Membrane Estrogen Receptor (GPER) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor (FSHR) heteromeric complexes promote human ovarian follicle survival
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Classically, follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR)-driven cAMP-mediated signaling boosts human ovarian follicle growth and oocyte maturation. However, contradicting in vitro data suggest a different view on physiological significance of FSHR-mediated cAMP signaling. We found that the G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) heteromerizes with FSHR, reprogramming cAMP/death signals into proliferative stimuli fundamental for sustaining oocyte survival. In human granulosa cells, survival signals are missing at high FSHR:GPER ratio, which negatively impacts follicle maturation and strongly correlates with preferential Gαs protein/cAMP-pathway coupling and FSH responsiveness of patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation. In contrast, FSHR/GPER heteromers triggered anti-apoptotic/proliferative FSH signaling delivered via the Gβγ dimer, whereas impairment of heteromer formation or GPER knockdown enhanced the FSH-dependent cell death and steroidogenesis. Therefore, our findings indicate how oocyte maturation depends on the capability of GPER to shape FSHR selective signals, indicating hormone receptor heteromers may be a marker of cell proliferation.
Date Issued
2020-12-18
Date Acceptance
2020-11-11
Citation
iScience, 2020, 23 (12)
ISSN
2589-0042
Publisher
Cell Press
Journal / Book Title
iScience
Volume
23
Issue
12
Copyright Statement
© 2020 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Sponsor
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Genesis Research Trust
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33299978
PII: S2589-0042(20)31009-9
Grant Number
BB/I008004/1
BB/L015129/1
Award 1807(Genesis funds 122)
Subjects
Endocrine Regulation
Female Reproductive Endocrinology
Molecular Biology
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Article Number
ARTN 101812
Date Publish Online
2020-11-18