Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0003128 (anovulation)
 1,718 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The authors examined by diagnostic laparoscopy and immunologically 180 patients in 1993-1995. They assessed in serum and peritoneal fluid IgG, IgA, IgM, haptoglobulin, A2-macroglobulin, A1-antitrypsin, transferrin, C4- and C3-complement, orosomucoid, A2AP-glycoprotein, albumin, prealbumin and hemopexin. The authors found that some individual pathological results as regards non-specific immunity supplement the clinical diagnosis, in particular in endomeriosis, multiple adhesions, polycystic ovaries and chronic anovulation.
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PMID:[Immunologic factors in the serum and peritoneal fluid in women after laparoscopy. I. Nonspecific factors]. 862 90

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is a heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone produced in the anterior pituitary gland. The hormone is essential in the regulation of reproductive processes, such as follicular development and ovulation. It is clinically used for treatment of anovulation and in assisted reproduction technologies such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Until recently, the only source for human FSH has been the urine from post-menopausal women. Such a natural source implies limited availability and potential product variability. Thus, we have cloned the genes encoding the alpha- and beta-subunits of human FSH and transfected these into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. A CHO-clone was isolated capable of secreting intact glycosylated FSH with identical amino acid sequences to natural FSH. This cell line was grown in perfusion culture and enabled us to isolate highly pure FSH (> 99%). The complexity of the charge distribution of human recombinant FSH was demonstrated by Isoelectric focusing. The observed microheterogeneity is caused by the large number of carbohydrate chain structures which are added to the four potential glycosylation sites in the alpha beta-dimer. Furthermore, the carbohydrates show a variation in their degree of sialylation which reflects the different pl values of the individual isohormones. Despite the complexity of post-translational modification, the isoform distribution of recombinant FSH produced in a CHO-cell line and grown in perfusion culture is surprisingly similar to that observed with pituitary FSH and urinary FSH. In conclusion, we have shown that FSH-gene transfected CHO-cells are capable of stable serum-free production of recombinant FSH. A process has been developed which assures the consistent and reproducible production of highly-purified recombinant FSH.
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PMID:Molecular biology and biochemistry of human recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (Puregon). 923 5

Anovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is incompletely understood. The concentration of the glycoprotein plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is raised in insulin resistance. This has been described in the granulosa and theca cell layers of the animal but not the human ovary. This study was performed to investigate the location of PAI-1 in the human ovary and investigate whether it may contribute to anovulation in PCOS. PAI-1 was localized immunohistochemically and quantitated using computer image analysis in 17 ovarian follicles from five women with a diagnosis of PCOS and compared with 15 follicles from six normal ovaries. PAI-1 was predominantly found in the granulosa and theca cells in both polycystic and normal ovaries. Image analysis did not reveal a difference in the PAI-1 signal from polycystic compared with normal ovaries. This study shows that PAI-1 plays a role in human ovulation, but its role in PCOS requires further research.
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PMID:Immunohistochemical detection of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in polycystic ovaries. 1092 76

