Identification of microRNAs controlling human ovarian cell steroidogenesis via a genome-scale screen.

The aim of our studies was to identify miRNAs affecting the release of the major ovarian steroid hormones progestagen, androgen and estrogen by human ovarian cells. The effect of transfection of cultured primary ovarian granulosa cells with 80 different gene constructs encoding human pre-miRNAs on release of progesterone, testosterone and estradiol was evaluated by enzyme immunoassay. In addition, effect of two selected antisense constructs blocking corresponding miRNA on progesterone release was tested.

Protein kinases controlling PCNA and p53 expression in human ovarian cells.

The aim of this study was to identify protein kinases (PKs) involved in the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and p53, markers of proliferation and apoptosis in human ovarian cells. Cultured ovarian granulosa cells were subjected to transfection with 264 small-interfering RNA (siRNA) constructs from a siRNA library, which selectively blocked the expression of 88 known PKs. The efficiency of transfection and siRNA knockdown were validated by fluorescent microscopy, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and immunocytochemical analysis.

Transcription factor p53 can regulate proliferation, apoptosis and secretory activity of luteinizing porcine ovarian granulosa cell cultured with and without ghrelin and FSH.

The aim of our in vitro experiments was to examine the role of transcription factor p53 in controlling the basic functions of ovarian cells and their response to hormonal treatments. Porcine ovarian granulosa cells, transfected and non-transfected with a gene construct encoding p53, were cultured with ghrelin and FSH (all at concentrations of 0, 1, 10, or 100 ng/ml). Accumulation of p53, of apoptosis-related (MAP3K5) and proliferation-related (cyclin B1) substances was evaluated by immunocytochemistry.

Leptin directly controls proliferation, apoptosis and secretory activity of cultured chicken ovarian cells.

The aim of our in-vitro experiments was to examine, whether leptin can directly control functions of avian ovarian cells and to outline potential intracellular mediators of its effects. Granulosa cells or fragments of ovarian follicular wall were cultured with leptin (0, 1, 10 or 100 ng/mL medium). The expression of peptides involved in apoptosis (TdT, bax, its binding protein, bcl-2, ASK-1 and p53), cell cycle-related peptides (PCNA and cyclin B1), release of hormones (progesterone, testosterone, estradiol, arginine-vasotocin), as well as the expression of protein kinases (PKA, MAPK/ERK1,2 and CDK/p34) in the ovarian cells were examined by using immunocytochemistry, TUNEL, SDS-PAGE-Western immunoblotting, EIA and RIA.