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Parvanov D, Nikolova D, Ganeva R, Nikolova K, Vasileva M, Rangelov I, Pancheva M, Serafimova M, Staneva R, Hadjidekova S, Scarpellini F, Stamenov G. Unbalanced human embryos secrete more hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG-H) than balanced ones. J Assist Reprod Genet 2020; 37:1341-1348. [PMID: 32323120 PMCID: PMC7311563 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-020-01776-9] [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] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to compare the levels of hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG-H) secreted from balanced and unbalanced human embryos. METHODS Single-step culture media samples from 155 good quality embryos, derived from 90 good prognosis patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), were collected on the fifth day of embryo cultivation. All embryos were tested by next-generation sequencing (NGS) technique. The hCG-H levels in the culture media were evaluated by ELISA kit (Cusabio Biotech, CBS-E15803h) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v.21 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). RESULTS The NGS analysis revealed that 36% of the embryos (n = 56) were balanced, and 64% of the embryos were unbalanced (n = 99). The presence of hCG-H was confirmed in all embryo culture media samples but was absent in the negative control. In addition, hCG-H concentration was significantly higher in the culture media from unbalanced embryos compared with the balanced ones (0.72 ± 0.30 mIU/ml vs. 0.62 ± 0.12 mIU/ml, p = 0.02, respectively). Furthermore, the mean levels of hCG-H were significantly increased in the samples from embryos with multiple abnormalities. Finally, the highest levels of hCG-H were expressed from embryos with monosomy of chromosome 11 (1.28 ± 0.04 mIU/ml) and those with trisomies of chromosomes 21 (2.23 mIU/ml) and 4 (1.02 ± 0.35 mIU/ml). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that chromosomal aberrations in human embryos are associated with an increased secretion of hCG-H. However, hCG-H concentration in embryo culture media as a single biomarker is not sufficient for an accurate selection of balanced embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitar Parvanov
- Nadezhda Women's Health Hospital, 3 "Blaga vest" Street, Sofia, Bulgaria.
| | - Dragomira Nikolova
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical Faculty, Medical University - Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Rumiana Ganeva
- Nadezhda Women's Health Hospital, 3 "Blaga vest" Street, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Kristina Nikolova
- Nadezhda Women's Health Hospital, 3 "Blaga vest" Street, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Magdalena Vasileva
- Nadezhda Women's Health Hospital, 3 "Blaga vest" Street, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ivaylo Rangelov
- Nadezhda Women's Health Hospital, 3 "Blaga vest" Street, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Maria Pancheva
- Nadezhda Women's Health Hospital, 3 "Blaga vest" Street, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Maria Serafimova
- Nadezhda Women's Health Hospital, 3 "Blaga vest" Street, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Rada Staneva
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical Faculty, Medical University - Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Savina Hadjidekova
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical Faculty, Medical University - Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | | | - Georgi Stamenov
- Nadezhda Women's Health Hospital, 3 "Blaga vest" Street, Sofia, Bulgaria
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Koistinen H, Koel M, Peters M, Rinken A, Lundin K, Tuuri T, Tapanainen JS, Alfthan H, Salumets A, Stenman UH, Lavogina D. Hyperglycosylated hCG activates LH/hCG-receptor with lower activity than hCG. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 479:103-109. [PMID: 30287399 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2018.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
While human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) appears to have an essential role in early pregnancy, it is controversial whether the hyperglycosylated form of hCG (hCG-h), which is the major hCG isoform during the first 4-5 weeks of pregnancy, is able to activate LH/hCG receptor (LHCGR). To address this, we utilized different extensively characterized hCG and hCGβ reference reagents, cell culture- and urine-derived hCG-h preparations, and an in vitro reporter system for LHCGR activation. The WHO hCG reference reagent (99/688) was found to activate LHCGR with an EC50-value of 3.3 ± 0.6 pmol/L (n = 9). All three studied hCG-h preparations were also able to activate LHCGR, but with a lower potency (EC50-values between 7.1 ± 0.5 and 14 ± 3 pmol/L, n = 5-11, for all P < 0.05 as compared to the hCG reference). The activities of commercial urinary hCG (Pregnyl) and recombinant hCG (Ovitrelle) preparations were intermediate between those of the hCG reference and the hCG-h. These results strongly suggest that the hCG-h is functionally similar to hCG, although it has lower potency for LHCGR activation. Whether this explains the reduced proportion of hCG-h to hCG reported in patients developing early onset pre-eclampsia or those having early pregnancy loss remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannu Koistinen
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Mariann Koel
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia; Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Maire Peters
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ago Rinken
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Karolina Lundin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Timo Tuuri
