Work

The Thromboxane Levels in Ovarian Follicular Fluid Are Inversely Correlated With Oocyte Maturation: Implications of PAR‐2/‐3 Cooperation and Thromboxane Participation in Follicle Development

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT It has been reported the presence of components from the coagulation thrombin‐generating pathway and prostaglandins (PGs) in human ovarian follicular fluid (FF) but with unclear functions. Moreover, thrombin can induce COX‐2 expression linking to PG synthesis in several cell types. Therefore, this study sought to explore the thromboxane (TX) generation in FF and the correlation between FF TX levels and oocyte maturation. The FF TXB 2 (a stable metabolite of TXA 2 ) levels exhibited a negative correlation between large preovulatory leading and small mid‐antral follicles from in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients, indicating a requirement of TX for a small follicle/oocyte to grow/mature. Further receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified that intrafollicular TXB 2 level could predict oocyte maturity. Thrombin was found expressed in a similar pattern/trend to TXB 2 in intrafolliclar FF, where it could induce TXB 2 production/secretion in human ovarian follicular GCs via proteinase‐activated receptor‐2 (PAR‐2) and PAR‐3 cooperation/transactivation and Erk/p38 MAPK/JNK signaling to cause COX‐2/TXB 2 induction. Accordingly, PAR‐2 and ‐3 were present in human ovarian follicular GCs and thrombin, PAR‐2 agonist, and TXA 2 analog caused a substantial enhancement in follicle development, which could be blocked by the PAR‐2, COX‐2, and TXA 2 prostanoid (TP) receptor inhibitors in an ex vivo cultured murine ovary model. Collectively, we first demonstrated that FF thrombin regulates PAR‐2/‐3 cooperation and MAPK signaling pathways to induce COX‐2 expression and TX production in follicular GCs, possibly supporting intrafollicular TX levels and triggering TP‐related pathways to enhance follicle development. The FF TX levels also can be a predictor for oocyte maturation during IVF.

Source: Journal of Cellular Physiology

DOI: 10.1002/jcp.70025

Authors: Hsuan‐Ting Chen, Tsung‐Hsuan Lai, Jun‐Jie Lin, Chao‐Chi Chen, Wen‐Bin Wu

Institutions: Fu Jen Catholic University, Cathay General Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Reproductive Biology and Fertility

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,230