Effects o follicular fluid oxidative status on human mural granulosa cells, oocyte competency and ICSI parameters
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Authors: Karabulut, Seda; Korkmaz, Oya; Kutlu, Pelin; Gozel, Hilal Eren; Keskin, Ilknur
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of the present study was to understand the molecular and genetic alterations involved in follicular fluid oxidative process by investigating human mural granulosa cells and to find possible biomarkers for oocyte competency and ICSI outcome measures. Methods: A total of 166 patients were included in the study. Total antioxidant and oxidant levels of follicular fluids were measured on the day of oocyte pick-up and oxidative status were calculated. Expression profiles of three potential target proteins in cases of oxidative stress (Hsp70, Tgf-beta, Notch1), DNA status and chromatin integrity of mural granulosa cells were analyzed. Results: TAS levels were positively correlated with the Hsp70 and Tgf-beta expression patterns of mural granulosa cells. Mature oocyte rate and fertilization rates were affected negatively by the presence of oxidative stress and a significant positive correlation was found with the oxidative status and the fertilization rate, whereas no correlation with the remaining ICSI parameters in the overall group. Conclusions: Oxidative stress detected in follicular fluid adversely affects fertilization rates post-ICSI however no effect on the remaining parameters including embryo quality, pregnancy, and implantation rates. DNA damage, chromatin integrity were increased, whereas Hsp70 and Tgf-ss were decreased in mural granulosa cells in cases of oxidative stress which may indirectly reflect the oocyte competency and may be used as biomarkers for ICSI outcome measures. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Role of HSP70 in response to (thermo)radiotherapy: analysis of gene expression in canine osteosarcoma cells by RNA-seq
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Authors: Nytko, Katarzyna J.; Thumser-Henner, Pauline; Russo, Giancarlo; Weyland, Mathias S.; Bley, Carla Rohrer
Abstract
Pre-treatment of tumors with hyperthermia is often used to increase the efficacy of radiotherapy. One of the main proteins induced in response to hyperthermia is heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). The aim of our study was to investigate up- and down-regulated genes in response to (thermo)radiotherapy in HSP70 proficient and deficient canine osteosarcoma cell line (Abrams), and functional role of HSP70 in the mechanism of thermoradiosensitization. Cells were transfected with negative control siRNA or siRNA targeting HSP70 and treated with hyperthermia (HT), radiotherapy (RT), and thermoradiotherapy (HTRT). RNA sequencing was used to analyze gene expression. Hyperthermia and thermoradiotherapy, but not radiotherapy alone, induced differential gene expression. We identified genes differentially expressed only in HSP70 knockdown (thus HSP70-dependent) cells in response to hyperthermia and thermoradiotherapy. Interestingly, cell proliferation but not clonogenicity and apoptosis/necrosis was affected by the HSP70 knockdown in response to thermoradiotherapy. The results suggest that HSP70 regulates expression of specific genes in response to hyperthermia and thermoradiotherapy. Further investigations into the role of specific genes regulated in a HSP70-dependent manner in response to thermoradiotherapy could pave a way into new, combinatorial treatment options for (canine) osteosarcoma and other cancer types.