Deficiency of HtrA4 in BeWo cells downregulates angiogenesis through IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling.

In a previous study, we investigated the effects of high-temperature requirement factor A4 (HtrA4) deficiency on trophoblasts using the BeWo KO cell line. However, the effects of this deficiency on angiogenesis remain unclear. To explore the role of HtrA4 in angiogenesis, HUVECs were co-cultured with wild-type BeWo cells (BeWo WT), BeWo KO, and HtrA4-rescued BeWo KO (BeWo KO-HtrA4 rescue) cells.

Cellular Functions of High-Temperature Requirement Factor A4 in Placenta.

The expression of mRNA is significantly lower in the chorionic villi of patients with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) than in the control group. We conducted an investigation into the cellular functions of HtrA4 using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and shRNA- to create knockout BeWo cells and knockdown JEG3 cells. Our results indicated that the knockout BeWo cells exhibited reduced capacity for invasion and fusion, but increased levels of proliferation and migration, with a significantly shortened cell cycle compared to wild-type cells.

Effectiveness and Safety of Recombinant Human Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (Follitrope™) in Inducing Controlled Ovarian Stimulation in Infertile Women in Real-World Practice: a Prospective Cohort Study.

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (rhFSH [Follitrope™]) in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). To identify predictors of ovarian response that induce optimal clinical outcomes. This multicenter prospective study enrolled infertile women who were scheduled to undergo IVF after ovarian stimulation with rhFSH (Follitrope™) following the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist or GnRH antagonist protocol.

PGK1 modulates balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines by interacting with ITI-H4.

Inter-α-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITI-H4) is one of the acute phase proteins and is mainly related with inflammatory diseases such as bacterial bloodstream infection and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). In a previous study, ITI-H4 was reported to be cleaved by kallikrein B1 (KLKB1) and its cleaved form induces the imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, in this study, putative substrates of ITI-H4 were isolated by immunoprecipitation and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) analysis.

Prevalence of Y chromosome microdeletions among infertile Mongolian men.

Objective: Y chromosome microdeletions are the second most common genetic cause of male infertility after Klinefelter syndrome. The aim of this study was to determine the patterns of Y chromosome microdeletions among infertile Mongolian men.

Methods: A descriptive study was performed on 75 infertile men from February 2017 to December 2018.

A comparative, observational study evaluating dosing characteristics and ovarian response using the recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone pen injector with small-dose dial in assisted reproductive technologies treatment in Asia: IMPROVE study.

Background: Ovarian stimulation during medically assisted reproduction treatment should be individualized to optimize outcomes and reduce complications. This study assessed whether use of the recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (r-hFSH) pen injector allowing small 12.5 IU dose increments resulted in lower r-hFSH dose per oocyte retrieved in a subgroup of patients at risk of OHSS, compared with r-hFSH injection devices allowing only 37.

Expression of tissue factor and tissue factor pathway inhibitors during ovulation in rats: a relevance to the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Background: Blood coagulation has been associated with ovulation and female infertility. In this study, the expression of the tissue factor system was examined during ovulation in immature rats; the correlation between tissue factor and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) was evaluated both in rats and human follicular fluids.

Methods: Ovaries were obtained at various times after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection to investigate the expression of tissue factor system.

Opposing roles of inter-α-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 in recurrent pregnancy loss.

Background: The mechanism behind an increased risk of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) remains largely unknown. In our previous study, we identified that inter-α-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITI-H4) is highly expressed at a modified molecular weight of 36 kDa in serum derived from RPL patients. Yet, the precise molecular mechanism and pathways by which the short form of ITI-H4 carries out its function remain obscure.

Regulation of interleukin-11 expression in ovulatory follicles of the rat ovary.

The aim of the present study was to examine the regulation of interleukin (IL)-11 expression, as well as the role of IL-11, during ovulation in gonadotropin-primed immature rats. Injection of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), followed by human CG (hCG) to induce superovulation stimulated expression of the Il11 gene in theca cells within 6h, as revealed by northern blot and in situ hybridisation analyses. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the IL-11 receptor, α subunit gene was expressed in granulosa and theca cells and that injection of hCG had no effect on its expression.

Regulation of uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase 2B15 expression during ovulation in the rat.

Uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase 2B15 (UGT2B15) conjugates 5α-androstane-3α, 17β-diol (3α-diol) to 3α-diol glucuronide (3α-diol G) in steroid target tissues. The present study investigated the regulation of UGT2B15 expression during the ovulatory process in the rat. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that treatment of immature rats with equine chorionic gonadotropin followed by human chorionic gonadotropin transiently stimulated UGT2B15 gene expression in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles within 6 h.

Efficacy of corifollitropin alfa followed by recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone in a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol for Korean women undergoing assisted reproduction.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol using corifollitropin alfa in women undergoing assisted reproduction.

Methods: Six hundred and eighty-six in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles were analyzed. In 113 cycles, folliculogenesis was induced with corifollitropin alfa and recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH), and premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surges were prevented with a GnRH antagonist.

