Mouse ovarian granulosa cells produce urokinase-type plasminogen activator, whereas the corresponding rat cells produce tissue-type plasminogen activator

It is well established that rat ovarian granulosa cells produce tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). The synthesis and secretion of the enzyme are induced by gonadotropins, and correlate well with the time of follicular rupture in vivo. We have found that in contrast, mouse granulosa cells produce a different form of plasminogen activator, the urokinase-type (uPA). As with tPA synthesis in the rat, uPA production by mouse granulosa cells is induced by gonadotropins, dibutyryl cAMP, and prostaglandin E2. However, dexamethasone, a drug which has no effect on tPA synthesis in rat cells inhibits uPA synthesis in the mouse. Results of these determinations made in cell culture were corroborated by examining follicular fluid, which is secreted in vivo predominantly by granulosa cells, from stimulated rat and mouse ovarian follicles. Rat follicular fluid contained only tPA, and mouse follicular fluid only uPA, indicating that in vivo, granulosa cells from the two species are secreting different enzymes. The difference in the type of plasminogen activator produced by the rat and mouse granulosa cells was confirmed at the messenger RNA level. After hormone stimulation, only tPA mRNA was present in rat cells, whereas only uPA mRNA was found in mouse cells. Furthermore, the regulation of uPA levels in mouse cells occurs via transient modulation of steady-state levels of mRNA, a pattern similar to that seen with tPA in rat cells.     

Whole ovary immunohistochemistry for monitoring cell proliferation and ovulatory wound repair in the mouse

Background  

Ovarian surface epithelial cells are thought to be a precursor cell type for ovarian carcinoma. It has been proposed that an increased rate of ovarian surface epithelial cell proliferation during ovulatory wound repair contributes to the accumulation of genetic changes and cell transformation. The proliferation of ovarian surface epithelial cells during ovulatory wound repair has been studied primarily using immunohistochemical staining of paraffin-embedded ovary sections. However, such analyses require complex reconstruction from serially-cut ovary sections for the visualization and quantification of the cells on the ovarian surface. In order to directly visualize the proliferation and organization of the ovarian surface epithelial cells, we developed a technique for immunohistochemical staining of whole mouse ovaries. Using this method, we analyzed cell proliferation and morphologic changes in mouse ovarian surface epithelial cells during follicle growth and ovulatory wound repair.     

Ovarian pluripotent/multipotent stem cells and in vitro oogenesis in mammals

There has been a long persisting dilemma about potential ovarian stem cells in adult mammalian ovaries, including human, and now there is steadily increasing experimental evidence on their existence. After some previous indirect evidence about the presence of stem cells in adult mouse ovaries, an important breakthrough was made by Zou and his co-workers who successfully established long-persisting pluripotent/multipotent ovarian stem cell lines in neonatal and adult mice, and were followed by some other important studies in mouse and human. Moreover, oocyte-like cells can be developed in vitro from pluripotent stem cells of different origins (embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, fetal skin stem cells, pancreatic stem cells). The aim of this article is to elucidate the fast growing new knowledge on the ovarian stem cells and potential in vitro oogenesis in mammals.     

大鼠RVLG cDNA的克隆、原核表达和小鼠抗RVLG蛋白多克隆抗体的制备

为了识别大鼠卵巢中的生殖细胞,在原核系统中表达和纯化RVLG蛋白并制备了多克隆抗体.采用RT-PCR方法从大鼠睾丸组织中扩增获得RVLG cDNA片段,然后克隆到pMD19-T载体上进行测序,经双酶切回收目的基因片段后,将其插入到原核表达载体pGEX-4T-1上,转入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中诱导表达.纯化后的GST-RVLG融合蛋白免疫昆明(KM)小鼠,最后给小鼠腹腔注射S180细胞制备抗RVLG腹水多克隆抗体.用Western blotting及免疫组织化学法鉴定RVLG腹水多克隆抗体的特异性,间接ELISA法测定该抗体的效价.序列分析表明,所克隆的RVLG cDNA片段比GenBank中报道的大鼠RVLG cDNA(NM_001077647)多60 bp,原因是由于RVLG的可变剪切方式造成的.本研究成功构建了重组表达质粒pGEX-RVLG,且GST-RVLG融合蛋白在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中高效表达,表达的目的蛋白占菌体总蛋白的10%以上.制备的抗体可特异性识别RVLG蛋白,其效价达1:20 000.获得的高效价、高特异性的小鼠抗RVLG蛋白腹水多克隆抗体为下阶段研究RVLG的特异性表达奠定了基础.     

