HB-EGF induces mitochondrial dysfunction via estrogen hypersecretion in granulosa cells dependent on cAMP-PKA-JNK/ERK-Ca-FOXO1 pathway.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most prevalent endocrinopathies and the leading cause of anovulatory infertility, but its pathogenesis remains elusive. Although HB-EGF is involved in ovarian cancer progression, there is still no clarity about its relevance with PCOS. The present study exhibited that abundant HB-EGF was noted in follicular fluid from PCOS women, where it might induce the granulosa cells (GCs) production of more estrogen via the elevation of CYP19A1 expression after binding to EGFR.

Predictive value of circulating sex hormone-binding globulin for gestational diabetes: a meta-analysis.

To detect predictive value of preconception or early pregnancy sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) for subsequent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We searched Embase, Medline, PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane library up to January 2020. Studies assessing diagnostic performance of SHBG for GDM diagnosed by well-defined diagnostic criteria using oral glucose tolerance test.

Risk Factors for Stillbirth among Pregnant Women Infected with Syphilis in the Zhejiang Province of China, 2010-2016.

Background: The World Health Organization estimated that about 1.36 million pregnant women suffered from syphilis in 2008, and nearly 66% of adverse effects occurred in those who were not tested or treated. Syphilis infection is one of the most common maternal factors associated with stillbirth.

Novel insights into Dhh signaling in antler chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation: Involvement of Foxa.

The desert hedgehog (Dhh) is crucial for spermatogenesis and Leydig cell differentiation, but little is known regarding its physiological function in cartilage. In this study, Dhh mRNA was abundant in antler chondrocytes, where it advanced cell proliferation concomitant with accelerated transition from the G1 to the S phase and induced elevation of the hypertrophic chondrocyte markers, Col X and Runx2. Silencing of Ptch1 resulted in appreciable Smo accumulation and enhanced rDhh stimulation of Smo, whose impediment by cyclopamine obscured the proliferative function of Dhh and alleviated its guidance of chondrocyte differentiation.

Malic enzyme 1 is important for uterine decidualization in response to progesterone/cAMP/PKA/HB-EGF pathway.

Malic enzyme 1 (Me1), a member of the malic enzymes involving in glycolytic pathway and citric acid cycle, is essential for the energy metabolism and maintenance of intracellular redox balance state, but its physiological role and regulatory mechanism in the uterine decidualization are still unknown. Current study showed that Me1 was strongly expressed in decidual cells, and could promote the proliferation and differentiation of stromal cells followed by an accelerated cell cycle transition, indicating an importance of Me1 in the uterine decidualization. Silencing of Me1 attenuated NADPH generation and reduced GR activity, while addition of NADPH improved the defect of GR activity elicited by Me1 depletion.

HB-EGF Ameliorates Oxidative Stress-Mediated Uterine Decidualization Damage.

HB-EGF is essential for uterine decidualization, but its antioxidant function remains largely unclear. Here, we found that HB-EGF promoted the proliferation of stromal cells followed by the accelerated transition of the cell cycle from G1 to S phase and enhanced the expression or activity of Prl8a2, Prl3c1, and ALP which were well-established markers for uterine stromal cell differentiation during decidualization. Under oxidative stress, stromal cell differentiation was impaired, but this impairment was abrogated by rHB-EGF accompanied with the reduced levels of ROS and MDA which were regarded as the biomarkers for oxidative stress, indicating an antioxidant role of HB-EGF.

Crosstalk between Activin A and Shh signaling contributes to the proliferation and differentiation of antler chondrocytes.

Chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation are crucial for endochondral ossification and strictly regulated by numerous signaling molecules and transcription factors, but the hierarchical regulatory network remains to be deciphered. The present study emphasized the interplay of Activin A, Foxa, Notch and Shh signaling in the proliferation and differentiation of antler chondrocytes. We found that Activin A promoted chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation, and accelerated the transition of cell cycle from G1 into S phase along with the activation of Notch and Shh signaling whose blockage attenuated above function of Activin A.

ATRA Signaling Regulates the Expression of COL9A1 through BMP2-WNT4-RUNX1 Pathway in Antler Chondrocytes.

Although all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is involved in the regulation of cartilage growth and development, its regulatory mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we showed that ATRA could induce the expression of COL9A1 in antler chondrocytes. Silencing of cellular retinoic acid binding protein 2 (CRABP2) could impede the ATRA-induced upregulation of COL9A1, whereas overexpression of CRABP2 presented the opposite effect.

