*Reproductive aging not only affects the fertility and physical and mental health of women but also accelerates the aging process of other organs.
*Autophagy, recognized as a longevity mechanism, has recently become a focal point in anti-aging research. Although mitophagy is a type of autophagy, its role and regulatory mechanisms in ovarian aging, particularly in age-related ovarian function decline, remain unclear.
*Nerve growth factor inducible gene B (Nur77) is an early response gene that can be stimulated by oxidative stress, DNA damage, metabolism, and inflammation.
*Recent evidence recommends that decreased expression of Nur77 is associated with age-related myocardial fibrosis, renal dysfunction, and Parkinson’s disease.
*Mitochondria are key regulators of energy, metabolism, and redox homeostasis, thereby maintaining cell function.
*Oocytes are the most mitochondrial-rich somatic cells and depend on these organelles for fertilization and early embryonic development.
*Autophagy is a crucial health regulator that transports excess or damaged substances from cells to lysosomes for degradation, and it is considered a mechanism for promoting longevity.
*Mitophagy, a type of autophagy, involves the depolarization of damaged mitochondria, which are recognized by specific receptors on the outer mitochondrial membrane, enveloped into autophagosomes, fused with lysosomes, and subsequently degraded.
Nur77 overexpression >>
>> E2 and AMH decreased, while FSH increased.
>> a decrease in the number of ovarian primordial follicles, antral follicles, and corpus luteum in the aging group, along with an increase in atresia follicles, indicating decreased ovarian function.
>> increased expression levels of the aging indicators p53, p21, p16, and the DNA oxidative damage indicator H2AX.
*These findings suggest Nur77 is a promising target for the prevention and treatment of reproductive aging and related diseases.
Comments