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Chen YC, Wang YC, Lee MC, Chen YH, Su W, Ko PS, Chen CJ, Su SL. Decisive gene strategy on osteoarthritis: a comprehensive whole-literature based approach for conclusive gene targets. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:12346-12378. [PMID: 39248710 PMCID: PMC11424587 DOI: 10.18632/aging.206094] [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: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous meta-analyses only examined the association between single or several gene polymorphisms and osteoarthritis (OA), whereas no studies have concluded that there are existing all gene loci that associate with OA. OBJECTIVE To assess whether a definite conclusion of the association between the gene loci and OA can be drawn. METHODS Decisive gene strategy (DGS), a literature-based approach, was used to search PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases for all meta-analyses that associated gene polymorphisms and OA. Trial Sequential Analysis (TSA) examined the sufficiency of the cumulative sample size. Finally, we assessed the importance of gene loci in OA based on whether there were enough sample sizes and the heterogeneity of the literatures with I2 value. RESULTS After excluding 179 irrelevant publications, 80 meta-analysis papers were recruited. Among Caucasians, SMAD3 rs12901499 (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.12-1.29) was a risk factor with validation of sufficient sample sizes through TSA model. Among Asians, there were 3 gene loci risk factors with validation of sufficient sample sizes through TSA model: ESR1 rs2228480, SMAD3 rs12901499, and MMP-1 rs1799750 (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.08-1.69; OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.07-1.69; OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.18-1.74, respectively). Besides, 3 gene loci, DVWA rs7639618, GDF5 rs143383, and VDR rs7975232 (OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.67-0.90; OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.67-0.81; OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.35-0.90, respectively) were identified as protective factors through TSA model. CONCLUSIONS We used DGS to identify conclusive gene loci associated with OA. These findings provide implications of precision medicine in OA and may potentially advance genetic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Chou Chen
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan, R.O.C
- Department of Orthopedics, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan 330, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Yu-Chiao Wang
- School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Meng-Chang Lee
- School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Yu-Hsuan Chen
- School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Wen Su
- Graduate Institute of Aerospace and Undersea Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Pi-Shao Ko
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Cheng-Jung Chen
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114202, Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, Chiayi Branch, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Chiayi City 60090, Taiwan
| | - Sui-Lung Su
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan, R.O.C
- School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan, R.O.C
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2
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Wood TW, Henriques WS, Cullen HB, Romero M, Blengini CS, Sarathy S, Sorkin J, Bekele H, Jin C, Kim S, Chemiakine A, Khondker RC, Isola JV, Stout MB, Gennarino VA, Mogessie B, Jain D, Schindler K, Suh Y, Wiedenheft B, Berchowitz LE. The retrotransposon-derived capsid genes PNMA1 and PNMA4 maintain reproductive capacity. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4559920. [PMID: 39041030 PMCID: PMC11261967 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4559920/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
The human genome contains 24 gag-like capsid genes derived from deactivated retrotransposons conserved among eutherians. Although some of their encoded proteins retain the ability to form capsids and even transfer cargo, their fitness benefit has remained elusive. Here we show that the gag-like genes PNMA1 and PNMA4 support reproductive capacity during aging. Analysis of donated human ovaries shows that expression of both genes declines normally with age, while several PNMA1 and PNMA4 variants identified in genome-wide association studies are causally associated with low testosterone, altered puberty onset, or obesity. Six-week-old mice lacking either Pnma1 or Pnma4 are indistinguishable from wild-type littermates, but by six months the mutant mice become prematurely subfertile, with precipitous drops in sex hormone levels, gonadal atrophy, and abdominal obesity; overall they produce markedly fewer offspring than controls. These findings expand our understanding of factors that maintain human reproductive health and lend insight into the domestication of retrotransposon-derived genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W.P. Wood
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - William S. Henriques
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Harrison B. Cullen
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Mayra Romero
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Cecilia S. Blengini
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Shreya Sarathy
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Julia Sorkin
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Hilina Bekele
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Chen Jin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Seungsoo Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Alexei Chemiakine
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Rishad C. Khondker
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - José V.V. Isola
- Aging & Metabolism Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Michael B. Stout
- Aging & Metabolism Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Vincenzo A. Gennarino
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Initiative for Columbia Ataxia and Tremor, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Binyam Mogessie
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Devanshi Jain
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Karen Schindler
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Yousin Suh
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Blake Wiedenheft
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Luke E. Berchowitz
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s and the Aging Brain, New York, NY, USA
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3
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Wood TWP, Henriques WS, Cullen HB, Romero M, Blengini CS, Sarathy S, Sorkin J, Bekele H, Jin C, Kim S, Chemiakine A, Khondker RC, Isola JVV, Stout MB, Gennarino VA, Mogessie B, Jain D, Schindler K, Suh Y, Wiedenheft B, Berchowitz LE. The retrotransposon - derived capsid genes PNMA1 and PNMA4 maintain reproductive capacity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.11.592987. [PMID: 38798495 PMCID: PMC11118267 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.11.592987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The human genome contains 24 gag -like capsid genes derived from deactivated retrotransposons conserved among eutherians. Although some of their encoded proteins retain the ability to form capsids and even transfer cargo, their fitness benefit has remained elusive. Here we show that the gag -like genes PNMA1 and PNMA4 support reproductive capacity. Six-week-old mice lacking either Pnma1 or Pnma4 are indistinguishable from wild-type littermates, but by six months the mutant mice become prematurely subfertile, with precipitous drops in sex hormone levels, gonadal atrophy, and abdominal obesity; overall they produce markedly fewer offspring than controls. Analysis of donated human ovaries shows that expression of both genes declines normally with aging, while several PNMA1 and PNMA4 variants identified in genome-wide association studies are causally associated with low testosterone, altered puberty onset, or obesity. These findings expand our understanding of factors that maintain human reproductive health and lend insight into the domestication of retrotransposon-derived genes.
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4
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Gordon SD, Duffy DL, Whiteman DC, Olsen CM, McAloney K, Adsett JM, Garden NA, Cross SM, List-Armitage SE, Brown J, Beck JJ, Mbarek H, Medland SE, Montgomery GW, Martin NG. GWAS of Dizygotic Twinning in an Enlarged Australian Sample of Mothers of DZ Twins. Twin Res Hum Genet 2023:1-12. [PMID: 37994447 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2023.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Female fertility is a complex trait with age-specific changes in spontaneous dizygotic (DZ) twinning and fertility. To elucidate factors regulating female fertility and infertility, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on mothers of spontaneous DZ twins (MoDZT) versus controls (3273 cases, 24,009 controls). This is a follow-up study to the Australia/New Zealand (ANZ) component of that previously reported (Mbarek et al., 2016), with a sample size almost twice that of the entire discovery sample meta-analysed in the previous article (and five times the ANZ contribution to that), resulting from newly available additional genotyping and representing a significant increase in power. We compare analyses with and without male controls and show unequivocally that it is better to include male controls who have been screened for recent family history, than to use only female controls. Results from the SNP based GWAS identified four genomewide significant signals, including one novel region, ZFPM1 (Zinc Finger Protein, FOG Family Member 1), on chromosome 16. Previous signals near FSHB (Follicle Stimulating Hormone beta subunit) and SMAD3 (SMAD Family Member 3) were also replicated (Mbarek et al., 2016). We also ran the GWAS with a dominance model that identified a further locus ADRB2 on chr 5. These results have been contributed to the International Twinning Genetics Consortium for inclusion in the next GWAS meta-analysis (Mbarek et al., in press).
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott D Gordon
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - David L Duffy
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - David C Whiteman
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Catherine M Olsen
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kerrie McAloney
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jessica M Adsett
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Natalie A Garden
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Simone M Cross
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Joy Brown
- Independent researcher, Invercargill, New Zealand
| | - Jeffrey J Beck
- Avera Institute for Human Genetics, Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
| | | | - Sarah E Medland
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Grant W Montgomery
- Institute of Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicholas G Martin
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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5
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Moreira ARS, Lim J, Urbaniak A, Banik J, Bronson K, Lagasse A, Hardy L, Haney A, Allensworth M, Miles TK, Gies A, Byrum SD, Wilczynska A, Boehm U, Kharas M, Lengner C, MacNicol MC, Childs GV, MacNicol AM, Odle AK. Musashi Exerts Control of Gonadotrope Target mRNA Translation During the Mouse Estrous Cycle. Endocrinology 2023; 164:bqad113. [PMID: 37477898 PMCID: PMC10402870 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqad113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
The anterior pituitary controls key biological processes, including growth, metabolism, reproduction, and stress responses through distinct cell types that each secrete specific hormones. The anterior pituitary cells show a remarkable level of cell type plasticity that mediates the shifts in hormone-producing cell populations that are required to meet organismal needs. The molecular mechanisms underlying pituitary cell plasticity are not well understood. Recent work has implicated the pituitary stem cell populations and specifically, the mRNA binding proteins of the Musashi family in control of pituitary cell type identity. In this study we have identified the target mRNAs that mediate Musashi function in the adult mouse pituitary and demonstrate the requirement for Musashi function in vivo. Using Musashi RNA immunoprecipitation, we identify a cohort of 1184 mRNAs that show specific Musashi binding. Identified Musashi targets include the Gnrhr mRNA, which encodes the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR), and the Fshb mRNA, encoding follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Reporter assays reveal that Musashi functions to exert repression of translation of the Fshb mRNA, in addition to the previously observed repression of the Gnrhr mRNA. Importantly, mice engineered to lack Musashi in gonadotropes demonstrate a failure to repress translation of the endogenous Gnrhr and Fshb mRNAs during the estrous cycle and display a significant heterogeneity in litter sizes. The range of identified target mRNAs suggests that, in addition to these key gonadotrope proteins, Musashi may exert broad regulatory control over the pituitary proteome in a cell type-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Silva Moreira
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Juchan Lim
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Alicja Urbaniak
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Jewel Banik
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Katherine Bronson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Alex Lagasse
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Linda Hardy
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Anessa Haney
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Melody Allensworth
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Tiffany K Miles
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Allen Gies
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Stephanie D Byrum
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA
| | - Ania Wilczynska
- Bit.bio, The Dorothy Hodgkin Building, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, UK
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling, Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg 66421, Germany
| | - Michael Kharas
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Christopher Lengner
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19146, USA
| | - Melanie C MacNicol
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Gwen V Childs
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Angus M MacNicol
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Angela K Odle
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
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6
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Zhu M, Xu M, Zhang J, Zheng C. The role of Hippo pathway in ovarian development. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1198873. [PMID: 37334049 PMCID: PMC10275494 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1198873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The follicle is the functional unit of the ovary, whereby ovarian development is largely dependent on the development of the follicles themselves. The activation, growth, and progression of follicles are modulated by a diverse range of factors, including reproductive endocrine system and multiple signaling pathways. The Hippo pathway exhibits a high degree of evolutionary conservation between both Drosophila and mammalian systems, and is recognized for its pivotal role in regulating cellular proliferation, control of organ size, and embryonic development. During the process of follicle development, the components of the Hippo pathway show temporal and spatial variations. Recent clinical studies have shown that ovarian fragmentation can activate follicles. The mechanism is that the mechanical signal of cutting triggers actin polymerization. This process leads to the disruption of the Hippo pathway and subsequently induces the upregulation of downstream CCN and apoptosis inhibitors, thereby promoting follicle development. Thus, the Hippo pathway plays a crucial role in both the activation and development of follicles. In this article, we focused on the development and atresia of follicles and the function of Hippo pathway in these processes. Additionally, the physiological effects of Hippo pathway in follicle activation are also explored.
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7
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Bhattacharya I, Dey S, Banerjee A. Revisiting the gonadotropic regulation of mammalian spermatogenesis: evolving lessons during the past decade. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1110572. [PMID: 37124741 PMCID: PMC10140312 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1110572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a multi-step process of male germ cell (Gc) division and differentiation which occurs in the seminiferous tubules of the testes under the regulation of gonadotropins - Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinising hormone (LH). It is a highly coordinated event regulated by the surrounding somatic testicular cells such as the Sertoli cells (Sc), Leydig cells (Lc), and Peritubular myoid cells (PTc). FSH targets Sc and supports the expansion and differentiation of pre-meiotic Gc, whereas, LH operates via Lc to produce Testosterone (T), the testicular androgen. T acts on all somatic cells e.g.- Lc, PTc and Sc, and promotes the blood-testis barrier (BTB) formation, completion of Gc meiosis, and spermiation. Studies with hypophysectomised or chemically ablated animal models and hypogonadal (hpg) mice supplemented with gonadotropins to genetically manipulated mouse models have revealed the selective and synergistic role(s) of hormones in regulating male fertility. We here have briefly summarized the present concept of hormonal control of spermatogenesis in rodents and primates. We also have highlighted some of the key critical questions yet to be answered in the field of male reproductive health which might have potential implications for infertility and contraceptive research in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indrashis Bhattacharya
- Department of Zoology, School of Biological Science, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala, India
- *Correspondence: Arnab Banerjee, ; Indrashis Bhattacharya,
| | - Souvik Dey
- Manipal Centre for Biotherapeutics Research, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Arnab Banerjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, Goa, India
- *Correspondence: Arnab Banerjee, ; Indrashis Bhattacharya,
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Bernard DJ, Ongaro L. The Ultrasensitive Luteinizing Hormone (LH) ELISA Gets a New Lease on Life. Endocrinology 2022; 163:6656257. [PMID: 35929775 PMCID: PMC9419681 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Bernard
- Correspondence: Daniel J. Bernard, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Suite 1320, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada.
| | - Luisina Ongaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Québec, Canada
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Schang G, Ongaro L, Brûlé E, Zhou X, Wang Y, Boehm U, Ruf-Zamojski F, Zamojski M, Mendelev N, Seenarine N, Amper MA, Nair V, Ge Y, Sealfon SC, Bernard DJ. Transcription factor GATA2 may potentiate follicle-stimulating hormone production in mice via induction of the BMP antagonist gremlin in gonadotrope cells. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102072. [PMID: 35643321 PMCID: PMC9251782 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian reproduction depends on the gonadotropins, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone, which are secreted by pituitary gonadotrope cells. The zinc-finger transcription factor GATA2 was previously implicated in FSH production in male mice; however, its mechanisms of action and role in females were not determined. To directly address GATA2 function in gonadotropes, we generated and analyzed gonadotrope-specific Gata2 KO mice using the Cre-lox system. We found that while conditional KO (cKO) males exhibited ∼50% reductions in serum FSH levels and pituitary FSHβ subunit (Fshb) expression relative to controls, FSH production was apparently normal in cKO females. In addition, RNA-seq analysis of purified gonadotropes from control and cKO males revealed a profound decrease in expression of gremlin (Grem1), a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist. We show Grem1 was expressed in gonadotropes, but not other cell lineages, in the adult male mouse pituitary. Furthermore, Gata2, Grem1, and Fshb mRNA levels were significantly higher in the pituitaries of WT males relative to females but decreased in males treated with estradiol and increased following ovariectomy in control but not cKO females. Finally, we found that recombinant gremlin stimulated Fshb expression in pituitary cultures from WT mice. Collectively, the data suggest that GATA2 promotes Grem1 expression in gonadotropes and that the gremlin protein potentiates FSH production. The mechanisms of gremlin action have not yet been established but may involve attenuation of BMP binding to activin type II receptors in gonadotropes, facilitating induction of Fshb transcription by activins or related ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gauthier Schang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Luisina Ongaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Emilie Brûlé
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling, Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Frederique Ruf-Zamojski
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michel Zamojski
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Natalia Mendelev
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nitish Seenarine
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mary Anne Amper
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Venugopalan Nair
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yongchao Ge
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Stuart C Sealfon
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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10
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Chemosynthetic ethanolamine plasmalogen stimulates gonadotropin secretion from bovine gonadotrophs by acting as a potential GPR61 agonist. Anim Reprod Sci 2022; 241:106992. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2022.106992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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11
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Smith OE, Roussel V, Morin F, Ongaro L, Zhou X, Bertucci MC, Bernard DJ, Murphy BD. Steroidogenic Factor 1 Regulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian Axis of Adult Female Mice. Endocrinology 2022; 163:6542939. [PMID: 35247045 PMCID: PMC8974829 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The orphan nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1 or NR5A1) is an indispensable regulator of adrenal and gonadal formation, playing roles in sex determination, hypothalamic development, and pituitary function. This study aimed to identify the roles of SF-1 in postnatal female reproductive function. Using a progesterone receptor-driven Cre recombinase, we developed a novel murine model, characterized by conditional depletion of SF-1 [PR-Cre;Nr5a1f/f; conditional knockout (cKO)] in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Mature female cKO were infertile due to the absence of ovulation. Reduced gonadotropin concentrations in the pituitary gland that were nevertheless sufficient to maintain regular estrous cycles were observed in mature cKO females. The cKO ovaries showed abnormal lipid accumulation in the stroma, associated with an irregular expression of cholesterol homeostatic genes such as Star, Scp2, and Acat1. The depletion of SF-1 in granulosa cells prevented appropriate cumulus oöphorus expansion, characterized by reduced expression of Areg, Ereg, and Ptgs2. Exogenous delivery of gonadotropins to cKO females to induce ovulation did not restore fertility and was associated with impaired formation and function of corpora lutea accompanied by reduced expression of the steroidogenic genes Cyp11a1 and Cyp19a1 and attenuated progesterone production. Surgical transplantation of cKO ovaries to ovariectomized control animals (Nr5a1f/f) resulted in 2 separate phenotypes, either sterility or apparently normal fertility. The deletion of SF-1 in the pituitary and in granulosa cells near the moment of ovulation demonstrated that this nuclear receptor functions across the pituitary-gonadal axis and plays essential roles in gonadotropin synthesis, cumulus expansion, and luteinization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia E Smith
- Centre de recherche en reproduction et fertilité (CRRF), Université de Montréal, Saint Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Vickie Roussel
- Centre de recherche en reproduction et fertilité (CRRF), Université de Montréal, Saint Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Fanny Morin
- Centre de recherche en reproduction et fertilité (CRRF), Université de Montréal, Saint Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Luisina Ongaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Micka C Bertucci
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Bruce D Murphy
- Centre de recherche en reproduction et fertilité (CRRF), Université de Montréal, Saint Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Correspondence: Bruce D. Murphy, PhD, Centre de Recherche en Reproduction et Fertilité, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, J2S 7C6, Canada. E-mail:
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The Novel Competing Endogenous Long Noncoding RNA SM2 Regulates Gonadotropin Secretion in the Hu Sheep Anterior Pituitary by Targeting the Oar-miR-16b/TGF-β/SMAD2 Signaling Pathway. Cells 2022; 11:cells11060985. [PMID: 35326436 PMCID: PMC8947352 DOI: 10.3390/cells11060985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pituitary gonadotropins play a pivotal role in reproduction. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as important regulators in the hypothalamic−pituitary−ovarian (HPO) axis associated with reproduction. However, the contributions of lncRNAs to pituitary gonadotropin secretion remain largely unknown. Therefore, this work was performed to uncover the functional mechanisms of the novel lncRNA TCONS_00083279 (lncRNA SM2) and its potential targeting pathway oar-miR-16b/TGF-beta/SMAD2, which is associated with gonadotropin secretion in sheep pituitary cells. In the present study, the lncRNA SM2 showed high expression levels in the sheep pituitary gland, and it was located in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm of pituitary cells. lncRNA SM2 knockdown inhibited pituitary cell proliferation and FSH and LH secretion. The function of the lncRNA SM2 was sponged by oar-miR-16b, and this regulated the growth and gonadotropin secretion of pituitary cells by modulating SMAD2, as shown by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. FSH and LH levels were both upregulated by SMAD2 overexpression. Moreover, the levels of the lncRNA SM2, SMAD2 and TGFR1, as well as FSH and LH, in sheep pituitary cells increased significantly under gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation (p < 0.05). This work illustrates that the lncRNA SM2 regulates gonadotropin secretion in the Hu sheep anterior pituitary by targeting the oar-miR-16b/TGF-β/SMAD2 signaling pathway, providing a valuable resource for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying sheep reproduction.
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Lalonde-Larue A, Boyer A, Dos Santos EC, Boerboom D, Bernard DJ, Zamberlam G. The Hippo Pathway Effectors YAP and TAZ Regulate LH Release by Pituitary Gonadotrope Cells in Mice. Endocrinology 2022; 163:bqab238. [PMID: 34905605 PMCID: PMC8670590 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The Hippo transcriptional coactivators YAP and TAZ exert critical roles in morphogenesis, organ size determination and tumorigenesis in many tissues. Although Hippo kinase cascade activity was recently reported in the anterior pituitary gland in mice, the role of the Hippo effectors in regulating gonadotropin production remains unknown. The objective of this study was therefore to characterize the roles of YAP and TAZ in gonadotropin synthesis and secretion. Using a conditional gene targeting approach (cKO), we found that gonadotrope-specific inactivation of Yap and Taz resulted in increased circulating levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in adult male mice, along with increased testosterone levels and testis weight. Female cKO mice had increased circulating LH (but not FSH) levels, which were associated with a hyperfertility phenotype characterized by higher ovulation rates and larger litter sizes. Unexpectedly, the loss of YAP/TAZ did not appear to affect the expression of gonadotropin subunit genes, yet both basal and GnRH-induced LH secretion were increased in cultured pituitary cells from cKO mice. Likewise, pharmacologic inhibition of YAP binding to the TEAD family of transcription factors increased both basal and GnRH-induced LH secretion in LβT2 gonadotrope-like cells in vitro without affecting Lhb expression. Conversely, mRNA levels of ChgA and SgII, which encode key secretory granule cargo proteins, were decreased following pharmacologic inhibition of YAP/TAZ, suggesting a mechanism whereby YAP/TAZ regulate the LH secretion machinery in gonadotrope cells. Together, these findings represent the first evidence that Hippo signaling may play a role in regulating pituitary LH secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariane Lalonde-Larue
- Centre de recherche en reproduction et fertilité (CRRF), Faculté de médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec J2S 7C6, Canada
| | - Alexandre Boyer
- Centre de recherche en reproduction et fertilité (CRRF), Faculté de médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec J2S 7C6, Canada
| | - Esdras Corrêa Dos Santos
- Centre de recherche en reproduction et fertilité (CRRF), Faculté de médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec J2S 7C6, Canada
| | - Derek Boerboom
- Centre de recherche en reproduction et fertilité (CRRF), Faculté de médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec J2S 7C6, Canada
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Gustavo Zamberlam
- Centre de recherche en reproduction et fertilité (CRRF), Faculté de médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec J2S 7C6, Canada
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14
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Brûlé E, Wang Y, Li Y, Lin YF, Zhou X, Ongaro L, Alonso CAI, Buddle ERS, Schneyer AL, Byeon CH, Hinck CS, Mendelev N, Russell JP, Cowan M, Boehm U, Ruf-Zamojski F, Zamojski M, Andoniadou CL, Sealfon SC, Harrison CA, Walton KL, Hinck AP, Bernard DJ. TGFBR3L is an inhibin B co-receptor that regulates female fertility. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabl4391. [PMID: 34910520 PMCID: PMC8673766 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl4391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), a key regulator of ovarian function, is often used in infertility treatment. Gonadal inhibins suppress FSH synthesis by pituitary gonadotrope cells. The TGFβ type III receptor, betaglycan, is required for inhibin A suppression of FSH. The inhibin B co-receptor was previously unknown. Here, we report that the gonadotrope-restricted transmembrane protein, TGFBR3L, is the elusive inhibin B co-receptor. TGFBR3L binds inhibin B but not other TGFβ family ligands. TGFBR3L knockdown or overexpression abrogates or confers inhibin B activity in cells. Female Tgfbr3l knockout mice exhibit increased FSH levels, ovarian follicle development, and litter sizes. In contrast, female mice lacking both TGFBR3L and betaglycan are infertile. TGFBR3L’s function and cell-specific expression make it an attractive new target for the regulation of FSH and fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Brûlé
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Yining Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Yeu-Farn Lin
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Luisina Ongaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Carlos A. I. Alonso
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Evan R. S. Buddle
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Chang-Hyeock Byeon
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Cynthia S. Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Natalia Mendelev
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - John P. Russell
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Mitra Cowan
- McGill Integrated Core for Animal Modeling (MICAM), McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling, Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Frederique Ruf-Zamojski
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michel Zamojski
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cynthia L. Andoniadou
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stuart C. Sealfon
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Craig A. Harrison
- Department of Physiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kelly L. Walton
- Department of Physiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew P. Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Daniel J. Bernard
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
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15
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Ongaro L, Zhou X, Cui Y, Boehm U, Bernard DJ. Gonadotrope-specific deletion of the BMP type 2 receptor does not affect reproductive physiology in mice†‡. Biol Reprod 2021; 102:639-646. [PMID: 31724029 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Activins selectively stimulate follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion by pituitary gonadotrope cells. More recently, other members of the TGFbeta superfamily, the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), were reported to regulate FSH synthesis. Activins and BMPs independently and synergistically stimulate transcription of the FSHbeta subunit (Fshb) gene in immortalized gonadotrope-like cells. Both ligands can signal via the activin receptor type IIA (ACVR2A) to regulate FSH synthesis in vitro. In vivo, global Acvr2a knockout mice exhibit a 60% reduction in circulating FSH relative to wild-type animals, suggesting that activins, BMPs, or related ligands might signal through additional type II receptors to regulate FSH in vivo. Although the leading candidates are ACVR2B and the BMP type II receptor (BMPR2), only the latter mediates activin or BMP2 induction of Fshb transcription in vitro. Here, we generated mice carrying a loss of function mutation in Bmpr2 specifically in gonadotropes. Puberty onset, estrous cyclicity, and reproductive organ weights were similar between control and conditional knockout females. Serum FSH and luteinizing hormone (LH) and pituitary expression of Fshb and the LHbeta subunit (Lhb) were similarly unaffected by the gene deletion in both sexes. These results suggest that BMPR2 might not play a necessary role in FSH synthesis or secretion in vivo or that another type II receptor, such as ACVR2A, can fully compensate for its absence. These data also further contribute to the emerging concept that BMPs may not be physiological regulators of FSH in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisina Ongaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics.,Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics.,Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Yiming Cui
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics.,Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics.,Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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16
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Ruf-Zamojski F, Zhang Z, Zamojski M, Smith GR, Mendelev N, Liu H, Nudelman G, Moriwaki M, Pincas H, Castanon RG, Nair VD, Seenarine N, Amper MAS, Zhou X, Ongaro L, Toufaily C, Schang G, Nery JR, Bartlett A, Aldridge A, Jain N, Childs GV, Troyanskaya OG, Ecker JR, Turgeon JL, Welt CK, Bernard DJ, Sealfon SC. Single nucleus multi-omics regulatory landscape of the murine pituitary. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2677. [PMID: 33976139 PMCID: PMC8113460 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22859-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To provide a multi-omics resource and investigate transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, we profile the transcriptome, chromatin accessibility, and methylation status of over 70,000 single nuclei (sn) from adult mouse pituitaries. Paired snRNAseq and snATACseq datasets from individual animals highlight a continuum between developmental epigenetically-encoded cell types and transcriptionally-determined transient cell states. Co-accessibility analysis-based identification of a putative Fshb cis-regulatory domain that overlaps the fertility-linked rs11031006 human polymorphism, followed by experimental validation illustrate the use of this resource for hypothesis generation. We also identify transcriptional and chromatin accessibility programs distinguishing each major cell type. Regulons, which are co-regulated gene sets sharing binding sites for a common transcription factor driver, recapitulate cell type clustering. We identify both cell type-specific and sex-specific regulons that are highly correlated with promoter accessibility, but not with methylation state, supporting the centrality of chromatin accessibility in shaping cell-defining transcriptional programs. The sn multi-omics atlas is accessible at snpituitaryatlas.princeton.edu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederique Ruf-Zamojski
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, NY, USA.
| | - Zidong Zhang
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, and Graduate Program in Quantitative and Computational Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Michel Zamojski
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, NY, USA
| | - Gregory R Smith
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, NY, USA
| | - Natalia Mendelev
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, NY, USA
| | - Hanqing Liu
- Genomic Analysis Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - German Nudelman
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, NY, USA
| | - Mika Moriwaki
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Hanna Pincas
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, NY, USA
| | - Rosa Gomez Castanon
- Genomic Analysis Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Venugopalan D Nair
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, NY, USA
| | - Nitish Seenarine
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, NY, USA
| | - Mary Anne S Amper
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Luisina Ongaro
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Chirine Toufaily
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gauthier Schang
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Joseph R Nery
- Genomic Analysis Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Anna Bartlett
- Genomic Analysis Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Andrew Aldridge
- Genomic Analysis Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nimisha Jain
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, NY, USA
| | - Gwen V Childs
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Olga G Troyanskaya
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, and Graduate Program in Quantitative and Computational Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joseph R Ecker
- Genomic Analysis Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Judith L Turgeon
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Corrine K Welt
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Stuart C Sealfon
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, NY, USA.
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17
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Lin X, Zhou D, Zhang X, Li G, Zhang Y, Huang C, Zhang Z, Tian C. A First Insight into the Gonad Transcriptome of Hong Kong Catfish ( Clarias fuscus). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1131. [PMID: 33920938 PMCID: PMC8071282 DOI: 10.3390/ani11041131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hong Kong catfish (Clarias fuscus) exhibit sexual dimorphism, particularly in body size. Due to the fast growth rate of males, the sexual size dimorphism of Hong Kong catfish has become an economically important trait. However, limited knowledge is known about the molecular mechanisms of sex determination and sex differentiation in this species. In this study, a first de novo transcriptome sequencing analysis of testes and ovaries was performed to identify sex-biased genes in Hong Kong catfish. The results showed that a total of 290,291 circular consensus sequences (CCSs) were obtained, from which 248,408 full-length non-chimeric (FLNC) reads were generated. After non-redundant analysis, a total of 37,305 unigenes were predicted, in which 34,342 unigenes were annotated with multiple public databases. Comparative transcriptomic analysis identified 5750 testis-biased differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 6991 ovary-biased DEGs. The enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were classified into 783 Gene Ontology (GO) terms and 16 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) pathways. Many DEGs were involved with sex-related GO terms and KEGG pathways, such as oocyte maturation, androgen secretion, gonadal development and steroid biosynthesis pathways. In addition, the expression levels of 23 unigenes were confirmed to validate the transcriptomic data by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). This is the first investigation into the transcriptome of Hong Kong catfish testes and ovaries. This study provides an important molecular basis for the sex determination and sex control breeding of Hong Kong catfish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinghua Lin
- Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (X.L.); (X.Z.); (G.L.); (Y.Z.)
- Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Mariculture Organism Breeding, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Epidemiology for Aquatic Economic Animals, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Dayan Zhou
- Guangxi Introduction and Breeding Center of Aquaculture, Nanning 530001, China; (D.Z.); (C.H.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Xiaomin Zhang
- Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (X.L.); (X.Z.); (G.L.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Guangli Li
- Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (X.L.); (X.Z.); (G.L.); (Y.Z.)
- Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Mariculture Organism Breeding, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Epidemiology for Aquatic Economic Animals, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Yulei Zhang
- Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (X.L.); (X.Z.); (G.L.); (Y.Z.)
- Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Mariculture Organism Breeding, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Epidemiology for Aquatic Economic Animals, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Cailin Huang
- Guangxi Introduction and Breeding Center of Aquaculture, Nanning 530001, China; (D.Z.); (C.H.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Zhixin Zhang
- Guangxi Introduction and Breeding Center of Aquaculture, Nanning 530001, China; (D.Z.); (C.H.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Changxu Tian
- Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (X.L.); (X.Z.); (G.L.); (Y.Z.)
- Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Mariculture Organism Breeding, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Epidemiology for Aquatic Economic Animals, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang 524088, China
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18
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Advances in the Regulation of Mammalian Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Secretion. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11041134. [PMID: 33921032 PMCID: PMC8071398 DOI: 10.3390/ani11041134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The reproduction of mammals is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Follicle stimulating hormone, as one of the gonadotropins secreted by the pituitary gland, plays an immeasurable role. This article mainly reviews the molecular basis and classical signaling pathways that regulate the synthesis and secretion of follicle stimulating hormone, and summarizes its internal molecular mechanism, which provides a certain theoretical basis for the research of mammalian reproduction regulation and the application of follicle stimulating hormone in production practice. Abstract Mammalian reproduction is mainly driven and regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which is synthesized and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, is a key regulator that ultimately affects animal fertility. As a dimeric glycoprotein hormone, the biological specificity of FSH is mainly determined by the β subunit. As research techniques are being continuously innovated, studies are exploring the underlying molecular mechanism regulating the secretion of mammalian FSH. This article will review the current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways systematically regulating FSH synthesis and will present the latest hypothesis about the nuclear cross-talk among the various endocrine-induced pathways for transcriptional regulation of the FSH β subunit. This article will provide novel ideas and potential targets for the improved use of FSH in livestock breeding and therapeutic development.
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19
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Brûlé E, Heinen CA, Smith CL, Schang G, Li Y, Zhou X, Wang Y, Joustra SD, Wit JM, Fliers E, Repping S, van Trotsenburg ASP, Bernard DJ. IGSF1 Does Not Regulate Spermatogenesis or Modify FSH Synthesis in Response to Inhibins or Activins. J Endocr Soc 2021; 5:bvab023. [PMID: 33796801 PMCID: PMC7986638 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvab023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in the X-linked immunoglobulin superfamily, member 1 (IGSF1) gene result in central hypothyroidism, often associated with macroorchidism. Testicular enlargement in these patients might be caused by increases in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, as IGSF1 has been proposed to function as an inhibin B receptor or as an inhibitor of activin type I receptor (ALK4) activity in pituitary gonadotrope cells. If true, loss of IGSF1 should lead to reduced inhibin B action or disinhibition of activin signaling, thereby increasing FSH synthesis. Here, we show that FSH levels and sperm counts are normal in male Igsf1 knockout mice, although testis size is mildly increased. Sperm parameters are also normal in men with IGSF1 deficiency, although their FSH levels may trend higher and their testes are enlarged. Inhibin B retains the ability to suppress FSH synthesis in pituitaries of Igsf1-knockout mice and IGSF1 does not interact with ALK4 or alter activin A/ALK4 stimulation of FSHβ (Fshb/FSHB) subunit transcription or expression. In light of these results, it is unlikely that macroorchidism in IGSF1 deficiency derives from alterations in spermatogenesis or inhibin/activin regulation of FSH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Brûlé
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 0C7, Canada
| | - Charlotte A Heinen
- Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, 1105 Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Courtney L Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Gauthier Schang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Yining Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Sjoerd D Joustra
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 Leiden, the Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jan M Wit
- Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Eric Fliers
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd Repping
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - A S Paul van Trotsenburg
- Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, 1105 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 0C7, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
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20
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Koo HK, Song P, Lee JH. Novel association between asthma and osteoarthritis: a nationwide health and nutrition examination survey. BMC Pulm Med 2021; 21:59. [PMID: 33593334 PMCID: PMC7885236 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-021-01425-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Asthma and osteoarthritis (OA) are medical conditions that inhibit physical activity and adversely affect quality of life. Despite the high prevalence, there are limited studies focusing on the comorbid condition and association between asthma and OA. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of OA co-occurring with asthma and to identify the relevant clinical considerations. Methods Adult participants aged over 40 years who completed questionnaire assessments and spirometry tests were enrolled from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Asthma and OA were defined based on the medical history of a diagnosis made by a doctor. Radiographic severities of OA were measured using the Kellgren–Lawrence grading system. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as a comparative respiratory disease, was diagnosed based on the spirometric results. Results A total of 9344 subjects were enrolled, and the prevalence of asthma and COPD were 4.6% ± 0.3% and 12.0% ± 0.5%, respectively. The prevalence of OA in the asthma group was 31.9% ± 2.8%, which was significantly higher than that in the COPD (17.8% ± 1.5%) or control (16.2% ± 0.6%) groups. OA was more prevalent in patients with asthma after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and smoking status (OR 1.65; 95% CI 1.27–2.13). Furthermore, after adjustment of this model for the prescription of OA medication, OA remained independently associated with asthma (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.10–2.20). Conversely, the relationship of OA medication with asthma was not significant (P = 0.64). This relationship was evident in patients with asthma without airflow limitation measured by spirometry (OR 1.97; 95% CI 1.32–2.93). Moreover, the radiographic severity of knee OA correlated with asthma (OR 1.10; 95% CI 1.0–1.21). Conclusions OA shows a high prevalence in patients with asthma, higher than in patients with COPD or the controls. The comorbid characteristics of these two conditions need to be considered in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon-Kyoung Koo
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea
| | - Pamela Song
- Department of Neurology, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea
| | - Joo-Hyun Lee
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, 10380, Korea.
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21
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Xu G, Li J, Zhang D, Su T, Li X, Cui S. HSP70 inhibits pig pituitary gonadotrophin synthesis and secretion by regulating the corticotropin-releasing hormone signaling pathway and targeting SMAD3. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2021; 74:106533. [PMID: 32992141 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2020.106533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
High levels or long periods of stress have been shown to negatively impact cell homeostasis, including with respect to abnormalities in domestic animal reproduction, which are typically activated through the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, in which corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) are involved. In addition, CRH has been reported to inhibit pituitary gonadotrophin synthesis, and HSP70 is expressed in the pituitary gland. The aim of this study was to determine whether HSP70 was involved in regulating gonadotrophin synthesis and secretion by mediating the CRH pathway in the porcine pituitary gland. Our results showed that HSP70 was highly expressed in the porcine pituitary gland, with over 90% of gonadotrophic cells testing HSP70 positive. The results of functional studies demonstrated that the HSP70 inducer decreased FSH and LH levels in cultured porcine primary pituitary cells, whereas an HSP70 inhibitor blocked the negative effect of CRH on gonadotrophin synthesis and secretion. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that HSP70 inhibited gonadotrophin synthesis and secretion by blocking GnRH-induced SMAD3 phosphorylation, which acts as the targeting molecule of HSP70, while CRH upregulated HSP70 expression through the PKC and ERK pathways. Collectively, these data demonstrate that HSP70 inhibits pituitary gonadotrophin synthesis and secretion by regulating the CRH signaling pathway and inhibiting SMAD3 phosphorylation, which are important for our understanding the mechanisms of the stress affects domestic animal reproductive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - J Li
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, The Seventh Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100700, China
| | - D Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu, China
| | - T Su
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - X Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - S Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu, China.
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22
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Yang R, Winters SJ, Moore JP. Signaling pathways and promoter regions that mediate pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) self-regulation in gonadotrophs. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 512:110851. [PMID: 32439415 PMCID: PMC7339524 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is thought to play a role in the development and regulation of gonadotrophs. PACAP levels are very high in the rodent fetal pituitary, and decline substantially and rapidly at birth, followed by a significant rise in FSHβ and GnRH-R expression. Because there is evidence that PACAP stimulates its own transcription, we propose that this self-regulation is interrupted around the time of birth. To begin to examine the mechanisms for PACAP self-regulation, we used two well-established gonadotroph cell lines, αT3-1 cells and the more mature LβT2 cells which were transfected with a PACAP promoter-reporter construct As in vivo, the basal PACAP transcription level is significantly lower in the more mature LβT2 cells in which basal cAMP signaling is also much reduced. The PACAP promoter was stimulated by PACAP in both cell lines. Treatment with inhibitors of second messenger pathways implicated PKA, PKC and MAPK in PACAP transcription. Three regions of the PACAP promoter were found to confer inhibition or stimulation of PACAP transcription. By inhibiting cAMP response element binding (CREB) activity and mutating a proximal CREB binding site, we found that CREB is essential for promoter activation. Finally, overexpression of PACAP receptor HOP1 isoform, to increase the level in LβT2 cells to that of αT3-1 cells and simulate the E19 pituitary, increased PACAP- stimulated sensitivity and significantly altered downstream gene transcription. These results provide novel insight into the feed-forward regulation of PACAP expression that may help initiate gonadotroph function at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongquiang Yang
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Stephen J Winters
- Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Joseph P Moore
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
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23
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Zhang Z, He X, Liu Q, Tang J, Di R, Chu M. TGIF1 and SF1 polymorphisms are associated with litter size in Small Tail Han sheep. Reprod Domest Anim 2020; 55:1145-1153. [PMID: 32594576 PMCID: PMC7540012 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
TGF‐β induced factor homeobox 1 (TGIF1) and splicing factor 1 (SF1) are important for mammalian reproduction; however, the effects of these genes on litter size in sheep remain unexplored. In this study, we genotyped 768 ewes from seven sheep breeds at two loci: g.37871539C>T, a synonymous mutation of TGIF1; and g.42314637T>C, a 3′UTR variant of SF1. Our analysis of polymorphism revealed only two genotypes at locus g.37871539C>T in TGIF1, with most sheep populations being moderately polymorphic (0.25 < PIC < 0.5) at this site. In contrast, most breeds exhibited low polymorphism (PIC ≤0.25) at the SF1 locus g.42314637T>C. The association analysis revealed that a synonymous mutation at g.37871539C>T in TGIF1 was highly associated with litter size in Small Tail Han sheep, in which it causes a significant decrease in litter size. Conversely, while the SF1 3′UTR variant g.42314637T>C was also highly associated with litter size in sheep, it causes a significant increase in the number of litter size. Combined, these data provide valuable information regarding candidate genetic markers for sheep breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuangbiao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyun He
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiuyue Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jishun Tang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.,Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Ran Di
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingxing Chu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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24
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Schang G, Ongaro L, Schultz H, Wang Y, Zhou X, Brûlé E, Boehm U, Lee SJ, Bernard DJ. Murine FSH Production Depends on the Activin Type II Receptors ACVR2A and ACVR2B. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5818077. [PMID: 32270195 PMCID: PMC7286621 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Activins are selective regulators of FSH production by pituitary gonadotrope cells. In a gonadotrope-like cell line, LβT2, activins stimulate FSH via the activin type IIA receptor (ACVR2A) and/or bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor (BMPR2). Consistent with these observations, FSH is greatly reduced, though still present, in global Acvr2a knockout mice. In contrast, FSH production is unaltered in gonadotrope-specific Bmpr2 knockout mice. In light of these results, we questioned whether an additional type II receptor might mediate the actions of activins or related TGF-β ligands in gonadotropes. We focused on the activin type IIB receptor (ACVR2B), even though it does not mediate activin actions in LβT2 cells. Using a Cre-lox strategy, we ablated Acvr2a and/or Acvr2b in murine gonadotropes. The resulting conditional knockout (cKO) animals were compared with littermate controls. Acvr2a cKO (cKO-A) females were subfertile (~70% reduced litter size), cKO-A males were hypogonadal, and both sexes showed marked decreases in serum FSH levels compared with controls. Acvr2b cKO (cKO-B) females were subfertile (~20% reduced litter size), cKO-B males had a moderate decrease in testicular weight, but only males showed a significant decrease in serum FSH levels relative to controls. Simultaneous deletion of both Acvr2a and Acvr2b in gonadotropes led to profound hypogonadism and FSH deficiency in both sexes; females were acyclic and sterile. Collectively, these data demonstrate that ACVR2A and ACVR2B are the critical type II receptors through which activins or related TGF-β ligands induce FSH production in mice in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gauthier Schang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Luisina Ongaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Hailey Schultz
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Emilie Brûlé
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling, Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Se-Jin Lee
- The Jackson Laboratory, Farmington, Connecticut
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Correspondence: Daniel J. Bernard, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler room 1320, Montreal H3G 1Y6, QC, Canada. E-mail:
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25
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela K Odle
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Gwen V Childs
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
- Correspondence: Gwen V. Childs, PhD, Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, 4301 W. Markham, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 501 686-7020. E-mail:
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26
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Ongaro L, Schang G, Zhou Z, Kumar TR, Treier M, Deng CX, Boehm U, Bernard DJ. Human Follicle-Stimulating Hormone ß Subunit Expression Depends on FOXL2 and SMAD4. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5805118. [PMID: 32191302 PMCID: PMC7182064 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), an essential regulator of mammalian fertility, is synthesized by pituitary gonadotrope cells in response to activins. In mice, activins signal via SMAD3, SMAD4, and FOXL2 to regulate transcription of the FSHβ subunit (Fshb) gene. Gonadotrope-specific deletion of Foxl2, alone or in combination with Smad4, renders mice FSH-deficient. Whether human FSHB expression is similarly regulated is not known. Here, we used a combination of transgenic and conditional knockout mouse strains to assess the roles of activins, FOXL2, and SMAD4 in regulation of the human FSHB gene. First, we cultured pituitaries from mice harboring a human FSHB transgene (hFSHB mice) and measured both murine Fshb and human FSHB messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression in response to exogenous activins or two antagonists of endogenous activin-like signaling (follistatin-288 and SB431542). Both murine Fshb and human FSHB expression were stimulated by activins and reduced by the inhibitors. Next, we analyzed human FSHB expression in hFSHB mice carrying floxed Foxl2 and Smad4 alleles. Cre-mediated ablation of FOXL2 and SMAD4 strongly reduced basal and activin-stimulated murine Fshb and human FSHB expression in cultured pituitaries. Finally, the hFSHB transgene was previously shown to rescue FSH production and fertility in Fshb knockout mice. However, gonadotrope-specific Foxl2/Smad4 knockout females carrying the hFSHB transgene have significantly reduced murine Fshb and human FSHB pituitary mRNA levels and are hypogonadal. Collectively, these data suggest that similar to Fshb regulation in mice, FOXL2 and SMAD4 play essential roles in human FSHB expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisina Ongaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Gauthier Schang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ziyue Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - T Rajendra Kumar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, US
| | - Mathias Treier
- Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Genetics of Metabolic and Reproductive Disorders, Berlin, Germany
| | - Chu-Xia Deng
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, China
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Correspondence: Daniel J. Bernard Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada. E-mail:
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27
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Bernard DJ, Smith CL, Brûlé E. A Tale of Two Proteins: Betaglycan, IGSF1, and the Continuing Search for the Inhibin B Receptor. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2020; 31:37-45. [PMID: 31648935 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2019.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Inhibins are gonadal hormones that suppress follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) synthesis by pituitary gonadotrope cells. The structurally related activins stimulate FSH by signaling through complexes of type I and type II receptors. Two models of inhibin action were proposed in 2000. First, inhibins function as competitive receptor antagonists, binding activin type II receptors with high affinity in the presence of the TGF-β type III coreceptor, betaglycan. Second, immunoglobulin superfamily, member 1 (IGSF1, then called p120) was proposed to mediate inhibin B antagonism of activin signaling via its type I receptor. These ideas have been challenged over the past few years. Rather than playing a role in inhibin action, IGSF1 is involved in the central control of the thyroid gland. Betaglycan binds inhibin A and inhibin B with high affinity, but only functions as an obligate inhibin A coreceptor in murine gonadotropes. There is likely to be a distinct, but currently unidentified coreceptor for inhibin B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3G 1Y6; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3G 1Y6.
| | - Courtney L Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3G 1Y6
| | - Emilie Brûlé
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3G 1Y6
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28
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Edwards W, Raetzman LT. Complex integration of intrinsic and peripheral signaling is required for pituitary gland development. Biol Reprod 2019; 99:504-513. [PMID: 29757344 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The coordination of pituitary development is complicated and requires input from multiple cellular processes. Recent research has provided insight into key molecular determinants that govern cell fate specification in the pituitary. Moreover, increasing research aimed to identify, characterize, and functionally describe the presumptive pituitary stem cell population has allowed for a better understanding of the processes that govern endocrine cell differentiation in the developing pituitary. The culmination of this research has led to the ability of investigators to recapitulate some of embryonic pituitary development in vitro, the first steps to developing novel regenerative therapies for pituitary diseases. In this current review, we cover the major players in pituitary stem/progenitor cell function and maintenance, and the key molecular determinants of endocrine cell specification. In addition, we discuss the contribution of peripheral hormonal regulation of pituitary gland development, an understudied area of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney Edwards
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Lori T Raetzman
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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29
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Cardoso-Dos-Santos AC, Tagliani-Ribeiro A, Matte U, Schuler-Faccini L. Genetic variants linked to folliculogenesis and successful pregnancy are not associated with twin births in a twins' town. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019; 33:3431-3438. [PMID: 30843750 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2019.1573791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Background: Cândido Godói (CG) is a small city in South Brazil in which natural twin births (both monozygotic and dizygotic) occur at an unusually high rate and the twin trait runs through the local families, which are mostly European descendants. We have argued that a genetic founder effect must have occurred during the settlement of CG and that genetic factors may help to explain the familial aggregation of twinning in that city.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to folliculogenesis (rs6166:C > T in FSHR, rs11031006:G > A near FSHB, and rs17293443:T > C in SMAD3) and successful pregnancies (rs2010963:C > G in VEGFA, rs1800629:G > A in TNF, rs1801131:T > G and rs1801133:G > A in MTHFR) in mothers from CG.Study design: Forty-four mothers of twins (the case group) and 102 mothers of singletons (the control group) from CG were investigated. Genotypes were determined using real-time PCR (TaqMan® SNP Genotyping Assay).Results: For all SNPs, the distributions of the genotypic and allelic frequencies were similar between cases and controls. Interestingly, a deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was detected for SNP rs11031006:G > A near FSHB in the control population. Different combinations of risk alleles and haplotypic analyses were homogeneously distributed between cases and controls.Conclusion: These results suggest a lack of association between the seven studied SNPs and twin births in CG. However, we hypothesized that other genetic variants related to folliculogenesis or successful pregnancies may be involved in this phenomenon. Identifying such genetic components may be important not only for the Brazilian "Twins' Town" but also for a better understanding of twinning in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augusto César Cardoso-Dos-Santos
- Post-graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Biosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Alice Tagliani-Ribeiro
- Post-graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Biosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Ursula Matte
- Post-graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Biosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,INAGEMP - Instituto Nacional de Genética Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lavínia Schuler-Faccini
- Post-graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Biosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,INAGEMP - Instituto Nacional de Genética Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Ongaro L, Schang G, Ho CC, Zhou X, Bernard DJ. TGF-β Superfamily Regulation of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Synthesis by Gonadotrope Cells: Is There a Role for Bone Morphogenetic Proteins? Endocrinology 2019; 160:675-683. [PMID: 30715256 PMCID: PMC6388655 DOI: 10.1210/en.2018-01038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are pleiotropic ligands in the TGF-β superfamily. In the early to mid-2000s, several BMPs, including BMP2, were shown to regulate FSH synthesis alone and in synergy with activins in immortalized gonadotrope-like cell lines and primary pituitary cultures. Activins are also TGF-β family members, which were identified and named based on their abilities to stimulate FSH production selectively. Mechanistic analyses suggested that BMP2 promoted expression of the FSHβ subunit gene (Fshb) via at least two nonmutually exclusive mechanisms. First, BMP2 stimulated the production of the inhibitor of DNA-binding proteins 1, 2, and 3 (Id1, Id2, and Id3), which potentiated the stimulatory actions of homolog of Drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic 3 (SMAD3) on the Fshb promoter. SMAD3 is an intracellular signaling protein that canonically mediates the actions of activins and is an essential regulator of Fshb production in vitro and in vivo. Second, BMP2 was shown to activate SMAD3-dependent signaling via its canonical type IA receptor, BMPR1A (also known as ALK3). This was a surprising result, as ALK3 conventionally activates distinct SMAD proteins. Although these initial results were compelling, they were challenged by contemporaneous and subsequent observations. For example, inhibitors of BMP signaling did not specifically impair FSH production in cultured pituitary cells. Of perhaps greater significance, mice lacking ALK3 in gonadotrope cells produced FSH normally. Therefore, the physiological role of BMPs in FSH synthesis in vivo is presently uncertain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisina Ongaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Gauthier Schang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Catherine C Ho
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Correspondence: Daniel J. Bernard, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Room 1315, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada. E-mail:
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Li Y, Fortin J, Ongaro L, Zhou X, Boehm U, Schneyer A, Bernard DJ, Lin HY. Betaglycan (TGFBR3) Functions as an Inhibin A, but Not Inhibin B, Coreceptor in Pituitary Gonadotrope Cells in Mice. Endocrinology 2018; 159:4077-4091. [PMID: 30364975 PMCID: PMC6372943 DOI: 10.1210/en.2018-00770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Inhibins are gonadal hormones that act on pituitary gonadotrope cells to suppress FSH synthesis and secretion. Inhibin A and B are heterodimers of the inhibin ⍺-subunit disulfide-linked to one of two inhibin β-subunits. Homodimers or heterodimers of the inhibin β-subunits form the activins, which stimulate FSH production. Activins signal through complexes of type I and II receptor serine/threonine kinases to increase transcription of the FSHβ subunit gene. According to in vitro observations, inhibins impair FSH synthesis by competitively binding to activin type II receptors, particularly in the presence of the TGFβ type III receptor (TGFBR3, or betaglycan). The role of TGFBR3 in inhibin action in vivo has not been determined. Here, we ablated Tgfbr3 specifically in murine gonadotropes. Conditional knockout females were supra-fertile, exhibiting enhanced folliculogenesis, numbers of ovulated eggs per cycle, and litter sizes relative to control mice. Despite these phenotypes, FSH levels appeared to be unaltered in knockout mice, and the mechanisms underlying their enhanced fertility remain unexplained. Inhibin B is the predominant form of the hormone in males and in females during most stages of the estrous cycle. Remarkably, inhibin A, but not inhibin B, suppression of FSH synthesis was impaired in cultured pituitaries of knockout mice, which may explain the absence of discernible changes in FSH levels in vivo. Collectively, these data challenge current dogma by demonstrating that TGFBR3 (betaglycan) functions as an inhibin A, but not an inhibin B, coreceptor in gonadotrope cells in vivo. Mechanisms of inhibin B action merit further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yining Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jérôme Fortin
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Luisina Ongaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Saarland School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | | | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Herbert Y Lin
- Program in Membrane Biology/Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Hong JQ, Wang YX, Li SH, Jiang GY, Hu B, Yang YT, Meng JH, Yan SG. Association between SMAD3 gene polymorphisms and osteoarthritis risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop Surg Res 2018; 13:232. [PMID: 30208919 PMCID: PMC6134766 DOI: 10.1186/s13018-018-0939-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Several studies have been performed to investigate the association between SMAD3 gene polymorphism and osteoarthritis (OA), but the results were inconclusive. This study aims to determine whether SMAD3 polymorphism is associated with risk of OA. Method A comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Embase, and ISI Web of Science for relevant studies was performed. After extracting data from eligible studies, we chose the fixed or random effect model according to the heterogeneity test. Estimation of publication bias and sensitivity analysis were conducted to confirm the stability of this meta-analysis. Results In total, 10 studies from 6 articles with 5093 OA patients and 5699 controls were enrolled in this meta-analysis. The combined results revealed significant association between SMAD3 rs12901499 polymorphism and the risk of OA (allele model: OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.07–1.38). Subgroup analysis revealed that G allele increased the risk of OA in Caucasians, but not in Asians (allele model: Caucasians: OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.18–1.44; Asians: OR 1.24, 95% CI 0.95–1.61). And the pooled results revealed significant association between SMAD3 rs12901499 polymorphism and both knee and hip OA (knee OA: OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04–1.34; hip OA: OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.18–1.44). Conclusion The current meta-analysis revealed that the G variant of SMAD3 rs12901499 polymorphism increased the risk of OA in Caucasians. Further well-designed studies with larger sample size in different ethnic populations are required to confirm these results. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13018-018-0939-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Qiao Hong
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang-Xin Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Si-Hao Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Guang-Yao Jiang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Hu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Te Yang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia-Hong Meng
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Shi-Gui Yan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, People's Republic of China.
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Kereilwe O, Pandey K, Kadokawa H. Influence of brain plasmalogen changes on gonadotropin secretion from the cultured bovine anterior pituitary cells. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2018; 64:77-83. [PMID: 29754010 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2018.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We recently discovered that the orphan G-protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 61 colocalized with GnRH receptors (GnRHRs) on the surface of most of bovine gonadotrophs. A recent study suggested that ethanolamine plasmalogen (PI) is a ligand for GPR61 in mouse neuroblastoma. Therefore, this study evaluated the hypothesis that PI alters LH and FSH secretion from cultured bovine anterior pituitary (AP) cells. We prepared bovine AP cells from postpubertal heifers (26 mo old) and cultured the cells for 3.5 d. We treated the cells with increasing concentrations (0, 5, 50, 500, 5,000, 50,000, or 500,000 pg/mL) of phosphoethanolamine PI (PEPI) extracted from the bovine brain, or l-α-lysophosphatidylethanolamine PI (LEPI) extracted from the bovine brain, for 5 min before either no treatment or GnRH stimulation. The medium samples were harvested 2 h after culture for LH and FSH assays. Phosphoethanolamine PI (50-500 pg/mL) stimulated (P < 0.05) the basal secretion of FSH but not LH. Phosphoethanolamine PI at 50 pg/mL also enhanced (P < 0.05) GnRH-induced FSH secretion. However, higher doses (500-500,000 pg/mL) of PEPI suppressed GnRH-induced FSH secretion. Moreover, 50 to 500,000 pg/mL PEPI suppressed GnRH-induced LH secretion. None of the tested concentrations of LEPI showed any effect on basal or GnRH-induced LH or FSH secretion. Pretreatment with Sma and Mad pathway inhibitors suppressed FSH secretion induced by PEPI, whereas an extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway inhibitor blocked the PEPI-induced suppression of GnRH-stimulated LH secretion. Therefore, PEPI, but not LEPI, extracted from the bovine brain, alters FSH and LH secretion from cultured AP cells. Further studies are required to decide whether PEPI binds to GPR61 and whether PEPI plays an important role in the control of gonadotropin secretion from gonadotrophs.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Kereilwe
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi-shi, Yamaguchi-ken, 1677-1, Japan
| | - K Pandey
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi-shi, Yamaguchi-ken, 1677-1, Japan
| | - H Kadokawa
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi-shi, Yamaguchi-ken, 1677-1, Japan.
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Li Y, Schang G, Wang Y, Zhou X, Levasseur A, Boyer A, Deng CX, Treier M, Boehm U, Boerboom D, Bernard DJ. Conditional Deletion of FOXL2 and SMAD4 in Gonadotropes of Adult Mice Causes Isolated FSH Deficiency. Endocrinology 2018; 159:2641-2655. [PMID: 29800110 PMCID: PMC6692885 DOI: 10.1210/en.2018-00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The glycoprotein FSH, a product of pituitary gonadotrope cells, regulates ovarian follicle development in females and spermatogenesis in males. FSH is a heterodimer of the common α gonadotropin subunit and the hormone-specific FSHβ subunit (a product of the Fshb gene). Using a conditional knockout approach (Cre-lox), we previously demonstrated that Fshb expression in mice depends on the transcription factors forkhead box L2 (FOXL2) and SMAD4. Deletion of Foxl2 or Smad4 alone led to FSH deficiency, female subfertility, and oligozoospermia in males. Simultaneous deletion of the two genes yielded a greater suppression of FSH and female sterility. The Cre-driver used previously was first active during embryonic development. Therefore, it is unclear whether FOXL2 and SMAD4 play important roles in the development or adult function of gonadotropes, or both. To address this question, we developed a tamoxifen-inducible Cre-driver line, which enabled Foxl2 and Smad4 gene deletions in gonadotropes of adult mice. After tamoxifen treatment, females with previously demonstrated fertility exhibited profound reductions in FSH levels, arrested ovarian follicle development, and sterility. FSH levels were comparably reduced in males 1 or 2 months after treatment; however, spermatogenesis was unaffected. These data indicate that (1) FOXL2 and SMAD4 are necessary to maintain FSH synthesis in gonadotrope cells of adult mice, (2) FSH is essential for female reproduction but appears to be unnecessary for the maintenance of spermatogenesis in adult male mice, and (3) the inducible Cre-driver line developed here provides a powerful tool to interrogate gene function in gonadotrope cells of adult mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yining Li
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Gauthier Schang
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Adrien Levasseur
- Département de Biomédecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Alexandre Boyer
- Département de Biomédecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Chu-Xia Deng
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Mathias Treier
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin-Buch, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling, Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Derek Boerboom
- Département de Biomédecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Correspondence: Daniel J. Bernard, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Room 1315, Montréal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada. E-mail:
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Belli M, Iwata N, Nakamura T, Iwase A, Stupack D, Shimasaki S. FOXL2C134W-Induced CYP19 Expression via Cooperation With SMAD3 in HGrC1 Cells. Endocrinology 2018; 159:1690-1703. [PMID: 29471425 PMCID: PMC6238151 DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-03207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Germline knockout studies in female mice demonstrated an essential role for forkhead box L2 (FOXL2) in early follicle development, whereas an inducible granulosa cell (GC)-specific deletion of Foxl2 in adults has shown ovary-to-testis somatic sex reprogramming. In women, over 120 different germline mutations in the FOXL2 gene have been shown to cause blepharophimosis/ptosis/epicantus inversus syndrome associated with or without primary ovarian insufficiency. By contrast, a single somatic mutation (FOXL2C134W) accounts for almost all adult-type GC tumors (aGCTs). To test the hypothesis that FOXL2C134W differentially regulates the expression of aGCT markers, we investigated the effect of FOXL2C134W on inhibin B and P450 aromatase expression using a recently established human GC line (HGrC1), which we now show to bear two normal alleles of FOXL2. Neither FOXL2wt nor FOXL2C134W regulate INHBB messenger RNA (mRNA) expression. However, FOXL2C134W selectively displays a 50-fold induction of CYP19 mRNA expression dependent upon activin A. Mechanistically, the CYP19 promoter is activated in a similar way by FOXL2C134W interaction with SMAD3, but not by FOXL2wt. SMAD2 had no effect. Moreover, FOXL2C134W interactions with SMAD3 and with the FOX binding element located at -199 bp upstream of the ATG initiation codon of CYP19 are more sustainable than FOXL2wt. Thus, FOXL2C134W potentiates CYP19 expression in HGrC1 cells via enhanced recruitment of SMAD3 to a proximal FOX binding element. These findings may explain the pathophysiology of estrogen excess in patients with aGCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Belli
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Nahoko Iwata
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Tomoko Nakamura
- Center for Maternal-Perinatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Akira Iwase
- Center for Maternal-Perinatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Dwayne Stupack
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Shunichi Shimasaki
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
- Correspondence: Shunichi Shimasaki, PhD, Department of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093. E-mail:
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Das N, Kumar TR. Molecular regulation of follicle-stimulating hormone synthesis, secretion and action. J Mol Endocrinol 2018; 60:R131-R155. [PMID: 29437880 PMCID: PMC5851872 DOI: 10.1530/jme-17-0308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) plays fundamental roles in male and female fertility. FSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein expressed by gonadotrophs in the anterior pituitary. The hormone-specific FSHβ-subunit is non-covalently associated with the common α-subunit that is also present in the luteinizing hormone (LH), another gonadotrophic hormone secreted by gonadotrophs and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secreted by thyrotrophs. Several decades of research led to the purification, structural characterization and physiological regulation of FSH in a variety of species including humans. With the advent of molecular tools, availability of immortalized gonadotroph cell lines and genetically modified mouse models, our knowledge on molecular mechanisms of FSH regulation has tremendously expanded. Several key players that regulate FSH synthesis, sorting, secretion and action in gonads and extragonadal tissues have been identified in a physiological setting. Novel post-transcriptional and post-translational regulatory mechanisms have also been identified that provide additional layers of regulation mediating FSH homeostasis. Recombinant human FSH analogs hold promise for a variety of clinical applications, whereas blocking antibodies against FSH may prove efficacious for preventing age-dependent bone loss and adiposity. It is anticipated that several exciting new discoveries uncovering all aspects of FSH biology will soon be forthcoming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandana Das
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, U.S.A
| | - T. Rajendra Kumar
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, U.S.A
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, U.S.A
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, U.S.A
- Author for Correspondence: T. Rajendra Kumar, PhD, Edgar L. and Patricia M. Makowski Professor, Associate Vice-Chair of Research, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop 8613, Research Complex 2, Room # 15-3000B, 12700 E. 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA, Tel: 303-724-8689,
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Brown JL, Xie J, Brieño-Enriquez MA, Sones J, Angulo CN, Boehm U, Miller A, Toufaily C, Wang Y, Bernard DJ, Roberson MS. Sex- and Age-Specific Impact of ERK Loss Within the Pituitary Gonadotrope in Mice. Endocrinology 2018; 159:1264-1276. [PMID: 29300908 PMCID: PMC5802804 DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-00653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling regulates hormone action in the reproductive axis, but specific mechanisms have yet to be completely elucidated. In the current study, ERK1 null and ERK2 floxed mice were combined with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR)-internal ribosomal entry site-Cre (GRIC) driver. Female ERK double-knockout (ERKdko) animals were hypogonadotropic, resulting in anovulation and complete infertility. Transcript levels of four gonadotrope-specific genes (GnRHR and the three gonadotropin subunits) were reduced in pituitaries at estrus in ERKdko females, and the postcastration response to endogenous GnRH hyperstimulation was blunted. As females aged, they exhibited abnormal ovarian histology, as well as increased body weight. ERKdko males were initially less affected, showing moderate subfertility, up to 6 months of age. Male ERKdko mice also displayed a blunted response to endogenous GnRH following castration. By 12 months of age, ERKdko males had reduced testicular weights and sperm production. By 18 months of age, the ERKdko males displayed reduced testis and seminal vesicle weights, marked seminiferous tubule degeneration, and a 77% reduction in sperm production relative to controls. As the GRIC is also active in the male germ line, we examined the specific role of ERK loss in the testes using the stimulated by retinoic acid 8 (Stra8)-Cre driver. Whereas ERK loss in GRIC and Stra8 males resulted in comparable losses in sperm production, seminiferous tubule histological degeneration was only observed in the GRIC-ERKdko animals. Our data suggest that loss of ERK signaling and hypogonadotropism within the reproductive axis impacts fertility and gonadal aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Brown
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Jianjun Xie
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | | | - Jennifer Sones
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
| | - Cynthia N Angulo
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling, Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Andrew Miller
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Chirine Toufaily
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Québec, Canada
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Québec, Canada
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Québec, Canada
| | - Mark S Roberson
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
- Correspondence: Mark S. Roberson, PhD, Department of Biomedical Sciences, T4-018 Veterinary Research Tower, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853. E-mail:
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Zhong F, Lu J, Wang Y, Song H. Genetic variation of SMAD3 is associated with hip osteoarthritis in a Chinese Han population. J Int Med Res 2018; 46:1178-1186. [PMID: 29310478 PMCID: PMC5972263 DOI: 10.1177/0300060517745186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective This study was performed to investigate the association between genetic variation in SMAD3 and hip osteoarthritis (OA) in a Chinese Han population. Methods The frequency of two single nucleotide polymorphisms of SMAD3, rs1470002 and rs12901499, was examined in 500 patients with hip OA and 1080 healthy controls in a Chinese Han population. Further analysis was performed according to sex and age. Results We detected statistically significant differences in the allele frequency and genotype between the hip OA and healthy control groups. The frequency of the GA+GG and GA genotypes of rs12901499 and the G variant were much higher in patients with hip OA than in healthy controls. This association was also present when the participants were stratified by sex and age. However, there was no significant association between the risk of hip OA and the presence of rs1470002 GA, AA, or GA+AA genotypes, even after sex- and age-stratified analysis. Conclusions The SMAD3 SNP rs12901499 GA genotype and G variant may increase the risk of hip OA in Chinese Han patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuhua Zhong
- 1 Department of Orthopedics, 414282 Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province , Zhejiang, CN, P.R. China
| | - Jianwei Lu
- 1 Department of Orthopedics, 414282 Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province , Zhejiang, CN, P.R. China
| | - Yangxin Wang
- 2 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital's Campus in Binjiang District, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, CN, P.R. China
| | - Hongpu Song
- 1 Department of Orthopedics, 414282 Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province , Zhejiang, CN, P.R. China
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Odle AK, Akhter N, Syed MM, Allensworth-James ML, Beneš H, Melgar Castillo AI, MacNicol MC, MacNicol AM, Childs GV. Leptin Regulation of Gonadotrope Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptors As a Metabolic Checkpoint and Gateway to Reproductive Competence. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 8:367. [PMID: 29354094 PMCID: PMC5760501 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2017.00367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The adipokine leptin signals the body's nutritional status to the brain, and particularly, the hypothalamus. However, leptin receptors (LEPRs) can be found all throughout the body and brain, including the pituitary. It is known that leptin is permissive for reproduction, and mice that cannot produce leptin (Lep/Lep) are infertile. Many studies have pinpointed leptin's regulation of reproduction to the hypothalamus. However, LEPRs exist at all levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. We have previously shown that deleting the signaling portion of the LEPR specifically in gonadotropes impairs fertility in female mice. Our recent studies have targeted this regulation to the control of gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) expression. The hypotheses presented here are twofold: (1) cyclic regulation of pituitary GnRHR levels sets up a target metabolic checkpoint for control of the reproductive axis and (2) multiple checkpoints are required for the metabolic signaling that regulates the reproductive axis. Here, we emphasize and explore the relationship between the hypothalamus and the pituitary with regard to the regulation of GnRHR. The original data we present strengthen these hypotheses and build on our previous studies. We show that we can cause infertility in 70% of female mice by deleting all isoforms of LEPR specifically in gonadotropes. Our findings implicate activin subunit (InhBa) mRNA as a potential leptin target in gonadotropes. We further show gonadotrope-specific upregulation of GnRHR protein (but not mRNA levels) following leptin stimulation. In order to try and understand this post-transcriptional regulation, we tested candidate miRNAs (identified with in silico analysis) that may be binding the Gnrhr mRNA. We show significant upregulation of one of these miRNAs in our gonadotrope-Lepr-null females. The evidence provided here, combined with our previous work, lay the foundation for metabolically regulated post-transcriptional control of the gonadotrope. We discuss possible mechanisms, including miRNA regulation and the involvement of the RNA binding protein, Musashi. We also demonstrate how this regulation may be vital for the dynamic remodeling of gonadotropes in the cycling female. Finally, we propose that the leptin receptivity of both the hypothalamus and the pituitary are vital for the body's ability to delay or slow reproduction during periods of low nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela K. Odle
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Noor Akhter
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Mohsin M. Syed
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Melody L. Allensworth-James
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Helen Beneš
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Andrea I. Melgar Castillo
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Melanie C. MacNicol
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Angus M. MacNicol
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Gwen V. Childs
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
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Fung RSK, Bai J, Yuen KWY, Wong AOL. Activin/follistatin system in grass carp pituitary cells: - Regulation by local release of growth hormone and luteinizing hormone and its functional role in growth hormone synthesis and secretion. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0179789. [PMID: 28662143 PMCID: PMC5491050 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Gonadotrophin regulation by activin/follistatin system is well-documented, but the corresponding effect on growth hormone (GH) has not been fully characterized and with little information available in lower vertebrates, especially in fish models. In grass carp, local interactions of GH and luteinizing hormone (LH) can induce GH release and gene expression at pituitary level via autocrine/paracrine mechanisms. To shed light on the role of activin/follistatin system in GH regulation by local actions of GH and LH, grass carp activin βA and βB were cloned, shown to be single-copy genes expressed in the pituitary, and confirmed to encode activin proteins capable of transactivating promoter with activin-responsive elements. In grass carp pituitary cells, activin A and B were effective in reducing GH secretion and GH cell content with concurrent drop in GH mRNA level whereas the opposite was true for follistatin, the activin-binding protein known to neutralize the effects of endogenous activin. Treatment with activin A and B not only could suppress basal but also inhibit GH mRNA expression induced by GH and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a functional analogue of LH in fish model. Apparently, down-regulation of GH mRNA by activin was mediated by reducing GH transcript stability with concurrent inhibition on GH promoter activity via the SMAD pathway. In reciprocal experiments, GH treatment was found to up-regulate activin βA, activin βB and follistatin mRNA levels in carp pituitary cells but the opposite was noted by removing endogenous GH with GH antiserum. Interestingly, parallel treatment with hCG could also inhibit basal as well as GH-induced activin βA, activin βB and follistatin gene expression. These results, as a whole, indicate that the pituitary activin/follistatin system can serve as a regulatory target for local interactions of GH and LH and contribute to GH regulation by autocrine/paracrine mechanisms in the carp pituitary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger S. K. Fung
- School of Biological Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jin Bai
- School of Biological Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Karen W. Y. Yuen
- School of Biological Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Anderson O. L. Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
- * E-mail:
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