scholarly journals IL-6 Up-Regulates the Expression of Rat LH Receptors during Granulosa Cell Differentiation

Endocrinology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 155 (4) ◽  
pp. 1436-1444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fumiharu Imai ◽  
Hiroshi Kishi ◽  
Kohshiro Nakao ◽  
Toshio Nishimura ◽  
Takashi Minegishi

IL-6 is produced in granulosa cells under normal physiological conditions, including during ovulation. However, the roles of IL-6 in ovarian function, including regulation of LH receptor (LHR) expression in granulosa cells, have not been explored in detail. The aim of this study was to identify the mechanism underlying the effect of IL-6 on LHR expression in the granulosa cells of female Wistar rats. Our results indicated that IL-6 clearly enhanced the FSH-induced LHR mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner and did not stimulate cAMP accumulation by itself. The membrane protein level of LHR, assessed by a binding assay, was increased by FSH and was further enhanced by association with IL-6. Results of the luciferase assay, using promoter constructs of LHR 281 bp upstream of the translational start site, revealed that IL-6 increased the promoter activity induced by FSH, but this effect was not observed with treatment by IL-6 alone. This ability of IL-6 to enhance FSH-induced LHR mRNA expression was blocked by the Janus tyrosine kinase (JAK) pathway inhibitor, but not by the ERK1/2 inhibitor. Thus, we speculated that this IL-6 activity might be mediated by the JAK/signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway. In addition, IL-6 augmented FSH-induced IL-6 receptor α mRNA expression and FSH elevated IL-6 production in granulosa cells, which indicates that IL-6 may positively regulate paracrine and autocrine actions in granulosa cells. These results suggest that IL-6 up-regulates FSH-induced LHR production by increasing mRNA transcription, and JAK/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling is required for up-regulation by IL-6 in granulosa cells.

Endocrinology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 156 (9) ◽  
pp. 3192-3202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kohshiro Nakao ◽  
Hiroshi Kishi ◽  
Fumiharu Imai ◽  
Hiroto Suwa ◽  
Takashi Hirakawa ◽  
...  

Several inflammatory cytokines regulate ovarian function. TNF-α is produced in granulosa cells under physiological conditions and has a reciprocal action on follicle development. In contrast, in pelvic inflammatory diseases, TNF-α is excessively produced in the pelvic cavity and has an adverse effect on reproductive functions. The objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of action of TNF-α on the expression of LH receptor (LHR) in immature rat granulosa cells. TNF-α suppressed FSH-induced LHR mRNA and protein expression and was not associated with cAMP accumulation. By using a luciferase assay, the construct containing base pairs −1389 to −1 of the rat Lhcgr promoter revealed that TNF-α decreased FSH-induced promoter activity. In response to TNF-α, nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 was translocated to the nucleus, and the suppressive effect of TNF-α on LHR mRNA expression was abrogated by an NF-κB inhibitor. In a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, TNF-α induced the association of NF-κB p65 with the rat Lhcgr transcriptional promoter region. NF-κB p65 and histone deacetylase (HDAC) interact to mediate expression of several genes at a transcriptional level. HDAC activity is thought to induce tight connections within local chromatin structures and repress gene transcription. Furthermore, the TNF-α–induced suppression of LHR mRNA expression was blocked by an HDAC inhibitor. Taken together, these results suggest that the interaction of NF-κB p65 with HDAC in the promoter region of rat Lhcgr might be responsible for TNF-α action on the regulation of LHR.


Endocrinology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 149 (4) ◽  
pp. 1524-1533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sadatomo Ikeda ◽  
Kazuto Nakamura ◽  
Kayoko Kogure ◽  
Yuki Omori ◽  
Soichi Yamashita ◽  
...  

Estrogen has been considered to enhance FSH actions in the ovary, including the induction of the LH receptor (LHR). In this study, we elucidated the mechanism underlying the effect of estrogen on the induction of LHR by FSH in rat granulosa cells. Estradiol clearly enhanced the FSH-induced LHR mRNA increase in a time- and dose-dependent manner, with a maximum increase of approximately 3.5-fold at 72 h, compared with the level of LHR mRNA solely induced by FSH. We then investigated whether the effect of estrogen on LHR mRNA was due to increased transcription and/or altered mRNA stability. A luciferase assay with the plasmid containing the LHR 5′-flanking region did not show that estradiol increased the promoter activity induced by FSH. In contrast, the decay curves for LHR mRNA showed a significant increase in half-life with FSH and estradiol, suggesting that the increased stability of LHR mRNA is at least responsible for the regulation of LHR mRNA by estrogen. Recently mevalonate kinase (Mvk) was identified as a trans-factor that binds to LHR mRNA and alters LHR mRNA stability in the ovary. We found that estradiol, with FSH, decreased Mvk mRNA levels in rat granulosa cell culture, resulting in up-regulation of LHR mRNA that was inversely correlated to Mvk mRNA expression. Furthermore, the augmentation of FSH-induced LHR expression in the presence of estrogen was erased with the overexpression of Mvk by transient transfection. Taken together, these data indicate that LHR mRNA is up-regulated due to increased stability when estrogen negatively controls Mvk.


1994 ◽  
Vol 143 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
J G Gong ◽  
D McBride ◽  
T A Bramley ◽  
R Webb

Abstract Our previous studies have demonstrated that physiological concentrations of metabolic hormones, including recombinant bovine somatotrophin (BST), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin, can significantly stimulate the proliferation of bovine granulosa cells cultured under serum-free conditions. In this study we investigated the effects of these factors on bovine granulosa cell steroidogenesis using the same culture system. Bovine granulosa cells were obtained from antral follicles classified into three size classes: small, <5 mm; medium-sized, 5–10 mm and large, >10 mm in diameter. Whilst not affecting steroidogenesis by granulosa cells from small and medium-sized follicles, BST (10–1000 ng/ml) stimulated the secretion of both oestradiol and progesterone by granulosa cells from large follicles in a dose-dependent manner. Insulin (1–1000 ng/ml) and IGF-I (10–1000 ng/ml) stimulated the secretion of oestradiol and progesterone by granulosa cells from all three size categories of follicles in a dose-dependent manner. FSH (200 ng/ml) alone increased progesterone secretion by granulosa cells from all three size classes of follicles, but had no effect on oestradiol secretion by granulosa cells. Both IGF-I (200 ng/ml) and insulin (30 ng/ml) acted in synergy with FSH (200 ng/ml) to stimulate steroidogenesis by granulosa cells from all three size categories of follicles, but no such interaction was observed between BST (50 ng/ml) and FSH (200 ng/ml). In conclusion, BST, IGF-I and insulin significantly influence the steroidogenic activity of bovine granulosa cells cultured under serum-free conditions. However, unlike their effects on cell proliferation, the minimal effective concentrations of these factors required to stimulate granulosa cell steroidogenesis were higher than those observed in our previous studies in vivo. Journal of Endocrinology (1994) 143, 157–164


1998 ◽  
Vol 157 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
AE Calogero ◽  
N Burrello ◽  
AM Ossino

Endothelin (ET)-1 and ET-3, two peptides with a potent vasoconstrictive property, produce a variety of biological effects in different tissues by acting through two different receptors, the ET-1 selective ET(A) receptor and the non-selective ETB receptor. An increasing body of literature suggests that ET-1 acts as a paracrine/autocrine regulator of ovarian function. Indeed, ETB receptors have been identified in rat granulosa cells and ET-1 is a potent inhibitor of progesterone production. In contrast, inconsistent data have been reported about the role of ET-1 on estrogen production and the effects of ET-3 are not known. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of ET-1 and ET-3 on estrogen and cAMP production, and the receptor type involved. Given that prostanoids modulate ovarian steroidogenesis and that many actions of ETs are mediated by these compounds, we also evaluated whether the effects of ETs on estrogen and cAMP production might be prostanoid-mediated. ET-1, ET-3, and safarotoxin-S6c (SFX-S6c), a selective ETB receptor agonist, inhibited basal estrogen production by granulosa cells obtained from immature, estrogen-primed female rats, in a concentration-dependent manner. All three peptides were also capable of inhibiting the production of estrogen stimulated by a half-maximal (1 mIU/ml) and a maximally stimulatory (3 mIU/ml) concentration of FSH, ET-1 and ET-3 dose-dependently suppressed basal and FSH (1 mIU/ml)-stimulated cAMP production. ET-3 and SFX-S6c were significantly more potent than ET-1 in suppressing estrogen production, suggesting that this effect was not mediated by the ET(A) receptor. Indeed, BQ-123, a selective ET(A) receptor antagonist, did not influence the inhibitory effects of ET-1 and ET-3 on basal and FSH-stimulated estrogen release. To determine a possible involvement of prostanoids, we evaluated the effects of maximally effective concentrations of ET-1 and ET-3 on estrogen and cAMP production in the presence of indomethacin, a prostanoid synthesis inhibitor. This compound did not have any effect on the suppressive effects of ETs on basal or FSH (1 mIU/ml)-stimulated estrogen or cAMP production. In conclusion, ET-1 and ET-3 were able to inhibit estrogen and cAMP production by rat granulosa cells, indicating that the inhibitory effects of ETs on ovarian steroidogenesis are not limited to progesterone biosynthesis. This effect does not appear to be mediated by prostanoids or by the classical ET(A) and ETB receptors, at least under these experimental conditions.


Endocrinology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (3) ◽  
pp. 1280-1289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha A. Garside ◽  
Christopher R. Harlow ◽  
Stephen G. Hillier ◽  
Hamish M. Fraser ◽  
Fiona H. Thomas

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a putative antiangiogenic factor, but its role in regulating physiological angiogenesis is unclear. We have developed a novel in vitro angiogenesis assay to study the effect of TSP-1 on follicular angiogenesis and development. Intact preantral/early antral follicles dissected from 21-d-old rat ovaries were cultured for 6 d in the presence or absence of TSP-1. At the end of the culture period, angiogenic sprouting from the follicles was quantified using image analysis. Follicles were fixed and sectioned, and follicular apoptosis was assessed by immunohistochemistry for activated caspase-3 in granulosa cells. The results showed that TSP-1 inhibited follicular angiogenesis (P &lt; 0.01) and promoted follicular apoptosis (P &lt; 0.001) in a dose-dependent manner. To determine whether the proapoptotic activity of TSP-1 is mediated by direct effects on granulosa cells, isolated granulosa cells were cultured with TSP-1 (0, 10, 100, and 1000 ng/ml) for 48 h. Apoptosis was quantified using a luminescent caspase-3/7 assay. TSP-1 promoted apoptosis of granulosa cells in a dose-dependent manner (P &lt; 0.05), suggesting that TSP-1 can act independently of the angiogenesis pathway to promote follicular apoptosis. These results show that TSP-1 can both inhibit follicular angiogenesis and directly induce apoptosis of granulosa cells. As such, it may have potential as a therapeutic for abnormal ovarian angiogenesis and could facilitate the destruction of abnormal follicles observed in polycystic ovary syndrome.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 8864
Author(s):  
Hongxi Chen ◽  
Mohammad Amjad Hossain ◽  
Jong-Hoon Kim ◽  
Jae Youl Cho

Kahweol is a diterpene present in coffee. Until now, several studies have shown that kahweol has anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic functions. Due to the limited research available about skin protection, this study aims to discern the potential abilities of kahweol and the possible regulation targets. First, the cytotoxicity of kahweol was checked by 3-4-5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, while 2,20-azino-bis (3ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt and 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl were used to examine the radical scavenging ability. Polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to explore the proper time points and doses affecting skin hydration and barrier-related genes. Luciferase assay and Western blotting were used to explore the possible transcription factors. Finally, fludarabine (a STAT1 inhibitor) was chosen to discern the relationship between skin-moisturizing factors and STAT1. We found that HaCaT cells experienced no toxicity from kahweol, and kahweol displayed moderate radical scavenging ability. Moreover, kahweol increased the outcome of HAS1, HAS2, occludin, and TGM-1 from six hours in a dose-dependent manner as well as the activation of STAT1 from six hours. Additionally, kahweol recovered the suppression of HAS2, STAT1-mediated luciferase activity, and HA secretion, which was all downregulated by fludarabine. In this study, we demonstrated that kahweol promotes skin-moisturizing activities by upregulating STAT1.


