This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Andric, N. Articles by Ascoli, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Andric, N. Articles by Ascoli, M.

The Luteinizing Hormone Receptor-Activated Extracellularly Regulated Kinase-1/2 Cascade Stimulates Epiregulin Release from Granulosa Cells

Department of Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Mario Ascoli, Ph.D., 2-319B BSB, 51 Newton Road, Department of Pharmacology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242. E-mail: mario-ascoli{at}uiowa.edu.

We examine the pathways involved in the luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR)-dependent activation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) network using cocultures of LHR-positive granulosa cells and LHR-negative test cells expressing an EGF receptor (EGFR)-green fluorescent protein fusion protein. Activation of the LHR in granulosa cells results in the release of EGF-like growth factors that are detected by measuring the phosphorylation of the EGFR-green fluorescent protein expressed only in the LHR-negative test cells. Using neutralizing antibodies and real-time PCR, we identified epiregulin as the main EGF-like growth factor produced upon activation of the LHR expressed in immature rat granulosa cells, and we show that exclusive inhibition or activation of the ERK1/2 cascade in granulosa cells prevents or enhances epiregulin release, respectively, with little or no effect on epiregulin expression. These results show that the LHR-stimulated ERK1/2 pathway stimulates epiregulin release.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Tai, K. Shiraishi, and M. Ascoli Activation of the Lutropin/Choriogonadotropin Receptor Inhibits Apoptosis of Immature Leydig Cells in Primary Culture Endocrinology, August 1, 2009; 150(8): 3766 - 3773. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]