Biology subjects

Roby, K. F.

Publications and source records attributed to Roby, K. F..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

IRAK1 is a critical mediator of low molecular weight hyaluronic acid-induced stemness in high-grade serous ovarian cancer

Advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) survival rates are dishearteningly low, with [~]25% surviving beyond 5 years. Evidence suggests that cancer stem cells (CSCs) contribute to acquired chemoresistance and tumor recurrence. Here, we show that IRAK1 is upregulated in EOC tissues, and enhanced expression correlates with poorer overall survival. IRAK1 and BRCA1/2 mutation status are mutually exclusive. Moreover, low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (LMW HA), which is abundant in malignant ascites from patients with advanced EOC, induced IRAK1 phosphorylation leading to STAT3 activation and enhanced spheroid formation. Knockdown of IRAK1 impaired tumor growth in peritoneal disease models, and impaired HA-induced spheroid growth and STAT3 phosphorylation. Finally, we determined that TCS2210, a known inducer of neuronal differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells, is a selective inhibitor of IRAK1. TCS2210 significantly inhibited EOC growth in vitro and in vivo both as monotherapy, and in combination with cisplatin. Collectively, these data demonstrate IRAK1 as a druggable target for EOC.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Granulosa cell genes that regulate ovarian follicle development beyond the antral stage: the role of estrogen receptor β

Follicle development beyond the preantral stage is dependent on gonadotropins. FSH signaling is crucial for the advancement of preantral follicles to the antral stage, and LH signaling is essential for further maturation of preovulatory follicles. Estrogen is intricately tied to gonadotropin signaling during the advanced stages of folliculogenesis. We observed that Er{beta}null ovarian follicles fail to develop beyond the antral stage, even after exogenous gonadotropin stimulation. As ER{beta} is primarily expressed in the granulosa cells (GCs), we explored the gonadotropin-regulated GC genes that induce maturation of antral follicles. Synchronized follicle development was induced by administration of exogenous gonadotropins to wildtype 4-wk-old female rats. The GC transcriptome was analyzed via RNA-sequencing before and after gonadotropin stimulation. An Er{beta}null mutant model that fails to show follicle maturation was also included in order to identify the ER{beta}-regulated genes involved at this step. We observed that specific groups of genes were differentially expressed in response to PMSG or hCG administration in wildtype rats. While some of the PMSG or hCG-induced genes showed a similar expression pattern in Er{beta}null GCs, a subset of PMSG- or hCG-induced genes showed a differential expression in Er{beta}null GCs. These latter ER{beta}-regulated genes included previously known FSH or LH target genes including Lhcgr, Cyp11a1, Cyp19a1, Pgr, Runx2, Egfr, Kiss1, and Ptgs2, which are involved in follicle development, oocyte maturation, and ovulation. We also identified novel ER{beta}-regulated genes including Jaml, Galnt6, Znf750, Dusp9, Wnt16, and Mageb16 that failed to respond to gonadotropin stimulation in Er{beta}null GCs. Our findings indicate that the gonadotropin-induced spatiotemporal pattern of gene expression is essential for ovarian follicle maturation beyond the antral stage. However, expression of a subset of those gonadotropin-induced genes is dependent on transcriptional regulation by ER{beta}.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2020

ERβ regulated ovarian kisspeptin plays an important role in oocyte maturation

Kisspeptin (KISS1) signaling in the hypothalamic-pituitary (H-P) axis plays essential role in regulating gonadotropin secretion. KISS1 and KISS1 receptor (KISS1R) are also expressed in the ovary; however, the role of intraovarian KISS1 signaling remains largely unclear. Granulosa cell (GC)-specific expression of KISS1, and oocyte-specific expression of KISS1R indicate that GC-derived KISS1 may act on oocytes. Expression of KISS1 in GCs is induced by gonadotropins but it is absent in estrogen receptor {beta} knockout (Er{beta}null) rats. We also observed that gonadotropin stimulation failed to induce maturation of Er{beta}null oocytes. Interestingly, KISS1 treatment of cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) isolated from antral follicles promotes in vitro maturation of oocytes. Treatment of oocytes with KISS1 induced intracellular Ca2+ release, and increased activation of MAP kinase ERK1/2. KISS1 treatment also induced the expression of oocyte genes that are crucial for differentiation of GCs, and maturation of oocytes. Our findings suggest that ovarian KISS1-signaling plays an important role in gonadotropin induced follicle development and oocyte maturation.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2020

A gatekeeping role of ESR2 to maintain the primordial follicle reserve

Over the entire reproductive lifespan in mammals, a fixed number of primordial follicles serve as the source of mature oocytes. Uncontrolled and excessive activation of primordial follicles can lead to depletion of the ovarian reserve. We observed that disruption of ESR2-signaling results in increased activation of primordial follicles in Esr2-null (Esr2-/-) rats. However, follicle assembly was unaffected, and the total number of follicles remained comparable between neonatal wildtype and Esr2-/- ovaries. While the activated follicle counts were increased in Esr2-/- ovary, the number of primordial follicles were markedly decreased. Excessive recruitment of primordial follicles led to premature ovarian senescence in Esr2-/- rats and was associated with reduced levels of serum AMH and estradiol. Disruption of ESR2-signaling through administration of a selective antagonist (PHTPP) increased the number of activated follicles in wildtype rats, whereas a selective agonist (DPN) decreased follicle activation. In contrast, primordial follicle activation was not increased in the absence of ESR1 indicating that the regulation of primordial follicle activation is ESR2-specific. Follicle activation was also increased in Esr2-mutants lacking the DNA-binding domain, suggesting a role for the canonical transcriptional activation function. Both primordial and activated follicles express ESR2 suggesting a direct regulatory role for ESR2 within these follicles. We also detected that loss of ESR2 augmented the activation of AKT, ERK and mTOR pathways. Our results indicate that the lack of ESR2 upregulated both granulosa and oocyte factors, which can facilitate AKT and mTOR activation in Esr2-/- ovaries leading to increased activation of primordial follicles.

developmental biology↗