Endocrinology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (10) ◽  
pp. 5030-5037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pradeep P. Kayampilly ◽  
Brett L. Wanamaker ◽  
James A. Stewart ◽  
Carrie L. Wagner ◽  
K. M. J. Menon

Elevated levels of 5α-reduced androgens have been shown to be associated with hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinemia, the leading causes of ovulatory dysfunction in women. 5α-Dihydrotestosterone reduces ovarian granulosa cell proliferation by inhibiting FSH-mediated mitogenic signaling pathways. The present study examined the effect of insulin on 5α-reductase, the enzyme that catalyses the conversion of androgens to their 5α-derivatives. Granulosa cells isolated from immature rat ovaries were cultured in serum-free, phenol red-free DMEM-F12 media and treated with different doses of insulin (0, 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 μg/ml) for different time intervals up to 12 h. The expression of 5α-reductase type 1 mRNA, the predominant isoform found in granulosa cells, showed a significant (P &lt; 0.05) increase in response to the insulin treatment up to 12 h compared with control. The catalytic activity of 5α-reductase enzyme was also stimulated in a dose-depended manner (P &lt; 0.05). Inhibiting the Akt-dependent signaling pathway abolished the insulin-mediated increase in 5α-reductase mRNA expression, whereas inhibition of the ERK-dependent pathway had no effect. The dose-dependent increase in 5α-reductase mRNA expression as well as catalytic activity seen in response to insulin treatment was also demonstrated in the human granulosa cell line (KGN). In addition to increased mRNA expression, a dose-dependent increase in 5α-reductase protein expression in response to insulin was also seen in KGN cells, which corroborated well with that of mRNA expression. These results suggest that elevated levels of 5α-reduced androgens seen in hyperinsulinemic conditions might be explained on the basis of a stimulatory effect of insulin on 5α-reductase in granulosa cells. The elevated levels of these metabolites, in turn, might adversely affect growth and proliferation of granulosa cells, thereby impairing follicle growth and ovulation.


Reproduction ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 132 (3) ◽  
pp. 511-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lihua Wen ◽  
Jesse Craig ◽  
Paul W Dyce ◽  
Julang Li

The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) protein is a member of the Stat family that has a variety of biological functions including cell growth, anti-apoptosis, and cell motility, depending on the cell type and stimulus. Recent studies have suggested that Stat3 plays an important role in embryo development. Although the Stat3 gene has been cloned in humans, mice, cow, and rats, its sequence in pigs is unknown. In the present study, the 2476 bp Stat3 cDNA was cloned using real time reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR. Comparison of sequences across species revealed that the porcine Stat3 cDNA is 93 and 90% homologous to human and mouse respectively. To study the expression pattern of Stat3, RNA and protein were isolated from heart, lung, kidney, ovary, oviduct, and uterus tissues. RT-PCR and western blot indicated that Stat3 is expressed in all the tissues tested, and the level of expression is relatively high in tissues from the reproductive system. In addition, immunohistochemistry studies suggested that the Stat3 protein was present in the oocyte, granulosa, theca, and interstitial cells of the ovary, the mucosal folds in the oviduct, and both the epithelium and stromal layers in the endometrium. To study whether Stat3 is functional in responding to growth factor stimulation in the ovary, granulosa cells were isolated from large follicles (>3 mm) and cultured in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF; 10 ng/ml) for 5, 10, 15, 30, and 60 min, following which western blots were performed using an antibody against the phosphorylated Stat3. Phosphorylated Stat3 was upregulated following 5 min of EGF challenge and was sustained during the 15-min stimulation, and decreased back to the control level following 60-min stimulation. The translocation of phosphorylated Stat3 from cytoplasm to nucleus following stimulation of EGF was also detected via immunocytochemistry. Our data suggests that Stat3 may play a role in porcine ovarian function.


2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 (5) ◽  
pp. 249-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riina Nieminen ◽  
Sari Leinonen ◽  
Aleksi Lahti ◽  
Katriina Vuolteenaho ◽  
Ulla Jalonen ◽  
...  

