Kemik morfogenetik protein 7'nin (BMP-7) insan luteal granüloza hücrelerinin steroidojenik fonksiyonu ve luteinizasyon özellikleri üzerine etkileri

BMP-7 is a member of the TGF-β superfamily which is mainly produced by theca cells in the ovary. It promotes the transition of primordial follicles into primary follicles, the growth of preantral and antral follicles. However, limited data is available regarding the role of this protein on the molecular luteal characteristics of granulosa cells after ovulation and luteinization processes. In this thesis, it was aimed to analyze the effects of BMP7 on steroidogenesis in human luteal granulosa cells (HLGCs) isolated from follicular fluids of 10 normo-responder IVF patients after the oocyte pick-up procedure. The expression of BMP receptors in these cells was validated with the qRT-PCR technique. BMP-7 treatment significantly down-regulated the expression of StAR which is the rate-limiting enzyme in steroidogenesis in immunoblotting, confocal images, and caused a substantial decrease in P4 production in the luteal GCs. It did not cause any notable change in aromatase expression and E2 production. On the other hand, hCG as a luteotropic hormone significantly up-regulated StAR expression and enhanced P4 output whereas activin-A did the opposite effect and reversed luteinization phenotype. Reversal of luteinization and down-regulation of steroidogenesis with BMP-7 and other hormones with similar actions warrant further investigation to test their in-vivo effects in order to develop new strategies against ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and this data can be used for clinical trials in the future.