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Role of FSH and FSH receptor on HUVECs migration

Gene Therapy volume 28, pages 155–161 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a pituitary glycoprotein that regulates follicle maturation through its binding to follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR). Endothelial cells express FSHR, but its exact role in endothelial cells remains unclear. Here we show that FSHR expression was detectable in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). FSH stimulation promoted HUVECs migration but not proliferation. Because FSHR is a GPCR, FSH treatment triggers the activation of cAMP-PKA signaling pathways, and the JAK-STAT, PI3K-AKT, and JNK-MAPK pathways. RNAi of FSHR dramatically attenuated the activation effect of FSH on HUVECs migration, as well as the related signaling pathways. Treatment of FSH in HUVECs also transcriptionally upregulated the expression of VAV3 and LAMA2, suppression either of VAV3 or LAMA2 by RNAi attenuated the FSH’s effect on HUVECs migration. All of these results indicated a functional role of FSH in the regulation of endothelial cells.

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Fig. 1: FSHR expression in HUVECs.
Fig. 2: FSH regulates HUVEC migration.
Fig. 3: FSH triggers cAMP-PKA signaling.
Fig. 4: FSH activates signaling transduction.
Fig. 5: FSH regulates HUVECs migration through upregulating VAV3 and LAMA2.

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Acknowledgements

This project was supported by Hubei Province Health and family planning scientific research project (WJ2016-YZ-16) and 81501373 from National Science Foundation of China.

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  1. These authors contributed equally: Dailin Tan, Yongxu Zhao

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical laboratory, Qianjiang Hospital of Yangtze University, Qianjiang, 433100, Hubei, China

    Dailin Tan & Fangfang Tong

  2. College of Mechanical Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, 523808, Guangdong, China

    Yongxu Zhao & Danjun Ma

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  1. Dailin Tan
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Correspondence to Danjun Ma or Fangfang Tong.

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Tan, D., Zhao, Y., Ma, D. et al. Role of FSH and FSH receptor on HUVECs migration. Gene Ther 28, 155–161 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41434-020-00195-w

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