Apolipoprotein E Effects on Mammalian Ovarian Steroidogenesis and Human Fertility

Reinaldo Barreto Oriá; Juliana Zani de Almeida; Carolyne Neves Moreira; Richard L Guerrant; José Ricardo Figueiredo

doi:10.1016/j.tem.2020.06.003

Apolipoprotein E Effects on Mammalian Ovarian Steroidogenesis and Human Fertility

Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Nov;31(11):872-883. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2020.06.003. Epub 2020 Jul 16.

Authors

Reinaldo Barreto Oriá¹, Juliana Zani de Almeida², Carolyne Neves Moreira², Richard L Guerrant³, José Ricardo Figueiredo⁴

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of the Biology of Tissue Healing, Ontogeny and Nutrition, Department of Morphology and Institute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, 1315 Rua Cel. Nunes de Melo, Fortaleza, CE 60430270, Brazil. Electronic address: reinaldo70.oria@gmail.com.
² Laboratory of the Biology of Tissue Healing, Ontogeny and Nutrition, Department of Morphology and Institute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, 1315 Rua Cel. Nunes de Melo, Fortaleza, CE 60430270, Brazil.
³ Center for Global Health, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, 345 Crispell Drive, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 434-924-9672, USA.
⁴ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Manipulation of Oocytes and Preantral Follicles (LAMOFOPA), State University of Ceara, 1700 Av. Dr. Silas Munguba, Fortaleza, CE 60740-903, Brazil.

PMID: 32684408
DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2020.06.003

Abstract

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is a glycoprotein consisting of 299 amino acids, highly produced in the mammalian ovaries. The main function of the ApoE is to transport cholesterol from the peripheral tissues to be metabolized in the liver. In humans, the ApoE gene is polymorphic, with three alleles in a single chromosome-19 locus: APOE2, APOE3, and APOE4. ApoE has also been implicated in cholesterol transport within ovarian follicles to regulate steroidogenesis. Ovarian thecal and granulosa cell cholesterol uptake requires ApoE either by participating in the lipoprotein-receptor complex or lipid endocytosis. In this review, we summarize ApoE role on mammalian ovarian steroidogenesis and on human fertility and discuss recent findings of ApoE4 as an antagonistic pleiotropy gene under adverse environments.

Keywords: antagonistic pleiotropy; apolipoprotein E; fertility; ovary; steroidogenesis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Apolipoprotein E2 / metabolism
Apolipoprotein E3 / metabolism
Apolipoprotein E4 / metabolism
Apolipoproteins E / pharmacology*
Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 / metabolism
Female
Humans
Ovary / drug effects
Ovary / metabolism*

Substances

Apolipoprotein E2
Apolipoprotein E3
Apolipoprotein E4
Apolipoproteins E