1
|
Harrath AH, Rahman MA, Bhajan SK, Bishwas AK, Rahman MDH, Alwasel S, Jalouli M, Kang S, Park MN, Kim B. Autophagy and Female Fertility: Mechanisms, Clinical Implications, and Emerging Therapies. Cells 2024; 13:1354. [PMID: 39195244 DOI: 10.3390/cells13161354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved cellular mechanism essential for maintaining internal stability, plays a crucial function in female reproductive ability. In this review, we discuss the complex interplay between autophagy and several facets of female reproductive health, encompassing pregnancy, ovarian functions, gynecologic malignancies, endometriosis, and infertility. Existing research emphasizes the crucial significance of autophagy in embryo implantation, specifically in the endometrium, highlighting its necessity in ensuring proper fetal development. Although some knowledge has been gained, there is still a lack of research on the specific molecular impacts of autophagy on the quality of oocytes, the growth of follicles, and general reproductive health. Autophagy plays a role in the maturation, quality, and development of oocytes. It is also involved in reproductive aging, contributing to reductions in reproductive function that occur with age. This review explores the physiological functions of autophagy in the female reproductive system, its participation in reproductive toxicity, and its important connections with the endometrium and embryo. In addition, this study investigates the possibility of emerging treatment approaches that aim to modify autophagy, using both natural substances and synthetic molecules, to improve female fertility and reproductive outcomes. Additionally, this review intends to inspire future exploration into the intricate role of autophagy in female reproductive health by reviewing recent studies and pinpointing areas where current knowledge is lacking. Subsequent investigations should prioritize the conversion of these discoveries into practical uses in the medical field, which could potentially result in groundbreaking therapies for infertility and other difficulties related to reproduction. Therefore, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the many effects of autophagy on female fertility would not only further the field of reproductive biology but also open new possibilities for diagnostic and treatment methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdel Halim Harrath
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Md Ataur Rahman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sujay Kumar Bhajan
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Life Sciences, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj 8100, Bangladesh
| | - Anup Kumar Bishwas
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Life Sciences, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj 8100, Bangladesh
| | - M D Hasanur Rahman
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Life Sciences, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj 8100, Bangladesh
| | - Saleh Alwasel
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maroua Jalouli
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 11623, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sojin Kang
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1-5 Hoegidong Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Moon Nyeo Park
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1-5 Hoegidong Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Bonglee Kim
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1-5 Hoegidong Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
- Korean Medicine-Based Drug Repositioning Cancer Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sirotkin AV, Alexa R, Alshamrani A, Harrath AH. Fennel affects porcine ovarian cell functions: The interrelationships with the environmental contaminant benzene. Res Vet Sci 2023; 164:104991. [PMID: 37657392 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.104991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine the direct effects of the medicinal plant fennel on basic functions of ovarian cells, including proliferation, apoptosis, and release of progesterone and insulin-like growth factor I (IGFI), as well as to prevent the influence of the environmental contaminant benzene on these cells. Porcine ovarian granulosa cells were cultured with or without fennel extract alone or in combination with benzene. The expression of the proliferation marker PCNA and the apoptosis marker bax was analyzed by quantitative immunocytochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fennel was able to promote proliferation and IGF-I release, but to suppress apoptosis and progesterone release. Benzene promoted the accumulation of both the proliferation and apoptosis markers, as well as IGF-I release, but it inhibited progesterone secretion. The presence of fennel did not prevent the effects of benzene on any of the measured parameters, while benzene prevented the effects of fennel on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and IGF-I but not progesterone output. These observations demonstrate the direct influence of fennel and benzene on basic ovarian cell functions. Furthermore, they show the inability of fennel to prevent the effects of benzene on these cells. On the other hand, the environmental contaminant benzene can block the response of ovarian cells to the medicinal plant fennel.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander V Sirotkin
- Constantine the Philosopher University, 949 74 Nitra, Slovakia; Research Institute of Animal Production, National Agricultural and Food Center, 951 41 Lužianky, Slovakia.
| | - Richard Alexa
- Constantine the Philosopher University, 949 74 Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Abdullah Alshamrani
- King Saud University, College of Science, Zoology Department, 11451 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdel Halim Harrath
- King Saud University, College of Science, Zoology Department, 11451 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Han L, Wang J, Zhang L, Jing J, Zhang W, Liu Z, Gao A. The role of N 6-methyladenosine modification in benzene-induced testicular damage and the protective effect of melatonin. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 319:138035. [PMID: 36736484 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Benzene is a universal ambient pollutant. Population-based studies have shown that benzene exposure affects male fertility. However, the mechanism of benzene-induced reproductive toxicity is unknown. Here, we established a dynamic inhalation model and exposed C57BL/6J mice to 0, 10, and 50 ppm benzene (6 h/day, 6 days/week, 7 weeks). Our study revealed that benzene exposure caused testicular injury, including structural damage to spermatogenic tubules, reduced semen quality, and decreased testosterone levels. In addition, the decrease in the global level of N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) and the change of m6A important regulatory enzymes in mice testes suggested that m6A was involved in the benzene-induced testicular injury. Further genome-wide m6A methylation analysis showed that 1469 differential m6A peaks were present in the testes of control and benzene groups, indicating that benzene exposure modulated m6A methylation in testes. Furthermore, the comprehensive analysis of m6A-sequencing and transcriptome revealed that hypermethylated Rara and its consequent reduced expression impaired the sperm production process. In particular, melatonin alleviated benzene-induced testicular injury by modulating m6A-related genes. Overall, our research provides a new idea and fundamental knowledge into the possible mechanisms of m6A modifications in benzene-induced testicular impairment, as well as a new experimental basis for benzene-induced male fertility therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Han
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China
| | - Jingyu Wang
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China
| | - Jiaru Jing
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China
| | - Ziyan Liu
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China
| | - Ai Gao
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Arafah M, Aldawood N, Alrezaki A, Nahdi S, Alwasel S, Mansour L, Harrath AH. Prenatal exposure to acrylamide differently affected the sex ratio, aromatase and apoptosis in female adult offspring of two subsequent generations. Physiol Res 2023; 72:59-69. [PMID: 36545876 PMCID: PMC10069810 DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.934975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we investigated the effect of acrylamide (ACR) exposure during pregnancy on the ovary of female adult offspring of two subsequent generations. Sixty-day-old Wistar albino female rats were given different doses of ACR (2.5 and 10 mg/kg/day) from day 6 of pregnancy until giving birth. Females from the first generation (AF1) were fed ad libitum, and thereafter, a subgroup was euthanized at 8 weeks of age and ovary samples were obtained. The remaining females were maintained until they reached sexual maturity (50 days old) and then treated in the same way as the previous generation to obtain the second generation of females (AF2). The histopathological examination indicated a high frequency of corpora lutea along with an increased number of antral follicles that reached the selectable stage mainly at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg/day. Interestingly, ACR exposure significantly increased the mRNA levels of CYP19 gene and its corresponding CYP19 protein expression in AF1 females. The TUNEL assay showed a significantly high rate of apoptosis in stromal cells except for dose of 2.5 mg/kg/day. However, in AF2 females, ACR exposure significantly increased the number of degenerating follicles and cysts while the number of growing follicles was reduced. Moreover, in both ACR-treated groups, estradiol-producing enzyme CYP19A gene and its corresponding protein were significantly reduced, and an excessive apoptosis was produced. We concluded that the ovarian condition of AF1 females had considerable similarity to the typical early perimenopausal stage, whereas that of AF2 females was similar to the late perimenopausal stage in women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Arafah
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|