Effects of HMGA2 gene on apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Objective To investigate the effect of high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) gene on apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Methods The ovarian granulosa cells from primary polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) rats were isolated and cultured. HMGA2 recombinant plasmid was transfected into the cells and empty vector pcDNA3.1, respectively, and a blank group was established. After transfection for 48 h, Western blotting was used to examine HMGA2 protein expression in the transfected cells. Cell viability and apoptosis rate were measured by MTT assay and flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to determine the proteinexpression of apoptosis-related Bcl-2, Bax, Cleaved caspase 3 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways PI3K, AKT and p-AKT. Results The expression level of HMGA2 in ovarian granulosa cells transfected with HMGA2 recombinant plasmid significantly increased (P<0.05) . Overexpression of HMGA2 could significantly inhibit the viability of ovarian granulosa cells, induce cell apoptosis, down-regulate the expression levels of Bcl-2, PI3K and p-AKT, and up-regulate the expression levels of Bax and Cleaved caspase 3 (P<0.05) . Conclusion HMGA2 gene may induce apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells, and its mechanism is related to the inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Key words: Ovarian granulosa cells; HMGA2 gene; PI3K/AKT signaling pathway; Apoptosis