DENND1A desensitizes granulosa cells to FSH by arresting intracellular FSHR transportation

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex disorder. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several genes associated with this condition, including DENND1A. DENND1A encodes a clathrin-binding protein that functions as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor involved in vesicular transport. However, the specific role of DENND1A in reproductive hormone abnormalities and follicle development disorders in PCOS remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated DENND1A expression in ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) from PCOS patients and its correlation with hormones. Our results revealed an upregulation of DENND1A expression in GCs from PCOS cases, which was positively correlated with testosterone levels. To further explore the functional implications of DENND1A, we generated a transgenic mouse model overexpressing Dennd1a (TG mice). These TG mice exhibited subfertility, irregular estrous cycles, and increased testosterone production following PMSG stimulation. Additionally, the TG mice displayed diminished responsiveness to FSH, characterized by smaller ovary size, less well-developed follicles, and abnormal expressions of FSH-priming genes. Mechanistically, we found that Dennd1a overexpression disrupted the intracellular trafficking of follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), promoting its internalization and inhibiting recycling. These findings shed light on the reproductive role of DENND1A and uncover the underlying mechanisms, thereby contributing valuable insights into the pathogenesis of PCOS and providing potential avenues for drug design in PCOS treatment.

YKL-40 Knockdown Decreases Oxidative Stress Damage in Ovarian Granulosa Cells

Background: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). To develop novel antioxidant drugs, it is necessary to explore the key regulatory molecules involved in oxidative stress in PCOS. Plasma YKL-40 levels are elevated in patients with PCOS; however, its role remains unclear. Methods: The follicular fluids of 20 women with PCOS and 12 control subjects with normal ovarian function were collected, and YKL-40 in follicular fluids was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A letrozole-induced PCOS rat model was established and the expression level of YKL-40 in the ovaries was detected by immunohistochemistry. KGN cells were treated with H2O2 to generate an ovarian granulosa cell (OGC) model of oxidative stress. The siRNA was transfected into the cells for knockdown. The effect of YKL-40 knockdown on H2O2-treated KGN cells was evaluated by measuring proliferation, apoptosis, activities of T-SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT, levels of MDA, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, and the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway. Results: YKL-40 levels were elevated in the follicular fluids of women with PCOS compared with control subjects with normal ovarian function. The expression level of YKL-40 in the ovaries of rats with PCOS is obviously higher than that in the ovaries of the control group rats. H2O2 treatment enhanced YKL-40 mRNA expression and protein secretion. YKL-40 knockdown enhanced cell proliferation and antioxidant capacity while decreasing apoptosis and inflammatory factor levels in KGN cells following H2O2 treatment. The knockdown activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and suppressed NF-κB nuclear translocation from the cytoplasm. Conclusion: YKL-40 levels were elevated in the follicular fluids of women with PCOS and the ovaries of rats with PCOS. YKL-40 expression can be induced by oxidative stress, and YKL-40 knockdown can decrease oxidative stress damage in OGCs.

House Dust-Derived Mixtures of Organophosphate Esters Alter the Phenotype, Function, Transcriptome, and Lipidome of KGN Human Ovarian Granulosa Cells

Organophosphate esters (OPEs), used as flame retardants and plasticizers, are present ubiquitously in the environment. Previous studies suggest that exposure to OPEs is detrimental to female fertility in humans. However, no experimental information is available on the effects of OPE mixtures on ovarian granulosa cells, which play essential roles in female reproduction. We used high-content imaging to investigate the effects of environmentally relevant OPE mixtures on KGN human granulosa cell phenotypes. Perturbations to steroidogenesis were assessed using ELISA and qRT-PCR. A high-throughput transcriptomic approach, TempO-Seq™, was used to identify transcriptional changes in a targeted panel of genes. Effects on lipid homeostasis were explored using a cholesterol assay and global lipidomic profiling. OPE mixtures altered multiple phenotypic features of KGN cells, with triaryl OPEs in the mixture showing higher potencies than other mixture components. The mixtures increased basal production of steroid hormones; this was mediated by significant changes in the expression of critical transcripts involved in steroidogenesis. Further, the total-OPE mixture disrupted cholesterol homeostasis and the composition of intracellular lipid droplets. Exposure to complex mixtures of OPEs, similar to those found in house dust, may adversely affect female reproductive health by altering a multitude of phenotypic and functional endpoints in granulosa cells. This study provides novel insights into the mechanisms of actions underlying the toxicity induced by OPEs and highlights the need to examine the effects of human relevant chemical mixtures.

N-Acetylcysteine Alleviates D-Galactose-Induced Injury of Ovarian Granulosa Cells in Female Rabbits by Regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway

The ovary plays a crucial role in the reproductive system of female animals. Ovarian problems such as ovarian insufficiency, premature aging, polycystic ovary syndrome, and ovarian cysts may lead to ovulation disorders, abnormal hormone secretion, or luteal dysfunction, thereby increasing the risk of infertility and abortion. Only when the ovarian function and other organs in the reproductive system remain healthy and work normally can female animals be ensured to carry out reproductive activities regularly, improve the pregnancy rate and litter size, promote the healthy development of the fetus, and then improve their economic value. The follicle, as the functional unit of the ovary, is composed of theca cells, granulosa cells (GCs), and oocytes. GCs are the largest cell population and main functional unit in follicles and provide the necessary nutrients for the growth and development of follicles. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a prevalent and cell-permeable antioxidant molecule that effectively prevents apoptosis and promotes cellular survival. Over the past few years, its function in boosting reproductive performance in animals at the cellular level has been widely acknowledged. However, its specific role and mechanism in influencing GCs is yet to be fully understood. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of NAC on ovarian damage in female rabbits. For this purpose, D-galactose (D-gal) was first used to establish a model of damaged GCs, with exposure to 1.5 mg/mL of D-gal leading to substantial damage. Subsequently, varying concentrations of NAC were introduced to determine the precise mechanism through which it influences cell damage. Based on the results of the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, and Western blotting, it was found that 0.5 mg/mL of NAC could significantly suppress cell apoptosis and promote proliferation. In particular, it decreased the expression levels of Bax, p53, and Caspase-9 genes, while concurrently upregulating the expression of the BCL-2 gene. Moreover, NAC was found to alleviate intracellular oxidative stress, suppress the discharge of mitochondrial Cytochrome c, and boost the enzymatic activities of CAT (Catalase), GSH (Glutathione), and SOD (Superoxide dismutase). RNA sequencing analysis subsequently underscored the critical role of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in governing proliferation and apoptosis within GCs. These findings demonstrated that NAC could significantly influence gene expression within this pathway, thereby clarifying the exact relationship between the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling cascade and the underlying cellular processes controlling proliferation and apoptosis. In conclusion, NAC can reduce the expression of Bax, p53, and Caspase-9 genes, inhibit the apoptosis of GCs, improve cell viability, and resist D-gal-induced oxidative stress by increasing the activity of CAT, GSH, and SOD. The molecular mechanism of NAC in alleviating D-gal-induced ovarian GC injury in female rabbits by regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway provides experimental evidence for the effect of NAC on animal reproductive function at the cellular level.

Ningxin-Tongyu-Zishen formula alleviates the senescence of granulosa cells on D-galactose-induced premature ovarian insufficiency mice

Ningxin-Tongyu-Zishen formula (NTZF) is a clinical experience formula for the treatment of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and the potential mechanism is unknown. For in vivo experiments, POI mouse models (C57BL/6 mice), were constructed by subcutaneous injection of D-galactose (D-gal, 200 mg/kg). After treatment of NTZF (10.14, 20.27, 40.54 g/kg;) or estradiol valerate (0.15 mg/kg), ovarian function, oxidative stress (OS) and protein expression of Sirt1/p53 were evaluated. For in vitro experiments, H2O2 (200 μM) was used to treat KGN to construct ovarian granulosa cells (OGCs) cell senescence model. Pretreatment with NTZF (1.06 mg/mL) or p53 inhibitor (Pifithrin-α, 1 μM) was performed before induction of senescence, and further evaluated the cell senescence, OS, mRNA and protein expression of Sirt1/p53. In vivo, NTZF improved ovarian function, alleviated OS and Sirt1/p53 signaling abnormalities in POI mice. In vitro experiments showed that NTZF reduced the level of OS and alleviated the senescence of H2O2-induced KGN. In addition, NTZF activated the protein expression of Sirt1, inhibited the mRNA transcription and protein expression of p53 and p21. Alleviating OGCs senescence and protecting ovarian function through Sirt1/p53 is one of the potential mechanisms of NTZF in the treatment of POI.

LIPUS combined with TFSC alleviates premature ovarian failure by promoting autophagy and inhibiting apoptosis

OBJECTIVE

Premature ovarian failure (POF), also known as primary ovarian insufficiency, is a major cause of infertility in female worldwide. Excessive apoptosis and impaired autophagy in ovarian granulosa cells are the main pathological mechanisms of POF. The total flavonoids from semen cuscutae (TFSC) are often used in the treatment of gynecological endocrine disorders. In addition, low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is report as an effective method to improve ovarian function. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of POF by the combined use of TFSC and LIPUS.

