Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 12, 2025

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Mechanisms and Inducing Models of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Published on: July 5, 2024
Chemerin regulates autophagy to participate in polycystic ovary syndrome
Xiaodong Luo1, Yangyang Gong1, Liuyun Cai1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 585250The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, P. R. China.
Objective:
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Chemerin has recently been discovered as a novel adipokine associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Excessive autophagy activity and overexpression of autophagy-related genes in follicular granulosa cells are important mechanisms of PCOS. This study aimed to investigate the effect of chemerin on autophagy in PCOS.
Methods:
A rat model of PCOS was established by subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate under a high-fat diet. Expression levels of chemerin and its receptor CMKLR1 were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot. Proliferation and apoptosis of human granulosa cells in vitro and expression of autophagy-related genes were examined using bafilomycin A1 (autophagy inhibitor) and Torin1 (autophagy inducer).
Results:
Chemerin and CMKLR1 expression were significantly increased in the ovary in a rat model of PCOS. Ectopic expression of chemerin promoted the proliferation and inhibited the apoptosis of COV434 cells. Ectopic expression of chemerin also induced autophagy by inhibiting the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway.
Conclusions:
Chemerin and CMKLR1 were overexpressed in PCOS rats. Chemerin promoted autophagy through inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, and may provide a potential target and biomarker of PCOS.
Related Concept Videos
Oogenesis
Autophagy
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
Anaphase Promoting Complex
Meiosis II
The timing and cell division patterns of meiosis differ between males and females. In male meiosis, the centrosomes are part of the formation of the meiotic spindle. However, in oocytes, including that of humans, Drosophila,...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...

