Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, China.
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, China; Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sericultural Scientific Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang 212100, China.
Anim Reprod Sci. 2024 Nov;270:107601. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2024.107601. Epub 2024 Sep 16.
The regulation of mammalian ovarian development involves the coordinated processes of autophagy and apoptosis. The autophagy-related gene ATG7 plays a pivotal role in mediating crosstalk between these pathways. Despite its recognized importance, the specific function of ATG7 in ovarian follicular granulosa cells remains poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the effects of ATG7 overexpression on apoptosis and autophagy in porcine ovarian follicular granulosa cells and thereby provide insights into the interplay between these fundamental cellular mechanisms. An ATG7 overexpression vector was introduced into cells, followed by assessment of cell proliferation using the CCK-8 assay, quantification of related gene expression via real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting, and evaluation of apoptosis using TUNEL staining. ATG7 exhibited a predominant cytoplasmic localization and additional nuclear expression in porcine ovarian follicular granulosa cells. The transfection efficiency of the vector was initially verified, indicating that its overexpression notably increased expression of ATG7 protein. Further investigations confirmed that overexpression of ATG7 inhibited cell proliferation, stimulated autophagy, and promoted apoptosis in these cells. In summary, overexpression of ATG7 influences the viability of porcine ovarian follicular granulosa cells by regulating the interplay between autophagy and apoptosis. This study not only broadens the understanding of functional regulation of autophagy and apoptosis by ATG7, but also sheds light on the intricate mechanisms governing ovarian follicular atresia.
哺乳动物卵巢发育的调控涉及自噬和细胞凋亡的协调过程。自噬相关基因 ATG7 在介导这些途径之间的串扰中起着关键作用。尽管其重要性得到了认可，但 ATG7 在卵巢卵泡颗粒细胞中的具体功能仍知之甚少。本研究旨在探讨 ATG7 过表达对猪卵巢卵泡颗粒细胞凋亡和自噬的影响，从而深入了解这些基本细胞机制之间的相互作用。将 ATG7 过表达载体引入细胞中，然后使用 CCK-8 测定法评估细胞增殖，通过实时定量 PCR 和 Western blot 定量相关基因表达，并使用 TUNEL 染色评估细胞凋亡。ATG7 在猪卵巢卵泡颗粒细胞中主要定位于细胞质，此外还有核表达。载体的转染效率首先得到验证，表明其过表达显著增加了 ATG7 蛋白的表达。进一步的研究证实，ATG7 的过表达抑制了这些细胞的增殖，刺激了自噬，并促进了细胞凋亡。总之，通过调节自噬和细胞凋亡之间的相互作用，ATG7 的过表达影响猪卵巢卵泡颗粒细胞的活力。这项研究不仅拓宽了对 ATG7 调控自噬和细胞凋亡的功能调节的理解，还揭示了调控卵巢卵泡闭锁的复杂机制。