WNT4 acts downstream of BMP2 to mediate the regulation of ATRA signaling on RUNX1 expression: Implications for terminal differentiation of antler chondrocytes.

Although ATRA is involved in regulating the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes, its underlying mechanism remains unknown. Here we showed that ATRA could stimulate the proliferation of antler chondrocytes and expression of COL X and MMP13 which were two well-known markers for hypertrophic chondrocytes. Silencing of CRABP2 prevented the induction of ATRA on chondrocyte terminal differentiation, while overexpression of CRABP2 exhibited the opposite effects.

IGF1 regulates RUNX1 expression via IRS1/2: Implications for antler chondrocyte differentiation.

Although IGF1 is important for the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes, its underlying molecular mechanism is still unknown. Here we addressed the physiologic function of IGF1 in antler cartilage and explored the interplay of IGF1, IRS1/2 and RUNX1 in chondrocyte differentiation. The results showed that IGF1 was highly expressed in antler chondrocytes.

Hmgn5 functions downstream of Hoxa10 to regulate uterine decidualization in mice.

Although Hmgn5 is involved in the regulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation, its physiological function during decidualization is still unknown. Here we showed that Hmgn5 was highly expressed in the decidual cells. Silencing of Hmgn5 expression by specific siRNA reduced the proliferation of uterine stromal cells and expression of Ccnd3 and Cdk4 in the absence or presence of estrogen and progesterone, whereas overexpression of Hmgn5 exhibited the opposite effects.

Hmgn1 acts downstream of C/EBPβ to regulate the decidualization of uterine stromal cells in mice.

Although Hmgn1 is involved in the regulation of gene expression and cellular differentiation, its physiological roles on the differentiation of uterine stromal cells during decidualization still remain unknown. Here we showed that Hmgn1 mRNA was highly expressed in the decidua on days 6-8 of pregnancy. Simultaneously, increased expression of Hmgn1 was also observed in the artificial and in vitro induced decidualization models.

Expression, regulation and function of Hmgn3 during decidualization in mice.

Although Hmgn3 is involved in the regulation of development and cellular differentiation, its physiological roles on decidualization are still unknown. Here we showed that Hmgn3 was highly expressed in the decidua and decidualizing stromal cells. Overexpression of Hmgn3 variants, Hmgn3a or Hmgn3b, enhanced the expression of decidualization markers Prl8a2 and Prl3c1, whereas inhibition of Hmgn3 reduced their expression.

Comparison of immunomodulating properties of Beta-lactoglobulin and its hydrolysates.

Cow's milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies in childhood. Beta-lactoglobulin (β- lg) is a dominant allergen in cow's milk. Hydrolysis is known as an effective method to reduce the allergenicity of proteins.

Effects of PTHrP on expression of MMP9 and MMP13 in sika deer antler chondrocytes.

Deer antlers are the only mammalian appendages to display an annual cycle of full regeneration. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of antler regeneration. Our previous study has demonstrated that parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) can promote proliferation of antler chondrocytes and inhibit its differentiation, but the mechanism underlying such regulation is not fully understood.

Effects of PTHrP on chondrocytes of sika deer antler.

Parathyroid-hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) is an important regulator of chondrocyte differentiation in growth plates but little is known about its role in deer antler cartilage. The aim of the present study was to use the deer antler as a model to determine the possible role of PTHrP in regulating chondrocyte differentiation of deer antler. PTHrP and its receptor PTH1R mRNA were highly expressed in the perichondrium and cartilage of sika deer antler, as shown by in situ hybridization.

Differential expression and regulation of PNA and UEA-1 bindings in rabbit uterus during preimplantation period.

Peanut agglutinin (PNA) and Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1 (UEA-1) were used as probes to study the distribution of β-gal (1→3) ga1Nac and α-L-Fucose in rabbit uterus during early pregnancy. PNA binding was mainly localized on the surface of uterine glandular and luminal epithelium. There were no positive signals on day 1 of pregnancy.

Suppressive effects of oral administration of heat-killed Lactobacillus acidophilus on T helper-17 immune responses in a bovine β-lactoglobulin-sensitized mice model.

The present study was planned to explore the effect of Lactobacillus (L.) acidophilus on the T helper-17 (Th17) immune response in a mouse model of β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) allergy. Bovine β-lg sensitised BALB/c mice were orally administered with different doses of heat-killed L.