/Myt1 kinase, and the phosphatase CDC25 play conserved roles during meiotic resumption. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), on the other hand, while activated during oocyte maturation in all species, regulates both species-specific, as well as conserved events among different organisms. In this review, we synthesize the general signaling mechanisms and focus on conserved and distinct functions of ERK signaling pathway during oocyte maturation in mammals, non-mammalian vertebrates, and invertebrates such as Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debabrata Das
- Department of Genetics, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Swathi Arur
- Department of Genetics, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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16
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Ozturk S. Molecular determinants of the meiotic arrests in mammalian oocytes at different stages of maturation. Cell Cycle 2022; 21:547-571. [PMID: 35072590 PMCID: PMC8942507 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2022.2026704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian oocytes undergo two rounds of developmental arrest during maturation: at the diplotene of the first meiotic prophase and metaphase of the second meiosis. These arrests are strictly regulated by follicular cells temporally producing the secondary messengers, cAMP and cGMP, and other factors to regulate maturation promoting factor (composed of cyclin B1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1) levels in the oocytes. Out of these normally appearing developmental arrests, permanent arrests may occur in the oocytes at germinal vesicle (GV), metaphase I (MI), or metaphase II (MII) stage. This issue may arise from absence or altered expression of the oocyte-related genes playing key roles in nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation. Additionally, the assisted reproductive technology (ART) applications such as ovarian stimulation and in vitro culture conditions both of which harbor various types of chemical agents may contribute to forming the permanent arrests. In this review, the molecular determinants of developmental and permanent arrests occurring in the mammalian oocytes are comprehensively evaluated in the light of current knowledge. As number of permanently arrested oocytes at different stages is increasing in ART centers, potential approaches for inducing permanent arrests to obtain competent oocytes are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saffet Ozturk
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey,CONTACT Saffet Ozturk Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya07070, Turkey
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17
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Strączyńska P, Papis K, Morawiec E, Czerwiński M, Gajewski Z, Olejek A, Bednarska-Czerwińska A. Signaling mechanisms and their regulation during in vivo or in vitro maturation of mammalian oocytes. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2022; 20:37. [PMID: 35209923 PMCID: PMC8867761 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-022-00906-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is currently one of the most effective methods of infertility treatment. An alternative to commonly used ovarian hyperstimulation can become extracorporeal maturation of oocytes (in vitro maturation; IVM). Fertilization and normal development of the embryo depends on the cytoplasmic, nuclear and genomic maturity of the oocyte. The microenvironment of the ovarian follicle and maternal signals, which mediate bidirectional communication between granulosa, cumulus and oocyte cells, influence the growth, maturation and acquisition of oocyte development capability. During oogenesis in mammals, the meiosis is inhibited in the oocyte at the prophase I of the meiotic division due to the high cAMP level. This level is maintained by the activity of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP, NPPC) produced by granulosa cells. The CNP binds to the NPR2 receptor in cumulus cells and is responsible for the production of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). The cGMP penetrating into the oocyte through gap junctions inhibits phosphodiesterase 3A (PDE3A), preventing cAMP hydrolysis responsible for low MPF activity. The LH surge during the reproductive cycle reduces the activity of the CNP/NPR2 complex, which results in a decrease in cGMP levels in cumulus cells and consequently in the oocyte. Reduced cGMP concentration unblocks the hydrolytic activity of PDE3A, which decreases cAMP level inside the oocyte. This leads to the activation of MPF and resumption of meiosis. The latest IVM methods called SPOM, NFSOM or CAPA IVM consist of two steps: prematuration and maturation itself. Taking into account the role of cAMP in inhibiting and then unblocking the maturation of oocytes, they have led to a significant progress in terms of the percentage of mature oocytes in vitro and the proportion of properly developed embryos in both animals and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrycja Strączyńska
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Oncological Gynecology in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
- Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
- Gyncentrum Fertility Clinic, Katowice, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Papis
- Center for Translational Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
- nOvum Fertility Clinic, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Emilia Morawiec
- Gyncentrum Fertility Clinic, Katowice, Poland
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine in Zabrze, University of Technology in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | | | - Zdzisław Gajewski
- Center for Translational Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anita Olejek
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Oncological Gynecology in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
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18
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Wagner BM, Robinson JW, Healy CL, Gauthier M, Dickey DM, Yee SP, Osborn JW, O’Connell TD, Potter LR. Guanylyl cyclase-A phosphorylation decreases cardiac hypertrophy and improves systolic function in male, but not female, mice. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22069. [PMID: 34859913 PMCID: PMC8826535 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100600rrr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Atrial natriuretic peptide (NP) and BNP increase cGMP, which reduces blood pressure and cardiac hypertrophy by activating guanylyl cyclase (GC)-A, also known as NPR-A or Npr1. Although GC-A is highly phosphorylated, and dephosphorylation inactivates the enzyme, the significance of GC-A phosphorylation to heart structure and function remains unknown. To identify in vivo processes that are regulated by GC-A phosphorylation, we substituted glutamates for known phosphorylation sites to make GC-A8E/8E mice that express an enzyme that cannot be inactivated by dephosphorylation. GC-A activity, but not protein, was increased in heart and kidney membranes from GC-A8E/8E mice. Activities were threefold higher in female compared to male cardiac ventricles. Plasma cGMP and testosterone were elevated in male and female GC-A8E/8E mice, but aldosterone was only increased in mutant male mice. Plasma and urinary creatinine concentrations were decreased and increased, respectively, but blood pressure and heart rate were unchanged in male GC-A8E/8E mice. Heart weight to body weight ratios for GC-A8E/8E male, but not female, mice were 12% lower with a 14% reduction in cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area. Subcutaneous injection of fsANP, a long-lived ANP analog, increased plasma cGMP and decreased aldosterone in male GC-AWT/WT and GC-A8E/8E mice at 15 min, but only GC-A8E/8E mice had elevated levels of plasma cGMP and aldosterone at 60 min. fsANP reduced ventricular ERK1/2 phosphorylation to a greater extent and for a longer time in the male mutant compared to WT mice. Finally, ejection fractions were increased in male but not female hearts from GC-A8E/8E mice. We conclude that increased phosphorylation-dependent GC-A activity decreases cardiac ERK activity, which results in smaller male hearts with improved systolic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon M. Wagner
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA
| | - Jerid W. Robinson
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA
| | - Chastity L. Healy
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA
| | - Madeline Gauthier
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA
| | - Deborah M. Dickey
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA
| | - Siu-Pok Yee
- Department of Cell Biology at the University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030 USA
| | - John W. Osborn
- Department of Surgery at the University of Minnesota, Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA
| | - Timothy D. O’Connell
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA,,Corresponding authors: Timothy D O’Connell , Lincoln R Potter
| | - Lincoln R. Potter
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA,,Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA,,Corresponding authors: Timothy D O’Connell , Lincoln R Potter
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19
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Kim J, Hyun M, Hibi M, You YJ. Maintenance of quiescent oocytes by noradrenergic signals. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6925. [PMID: 34836956 PMCID: PMC8626438 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26945-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
All females adopt an evolutionary conserved reproduction strategy; under unfavorable conditions such as scarcity of food or mates, oocytes remain quiescent. However, the signals to maintain oocyte quiescence are largely unknown. Here, we report that in four different species - Caenorhabditis elegans, Caenorhabditis remanei, Drosophila melanogaster, and Danio rerio - octopamine and norepinephrine play an essential role in maintaining oocyte quiescence. In the absence of mates, the oocytes of Caenorhabditis mutants lacking octopamine signaling fail to remain quiescent, but continue to divide and become polyploid. Upon starvation, the egg chambers of D. melanogaster mutants lacking octopamine signaling fail to remain at the previtellogenic stage, but grow to full-grown egg chambers. Upon starvation, D. rerio lacking norepinephrine fails to maintain a quiescent primordial follicle and activates an excessive number of primordial follicles. Our study reveals an evolutionarily conserved function of the noradrenergic signal in maintaining quiescent oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeongho Kim
- grid.202119.90000 0001 2364 8385Department of Biological Sciences, Inha University, Incheon, 22212 South Korea
| | - Moonjung Hyun
- grid.224260.00000 0004 0458 8737Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298 USA ,grid.418982.e0000 0004 5345 5340Present Address: Biological Resources Research Group, Bioenvironmental Science & Toxicology Division, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Gyeongsangnam-do, 52834 South Korea
| | - Masahiko Hibi
- grid.27476.300000 0001 0943 978XGraduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8602 Japan
| | - Young-Jai You
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA. .,Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8602, Japan. .,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
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20
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Richani D, Gilchrist RB. Approaches to oocyte meiotic arrest in vitro and impact on oocyte developmental competence. Biol Reprod 2021; 106:243-252. [PMID: 34534265 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Oocytes are maintained in a state of meiotic arrest following the first meiotic division until ovulation is triggered. Within the antral follicle, meiotic arrest is actively suppressed in a process facilitated by the cyclic nucleotides cGMP and cAMP. If removed from this inhibitory follicular environment and cultured in vitro, mammalian oocytes undergo spontaneous meiotic resumption in the absence of the usual stimulatory follicular stimuli, leading to asynchronicity with oocyte cytoplasmic maturation and lower developmental competence. For more than 50 years, pharmacological agents have been used to attenuate oocyte germinal vesicle (GV) breakdown in vitro. Agents which increase intra-oocyte cAMP or prevent its degradation have been predominantly used, however agents such as kinase and protein synthesis inhibitors have also been trialled. Twenty years of research demonstrates that maintaining GV arrest for a period before in vitro maturation (IVM) improves oocyte developmental competence, and is likely attributed to maintenance of bidirectional communication with cumulus cells leading to improved oocyte metabolic function. However, outcomes are influenced by various factors including the mode of action of the modulators, dose, treatment duration, species, and the degree of hormonal priming of the oocyte donor. Cyclic GMP and/or cAMP modulation in a prematuration step (called pre-IVM) prior to IVM has shown the greatest consistency in improving oocyte developmental competence, whereas kinase and protein synthesis inhibitors have proven less effective at improving IVM outcomes. Such pre-IVM approaches have shown potential to alter current use of artificial reproductive technologies in medical and veterinary practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dulama Richani
- Fertility & Research Centre, School of Women's & Children's Health, University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Robert B Gilchrist
- Fertility & Research Centre, School of Women's & Children's Health, University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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21
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Sgpl1 deletion elevates S1P levels, contributing to NPR2 inactivity and p21 expression that block germ cell development. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:574. [PMID: 34083520 PMCID: PMC8175456 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03848-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Sphingosine phosphate lyase 1 (SGPL1) is a highly conserved enzyme that irreversibly degrades sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Sgpl1-knockout mice fail to develop germ cells, resulting in infertility. However, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. The results of the present study showed that SGPL1 was expressed mainly in granulosa cells, Leydig cells, spermatocytes, and round spermatids. Sgpl1 deletion led to S1P accumulation in the gonads. In the ovary, S1P decreased natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2) activity in granulosa cells and inhibited early follicle growth. In the testis, S1P increased the levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (p21) and apoptosis in Leydig cells, thus resulting in spermatogenesis arrest. These results indicate that Sgpl1 deletion increases intracellular S1P levels, resulting in the arrest of female and male germ cell development via different signaling pathways.
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22
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Ni S, Zhang T, Zhou C, Long M, Hou X, You L, Li H, Shi L, Su YQ. Coordinated Formation of IMPDH2 Cytoophidium in Mouse Oocytes and Granulosa Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:690536. [PMID: 34124077 PMCID: PMC8194064 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.690536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), the rate-limiting enzyme catalyzing de novo biosynthesis of guanine nucleotides, aggregates under certain circumstances into a type of non-membranous filamentous macrostructure termed “cytoophidium” or “rod and ring” in several types of cells. However, the biological significance and underlying mechanism of IMPDH assembling into cytoophidium remain elusive. In mouse ovaries, IMPDH is reported to be crucial for the maintenance of oocyte–follicle developmental synchrony by providing GTP substrate for granulosa cell natriuretic peptide C/natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPPC/NPR2) system to produce cGMP for sustaining oocyte meiotic arrest. Oocytes and the associated somatic cells in the ovary hence render an exciting model system for exploring the functional significance of formation of IMPDH cytoophidium within the cell. We report here that IMPDH2 cytoophidium forms in vivo in the growing oocytes naturally and in vitro in the cumulus-enclosed oocytes treated with IMPDH inhibitor mycophenolic acid (MPA). Inhibition of IMPDH activity in oocytes and preimplantation embryos compromises oocyte meiotic and developmental competences and the development of embryos beyond the 4-cell stage, respectively. IMPDH cytoopidium also forms in vivo in the granulosa cells of the preovulatory follicles after the surge of luteinizing hormone (LH), which coincides with the resumption of oocyte meiosis and the reduction of IMPDH2 protein expression. In cultured COCs, MPA-treatment causes the simultaneous formation of IMPDH cytoopidium in cumulus cells and the resumption of meiosis in oocytes, which is mediated by the MTOR pathway and is prevented by guanosine supplementation. Therefore, our results indicate that cytoophidia do form in the oocytes and granulosa cells at particular stages of development, which may contribute to the oocyte acquisition of meiotic and developmental competences and the induction of meiosis re-initiation by the LH surge, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiwen Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Teng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chenmin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Min Long
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xuan Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Liji You
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lanying Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - You-Qiang Su
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China.,Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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23
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The mRNA-destabilizing protein Tristetraprolin targets "meiosis arrester" Nppc mRNA in mammalian preovulatory follicles. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2018345118. [PMID: 34031239 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2018345118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
C-natriuretic peptide (CNP) and its receptor guanylyl cyclase, natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2), are key regulators of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) homeostasis. The CNP-NPR2-cGMP signaling cascade plays an important role in the progression of oocyte meiosis, which is essential for fertility in female mammals. In preovulatory ovarian follicles, the luteinizing hormone (LH)-induced decrease in CNP and its encoding messenger RNA (mRNA) natriuretic peptide precursor C (Nppc) are a prerequisite for oocyte meiotic resumption. However, it has never been determined how LH decreases CNP/Nppc In the present study, we identified that tristetraprolin (TTP), also known as zinc finger protein 36 (ZFP36), a ubiquitously expressed mRNA-destabilizing protein, is the critical mechanism that underlies the LH-induced decrease in Nppc mRNA. Zfp36 mRNA was transiently up-regulated in mural granulosa cells (MGCs) in response to the LH surge. Loss- and gain-of-function analyses indicated that TTP is required for Nppc mRNA degradation in preovulatory MGCs by targeting the rare noncanonical AU-rich element harbored in the Nppc 3' UTR. Moreover, MGC-specific knockout of Zfp36, as well as lentivirus-mediated knockdown in vivo, impaired the LH/hCG-induced Nppc mRNA decline and oocyte meiotic resumption. Furthermore, we found that LH/hCG activates Zfp36/TTP expression through the EGFR-ERK1/2-dependent pathway. Our findings reveal a functional role of TTP-induced mRNA degradation, a global posttranscriptional regulation mechanism, in orchestrating the progression of oocyte meiosis. We also provided a mechanism for understanding CNP-dependent cGMP homeostasis in diverse cellular processes.
