NCBI Summary:
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members possess broad mitogenic and cell survival activities, and are involved in a variety of biological processes, including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth, and invasion. This growth factor lacks the N-terminal signal sequence present in most of the FGF family members, but it contains clusters of basic residues that have been demonstrated to act as a nuclear localization signal. When transfected into mammalian cells, this protein accumulated in the nucleus, but was not secreted. The specific function of this gene has not yet been determined. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.
General function
Ligand, Growth factor
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Cellular localization
Secreted
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Ovarian function
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Adiposity Alters Genes Important in Inflammation and Cell Cycle Division in Human Cumulus Granulosa Cell. Merhi Z et al. (2015) To determine whether obesity alters genes important in cellular growth and inflammation in human cumulus granulosa cells (GCs). Eight reproductive-aged women who underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation followed by oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization were enrolled. Cumulus GC RNA was extracted and processed for microarray analysis on Affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 chips. Gene expression data were validated on GCs from additional biologically similar samples using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Comparison in gene expression was made between women with body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m(2) (group 1; n = 4) and those with BMI ≥25 kg/m(2) (group 2; n = 4). Groups 1 and 2 had significantly different BMI (21.4 ± 1.4 vs 30.4 ± 2.7 kg/m(2), respectively; P = .02) but did not differ in age (30.5 ± 1.7 vs 32.7 ± 0.3 years, respectively; P = .3). Comparative analysis of gene expression profiles by supervised clustering between group 1 versus group 2 resulted in the selection of 7 differentially expressed genes: fibroblast growth factor 12 (FGF-12), protein phosphatase 1-like (PPM1L), zinc finger protein multitype 2 (ZFPM2), forkhead box M1 (FOXM1), cell division cycle 20 (CDC20), interleukin 1 receptor-like 1 (IL1RL1), and growth arrest-specific protein 7 (GAS7). FOXM1, CDC20, and GAS7 were downregulated while FGF-12 and PPM1L were upregulated in group 2 when compared to group 1. Validation with RT-PCR confirmed the microarray data except for ZFPM2 and IL1RL. As BMI increased, expression of FOXM1 significantly decreased (r = -.60, P = .048). Adiposity is associated with changes in the expression of genes important in cellular growth, cell cycle progression, and inflammation. The upregulation of the metabolic regulator gene PPM1L suggests that adiposity induces an abnormal metabolic follicular environment, potentially altering folliculogenesis and oocyte quality.//////////////////
Expression regulated by
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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 5% of reproductive aged women and is the leading cause of anovulatory infertility. A hallmark of PCOS is excessive theca cell androgen secretion, which is directly linked to the symptoms of PCOS. Our previous studies demonstrated that theca cells from PCOS ovaries maintained in long term culture persistently secrete significantly greater amounts of androgens than normal theca cells, suggesting an intrinsic abnormality. Furthermore, previous studies suggested that ovarian hyperandrogenemia is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. However, the genes responsible for ovarian hyperandrogenemia of PCOS have not been identified. In this present study, Wood JR, et al carried out microarray analysis to define the gene networks involved in excess androgen synthesis by the PCOS theca cells in order to identify candidate PCOS genes. Analysis revealed that PCOS theca cells have a gene expression profile that is distinct from normal theca cells. Included in the cohort of genes with increased mRNA abundance in PCOS theca cells were aldehyde dehydrogenase 6 and retinol dehydrogenase 2, which play a role in all-trans-retinoic acid biosynthesis and the transcription factor GATA6. We demonstrated that retinoic acid and GATA6 increased the expression of 17alpha-hydroxylase, providing a functional link between altered gene expression and intrinsic abnormalities in PCOS theca cells. Thus, the analyses have 1) defined a stable molecular phenotype of PCOS theca cells, 2) suggested new mechanisms for excess androgen synthesis by PCOS theca cells, and 3) identified new candidate genes that may be involved in the genetic etiology of PCOS. This is one of the genes with Altered mRNA Abundance in PCOS Theca Cells as compared with normal theca cells Maintained Under Basal Conditions.
Ovarian localization
Cumulus, Theca
Comment
Identification of a novel gene set in human cumulus cells predictive of an oocyte's pregnancy potential. Iager AE et al. OBJECTIVE: To identify a gene expression signature in human cumulus cells (CCs) predictive of pregnancy outcome across multiple clinics, taking into account the clinic and patient variations inherent in IVF practice. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of single human cumulus-oocyte complexes with the use of a combined microarray and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) approach. SETTING: Multiple private IVF clinics. PATIENT(S): Fifty-eight patients. Samples from 55 of underwent qRT-PCR analysis, and samples from 27 patients resulted in live birth. INTERVENTION(S): Gene expression analysis for correlation with pregnancy outcome on individual human CCs collected immediately after oocyte retrieval. Pregnancy prediction analysis used leave-one-out cross-validation with weighted voting. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Combinatorial expression of 12 genes in 101 samples from 58 patients. RESULT(S): We found a set of 12 genes predictive of pregnancy outcome based on their expression levels in CCs. This pregnancy prediction model had an accuracy of 78%, a sensitivity of 72%, a specificity of 84%, a positive predictive value of 81%, and a negative predictive value of 76%. Receiver operating characteristic analysis found an area under the curve of 0.763 0.079, significantly greater than 0.5 (random chance prediction). CONCLUSION(S): Gene expression analysis in human CCs should be considered in identifying oocytes with a high potential to lead to pregnancy in IVF-ET.