Identification of a stanniocalcin paralog, stanniocalcin-2, in fish and the paracrine actions of stanniocalcin-2 in the mammalian ovary.
Stanniocalcin is a glycoprotein hormone important in the maintenance of calcium and phosphate homeostasis in fish. Two related mammalian stanniocalcin genes, STC1 and STC2, were found to be expressed in various tissues as paracrine regulators. We have demonstrated the existence of a second stanniocalcin gene in fish, designated fish STC2, with only 30% identity to fish STC1. However, phylogenetic analysis and comparison of the genomic structure of STC genes in vertebrates indicated that STC1 and STC2 genes were probably derived from a common ancestor gene. Based on the prominent expression of mammalian STC1 in the ovary, we tested STC2 expression in rat ovary and the regulation of STC2 expression by gonadotropins. Treatment of immature rats with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin increased STC2 transcripts, whereas subsequent treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin suppressed STC2 expression. Real-time PCR analyses also demonstrated that STC2 is expressed mainly in thecal layers. In situ hybridization studies also revealed that STC2 is expressed in thecal cell layers of antral and preovulatory follicles after gonadotropin stimulation. To elucidate the physiological functions of STC2, recombinant human and fish STC2 proteins were generated and found to be N-glycosylated homodimers. In cultured granulosa cells, treatment with human or fish STC2 suppressed FSH-induced progesterone, but not estradiol or cAMP, production. The STC2 suppression of progesterone production was associated with the inhibition of FSH-induced CYP11A and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expression. Thus, STC2 is a functional homodimeric glycoprotein, and thecal cell-derived STC2 could play a paracrine role during follicular development.
Division of Reproductive Biology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Ching-Wei
CW
Luo
Margareta D
MD
Pisarska
Aaron J W
AJ
Hsueh
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D019899:Paracrine Communication; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats / Q000378:metabolism*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D013799:Theca Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C114997:STC2 protein, human; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D000242:Cyclic AMP