Revisiting the expression and function of follicle-stimulation hormone receptor in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Sci Rep. 2016 Nov 16:6:37095. doi: 10.1038/srep37095.

Abstract

Expression of follicle-stimulation hormone receptor (FSHR) is confined to gonads and at low levels to some extragonadal tissues like human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). FSH-FSHR signaling was shown to promote HUVEC angiogenesis and thereafter suggested to have an influential role in pregnancy. We revisited hereby the expression and functionality of FSHR in HUVECs angiogenesis, and were unable to reproduce the FSHR expression in human umbilical cord, HUVECs or immortalized HUVECs (HUV-ST). Positive controls as granulosa cells and HEK293 cells stably transfected with human FSHR cDNA expressed FSHR signal. In contrast to positive control VEGF, FSH treatment showed no effects on tube formation, nitric oxide production, wound healing or cell proliferation in HUVEC/HUV-ST. Thus, it remains open whether the FSH-FSHR activation has a direct regulatory role in the angiogenesis of HUVECs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects*
  • Pregnancy
  • Receptors, FSH / biosynthesis*
  • Receptors, FSH / genetics

Substances

  • Receptors, FSH
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone