scholarly journals Growth hormone activates PI3K/Akt signaling and inhibits ROS accumulation and apoptosis in granulosa cells of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Gong ◽  
Shan Luo ◽  
Ping Fan ◽  
Huili Zhu ◽  
Yujing Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background It is reported that growth hormone (GH) can alleviate oxidative stress (OS) induced apoptosis in some types of cells by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. This study investigated the role and underlying mechanism of GH in OS and apoptosis in granulosa cells (GCs) of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods Primary GCs were collected from patients with and without PCOS (controls, n = 32) during oocyte retrieval. The patients with PCOS were randomly assigned to take GH treatment (PCOS-GH, n = 30) or without GH treatment (PCOS-C, n = 31). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was determined by spectrophotometry and fluorescence microscopy. GC apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining and JC-1 staining, respectively (flow cytometry). The expression of apoptosis-related genes and proteins involved in PI3K/Akt signaling was determined by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, while active caspase-9 and caspase-3 levels of GCs were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Our study found that in GCs of the PCOS-GH group, the ROS levels and apoptotic rates were significantly decreased, whereas MMP was significantly increased when compared to those in the PCOS-C group (P < 0.05). The mRNA levels of FOXO1, Bax, caspase-9, and caspase-3 were significantly decreased, whereas Bcl-2 was increased in GCs of the PCOS-GH group than those in the PCOS-C group (P < 0.05). The protein levels of FOXO1, Bax, cleaved caspase-9/caspase-9 and cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 were decreased, whereas p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, p-FOXO1 and Bcl-2 were increased in GCs of the PCOS-GH group, compared with those in the PCOS-C group (P < 0.05). Conclusion OS induced apoptosis and downregulated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in patients with PCOS. GH could alleviate apoptosis and activate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Clinical trial registration number Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. ChiCTR1800019437. Prospectively registered on October 20, 2018.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Gong ◽  
Shan Luo ◽  
Ping Fan ◽  
Huili Zhu ◽  
Yujing Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Growth hormone (GH) can reduce oxidative stress (OS) induced apoptosis in some types of cells by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. This study investigated the role and underlying mechanism of GH in OS and apoptosis in GCs of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: Primary GCs were collected from patients with and without PCOS (controls, n = 32) during oocyte retrieval. The patients with PCOS were randomly assigned to receive treatment with GH (PCOS-GH, n = 30) or without GH (PCOS-C, n = 31). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was determined by spectrophotometry and fluorescence microscopy. GC apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining and JC-1 staining, respectively (flow cytometry). The expression of apoptosis-related genes and proteins involved in PI3K/Akt signaling was determined by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, while active caspase-9 and caspase-3 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Result(s): The present study found that compared with those in the non-PCOS and PCOS-GH groups, the ROS levels and apoptotic rates were significantly increased, whereas MMP was significantly decreased in the PCOS-C group GCs (P < 0.05). Compared with those in non-PCOS and PCOS-GH groups, mRNA levels of FOXO1, Bax, caspase-9, and caspase-3 were significantly increased, whereas Bcl-2 was decreased in the GCs of the PCOS-C group (P < 0.05). The protein levels of FOXO1, Bax, cleaved caspase-9/caspase-9 and cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 were increased, whereas p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, p-FOXO1 and Bcl-2 were decreased in the GCs of the PCOS-C group, compared with those in the non-PCOS and PCOS-GH groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: OS induced apoptosis and inactivated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in patients with PCOS. GH could improve apoptosis and activate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.Clinical Trial Registration Number: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx). ChiCTR1800019437. Prospectively registered on October 20, 2018, http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=28663&htm= 4


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 646-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiantian Li ◽  
Hui Mo ◽  
Wenfeng Chen ◽  
Li Li ◽  
Yao Xiao ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luqian Liu ◽  
Meijuan Yan ◽  
Rui Yang ◽  
Xuqing Qin ◽  
Ling Chen ◽  
...  

