Project description:Considering the well-documented importance of androgens in the female reproductive system and particularly in maintenance of the ovarian follicular reserve, follicle growth and granulosa cell proliferation, we hypothesized that activation of the androgen receptor in granulosa cells with DHT induces significant changes in gene transcription. To determine the AR-regulated gene transcriptome in mouse granulosa cells, we treated female mice aged 18 weeks (n=5) with an introperitoneal injection of dihydrotestosterone (DHT, 29 mcg) in a vehicle of 90% sesame oil and 10% ethanol in a total volume of 100 microliters. 18 hours later, granulosa cells were harvested and mRNA was isolated for RNA sequencing. Surprisingly, no genes were differentially expressed in the granulosa cells obtained from DHT-treated compared with vehicle-treated mice. We then assessed the AR-regulated transcriptome in DHT-treated human granulosa-derived KGN cells. After 24 hours of serum starvation, KGN cells were treated with 25 nM DHT or ethanol for 12 hours in five independent experiments, then RNA was extracted for RNA sequencing. In paired analysis to eliminate inter-experimental variability, 173 genes were differentially expressed in DHT-treated compared with vehicle-treated cells. Of these, 125 genes were upregulated by DHT and 48 genes were downregulated by DHT. However, the fold change in expression was very small (ranging from 0.87 to 1.37, DHT vs vehicle). Although these differences were statistically signficant in paired analysis, they are unlikely to be of biological significance due to such small fold changes in expression. We conclude that AR likely has negligible gene-transcription activity in granulosa cells. Importantly, these experiments were not designed to capture any changes in non-coding RNAs.
Project description:Here we tested the hypothesis that intrauterine infusion of pathogenic bacteria leads to changes in the transcriptome of the reproductive tract in dairy cattle three months later. We used virgin Holstein heifers to avoid the confounding effects of periparturient problems, metabolic stress and lactation. Animals were infused intrauterine with endometrial pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli and Trueperella pyogenes to induce clinical endometritis (n = 4) and compared with control animals (n = 6). Three months after infusion, the caruncular and intercaruncular endometrium, isthmus and ampulla of the oviduct, and granulosa cells from dominant ovarian follicles were profiled by RNA-sequencing. Compared with control, bacterial infusion altered the transcriptome of all the tissues. Most differentially expressed genes were tissue-specific, with 109 differentially expressed genes unique to the caruncular endometrium, 57 in the intercaruncular endometrium, 65 in the isthmus, 298 in the ampulla, and 83 in granulosa cells. Surprisingly, despite infusing the bacteria into the uterus, the granulosa cells had more predicted upstream regulators of differentially expressed genes than all the other tissues combined. In conclusion, there was evidence of long-term changes to the transcriptome of the endometrium, oviduct and even the granulosa cells after intrauterine infusion of pathogenic bacteria, which implies that all these tissues contribute to the infertility that persists after endometritis.
Project description:FOXL2 is a transcription factor essential for female fertility, expressed in somatic cells of the ovary, notably granulosa cells. In the mouse, Foxl2 deletion leads to partial sex reversal postnatally. However, deletion of the gene in 8-week-old females leads to granulosa to Sertoli cell transdifferentiation. We hypothesised that different outcomes of Foxl2 deletion in embryonic versus adult ovary may depend on a different role played across ovarian development. Therefore, we characterised the dynamics of gene expression and chromatin accessibility changes in purified murine granulosa cells across key developmental stages (E14.5, 1 and 8 weeks). We then performed genome-wide identification of FOXL2 target genes and on-chromatin interacting partners by ChIP-SICAP. We found that FOXL2 regulates more genes at postnatal stages, through the interaction with factors regulating primordial follicle activation (PFA), such as NR5A2, and others regulating steroidogenesis including AR and ESR2. As a proof of principle experiment, we chose one FOXL2 interactor, Ubiquitin specific protease 7 (USP7) and showed that deletion of this gene in granulosa cells leads to a blockage of PFA, impaired ovary development and sterility. Our study constitutes a comprehensive resource for exploration of the molecular mechanisms of ovarian development and causes of female infertility.
Project description:Background: Turner syndrome, a common sex chromosome aneuploidy, has characteristics and malformations associated with the phenotype. Fetal amniotic fluid is a complex biological material that could contribute to the understanding Turner syndrome pathogenesis. Global gene expression analysis of Turner syndrome fetal amniotic fluid supernatant was utilized to identify organ systems and specific genes that may play a role in the pathophysiologic changes that are seen in individuals with Turner syndrome. Methods: Global gene expression analysis was performed utilizing cell-free RNA from five midtrimester fetuses with Turner syndrome matched with five euploid female fetuses. Total RNA was extracted, amplified, hybridized onto GeneChip® Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 arrays. Network and pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes were completed. Chromosomal distribution of gene expression differences, differential expression by pathway and organ system (a “Turner syndrome core transcriptome”), and candidate genes that could play a pathological role were identified. Results: There were 470 differentially expressed genes identified in the Turner syndrome transcriptome. The differentially expressed genes were distributed randomly across different chromosomes. Among genes on the X chromosome, XIST was down-regulated, and SHOX not differentially expressed. The most highly represented organ systems were hematologic/immune and neurologic. Increased representation of differentially expressed genes in the hematologic/immune system distinguishes the Turner syndrome transcriptome from the euploid, trisomy 18 and trisomy 21 transcriptomes previously studied in our laboratory. Manual curation of the differentially expressed gene list identified genes including NFATC3, IGFBP5, and LDLR that warrant further study.
2014-06-13 | GSE58435 | GEO
Project description:Differentially expressed genes in Esr2 null granulosa cells at different stages of gonadotropin stimulation
Project description:Metritis is associated with reduced fertility in dairy cows, but the mechanisms are unclear because the disease resolves several weeks before insemination. One hypothesis is that metritis causes persistent changes in granulosa cells during follicle development, which might be evident in the transcriptome of granulosa cells from dominant follicles weeks after parturition. To test this hypothesis we collected follicular fluid and granulosa cells from dominant follicles 63 days post partum from cows previously diagnosed with metritis, at least 6 weeks after resolution of the disease, and from cows not diagnosed with metritis (control cows). Bacterial lipopolysaccharide was detected in follicular fluid, and concentrations were associated with follicular fluid IL-8 and glucose concentrations. Transcriptome analysis using RNAseq revealed 177 differentially expressed genes in granulosa cells collected from cows that had metritis compared with control cows. The most upregulated genes were ITLN1, NCF2, CLRN3, FSIP2 and ANKRD17, and the most downregulated genes were ACSM1, NR4A2, GHITM, CBARP and NR1I3. Pathway analysis indicated that the differentially expressed genes were involved with immune function, cell-cell communication, cell cycle and cellular metabolism. Predicted upstream regulators of the differentially expressed genes included NFκB, IL-21 and lipopolysaccharide, which are associated with infection and immunity. Our data provide evidence for a persistent effect of metritis on the transcriptome of granulosa cells in ovarian follicles after the resolution of disease
Project description:Background: Turner syndrome, a common sex chromosome aneuploidy, has characteristics and malformations associated with the phenotype. Fetal amniotic fluid is a complex biological material that could contribute to the understanding Turner syndrome pathogenesis. Global gene expression analysis of Turner syndrome fetal amniotic fluid supernatant was utilized to identify organ systems and specific genes that may play a role in the pathophysiologic changes that are seen in individuals with Turner syndrome. Methods: Global gene expression analysis was performed utilizing cell-free RNA from five midtrimester fetuses with Turner syndrome matched with five euploid female fetuses. Total RNA was extracted, amplified, hybridized onto GeneChipM-BM-. Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 arrays. Network and pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes were completed. Chromosomal distribution of gene expression differences, differential expression by pathway and organ system (a M-bM-^@M-^\Turner syndrome core transcriptomeM-bM-^@M-^]), and candidate genes that could play a pathological role were identified. Results: There were 470 differentially expressed genes identified in the Turner syndrome transcriptome. The differentially expressed genes were distributed randomly across different chromosomes. Among genes on the X chromosome, XIST was down-regulated, and SHOX not differentially expressed. The most highly represented organ systems were hematologic/immune and neurologic. Increased representation of differentially expressed genes in the hematologic/immune system distinguishes the Turner syndrome transcriptome from the euploid, trisomy 18 and trisomy 21 transcriptomes previously studied in our laboratory. Manual curation of the differentially expressed gene list identified genes including NFATC3, IGFBP5, and LDLR that warrant further study. 2nd trimester amniotic fluid mRNA expression was compared between 5 Turners and 5 euploid fetuses.
