Signalling pathways involved in the synergistic effects of human growth differentiation factor 9 and bone morphogenetic protein 15

Reader, Karen L.; Mottershead, David G.; Martin, Georgia A.; Gilchrist, Robert B.; Heath, Derek A.; McNatty, Kenneth P.; Juengel, Jennifer L.

Abstract

Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) act synergistically to regulate granulosa cell proliferation and steroid production in several species. Several non-Sma and mothers against decapentaplegic (SMAD) signalling pathways are involved in the action of murine and ovine GDF9 and BMP15 in combination, with the pathways utilised differing between the two species. The aims of this research were to determine if human GDF9 and BMP15 also act in a synergistic manner to stimulate granulosa cell proliferation and to identify which non-SMAD signalling pathways are activated. Human GDF9 with BMP15 (GDF9 + BMP15) stimulated an increase in 3H-thymidine incorporation (P < 0.001), which was greater than the increase with BMP15 alone, while GDF9 alone had no effect. The stimulation of 3H-thymidine incorporation by GDF9 + BMP15 was reduced by the addition of inhibitors to the SMAD2/3, nuclear factor-KB (NF-KB) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signalling pathways. Inhibitors to the SMAD1/5/8, extracellular signal-regulated kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK-MAPK) or p38-MAPK pathways had no effect. The addition of the BMP receptor 2 (BMPR2) extracellular domain also inhibited stimulation of 3H-thymidine incorporation by GDF9 + BMP15. In conclusion, human GDF9 and BMP15 act synergistically to stimulate granulosa cell proliferation, a response that also involves species-specific non-SMAD signalling pathways.

Citation

Reader, K. L., Mottershead, D. G., Martin, G. A., Gilchrist, R. B., Heath, D. A., McNatty, K. P., & Juengel, J. L. (2016). Signalling pathways involved in the synergistic effects of human growth differentiation factor 9 and bone morphogenetic protein 15. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 28(4), 491. https://doi.org/10.1071/rd14099

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 17, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Aug 26, 2014
• Publication Date: 2016
• Deposit Date: Jun 12, 2023
• Journal: Reproduction, Fertility and Development
• Print ISSN: 1031-3613
• Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 491
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/rd14099
• Keywords: Developmental Biology; Endocrinology; Genetics; Molecular Biology; Animal Science and Zoology; Reproductive Medicine; Biotechnology; follicle; granulosa cells ; oocyte; ovary; proliferation.