Granulosa cells provide elimination of apoptotic oocytes through unconventional autophagy-assisted phagocytosis.
Abstract
Do human granulosa cells (GCs) ingest and destroy apoptotic oocytes? Somatic GCs ingest and destroy apoptotic oocytes and other apoptotic substrates through unconventional autophagy-assisted phagocytosis. Most (99%) ovarian germ cells undergo apoptosis through follicular atresia. The mode of cleaning of atretic follicles from the ovary is unclear. Ovarian GCs share striking similarities with testicular Sertoli cells with respect to their origin and function. Somatic Sertoli cells are responsible for the elimination of apoptotic spermatogenic cells through unconventional autophagy-assisted phagocytosis. Human GCs were tested for the ability to ingest and destroy the apoptotic oocytes and other apoptotic substrates. A systemic study of the main phagocytosis steps has been performed at different time points after loading of apoptotic substrates into the GC. Primary cultures of GC retrieved following controlled ovarian stimulation of five women for IVF/ICSI and a human granulosa KGN cell line were incubated with different apoptotic substrates: oocytes which underwent spontaneous apoptosis during the cultivation of immature germ cells for IVF/ICSI; apoptotic KGN cells; and apoptotic membranes from rat retinas. Cultured GC were analy...Continue Reading
References
Ovarian follicle macrophages: is follicular atresia in the immature rat a macrophage-mediated event?
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