title: Androgen receptor and miRNA-126* axis controls follicle-stimulating hormone receptor expression in porcine ovarian granulosa cells.
abstract: Androgen, which acts via the androgen receptor (AR), plays crucial roles in mammalian ovarian function. Recent studies showed that androgen/AR signaling regulates follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) expression in follicles; however, the detailed mechanism underlying this regulation remained unknown. Here, we demonstrate that AR and miR-126* cooperate to inhibit FSHR expression and function in pig follicular granulosa cells (pGCs). In pGCs, overexpression of AR decreased, whereas knockdown increased, FSHR mRNA and protein expression; however, neither manipulation affected FSHR promoter activity. Using a dual-luciferase reporter assay, we found that the FSHR gene is a direct target of miR-126*, which inhibits FSHR expression and increases the rate of AR-induced apoptosis in pGCs. Collectively, our data show for the first time that the AR/miR-126* axis exerts synergetic effects in the regulation of FSHR expression and apoptosis in pGCs. Our findings thus define a novel pathway, AR/miR-126*/FSHR, that regulates mammalian GC functions.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and TechnologyNanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and TechnologyNanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Qiqi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and TechnologyNanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Zengxiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and TechnologyNanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China liqifa@njau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qifa
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: C410798:AR protein, human; C527111:MIRN126 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011962:Receptors, FSH; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone