Project description:To investigate the critical role of the trace element zinc in the expression of resistance to oxidative stress and hormonal responses in human ovarian granulosa cells (GCs). To investigate the critical role of the trace element zinc in the expression of antioxidant stress and hormonal responses in human ovarian granulosa cells (GCs).
Project description:The growth of the mammalian ovarian follicle requires the formation of a fluid filled antrum, and maturation and differentiation of the ovarian granulosa cells, largely under the control of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). Many follicles will regress and die by a process called atresia at this early antral stage. We therefore decided to analyse the gene expression profiles of granulosa cells cultured in the presence or absence of FSH and Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNFα), an apoptotic factor, to simulate the key influences. Different concentratons of FSH and TNFa in granulosa culture were used to determine effective conditions via estradiol and progesterone production, and cell number. RNA for the array experiments and quantitative real time PCR was extracted from cells cultured with FSH added at 0.33 and TNFα at 50 ng/ml.
Project description:The growth of the mammalian ovarian follicle requires the formation of a fluid filled antrum, and maturation and differentiation of the ovarian granulosa cells, largely under the control of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). Many follicles will regress and die by a process called atresia at this early antral stage. We therefore decided to analyse the gene expression profiles of granulosa cells cultured in the presence or absence of FSH and Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), an apoptotic factor, to simulate the key influences. Different concentratons of FSH and TNFa in granulosa culture were used to determine effective conditions via estradiol and progesterone production, and cell number. RNA for the array experiments and quantitative real time PCR was extracted from cells cultured with FSH added at 0.33 and TNF-alpha at 50 ng/ml. Four treatments of : (1) FSH alone, (2) TNF-alpha alone, (3) FSH + TNF-alpha and (4) control = neither drug, with replicates (n=4, except controls n=3 ) were used to generate RNA for the gene expression arrays (n=15)
Project description:We used MethylCap-seq and RRBS to profile methylomes of purified human ovarian granulosa cells. Genomic DNA methylation patterns in ovarian granulosa cells were compared between two groups of women: i) oocyte donors (n=20) who were young (age 26 ± 2.2 years) and had robust response to ovarian stimulation during assisted reproductive technology (ART) (mean number of oocytes retrieved = 25); versus ii) poor responders (n=20) who were older (age 40 ± 2.3 years) and responded poorly to ovarian stimulation during ART (oocytes retrieved ≤4 and peak estradiol level ≤ 1000 pg/ml). The first group served as healthy control. The second group represented the majority of women in their early 40s who have the natural age-related decline of ovarian functions and therefore respond poorly to ovarian stimulation during ART. We compared DNA methylomes in ovarian granulosa cells from oocyte donors versus poor responders using two approaches: MethylCap-seq for broader genomic coverage, and RRBS for absolute quantification. Due to very limited amount of materials available from each poor responder, samples containing equal amounts of granulosa cell DNA were pooled from 10 individuals in each group. A second set of experiments pooling granulosa cell DNA samples from independent donor and poor responder groups (ten individuals each) was then performed.
Project description:Comparison of global changes in ovarian transcriptomes uniquely associated with either granulosa cell tumors or luteomas, and identification of new markers for this tumor phenotype. Luteinizing hormone hypersecreting mice studied.
Project description:RNA was extracted from normal human granulosa cells from IVF patients (hGC1 and hGC2 samples) and from adult-type ovarian granulosa cell tumor samples (H1, H8, H20, H23, H24, H28, H30, H33, H4, H18) as described in Jamieson et al, 2010. RNA from all samples was linearly amplified using the Whole Transcriptome Amplification kit (Sigma), starting from 300ng of RNA, and with 12 amplifications cycles. cDNA was purified on columns and sent to the Nimblegen platform for hybridization and transcriptional profiling. The FOXL2 locus was gentoyped in tumor samples, and all samples were found positive for the recurrent somatic mutation p.Cys134Trp which is present in >95% of adult-type ovarian granulosa cell tumors (Shah et al, 2009).
Project description:Cadmium is a heavy metal pollutant and environmental endocrine disruptor. Studies have shown that cadmium exposure, whether it occurs in adulthood, in puberty or during the period from weaning to sexual maturity, can produce notable toxic effects on ovarian cells, especially ovarian granulosa cells. However, the effects of prenatal cadmium exposure on the morphology, function and its epigenetic mechanism of ovarian granulosa cells in offspring during adulthood have not been reported.In this study,the promoter methylation was assessed using MeDIP-Chip and Several methods were used to analyze the scanned genes, including the Gene Ontology Consortium tools, hierarchical clustering and KEGG pathway analysis.The results indicated that multiple signaling pathways, including apoptosis and hormone synthesis related pathways were affected,besides, some genes DNA methylation status of apoptosis and hormone synthesis pathways were changed.In summary, our results provide a scientific basis for subsequent analyses of cadmium-induced ovarian granulosa cell damage and its epigenetic mechanism.
Project description:The Forkhead Box, FOXO1 and FOXO3, transcription factors regulate multiple functions in mammalian cells. Selective inactivation of the Foxo1 and Foxo3 genes in murine ovarian granulosa cells severely impairs follicular development and apoptosis causing infertility, and as shown herein, granulosa cell tumor (GCT) formation. Coordinate depletion of the tumor suppressor Pten gene in the Foxo1/3 strain enhanced the penetrance and onset of GCT formation A direct comparison of ovarian granulosa cells from wild type d25 and FOXO/PTEN knockout granulosa cell tumors.
Project description:A surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland triggers ovulation, oocyte maturation, and luteinization for successful reproduction in mammals. Since the signaling molecules RAS and ERK1/2 are activated by a LH surge in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles, we disrupted Erk1/2 in mouse granulosa cells and provide in vivo evidence that these kinases are necessary for LH-induced oocyte resumption of meiosis, ovulation, and luteinization. In addition, biochemical analyses and selected disruption of the Cebpb gene in granulosa cells demonstrate that C/EBP is a critical downstream mediator of ERK1/2 activation. These mouse models provide in vivo systems in which to define the context specific and molecular mechanisms by which granulosa cells respond to LH and these mechanisms are relevant to the regulation of human fertility and infertility. Immature wild type or ERK1/2 conditonal knock-out mice were injected with 5IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG)-48h followed by 5 IU hCG injection. The ovarian granulosa cells were collected at hCG 0h, 2.5h, or 4h and the gene expression pforiles were compared by microarray method.