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha S Tapanainen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Oulu, University of Oulu, Medical Research Center Oulu and PEDEGO Research Unit, Oulu, Finland
| | - Henrik Alfthan
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Andres Salumets
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ulf-Håkan Stenman
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Darja Lavogina
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia; Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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Fournier T, Guibourdenche J, Evain-Brion D. Review: hCGs: different sources of production, different glycoforms and functions. Placenta 2015; 36 Suppl 1:S60-5. [PMID: 25707740 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2015.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2014] [Revised: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is the first hormonal message from the placenta to the mother. It is detectable in maternal blood two days after implantation and behaves like an agonist of LH stimulating progesterone secretion by the corpus luteum. hCG has also a role in quiescence of the myometrium and local immune tolerance. Specific to humans, hCG is a complex glycoprotein composed of two glycosylated subunits. The α-subunit is identical to the pituitary gonadotropin hormones (LH, FSH, TSH), contains two N-glycosylation sites, and is encoded by a single gene (CGA). By contrast the β-subunits are distinct in each of the hormones and confer receptor and biological specificity. The hCG β-subunit contains two sites of N-glycosylation and four sites of O-glycosylation and is encoded by a cluster of genes (CGB). In this review, we will stress the importance of hCG glycosylation state, which varies with the stage of pregnancy, its source of production and in the pathology. It is well established that hCG is mainly secreted by the syncytiotrophoblast into maternal blood where it peaks around 8-10 weeks of gestation (WG). The invasive extravillous trophoblast also secretes hCG, and in particular like choriocarcinoma cells, hyperglycosylated forms of hCG (hCG-H). In maternal blood hCG-H is high during early first trimester. In addition to its endocrine role, hCG has autocrine and paracrine roles. It promotes formation of the syncytiotrophoblast and angiogenesis through LHCG receptor. In contrast, hCG-H stimulates trophoblast invasion and angiogenesis by interacting with the TGFβ receptor 2. hCG is largely used in antenatal screening and hCG-H represents a serum marker of early trophoblast invasion. Other abnormally glycosylated hCG are described in aneuploidies. In conclusion, hCG is the major pregnancy glycoprotein hormone, whose maternal concentration and glycan structure change all along pregnancy. Depending on its source of production, glycoforms of hCG display different biological activities and functions that are essential for pregnancy outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Fournier
- INSERM, U1139, Paris, F-75006, France; Université Paris Descartes, UMR-S1139, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, F-75006, France; PremUP Foundation, Paris, F-75006, France.
| | - J Guibourdenche
- INSERM, U1139, Paris, F-75006, France; Université Paris Descartes, UMR-S1139, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, F-75006, France; PremUP Foundation, Paris, F-75006, France; Biologie Hormonale, Cochin, Paris, F-75006, France
| | - D Evain-Brion
- INSERM, U1139, Paris, F-75006, France; Université Paris Descartes, UMR-S1139, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, F-75006, France; PremUP Foundation, Paris, F-75006, France
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Lempiäinen A, Sankila A, Hotakainen K, Haglund C, Blomqvist C, Stenman UH. Expression of human chorionic gonadotropin in testicular germ cell tumors. Urol Oncol 2014; 32:727-34. [PMID: 24502963 DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2013.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2013] [Revised: 11/11/2013] [Accepted: 11/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We have shown that most patients with seminomas have elevated serum concentrations of the free β subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCGβ) and that in nonseminomatous testicular cancer, most of the hCG in the serum is hyperglycosylated (hCG-h). However, the tissue expression of hCG-h or hCGβ in germ cell tumors (GCTs) has not been reported. Our objective was to study the expression and diagnostic value of hCG-h and hCGβ in testicular GCTs. METHODS We studied the immunohistochemical expression of hCG, hCG-h, hCGβ, and the free α subunit of hCG (hCGα) in GCTs from 154 patients. We compared the tissue expression with serum concentrations and evaluated the correlation between staining intensity, established prognostic variables, and outcome. RESULTS The expression varied between tumor types. All forms of hCG, including hCG-h, were detected in embryonal carcinomas (22%) and mixed GCTs (48%). Polyclonal hCG and monoclonal hCGβ antibodies detected immunoreactivity in some seminomas (7%). No form of hCG was found in spermatocytic seminomas, pure teratomas, or a yolk sac tumor. The serum concentrations correlated with the corresponding tumor expression. The staining intensities of hCG, hCGβ, hCG-h, and hCGα correlated with disease stage but not significantly with relapse, disease-related mortality, or progression-free survival. CONCLUSION Trophoblastic tissue expresses hCG, hCG-h, and free subunits together whereas seminoma tissue occasionally expresses hCGβ. This difference might aid in differential diagnosis of some difficult-to-classify cases.
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