Endocrine Abstracts

Objectives: It is well known that compounds of follicular fluid, which is rich in carbohydrates, are able to regulate the expression of angiogenesis-related genes in endothelial cells. Nuclear factor κ B (NF-κB) transcription factors are important candidates in modulating the expression of these genes. The aim of our research is to determine if NF-κB factors are maybe involved in the regulation of endothelial angiogenesis-related genes and thus in ovarian angiogenesis.

Methods: Pooled human endothelial cells were incubated with various carbohydrates in such concentrations, which were found in follicular fluid of healthy women. Control cells were cultivated without supplementation. After incubation for four days, endothelial cells were lysed and nuclear as well as cytoplasmic proteins were isolated. Afterwards, the amount of NF-κB factors (cRel, RelB, p50, p52, p65) was quantified by ELISA and compared between stimulated and control cells.

Results: The factors p50 and p65 predominated in the nucleus of unstimulated cells whereas cRel and RelB were found almost exclusive in the cytoplasm. Factor p52, however, was distributed equally in both cell compartments. In the nucleus of stimulated cells, p52 and p65 showed significant increases of 67% and 44% when compared to controls. In the cytoplasm, p52 and p65 were increased significantly at 52% and 65% in treated endothelial cells versus untreated controls. The factors cRel, RelB, and p50 showed no reaction to carbohydrate treatment at all.

Conclusion: Our results indicate that normal carbohydrate concentrations also are able to regulate NF-κB transcription factors suggesting that these substances may play a role in ovarian angiogenesis.