Transcriptomic Profile of New Gene Markers Encoding Proteins Responsible for Structure of Porcine Ovarian Granulosa Cells

Abstract

The extracellular matrix (ECM) in granulosa cells is functionally very important, and it is involved in many processes related to ovarian follicle growth and ovulation. The aim of this study was to describe the expression profile of genes within granulosa cells that are associated with extracellular matrix formation, intercellular signaling, and cell–cell fusion. The material for this study was ovaries of sexually mature pigs obtained from a commercial slaughterhouse. Laboratory-derived granulosa cells (GCs) from ovarian follicles were cultured in a primary in vitro culture model. The extracted genetic material (0, 48, 96, and 144 h) were subjected to microarray expression analysis. Among 81 genes, 66 showed increased expression and only 15 showed decreased expression were assigned to 7 gene ontology groups “extracellular matrix binding”, “extracellular matrix structural constituent”, “binding, bridging”, “cadherin binding”, “cell adhesion molecule binding”, “collagen binding” and “cadherin binding involved in cell-cell adhesion”. The 10 genes with the highest expression (POSTN, ITGA2, FN1, LAMB1, ITGB3, CHI3L1, PCOLCE2, CAV1, DCN, COL14A1) and 10 of the most down-regulated (SPP1, IRS1, CNTLN, TMPO, PAICS, ANK2, ADAM23, ABI3BP, DNAJB1, IGF1) were selected for further analysis. The results were validated by RT-qPCR. The current results may serve as preliminary data for further analyses using in vitro granulosa cell cultures in assisted reproduction technologies, studies of pathological processes in the ovary as well as in the use of the stemness potential of GCs.

Transcriptomic analysis of the thyroid and ovarian stroma reveals key pathways and potential candidate genes associated with egg production in ducks

“…And the THBS2 and THBS4 are grouped in the same class as they show high structural homology. In present study, genes involved in the ECM-receptor interaction of the thyroid that encode extracellular matrix components were up-regulated ( LAMA3, CHAD, THBS2, THBS4 ), may directly affects BP within the ovary, such as folliculogenesis, ovulation, and steroidogenesis ( Kulus et al, 2021 ). In a study on bovine corpus luteum, the ECM-receptor interaction was identified to be important in controlling ovarian cell development and function ( Kliem et al, 2007 ), which is consistent with our findings in the pathway.…”

Identification of candidate genomic regions for thermogelled egg yolk traits based on a genome-wide association study

“…LAMB1 participates in follicle development and indirectly affects the secretion of estradiol in follicles ( Kulus et al, 2021 ). Phosphorylation sites in LAMB1 play a regulatory role over protein function, LAMB1 promotes protein phosphorylation and influence protein structure, and protein tertiary structure in turn affects the spatial structure of TEY and improves GUM ( Kulus et al, 2021 ). The ERGIC2 protein is an endoplasmic reticulum resident protein ( Yu et al, 2014 ).…”

Transcriptome Analysis of the Ovaries of Taihe Black-Bone Silky Fowls at Different Egg-Laying Stages

“…The extracellular matrix is present in all organs and tissues and is a mixture of cellular and non-cellular components that can regulate a variety of cellular processes [ 71 ]. It was shown that the extracellular matrix is a major component of the ovarian matrix and can mediate many physiological functions in the ovary, such as follicular growth and development, ovulation, and steroidogenesis [ 72 ]. The enrichment of the extracellular matrix is consistent with a recent report on Nandan-Yao domestic chickens [ 73 ].…”