Protective properties of heme oxygenase-1 expressed in umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells help restore the ovarian function of premature ovarian failure mice through activating the JNK/Bcl-2 signal pathway-regulated autophagy and upregulating the circulating of CD8+CD28- T cells

Background

Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell (UCMSCs) transplantation has been widely studied in premature ovarian failure (POF). However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. This study aims to investigate the protective properties and mechanisms of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expressed in UCMSCs in restoring the ovarian function of POF mice.

Methods

In in vitro and in vivo experiments, mice were treated with the presence or absence of the HO-1/shHO-1-transfected UCMSCs, and the administration of SP600125 or anisomycin, the inhibitor or activator of JNK. The viability and apoptosis of granulosa cells (GCs) at different time points of co-cultivation were assessed in vitro. In in vivo experiments, mouse ovarian function was assessed by detecting the serum levels of hormone and observing the ovarian morphological changes. Multiple molecular indices of JNK/Bcl-2 signal pathway were performed. And the autophagy changes in GCs were assessed by detecting the associated cytokines and observing the intracellular autophagosome accumulation. Additionally, the spleen levels of CD8⁺CD28⁻ T cells and serum levels of interleukin 10 (IL-10) were tested to evaluate the immune mechanisms involved.

Results

UCMSCs transfected with shHO-1 or treated with SP600125 inhibited GCs’ viability and promoted its apoptosis in a time-dependent manner in vitro. In in vivo experiments, mice in both groups showed little therapeutic efficiency which presented as the increased extent of ovarian fibrosis with decreased number of functional follicles, and disordered hormone production. Additionally, the JNK/Bcl-2-associated cytokines were obviously declined. The inhibited autophagy-related cytokines, the chromatin condensation and abound vacuolar autophagosome in GCs, and weakened fluorescence intensity by MDC were observed. The downregulated levels of CD8⁺CD28⁻ T cells and serum levels of IL-10 were also detected. The damages above can be alleviated with HO-1-MSCs treatment or anisomycin administration.

Conclusions

HO-1 expressed in UCMSCs is critical in restoring the ovarian function in POF mice with UCMSC transplantation, which is mediated by the activation of JNK/Bcl-2 signal pathway-regulated autophagy and upregulating the circulating of CD8⁺CD28⁻ T cells.

MiR-873-5p regulated LPS-induced oxidative stress via targeting heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in KGN cells

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women.

High Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Levels in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis

The objective of the study is to assess the TNF-α levels in PCOS patients and healthy controls. A comprehensive electronic search in Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library database was conducted up to July 2016. Random-effects model was used to estimate the standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Twenty-nine studies with a total of 1960 participants (1046 PCOS patients and 914 controls) were included in this meta-analysis. The TNF-α levels in PCOS patients were significantly higher than those in controls (random-effects, SMD = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.28-0.92, P<0.001). With regard to the subgroup analyses stratified by ethnicity, study quality, methods, and BMI, significantly high TNF-α levels were found in patients with PCOS in almost all of these subgroups. In the subgroup stratified by HOMA-IR ratio and T ratio, significant differences were only observed in the subgroups with HOMA-IR ratio of >1.72(SMD = 0.967, 95% CI = 0.103-1.831, P = 0.028, I2 = 93.5%) and T ratio>2.10 (SMD = 1.420, 95% CI = 0.429-2.411, P = 0.005, I2 = 96.1%). By meta-regression it was suggested that ethnicity might contribute little to the heterogeneity between the included studies. Through cumulative meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis it was supposed that the higher TNF-α levels of PCOS patients compared to healthy controls was stable and reliable. This meta-analysis suggests that the circulating TNF-α levels in women with PCOS are significantly higher than those in healthy controls. It may be involved in promoting insulin resistance and androgen excess of PCOS.

