Cumulus Extracellular Matrix Is an Important Part of Oocyte Microenvironment in Ovarian Follicles: Its Remodeling and Proteolytic Degradation

0553823 - ÚŽFG 2023 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Nagyová, Eva - Němcová, Lucie - Camaioni, A.
Cumulus Extracellular Matrix Is an Important Part of Oocyte Microenvironment in Ovarian Follicles: Its Remodeling and Proteolytic Degradation.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Roč. 23, č. 1 (2022), č. článku 54. E-ISSN 1422-0067
Institutional support: RVO:67985904
Keywords : oocyte-cumulus complex * extracellular matrix * hyaluronan
OECD category: Developmental biology
Impact factor: 5.6, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/1/54

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential structure with biological activities. It has been shown that the ECM influences gene expression via cytoskeletal components and the gene expression is dependent upon cell interactions with molecules and hormones. The development of ovarian follicles is a hormone dependent process. The surge in the luteinizing hormone triggers ovulatory changes in oocyte microenvironment. In this review, we discuss how proteolytic cleavage affects formation of cumulus ECM following hormonal stimulation, in particular, how the specific proteasome inhibitor MG132 affects gonadotropin-induced cytoskeletal structure, the organization of cumulus ECM, steroidogenesis, and nuclear maturation. We found that after the inhibition of proteolytic cleavage, gonadotropin-stimulated oocyte-cumulus complexes (OCCs) were without any signs of cumulus expansion, they remained compact with preserved cytoskeletal F-actin-rich transzonal projections through the oocyte investments. Concomitantly, a significant decrease was detected in progesterone secretion and in the expression of gonadotropin-stimulated cumulus expansion-related transcripts, such as HAS2 and TNFAIP6. In agreement, the covalent binding between hyaluronan and the heavy chains of serum-derived the inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor, essential for the organization of cumulus ECM, was missing.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0330568