1. Academic Validation
  2. Liraglutide improves follicle development in polycystic ovary syndrome by inhibiting CXCL10 secretion

Liraglutide improves follicle development in polycystic ovary syndrome by inhibiting CXCL10 secretion

  • Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2024 Aug 6;22(1):98. doi: 10.1186/s12958-024-01269-9.
Min Zhao # 1 2 3 4 5 Baoying Liao # 1 2 3 4 5 Chuyu Yun 1 2 3 4 5 Xinyu Qi 1 2 3 4 5 Yanli Pang 6 7 8 9 10
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
  • 2 National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China.
  • 3 Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.
  • 4 Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China.
  • 5 Institute of Advanced Clinical Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China.
  • 6 State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China. yanlipang@bjmu.edu.cn.
  • 7 National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China. yanlipang@bjmu.edu.cn.
  • 8 Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China. yanlipang@bjmu.edu.cn.
  • 9 Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China. yanlipang@bjmu.edu.cn.
  • 10 Institute of Advanced Clinical Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China. yanlipang@bjmu.edu.cn.
  • # Contributed equally.
Abstract

Background: At present, a number of clinical trials have been carried out on GLP-1 Receptor agonist liraglutide in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the effect of liraglutide on follicle development and its specific mechanism are still unclear.

Methods: RNA Sequencing was used to explore the molecular characteristics of granulosa cells from patients with PCOS treated with liraglutide. The levels of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) in follicular fluid were detected by ELISA, the expression levels of ovulation related genes and inflammatory factor genes in follicles and granulosa cells were detected by qPCR and the protein levels of connexin 43 (Cx43), Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2) and phosphorylated JAK2 were detected by Western blot. The mouse ovarian follicles culture system in vitro was used to detect the status of follicle development and ovulation.

Results: In the present study, we found that liraglutide inhibited the secretion of inflammatory factors in PCOS granulosa cells, among which CXCL10 was the most significant. In addition, CXCL10 was significantly higher in granulosa cells and follicular fluid in PCOS patients than in non-PCOS patients. We applied in vitro follicle culture and other techniques to carry out the mechanism exploration which revealed that CXCL10 disrupted the homeostasis of Gap Junction Protein alpha 1 (GJA1) between oocyte and granulosa cells before physiological ovulation, thus inhibiting follicular development and ovulation. Liraglutide inhibited CXCL10 secretion in PCOS granulosa cells by inhibiting the JAK signaling pathway and can improved dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced follicle development disorders, which is reversed by CXCL10 supplementation.

Conclusions: The present study suggests that liraglutide inhibits CXCL10 secretion in granulosa cells through JAK signaling pathway, thereby improving the homeostasis of GJA1 between oocyte and granulosa cells before physiological ovulation and ultimately improving the follicular development and ovulation of PCOS, which provides more supportive evidence for the clinical application of liraglutide in the treatment of ovulatory disorders in PCOS.

Trial registration: Not applicable.

Keywords

CXCL10; Follicle development; Gap junction protein alpha 1; Liraglutide; Polycystic ovary syndrome.

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