METHODS

POF rats model and granulosa cell model were successfully induced by tripterygium glycosides and cyclophosphamide, respectively. After that, model rats and cells received TFSC plus LIPUS administration. Then ovarian histomorphology, senescence, estrus cycle, and serum sex hormone levels were detected in rats. Ovarian tissue and granulosa cells autophagy and apoptosis levels were also assessed.

RESULTS

Disturbed sex hormone levels, atrophied and senescent ovaries, and abnormal estrous cycle were found in POF rats. Meanwhile, cell autophagy was inhibited and cell apoptosis was activated in POF ovarian tissue and granulosa cells. However, TFSC combined with LIPUS improved these changes, and this combination treatment exhibited synergistic effects. The abnormal expression of the cell apoptosis-, autophagy-, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins were also improved by combination treatment.

CONCLUSION

The study found that the combination of TFSC and LIPUS can alleviate POF by modulating cell autophagy and apoptosis. The findings may provide a viable scientific basis for POF treatment.

hsa_circRNA_BECN1 acts as a ceRNA to promote polycystic ovary syndrome progression by sponging the miR-619-5p/Rab5b axis

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive endocrine disease that affects women of reproductive age. It is also a significant cause of infertility. Circular RNAs have been found to have a crucial role in the development and progression of reproductive system diseases. In this study, we focused on circ_BECN1 and aimed to investigate its role and mechanism in PCOS, providing a foundation for early diagnosis and treatment of this condition. Our findings revealed an upregulation of circ_BECN1 expression in the ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) of PCOS patients. Additionally, the silencing of circ_BECN1 resulted in inhibited proliferation and enhanced apoptosis of the human ovarian granulosa-like tumor cell line (KGN), therefore implicating circ_BECN1 in the cell cycle process. Through a dual-luciferase reporting assay, we determined that circ_BECN1 acts as a sponge for miR-619-5p and that Rab5b is the target gene of miR-619-5p. Moreover, the expression of Rab5b was found to be upregulated in the ovarian tissue of PCOS patients. Knocking down circ_BECN1 resulted in decreased Rab5b expression, which was then restored by using a miR-619-5p inhibitor. Additionally, rescue experiments demonstrated that overexpressing Rab5b reversed the effects of circ_BECN1 knockdown on cell proliferation and apoptosis in KGN cells. In summary, our findings indicate that circ_BECN1 is upregulated in PCOS GCs and promotes cell growth and cell cycle progression, and reduces cell apoptosis by modulating the miR-619-5p/Rab5b axis. Therefore, circ_BECN1 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for PCOS treatment.

β-Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Alleviates Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Cell Cycle Arrest and Death in Ovarian Granulosa Cells

Maintaining normal functions of ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) is essential for oocyte development and maturation. The dysfunction of GCs impairs nutrition supply and estrogen secretion by follicles, thus negatively affecting the breeding capacity of farm animals. Impaired GCs is generally associated with declines in Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels, which triggers un-controlled oxidative stress, and the oxidative stress, thus, attack the subcellular structures and cause cell damage. β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), a NAD+ precursor, has demonstrated well-known antioxidant properties in several studies. In this study, using two types of ovarian GCs (mouse GCs (mGCs) and human granulosa cell line (KGN)) as cell models, we aimed to investigate the potential effects of NMN on gene expression patterns and antioxidant capacity of both mGCs and KGN that were exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). As shown in results of the study, mGCs that were exposed to H2O2 significantly altered the gene expression patterns, with 428 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) when compared with those of the control group. Furthermore, adding NMN to H2O2-cultured mGCs displayed 621 DEGs. The functional enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs were mainly enriched in key pathways like cell cycle, senescence, and cell death. Using RT-qPCR, CCK8, and β-galactosidase staining, we found that H2O2 exposure on mGCs obviously reduced cell activity/mRNA expressions of antioxidant genes, inhibited cell proliferation, and induced cellular senescence. Notably, NMN supplementation partially prevented these H2O2-induced abnormalities. Moreover, these similar beneficial effects of NMN on antioxidant capacity were confirmed in the KGN cell models that were exposed to H2O2. Taken together, the present results demonstrate that NMN supplementation protects against H2O2-induced impairments in gene expression pattern, cell cycle arrest, and cell death in ovarian GCs through boosting NAD+ levels and provide potential strategies to ameliorate uncontrolled oxidative stress in ovarian GCs.

Construction of a circRNA- lincRNA-lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA regulatory network identifies genes and pathways linked to goat fertility

Background: There is growing interest in the genetic improvement of fertility traits in female goats. With high-throughput genotyping, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a powerful tool for measuring gene expression profiles. The primary objective was to investigate comparative transcriptome profiling of granulosa cells (GCs) of high- and low-fertility goats, using scRNA-seq. Methods: Thirty samples from Ji'ning Gray goats (n = 15 for high fertility and n = 15 for low fertility) were retrieved from publicly available scRNA-seq data. Functional enrichment analysis and a literature mining approach were applied to explore modules and hub genes related to fertility. Then, interactions between types of RNAs identified were predicted, and the ceRNA regulatory network was constructed by integrating these interactions with other gene regulatory networks (GRNs). Results and discussion: Comparative transcriptomics-related analyses identified 150 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between high- and low-fertility groups, based on the fold change (≥5 and ≤-5) and false discovery rate (FDR <0.05). Among these genes, 80 were upregulated and 70 were downregulated. In addition, 81 mRNAs, 58 circRNAs, 8 lincRNAs, 19 lncRNAs, and 55 miRNAs were identified by literature mining. Furthermore, we identified 18 hub genes (SMAD1, SMAD2, SMAD3, SMAD4, TIMP1, ERBB2, BMP15, TGFB1, MAPK3, CTNNB1, BMPR2, AMHR2, TGFBR2, BMP4, ESR1, BMPR1B, AR, and TGFB2) involved in goat fertility. Identified biological networks and modules were mainly associated with ovary signature pathways. In addition, KEGG enrichment analysis identified regulating pluripotency of stem cells, cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, ovarian steroidogenesis, oocyte meiosis, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, parathyroid and growth hormone synthesis, cortisol synthesis and secretion, and signaling pathways for prolactin, TGF-beta, Hippo, MAPK, PI3K-Akt, and FoxO. Functional annotation of identified DEGs implicated important biological pathways. These findings provided insights into the genetic basis of fertility in female goats and are an impetus to elucidate molecular ceRNA regulatory networks and functions of DEGs underlying ovarian follicular development.

[Mechanism of Liuwei Dihuang Pills in treatment of mice with diminished ovarian reserve based on proteomics]

This study aims to investigate the efficacy and possible mechanism of Liuwei Dihuang Pills in the treatment of diminished ovarian reserve(DOR) by using proteomic techniques. Firstly, cyclophosphamide(60 mg·kg~(-1)) combined with busulfan(6 mg·kg~(-1)) was injected intraperitoneally to establish the mouse model of DOR. After drug injection, the mice were continuously observed and the success of modeling was evaluated by the disturbance of the estrous cycle. After successful modeling, the mice were administrated with the suspension of Liuwei Dihuang Pills by gavage for 28 days. At the end of the gavage, four female mice were selected and caged together with males at a ratio of 2∶1 for the determination of the pregnancy rate. Blood and ovary samples were collected from the remaining mice on the next day after the end of gavage. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and transmission electron microscopy(TEM) were then employed to observe the morphological and ultrastructural changes in the ovaries. The serum levels of hormones and oxidation indicators were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Quantitative proteomics techniques were used to compare the ovarian protein expression before and after modeling and before and after the intervention with Liuwei Dihuang Pills. The results showed that Liuwei Dihuang Pills regulated the estrous cycle of DOR mice, elevated the serum levels of hormones and anti-oxidation indicators, promoted follicle development, protected the mitochondrial morphology of ovarian granulosa cells, and increased the litter size and survival of DOR mice. Furthermore, Liuwei Dihuang Pills negatively regulated the expression of 12 differentially expressed proteins associated with DOR, which were mainly involved in lipid catabolism, inflammatory response, immune regulation, and coenzyme biosynthesis. These differentially expressed proteins were significantly enriched in sphingolipid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, ribosomes, ferroptosis, and cGMP-PKG signaling pathway. In summary, the occurrence of DOR and the treatment of DOR with Liuwei Dihuang Pills are associated with multiple biological pathways, mainly including oxidative stress response, inflammatory response, and immune regulation. &quot;Mitochondria-oxidative stress-apoptosis&quot; is the key to the treatment of DOR by Liuwei Dihuang Pills. YY1 and CYP4F3 may be the key upstream targets that trigger mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS accumulation, and the metabolism of arachidonic acid is the main signaling pathway of drug action.

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) can directly suppress basic ovarian cell functions in two farm animal species and protect ovarian cells from the proliferation-stimulating influence of xylene

The influence of the functional food plant chia (Salvia hispanica L.) on reproduction functions and its ability to prevent the negative effects of environmental contaminants has not yet been studied. Our study aimed to examine the effect of chia seed extract alone and in combination with xylene on the markers of proliferation, apoptosis and hormones release by cultured bovine and porcine ovarian granulosa cells. The extract of chia reduced all of the measured parameters in bovine and porcine ovarian cells but had no effect on the proliferation of porcine cells. Xylene, stimulated proliferation and IGF-I release and inhibited the release of progesterone and testosterone but not apoptosis of bovine granulosa cells. It promoted proliferation, apoptosis and progesterone output by porcine cells. Chia mitigated the stimulatory effect of xylene on proliferation but not on other parameters in both species. The present results are the first demonstration of a direct effect of chia on basic ovarian cell functions. They confirmed a direct influence of xylene on these functions and found a similar stimulatory action of xylene on bovine and porcine ovarian cell proliferation. The present observations demonstrated species-specific differences in the characteristics of xylene influences on ovarian cell apoptosis and secretory activity. Finally, the present results indicate that chia can be a natural protector against the proliferation-stimulating effects of xylene on ovarian cells in both species.

Protective effect of L‑carnitine against oxidative stress injury in human ovarian granulosa cells

Granulosa cells (GCs) are important for supporting and nourishing oocytes during follicular development and maturation. Oxidative stress (OS) injury of GCs can lead to decreased responsiveness of follicles to follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), which will accelerate ovarian senescence and adversely affect oocyte and embryo quality. Since L-carnitine has been previously reported to exert strong antioxidant activity, the present study aimed to explore the possible effects of L-carnitine on OS injury and FSH receptor (FSHR) expression in ovarian GCs, results of which may be of significance for GCs protection. In the present study, OS was induced in vitro in KGN cells by treatment with H₂O₂. KGN cells were cultured and divided into the following four groups: Blank, OS, and 40 and 80 µmol/l L-carnitine pre-treatment groups. In the OS group, cells showed nuclear pyknosis, mitochondria swelled irregularly whilst featuring fractured cristae. In addition, cell viability, ROS levels, superoxide dismutase levels, glutathione levels, malondialdehyde levels, the mitochondrial membrane potential and FSHR expression, as determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 2,7-dichloro-dihydrofluorescein diacetate, spectrophotometry, ELISA, spectrophotometry, JC-1 and western blot analyses, respectively, were all significantly different in the OS group compared with those in the control group. However, malonaldehyde levels, reactive oxygen species levels and the apoptosis rate according to flow cytometry were all significantly increased compared with those in the control. Compared with those in the OS group, the morphology of cells and mitochondria in the L-carnitine pre-treatment groups were improved, whilst cell viability and the expression of FSHR were significantly increased but oxidative stress injury was decreased. The present results suggest that L-carnitine can protect the cells from OS damage induced by H₂O₂, enhance antioxidant activity whilst suppressing the apoptosis of GCs, in addition to preserving FSHR expression in GCs under OS. Therefore, the present study revealed that the introduction of L-carnitine in clinical medicine or dietary supplement may protect GCs, improve follicular quality and female reproductive function.

ANGPTL4 inhibits granulosa cell proliferation in polycystic ovary syndrome by EGFR/JAK1/STAT3-mediated induction of p21

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common, heterogenous endocrine disorders and is the leading cause of ovulatory obstacle associated with abnormal folliculogenesis. Dysfunction of ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) is recognized as a major factor that underlies abnormal follicle maturation. Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) expression in GCs differs between patients with and without PCOS. However, the role and mechanism of ANGPTL4 in impaired follicular development are still poorly understood. Here, the case-control study was designed to investigate the predictive value of ANGPTL4 in PCOS while cell experiments in vitro were set for mechanism research. Results found that ANGPTL4 levels in serum and in follicular fluid, and its expression in GCs, were upregulated in patients with PCOS. In KGN and SVOG cells, upregulation of ANGPTL4 inhibited the proliferation of GCs by blocking G1/S cell cycle progression, as well as the molecular activation of the EGFR/JAK1/STAT3 cascade. Moreover, the STAT3-dependent CDKN1A(p21) promoter increased CDKN1A transcription, resulting in remarkable suppression effect on GCs. Together, our results demonstrated that overexpression of ANGPTL4 inhibited the proliferation of GCs through EGFR/JAK1/STAT3-mediated induction of p21, thus providing a novel epigenetic mechanism for the pathogenesis of PCOS.

Cysteine-rich 61(CYR61) alleviates cyclophosphamide-induced proliferation inhibition in ovarian granulosa cells via suppressing NLRP3/caspase1-mediated pyroptosis

BACKGROUND

We investigated the level of Cysteine-rich 61 (CYR61) in premature ovarian failure as well as its regulatory molecular mechanism in this study.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Cyclophosphamide (CTX) was used to induce OGCs (rat ovarian granulosa cells) and rats to establish in vivo and in vitro premature ovarian failure models. H&E staining was used to detect the pathological changes of ovarian histopathology. Si-NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3, NLRP3) and si-CYR61 were transfected into OGCs using lipofectamine 3000. RT-qPCR and western blot were used to detect the expressions of CYR61 in ovarian tissue and OGCs. It showed that the expression of CYR61 was significantly down-regulated in premature ovarian failure model. Cell viability was detected using a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) kit. TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP biotin nick end labeling) staining was used to detect the apoptosis. 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) and SA-β-gal (senescence-associated β-galactosidase) staining were used to assess the proliferation and senescence. The expression of CYR61 in OGCs and ovarian tissues were detected by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining. Overexpression of CYR61 significantly promoted OGCs proliferation and inhibited pyroptosis and apoptosis. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of p53 and p21 in OGCs. Flow cytometry was used to detect the pyroptosis. CYR61 overexpression inhibited the expression of NLRP3 and caspase-1 in CTX-induced OGCs according to western blot results. Moreover, we found that CYR61 overexpression down-regulated the protein expressions of p53 and p21 in CTX-induced OGCs.

CONCLUSION

CYR61 inhibited CTX-induced OGCs senescence, and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of caspase-1/NLRP3-induced pyroptosis.

Insulin resistance, autophagy and apoptosis in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: Association with PI3K signaling pathway

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disease in which endocrine metabolic abnormalities coexist with reproductive system abnormalities, with the main clinical manifestations including abnormal menstruation, hirsutism, acne, infertility, and obesity, and it is also a high risk for the development of many pregnancy complications, gynecological malignancies and other diseases. Therefore, timely intervention to prevent the progression of PCOS is of great significance for improving the quality of life of most female patients. Insulin resistance (IR) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in PCOS patients, with approximately 75% of PCOS patients experiencing varying degrees of IR. It is now believed that it is mainly related to the PI3K signaling pathway. The role of autophagy and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) in the pathogenesis of PCOS has also been gradually verified in recent years. Coincidentally, it also seems to be associated with the PI3K signaling pathway. Our aim is to review these relevant studies, to explore the association between the IR, cellular autophagy and apoptosis in PCOS patients and the PI3K pathway. We summarize some of the drug studies that have improved PCOS as well. We have also found that proteomics holds great promise in exploring the pathogenesis of PCOS, and we have published our views on this.

Effects of N-Acetylcysteine on the Proliferation, Hormone Secretion Level, and Gene Expression Profiles of Goat Ovarian Granulosa Cells

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the proliferation, hormone secretion, and mRNA expression profiles of ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) in vitro. A total of 12 ovaries from 6 follicular-stage goats were collected for granulosa cell extraction. The optimum concentration of NAC addition was determined to be 200 μM via the Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) method. Next, GCs were cultured in a medium supplemented with 200 μM NAC (200 μM NAC group) and 0 μ M NAC (control group) for 48 h. The effects of 200 μM NAC on the proliferation of granulosa cells and hormones were studied by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). mRNA expression was analyzed by transcriptome sequencing. The results indicate that 200 μM NAC significantly increased cell viability and the proportion of cells in the S phase but promoted hormone secretion to a lesser degree. Overall, 122 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. A total of 51 upregulated and 71 downregulated genes were included. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses indicated that the most DEGs were enriched in terms of cell growth regulation, cell growth, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, the cAMP-signaling pathway, and the Wnt-signaling pathway. Seven genes related to granulosa cell proliferation were screened, IGFBP4, HTRA4, SST, SSTR1, WISP1, DAAM2, and RSPO2. The above results provide molecular theoretical support for NAC as a feed additive to improve follicle development and improve reproductive performance in ewes.

Age-related differential gene expression in granulosa cells and its effects on fertility using high-throughput transcriptomics

More couples worldwide, delay their childbearing years. The increase in age causes a gradual decrease in female ovarian function and fertility, leading to an exponential decrease in women over 35 years of age having children. Although promising for some, assisted reproductive technology (ART) is not promising for older women. Decreased fertility in advanced age has become a growing concern in the field of reproduction. In this study, high-throughput transcriptome sequencing was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) of older women (aged 35-44) with infertility and younger women (aged 25-34). The enriched functions and signaling pathways of DEGs were analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The function of DEGs were analyzed and predicted combined with clinical ART data. Sequencing results were verified by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Retrospective clinical data and bioinformatics analyses revealed marked reductions in the retrieved oocyte, metaphase II oocyte, 2PN fertilization, and effective embryo numbers in older women. Although the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates did not differ notably between the groups, the miscarriage rate increased significantly in older women. In total, 620 DEGs were identified, of which 246 were upregulated, and 374 were downregulated in the older group. GO, and KEGG analyses indicated that the mechanism of fertility decline in older women was probably related to chronic inflammation, cytokine receptor interaction, and oxidative stress. In conclusion, combined with basic clinical ART data and pregnancy outcomes, we tried to provide a more intuitive and in-depth understanding of age-related reduction in ovarian function and pathogenesis of infertility with regard to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress.

Role of Autophagy in Lysophosphatidylcholine-Induced Apoptosis of Mouse Ovarian Granulosa Cells

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), also known as lysolecithin, is one of the major components of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL). In the pathogenetic process of diverse diseases, LPC acts as a significant lipid mediator. However, no evidence shows that LPC can affect the female reproductive system. In our study, we found that LPC inhibited the cell viability of primary mouse ovarian granulosa cells. Meanwhile, LPC was shown to induce apoptosis, which is accompanied by an increase in apoptosis-related protein levels, such as cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-8 and Bax, as well as a decrease in Bcl-2. The total numbers of early and late apoptotic cells also increased in the LPC-treated cells. These results indicated that LPC could induce apoptosis of mouse ovarian granulosa cells. Furthermore, the increase in autophagy-related protein levels and the number of autophagic vesicles suggested that LPC could induce autophagy. The inhibition of oxidative stress by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) could rescue the induction of apoptosis and autophagy by LPC, which indicated that oxidative stress was involved in LPC-induced apoptosis and autophagy. Interestingly, the inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA could reserve the inhibition of cell viability and the induction of apoptosis by LPC. In conclusion, oxidative stress was involved in LPC-induced apoptosis, whileautophagy of mouse ovarian granulosa cells and the inhibition of autophagy could alleviate LPC-induced apoptosis.

High-Throughput Sequencing Profiles About lncRNAs and mRNAs of Ovarian Granulosa Cells in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age, which is characterized by ovulatory dysfunction, clinical and/or biochemical androgen excess, polycystic ovaries on ultrasound and genetic heterogeneity. It was well-accepted that many lncRNAs and mRNAs were associated with PCOS, however, remain unclear. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to examine different expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs in ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) in PCOS and Controls, and identify the correlation between lncRNAs, mRNAs and clinical parameters. Sixty five PCOS patients and 65 Controls were enrolled in this study and adopted standard long agonist protocols or GnRH antagonist protocols. Then 6 GCs samples in each group were subjected to high-thoughput sequencing and the remaining samples were used for the further verification by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Gene Oncology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed. We predicted the relationship between lncRNAs and mRNAs by Cytoscape software. According to the expression level of lncRNAs, mRNAs and the clinical parameters, we also explored their relationship and evaluate their predictive values for embryos quality and PCOS. We identified 1,049 differential expressed lncRNAs and 3,246 mRNAs (fold-change ≥2, p-value < 0.05). Seven lncRNAs (NONHSAT101926.2, NONHSAT136825.2, NONHSAT227177.1, NONHSAT010538.2, NONHSAT191377.1, NONHSAT230904.1, ENST00000607307) and 3 mRNAs (EREG, ENTPD6, YAP1) were validated consistent with sequence profile. Seven lncRNAs were related to hormone level and follicle counts, 3 mRNAs had connections with lipid metabolism. The area under curve (AUC) of 7 lncRNAs were valuable in distinguishing patients with PCOS from Controls. The AUC of NONHSAT230904.1 and NONHSAT227177.1 were 0.6807 and 0.6410, respectively, for distinguishing whether the rate of high-quality embryos exceeds 50%. Our study showed that the GCs lncRNAs and mRNAs were involved in the occurrence and development of PCOS, which contribute to clarify the pathogenesis mechanism of PCOS.

Chromatin Accessibility and Transcriptomic Alterations in Murine Ovarian Granulosa Cells upon Deoxynivalenol Exposure

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common environmental toxin that is secreted by fusarium fungi that frequently contaminates feedstuff and food. While the detrimental effects of DON on human and animal reproductive systems have been well recognized, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Ovarian granulosa cells (GCs), which surround oocytes, are crucial for regulating oocyte development, mainly through the secretion of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Using an in vitro model of murine GCs, we characterized the cytotoxic effects of DON and profiled genome-wide chromatin accessibility and transcriptomic alterations after DON exposure. Our results suggest that DON can induce decreased viability and growth, increased apoptosis rate, and disrupted hormone secretion. In total, 2533 differentially accessible loci and 2675 differentially expressed genes were identified that were associated with Hippo, Wnt, steroid biosynthesis, sulfur metabolism, and inflammation-related pathways. DON-induced genes usually have a concurrently increased occupancy of active histone modifications H3K4me3 and H3K27ac in their promoters. Integrative analyses identified 35 putative directly affected genes including Adrb2 and Fshr, which are key regulators of follicular growth, and revealed that regions with increased chromatin accessibility are enriched with the binding motifs for NR5A1 and NR5A2, which are important for GCs. Moreover, DON-induced inflammatory response is due to the activation of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Overall, our results provide novel insights into the regulatory elements, genes, and key pathways underlying the response of ovarian GCs to DON cytotoxicity.

Protective effect of propofol via the regulation of ovarian granulosa cell proliferation and apoptosis

Propofol is an anesthetic frequently used in surgery. Accumulating evidence suggests that propofol exhibits an effect on cell viability, apoptosis and invasion in several types of cancer cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to play pivotal roles in the development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the diagnostic applications of miR-451a in PCOS remain unknown. The present study aimed to elucidate the effects of propofol on ovarian granulosa cell proliferation and apoptosis and illustrate the specific mechanisms associated with this process. Human ovarian granulosa cell-like KGN cells, which were used as a representative of granulosa cells in the present study, were treated with different concentrations (0, 1, 5 and 10 µg/ml) of propofol for 48 h and cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed using MTT and flow cytometry assays, respectively. Propofol treatment resulted in significant inhibition of cell viability and induction of apoptosis in KGN cells, which was accompanied with increased cleaved caspase 3 and suppressed pro-caspase 3 expression levels. Furthermore, propofol reduced Wnt3a and β-catenin protein and mRNA expression levels. miR-451a expression in KGN cells was evaluated by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). miR-451a expression was upregulated in propofol-stimulated KGN cells. The data further demonstrated that miR-451a mimics suppressed cell proliferation and increased apoptosis of KGN cells compared with cells transfected with control mimics. Furthermore, the association between miR-451a and propofol was investigated. Rescue experiments were performed to investigate the anti-proliferative mechanism of propofol in ovarian granulosa cells. KGN cells were transfected with miR-451a inhibitor or inhibitor control sequences for 6 h and treated with 10 µg/ml propofol for an additional 48 h. The results from the MTT, RT-qPCR and western blot assays indicated that 10 µg/ml propofol inhibited cell viability, induced apoptosis, enhanced cleaved caspase 3 expression, reduced pro-caspase 3 levels and inhibited the protein and mRNA expression of Wnt3a and β-catenin. However, inhibition of miR-451a demonstrated the opposite effects. In conclusion, the results of the present study revealed that propofol exerted an anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing role in ovarian granulosa cells through mediation of miR-451a expression. In addition, the data indicated that miR-451a may be used as an effective therapeutic target for PCOS treatment.

MicroRNA-664a-3p inhibits the proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells in polycystic ovary syndrome and promotes apoptosis by targeting BCL2A1

Background

To investigate whether micro ribonucleic acid-664a-3p (miR-664a-3p) targeting BCL2A1 affects the proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells.

Methods

Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of miR-664a-3p in granulosa cells, granular tumor cell lines (KGN), and normal ovarian epithelial cell lines (IOSE80) in the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) group and the control group. After overexpressing miR-664a-3p or inhibiting its expression in KGN cells, qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of related genes. At the same time, a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometer were used to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis. The TargetScan website was used to predict the potential binding sites of miR-664a-3p and B-cell lymphoma 2-related protein A1 (BCL2A1), which was further verified by qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and the luciferase reporter gene method.

Results

The expression of miR-664a-3p was significantly decreased in both PCOS tissues and KGN cells (both P<0.05), and the overexpression of miR-664a-3p inhibited the proliferation of KGN cells and induced their apoptosis. Moreover, our results confirmed that miR-664a-3p directly targets BCL2A1 (P<0.05), and the inhibitory effect of miR-664a-3p on KGN cells was reversed by BCL2A1 overexpression (both P<0.05). The up-regulation of BCL2A1 promotes cell proliferation and reduces cell apoptosis by the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway (both P<0.05).

Conclusions

The up-regulation of miR-664a-3p inhibits the proliferation of KGN cells and increases apoptosis by down-regulating the expression of BCL2A1 and blocking the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.

MicroRNA-451a plays a role in polycystic ovary syndrome by regulating ovarian granulosa cell proliferation and apoptosis

The present study aimed to investigate whether microRNA (miR)-451a plays a role in polycystic ovary syndrome by regulating the biological function of ovarian granulosa cells and investigate the underlying molecular mechanism. In the present study, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis detected markedly low expression of miR-451a in KGN cells. TargetScan predicted that cyclic AMP-dependent transcription factor ATF-2 (ATF2) was a potential target gene of miR-451a, which was confirmed by a Dual-Luciferase reporter gene assay. Moreover, western blotting and RT-qPCR experiments indicated that ATF2 was significantly overexpressed in KGN cells. In addition, western blotting and RT-qPCR experiments were utilized to assess cell transfection efficiency, and it was found that miR-451a mimic significantly increased miR-451a expression in KGN cells. Subsequently, MTT assay was performed to detect cell proliferation and flow cytometry was utilized to detect cell apoptosis. Western blot and RT-qPCR assays were utilized to assess the protein and mRNA expression of ATF2 and cyclin D1. The results confirmed that miR-451a mimic significantly decreased ATF2 protein and mRNA expression in KGN cells, and this decrease was reversed by ATF2-plasmid co-transfection. Moreover, miR-451a mimic inhibited cell proliferation, enhanced cell apoptosis, reduced cyclin D1 expression, increased caspase-3 activity and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels, while it reduced pro-caspase 3 protein levels in KGN cells, and these effects were significantly reversed by ATF2-plasmid. The present preliminary results demonstrated that miR-451a regulated the proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells by targeting ATF2. Thus, the miR-451a/ATF2 axis may be a new potential target for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome.

MicroRNA‑378d inhibits Glut4 by targeting Rsbn1 in vitamin D deficient ovarian granulosa cells

Vitamin D (VD) is not only associated with bone growth and development, but is also closely associated with numerous other pathological conditions. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of microRNA (miRNA/miR)-378d on ovarian granulosa cells by regulating the round spermatid basic protein 1 (Rsbn1) in the absence of VD. The abnormal expression of miRNAs in ovarian tissues of the VD-deficient mouse was analyzed using transcriptome sequencing. miR-378d, glucose transporter 4 (Glut4) and aromatase (Cyp19a) expression levels were examined via reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q)PCR and western blotting. The expression levels of Rsbn1, Glut4 and Cyp19a were detected in transfected mouse ovarian granulosa cells. The targeting regulation between miR-378d and Rsbn1 was verified using double reporter gene assay and functional rescue experiments. Among the 672 miRNAs that were differentially expressed, cluster analysis revealed that 17 were significantly upregulated and 16 were significantly downregulated. Moreover, miR-378d showed significant upregulation, which was further verified via RT-qPCR. It was identified that the protein expression level of Rsbn1 was significantly downregulated. Furthermore, Glut4 mRNA expression was significantly decreased in the mimic group but markedly increased in the inhibitor group. By contrast, the mRNA expression levels of Rsbn1 and Cyp19a did not demonstrate any significant difference. The western blotting results indicated that the protein expression levels of Rsbn1 and Glut4 were decreased and increased, respectively, while Cyp19a did not show any significant change. In addition, the double reporter gene experiments confirmed that Rsbn1 was the target gene of miR-378d. Collectively, the present results demonstrated that miR-378d was abnormally overexpressed in the ovarian tissues of the VD-deficient mice, and that miR-378d could inhibit Glut4 production by targeting Rsbn1, which may lead to insulin resistance.

miR-206 serves an important role in polycystic ovary syndrome through modulating ovarian granulosa cell proliferation and apoptosis

An increasing number of studies have reported that microRNAs (miRNAs) have an important role in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Downregulation of miR-206 in patients with PCOS has been found, however, its specific role remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the roles of miR-206 in (PCOS) and to determine the underlying molecular mechanisms. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to analyze the expression levels of miR-206 in normal ovarian surface epithelial IOSE80 cells and human ovarian granulosa cell-like KGN cells. TargetScan was used to predict the target gene of miR-206, which was subsequently verified using a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. The mRNA expression levels of cyclin D2 (CCND2) and the transfection efficiencies of the miR-206 mimic and CCDN2 overexpression plasmid were determined using RT-qPCR analysis. The protein expression levels of CCND2, cleaved-caspase-3 and pro-caspase-3 were analyzed using western blotting, and an MTT assay and flow cytometric analysis were used to evaluate the cell viability and levels of apoptosis, respectively, in the cells following transfection. Finally, the activity of caspase-3 was analyzed using a caspase-3 activity assay kit. The results of the present study revealed that the expression levels of miR-206 were downregulated in KGN cells compared with IOSE80 cells. CCND2 was predicted and verified to be a direct target gene of miR-206, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of CCND2 were discovered to be upregulated in KGN cells compared with IOSE80 cells. The miR-206 mimic and CCND2 overexpression plasmid significantly upregulated the expression levels of miR-206 and CCND2, respectively, in KGN cells. The miR-206 mimic also downregulated the expression levels of CCND2 in KGN cells, while this effect was reversed following the transfection with the CCND2 overexpression plasmid. Compared with the mimic control group, the miR-206 mimic significantly decreased the cell viability, induced the levels of apoptosis, increased the activity of caspase-3, upregulated cleaved-caspase-3 protein expression levels and downregulated pro-caspase-3 protein expression levels in KGN cells following transfection; these effects were reversed following the overexpression of CCND2. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggested that miR-206 may serve an important role in PCOS through modulating ovarian granulosa cell viability and apoptosis.

Effects of the FABP4 gene on steroid hormone secretion in goose ovarian granulosa cells

1. To investigate the physiological role of FABP4 in the goose ovary, this study determined the effects of overexpressing and siRNA interfering FABP4 on progesterone (P₄) and oestradiol (E₂) production in granulosa cells. Measurements were made by ELISA, real-time qRT-PCR and western blotting. 2. The concentrations of P₄ and E₂ in the FABP4 overexpression granulosa cells were increased compared to the control group (P > 0.05 for P₄; P < 0.05 for E₂). Likewise, the mRNA and protein expression levels of CYP11A1 and CYP19A1 were significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001). Conversely, the concentrations of P₄ and E₂ in the FABP4 silencing granulosa cells were significantly decreased compared with the control group (P < 0.001). Likewise, the mRNA and protein expression levels of CYP11A1 and CYP19A1 were significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.001, or P < 0.01). 3. The study indicated that the FABP4 gene may regulate steroid hormone secretion and the expression of the steroidogenic genes in geese ovarian granulosa cells. These results support the possibility that the FABP4 gene mediates ovarian steroid hormone biosynthesis function and reproduction in geese.

miR-199a-5p stimulates ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis in polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder and one of the most common causes of infertility in women. PCOS patients have been found with dysregulated miRNA, which is indicative of their roles as noninvasive biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets in PCOS. Herein, this study sets out to explore the mechanism of action of miR-199a-5p in PCOS in relation to the janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK/STAT3) pathway via Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) regulation in a rat model of PCOS. The expression of miR-199a-5p was highly expressed in ovarian cortical tissues and serum of PCOS patients, as examined by RT-qPCR. Ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) were harvested from PCOS rat model, followed by subsequent purification. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments of miR-199a-5p were performed to determine its functions in PCOS. Cell viability, cell apoptosis and serum hormone levels were assessed, the results of which showed that downregulation of miR-199a-5p contributed to the promotion of GC viability and inhibition of apoptosis, while simultaneously inducing the elevation of serum E2 level and reduction of serum AMH, PG, LH and FSH levels in the PCOS rat model. WT1 was identified as a target gene of miR-199a-5p by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, and inhibition of miR-199a-5p resulted in the activation of WT1-mediated JAK/STAT3 pathway. The activated JAK/STAT3 pathway suppressed the development of PCOS by miR-199a-5p, indicating a mechanism by which miR-199a-5p could potentially prevent PCOS through the WT1-mediated JAK/STAT3 pathway.

FoxA2 and p53 regulate the transcription of HSD17B1 in ovarian granulosa cells of pigs

The oestrogens have been highly implicated in the fertility of female animals. It is widely known that the oestrogens are primarily synthetized by the ovarian granulosa cells (GCs), and the final and essential step of this process is to catalyse the oestrone to the more active oestradiol by the protein coded by hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 1 (HSD17B1) gene. However, the molecular mechanism regarding the transcription of HSD17B1 remains to be fully elucidated in ovarian GCs. In this study, the 5'-deletion, luciferase assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) were utilized to explore the molecular regulation of transcription of HSD17B1 with the porcine ovarian GCs as the cellular model. After the deletions with -2105 to -1754 bp, -1753 to -1429 bp, -1430 to -1081 bp and -1082 to -730 bp, the relative luciferase activity of HSD17B1 promoter did not change significantly, but the deletion of -731 to -332 bp significantly increased the relative luciferase activity of HSD17B1 promoter, and an insertion (GTTT) that might raise the transcription of HSD17B1 was identified at -401 bp of HSD17B1. These findings suggested the region from -731 to +38 bp was the core promoter of HSD17B1, and the region between -731 to -332 bp might be a silence element for HSD17B1. Furthermore, the forkhead box A2 (FoxA2) directly bound at -412 to -401 bp to negatively but p53 bound at -383 to -374 bp to positively regulate the transcription and translation of HSD17B1 in ovarian GCs. These findings will improve our understanding on HSD17B1-mediated oestrogens and provide useful information for further investigations into fertility of females.

Plumbagin inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells in polycystic ovary syndrome by inactivating PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is recognized as a general endocrine disease and reproductive disorder. Although evidence indicates that PCOS has a complex etiology and genetic basis, the pathogenic mechanisms and signal pathway in PCOS remain unclear. In this study, the normal structure of follicle and corpus luteum were observed, and no cyst nor hyperemia was observed under the light microscopic study with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Eestosterone and progesterone were evaluated by radioimmunoassay in rat serum. The alterations of proliferative ability and cell cycle distribution of each group were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay and flow cytometry. The protein expression of p-mTOR/mTOR, p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT/AKT, and GAPDH were analyzed by western blotting. Both doses of PLB could benefit the ovarian morphology and polycystic property. PLBinduced a suppress effect on the proliferation of rat ovarian granulosa cells. In addition, PLB also induced concentration-dependent apoptosis in rat ovarian granulosa cells. The rat ovarian granulosa cells treated with PLB that the expression levels of p-AKT, p-mTOR, and p-PI3K were significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. PLB not only plays a critical role in attenuating the pathology and polycystic property changes in the ovary but can also induce rat ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal pathway. This study showed the innovative role of PLB in the pathogenesis of PCOS and provides a new therapeutic modality for the treatment of PCOS.

MicroRNA-204-5p regulates apoptosis by targeting Bcl2 in rat ovarian granulosa cells exposed to cadmium†

This study aimed to investigate whether cadmium (Cd) cytotoxicity in rat ovarian granulosa cells (OGCs) is mediated through apoptosis or autophagy and to determine the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in Cd cytotoxicity. To test this hypothesis, rat OGCs were exposed to 0, 10, and 20 μM CdCl2 in vitro. As the Cd concentration increased, OGC apoptosis increased. In addition, Cd promoted apoptosis by decreasing the mRNA and protein expression levels of inhibition of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2). However, under our experimental conditions, no autophagic changes in rat OGCs were observed, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of the autophagic markers microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha (Map1lc3b) and Beclin1 (Becn1) were not changed. Microarray chip analysis, miRNA screening, and bioinformatics approaches were used to further explore the roles of apoptosis regulation-related miRNAs. In total, 19 miRNAs putatively related to Cd-induced apoptosis in rat OGCs were identified. Notably, miR-204-5p, which may target Bcl2, was identified. Then, rat OGCs were cultured in vitro and used to construct the miR-204-5p-knockdown cell line LV2-short hairpin RNA (shRNA). LV2-shRNA cells were exposed to 20 μM Cd for 12 h, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of Bcl2 were increased. Our findings suggest that Cd is cytotoxic to rat OGCs, and mitochondrial apoptosis rather than autophagy mediates Cd-induced damage to OGCs. Cd also affects apoptosis-related miRNAs, and the underlying apoptotic mechanism may involve the Bcl2 gene.

Hyperandrogen enhances apoptosis of human ovarian granulosa cells via up-regulation and demethylation of PDCD4

Apoptosis of granulosa cells (GCs) induced by hyperandrogen plays a key role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the mechanism of androgen-induced apoptosis of GCs has not been clarified to date. Recent studies have reported that PDCD4 expression is higher in PCOS patients and might be a key factor in PCOS progression. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of PDCD4 in regulating apoptosis of human GCs and whether hyperandrogen regulate PDCD4 expression through DNA methylation. Overexpression of PDCD4 in human ovarian granulosa cell line KGN cells promoted cells apoptosis. Meanwhile, expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were significantly elevated. High concentration of testosterone treatment resulted in up-regulation of PDCD4 and a significant increase of apoptosis in KGN cells. In addition, knockdown of PDCD4 in KGN cells treated with high concentration of testosterone abolished the hyperandrogen-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, high concentration of testosterone down-regulated DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B expression and the methylation level in the promoter region of PDCD4 was decreased. In conclusion, PDCD4 can promote apoptosis of human ovarian GCs. The mechanism of hyperandrogen-induced apoptosis may be mediated by PDCD4. Furthermore, the up-regulation of PDCD4 induced by hyperandrogen may through demethylation of its promoter regions.

lncRNA PVT1/MicroRNA-17-5p/PTEN Axis Regulates Secretion of E2 and P4, Proliferation, and Apoptosis of Ovarian Granulosa Cells in PCOS

Recently, the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were identified in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In the present study, we investigated the role of the lncRNA PVT1/miR-17-5p/PTEN axis in PCOS ovarian granulosa cells. Expression of PVT1, miR-17-5p and PTEN in PCOS ovarian granulosa cells and follicular fluid was detected, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and the levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (FINS), and sex hormones were assessed. Then, the proliferation, apoptosis, and colony formation ability of ovarian granulosa cells were evaluated. The binding relationship between PVT1 and miR-17-5p as well as the target relationship between miR-17-5p and PTEN were determined by bioinformatics analysis, luciferase activity assay, RNA-induced silencing complex assay, and RNA pull-down assay. The levels of sex hormone-binding globulin and follicle-stimulating hormone were abated and the levels of luteinizing hormone, testosterone, FINS, FPG, and HOMA-IR were increased in PCOS serum. PVT1 and PTEN were overexpressed and miR-17-5p was reduced in PCOS ovarian granulosa cells and follicular fluid. Overexpressed miR-17-5p and inhibited PVT1 could decelerate apoptosis while accelerating colony formation ability and proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells in PCOS. Moreover, overexpression of PVT1 and reduced miR-17-5p could reverse these results. There existed target relation among PVT1, miR-17-5p, and PTEN, and PVT1 could inhibit miR-17-5p, thereby elevating PTEN. Our study suggests that inhibited PVT1 and overexpressed miR-17-5p result in downregulation of PTEN and promotion of cell proliferation, as well as inhibition of apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells in PCOS.

The direct effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone on proliferation of granulosa cells and development of follicles in goose

1. The study objectives were to determine the direct effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on the proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) and the development of follicles in geese (Anser cygnoides) by colorimetry and ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) cell proliferation assays, in which primary GCs were treated with different concentrations of GnRH agonist (alarelin acetate) and an antagonist (cetrorelix acetate). Differently expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by RNA-sequencing and validated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting. 2. The EdU assays showed that the proliferation of GCs was affected by the GnRH agonist and antagonist in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of treatment on cell proliferation was statistically significant at the concentrations of 10^-5 mol/l alarelin and 1 mg/l cetrorelix acetate. A total of 134 DEGs (76 downregulated and 58 upregulated for alarelin treatment) and 226 DEGs (90 downregulated and 136 upregulated for cetrorelix) were identified by RNA-sequencing analysis, respectively. Enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs were enriched in the GO terms of cell-cell signalling and cell junctions. The pathways that regulate the development of follicles were identified, including the biological progress of cAMP accumulation, ovulation cycle and vasculature that are essential to follicular selection. 3. The results suggested that GnRH might directly regulate GC proliferation via autocrine or paracrine pathways related to cell junctions. In particular, it was confirmed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of the oestrogen receptor 2 (ESR2) gene, a negative transcription factor involved in follicular maturation and ovulation, were affected by GnRH agonist or antagonist in GCs. 4. In conclusion, GnRH might play an important role in follicular development by changing the expression of genes that participate in cAMP accumulation, ovulation cycle and cell junctions in ovarian GCs.

P65 Targets FGFR1 to Regulate the Survival of Ovarian Granulosa Cells

In female mammals, the abnormal apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) impairs follicular development and causes reproductive dysfunction. Many studies have indicated that the FGFR1 gene of the PI3K signaling pathway and the p65 subunit of the transcription factor NF-κB may regulate the proliferation and apoptosis of GCs involved in follicular development. However, little is known about whether p65 regulates the transcription of FGFR1, as well as the biological effects of p65 and FGFR1 on the survival of GCs and follicular development. In porcine follicles and GCs, we found that p65 and FGFR1 were exclusively expressed in the GCs of follicles, and the mRNA and protein levels of p65 and FGFR1 significantly increased from small to large follicles. Both p65 and FGFR1 were found to activate the PI3K signaling pathway, and the expressions of proliferation markers (PCNA and MKI67) and the anti-apoptotic gene BCL2 were significantly increased by p65 and FGFR1. Furthermore, both p65 and FGFR1 were observed to promote cell proliferation and inhibit the cell apoptosis of GCs, and p65 was confirmed to bind at the −348/−338 region of FGFR1 to positively regulate its transcription. Moreover, p65 was further found to enhance the pro-proliferation and anti-apoptotic effects of FGFR1. Taken together, p65 may target the −348/−338 region of FGFR1, promote the transcription of FGFR1, and enhance the pro-proliferation effect and anti-apoptotic effect of FGFR1 to facilitate the growth of follicles. This study will provide useful information for further investigations on the p65-mediated-FGFR1 signaling pathway during folliculogenesis in mammals.

Toll-like receptors and high mobility group box 1 in granulosa cells during bovine follicle maturation

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are present in the ovaries and reproductive tract of various mammals. The biological function of TLR during ovulation is one of the main contents in the research of reproductive immunology. In this study, we found that messenger RNA levels of TLR1-TLR10 in granulosa cells were different, and TLRs and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in granulosa cells of large follicles were significantly higher than those of small and middle follicles. Coimmunoprecipitation results showed that HMGB1 interacts with TLR2 in granulosa cells, especially large follicles. The result of immunohistochemistry showed that TLRs and HMGB1 were present in granulosa cell layer of ovarian follicles. We also found 25 mIU/ml follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) significantly upregulated the expression of TLRs and HMGB1. These results suggest that TLR2/4 and HMGB1 in granulosa cells may be involved in the ovarian innate immune and ovarian follicular maturation, regulated by FSH. However, further research of the function and mechanisms of TLRs and HMGB1 in granulosa cells are needed.

MiR-204 suppresses cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis in ovarian granulosa cells via targeting TPT1 in polycystic ovary syndrome

MicroRNA (miR)-204 is known to be associated with several different diseases. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has the highest incidence rate among the endocrine disorders in females between the ages of 18 and 44. We aimed to illustrate the miR-204 function in PCOS. MiR-204 expression levels in tissue and cell were examined through RT-qPCR. Colony formation assay and MTT assay were applied to detect the cell viability. Flow cytometry was employed to examine the apoptosis and cell cycle in cells. RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation assay and luciferase reporter assay were provided to demonstrate the direct interaction between translationally controlled tumor protein (TPT1) and miR-204. The expression of miR-204 was declined in KGN cells and ovarian cortex tissues of PCOS patients. MiR-204 enhanced the colony formation capacity and cell proliferation in KGN cells. Cell cycle and apoptosis were also influenced by miR-204. Since miR-204 has direct interaction with TPT1, TPT1 overexpression suppressed the miR-204-induced apoptosis and cell cycle alteration in KGN cells. MiR-204 inhibits the cell viability and induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest by directly interacting with TPT1, indicating a role of miR-204 to be a potential target in the PCOS patients.

MicroRNA-125b controls growth of ovarian granulosa cells in polycystic ovarian syndrome by modulating cyclin B1 expression

Introduction

There is a lot of evidence that suggests that microRNAs (miRs) play an imperative role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study was designed to decipher the role of miR-125b in PCOS pathogenesis.

Material and methods

Expression analysis of miR-125b was determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and the KGN ovarian granulosa cell viability was examined by CCK-8 assay. DAPI assay and flow cytometry were carried out for the detection of apoptosis and cell cycle distribution respectively. Protein levels were checked by immunoblotting.

Results

The miR-125b transcript levels were considerably high in polycystic ovaries and ovarian granulosa KGN cells. The inhibition of miR-125b expression decreased the viability of the KGN cells by arresting the cells at the G2/M check point. Target Scan analysis revealed cyclin B1 as the target of miR-125b and suppression of miR-125b caused considerable up-regulation of cyclin B1 expression. Like miR-125b inhibition, cyclin B1 silencing also inhibited the KGN cell viability via G2/M arrest. Ectopic expression of miR-125b was unable to nullify the effects of cyclin-B silencing on KGN cell viability but the overexpression of cyclin B1 nullified the effects of the miR-125b suppression on KGN cell proliferation.

Conclusions

Since miR-125b controls the proliferation rate of granulosa cells in polycystic ovaries, it might be addressed as a potential therapeutic target for PCOS patients.

Dehydroepiandrosterone stimulates inflammation and impairs ovarian functions of polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common causes of infertility in child-bearing-age women. It is characterized by ovulation dysfunction, polycystic ovaries, and hyperandrogenism. Inflammation is likely to be a crucial contributor to the pathogenesis of PCOS. However, the association between the inflammatory cytokines and the development of PCOS has not been reported. To explore the relationship between the inflammatory cytokines and PCOS, alterations of serum proteins in dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced PCOS rats were screened by protein array, and the concentration of IFN-γ was further measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). DHEA-induced PCOS rats had a decreased level of IFN-γ compared with the control rats, which was restored partly in flutamide (an androgen receptor antagonist)-treated rats. Moreover, the level of IFN-γ in serum of patients with PCOS was also lower than that in healthy women. Using the ovarian granulosa cells (KGN), we demonstrated that DHEA downregulated the expression and secretion of IFN-γ in dose- and time-dependent manners, which could be restored to some extent by treating with flutamide. Furthermore, flutamide ameliorated the inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and promotive effect on cell apoptosis by DHEA. The results also revealed that IFN-γ promoted the proliferation but inhibited the apoptosis of KGN cells, which was suppressed by DHEA via activating the downstream PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Taken together, these results showed that DHEA inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells through downregulating the expression of IFN-γ which could be restored by flutamide, and IFN-γ may serve as a potential inflammatory biomarker for PCOS detection.

Molecular mechanism of mercuric chloride inhibiting progesterone secretion in ovarian granulosa cells of laying hens

This study investigated the effect of mercury (Hg) on progesterone secretion in ovarian granulosa cells of laying hens. The gene expressions of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage (P450scc) and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway and intracellular calcium ion (Ca²⁺ ) were further investigated to uncover the molecular mechanism. Results revealed that the cell viability was gradually decreased after Hg exposure from 0 to 24 hr. Besides, progesterone secretion was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) as the concentration of Hg increased from 0 to 4 μM followed by a plateau in 6 μM Hg group at 12-hr time point. Compared with 0 μM Hg group, 4 and 6 μM Hg for 48 hr had significantly decreased progesterone secretion (p < 0.05), while Hg exposure for 6 and 24 hr had no apparent effect on progesterone secretion. In addition, positive correlations occurred among intracellular progesterone, cAMP, PKA, mRNA expressions of StAR, P450scc and 3β-HSD at 12-h and 24-h time points. On the contrary, intracellular Ca²⁺ level was negatively related to cAMP level at 6 time point and was negatively correlated with progesterone and PKA level at 48 time point. It could be concluded that Hg dose- and time-dependently inhibited progesterone secretion by means of attenuating cAMP-PKA signal pathway, gene expressions of StAR, P450scc and 3β-HSD and enhancing intracellular Ca²⁺ in ovarian granulosa cells of laying hens.

Cytochrome P450 family proteins as potential biomarkers for ovarian granulosa cell damage in mice with premature ovarian failure

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is the pathological aging of ovarian tissue. We have previously established a cyclophosphamide-induced mouse POF model and found that cyclophosphamide caused significant damage and apoptosis of mouse ovarian granulosa cells (mOGCs). To systematically explore the molecular biologic evidence of cyclophosphamide-induced mOGC damage at the gene transcription level, RNA-Seqwas used to analyse the differences in mOGC transcriptomes between POF and control (PBS) mice. The sequencing results showed that there were 18765 differential transcription genes between the two groups, of which 192 were significantly up-regulated (log2 [POF/PBS] > 2.0) and 116 were significantly down-regulated (log2 [POF/PBS] < -4.0). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis found that the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway was significantly up-regulated and metabolic pathways were significantly down-regulated in the POF group. Gene Ontology analysis showed that the expression of plasma membrane, regulation of transcription and ion binding functions were significantly up-regulated in the POF group, while the expression of cell and cell parts, catalytic activity and single-organism process functions were significantly down-regulated. Finally, protein interaction analysis reveals that in the ovarian steroidogenesis pathway, three Cytochrome P450 family proteins-Cyp1a1, Cyp11a1 and Cyp2u1-interact with Fdx1 to form an interactive network. These three proteins were down-regulated in POF cells, suggesting that they are likely direct regulatory targets of cyclophosphamide. RNA-Seq high-throughput screening analysis demonstrated that cyclophosphamide damage to mOGCs was achieved through its impacts on multiple pathways and on the transcription activities of multiple target genes. Among them, the protein network consisting of the cytochrome P450 family Fdx1, Cyp17a1, Cyp11a1 and Cyp2u1 is a potential new biomarker of mOGC damage in POF in mice.

C/EBPβ Promotes STAT3 Expression and Affects Cell Apoptosis and Proliferation in Porcine Ovarian Granulosa Cells

Previous studies suggest that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPβ) play an essential role in ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) for mammalian follicular development. Several C/EBPβ putative binding sites were previously predicted on the STAT3 promoter in mammals. However, the molecular regulation of C/EBPβ on STAT3 and their effects on cell proliferation and apoptosis remain virtually unexplored in GCs. Using porcine GCs as a model, the 5′-deletion, luciferase report assay, mutation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, Annexin-V/PI staining and EdU assays were applied to investigate the molecular mechanism for C/EBPβ regulating the expression of STAT3 and their effects on the cell proliferation and apoptosis ability. We found that over and interfering with the expression of C/EBPβ significantly increased and decreased the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of STAT3, respectively. The dual luciferase reporter assay showed that C/EBPβ directly bound at −1397/−1387 of STAT3 to positively regulate the mRNA and protein expressions of STAT3. Both C/EBPβ and STAT3 were observed to inhibit cell apoptosis and promote cell proliferation. Furthermore, C/EBPβ might enhance the antiapoptotic and pro-proliferative effects of STAT3. These results would be of great insight in further exploring the molecular mechanism of C/EBPβ and STAT3 on the function of GCs and the development of ovarian follicles in mammals.

Identification of Steroidogenic Components Derived From Gardenia jasminoides Ellis Potentially Useful for Treating Postmenopausal Syndrome

Estrogen-stimulating principles have been demonstrated to relieve postmenopausal syndrome effectively. Gardenia jasminoides Ellis (GJE) is an herbal medicine possessing multiple pharmacological effects on human health with low toxicity. However, the therapeutic effects of GJE on the management of postmenopausal syndrome and its mechanism of action have not been fully elucidated. In this study, network pharmacology-based approaches were employed to examine steroidogenesis under the influence of GJE. In addition, the possibility of toxicity of GJE was ruled out and four probable active compounds were predicted. In parallel, a chromatographic fraction of GJE with estrogen-stimulating effect was identified and nine major compounds were isolated from this active fraction. Among the nine compounds, four of them were identified by network pharmacology, validating the use of network pharmacology to predict active compounds. Then the phenotypic approaches were utilized to verify that rutin, chlorogenic acid (CGA) and geniposidic acid (GA) exerted an estrogen-stimulating effect on ovarian granulosa cells. Furthermore, the results of target-based approaches indicated that rutin, CGA, and GA could up-regulate the FSHR-aromatase pathway in ovarian granulosa cells. The stimulation of estrogen production by rat ovarian granulosa cells under the influence of the three compounds underwent a decline when the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) was blocked by antibodies against the receptor, indicating the involvement of FSHR in the estradiol-stimulating activity of the three compounds. The effects of the three compounds on estrogen biosynthesis- related gene expression level were further confirmed by Western blot assay. Importantly, the MTT results showed that exposure of breast cancer cells to the three compounds resulted in reduction of cell viability, demonstrating the cytotoxicity of the three compounds. Collectively, rutin, chlorogenic acid and geniposidic acid may contribute to the therapeutic potential of GJE for the treatment of postmenopausal syndrome.

The influence of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone on steroid hormone production by porcine ovarian granulosa cells in vitro

Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) are frequently occurring in feed of pigs together. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible in vitro effects of DON and ZEA, alone or their combination on steroid secretion of porcine ovarian granulosa cells (GCs). A species-specific model with porcine ovarian GCs was used to study the potential endocrine disrupting effects of DON and ZEA alone and in co-exposure. Progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results of this study demonstrate that DON alone at the higher concentrations may act to stimulate P4 (at 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 and 5,000 ng mL^-1 but not 10 and 100 ng mL^-1) and E2 (at 2,000, 3,000 and 5,000 ng mL^-1 but not 10, 100 and 1000 ng mL^-1) secretion. The effects of ZEA on P4 and E2 secretion were not confirmed. DON in combination with the other fusariotoxin ZEA may impair steroidogenesis. Results aslo demonstrate different toxicological effects of fusariotoxins on follicle stimulating hormone-induced secretion of P4 and E2. All these results taken together suggest that fusariotoxin and their interactions can impact ovarian steroidogenesis, thereby demonstrating their potential reproductive effects in pigs.

MicroRNA-141-3p targets DAPK1 and inhibits apoptosis in rat ovarian granulosa cells

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex and heterogeneous endocrine disorder. MicroRNAs negatively regulate the expression of target genes at posttranscriptional level by binding to the 3' untranslated region of target genes. Our previous study showed that miR-141-3p was dramatically decreased in the ovaries of rat PCOS models. In this study, we aimed to characterize the target of miR-141-3p in rat ovarian granulosa cells. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-Yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay showed that cell viability was dramatically increased when miR-141-3p was overexpressed but was decreased when miR-141-3p was interfered. Flow cytometry showed that cell apoptotic rate was dramatically decreased when miR-141-3p was overexpressed but was increased when miR-141-3p was interfered. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) might be the target gene of miR-141-3p because the 3' untranslated region of DAPK1 contains sequences complementary to microRNA-141-3p. Transfection with miR-141-3p mimics and inhibitor into granulosa cells showed that both DAPK1 mRNA and protein levels were negatively correlated with miR-141-3p level. Dual-luciferase reporter assay established that DAPK1 was the target of miR-141-3p. Taken together, our data indicate that miR-141-3p may inhibit ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis via targeting DAPK1 and is involved in the etiology of PCOS.

Ferroportin mRNA is down-regulated in granulosa and cervical cells from infertile women

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between iron and infertility by investigating iron-related gene expression in granulosa and uterine cervical cells.

DESIGN

Case-control study.

SETTING

Two tertiary hospitals.

PATIENT(S)

Two independent cohorts of fertile (n = 18 and n = 17) and infertile (n = 31 and n = 35) women.

INTERVENTION(S)

In vitro fertilization.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Gene expression levels of ferritin light chain (FTL), ferritin heavy chain (FTH), transferrin receptor (TFRC), and ferroportin (SLC40A1) mRNA were analyzed in granulosa and cervical cells.

RESULT(S)

In the first cohort, fertile and infertile women were similar in body mass index. Ferroportin mRNA levels were decreased in granulosa cells from infertile women in parallel with increased serum hepcidin levels. A positive association between ferroportin and TFRC mRNA, a gene associated with intracellular iron deficiency, was observed only in granulosa cells from fertile women. The major findings were replicated in a second independent cohort.

CONCLUSION(S)

Ferroportin mRNAs and circulating hepcidin identify a subset of infertile women and may constitute a target for therapy.

Effect of mercury on porcine ovarian granulosa cells in vitro

The objective of this in vitro study was to examine dose-dependent changes in the secretion activity [progesterone (P4) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)] of porcine ovarian granulosa cells after experimental mercury (Hg) administration, including its apoptotic potential so as to ascertain the possible involvement of Hg in steroidogenesis. Ovarian granulosa cells were incubated with mercuric chloride [mercury (II) chloride or HgCl2] at the doses 50-250 μg mL(-1) for 18 h and compared with control group without Hg addition. Release of P4 and IGF-I by ovarian granulosa cells was assessed by RIA and apoptosis by TUNEL assay. Observations show that P4 release by granulosa cells was significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited at all the doses, while IGF-I release was not affected at any of the doses used, although a decreasing trend in the release of IGF-I was noted in comparison to control. An increasing trend of apoptosis of granulosa cells was noted, the difference being significant (P < 0.05) only at the dose 130 μg mL(-1) HgCl2, in comparison to control. Obtained data suggest a direct effect of Hg on the release of steroid hormone progesterone but not growth factor IGF-I, and a dose-dependent effect on apoptosis of porcine ovarian granulosa cells. Results indicate the interference of Hg in the pathways of steroidogenesis and apoptosis of porcine ovarian granulosa cells.

Establishment and characterization of an ovarian cell line from half-smooth tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis

A new ovarian cell line, CSO, was established from half-smooth tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis. Primary culture of CSO cells was initiated from digestion of ovarian tissues pieces by trypsin solution and cultured at 24° C in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium-F12 medium (DMEM-F12, 1:1) (pH 7·0), supplemented with 20% foetal bovine serum, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). The cultured CSO cells, fibroblastic in morphology, proliferated to 100% confluency 3 days later and had been subcultured to passage 80. Chromosome analyses indicated that the CSO cells exhibited chromosomal aneuploidy with a modal chromosome number of 42 that displayed the normal diploid karyotype of C. semilaevis [2n = 42 t, fundamental number (NF ) = 42]. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction revealed that CSO cells could express ovarian somatic cell functional genes p450armo, foxl2 and sox9a but not ovary germ cell marker gene vasa and male-specific gene dmrt1. Transfection experiment demonstrated that CSO cells transfected with pEGFP-N3 plasmid could express green fluorescence protein (GFP) with higher transfection efficiency. The CSO cell line might serve as a valuable tool for studies on the mechanism of sex determination and oogenesis of ovary in flatfish.

High concentration of insulin promotes apoptosis of primary cultured rat ovarian granulosa cells via its increase in extracellular HMGB1

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. Insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia is a prevalent finding in women with PCOS, which indicates that insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia may be an important player in the pathogenesis of the PCOS. However, the underlying mechanism of insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia on the pathogenesis of the PCOS remains elusive. In this study, we found an increased high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in the serum from women with PCOS having insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia. Furthermore, we discovered that high concentration of insulin, which mimics insulin resistance model, promoted apoptosis in primary cultured rat ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) via its effect on the increase in extracellular HMGB1. Our data presented the first evidence that increased HMGB1 induced by insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia promoted apoptosis of ovarian GCs, which provided new molecular basis for the PCOS pathogenesis.