Membrane Estrogen Receptor (GPER) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor (FSHR) Heteromeric Complexes Promote Human Ovarian Follicle Survival
Livio Casarini, Clara Lazzaretti, Elia Paradiso, Silvia Limoncella, Laura Riccetti, Samantha Sperduti, Beatrice Melli, Serena Marcozzi, Claudia Anzivino, Niamh Sayers, Jakub Czapiński, Giulia Brigante, Francesco Potì, Antonio La Marca, Francesco De Pascali, Éric Reiter, Angela Falbo, Jessica Daolio, Maria Teresa Villani, Monica Lispi, Giovanna Orlando, Francesca Gioia Klinger, Francesca Fanelli, Adolfo Rivero‐Müller, Aylin C. Hanyaloglu, Manuela Simoni
Abstract
data suggest a different view on physiological significance of FSHR-mediated cAMP signaling. We found that the G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) heteromerizes with FSHR, reprogramming cAMP/death signals into proliferative stimuli fundamental for sustaining oocyte survival. In human granulosa cells, survival signals are missing at high FSHR:GPER ratio, which negatively impacts follicle maturation and strongly correlates with preferential Gαs protein/cAMP-pathway coupling and FSH responsiveness of patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation. In contrast, FSHR/GPER heteromers triggered anti-apoptotic/proliferative FSH signaling delivered via the Gβγ dimer, whereas impairment of heteromer formation or GPER knockdown enhanced the FSH-dependent cell death and steroidogenesis. Therefore, our findings indicate how oocyte maturation depends on the capability of GPER to shape FSHR selective signals, indicating hormone receptor heteromers may be a marker of cell proliferation.