Luteinizing hormone (LH) is an hypophyseal glycoprotein involved in both follicular maturation and corpus luteum function. During the follicular phase, effects of LH must be considered according to the stages of follicular development: in the early follicular phase, LH acts through specific receptors, constitutively present on thecal cells, for stimulating androgen production. Androgens seem to be positively involved in the folliculogenesis in primates. Indeed, a positive correlation has been recently established between androgen receptor expression and follicular cell proliferation. Furthermore, androgens are active through a conversion to estrogens in granulosa cells. Estrogens are needed for achieving pregnancy. Thus, a question remains: what in the minimal amount of endogenous LH required for an optimal production of oestradiol? Several models have been investigated in clinical situations with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism: WHO type I anovulation or GnRH analog-induced hypogonadisms. A large majority of these studies conclude that the minimal amount of LH needed during the follicular phase is probably low (< 1.5 IU/L of plasma LH level). Recent availability of GnRH antagonist will give a new opportunity for evaluating this minimal LH threshold. During the late follicular phase, LH plays a biphasic role, with a positive effect on steroidogenesis but a negative effect on cell proliferation. As suggested by S. Hillier, this negative effect on cell proliferation may be relevant to control the rate of follicular growth. One study, performed in WHO type I anovulatory patients, seems to confirm this assumption but further evaluation is needed to give support to this concept. Finally, LH is also involved in corpus luteum function. Due to the short half-life of LH as compared to hCG, the role of LH must be evaluated according to the adjunct therapies. For example, following a long-term GnRH aganist administration that constantly induces a profound hypophyseal desensitization, LH administration must be repeated to adequately sustain the corpus luteum function. This conclusion must be reconsidered with the recent introduction of GnRH antagonists. Indeed, according to their short-term effects on LH secretion, it may be presumed that a single injection of LH may be effective to maintain an adequate corpus luteum function.
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PMID:[Role of luteinizing hormone in follicular and corpus luteum physiology]. 1124 36

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), a glycoprotein produced by the anterior pituitary gland, plays an important role in the regulation of fertility in both men and women. FSH is used clinically to treat women with anovulatory infertility, for controlled ovarian stimulation in women being treated with assisted reproductive technologies (ART), and in the treatment of male hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Urine-derived gonadotropin preparations containing variable amounts of FSH together with urinary proteins have been available for many years. More recently, FSH preparations produced using recombinant DNA technology have become available. Recombinant FSH has a high specific activity, high purity, and guaranteed consistency among batches. Two recombinant FSH preparations have been available for clinical use for some years: follitropin-alpha and follitropin-beta. The continuing development of recombinant FSH has recently resulted in a new presentation (follitropin-alpha filled by mass [FbM]). This product can be filled by mass (microg) with an activity (IU), reflecting exceptional consistency as a result of refinement and improvement in the manufacturing process, allowing the clinician to deliver a guaranteed dose of FSH. Experience with recombinant FSH in the treatment of male hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism is limited, but the available data suggest that recombinant FSH has a similar efficacy to urine-derived preparations (urofollitropin). In patients with WHO group I anovulatory infertility, the use of recombinant FSH to stimulate follicular development is effective and well tolerated. In patients with WHO group II anovulation, protocols based on recombinant FSH are more effective than conventional protocols using urofollitropin. Comparative studies and a meta-analysis have shown that recombinant FSH is more effective than urofollitropin for controlled ovarian stimulation in women undergoing ART. Pharmacoeconomic modeling indicates that follitropin-alpha is more cost effective than urofollitropin in a range of different healthcare systems. The available evidence from comparative studies of the two recombinant FSH preparations suggests that follitropin-alpha may have an advantage over follitropin-beta in terms of efficacy. Follitropin-alpha is superior to follitropin-beta in terms of local tolerability. Recent preliminary studies suggest an efficacy advantage for follitropin-alpha FbM compared with standard follitropin-alpha. The FbM presentation appears to represent an advance on standard preparations of recombinant FSH in terms of consistency and clinical efficacy.
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PMID:Follicle-stimulating hormone in clinical practice: an update. 1602 12

Human sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is a glycoprotein produced by the liver that binds sex steroids with high affinity and specificity. Clinical observations and reports in the literature have suggested a negative correlation between circulating SHBG levels and markers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and insulin resistance. Decreased SHBG levels increase the bioavailability of androgens, which in turn leads to progression of ovarian pathology, anovulation and the phenotypic characteristics of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This review will use a case report to illustrate the inter-relationships between SHBG, NAFLD and PCOS. In particular, we will review the evidence that low hepatic SHBG production may be a key step in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Furthermore, there is emerging evidence that serum SHBG levels may be useful as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for managing women with PCOS.
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PMID:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG) as an Early Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. 3313 61