Induction of heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) does not enhance adiponectin production in human adipocytes: Evidence against a direct HO-1 - Adiponectin axis

Adiponectin is a salutary adipokine and hypoadiponectinemia is implicated in the aetiology of obesity-related inflammation and cardiometabolic disease making therapeutic strategies to increase adiponectin attractive. Emerging evidence, predominantly from preclinical studies, suggests induction of heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) increases adiponectin production and reduces inflammatory tone. Here, we aimed to test whether induction of HO-1 enhanced adiponectin production from mature adipocytes. Treatment of human adipocytes with cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) or hemin for 24-48 h increased HO-1 expression and activity without affecting adiponectin expression and secretion. Treatment of adipocytes with TNFα reduced adiponectin secretion and increased expression and secretion of additional pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and MCP-1, as well as expression of sXBP-1, a marker of ER stress. HO-1 induction failed to reverse these effects. These results demonstrate that induction of HO-1 does not directly enhance adiponectin production or ameliorate the pro-inflammatory effects of TNFα and argue against a direct HO-1 - adiponectin axis.

Gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue differs in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and controls matched pair-wise for age, body weight, and body mass index

Adipose tissue dysfunction may be a central factor in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue in PCOS and its relation to metabolic and endocrine features of the syndrome have been fragmentarily investigated. The aim was to assess in subcutaneous adipose tissue the expression of genes potentially associated with adipose tissue dysfunction and to explore their relation to features of the syndrome. Twenty-one women with PCOS (body mass index [BMI] 18.2–33.4 kg/m²) and 21 controls (BMI 19.2–31.7 kg/m²) were matched pair-wise for age, body weight, and BMI. Tissue biopsies were obtained to measure mRNA expression of 44 genes (TaqMan Low Density Array). Differential expression levels were correlated with BMI, glucose infusion rate (GIR), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and sex steroids. In PCOS, expression of adiponectin receptor 2 (ADIPOR2), LPL, and twist-related protein 1 (TWIST1) was decreased, while expression of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) and heme oxygenase (decycling 1) (HMOX1) was increased. TWIST1 and HMOX1, both novel adipokines, correlated with BMI and GIR. After BMI adjustment, LPL and ADIPOR2 expression correlated with plasma estradiol, and CCL2 expression correlated with GIR, in all women. We conclude that adipose tissue mRNA expression differed in PCOS women and controls and that two novel adipokines, TWIST1 and HMOX1, together with adiponectin, LPL, and CCL2, and their downstream pathways merit further investigation.

Effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist on ES-2 ovarian cancer cells

OBJECTIVE

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor is found in the ovarian tissue, including epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), suggesting that GnRH agonists may have direct action on EOC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ovarian clear cell cancer (ES-2) cells were treated with low-dose GnRH agonist with/without low-dose paclitaxel (1 μM D-Lys(6) with/without 0.5 μM or 1.0 μM paclitaxel). Growth and behavior of ES-2 cells were evaluated.

RESULTS

Use of either D-Lys(6) or paclitaxel or a combination of the two did not affect the morphology and growth pattern of ES-2 cells. However, ability of migration and invasion of ES-2 cells was significantly decreased in either use of D-Lys(6) or paclitaxel and more apparent with the combination. Type I GnRH receptor expression of ES-2 was not altered significantly by the combination.

CONCLUSION

GnRH agonist might modify the ES-2 ovarian cancer cells, and its role might be independent, additional or synergistic, suggesting the potential role of the use of GnRH agonist in the management of clear cell type of the ovarian cancer. However, the results of this study were derived using ES-2 ovarian cancer cells, and might not be valid in other cell types of ovarian cancers.

Adiponectin in renal disease--a review of the evidence as a risk factor for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality

Adiponectin, an adipokine, was discovered in 1995. The initial evidence led to the study of adiponectin as a determinant of insulin sensitivity and blood glucose levels. The literature then evolved to reports of the inverse association of adiponectin with incident Type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease. Shortly thereafter, reports of a positive association with heart failure and mortality appeared and were replicated. We review here the basic science evidence and clinical studies of the role of renal function and kidney disease as a determinant of adiponectin.