Mouse oocytes derived from fetal germ cells are competent to support the development of embryos by in vitro fertilization

Mouse oocyte development in vitro has been studied in the past several years, but no evidence showed that the fertilizable oocytes could be obtained from the fetal mouse germ cells before the formation of the primordial follicles. In this study, an efficient and simple method has been established to obtain the mature oocytes from the fetal mouse germ cells at 16.5 days post-coitum (dpc). For the initial of follicular formation, fetal mouse 16.5 dpc ovaries were transplanted to the recipient under the kidney capsule, and the ovaries were recovered after 14 days. Subsequently, the growing preantral follicles in the ovarian grafts were isolated and cultured in vitro for 12 days. Practically, the mature oocytes ovulated from the antral follicles were able to be fertilized in vitro and support the embryonic development. The results demonstrate that the fetal mouse 16.5 dpc germ cells are able to form primordial follicles with the ovarian pregranulosa cells during the period of transplantation in the ectopic site, and the oocytes within the growing follicles are able to mature in vitro, then are able to support the embryonic development.     

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone binding inhibitors in the ovary

A protein present in ovaries and other tissues of many species competitively and reversibly inhibits high affinity binding of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) to rat ovarian membranes, but this protein is not GnRH. This protein has been partially purified and characterized from bovine ovaries. The absence of GnRH binding inhibitory (GBI) activity in plasma and follicular fluid indicates that this protein may act in a localized manner within or near its site of production or release. The bovine ovarian GBI protein evokes antigonadotropic activity in ovarian cells from both the rat and the bovine. The biological effect of GBI may occur independently of interaction with high affinity binding sites for GnRH, since these are absent from the bovine ovary. Thus, the GBI protein may abrogate gonadotropin-dependent responses in ovarian cells by mechanisms separate from interaction with GnRH receptors. A complete characterization of the GBI protein and evaluation of its mechanism of action in ovarian and pituitary cells will dictate conclusions on the physiological importance of this protein.     

Enhancing chemotherapy response with Bmi-1 silencing in ovarian cancer

Undoubtedly ovarian cancer is a vexing, incurable disease for patients with recurrent cancer and therapeutic options are limited. Although the polycomb group gene, Bmi-1 that regulates the self-renewal of normal stem and progenitor cells has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many human malignancies, yet a role for Bmi-1 in influencing chemotherapy response has not been addressed before. Here we demonstrate that silencing Bmi-1 reduces intracellular GSH levels and thereby sensitizes chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells to chemotherapeutics such as cisplatin. By exacerbating ROS production in response to cisplatin, Bmi-1 silencing activates the DNA damage response pathway, caspases and cleaves PARP resulting in the induction apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. In an in vivo orthotopic mouse model of chemoresistant ovarian cancer, knockdown of Bmi-1 by nanoliposomal delivery significantly inhibits tumor growth. While cisplatin monotherapy was inactive, combination of Bmi-1 silencing along with cisplatin almost completely abrogated ovarian tumor growth. Collectively these findings establish Bmi-1 as an important new target for therapy in chemoresistant ovarian cancer.     

Natural antibodies against bone marrow cells of a concordant xenogeneic species

Hyperacute rejection does not occur when vascularized organs are transplanted between rat and mouse, and this species combination is considered to be concordant. Since hyperacute rejection is believed to reflect the presence of pre-existing antibodies (usually of the IgM class), and lymphocytotoxic antibodies against rat cells have not been detected in normal mouse sera, it has previously been concluded that mouse anti-rat natural antibody (NAb) does not exist. However, studies have not been reported in which rat bone marrow cells (BMC) were used as targets for evaluation of normal mouse sera. Because previous work from our and other laboratories has shown that bone marrow chimerism in the rat into mouse species combination can be achieved only by transplanting large numbers of rat BMC, we have evaluated normal mouse sera for the presence of NAb against rat BMC that might explain these in vivo results. Fisher 344 rat BMC and spleen cells were incubated with serum from nonimmunized mice, then stained with fluoresceinated rat anti-mouse subclass-specific secondary reagents and analyzed using flow cytometry. NAb of the IgM and IgG3 classes were found that bound strongly to rat BMC but showed weak or absent binding to spleen cells. A low level of IgG2b binding was observed to both BMC and spleen cells. Cytotoxic activity was detected against rat BMC but not against spleen cells. The environment in which the animals were maintained played a significant role in determining the level of cytotoxic NAb in normal mouse sera. Our results are consistent with the possibility that bone marrow-specific NAb play a role in resisting engraftment of BMC across this species barrier.     

