The gonadotropin follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is critical for regulating fertility and sex steroid hormone production. Positive and negative feedback systems between gonadotropins and steroid hormones are in place to finely control the reproductive processes of follicle recruitment, ovulation, corpus luteum (CL) development, maintenance, and ultimately CL regression. The aging process results in a decline in fertility and diminished sex steroid hormone levels, the latter of which has considerable metabolic consequences. The glycosylation of FSH is critical for its ability to activate FSH-responsive target cells. Recent evidence indicates that glycoform abundance is under physiological regulation;and importantly new isoforms of FSH have been characterized. Analysis of hFSH preparations revealed that di-glycosylated hFSH is more abundant than tetra-glycosylated hFSH in young women and levels of tetra-glycosylated hFSH are elevated in postmenopausal women. Furthermore, di-glycosylated hFSH appears to have much greater ability to stimulate estrogen secretion than other forms. However, little is known about the cellular signaling mechanisms that occur in granulosa cells that occur as a result of alterations in FSH glycosylation. Our preliminary data indicate that FSH can activate multiple signaling pathways in its target cells. Furthermore, our data suggest that activation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/AKT signaling correlates well with aromatase expression and estrogen secretion, whereas, activation of Erk signaling reduces aromatase and estrogen production. Conversely, the activation of Erk in granulosa cells results in increased proliferative responses at the expense of steroidogenesis. This proposal will test the overall hypothesis that di-glycosylated and tetra-glycosylated hFSH glycoforms provoke qualitative and quantitative differences in cellular signaling pathways, which contribute to altered cellular responses in cells expressing FSH receptors.
Aim 1. Determine the efficacy and potency of FSH glycoforms in terms of FSH receptor signaling and steroidogenesis using a homogeneous porcine ovarian granulosa cell monolayer model.
Aim 2. Determine how FSH glycoforms control FSH receptor signaling, follicle growth, and steroidogenesis in a well-established whole follicle culture model.
Aim 3. Determine FSH glycoform signaling and bone cell function using well-established primary cultures of bone cells and a FSH-responsive bone macrophage-cell line. The ability to employ three relevant but distinct model systems will provide a unique opportunity to discover how FSH glycoform signaling controls the function of FSH-responsive target cells.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Program Projects (P01)
Project #
5P01AG029531-03
Application #
8245736
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAG1)
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2011-04-01
Budget End
2012-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$221,501
Indirect Cost
Name
Wichita State University
Department
Type
DUNS #
053078127
City
Wichita
State
KS
Country
United States
Zip Code
67260
Das, Nandana; Kumar, T Rajendra (2018) Molecular regulation of follicle-stimulating hormone synthesis, secretion and action. J Mol Endocrinol 60:R131-R155
Gilbert, Sara Babcock; Roof, Allyson K; Rajendra Kumar, T (2018) Mouse models for the analysis of gonadotropin secretion and action. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 32:219-239
Kumar, T Rajendra (2018) Extragonadal Actions of FSH: A Critical Need for Novel Genetic Models. Endocrinology 159:2-8
Roy, Sambit; Gandra, Divya; Seger, Christina et al. (2018) Oocyte-Derived Factors (GDF9 and BMP15) and FSH Regulate AMH Expression Via Modulation of H3K27AC in Granulosa Cells. Endocrinology 159:3433-3445
Kumar, T Rajendra (2018) Fshb Knockout Mouse Model, Two Decades Later and Into the Future. Endocrinology 159:1941-1949
Kumar, T Rajendra (2017) The SO(H)L(H) ""O"" drivers of oocyte growth and survival but not meiosis I. J Clin Invest 127:2044-2047
Romereim, Sarah M; Summers, Adam F; Pohlmeier, William E et al. (2017) Gene expression profiling of bovine ovarian follicular and luteal cells provides insight into cellular identities and functions. Mol Cell Endocrinol 439:379-394
Liu, Peng; Ji, Yaoting; Yuen, Tony et al. (2017) Blocking FSH induces thermogenic adipose tissue and reduces body fat. Nature 546:107-112
Wang, Huizhen; Hastings, Richard; Miller, William L et al. (2016) Fshb-iCre mice are efficient and specific Cre deleters for the gonadotrope lineage. Mol Cell Endocrinol 419:124-38
Wang, Huizhen; May, Jacob; Butnev, Viktor et al. (2016) Evaluation of in vivo bioactivities of recombinant hypo- (FSH21/18) and fully- (FSH24) glycosylated human FSH glycoforms in Fshb null mice. Mol Cell Endocrinol 437:224-236

Showing the most recent 10 out of 40 publications