Cardiomyocyte apoptosis is a crucial factor leading to myocardial dysfunction. Adiponectin (APN) has a cardiomyocyte-protective impact. Studies have shown that the connexin43 (Cx43) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathways play an important role in the heart, but whether APN plays a protective role by regulating these pathways is unclear. Our study aimed to confirm whether APN protects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and to explore whether it plays an important role through regulating the Cx43 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. In addition, our research aimed to explore the relationship between the Cx43 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. In vitro experiments: Before H9c2 cells were treated with LPS for 24 h, they were pre-treated with APN for 2 h. The cytotoxic effect of APN on H9c2 cells was evaluated by a CCK-8 assay. The protein levels of Bax, Bcl2, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, Cx43, PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT and p-AKT were evaluated by Western blot analysis, and the apoptosis rate was evaluated by flow cytometry. APN attenuated the cytotoxicity induced by LPS. LPS upregulated Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 and downregulated Bcl2 in H9c2 cells; however, these effects were attenuated by APN. In addition, LPS upregulated Cx43 expression, and APN downregulated Cx43 expression and activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. LPS induced apoptosis and inhibited PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in H9c2 cells, and these effects were attenuated by Gap26 (a Cx43 inhibitor). Moreover, the preservation of APN expression was reversed by LY294002 (a PI3K/AKT signaling pathway inhibitor). In vivo experiments: In C57BL/6J mice, a sepsis model was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS, and APN was injected into enterocoelia. The protein levels of Bax, Bcl2, cleaved caspase-3, and Cx43 were evaluated by Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect Cx43 expression and localization in myocardial tissue. LPS upregulated Bax and cleaved caspase-3 and downregulated Bcl2 in sepsis; however, these effects were attenuated by APN. In addition, the expression of Cx43 was upregulated in septic myocardial tissue, and APN downregulated Cx43 expression in septic myocardial tissue. In conclusion, both in vitro and in vivo, the data demonstrated that APN can protect against LPS-induced apoptosis during sepsis by modifying the Cx43 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Gao ◽  
Jingya Dai ◽  
Guifang Li ◽  
Xinya Dai

Abstract Objective In this work, we investigated the effects of gambogic acid (GA) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced apoptosis and inflammation in a cell model of neonatal pneumonia. Method Human WI-38 cells were maintained in vitro and incubated with various concentrations of GA to examine WI-38 survival. GA-preincubated WI-38 cells were then treated with LPS to investigate the protective effects of GA on LPS-induced death, apoptosis and inflammation. Western blot assay was utilized to analyze the effect of GA on tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) signaling pathway in LPS-treated WI-38 cells. In addition, human AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (Akt) gene was knocked down in WI-38 cells to further investigate the associated genetic mechanisms of GA in protecting LPS-induced inflammation and apoptosis. Results Pre-incubating WI-38 cells with low and medium concentrations GA protected LPS-induced cell death, apoptosis and inflammatory protein productions of IL-6 and MCP-1. Using western blot assay, it was demonstrated that GA promoted TrkA phosphorylation and Akt activation in LPS-treated WI-38 cells. Knocking down Akt gene in WI-38 cells showed that GA-associated protections against LPS-induced apoptosis and inflammation were significantly reduced. Conclusions GA protected LPS-induced apoptosis and inflammation, possibly through the activations of TrkA and Akt signaling pathway. This work may broaden our understanding on the molecular mechanisms of human neonatal pneumonia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongyong Yang ◽  
Yanqing Wang ◽  
Yajing Zheng ◽  
Fangfang Dai ◽  
Shiyi Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal disorder among reproductive-aged women worldwide, however, the mechanisms and progression of PCOS still unclear due to its heterogeneous nature. Using the human granulosa-like tumor cell line (KGN) and PCOS mice model, we explored the function of lncRNA UCA1 in the pathological progression of PCOS. Results CCK8 assay and Flow cytometry were used to do the cell cycle, apoptosis and proliferation analysis, the results showed that UCA1 knockdown in KGN cells inhibited cell proliferation by blocking cell cycle progression and promoted cell apoptosis. In the in vivo experiment, the ovary of PCOS mice was injected with lentivirus carrying sh-UCA1, the results showed that knockdown of lncRNA UCA1 attenuated the ovary structural damage, increased the number of granular cells, inhibited serum insulin and testosterone release, and reduced the pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Western blot also revealed that UCA1 knockdown in PCOS mice repressed AKT activation, inhibitor experiment demonstrated that suppression of AKT signaling pathway, inhibited the cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. Conclusions Our study revealed that, in vitro, UCA1 knockdown influenced the apoptosis and proliferation of KGN cells, in vivo, silencing of UCA1 regulated the ovary structural damage, serum insulin release, pro-inflammatory production, and AKT signaling pathway activation, suggesting lncRNA UCA1 plays an important role in the pathological progression of PCOS.


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