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Department of Pathology (J.A.E., A.T.C., P.W., M.M.M.)
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics (J.A.E., M.M.M.), and
Department of Cell Biology (M.M.M.) Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas 77030
Genetics Institute
(N.M.W.) Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140
Although the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) superfamily is the largest family of secreted growth factors, surprisingly few downstream target genes in their signaling pathways have been identified. Likewise, the identities of oocyte-derived secreted factors, which regulate important oocyte-somatic cell interactions, remain largely unknown. For example, oocytes are known to secrete paracrine growth factor(s) which are necessary for cumulus expansion, induction of hyaluronic acid synthesis, and suppression of LH receptor (LHR) mRNA synthesis. Our previous studies demonstrated that absence of the TGF-ß family member, growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9), blocks ovarian folliculogenesis at the primary follicle stage leading to infertility. In the present study, we demonstrate that mouse GDF-9 protein is expressed in all oocytes beginning at the type 3a follicle stage including antral follicles. To explore the biological functions of GDF-9 in the later stages of folliculogenesis and cumulus expansion, we produced mature, glycosylated, recombinant mouse GDF-9 using a Chinese hamster ovary cell expression system. A granulosa cell culture system was established to determine the role of GDF-9 in the regulation of several key ovarian gene products using semiquantitative RT-PCR. We find that recombinant GDF-9 induces hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and steroidogenic acute regulator protein (StAR) mRNA synthesis but suppresses urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and LHR mRNA synthesis. Consistent with the induction of StAR mRNA by GDF-9, recombinant GDF-9 increases granulosa cell progesterone synthesis in the absence of FSH. Since induction of HAS2 and suppression of the protease uPA in cumulus cells are key events in the production of the hyaluronic acid-rich extracellular matrix which is produced during cumulus expansion, we determined whether GDF-9 could mimic this process. Using oocytectomized cumulus cell-oocyte complexes, we show that recombinant GDF-9 induces cumulus expansion in vitro. These studies demonstrate that GDF-9 can bind to receptors on granulosa cells to regulate the expression of a number of gene products. Thus, in addition to playing a critical function as a growth and differentiation factor during early folliculogenesis, GDF-9 functions as an oocyte-secreted paracrine factor to regulate several key granulosa cell enzymes involved in cumulus expansion and maintenance of an optimal oocyte microenvironment, processes which are essential for normal ovulation, fertilization, and female reproduction.
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S. A. Pangas and M. M. Matzuk The Art and Artifact of GDF9 Activity: Cumulus Expansion and the Cumulus Expansion-Enabling Factor Biol Reprod, October 1, 2005; 73(4): 582 - 585. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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H. Chao and A. P. Spicer Natural Antisense mRNAs to Hyaluronan Synthase 2 Inhibit Hyaluronan Biosynthesis and Cell Proliferation J. Biol. Chem., July 29, 2005; 280(30): 27513 - 27522. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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R. A. Dragovic, L. J. Ritter, S. J. Schulz, F. Amato, D. T. Armstrong, and R. B. Gilchrist Role of Oocyte-Secreted Growth Differentiation Factor 9 in the Regulation of Mouse Cumulus Expansion Endocrinology, June 1, 2005; 146(6): 2798 - 2806. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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K. P McNatty, J. L Juengel, K. L Reader, S. Lun, S. Myllymaa, S. B Lawrence, A. Western, M. F Meerasahib, D. G Mottershead, N. P Groome, et al. Bone morphogenetic protein 15 and growth differentiation factor 9 co-operate to regulate granulosa cell function Reproduction, April 1, 2005; 129(4): 473 - 480. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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K. P McNatty, J. L Juengel, K. L Reader, S. Lun, S. Myllymaa, S. B Lawrence, A. Western, M. F Meerasahib, D. G Mottershead, N. P Groome, et al. Bone morphogenetic protein 15 and growth differentiation factor 9 co-operate to regulate granulosa cell function in ruminants Reproduction, April 1, 2005; 129(4): 481 - 487. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J.L. Juengel and K.P. McNatty The role of proteins of the transforming growth factor-{beta} superfamily in the intraovarian regulation of follicular development Hum. Reprod. Update, March 1, 2005; 11(2): 144 - 161. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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V. Garcia-Campayo, I. Boime, X. Ma, D. Daphna-Iken, and T. R. Kumar A Single-Chain Tetradomain Glycoprotein Hormone Analog Elicits Multiple Hormone Activities In Vivo Biol Reprod, February 1, 2005; 72(2): 301 - 308. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. E. I. Gittens, K. J. Barr, B. C. Vanderhyden, and G. M. Kidder Interplay between paracrine signaling and gap junctional communication in ovarian follicles J. Cell Sci., January 1, 2005; 118(1): 113 - 122. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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L.-M. Gui and I. M. Joyce RNA Interference Evidence That Growth Differentiation Factor-9 Mediates Oocyte Regulation of Cumulus Expansion in Mice Biol Reprod, January 1, 2005; 72(1): 195 - 199. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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L.J. McKenzie, S.A. Pangas, S.A. Carson, E. Kovanci, P. Cisneros, J.E. Buster, P. Amato, and M.M. Matzuk Human cumulus granulosa cell gene expression: a predictor of fertilization and embryo selection in women undergoing IVF Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2004; 19(12): 2869 - 2874. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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E. Nagyova, A. Camaioni, R. Prochazka, and A. Salustri Covalent Transfer of Heavy Chains of Inter-{alpha}-Trypsin Inhibitor Family Proteins to Hyaluronan in In Vivo and In Vitro Expanded Porcine Oocyte-Cumulus Complexes Biol Reprod, December 1, 2004; 71(6): 1838 - 1843. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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G. A. R. Maciel, E. C. Baracat, J. A. Benda, S. M. Markham, K. Hensinger, R. J. Chang, and G. F. Erickson Stockpiling of Transitional and Classic Primary Follicles in Ovaries of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2004; 89(11): 5321 - 5327. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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T. Shimizu, Y. Miyahayashi, M. Yokoo, Y. Hoshino, H. Sasada, and E. Sato Molecular cloning of porcine growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9) cDNA and its role in early folliculogenesis: direct ovarian injection of GDF-9 gene fragments promotes early folliculogenesis Reproduction, November 1, 2004; 128(5): 537 - 543. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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Z.-J. Lan, X. Xu, and A. J. Cooney Differential Oocyte-Specific Expression of Cre Recombinase Activity in GDF-9-iCre, Zp3cre, and Msx2Cre Transgenic Mice Biol Reprod, November 1, 2004; 71(5): 1469 - 1474. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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G. Leyens, B. Verhaeghe, M. Landtmeters, J. Marchandise, B. Knoops, and I. Donnay Peroxiredoxin 6 Is Upregulated in Bovine Oocytes and Cumulus Cells During In Vitro Maturation: Role of Intercellular Communication Biol Reprod, November 1, 2004; 71(5): 1646 - 1651. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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R. Prochazka, L. Nemcova, E. Nagyova, and J. Kanka Expression of Growth Differentiation Factor 9 Messenger RNA in Porcine Growing and Preovulatory Ovarian Follicles Biol Reprod, October 1, 2004; 71(4): 1290 - 1295. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. L Sutton-McDowall, R. B Gilchrist, and J. G Thompson Cumulus expansion and glucose utilisation by bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes during in vitro maturation: the influence of glucosamine and follicle-stimulating hormone Reproduction, September 1, 2004; 128(3): 313 - 319. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. Sirois, K. Sayasith, K. A. Brown, A. E. Stock, N. Bouchard, and M. Dore Cyclooxygenase-2 and its role in ovulation: a 2004 account Hum. Reprod. Update, September 1, 2004; 10(5): 373 - 385. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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R.B. Gilchrist, L.J. Ritter, M. Cranfield, L.A. Jeffery, F. Amato, S.J. Scott, S. Myllymaa, N. Kaivo-Oja, H. Lankinen, D.G. Mottershead, et al. Immunoneutralization of Growth Differentiation Factor 9 Reveals It Partially Accounts for Mouse Oocyte Mitogenic Activity Biol Reprod, September 1, 2004; 71(3): 732 - 739. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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K. L. Britt, P. G. Stanton, M. Misso, E. R. Simpson, and J. K. Findlay The Effects of Estrogen on the Expression of Genes Underlying the Differentiation of Somatic Cells in the Murine Gonad Endocrinology, August 1, 2004; 145(8): 3950 - 3960. |