TY - JOUR
T1 - Novel function of ovarian growth factors
T2 - Combined studies by DNA microarray, biochemical and physiological approaches
AU - Ben-Ami, Ido
AU - Freimann, Sarit
AU - Armon, Leah
AU - Dantes, Ada
AU - Ron-El, Raphael
AU - Amsterdam, Abraham
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by Yad-Avraham Center for Cancer Research, by a research grant from Mr Edgar L. Cadden and La Fundation Raphael et Regina Levy and by the Women Health Research Center at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. A. Amsterdam is the incumbent of the Joyce and Ben B. Eisenberg, Professorial Chair in Molecular Endocrinology and Cancer Research at the Weizmann Institute of Science.
PY - 2006/7
Y1 - 2006/7
N2 - Owing to the development of the DNA microarray technique, modulation of gene function can be studied systematically. Considerable attention has been focused on members of the growth factor family to elucidate the main regulators of oocyte maturation and ovarian follicle rupture. Among these growth factors, it was found both in rodents and in humans that amphiregulin (Ar) and epiregulin (Ep) of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family were dramatically up-regulated by gonadotrophins in the intact ovary and in primary granulosa cells, respectively. Their role in cumulus expansion and oocyte maturation was established in rodents, and their formation under LH stimulation in granulosa cells was demonstrated in humans. To be activated, Ar and Ep must be cleaved by A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinases (ADAMs) family. However, the precise processing of Ar and Ep by the cumulus cells is still obscure. Future investigations using DNA microarray technique may reveal the repertoire of genes activated in Ar- and Ep-stimulated cumulus cells and may help elucidate the molecular basis of ovulation.
AB - Owing to the development of the DNA microarray technique, modulation of gene function can be studied systematically. Considerable attention has been focused on members of the growth factor family to elucidate the main regulators of oocyte maturation and ovarian follicle rupture. Among these growth factors, it was found both in rodents and in humans that amphiregulin (Ar) and epiregulin (Ep) of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family were dramatically up-regulated by gonadotrophins in the intact ovary and in primary granulosa cells, respectively. Their role in cumulus expansion and oocyte maturation was established in rodents, and their formation under LH stimulation in granulosa cells was demonstrated in humans. To be activated, Ar and Ep must be cleaved by A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinases (ADAMs) family. However, the precise processing of Ar and Ep by the cumulus cells is still obscure. Future investigations using DNA microarray technique may reveal the repertoire of genes activated in Ar- and Ep-stimulated cumulus cells and may help elucidate the molecular basis of ovulation.
KW - Amphiregulin
KW - EGF-like growth factors
KW - Epiregulin
KW - Metalloproteinase
KW - Oocyte maturation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33747885301&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/molehr/gal045
DO - 10.1093/molehr/gal045
M3 - ???researchoutput.researchoutputtypes.contributiontojournal.shortsurvey???
AN - SCOPUS:33747885301
SN - 1360-9947
VL - 12
SP - 413
EP - 419
JO - Molecular Human Reproduction
JF - Molecular Human Reproduction
IS - 7
ER -