Genetic variation in the Mcp-1 gene promoter associated with the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a pivotal chemokine in the inflammatory response, which plays an important role in recruiting monocytes to sites of injury and infection. However, the exact mechanism of Mcp-1 associated with PCOS risk was unknown. In this study, we explored whether the Mcp-1 -2518G>A polymorphism increases the risk of PCOS.

54G/C polymorphism of SREBF-1 gene is associated with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: A sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBF-1) transcription factor is a major regulator of lipid metabolism, carbohydrate, and plays a key role in energy homeostasis. The 54(G/C) polymorphism of SREBF-1 gene was reported that it is related with metabolic diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Among these, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is known as a common metabolic-endocrine disorder of women in reproductive ages.

Relationship between leptin receptor and polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders, which is involved in the multi-system disease, and its etiology is still not clearly understood. It is currently considered that not only the genetic factors but also the environment factors play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Obesity plays an important role through the insulin, leptin and endocannabinoid system in the pathological process of PCOS, leading to more severe clinical manifestations.

Apolipoprotein A-IV as a novel gene associated with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine-metabolic disorder, affecting 6-10% of women of reproductive age. The etiology remains poorly understood. To investigate the differentially expressed proteins from PCOS patients versus healthy women, the protein expression in follicular fluid was analyzed using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE).

Association between INS-VNTR polymorphism and polycystic ovary syndrome in a Korean population.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder in women of reproductive ages. But its etiology is not fully understood yet. Variability in the number of tandem repeats of the insulin gene (INS-VNTR) is known to associate with PCOS, and it is associated with an increased risk of diabetes mellitus and other cardiovascular diseases.

Successful full term pregnancy and delivery after concurrent chemo-photodynamic therapy (CCPDT) for the uterine cervical cancer staged 1B1 and 1B2: Preserving fertility in young women.

► Photodynamic therapy can treat lesions with highly reactive single oxygen. ► CCPDT (Concurrent Chemo Photodynamic Therapy) is defined as PDT with chemotherapy. ► CCPDT can treat larger and deeper lesions than PDT due to PCI concept.

Characterisation of mouse interferon-induced transmembrane protein-1 gene expression in the mouse uterus during the oestrous cycle and pregnancy.

During the oestrous cycle, pregnancy and parturition, the uterus undergoes marked morphological, physiological and functional changes. Amid these changes, the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway has been identified as having a crucial role in regulating associated biological events. Recently, based on results from a mouse embryo study, interferon-induced transmembrane protein 1 (Ifitm1) was reported as a downstream molecule of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway.

Association study between the -866G/A polymorphism in the promoter of uncoupling protein-2 gene and polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism, chronic oligoanovulation and insulin resistance. A number of women with PCOS are obese and exhibit abnormal phenotypes, including high levels of androgens, an irregular menstrual cycle and increased hair growth. Studies on obese PCOS patients have proven the crucial role that obesity plays in insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia.

ITI-H4, as a biomarker in the serum of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) patients.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as at least three pregnancy losses in series prior to the 20-28 weeks of pregnancy. There are several etiological factors associated with immunology, anatomy, endocrinology, genetic, infection, chromosomal abnormalities, and environmental factors contributing to the condition. The aim of this study was to identify RPL associated factors in human blood using proteomics.

Association study of +45G15G(T/G) and +276(G/T) polymorphisms in the adiponectin gene in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is considered as one of the most common endocrine and reproductive dysfunctional diseases. Recent research for genetic variants has identified genetic influences between the polymorphisms of the adiponectin gene and the metabolic syndromes. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the adiponectin gene and PCOS.

Luteinizing hormone-stimulated pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide system and its role in progesterone production in human luteinized granulosa cells.

The present study examined the gonadotropin regulation of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and PACAP type I receptor (PAC(1)-R) expression, and its role in progesterone production in the human luteinized granulosa cells. The stimulation of both PACAP and PAC(1)-R mRNA levels by LH was detected using a competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). PACAP transcript was stimulated by LH reaching maximum levels at 12 hours in a dose dependent manner.

Comparison of clinical efficacy between a single administration of long-acting gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) and daily administrations of short-acting GnRHa in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycles.

This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a single administration of long-acting gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) as compared with daily administrations of short-acting GnRHa in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles. The mean dosage of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) required for COH (2,354.5+/-244.

Differentially expressed genes implicated in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Recurrent spontaneous abortion occurs in approximately 3% of women with diagnosed pregnancies. The etiology in approximately 40% of recurrent spontaneous abortion is unexplained. To elucidate unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion at the molecular level, we systemically identified differentially expressed genes during implantation window period in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion and characterized their functions in a human endometrial cell line.

Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate leached from medical PVC devices serves as a substrate and inhibitor for the P-glycoprotein.

A di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) was accidentally extracted from plastics in the process of purification of chemosensitizers reversing P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR). The purpose of this study was to investigate the Pgp-reversal activities of phthalates, which are endocrine-disrupting chemicals, by utilizing the Pgp-overexpressing leukemic cell line AML-2/D100. The phthalates includes DEHP, diethyl phthalate (DEP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP).