Production of cartilage link protein by human granulosa-lutein cells.
J Endocrinol
; 175(2): 505-15, 2002 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12429048
ABSTRACT
Link protein (LP), an extracellular matrix protein in cartilage, stabilizes aggregates of hyaluronic acid (HA) and proteoglycans, including aggrecan and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (ITI). We have shown previously that cartilage LP is present in the maturing rat and mouse ovary. In the present study, we have employed immunohistochemistry to examine the anatomical distribution of cartilage LP in the human ovary. The expression of cartilage LP was selectively detected in the cells within the granulosa compartment of the preovulatory dominant follicle. The HA-positive granulosa-lutein cells were found to be a cartilage LP-positive subpopulation. We subsequently studied the in vitro expression of cartilage LP in cultured human granulosa-lutein cells obtained at oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization. Analysis of cultured cells by enzyme-linked immunoaffinity assay, Western blotting and immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that gonadotropin stimulates cartilage LP production. Time-course studies indicated that the cartilage LP production was induced as early as with gonadotropin stimulation for 2 h, and the effect was sustained up to 8 h. Western blot analysis further revealed the presence of the macroaggregates composed of HA, ITI and cartilage LP in the gonadotropin-stimulated granulosa-lutein cell extracts. Collectively, the present results raise the possibility that cartilage LP forms extracellular structures that may have a regulatory function in the developing follicle in the human ovary.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Proteoglicanas
/
Biossíntese de Proteínas
/
Proteínas da Matriz Extracelular
/
Folículo Ovariano
/
Células Lúteas
Limite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2002
Tipo de documento:
Article