TGF-β1 Up-Regulates Connective Tissue Growth Factor Expression in Human Granulosa Cells through Smad and ERK1/2 Signaling Pathways

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126532
• Publication Date: 2015-05-08T18:06:25Z
• Authors: Jung-Chien Cheng; Hsun-Ming Chang; Lanlan Fang; Ying-Pu Sun; Peter C. K. Leung
• Keywords: Granulosa cell

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), which is also called CCN2, a secreted matricellular protein. CTGF regulates various important cellular functions by interacting with multiple molecules in the microenvironment. In ovary, mainly expressed granulosa cells and involved regulation of follicular development, ovulation luteinization. TGF-β1 has been shown to up-regulate expression rat hen cells. However, underlying molecular mechanisms this up-regulation remain undefined. More importantly, whether stimulatory effect on can be observed human remains unknown. present study, our results demonstrated that treatment up-regulates both immortalized primary Using siRNA-mediated knockdown approach pharmacological inhibitor, we inhibition Smad2, Smad3 or ERK1/2 attenuates TGF-β1-induced CTGF. This study provides insights into mediate TGF-β1-up-regulated