Project description:The epigenetic transgenerational actions of environmental toxicants and relevant mixtures on ovarian disease was investigated with the use of a fungicide, a pesticide mixture, a plastic mixture, dioxin and a hydrocarbon mixture. After transient exposure of an F0 gestating female rat during embryonic gonadal sex determination, the F1, F2 and F3 generation progeny adult onset ovarian disease was assessed. Transgenerational disease phenotypes observed included an increase in cysts resembling human polycystic ovarian disease (PCO) and a decrease in the ovarian primordial follicle pool size resembling premature ovarian failure (POF). The F3 generation granulosa cells were isolated and found to have a transgenerational effect on the transcriptome and epigenome (differential DNA methylation). Epigenetic biomarkers for environmental exposure and associated gene networks were identified. Epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of ovarian disease states were induced by different classes of environmental compounds suggesting a role of environmental epigenetics in ovarian disease etiology. We used transcriptome microarray analysis to determine genes expressed differentially between F3 control and F3 vinclozolin lineage rat ovary granulosa cell and see which genes might be connected to or cause observed ovary diseases RNA samples from granulosa cell of 3 F3-control lineage groups are compared to granulosa cell of 3 F3-vinclozolin lineage groups
Project description:Through the application of a transcriptome profiling strategy, we were able to ascertain the differentially expressed genes and complicated pathways involved in the interactions between Atractylenolide-I and feline ovarian granulosa cells. Based on the results of our transcriptome profiling study, we found the highest number of DEGs participated in cholesterol metabolism pathways, the activation of which might be a major factor underlying Atractylenolide I promote the luteinization of the feline ovarian granulosa cells.
Project description:Mammalian sexual development commences when fetal bipotential progenitor cells adopt male Sertoli (in XY) or female granulosa (in XX) gonadal cell fates. Differentiation of these cells involves extensive divergence in chromatin state and gene expression, reflecting distinct roles in sexual differentiation and gametogenesis. Surprisingly, differentiated gonadal cell fates require active maintenance through postnatal life to prevent sexual transdifferentiation and female cell fate can be reprogrammed by ectopic expression of the sex regulator DMRT1. Here we examine how DMRT1 reprograms granulosa cells to Sertoli-like cells in vivo and in culture. We define postnatal granulosa- and Sertoli-biased gene expression programs and identify cell type-biased three-dimensional chromatin contacts and differentially accessible chromatin regions (DARs) associated with differentially expressed genes. Using a conditional transgene we find DMRT1 only partially reprograms the ovarian transcriptome in the absence of SOX9 and its paralog SOX8, indicating that these factors functionally cooperate with DMRT1. ATAC-seq and ChIP-seq show that DMRT1 induces formation of many DARs that it binds with SOX9, and DMRT1 is required for binding of SOX9 at most of these sites. We suggest that DMRT1 can act as a pioneer factor to open chromatin and allow binding of SOX9, which then cooperates with DMRT1 to reprogram sexual cell fate.