Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A is the insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 protease secreted by human ovarian granulosa cells and is a marker of dominant follicle selection and the corpus luteum

C. A. Conover, G. F. Faessen, K. E. Ilg, Y. Aladin Chandrasekher, M. Christiansen, M. T. Overgaard, C. Oxvig, L. C. Giudice

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

103 Scopus citations

Abstract

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs), and IGFBP proteases are important in ovarian function. IGFs stimulate granulosa steroidogenesis, an effect that is inhibited by IGFBP-4 and augmented by IGFBP-4 proteolysis. We have recently identified the IGFBP-4 protease in human ovarian follicular fluid (FF) as pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A). In the current study, we identify the IGFBP-4 protease secreted by cultured human ovarian granulosa cells as PAPP-A, based on specific immunoinhibition and immunodepletion of the IGFBP-4 protease activity with PAPP-A polyclonal antibodies and immunorecognition by PAPP-A monoclonal antibodies in ELISA. PAPP-A was barely detectable in conditioned media (CM) from granulosa derived from ≤ 9 mm androgendominant follicles, but was secreted by cultured granulosa from estrogen-dominant follicles ≥ 9 mm, coincident with dominant follicle selection, and by luteinizing granulosa. PAPP-A levels in CM from the latter did not change in response to IGF-II or hCG (100 ng/mL). A naturally occurring inhibitor of PAPP-A, proform of eosinophil major basic protein (proMBP), was detected by ELISA in estrogen-dominant follicular fluid FF, but not in CM from granulosa or luteinizing granulosa cells treated with IGF-II (0-200 ng/mL), FSH (0-100 ng/mL) or hCG (0-100 ng/mL), suggesting an alternative source (other than granulosa) for proMBP, compared to PAPP-A. The data demonstrate granulosa cells as a source of PAPP-A in human ovary and suggest that PAPP-A is a marker of ovarian follicle selection and corpus luteum formation. In addition the data suggest complex regulation of this system in human ovary.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2155-2158
Number of pages4
JournalEndocrinology
Volume142
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology

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