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Li H, Guo Y, Zhang G, Deng J, Fischer H, Craig LB, Yu X, Kem DC. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone receptor autoantibodies induce polycystic ovary syndrome-like features in a rat model. Exp Physiol 2021; 106:902-912. [PMID: 33576068 DOI: 10.1113/ep089109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
NEW FINDINGS What is the central question of this study? Is there a causal relationship between gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor-activating autoantibodies and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? What is the main finding and its importance? Induction of GnRH receptor-activating autoantibodies in rats resulted in increased luteinizing hormone pulsatility and testosterone concentrations, disrupted oestrous cycles, increased atretic follicles, and activation of insulin signalling in the pituitary and ovary. These changes replicate those seen in humans with PCOS, suggesting that GnRH receptor-activating autoantibodies might be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS. ABSTRACT Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone receptor-activating autoantibodies (GnRHR-AAb) are associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In the present study, we examined the impact of GnRHR-AAb on reproductive function in GnRHR-immunized female rats. All immunized rats produced high titres of GnRHR-AAb targeting a dominant epitope located in the central region of the second extracellular loop of the GnRHR. Increased pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion and testosterone concentrations were found in immunized rats. These rats exhibited disrupted oestrous cycles, increased ovarian follicular atresia, and activation of insulin signalling in the pituitary and ovary, as indicated by increased mRNA expressions of insulin receptor substrate, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and glucose transporter 1. No significant changes in inflammatory cytokines were detected in the ovarian tissue. These features mimic those observed in humans with PCOS. Our findings support the concept that chronic stimulation of the GnRHR by GnRHR-AAb, with an associated increase in pituitary luteinizing hormone secretion and ovarian androgen overproduction, might represent a new aetiological mechanism for PCOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongliang Li
- Department of Medicine, Endocrinology Section and the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Yankai Guo
- Department of Medicine, Endocrinology Section and the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.,Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Gege Zhang
- Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Jielin Deng
- Department of Medicine, Endocrinology Section and the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.,Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hayley Fischer
- Department of Medicine, Endocrinology Section and the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - LaTasha B Craig
- Section of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Xichun Yu
- Department of Medicine, Endocrinology Section and the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - David C Kem
- Department of Medicine, Endocrinology Section and the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
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Gibbison B, Keenan DM, Roelfsema F, Evans J, Phillips K, Rogers CA, Angelini GD, Lightman SL. Response to Letter to the Editor: "Dynamic Pituitary-Adrenal Interactions in the Critically Ill After Cardiac Surgery". J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2020; 105:5865825. [PMID: 32609339 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ben Gibbison
- Department of Anaesthesia, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Daniel M Keenan
- Dept of Statistics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Ferdinand Roelfsema
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Endocrinology, University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jon Evans
- Clinical Trials and Evaluation Unit, Bristol Trials Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Kirsty Phillips
- Dept of Pathology, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Chris A Rogers
- Clinical Trials and Evaluation Unit, Bristol Trials Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Gianni D Angelini
- Dept of Cardiac Surgery, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Stafford L Lightman
- Henry Wellcome Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Keenan DM, Veldhuis JD. Pulsatility of Hypothalamo-Pituitary Hormones: A Challenge in Quantification. Physiology (Bethesda) 2017; 31:34-50. [PMID: 26674550 DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00027.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroendocrine systems control many of the most fundamental physiological processes, e.g., reproduction, growth, adaptations to stress, and metabolism. Each such system involves the hypothalamus, the pituitary, and a specific target gland or organ. In the quantification of the interactions among these components, biostatistical modeling has played an important role. In the present article, five key challenges to an understanding of the interactions of these systems are illustrated and discussed critically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Keenan
- Department of Statistics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia; and
| | - Johannes D Veldhuis
- Department of Medicine, Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Clinical Translational Science Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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Veldhuis J, Yang R, Roelfsema F, Takahashi P. Proinflammatory Cytokine Infusion Attenuates LH's Feedforward on Testosterone Secretion: Modulation by Age. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2016; 101:539-49. [PMID: 26600270 PMCID: PMC4880122 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2015-3611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT In the experimental animal, inflammatory signals quench LH's feedforward drive of testosterone (T) secretion and appear to impair GnRH-LH output. The degree to which such suppressive effects operate in the human is not known. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that IL-2 impairs LH's feedforward drive on T and T's feedback inhibition of LH secretion in healthy men. SETTING Mayo Center for Translational Science Activities. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS A total of 35 healthy men, 17 young and 18 older. INTERVENTIONS Randomized prospective double-blind saline-controlled study of IL-2 infusion in 2 doses with concurrent 10-minute blood sampling for 24 hours. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Deconvolution analysis of LH and T secretion. RESULTS After saline injection, older compared with young men exhibited reduced LH feedforward drive on T secretion (P < .001), and decreased T feedback inhibition of LH secretion (P < .01). After IL-2 injection, LH's feedforward onto T secretion declined markedly especially in young subjects (P < .001). Concomitantly, IL-2 potentiated T's proportional feedback on LH secretion especially in older volunteers. CONCLUSION This investigation confirms combined feedforward and feedback deficits in older relative to young men given saline and demonstrates 1) joint mechanisms by which IL-2 enforces biochemical hypogonadism, viz, combined feedforward block and feedback amplification; and 2) unequal absolute inhibition of T and LH secretion by IL-2 in young and older men. These outcomes establish that the male gonadal axis is susceptible to dual-site suppression by a prototypic inflammatory mediator. Thus, we postulate that selected ILs might also enforce male hypogonadism in chronic systemic inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Veldhuis
- Endocrine Research Unit (J.V., R.Y.), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Center for Translational Science Activities, and Primary Care Internal Medicine (P.T.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905; and Leiden University Medical Center (F.R.), 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rebecca Yang
- Endocrine Research Unit (J.V., R.Y.), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Center for Translational Science Activities, and Primary Care Internal Medicine (P.T.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905; and Leiden University Medical Center (F.R.), 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ferdinand Roelfsema
- Endocrine Research Unit (J.V., R.Y.), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Center for Translational Science Activities, and Primary Care Internal Medicine (P.T.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905; and Leiden University Medical Center (F.R.), 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Paul Takahashi
- Endocrine Research Unit (J.V., R.Y.), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Center for Translational Science Activities, and Primary Care Internal Medicine (P.T.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905; and Leiden University Medical Center (F.R.), 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
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Mattsson P, Medvedev A. Modeling of Testosterone Regulation by Pulse-Modulated Feedback. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2015; 823:23-40. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-10984-8_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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Veldhuis JD, Liu PY, Takahashi PY, Weist SM, Wigham JR. Analysis of the impact of intravenous LH pulses versus continuous LH infusion on testosterone secretion during GnRH-receptor blockade. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2012; 303:R994-R1002. [PMID: 22992702 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00314.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulsatility is required for optimal luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion, but whether LH pulsatility is required for physiological testosterone (T) secretion is not known. To test the postulate that pulses of recombinant human (rh) LH stimulate greater T secretion than continuous infusion of the same dose, a potent selective GnRH antagonist was administered overnight to 19 healthy men ages 18-49 yr. Subjects then received saline or rhLH intravenously continuously or as 6-min pulses intravenously every 1 or 2 h at the same total dose. Blood was sampled every 10 min for 10 h to quantify T responses. For the four interventions, the descending rank order of mean LH and mean T concentrations was 1-h = 2-h rhLH pulses > continuous rhLH > saline (P < 10(-3)). Plateau LH and T concentrations correlated positively (R(2) = 0.943, P = 0.029) as did LH concentrations and LH half-lives (R(2) = 0.962, P = 0.019). Percentage pulsatile T secretion assessed by deconvolution analysis (Keenan DM, Takahashi PY, Liu PY, Roebuck PD, Nehra AX, Iranmanesh A, Veldhuis JD. Endocrinology 147: 2817-2828, 2006) was the highest (P = 0.019), and half-time to attain peak T concentrations was the shortest (P < 10(-6)), for 1-h rhLH pulses. Approximate entropy (a pattern-regularity measure) revealed more orderly T secretion for 1- than 2-h rhLH pulses (P = 0.0076). Accordingly, a pulsatile LH signal, while not obligatory to maintain mean T concentrations, controls the mean plasma LH concentration and determines quantifiable patterns of T secretion. These data introduce the question whether blood T patterns in turn supervise distinctive target-tissue responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes D Veldhuis
- Endocrine Research Unit, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Center for Translational Science Activities, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
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Keenan DM, Wang X, Pincus SM, Veldhuis JD. Modeling the Nonlinear Time Dynamics of Multidimensional Hormonal Systems. JOURNAL OF TIME SERIES ANALYSIS 2012; 33:779-796. [PMID: 22977290 PMCID: PMC3437937 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9892.2012.00795.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
In most hormonal systems (as well as many physiological systems more generally), the chemical signals from the brain, which drive much of the dynamics, can not be observed in humans. By the time the molecules reach peripheral blood, they have been so diluted so as to not be assayable. It is not possible to invasively (surgically) measure these agents in the brain. This creates a difficult situation in terms of assessing whether or not the dynamics may have changed due to disease or aging. Moreover, most biological feedforward and feedback interactions occur after time delays, and the time delays need to be properly estimated. We address the following two questions: (1) Is it possible to devise a combination of clinical experiments by which, via exogenous inputs, the hormonal system can be perturbed to new steady-states in such a way that information about the unobserved components can be ascertained; and, (2) Can one devise methods to estimate (possibly, time-varying) time delays between components of a multidimensional nonlinear time series, which are more robust than traditional methods? We present methods for both questions, using the Stress (ACTH-cortisol) hormonal system as a prototype, but the approach is more broadly applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Keenan
- Department of Statistics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va 22904
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