人OC-3-VGH卵巢癌细胞裸小鼠肿瘤模型的建立

目的建立人OC-3-VGH细胞株卵巢癌裸小鼠模型并观察该肿瘤生物学生长特性。方法OC-3-VGH细胞株复苏后加入10 mL RPMI-1640培养液,放入培养箱,传2～3代后,取细胞悬液,均以4×106个细胞,每只0.2 mL分别接种至BALB/c雌性裸小鼠皮下,2月后处死取材,观察肿瘤生长特性和转移情况。结果皮下接种一周后,裸鼠长出肿瘤,并随时间而增大,体积呈指数增长,第42天始,明显增大（P〈0.05）。组织学检查发现裸鼠皮下肿瘤细胞均细胞体积较大,细胞核大而染色深,核分裂相较多、异型性明显,接种2个月时,未发生其他组织转移。结论建立了新的卵巢癌动物模型,并初步研究了其生物学特性,为卵巢癌治疗方法的研究拓宽了道路。     

Steroid sulfatase activity in the rat ovary, cultured granulosa cells, and a granulosa cell line

Direct production of gonadal steroids from sulfated adrenal androgens may be an important alternative or complementary pathway for ovarian steroidogenesis. The conversion of sulfated adrenal androgens, present in serum at micromolar concentrations in adult women, into unconjugated androgens or estrogens requires steroid sulfatase (STS) activity. STS activity has not been characterized in the rat ovary. Substantial STS activity was present in homogenates of rat ovaries, primary cultures of rat granulosa cells, and a granulosa cell line, as determined by conversion of radiolabeled estrone sulfate (E₁S) to unconjugated estrone. The potent inhibitor estrone sulfamate eliminated the STS activity. Using E₁S as a substrate with microsomes prepared from a granulosa cell line, the K_m of STS activity was approximately 72 μM, a value in agreement with previously published data for rat STS. Therefore, ovarian cells possess STS and can remove the sulfate from adrenal androgens such as dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S). Using DHEA-S as a steroidogenic substrate represents an alternative model for the production of ovarian steroids versus the “two cell, two gonadotropin” model of ovarian estrogen synthesis, whereby thecal cells produce androgens from substrate cholesterol and granulosa cells convert the androgens into estrogens. The relative contribution of STS activity to ovarian steroidogenesis remains unclear but may have important physiological and pathophysiological implications.     

The anti-tumor effect of cross-reacting material 197, an inhibitor of heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor, in human resistant ovarian cancer

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a promising target for ovarian cancer therapy. Cross-reacting material 197 (CRM197), a specific HB-EGF inhibitor, has been proven to represent possible chemotherapeutic agent for ovarian cancer. However, the effect of CRM197 on the resistant ovarian carcinoma cells has not been sufficiently elucidated. Here, we found that HB-EGF was over-expressed in a paclitaxel-resistant human ovarian carcinoma cell line (A2780/Taxol) and a cisplatin-resistant cell line (A2780/CDDP), as well as the xenograft mouse tissue samples with these cells. To investigate the possible significance of the HB-EGF over-expression in A2780/Taxol and A2780/CDDP cells, we inhibited HB-EGF expression by CRM197 to investigate the effect of CRM197 treatment on these cells. We observed that CRM197 significantly induced anti-proliferative activity in a dose-dependent manner with the cell-cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and enhanced apoptosis in A2780/Taxol and A2780/CDDP cells. The sensitive ovarian carcinoma parental cell line (A2780), A2780/Taxol and A2780/CDDP cells formed tumors in nude mice, and enhanced tumorigenicity was observed in drug-resistant tumors. Furthermore, we observed that CRM197 significantly suppressed the growth of drug-resistant ovarian cancer xenografts in vivo (p<0.001). These results suggest that CRM197 as an HB-EGF-targeted agent has potent anti-tumor activity in paclitaxel- and cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer which over-express HB-EGF.     