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24
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Shuhaibar LC, Kaci N, Egbert JR, Horville T, Loisay L, Vigone G, Uliasz TF, Dambroise E, Swingle MR, Honkanen RE, Biosse Duplan M, Jaffe LA, Legeai-Mallet L. Phosphatase inhibition by LB-100 enhances BMN-111 stimulation of bone growth. JCI Insight 2021; 6:141426. [PMID: 33986191 PMCID: PMC8262325 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.141426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Activating mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) and inactivating mutations in the natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2) guanylyl cyclase both result in decreased production of cyclic GMP in chondrocytes and severe short stature, causing achondroplasia (ACH) and acromesomelic dysplasia, type Maroteaux, respectively. Previously, we showed that an NPR2 agonist BMN-111 (vosoritide) increases bone growth in mice mimicking ACH (Fgfr3Y367C/+). Here, because FGFR3 signaling decreases NPR2 activity by dephosphorylating the NPR2 protein, we tested whether a phosphatase inhibitor (LB-100) could enhance BMN-111–stimulated bone growth in ACH. Measurements of cGMP production in chondrocytes of living tibias, and of NPR2 phosphorylation in primary chondrocytes, showed that LB-100 counteracted FGF-induced dephosphorylation and inactivation of NPR2. In ex vivo experiments with Fgfr3Y367C/+ mice, the combination of BMN-111 and LB-100 increased bone length and cartilage area, restored chondrocyte terminal differentiation, and increased the proliferative growth plate area, more than BMN-111 alone. The combination treatment also reduced the abnormal elevation of MAP kinase activity in the growth plate of Fgfr3Y367C/+ mice and improved the skull base anomalies. Our results provide a proof of concept that a phosphatase inhibitor could be used together with an NPR2 agonist to enhance cGMP production as a therapy for ACH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leia C Shuhaibar
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington Connecticut, USA
| | - Nabil Kaci
- Université de Paris, Imagine Institute, Laboratory of Molecular and Physiopathological Bases of Osteochondrodysplasia, INSERM UMR 1163, F‑75015, Paris, France.,Inovarion, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Jeremy R Egbert
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington Connecticut, USA
| | - Thibault Horville
- Université de Paris, Imagine Institute, Laboratory of Molecular and Physiopathological Bases of Osteochondrodysplasia, INSERM UMR 1163, F‑75015, Paris, France
| | - Léa Loisay
- Université de Paris, Imagine Institute, Laboratory of Molecular and Physiopathological Bases of Osteochondrodysplasia, INSERM UMR 1163, F‑75015, Paris, France
| | - Giulia Vigone
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington Connecticut, USA
| | - Tracy F Uliasz
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington Connecticut, USA
| | - Emilie Dambroise
- Université de Paris, Imagine Institute, Laboratory of Molecular and Physiopathological Bases of Osteochondrodysplasia, INSERM UMR 1163, F‑75015, Paris, France
| | - Mark R Swingle
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile Alabama, USA
| | - Richard E Honkanen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile Alabama, USA
| | - Martin Biosse Duplan
- Université de Paris, Imagine Institute, Laboratory of Molecular and Physiopathological Bases of Osteochondrodysplasia, INSERM UMR 1163, F‑75015, Paris, France.,Service de Médecine Bucco-Dentaire, Hôpital Bretonneau, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Laurinda A Jaffe
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington Connecticut, USA
| | - Laurence Legeai-Mallet
- Université de Paris, Imagine Institute, Laboratory of Molecular and Physiopathological Bases of Osteochondrodysplasia, INSERM UMR 1163, F‑75015, Paris, France
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25
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Wagner BM, Robinson JW, Lin YW, Lee YC, Kaci N, Legeai-Mallet L, Potter LR. Prevention of guanylyl cyclase-B dephosphorylation rescues achondroplastic dwarfism. JCI Insight 2021; 6:147832. [PMID: 33784257 PMCID: PMC8262296 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.147832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Activating mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) or inactivating mutations in guanylyl cyclase-B (GC-B), also known as NPR-B or Npr2, cause short-limbed dwarfism. FGFR3 activation causes dephosphorylation and inactivation of GC-B, but the contribution of GC-B dephosphorylation to achondroplasia (ACH) is unknown. GC-B7E/7E mice that express a glutamate-substituted version of GC-B that cannot be inactivated by dephosphorylation were bred with mice expressing FGFR3-G380R, the most common human ACH mutation, to determine if GC-B dephosphorylation is required for ACH. Crossing GC-B7E/7E mice with FGFR3G380R/G380R mice increased naso-anal and long (tibia and femur), but not cranial, bone length twice as much as crossing GC-B7E/7E mice with FGFR3WT/WT mice from 4 to 16 weeks of age. Consistent with increased GC-B activity rescuing ACH, long bones from the GC-B7E/7E/FGFR3G380R/G380R mice were not shorter than those from GC-BWT/WT/FGFR3WT/WT mice. At 2 weeks of age, male but not female FGFR3G380R/G380R mice had shorter long bones and smaller growth plate hypertrophic zones, whereas female but not male GC-B7E/7E mice had longer bones and larger hypertrophic zones. In 2-week-old males, crossing FGFR3G380R/G380R mice with GC-B7E/7E mice increased long bone length and hypertrophic zone area to levels observed in mice expressing WT versions of both receptors. We conclude that preventing GC-B dephosphorylation rescues reduced axial and appendicular skeleton growth in a mouse model of achondroplasia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jerid W Robinson
- Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Yun-Wen Lin
- Institute for Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ching Lee
- Institute for Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nabil Kaci
- Université de Paris, Imagine Institute, Laboratory of Molecular and Physiopathological Bases of OsteochonDrodysplasia, INSERM UMR 1163, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Laurence Legeai-Mallet
- Université de Paris, Imagine Institute, Laboratory of Molecular and Physiopathological Bases of OsteochonDrodysplasia, INSERM UMR 1163, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Lincoln R Potter
- Departments of Integrative Biology and Physiology and.,Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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26
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He M, Zhang T, Yang Y, Wang C. Mechanisms of Oocyte Maturation and Related Epigenetic Regulation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:654028. [PMID: 33842483 PMCID: PMC8025927 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.654028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Meiosis is the basis of sexual reproduction. In female mammals, meiosis of oocytes starts before birth and sustains at the dictyate stage of meiotic prophase I before gonadotropins-induced ovulation happens. Once meiosis gets started, the oocytes undergo the leptotene, zygotene, and pachytene stages, and then arrest at the dictyate stage. During each estrus cycle in mammals, or menstrual cycle in humans, a small portion of oocytes within preovulatory follicles may resume meiosis. It is crucial for females to supply high quality mature oocytes for sustaining fertility, which is generally achieved by fine-tuning oocyte meiotic arrest and resumption progression. Anything that disturbs the process may result in failure of oogenesis and seriously affect both the fertility and the health of females. Therefore, uncovering the regulatory network of oocyte meiosis progression illuminates not only how the foundations of mammalian reproduction are laid, but how mis-regulation of these steps result in infertility. In order to provide an overview of the recently uncovered cellular and molecular mechanism during oocyte maturation, especially epigenetic modification, the progress of the regulatory network of oocyte meiosis progression including meiosis arrest and meiosis resumption induced by gonadotropins is summarized. Then, advances in the epigenetic aspects, such as histone acetylation, phosphorylation, methylation, glycosylation, ubiquitination, and SUMOylation related to the quality of oocyte maturation are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meina He
- Department of Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Conservation and Utilization of Special Biological Resources in the Western China, College of Life Science, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Tuo Zhang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Conservation and Utilization of Special Biological Resources in the Western China, College of Life Science, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Conservation and Utilization of Special Biological Resources in the Western China, College of Life Science, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Chao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Conservation and Utilization of Special Biological Resources in the Western China, College of Life Science, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
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27
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Abbassi L, El-Hayek S, Carvalho KF, Wang W, Yang Q, Granados-Aparici S, Mondadori R, Bordignon V, Clarke HJ. Epidermal growth factor receptor signaling uncouples germ cells from the somatic follicular compartment at ovulation. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1438. [PMID: 33664246 PMCID: PMC7933413 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21644-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Germ cells are physically coupled to somatic support cells of the gonad during differentiation, but this coupling must be disrupted when they are mature, freeing them to participate in fertilization. In mammalian females, coupling occurs via specialized filopodia that project from the ovarian follicular granulosa cells to the oocyte. Here, we show that signaling through the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the granulosa, which becomes activated at ovulation, uncouples the germ and somatic cells by triggering a massive and temporally synchronized retraction of the filopodia. Although EGFR signaling triggers meiotic maturation of the oocyte, filopodial retraction is independent of the germ cell state, being regulated solely within the somatic compartment, where it requires ERK-dependent calpain-mediated loss of filopodia-oocyte adhesion followed by Arp2/3-mediated filopodial shortening. By uncovering the mechanism regulating germ-soma uncoupling at ovulation, our results open a path to improving oocyte quality in human and animal reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laleh Abbassi
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Stephany El-Hayek
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Centre for Arab Genomic Studies, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Karen Freire Carvalho
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Wusu Wang
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Qin Yang
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Rafael Mondadori
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Vilceu Bordignon
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Hugh J Clarke
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
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28
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Egbert JR, Robinson JW, Uliasz TF, Potter LR, Jaffe LA. Cyclic AMP links luteinizing hormone signaling to dephosphorylation and inactivation of the NPR2 guanylyl cyclase in ovarian follicles†. Biol Reprod 2021; 104:939-941. [PMID: 33624759 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy R Egbert
- Department of Cell Biology, Univ. of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Jerid W Robinson
