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Leptin Suppresses Human Chorionic Gonadotropin-Induced Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression and Prostaglandin Production in Cultured Human Granulose Luteal Cells

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The Journal of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation: JSGI Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

In a previous study, we demonstrated that high leptin levels at the time of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection impaired the pregnancy rate for women undergoing in vitro fertilization. In this study we examine leptin’s effect on prostaglandin formation and cyclooxygenase (COX) expression induced by hCG in human granulose luteal (GL) cells.

Methods

Human GL cells were obtained from women undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation. COX expression and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase (mPGES) expression, as well as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) production were studied. This was done in both the presence and absence of leptin following hCG stimulation PGE2 and PGF2α were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of COX and mPGES were investigated by using immunocytochemical techniques in addition to Western blotting and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis.

Results

HCG and leptin do not affect COX-1 expression. However, leptin blocked COX-2 and mPGES expression induced by hCG. Moreover, while leptin, in various concentrations, did not affect PGE2 and PGF2α levels, it inhibited the elevation of PGE2 and PGF2α concentrations in response to hCG.

Conclusions

The study confirms that the expression of COX-2 is up-regulated by hCG in human GL cells. Leptin suppress hCG-induced PGE2 formation through the inhibition of COX-2 and mPGES expression. The preliminary results suggest a potential inhibiting effect of leptin on human GL cells induced by hCG.

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Author notes

  1. E.-M. T. and T.-F. C. contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No. 100, Tzyou 1st Rd., Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan (ROC)

    Eing-Mei Tsai MD, PhD, Te-Fu Chan MD, Yu Chang MD, Po-Hui Chiang MD, PhD, Chiao-Ya Chuang MS, Cheng-Yu Long MD, Cheen-Yin Chai MD, PhD & Jau-Nan Lee MD, PhD

  2. Departnment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC

    Eing-Mei Tsai MD, PhD, Te-Fu Chan MD, Yu Chang MD, Po-Hui Chiang MD, PhD, Chiao-Ya Chuang MS, Cheng-Yu Long MD, Cheen-Yin Chai MD, PhD & Jau-Nan Lee MD, PhD

  3. Department of Urology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC

    Eing-Mei Tsai MD, PhD, Te-Fu Chan MD, Yu Chang MD, Po-Hui Chiang MD, PhD, Chiao-Ya Chuang MS, Cheng-Yu Long MD, Cheen-Yin Chai MD, PhD & Jau-Nan Lee MD, PhD

  4. Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC

    Eing-Mei Tsai MD, PhD, Te-Fu Chan MD, Yu Chang MD, Po-Hui Chiang MD, PhD, Chiao-Ya Chuang MS, Cheng-Yu Long MD, Cheen-Yin Chai MD, PhD & Jau-Nan Lee MD, PhD

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  1. Eing-Mei Tsai MD, PhD
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  2. Te-Fu Chan MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jau-Nan Lee MD, PhD.

Additional information

Supported in part by the National Science Council, Taiwan (NSC-89-2314-B-037- 1155, NSC-91-2314-B-037-333)

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Tsai, EM., Chan, TF., Chang, Y. et al. Leptin Suppresses Human Chorionic Gonadotropin-Induced Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression and Prostaglandin Production in Cultured Human Granulose Luteal Cells. Reprod. Sci. 13, 551–557 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsgi.2006.09.004

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsgi.2006.09.004

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