1
|
Nemer A, Azab AN, Rimon G, Lamprecht S, Ben-Menahem D. Different roles of cAMP/PKA and PKC signaling in regulating progesterone and PGE 2 levels in immortalized rat granulosa cell cultures. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 269:88-95. [PMID: 30144443 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Follicular cells from various species secrete steroids and prostaglandins, which are crucial for reproduction, in response to gonadotropins. Here, we examined prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) secretion from immortalized rat granulosa cells derived from preovulaotry follicles expressing the rat follicle stimulating hormone receptor (denoted as FSHR cells) that produce progesterone in response to gonadotropins. The cells were stimulated with a) pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG; a rat FSH receptor agonist), b) activators of the protein kinase A (PKA) pathway (forskolin and a cell permeable cAMP analog Dibutyryl-cAMP (DB-cAMP)) and c) protein kinase C (PKC) (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate; TPA), alone and in combination for 24 h. Thereafter, PGE2 and progesterone levels in the culture media were determined. In accordance with previous studies, while PMSG and the PKA pathway activators induced progesterone accumulation in the media, TPA did not. In contrast, our data indicate that TPA, but neither PMSG, forskolin and DB-cAMP evoked PGE2 accumulation in the media. Western Blot analysis of cell lysate showed a drastic TPA induced increase of COX-2 levels, which was not seen with neither PMSG nor forskolin treatment. This association between the COX-2 and PGE2 levels suggests that the enzyme activity is the likely factor that determines the synthesis and levels of the prostaglandin in the culture media of the granulosa-derived cells. The addition of the PKA inhibitor H-89 to the FSHR cultures suppressed the gonadotropin and forskolin induction of progesterone secretion. Incubation in the presence of GF109203X (a PKC inhibitor) attenuated the TPA induced PGE2 accumulation in the culture media of the cells (a dose dependent reduction of 40-70%). In addition, while TPA inhibited the PMSG and forskolin induced-accumulation of progesterone in the media, the gonadotropin and forskolin inhibited the elevation of PGE2 levels evoked by TPA (a dose dependent decrease of 35-55%). These data suggest that cAMP/PKA and PKC signaling have opposite effects on PGE2 and progesterone synthesis in FSHR cells. We propose that this PKA and PKC interplay on progesterone and PGE2 may be advantageous for the coordination of these key mediators for successful ovulation and luteinization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ala Nemer
- Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Abed N Azab
- Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Gilad Rimon
- Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Sergio Lamprecht
- Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - David Ben-Menahem
- Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yerushalmi GM, Markman S, Yung Y, Maman E, Aviel-Ronen S, Orvieto R, Adashi EY, Hourvitz A. The prostaglandin transporter (PGT) as a potential mediator of ovulation. Sci Transl Med 2016; 8:338ra68. [DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aad2709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2015] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
|
4
|
Duffy DM. Novel contraceptive targets to inhibit ovulation: the prostaglandin E2 pathway. Hum Reprod Update 2015; 21:652-70. [PMID: 26025453 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmv026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2014] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is an essential intrafollicular regulator of ovulation. In contrast with the one-gene, one-protein concept for synthesis of peptide signaling molecules, production and metabolism of bioactive PGE2 requires controlled expression of many proteins, correct subcellular localization of enzymes, coordinated PGE2 synthesis and metabolism, and prostaglandin transport in and out of cells to facilitate PGE2 action and degradation. Elevated intrafollicular PGE2 is required for successful ovulation, so disruption of PGE2 synthesis, metabolism or transport may yield effective contraceptive strategies. METHODS This review summarizes case reports and studies on ovulation inhibition in women and macaques treated with cyclooxygenase inhibitors published from 1987 to 2014. These findings are discussed in the context of studies describing levels of mRNA, protein, and activity of prostaglandin synthesis and metabolic enzymes as well as prostaglandin transporters in ovarian cells. RESULTS The ovulatory surge of LH regulates the expression of each component of the PGE2 synthesis-metabolism-transport pathway within the ovulatory follicle. Data from primary ovarian cells and cancer cell lines suggest that enzymes and transporters can cooperate to optimize bioactive PGE2 levels. Elevated intrafollicular PGE2 mediates key ovulatory events including cumulus expansion, follicle rupture and oocyte release. Inhibitors of the prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) enzyme (also known as cyclooxygenase-2 or COX2) reduce ovulation rates in women. Studies in macaques show that PTGS2 inhibitors can reduce the rates of cumulus expansion, oocyte release, follicle rupture, oocyte nuclear maturation and fertilization. A PTGS2 inhibitor reduced pregnancy rates in breeding macaques when administered to simulate emergency contraception. However, PTGS2 inhibition did not prevent pregnancy in monkeys when administered to simulate monthly contraceptive use. CONCLUSION PTGS2 inhibitors alone may be suitable for use as emergency contraceptives. However, drugs of this class are unlikely to be effective as monthly contraceptives. Inhibitors of additional PGE2 synthesis enzymes or modulation of PGE2 metabolism or transport also hold potential for reducing follicular PGE2 and preventing ovulation. Approaches which target multiple components of the PGE2 synthesis-metabolism-transport pathway may be required to effectively block ovulation and lead to the development of novel contraceptive options for women. Therapies which target PGE2 may also impact disorders of the uterus and could also have benefits for women's health in addition to contraception.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diane M Duffy
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 700 Olney Road, Lewis Hall, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Skiadas CC, Duan S, Correll M, Rubio R, Karaca N, Ginsburg ES, Quackenbush J, Racowsky C. Ovarian reserve status in young women is associated with altered gene expression in membrana granulosa cells. Mol Hum Reprod 2012; 18:362-71. [PMID: 22355044 PMCID: PMC3378309 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gas008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2010] [Revised: 02/02/2012] [Accepted: 02/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is a challenging diagnosis of infertility, as there are currently no tests to predict who may become affected with this condition, or at what age. We designed the present study to compare the gene expression profile of membrana granulosa cells from young women affected with DOR with those from egg donors of similar age and to determine if distinct genetic patterns could be identified to provide insight into the etiology of DOR. Young women with DOR were identified based on FSH level in conjunction with poor follicular development during an IVF cycle (n = 13). Egg donors with normal ovarian reserve (NOR) comprised the control group (n = 13). Granulosa cells were collected following retrieval, RNA was extracted and microarray analysis was conducted to evaluate genetic differences between the groups. Confirmatory studies were undertaken with quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Multiple significant differences in gene expression were observed between the DOR patients and egg donors. Two genes linked with ovarian function, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHCGR), were further analyzed with qRT-PCR in all patients. The average expression of AMH was significantly higher in egg donors (adjusted P-value = 0.01), and the average expression of LHCGR was significantly higher in DOR patients (adjusted P-value = 0.005). Expression levels for four additional genes, progesterone receptor membrane component 2 (PGRMC2), prostaglandin E receptor 3 (subtype EP3) (PTGER3), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), and StAR-related lipid transfer domain containing 4 (StarD4), were validated in a group consisting of five NOR and five DOR patients. We conclude that gene expression analysis has substantial potential to determine which young women may be affected with DOR. More importantly, our analysis suggests that DOR patients fall into two distinct subgroups based on gene expression profiles, indicating that different mechanisms may be involved during development of this pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christine C. Skiadas
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, ASB 1+3, Rm 082, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Shenghua Duan
- Center for Cancer Computational Biology, Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana Farber Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mick Correll
- Center for Cancer Computational Biology, Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana Farber Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Renee Rubio
- Center for Cancer Computational Biology, Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana Farber Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nilay Karaca
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, ASB 1+3, Rm 082, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Elizabeth S. Ginsburg
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, ASB 1+3, Rm 082, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - John Quackenbush
- Center for Cancer Computational Biology, Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana Farber Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Catherine Racowsky
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, ASB 1+3, Rm 082, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|