Introduction: Apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3) is known for its important functions in metabolism-related diseases. However, the function and molecular mechanism of APOC3 in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) have not been reported.
Material and methods: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot assays were used to detect the expression of APOC3 in KGN cells. Small interference APOC3 (siAPOC3) was applied to reduce APOC3 expression, and the proliferation ability of human granulosa cell line (KGN cells) was measured by cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays. The protein levels of key genes related to apoptosis were detected by western blot assay. The transcriptional regulator of APOC3 was predicted by the UCSC and PROMO website, and verified by dual luciferase assay. siAPOC3 and pcDNA3.1-specific protein 1 (SP1) vector were co-transfected into KGN cells to detect the function of SP1 and APOC3 in KGN cells.
Results: APOC3 was overexpressed in KGN cells, and siAPOC3 transfection significantly reduced the growth ability of KGN cells and increased the apoptosis ability of KGN cells. SP1 directly bound to the promoter of APOC3 and transcriptional regulated APOC3 expression. Overexpression of SP1 increased the growth ability of KGN cells and decreased the apoptosis ability of KGN cells, which were reversed after siAPOC3 transfection. The increased levels of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and p65 phosphorylation (p-P65) nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) caused by SP1 overexpression were inhibited by siAPOC3 transfection. APOC3, transcriptionally regulated by SP1, promoted the growth of KGN cells, and inhibited the apoptosis by regulating TLR2/NF-κB signalling pathway.
Keywords: apolipoprotein C3; apoptosis; polycystic ovarian syndrome; proliferation; transcription.