Human granulosa cells function as innate immune cells executing an inflammatory reaction during ovulation: a microarray analysis

TY - JOUR

T1 - Human granulosa cells function as innate immune cells executing an inflammatory reaction during ovulation

T2 - a microarray analysis

AU - Poulsen, Liv la Cour

AU - Englund, Anne Lis Mikkelsen

AU - Wissing, Marie Louise Muff

AU - Yding Andersen, Claus

AU - Borup, Rehannah

AU - Grøndahl, Marie Louise

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Ovulation has been compared to a local inflammatory reaction. We performed an in silico study on a unique, PCR validated, transcriptome microarray study to evaluate if known inflammatory mechanisms operate during ovulation. The granulosa cells were obtained in paired samples at two different time points during ovulation (just before and 36 hours after ovulation induction) from nine women receiving fertility treatment. A total of 259 genes related to inflammation became significantly upregulated during ovulation (2–80 fold, p<0.05), while specific leukocyte markers were absent. The genes and pathway analysis indicated NF-KB-, MAPK- and JAK/STAT signalling (p<1.0E-10) as the major pathways involved in danger recognition and cytokine signalling to initiate inflammation. Upregulated genes further encoded enzymes in eicosanoid production, chemo-attractants, coagulation factors, cell proliferation factors involved in tissue repair, and anti-inflammatory factors to resolve the inflammation again. We conclude that granulosa cells, without involvement from the innate immune system, can orchestrate ovulation as a complete sterile inflammatory reaction.

AB - Ovulation has been compared to a local inflammatory reaction. We performed an in silico study on a unique, PCR validated, transcriptome microarray study to evaluate if known inflammatory mechanisms operate during ovulation. The granulosa cells were obtained in paired samples at two different time points during ovulation (just before and 36 hours after ovulation induction) from nine women receiving fertility treatment. A total of 259 genes related to inflammation became significantly upregulated during ovulation (2–80 fold, p<0.05), while specific leukocyte markers were absent. The genes and pathway analysis indicated NF-KB-, MAPK- and JAK/STAT signalling (p<1.0E-10) as the major pathways involved in danger recognition and cytokine signalling to initiate inflammation. Upregulated genes further encoded enzymes in eicosanoid production, chemo-attractants, coagulation factors, cell proliferation factors involved in tissue repair, and anti-inflammatory factors to resolve the inflammation again. We conclude that granulosa cells, without involvement from the innate immune system, can orchestrate ovulation as a complete sterile inflammatory reaction.

KW - Granulosa cells

KW - Inflammatory response

KW - Innate immunity

KW - LH

KW - Microarray

KW - Ovulation

U2 - 10.1016/j.mce.2019.02.014

DO - 10.1016/j.mce.2019.02.014

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30802528

AN - SCOPUS:85062300678

SN - 0303-7207

VL - 486

SP - 34

EP - 46

JO - Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology

JF - Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology

ER -