Dysregulation of anti-Mullerian hormone expression levels in mural granulosa cells of FMR1 premutation carriers

Sci Rep. 2021 Jul 8;11(1):14139. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-93489-x.

Abstract

FMR1 premutation (55-200 CGG repeats) results in fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI). We evaluated expression levels of folliculogenesis-related mediators, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), to gain insights into the mechanisms underlying the reduced ovarian function. Mural granulosa cells (MGCs) were collected from FMR1 premutation carriers and noncarriers undergoing IVF treatments. At baseline, MGCs of carriers demonstrated significantly higher mRNA expression levels of AMH (3.5 ± 2.2, n = 12 and 0.97 ± 0.5, n = 17, respectively; p = 0.0003) and FSH receptor (5.6 ± 2.8 and 2.7 ± 2.8, respectively; p = 0.02) and higher AMH protein expression on immunostaining. Accordingly, FMR1 premutation-transfected COV434 cells exhibited higher AMH protein expression than COV434 cells transfected with 20 CGG repeats. We conclude that FMR1 premutation may lead to dysregulation of AMH expression levels, probably due to a compensatory mechanism. Elucidating the pathophysiology of FXPOI may help in early detection of ovarian dysfunction and tailoring IVF treatments to FMR1 premutation carriers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Mullerian Hormone / genetics*
  • Female
  • Fertilization in Vitro
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / genetics*
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Granulosa Cells / metabolism
  • Granulosa Cells / pathology
  • Heterozygote
  • Humans
  • Ovary / growth & development
  • Ovary / pathology
  • Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / genetics*
  • Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / pathology
  • Receptors, FSH / genetics
  • Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion / genetics
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • FMR1 protein, human
  • Receptors, FSH
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein
  • Anti-Mullerian Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone