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Esmaeilian Y, Yusufoglu S, Iltumur E, Bildik G, Oktem O. Visualizing Lipophagy as a New Mechanism of the Synthesis of Sex Steroids in Human Ovary and Testis Using Immunofluorescence Staining Method. Methods Mol Biol 2024. [PMID: 38411886 DOI: 10.1007/7651_2024_520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Immunofluorescence, a transformative tool in cellular biology, is employed to dissect the intricate mechanisms of cholesterol trafficking in human reproductive tissues. Autophagy, a key player in cellular homeostasis, particularly lipophagy, emerges as a free cholesterol source for steroidogenesis. In this chapter, we describe a comprehensive immunofluorescence staining protocol, with details provided for the precise visualization of subcellular dynamics of mitochondria, lysosomes, and lipid droplets in ex vivo testicular tissue and primary luteal granulosa cell culture models, pivotal components in sex steroid biosynthesis. Here, we detail the culture, treatment, and immunofluorescence protocols, providing a comprehensive guide for researchers. The provided immunofluorescence toolkit serves as a valuable resource for researchers, paving way for advancements in human reproductive health to investigate the intricate interplay between autophagy, lipophagy, and cholesterol trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashar Esmaeilian
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sevgi Yusufoglu
- The Graduate School of Health Sciences, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ece Iltumur
- The Graduate School of Health Sciences, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gamze Bildik
- The Graduate School of Health Sciences, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ozgur Oktem
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey.
- The Graduate School of Health Sciences, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Koç University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
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Bildik G, Akin N, Esmaeilian Y, Hela F, Yildiz CS, Iltumur E, İncir S, Karahuseyinoglu S, Yakin K, Oktem O. Terminal differentiation of human granulosa cells as luteinization is reversed by activin-A through silencing of Jnk pathway. Cell Death Discov 2020; 6:93. [PMID: 33042587 PMCID: PMC7511402 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-020-00324-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular mechanisms underlying luteinization (terminal differentiation of granulosa and theca cells after ovulation) and luteolysis (demise of corpus luteum) are poorly understood in human ovary. Here we report that activin-A, after binding to its cognate receptors induces a functional luteolytic state and reverses luteinization phenotype by downregulating the expression of the steroidogenic enzymes, LH receptor and VEGF and reducing estradiol (E2) progesterone (P4) production and upregulating FSH receptor and cyclin D1 expression in human primary luteinized granulosa cells. Further, this action of activin-A involves downregulation of JNK signaling pathway and is opposite to that of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which acts as a luteotropic hormone and improves luteal function through the activation of JNK pathway in the same cell type. Reversal of luteinization phenotype in luteal granulosa cells by activin-A potentially makes this hormone an attractive candidate for use under certain clinical situations, where induction of luteolysis and rapid reduction of endogenous sex steroid levels are beneficial such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), in which the ovaries hyper-respond to gonadotropin stimulation by producing too many growing follicles along with development of ascites, pleural effusion, and hemo-concentrations as a result of increased vascular permeability and leakage of intravascular volume into third spaces. Our work unveils a previously undefined role for activin-A and JNK signaling pathway in human corpus luteum biology, that might have a direct clinical impact in assisted reproductive technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gamze Bildik
- The Graduate School of Health Sciences, Koc University, 34450 Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Nazli Akin
- The Graduate School of Health Sciences, Koc University, 34450 Istanbul, Turkey
- Follicle Biology Laboratory (FOBL), Department of Pathology/Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, 1050 Brussel, Belgium
| | - Yashar Esmaeilian
- The Graduate School of Health Sciences, Koc University, 34450 Istanbul, Turkey
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Koc University, 34450 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Francesko Hela
- The Graduate School of Health Sciences, Koc University, 34450 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ceren Sultan Yildiz
- The Graduate School of Health Sciences, Koc University, 34450 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ece Iltumur
- The Graduate School of Health Sciences, Koc University, 34450 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Said İncir
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory, Koc University Hospital, 34450 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sercin Karahuseyinoglu
- The Graduate School of Health Sciences, Koc University, 34450 Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Koc University School of Medicine, 34010 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Kayhan Yakin
- The Graduate School of Health Sciences, Koc University, 34450 Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Koc University Hospital and School of Medicine, 34010 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ozgur Oktem
- The Graduate School of Health Sciences, Koc University, 34450 Istanbul, Turkey
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Koc University, 34450 Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Koc University Hospital and School of Medicine, 34010 Istanbul, Turkey
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