Follicular expression of c-Kit/SCF and inhibin-alpha in mouse ovary during development.

The mechanism of development of the ovarian follicles has been largely unknown. We performed an immunohistochemical (IHC) study to determine the follicular expressions of c-kit, SCF, and inhibin-alpha at different developmental stages in mouse ovary. Ovaries were obtained from 14 and 16 days post coitum and 2, 7, and 21 days post partum (dpp) mice. IHC for c-kit, SCF, and inhibin-alpha was carried out. c-Kit and SCF were expressed on oogonia regardless of the developmental stage. Immunoreactive c-kit and SCF antigens were expressed on oocytes of primordial and primary follicles of neonate mouse ovaries. In 21 dpp mouse ovary, the expression of c-kit/SCF in oocytes gradually decreased as the follicles developed. c-Kit/SCF was expressed strongly in oocytes of preantral follicles and weakly in granulosa and thecal cells. Inhibin-alpha was mainly expressed on granulosa cells of preantral and early antral follicles of the 21 dpp mouse ovaries. These findings suggest that the IHC expression of c-kit/SCF proteins is specific in all developmental stages of ovarian follicles and is decreased after the follicle starts to grow. The expression of inhibin-alpha is negatively correlated with the expression of c-kit/SCF in the ovarian follicles in mice.     

Conditions required for activation of the mouse albumin or α-fetoprotein gene in hybrids between mouse lymphoblastoma and rat hepatoma cells

Activation of two previously silent mouse hepatic genes has been investigated in hybrid cells between pseudodiploid mouse lymphoblastoma cells and hyperdiploid or hypertetraploid rat hepatoma cells. In this material, activation of the mouse albumin gene is a frequent event, whereas activation of mouse alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) occurs only in those cells that produce large amounts of albumin. Quantitative tests of hybrid populations for the activated proteins and their mRNAs revealed the expected sizes and structures: moreover, as in hepatoma cells, the amount of both rat and mouse albumin produced was directly proportional to the intracellular concentration of the corresponding mRNA. The cellular environment required for activation of the liver-specific genes was investigated by cell-by-cell analysis of each hybrid clone. Immunostaining for the presence of rat and mouse albumin and mouse AFP revealed unexpected heterogeneity in the phenotypes of the hybrid populations, which were found to contain cells that: (a) failed to express either of the proteins; (b) produced all three; (c) produced both rat and mouse albumin; or (d) produced rat albumin only. Karyotypic analysis indicated that the hybrid-cell phenotype depended on parental chromosome ratios rather than absolute numbers of chromosomes. It was found for albumin and mouse AFP that the fraction of immunostained cells was equal to the fraction of metaphases that contained a minimal rat-to-mouse chromosome ratio of 2.5 and 9, respectively. It is concluded that in those hybrids, expression of liver-specific genes is regulated by extinguishers, but in a dose-dependent fashion, suggesting the intervention of antagonistic activators from the rat hepatoma chromosomes.     

Estradiol regulates N-cadherin mRNA levels in the mouse ovary

N-cadherin (N-cad) is a calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule which is present in the granulosa cells of the mouse ovarian follicle. This cell adhesion molecule has been implicated as a key modulator of follicular development. The regulators of N-cad mRNA levels in the ovary have not been identified. We have examined the ability of steroids to influence ovarian N-cad mRNA levels in vivo. Immature mice were injected with either progesterone, testosterone, 17β-estradiol, or 17α-estradiol. Only 17β-estradiol caused a rapid and significant increase in the ovarian N-cad mRNA levels. We speculate that this steroid is a major regulator of N-cad-mediated granulosa cell interactions in vivo. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Ovarian epidermal growth factor-like activity. Concentrations in porcine follicular fluid during follicular enlargement

Numerous data indicate that epidermal growth factor has important effects on cultured granulosa cells. However, most of the few attempts to detect epidermal growth factor in ovarian tissue have been unrevealing. In this study, ovarian epidermal growth factor-like activity was easily detected by a radioreceptor assay based on the A431 cell line but not by an immunoassay for mouse epidermal growth factor. The concentration of this activity in follicular fluid from small porcine ovarian follicles was higher than that in fluid from medium or large follicles or serum (p less than 0.01), but lower than that in salivary gland extracts. Receptor-active epidermal growth factor-like peptides could function as local ovarian regulators.     

Plasminogen activator in the rat ovary. Production and gonadotropin regulation of the enzyme in granulosa and thecal cells

The production of plasminogen activator by ovarian granulosa cells has been previously reported to be temporally correlated with ovulation in the rat and to be under hormonal control of gonadotropins. We have examined the type of plasminogen activator produced by granulosa cells and also investigated other ovarian cell types for synthesis of this enzyme. Using antibodies specific for tissue-type or urokinase-type plasminogen activator, we have found that granulosa cells produce exclusively the tissue-type enzyme. However, in cultures of whole follicles isolated from the ovary, there is primarily synthesis of urokinase-type plasminogen activator. Examination of other isolated ovarian cell types has demonstrated that thecal cells secrete the urokinase-type plasminogen activator and that the production of this enzyme is also regulated by gonadotropins and temporally correlated with ovulation. These results suggest that ovulation requires both types of plasminogen activator and that the neighboring granulosa and thecal cells cooperate to ensure rupture of the follicle wall and unimpeded passage of the ovum into the oviduct.     

Antigonadotropic effects of the bovine ovarian gonadotropin-releasing hormone-binding inhibitor/histone H2A in rat luteal and granulosal cells

A gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-binding inhibitor (GnRH-BI) was purified from bovine ovaries and identified as histone H2A. In the present studies, the biological effects of partially purified and purified ovarian GnRH-BI, as well as calf thymus histone H2A, were examined in rat ovarian cells. Since GnRH has direct antigonadotropic actions on these cells, the effects on luteinizing hormone-stimulated cAMP accumulation in luteal cells and follicle stimulating hormone-induced cAMP and progesterone production in granulosal cells were evaluated. Antigonadotropic activity in both luteal and granulosal cells coeluted directly with GnRH-BI activity during purification from bovine ovaries, and the antigonadotropic effects were dose dependent and reversible. In contrast to GnRH, GnRH-BI maximally inhibited gonadotropin responses and the effects of GnRH-BI were not blocked by a GnRH antagonist. The purified ovarian GnRH-BI and calf thymus histone H2A had identical antigonadotropic properties, and the half-maximal concentrations for inhibiting the gonadotropin responses of granulosal and luteal cells was 2 and 5 microM, respectively. In conclusion, the ovarian GnRH-binding inhibitor, identified as histone H2A, not only inhibits the high affinity binding of GnRH to rat ovarian membranes but also evokes GnRH-like antigonadotropic responses in rat ovarian cells that do not appear to be mediated by binding to GnRH receptors.     

Intraperitoneal delivery of human natural killer cells for treatment of ovarian cancer in a mouse xenograft model

Background aimsThere is an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies for relapsed ovarian cancer. Dramatic clinical anti-tumor effects have been observed with interleukin (IL)-2 activated natural killer (NK) cells; however, intravenous delivery of NK cells in patients with ovarian cancer has not been successful in ameliorating disease. We investigated in vivo engraftment of intraperitoneally (IP) delivered NK cells in an ovarian cancer xenograft model to determine if delivery mode can affect tumor cell killing and circumvent lack of NK cell expansion.MethodsAn ovarian cancer xenograft mouse model was established to evaluate efficacy of IP-delivered NK cells. Tumor burden was monitored by bioluminescent imaging of luciferase-expressing ovarian cancer cells. NK cell persistence, tumor burden and NK cell trafficking were evaluated. Transplanted NK cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and cytotoxicity assays.ResultsIP delivery of human NK cells plus cytokines led to high levels of circulating NK and was effective in clearing intraperitoneal ovarian cancer burden in xenografted mice. NK cells remained within the peritoneal cavity 54 days after injection and had markers of maturation. Additionally, surviving NK cells were able to kill ovarian cancer cells at a rate similar to pre-infusion levels, supporting that in vivo functionality of human NK cells can be maintained after IP infusion.ConclusionsIP delivery of NK cells leads to stable engraftment and antitumor response in an ovarian cancer xenograft model. These data support further pre-clinical and clinical evaluation of IP delivery of allogeneic NK cells in ovarian cancer.