Inducible prostaglandin synthase (cyclooxygenase-2, COX-2) is expressed in rheumatoid and osteoarthritic cartilage and produces high amounts of proinflammatory prostanoids in the joint. In the present study we investigated the effects of the inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways Erk1/2, p38, and JNK on COX-2 expression and prostaglandin E2(PGE2) production in human chondrocytes. Proinflammatory cytokine IL-1βcaused a transient activation of Erk1/2, p38, and JNK in immortalized human T/C28a2 chondrocytes and that was followed by enhanced COX-2 expression and PGE2production. PD98059 (an inhibitor of Erk1/2 pathway) suppressed IL-1-induced COX-2 expression and PGE2production in a dose-dependent manner, and seemed to have an inhibitory effect on COX-2 activity. SB203580 (an inhibitor of p38 pathway) but not its negative control compound SB202474 inhibited COX-2 protein and mRNA expression and subsequent PGE2synthesis at micromolar drug concentrations. SP600125 (a recently developed JNK inhibitor) but not its negative control compound N1-methyl-1,9-pyrazolanthrone downregulated COX-2 expression and PGE2formation in a dose-dependent manner. SP600125 did not downregulate IL-1-induced COX-2 mRNA expression when measured 2 h after addition of IL-1βbut suppressed mRNA levels in the later time points suggesting post-transcriptional regulation. Our results suggest that activation of Erk1/2, p38, and JNK pathways belongs to the signaling cascades that mediate the upregulation of COX-2 expression and PGE2production in human chondrocytes exposed to proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 4706-4706
Author(s):  
Hongyan Tong ◽  
Jie Jin ◽  
Weilai Xu ◽  
Wenbin Qian ◽  
Maofang Lin

Abstract The telomerase activity can be down regulated by arsenic trioxide (As2O3), which is regarded as an apoptotic induction agent, is confirmed in many kinds of tumor cells. To investigate the mechanisms of telomerase regulation and to explore the correlation of As2O3 inducing apoptosis and telomerase regulation in MUTZ-1 cells, which are established as a high-risk myelodysplasia Cell line that derived from a MDS patient (FAB subtype refractory anemia with excess of blasts), a quantitative assessment of the telomerase activity by TRAP-ELISA and detection of the expression levels of hTERT, TRF1 (TTAGGG repeat binding factor 1), TRF2 (TTAGGG repeat binding factor 2), bcl-2, bax mRNA were performed, together with the assessment of the apoptosis by means of translocation of phosphatidylserine (PS) through flow cytometry assay. The results indicated that a typical apoptotic cell group distribution of DNA content was represented in the MUTZ-1 cells after being exposed to As2O3 at the range of concentration from 1μmol/L to 8μmol/L in a dose-dependent manner (r=0.736, P<0.001) and time-dependent manner (r=0.674, p<0.05), and the telomerase activity was down-regulated in a time-dependent manner (r=−0.976,P=0.024), and the expression level of hTERT mRNA in MUTZ-1 cells was represented in a dose-dependent manner (r=−0.892,P=0.042) and time-dependent manner (r=−1.000,P=0.04), after the cells were treated by As2O3 at the dosage as above. It was showed that a significant correlation between the decreased telomerase activity and the increased percentage of apoptotic cells in the treated cells (r=0.938,P=0.018), and there was a strong relationship between the telomerase activity and the mRNA expression of hTERT gene (r=0.783,P=0.022). However, As2O3 has no obvious effect on the expression level of TRF1 mRNA and TRF2 mRNA, which were regarded as two telomere-binding proteins. Further findings indicated that the inhibition of telomerase activity in MUTZ-1 cells was accompanied with down-regulated mRNA expression of bcl-2 gene (densitometry readings: 0.255±0.017 vs 0.466±0.069, P<0.05) and decreased ration of bcl-2/bax (densitometry reading ratios: 0.890±0.083 vs 0.546±0.014, P<0.05) at the dosage of 4μmol/L for 24 hours. These observations suggest that the apoptosis induced by As2O3 on MUTZ- 1 cells might be mediated through the inhibition of telomerase activity regulated by expression of hTERT gene, which implies that may be one of the mechanisms of As2O3 inducing apoptosis in MUTZ-1 cells.


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