Expression of PUMA in Follicular Granulosa Cells Regulated by FoxO1 Activation During Oxidative Stress

Reprod Sci. 2015 Jun;22(6):696-705. doi: 10.1177/1933719114556483. Epub 2014 Nov 25.

Abstract

Many studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress-induced apoptosis is a main cause of follicular atresia. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced granulosa cell (GC) apoptosis is regulated by a variety of signaling pathways involving numerous genes and transcription factors. In this study, we found expression of the p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), a BH3-only Bcl-2 subfamily protein, in ovarian GCs during oxidative stress. By overexpression and knockdown of Forkhead box O1 (FoxO1), we found that FoxO1 regulates PUMA at the protein level. Moreover, as c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) has been shown to activate FoxO1 by promoting its nuclear import, we used a JNK inhibitor to reduce FoxO1 activation and detected decreased PUMA messenger RNA expression and protein levels during oxidative stress. In addition, in vivo oxidative stress-induced upregulation of PUMA was found following injection of 3 nitropropionic acid in mice. In conclusion, oxidative stress increases PUMA expression regulated by FoxO1 in follicular GCs.

Keywords: FoxO1; PUMA; apoptosis; follicular atresia; granulosa cell; oxidative stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / genetics
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Follicular Atresia / drug effects
  • Follicular Atresia / genetics
  • Follicular Atresia / metabolism*
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Granulosa Cells / drug effects
  • Granulosa Cells / metabolism*
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Oxidants / pharmacology
  • Oxidative Stress* / drug effects
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxo1 protein, mouse
  • Oxidants
  • PUMA protein, mouse
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases