miR-122 Regulates LHR Expression in Rat Granulosa Cells by Targeting Insig1 mRNA

Endocrinology. 2018 May 1;159(5):2075-2082. doi: 10.1210/en.2017-03270.

Abstract

Luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptor (LHR) expression in the ovary is regulated by a messenger RNA (mRNA) binding protein, which specifically binds to the coding region of LHR mRNA. We have shown that miR-122, a short noncoding RNA, mediates LHR mRNA levels by modulating the expression of LHR mRNA-binding protein (LRBP) through the regulation of sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) activation. The present results show that miR-122 regulates LRBP levels by increasing the processing of SREBP through the degradation of Insig1, the anchoring protein of SREBP. We present evidence showing that mRNA and protein levels of Insig1 undergo a time-dependent increase following the treatment of rat granulosa cells with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which leads to a decrease in LRBP levels. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-122 using an adenoviral vector (AdmiR-122) abolished FSH-induced increases in Insig1 mRNA and protein. We further confirmed the role of Insig1 by showing that inhibition of Insig1 using a specific small interfering RNA prior to FSH treatment resulted in the abrogation of LHR upregulation. Silencing of Insig1 also reversed FSH-mediated decreases in SREBP and LRBP activation. These results show that decreased levels of miR-122 increase Insig1 and suppress SREBP processing in response to FSH stimulation of rat granulosa cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Granulosa Cells / metabolism*
  • Hormones / pharmacology
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Receptors, LH / genetics*
  • Receptors, LH / metabolism
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Hormones
  • Insig1 protein, rat
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • LHCGR protein, rat
  • MIRN122 microRNA, rat
  • Membrane Proteins
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Receptors, LH
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Proteins
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone
  • Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)
  • mevalonate kinase