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Tracy F Uliasz
- Department of Cell Biology, Univ. of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Lincoln R Potter
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Laurinda A Jaffe
- Department of Cell Biology, Univ. of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
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29
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Liu J, Yao R, Lu S, Xu R, Zhang H, Wei J, Zhao C, Tang Y, Li C, Liu H, Zhao X, Wei Q, Ma B. Synergistic effect between LH and estrogen in the acceleration of cumulus expansion via GPR30 and EGFR pathways. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:20801-20816. [PMID: 33113510 PMCID: PMC7655205 DOI: 10.18632/aging.104029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The estrogen membrane receptor GPR30 (also known as G-protein coupled receptor 30) has recently been shown to be involved in the regulation of oocyte maturation and cumulus expansion. However, whether GPR30 expression is regulated by gonadotropin stimulation and how it participates in the regulation of the maturation process is still not clear. In this study, we explored the mechanism underlying the synergy between luteinizing hormone and 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) to improve the epidermal growth factor (EGF) response in cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) during oocyte maturation in mice. The expression and distribution of GPR30, EGFR, and EGF-like growth factors were examined by real-time quantitative PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence staining. Lyso-Tracker Red labeling was performed to detect the lysosomal activity in follicle granular cells (FGCs). Cumulus expansion of COCs was evaluated after in vitro maturation for 16 h. We found that EGF-like growth factors transmit LH signals to increase GRP30 levels by inhibiting protein degradation in lysosomes. Meanwhile, 17β-E2 stimulates the GPR30 signaling pathway to increase EGF receptor levels, enhancing the response ability of EGF signaling in COCs and thus promoting cumulus expansion. In conclusion, our study reveals the synergistic mechanism between LH and estrogen in the regulation of cumulus expansion during oocyte maturation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100 Shaanxi, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ru Yao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100 Shaanxi, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Sihai Lu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100 Shaanxi, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Rui Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100 Shaanxi, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100 Shaanxi, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Juncai Wei
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100 Shaanxi, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chunrui Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100 Shaanxi, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yaju Tang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100 Shaanxi, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chan Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100 Shaanxi, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Haokun Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100 Shaanxi, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaoe Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100 Shaanxi, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Qiang Wei
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100 Shaanxi, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Baohua Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100 Shaanxi, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
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30
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Egbert JR, Fahey PG, Reimer J, Owen CM, Evsikov AV, Nikolaev VO, Griesbeck O, Ray RS, Tolias AS, Jaffe LA. Follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone increase Ca2+ in the granulosa cells of mouse ovarian follicles†. Biol Reprod 2020; 101:433-444. [PMID: 31087036 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammalian ovarian follicles, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) signal primarily through the G-protein Gs to elevate cAMP, but both of these hormones can also elevate Ca2+ under some conditions. Here, we investigate FSH- and LH-induced Ca2+ signaling in intact follicles of mice expressing genetically encoded Ca2+ sensors, Twitch-2B and GCaMP6s. At a physiological concentration (1 nM), FSH elevates Ca2+ within the granulosa cells of preantral and antral follicles. The Ca2+ rise begins several minutes after FSH application, peaks at ∼10 min, remains above baseline for another ∼10 min, and depends on extracellular Ca2+. However, suppression of the FSH-induced Ca2+ increase by reducing extracellular Ca2+ does not inhibit FSH-induced phosphorylation of MAP kinase, estradiol production, or the acquisition of LH responsiveness. Like FSH, LH also increases Ca2+, when applied to preovulatory follicles. At a physiological concentration (10 nM), LH elicits Ca2+ oscillations in a subset of cells in the outer mural granulosa layer. These oscillations continue for at least 6 h and depend on the activity of Gq family G-proteins. Suppression of the oscillations by Gq inhibition does not inhibit meiotic resumption, but does delay the time to 50% ovulation by about 3 h. In summary, both FSH and LH increase Ca2+ in the granulosa cells of intact follicles, but the functions of these Ca2+ rises are only starting to be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy R Egbert
- Department of Cell Biology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Paul G Fahey
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jacob Reimer
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Corie M Owen
- Department of Cell Biology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Alexei V Evsikov
- Department of Research and Development, Bay Pines Veteran Administration Healthcare System, Bay Pines, FL, USA
| | - Viacheslav O Nikolaev
- Institute of Experimental Cardiovascular Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Russell S Ray
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Andreas S Tolias
- Institute of Experimental Cardiovascular Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Center for Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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31
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miR-130a/TGF-β1 axis is involved in sow fertility by controlling granulosa cell apoptosis. Theriogenology 2020; 157:407-417. [PMID: 32871445 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
TGF-β1 is a ligand of the TGF-β superfamily and an important cytokine that regulates ovarian functions including follicular development, steroid production, ovulation, luteinization, and female fertility. However, little is known about the regulation of TGF-β1 expression in ovary. Here, we identified that TGF-β1 is a functional target of miR-130a in porcine ovarian granulosa cells (GCs). The 3'-UTR sequence of TGF-β1 gene (1137 bp in length) in Large White (LW) pig was isolated, and multiple RNA regulatory elements (RREs), including several binding motifs of different miRNAs, were identified in this region. Luciferase activity assay showed that miR-130a dramatically suppresses the 3'-UTR luciferase activity of TGF-β1 gene, and further inhibits the expression of TGF-β1 in porcine GCs. FACS revealed that miR-130a acts as a pro-apoptotic factor and promotes GC apoptosis by inhibiting TGF-β1. Two novel linked mutations (-573G > A and -540T > C) were identified in the promoter region of ssc-miR-130a, but their polymorphisms are not associated with sow reproductive traits. Importantly, combined genotype analysis with a known mutation (c.1583 A > G) in the 3'-UTR of porcine TGF-β1 gene showed a significant association with reproductive performance in LW sow population. Overall, our findings defined a novel regulatory axis, miR-130a/TGF-β1 axis, which is involved in regulating sow fertility.
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Baena V, Owen CM, Uliasz TF, Lowther KM, Yee SP, Terasaki M, Egbert JR, Jaffe LA. Cellular Heterogeneity of the Luteinizing Hormone Receptor and Its Significance for Cyclic GMP Signaling in Mouse Preovulatory Follicles. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5834711. [PMID: 32384146 PMCID: PMC7574965 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Meiotic arrest and resumption in mammalian oocytes are regulated by 2 opposing signaling proteins in the cells of the surrounding follicle: the guanylyl cyclase natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2), and the luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR). NPR2 maintains a meiosis-inhibitory level of cyclic guanosine 5'-monophosphate (cGMP) until LHR signaling causes dephosphorylation of NPR2, reducing NPR2 activity, lowering cGMP to a level that releases meiotic arrest. However, the signaling pathway between LHR activation and NPR2 dephosphorylation remains incompletely understood, due in part to imprecise information about the cellular localization of these 2 proteins. To investigate their localization, we generated mouse lines in which hemagglutinin epitope tags were added to the endogenous LHR and NPR2 proteins, and used immunofluorescence and immunogold microscopy to localize these proteins with high resolution. The results showed that the LHR protein is absent from the cumulus cells and inner mural granulosa cells, and is present in only 13% to 48% of the outer mural granulosa cells. In contrast, NPR2 is present throughout the follicle, and is more concentrated in the cumulus cells. Less than 20% of the NPR2 is in the same cells that express the LHR. These results suggest that to account for the LH-induced inactivation of NPR2, LHR-expressing cells send a signal that inactivates NPR2 in neighboring cells that do not express the LHR. An inhibitor of gap junction permeability attenuates the LH-induced cGMP decrease in the outer mural granulosa cells, consistent with this mechanism contributing to how NPR2 is inactivated in cells that do not express the LHR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Baena
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Corie M Owen
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Tracy F Uliasz
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Katie M Lowther
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Siu-Pok Yee
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Mark Terasaki
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Jeremy R Egbert
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Laurinda A Jaffe
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut
- Correspondence: Laurinda A. Jaffe, Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030 USA. E-mail:
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Clarke HJ. They Look the Same but They Don't Act the Same: New Techniques Reveal Cellular Heterogeneity in Ovarian LH Signaling. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5839918. [PMID: 32422655 PMCID: PMC7310599 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hugh J Clarke
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Research Institute – McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Correspondence: Hugh J. Clarke, Glen Research Building, Room EM0.2218, 1001 Boul. Decarie, Montreal, Quebec H4A 3J1, Canada. E-mail:
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Guo L, He C, Mei C, Zhang L, Huang D. Correlation analysis between C natriuretic peptide and pregnancy outcome. Am J Transl Res 2020; 12:2007-2017. [PMID: 32509195 PMCID: PMC7270019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) plays a key role in female reproduction and is related to oocyte quality. This study analyzed the relationship of CNP with pregnancy outcome to provide a new indicator of pregnancy outcome. Follicular fluids were collected from 158 patients undergoing the IVF/ICSI procedure at the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. CNP and cGMP levels in human follicular fluids were tested by ELISA. Then, the distribution patterns of CNP and NPR-B from GV oocytes to blastocysts in mice were tested by confocal microcopy. Finally, CNP was added to the fertility or embryo development medium to observe fertility rate and the development of the embryo. CNP levels in follicular fluids from nonpregnant women were significantly higher than those in follicular fluids from pregnant women. A strong positive correlation between CNP and cGMP concentrations in human follicular fluids was observed. Both CNP and NPR-B were expressed in the plasma of cells at different stages from GV to blastocyst. CNP could increase the 2-cell rate of embryos and the rate of blastocysts when added to either fertility culture medium or embryo culture medium. In a word, CNP in human follicular fluid could predict the pregnancy outcome of IVF patients, and the mechanism of CNP in follicular fluid is related to the quality of oocyte or embryo competence and could promote the development of embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidan Guo
- Institute of Reproduction Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Chunyu He
- Institute of Reproduction Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Chunlei Mei
- Institute of Reproduction Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Institute of Reproduction Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Donghui Huang
- Institute of Reproduction Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
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Abstract
Oocyte maturation is a process that occurs in the ovaries, where an immature oocyte resumes meiosis to attain competence for normal fertilization after ovulation/spawning. In starfish, the hormone 1-methyladenine binds to an unidentified receptor on the plasma membrane of oocytes, inducing a conformational change in the heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein α-subunit (Gα), so that the α-subunit binds GTP in exchange of GDP on the plasma membrane. The GTP-binding protein βγ-subunit (Gβγ) is released from Gα, and the released Gβγ activates phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), followed by the target of rapamycin kinase complex2 (TORC2) and 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1)-dependent phosphorylation of serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase (SGK) of ovarian oocytes. Thereafter, SGK activates Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) to increase the intracellular pH (pHi) from ~6.7 to ~6.9. Moreover, SGK phosphorylates Cdc25 and Myt1, thereby inducing the de-phosphorylation and activation of cyclin B–Cdk1, causing germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). Both pHi increase and GVBD are required for spindle assembly at metaphase I, followed by MI arrest at pHi 6.9 until spawning. Due to MI arrest or SGK-dependent pHi control, spawned oocytes can be fertilized normally
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuyoshi Chiba
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo 112-8610, Japan
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Li J, Bai L. The role of PDE5a in oocyte maturation of zebrafish. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2020; 286:113303. [PMID: 31654676 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The importance of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling pathway in oocyte maturation has recently attracted much attention in vertebrates. Previously, using zebrafish as a model, we have revealed the role of cGMP and the action of cGMP protein kinase (PKG) in oocyte maturation. In the present study, the function of a cGMP specific phosphodiesterase (PDE5a) is further analyzed in oocyte maturation in zebrafish. Two distinct PDE5a coding genes (named PDE5aa and PDE5ab) were identified in zebrafish, and expressed in most adult tissues including ovary. Both pde5aa and pde5ab mRNA are predominantly expressed in the oocyte but not in follicular cells. Two commercial antibodies targeted to mammalian PDE5a and phosphorylated PDE5a were validated in zebrafish, and we found both antibodies can be used to detect PDE5ab and phosphorylated PDE5ab of zebrafish, respectively. Using both antibodies, we found PDE5ab is only expressed in the oocyte and the phosphorylation of PDE5ab in oocyte could be activated during oocyte maturation induced by human chronic gonadotropin. Intriguingly, we found that the oocyte maturation could be stimulated by treatment of either two different PDE5a inhibitors, sildenafil or tadalafil, and such effects could be completely blocked by a PKG inhibitor KT5823 and two gap junction blockers, respectively. All of these results clearly demonstrate the importance of PDE5a in maintaining the oocyte maturation of zebrafish. When compared with mammals, the functional model of PDE5a is different in zebrafish, suggesting the function of PDE5a might shift from the oocyte in fish to the granulosa cell in mammals during evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhen Li
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China.
| | - Lin Bai
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
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Nath P, Mukherjee U, Biswas S, Pal S, Das S, Ghosh S, Samanta A, Maitra S. Expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in Anabas testudineus ovary and participation of nitric oxide-cyclic GMP cascade in maintenance of meiotic arrest. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 496:110544. [PMID: 31419465 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.110544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2019] [Revised: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Participation of cyclic nucleotide-mediated signaling in nitric oxide/soluble guanylate cyclase (NO/sGC) regulation of oocyte maturation (OM) in perch (Anabas testudineus) follicle-enclosed oocytes has been investigated. Congruent with sharp decline in follicular cyclic GMP (cGMP) level, nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-inhibitor (L-NAME) attenuates protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation but promotes p-ERK1/2 and p-p34Cdc2 (Thr-161) in maturing oocytes. Conversely, NO donor (SNP) prevents OM, potentially through elevated cGMP synthesis. Expression and localization of Nos2 and Nos3 immunoreactivity in perch ovary varied considerably at progressively higher stages of folliculogenesis. While sGC inhibitor (ODQ) alone could induce OM, 8-bromo-cGMP attenuates 17,20β-P-induced OM indicating functional significance of NO/sGC/cGMP in perch ovary. Interestingly, high NO/cGMP inhibition of OM shows positive relation with elevated cAMP level. MIS induced OM is more susceptible to the oocyte-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3 than PDE4 inhibition. Collectively, high NO/cGMP attenuation of OM potentially involves PDE3 inhibition, cAMP accumulation and PKA activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poulomi Nath
- Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, 731235, India
| | - Urmi Mukherjee
- Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, 731235, India
| | - Subhasri Biswas
- Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, 731235, India
| | - Soumojit Pal
- Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, 731235, India
| | - Sriparna Das
- Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, 731235, India
| | - Soumyajyoti Ghosh
- Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, 731235, India
| | - Anwesha Samanta
- Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, 731235, India
| | - Sudipta Maitra
- Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, 731235, India.
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Gershon E, Maimon I, Galiani D, Elbaz M, Karasenti S, Dekel N. High cGMP and low PDE3A activity are associated with oocyte meiotic incompetence. Cell Cycle 2019; 18:2629-2640. [PMID: 31401933 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2019.1652472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Resumption of meiosis in mammalian oocytes, defined as oocyte maturation, is stimulated by luteinizing hormone (LH). Fully grown oocytes can also mature spontaneously, upon their release from the ovarian follicle. However, growing oocytes fail to resume meiosis in vitro and the mechanism underlying their meiotic incompetence is unknown. It is commonly accepted that a drop in intraoocyte cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) resulting in the elevated activity of the oocyte-specific PDE3A leads to a decrease in cAMP content, essential for reinitiation of meiosis. We explored the regulation of these cyclic nucleotides and their degrading PDE3A in growing oocytes. Our research addressed the LH-induced rather than spontaneous oocyte maturation. We examined 16-21 as compared to 25-day-old, PMSG-primed rats, treated with the LH analog, hCG. The effect of LH was also examined ex vivo, in isolated ovarian follicles. We found that hCG failed to induce oocyte maturation and ovulation in the younger animals and that ovulation-associated genes were not upregulated in response to this gonadotropin. Furthemore, the drop of intraoocyte cGMP and cAMP observed in fully grown oocytes upon exposure of the ovary to LH, was not detected in growing oocytes. Interestingly, whereas the global expression of PDE3A in growing and fully grown oocytes is similar, a significantly lower activity of this enzyme was determined in growing oocytes. Our findings show that meiotic incompetence is associated with a relatively high oocyte cGMP concentration and a low activity of PDE3A, which in follicle-enclosed oocytes may represent the failure of the somatic follicle cells to respond to LH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eran Gershon
- Department of Ruminant Science, Agricultural Research Organization , Bet Dagan , Israel
| | - Iris Maimon
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot , Israel
| | - Dalia Galiani
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot , Israel
| | - Michal Elbaz
- Department of Ruminant Science, Agricultural Research Organization , Bet Dagan , Israel
| | - Sharon Karasenti
- Department of Ruminant Science, Agricultural Research Organization , Bet Dagan , Israel
| | - Nava Dekel
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot , Israel
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Transforming growth factor-β is involved in maintaining oocyte meiotic arrest by promoting natriuretic peptide type C expression in mouse granulosa cells. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:558. [PMID: 31332164 PMCID: PMC6646305 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1797-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Natriuretic peptide type C (NPPC) secreted by mural granulosa cells (MGCs) maintains oocyte meiotic arrest via the activation of guanylyl cyclase-linked natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2). Here, we investigated the effect of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β on NPPC expression in MGCs and oocyte maturation. TGF-β ligands (TGFB1 and TGFB3, but not TGFB2) and receptors (TGFBR1 and TGFBR2) were predominantly expressed in MGCs. The activation of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor by FSH/equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) increased the levels of TGFB1, TGFBR2, and TGF-β downstream SMAD proteins in MGCs, which were decreased following the activation of the luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). TGF-β significantly increased the gene and protein levels of NPPC in cultured MGCs through SMAD3 binding to Nppc promoter regions. In the presence of FSH, TGF-β further increased NPPC levels and inhibited oocyte meiotic resumption of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). Moreover, Tgfbr2-specific depletion in granulosa cells using Fshr-Cre mice reduced NPPC mRNA and protein levels, resulting in the weak maintenance of oocyte meiotic arrest within large antral follicles. Tgfbr2 depletion also impaired follicle development, ovulation, and female fertility. Taken together, TGF-β-promoted NPPC in MGCs is involved in maintaining oocyte meiotic arrest. FSH and LH could regulate NPPC levels in MGCs via TGF-β and then control the process of oocyte meiosis.
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Clarke H. Control of Mammalian Oocyte Development by Interactions with the Maternal Follicular Environment. Results Probl Cell Differ 2019; 63:17-41. [PMID: 28779312 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-60855-6_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Development of animal germ cells depends critically on continuous contact and communication with the somatic compartment of the gonad. In females, each oocyte is enclosed within a follicle, whose somatic cells supply nutrients that sustain basal metabolic activity of the oocyte and send signals that regulate its differentiation. This maternal microenvironment thus plays an indispensable role in ensuring the production of fully differentiated oocytes that can give rise to healthy embryos. The granulosa cells send signals, likely membrane-associated Kit ligand, which trigger oocytes within resting-stage primordial follicles to initiate growth. During growth, the granulosa cells feed amino acids, nucleotides, and glycolytic substrates to the oocyte. These factors are necessary for the oocyte to complete its growth and are delivered via gap junctions that couple the granulosa cells to the oocyte. In a complementary manner, growing oocytes also release growth factors, notably growth-differentiation factor 9 and bone morphogenetic protein 15, which are necessary for proper differentiation of the granulosa cells and for these cells to support oocyte growth. During the late stages of oocyte growth, cyclic GMP that is synthesized by the granulosa cells and diffuses into the oocyte is required to prevent its precocious entry into meiotic maturation. Finally, at the early stages of maturation, granulosa cell signals promote the synthesis of a subset of proteins within the oocyte that enhance their ability to develop as embryos. Thus, the maternal legacy of the follicular microenvironment is witnessed by the fertilization of the ovulated oocyte and subsequent birth of healthy offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugh Clarke
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Room E.M0.2218, Glen Research Building, 100 Boul Decarie, Montreal, QC, Canada, H4A 3J1.
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Mechanisms of FSH- and Amphiregulin-Induced MAP Kinase 3/1 Activation in Pig Cumulus-Oocyte Complexes During Maturation In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20051179. [PMID: 30866587 PMCID: PMC6429514 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20051179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The maturation of mammalian oocytes in vitro can be stimulated by gonadotropins (follicle-stimulating hormone, FSH) or their intrafollicular mediator, epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like peptide—amphiregulin (AREG). We have shown previously that in pig cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), FSH induces expression and the synthesis of AREG that binds to EGF receptor (EGFR) and activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase 3/1 (MAPK3/1) signaling pathway. However, in this study we found that FSH also caused a rapid activation of MAPK3/1 in the cumulus cells, which cannot be explained by the de novo synthesis of AREG. The rapid MAPK3/1 activation required EGFR tyrosine kinase (TK) activity, was sensitive to SRC proto-oncogene non-receptor tyrosine kinase (SRC)-family and protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, and was resistant to inhibitors of protein kinase A (PKA) and metalloproteinases. AREG also induced the rapid activation of MAPK3/1 in cumulus cells, but this activation was only dependent on the EGFR TK activity. We conclude that in cumulus cells, FSH induces a rapid activation of MAPK3/1 by the ligand-independent transactivation of EGFR, requiring SRC and PKC activities. This rapid activation of MAPK3/1 precedes the second mechanism participating in the generation and maintenance of active MAPK3/1—the ligand-dependent activation of EGFR depending on the synthesis of EGF-like peptides.
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Edmund AB, Walseth TF, Levinson NM, Potter LR. The pseudokinase domains of guanylyl cyclase-A and -B allosterically increase the affinity of their catalytic domains for substrate. Sci Signal 2019; 12:12/566/eaau5378. [PMID: 30696704 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aau5378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Natriuretic peptides regulate multiple physiologic systems by activating transmembrane receptors containing intracellular guanylyl cyclase domains, such as GC-A and GC-B, also known as Npr1 and Npr2, respectively. Both enzymes contain an intracellular, phosphorylated pseudokinase domain (PKD) critical for activation of the C-terminal cGMP-synthesizing guanylyl cyclase domain. Because ATP allosterically activates GC-A and GC-B, we investigated how ATP binding to the PKD influenced guanylyl cyclase activity. Molecular modeling indicated that all the residues of the ATP-binding site of the prototypical kinase PKA, except the catalytic aspartate, are conserved in the PKDs of GC-A and GC-B. Kinase-inactivating alanine substitutions for the invariant lysine in subdomain II or the aspartate in the DYG-loop of GC-A and GC-B failed to decrease enzyme phosphate content, consistent with the PKDs lacking kinase activity. In contrast, both mutations reduced enzyme activation by blocking the ability of ATP to decrease the Michaelis constant without affecting peptide-dependent activation. The analogous lysine-to-alanine substitution in a glutamate-substituted phosphomimetic mutant form of GC-B also reduced enzyme activity, consistent with ATP stimulating guanylyl cyclase activity through an allosteric, phosphorylation-independent mechanism. Mutations designed to rigidify the conserved regulatory or catalytic spines within the PKDs increased guanylyl cyclase activity, increased sensitivity to natriuretic peptide, or reduced the Michaelis constant in the absence of ATP, consistent with ATP binding stabilizing the PKD in a conformation analogous to that of catalytically active kinases. We conclude that allosteric mechanisms evolutionarily conserved in the PKDs promote the catalytic activation of transmembrane guanylyl cyclases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron B Edmund
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, 6-155 Jackson Hall, 321 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Timothy F Walseth
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, 6-120 Jackson Hall, 321 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Nicholas M Levinson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, 6-120 Jackson Hall, 321 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Lincoln R Potter
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, 6-155 Jackson Hall, 321 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. .,Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, 6-120 Jackson Hall, 321 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Abstract
A central dogma of mammalian reproductive biology is that the size of the primordial follicle pool represents reproductive capacity in females. The assembly of the primordial follicle starts after the primordial germ cells (PGCs)-derived oocyte releases from the synchronously dividing germline cysts. PGCs initiate meiosis during fetal development. However, after synapsis and recombination of homologous chromosomes, they arrest at the diplotene stage of the first meiotic prophase (MI). The diplotene-arrested oocyte, together with the surrounding of a single layer of flattened granulosa cells, forms a basic unit of the ovary, the primordial follicle. At the start of each estrous (animal) or menstrual cycle (human), in response to a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland, a limited number of primordial follicles are triggered to develop into primary follicles, preantral follicles, antral follicles and reach to preovulatory follicle stage. During the transition from the preantral to antral stages, the enclosed oocyte gradually acquires the capacity to resume meiosis. Meiotic resumption from the prophase of MI is morphologically characterized by the dissolution of the oocyte nuclear envelope, which is generally termed the "germinal vesicle breakdown" (GVBD). Following GVBD and completion of MI, the oocyte enters meiosis II without an obvious S-phase and arrests at metaphase phase II (MII) until fertilization. The underlying mechanism of meiotic arrest has been widely explored in numerous studies. Many studies indicated that two cellular second messengers, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) play an essential role in maintaining oocyte meiotic arrest. This review will discuss how these two cyclic nucleotides regulate oocyte maturation by blocking or initiating meiotic processes, and to provide an insight in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Pan
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Building #70, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Julang Li
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Building #70, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
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Son WY, Henderson S, Cohen Y, Dahan M, Buckett W. Immature Oocyte for Fertility Preservation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:464. [PMID: 31379739 PMCID: PMC6650526 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro maturation (IVM) of human immature oocytes has been offered to women who are at risk of developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) caused by gonadotropin stimulation, such as PCO(S) patients or who have poor ovarian reserve. Cryopreservation of oocytes matured in vivo obtained in IVF cycles has improved after implementing the vitrification method and many successful results have been reported. Now, this procedure can be successfully offered to fertility preservation programs for patients who are in danger of losing their ovarian function due to medical or social reasons, and to oocyte donation programs. This vitrification technique has also been applied to cryopreserve oocytes obtained from IVM program. Some advantages of oocytes vitrification related with IVM are: (1) eliminating costly drugs and frequent monitoring; (2) completing treatment within 2 to 10 days (3) avoiding the use of hormones in cancer patients with hormone-sensitive tumors; and (4) retrieving oocytes at any point in menstrual cycle, even in the luteal phase. In addition, immature oocytes can also be collected from extracorporeal ovarian biopsy specimens or ovaries during caesarian section. Theoretically, there are two possible approaches for preserving immature oocytes: oocyte cryopreservation at the mature stage (after IVM) and oocyte cryopreservation at the Germinal Vesicle (GV)-stage (before IVM). Both vitrification of immature oocyte before/after IVM is not currently satisfactory. Nevertheless, many IVF centers worldwide are doing IVM oocyte cryopreservation as one of the options to preserve fertility for female cancer. Therefore, more studies are urgently required to improve IVM- and vitrification method to successfully preserve oocytes collected from cancer patients. In this review, present oocyte maturation mechanisms and recent progress of human IVM cycles will be discussed first, followed by some studies of the vitrification of human IVM oocyte.
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Regulation of the Natriuretic Peptide Receptor 2 (Npr2) by Phosphorylation of Juxtamembrane Serine and Threonine Residues Is Essential for Bifurcation of Sensory Axons. J Neurosci 2018; 38:9768-9780. [PMID: 30249793 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0495-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
cGMP signaling elicited by activation of the transmembrane receptor guanylyl cyclase Npr2 (also known as guanylyl cyclase B) by the ligand CNP controls sensory axon bifurcation of DRG and cranial sensory ganglion (CSG) neurons entering the spinal cord or hindbrain, respectively. Previous studies have shown that Npr2 is phosphorylated on serine and threonine residues in its kinase homology domain (KHD). However, it is unknown whether phosphorylation of Npr2 is essential for axon bifurcation. Here, we generated a knock-in mouse line in which the seven regulatory serine and threonine residues in the KHD of Npr2 were substituted by alanine (Npr2-7A), resulting in a nonphosphorylatable enzyme. Real-time imaging of cGMP in DRG neurons with a genetically encoded fluorescent cGMP sensor or biochemical analysis of guanylyl cyclase activity in brain or lung tissue revealed the absence of CNP-induced cGMP generation in the Npr27A/7A mutant. Consequently, bifurcation of axons, but not collateral formation, from DRG or CSG in this mouse mutant was perturbed at embryonic and mature stages. In contrast, axon branching was normal in a mouse mutant in which constitutive phosphorylation of Npr2 is mimicked by a replacement of all of the seven serine and threonine sites by glutamic acid (Npr2-7E). Furthermore, we demonstrate that the Npr27A/7A mutation causes dwarfism as described for global Npr2 mutants. In conclusion, our in vivo studies provide strong evidence that phosphorylation of the seven serine and threonine residues in the KHD of Npr2 is an important regulatory element of Npr2-mediated cGMP signaling which affects physiological processes, such as axon bifurcation and bone growth.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The branching of axons is a morphological hallmark of virtually all neurons. It allows an individual neuron to innervate different targets and to communicate with neurons located in different regions of the nervous system. The natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (Npr2), a transmembrane guanylyl cyclase, is essential for the initiation of bifurcation of sensory axons when entering the spinal cord or the hindbrain. By using two genetically engineered mouse lines, we show that phosphorylation of specific serine and threonine residues in juxtamembrane regions of Npr2 are required for its enzymatic activity and for axon bifurcation. These investigations might help to understand the regulation of Npr2 and its integration in intracellular signaling systems.
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Kapfhamer J, Waite C, Ascoli M. The Gα q/11-provoked induction of Akr1c18 in murine luteal cells is mediated by phospholipase C. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 470:179-187. [PMID: 29107092 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Towards the end of gestation prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) stimulates the expression of Akr1c18 in the murine corpus luteum. Akr1c18 codes for 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, an enzyme that precipitates parturition by catabolizing progesterone. Previous results from our laboratory have shown that this effect of PGF2α is mediated by the activation of Gαq/11, but the downstream effector(s) of Gαq/11 that elicit the increase in Akr1c18 expression have not been identified. The physiological effects of Gαq/11 are mediated by its ability to interact with phospholipase Cβ, p63RhoGEF, and PKCζ. In the experiments described herein we used biochemical and pharmacological approaches, as well as adenoviral-mediated expression of a constitutively active form of Gαq and mutants thereof, to examine the role of each of these effectors as potential mediators of the increased expression of luteal Akr1c18. By measuring the effects of PGF2α on the activation of RhoA (activated by p63RhoGEF) and the effects of activators and inhibitors of RhoA on the PGF2α-induced expression of luteal Akr1c18, we determined that RhoA is neither activated by PGF2α or involved in the PGF2α-induced expression of luteal Akr1c18. The potential involvement of PKCζ was ruled out by the inability of a mutant of a constitutively active Gαq that prevents PKCζ binding to block the increased expression of Akr1c18. Furthermore, PGF2α does not increase the phosphorylation of ERK-5, the only known downstream target of PKCζ. On the other hand, three different mutants of a constitutively active Gαq that prevent phospholipase C activation blocked the induction of luteal Akr1c18. We conclude that the induction of luteal Akr1c18 by Gαq/11 is mediated by the activation of phospholipase C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Kapfhamer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52246, United States
| | - Courtney Waite
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52246, United States; Department of Pharmacology, The University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52246, United States
| | - Mario Ascoli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52246, United States; Department of Pharmacology, The University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52246, United States.
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Santiquet NW, Greene AF, Becker J, Barfield JP, Schoolcraft WB, Krisher RL. A pre-in vitro maturation medium containing cumulus oocyte complex ligand-receptor signaling molecules maintains meiotic arrest, supports the cumulus oocyte complex and improves oocyte developmental competence. Mol Hum Reprod 2018; 23:594-606. [PMID: 28586460 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gax032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Can a pre-in vitro maturation (pre-IVM) medium containing signaling molecules rather than chemical/pharmaceutical agents, sustain meiotic arrest and improve developmental competence of in vitro matured oocytes in CF1 outbred mice? SUMMARY ANSWER A short 2 h period of pre-IVM prevents spontaneous meiotic resumption, improves mitochondria activity in subsequently matured oocytes, and increases developmental competence, pregnancy rate and implantation of resulting embryos. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Spontaneous resumption of meiosis in vitro is detrimental for oocyte developmental competence. Pre-IVM systems that prevent spontaneous meiotic resumption with chemical/pharmaceutical agents are a promising approach to improving IVM oocyte competence; however, the success of these methods has proven to be inconsistent. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This study consisted of a series of experiments using cumulus oocyte complexes (COC) derived from outbred mice following ovarian stimulation. The study was designed to examine if a novel, ligand/receptor-based pre-IVM treatment could sustain meiotic arrest in vitro and improve oocyte developmental competence, compared to control IVM. Two pre-IVM durations (2 h and 24 h) were evaluated, and the effect of the mitochondrial stimulator PQQ during 24 h pre-IVM was studied. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Murine (outbred CF1) immature COC were cultured in vitro in the presence of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) (30 nM), estradiol (100 nM), FSH (1 × 10-4 IU/ml) and bone morphogenic protein 15 (BMP15) (100 ng/ml) for 2 h or 24 h prior to IVM. Meiotic status during pre-IVM and IVM was analyzed using orcein staining, and functionality of gap junction communication was confirmed using the functional gap junction inhibitor carbenoxolone (CBX). Oocytes exposed to pre-IVM treatment were compared to control oocytes collected on the same day from the same females and undergoing standard IVM. Developmental competence and embryo viability was assessed by oocyte mitochondrial activity and ATP concentration, in vitro embryo development following IVF and in vitro culture, blastocyst cell number and allocation, embryo morphokinetics, and embryo transfer. Differences were determined to be significant when P < 0.05. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Both a short (2 h) and long (24 h) pre-IVM period successfully prevented spontaneous resumption of meiosis. Moreover, gap junctions remained open during the pre-IVM period, as shown by the resumption of meiosis (95.9 ± 2.1%) in the presence of CBX during pre-IVM. A 2 h pre-IVM treatment improved blastocyst development after 96 h of culture per cleaved embryo compared to control (71.9 ± 7.4% versus 53.3 ± 6.2%, respectively), whereas a longer 24 h pre-IVM had no effect on development. A short 2 h period of pre-IVM increased mitochondrial activity in mature oocytes. On the contrary, mitochondrial activity was reduced in mature oocytes following 24 h of arrest and IVM. Treatment of arrested COC with pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) during the 24 h pre-IVM period successfully maintained mitochondrial activity equal to control. However, PQQ was not able to improve blastocyst development compared to pre-IVM 24 h without PQQ. Moreover, ATP concentration in mature oocytes following pre-IVM and/or IVM, did not differ between treatments. A 2 h pre-IVM period prior to IVM improved pregnancy rate following transfer to recipient females. Implantation was also improved after transfer of embryos derived from oocytes arrested for either 2 h or 24 h prior to IVM, compared to control IVM derived embryos (41.9 ± 9%, 37.2 ± 9.5% and 17.2 ± 8.3%, respectively), although fetal development did not differ. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Slower meiotic resumption and enhanced mitochondrial activity likely contribute to improved developmental competence of oocytes exposed to pre-IVM for 2 h, but further experiments are required to identify specific mechanisms. Maintaining oocytes in meiotic arrest for 24 h with this approach could be a potential window to improve oocyte quality. However, an initial attempt to utilize this period of arrest to manipulate quality with PQQ, a mitochondrial stimulator, did not improve oocyte competence. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS IVM could be an attractive clinical alternative to conventional IVF, with reduced time, cost and reliance on high doses of exogenous hormones to stimulate follicle growth, thus eliminating ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Currently IVM is not widely used as it results in reduced embryo development and lower pregnancy outcomes compared to embryos produced from in vivo matured oocytes. Our approach to IVM, incorporating a ligand/receptor pre-IVM period, could improve human oocyte quality following IVM leading to routine adoption of this patient friendly technology. In addition, our methodology of pre-IVM containing signaling molecules rather than chemical/pharmaceutical agents may prove to be more consistent at improving oocyte quality than those focusing only on cAMP modulation with pharmacological agents. Finally, a reliable method of maintaining oocytes in meiotic arrest in vitro provides a novel window of opportunity in which the oocyte may be manipulated to address specific physiological deficiencies prior to meiotic resumption. LARGE SCALE DATA N/A. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was supported by the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine (CCRM, Lone Tree, Colorado USA). We declare no conflict of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alison F Greene
- Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, Lone Tree, CO, USA
| | - John Becker
- Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, Lone Tree, CO, USA
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Richards JS, Ascoli M. Endocrine, Paracrine, and Autocrine Signaling Pathways That Regulate Ovulation. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2018; 29:313-325. [PMID: 29602523 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2018.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The central role of luteinizing hormone (LH) and its receptor (LHCGR) in triggering ovulation has been recognized for decades. Because the LHCGR is present in the mural (outermost) granulosa cell layer of preovulatory follicles (POFs), the LH-initiated signal has to be transmitted to another somatic cell type (cumulus granulosa cells) and the oocyte to release a fertilizable oocyte. Recent studies have shown that activation of the LHCGR initiates vectorial transfer of information among the two somatic cell types and the oocyte and the molecules and signaling pathways involved are now better understood. This review summarizes the newer developments on the complex signaling pathways that regulate ovulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- JoAnne S Richards
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mario Ascoli
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
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Conti M, Franciosi F. Acquisition of oocyte competence to develop as an embryo: integrated nuclear and cytoplasmic events. Hum Reprod Update 2018; 24:245-266. [PMID: 29432538 PMCID: PMC5907346 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmx040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Infertility affects ~7% of couples of reproductive age with little change in incidence in the last two decades. ART, as well as other interventions, have made major strides in correcting this condition. However, and in spite of advancements in the field, the age of the female partner remains a main factor for a successful outcome. A better understanding of the final stages of gamete maturation yielding an egg that can sustain embryo development and a pregnancy to term remains a major area for improvement in the field. This review will summarize the major cellular and molecular events unfolding at the oocyte-to-embryo transition. We will provide an update on the most important processes/pathways currently understood as the basis of developmental competence, including the molecular processes involved in mRNA storage, its recruitment to the translational machinery, and its degradation. We will discuss the hypothesis that the translational programme of maternal mRNAs plays a key role in establishing developmental competence. These regulations are essential to assemble the machinery that is used to establish a totipotent zygote. This hypothesis further supports the view that embryogenesis begins during oogenesis. A better understanding of the events required for developmental competence will guide the development of novel strategies to monitor and improve the success rate of IVF. Using this information, it will be possible to develop new biomarkers that may be used to better predict oocyte quality and in selection of the best egg for IVF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Conti
- Department of OBGYN-RS, University of California San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143-0556, USA
| | - Federica Franciosi
- Department of OBGYN-RS, University of California San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143-0556, USA
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Richani D, Gilchrist RB. The epidermal growth factor network: role in oocyte growth, maturation and developmental competence. Hum Reprod Update 2018; 24:1-14. [PMID: 29029246 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmx029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The LH surge induces great physiological changes within the preovulatory follicle, which culminate in the ovulation of a mature oocyte that is capable of supporting embryo and foetal development. However, unlike mural granulosa cells, the oocyte and its surrounding cumulus cells are not directly responsive to LH, indicating that the LH signal is mediated by secondary factors produced by the granulosa cells. The mechanisms by which the oocyte senses the ovulatory LH signal and hence prepares for ovulation has been a subject of considerable controversy for the past four decades. Within the last 15 years several significant insights have been made into the molecular mechanisms orchestrating oocyte development, maturation and ovulation. These findings centre on the epidermal growth factor (EGF) pathway and the role it plays in the complex signalling network that finely regulates oocyte maturation and ovulation. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE This review outlines the role of the EGF network during oocyte development and regulation of the ovulatory cascade, and in particular focuses on the effect of the EGF network on oocyte developmental competence. Application of this new knowledge to advances in ART is examined. SEARCH METHODS The PubMed database was used to search for peer-reviewed original and review articles concerning the EGF network. Publications offering a comprehensive description of the role of the EGF network in follicle and oocyte development were used. OUTCOMES It is now clear that acute upregulation of the EGF network is an essential component of the ovulatory cascade as it transmits the LH signal from the periphery of the follicle to the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC). More recent findings have elucidated new roles for the EGF network in the regulation of oocyte development. EGF signalling downregulates the somatic signal 3'5'-cyclic guanine monophosphate that suppresses oocyte meiotic maturation and simultaneously provides meiotic inducing signals. The EGF network also controls translation of maternal transcripts in the quiescent oocyte, a process that is integral to oocyte competence. As a means of restricting the ovulatory signal to the Graffian follicle, most COCs in the ovary are unresponsive to EGF-ligands. Recent studies have revealed that development of a functional EGF signalling network in cumulus cells requires dual endocrine (FSH) and oocyte paracrine cues (growth differentiation factor 9 and bone morphogenetic protein 15), and this occurs progressively in COCs during the last stages of folliculogenesis. Hence, a new concept to emerge is that cumulus cell acquisition of EGF receptor responsiveness represents a developmental hallmark in folliculogenesis, analogous to FSH-induction of LH receptor signalling in mural granulosa cells. Likewise, this event represents a major milestone in the oocyte's developmental progression and acquisition of developmental competence. It is now clear that EGF signalling is perturbed in COCs matured in vitro. This has inspired novel concepts in IVM systems to ameliorate this perturbation, resulting in improved oocyte developmental competence. WIDER IMPLICATIONS An oocyte of high quality is imperative for fertility. Elucidating the fundamental molecular and cellular mechanims by which the EGF network regulates oocyte maturation and ovulation can be expected to open new opportunities in ART. This knowledge has already led to advances in oocyte IVM in animal models. Translation of such advances into a clinical setting should increase the efficacy of IVM, making it a viable treatment option for a wide range of patients, thereby simplifying fertility treatment and bringing substantial cost and health benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dulama Richani
- School of Women's and Children's Health, Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Robert B Gilchrist
- School of Women's and Children's Health, Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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