"Real life" polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) mixtures modulate hCG, hPL and hPLGF levels and disrupt the physiological ratio of MMP-2 to MMP-9 and VEGF expression in human placenta cell lines.

Using JEG-3 and BeWo cells, we examined the effect of "real life" mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), at doses reported in maternal blood (Mix I) and in placental tissue (Mix II), on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), placental lactogen (hPL) and placental growth factor (hPLGF) secretion, protein expression and immunolocalization. Additionally, the action of PAH mixtures on basal and hormone-stimulated matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression was evaluated. Under basal conditions, the PAH mixtures increased hCG and decreased hPLGF levels in both cell lines, while hPL expression was stimulated in JEG-3 and inhibited in BeWo.

Vitamin C supplementation had no side effect in non-cancer, but had anticancer properties in ovarian cancer cells.

Vitamin C (Vit C) has been widely used in the treatment and prevention of cancer. Nevertheless, the clinical results are still inconclusive. Using non-cancer (HOSEpiC) and cancer OVCAR-3 cells cultured in basal medium or in ovarian cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF)-supplemented medium, we estimated the dose-dependent effect of Vit C on sodium-ascorbate coSVCT1, SVCT2) and g (GLUT1) protein expression.

Environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons mixture, in human blood levels, decreased oestradiol secretion by granulosa cells via ESR1 and GPER1 but not ESR2 receptor.

Tissue-dependent oestrogenic and anti-oestrogenic activity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been suggested. In this study, the effect of two PAH mixtures, M1 composed of all 16 priority pollutants and M2 composed of five (noted in the highest levels) compounds, on follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) expression, basal or FSH-induced oestradiol (E2) secretion and aromatase cytochrome P450 (P450arom) protein expression, by non-luteinised human granulosa cell line (HGrC1) was determined. In addition, the consequences of gene silencing of oestrogen receptor alfa (siESR1), oestrogen receptor beta (siESR2) and a G protein-coupled receptor (siGPER1) on the above parameters were described.

Vaspin in the pig ovarian follicles: expression and regulation by different hormones.

Vaspin, also known as visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor, is a member of the serine protease inhibitor family. Its expression is associated with obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, and elevated concentration is observed in polycystic ovary syndrome. However, vaspin has never been studied in the ovary.

Compounds of PAH mixtures dependent interaction between multiple signaling pathways in granulosa tumour cells.

Mechanism of PAH mixtures, using granulosa tumour cells, was investigated. Cells were exposed to a mixture of all 16 priority PAHs (M1) or a mixture of five PAHs not classified as human carcinogens (M2). The effect of siAHR, siAHRR and siNFKB2 on the expression of CYP1A1, CYP1B1, GSTM1, ERα, AR and cell proliferation was described.