Connective Tissue Growth Factor Mediates Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2-Induced Increase in Hyaluronan Production in Luteinized Human Granulosa Cells

Background: Hyaluronan is the main component of the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) matrix and it maintains the basic structure of the COC during ovulation. As a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily, bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) has been identified as a critical regulator of mammalian folliculogenesis and ovulation. However, whether BMP2 can regulate the production of hyaluronan in human granulosa cells has never been elucidated.Methods: In the present study, we investigated the effect of BMP2 on the production of hyaluronan and the underlying molecular mechanism using both immortalized (SVOG) and primary human granulosa-lutein (hGL) cells. The expression of three hyaluronan synthases (including HAS1, HAS2 and HAS3) were examined following cell incubation with BMP2 at different concentrations. The concentrations of the hyaluronan cell culture medium were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The TGF-β type I receptor inhibitors (dorsomorphin and DMH-1) and small interfering RNAs targeting ALK2, ALK3, ALK6 and SMAD4 were used to investigate the involvement of TGF-β type I receptor and SMAD-dependent pathway.Results: Our results showed that BMP2 treatment significantly increased the production of hyaluronan by upregulating the expression of hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2). In addition, BMP2 upregulates the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), which subsequently mediates the BMP2-induced increases in HAS2 expression and hyaluronan production because overexpression of CTGF enhances, whereas knockdown of CTGF reverses, these effects. Notably, using kinase inhibitor- and siRNA-mediated knockdown approaches, we demonstrated that the inductive effect of BMP2 on the upregulation of CTGF is mediated by the ALK2/ALK3-mediated SMAD-dependent signaling pathway.Conclusions: Our findings provide new insight into the molecular mechanism by which BMP2 promotes the production of hyaluronan in human granulosa cells.

FMR1 and AKT/mTOR Signaling in Human Granulosa Cells: Functional Interaction and Impact on Ovarian Response

We aimed to determine whether a functional link with impact on female ovarian reserve exists between FMR1 expression and expression ratios of AKT/mTOR signaling genes in human granulosa cells in vivo, as suggested from prior in vitro data. Three hundred and nine women, who were classified as normal (NOR; n = 225) and poor (POR; n = 84) responders based on their ovarian reserve, were recruited during stimulation for assisted reproductive techniques. Expressions of FMR1 and of key genes of the AKT/mTOR and AKT/FOXO1/3 signaling pathways were comparatively analyzed in their granulosa cells. FMR1 expression in granulosa cells of NOR and POR correlated significantly with AKT1, TSC2, mTOR, and S6K expression. No correlation was found between FMR1 and FOXO1 in all, and FOXO3 expression in POR, patients. AKT1 expression was significantly higher and FOXO1 expression lower in POR samples, whereas AKT1 expression was lower and FOXO1 expression was higher in NOR samples. In human native granulosa cells, FMR1 expression significantly correlated with the expression of key genes of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, but not with the FOXO1/3 signaling pathway. Our data point to a functional link between FMR1 expression and expression of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway genes controlling human follicular maturation.