Luteinizing Hormone and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin: Origins of Difference
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0303720713005248
Highlights
· We elucidate differences in structure, expression, regulation, and function of LH and hCG.
· Despite disparate endogenous functions, LH and hCG bind to a common receptor.
· Relative proportions of LH and hCG isoforms fluctuate during the lifespan of both women and men.
· Diverse isoforms of LH and hCG have distinct though often overlapping functions.
· Knowledge of LH and hCG will foster further developments in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
Choi J, Smitz J. Luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin: Origins of difference. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 2014;383(1-2):203-13. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0303720713005248
Luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are widely recognized for their roles in ovulation and the support of early pregnancy.
Aside from the timing of expression, however, the differences between LH and hCG have largely been overlooked in the clinical realm because of their similar molecular structures and shared receptor.
With technologic advancements, including the development of highly purified and recombinant gonadotropins, researchers now appreciate that these hormones are not as interchangeable as once believed.
Although they bind to a common receptor, emerging evidence suggests that LH and hCG have disparate effects on downstream signaling cascades.
Increased understanding of the inherent differences between LH and hCG will foster more effective diagnostic and prognostic assays for use in a variety of clinical contexts and support the individualization of treatment strategies for conditions such as infertility.
Theoretical pathways for the divergence in receptor-mediated signaling between luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
Although acting on the same receptor, accumulating evidence suggests that LH binding (A) has a greater impact (thicker arrow) on AKT and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) phosphorylation than hCG does, whereas binding of hCG (B) generates a greater intracellular accumulation (thicker arrow) of cAMP than does LH.
AC, adenylate cyclase;
ATP, adenosine triphosphate;
cAMP, cyclic adenosine monophosphate;
Gs/Gq, G proteins;
IP3, inositol triphosphate;
LHCGR, luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor;
PKA, protein kinase A;
PLC, phospholipase C;
PKC, protein kinase C.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0303720713005248
Highlights
· We elucidate differences in structure, expression, regulation, and function of LH and hCG.
· Despite disparate endogenous functions, LH and hCG bind to a common receptor.
· Relative proportions of LH and hCG isoforms fluctuate during the lifespan of both women and men.
· Diverse isoforms of LH and hCG have distinct though often overlapping functions.
· Knowledge of LH and hCG will foster further developments in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
Choi J, Smitz J. Luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin: Origins of difference. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 2014;383(1-2):203-13. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0303720713005248
Luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are widely recognized for their roles in ovulation and the support of early pregnancy.
Aside from the timing of expression, however, the differences between LH and hCG have largely been overlooked in the clinical realm because of their similar molecular structures and shared receptor.
With technologic advancements, including the development of highly purified and recombinant gonadotropins, researchers now appreciate that these hormones are not as interchangeable as once believed.
Although they bind to a common receptor, emerging evidence suggests that LH and hCG have disparate effects on downstream signaling cascades.
Increased understanding of the inherent differences between LH and hCG will foster more effective diagnostic and prognostic assays for use in a variety of clinical contexts and support the individualization of treatment strategies for conditions such as infertility.
Theoretical pathways for the divergence in receptor-mediated signaling between luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
Although acting on the same receptor, accumulating evidence suggests that LH binding (A) has a greater impact (thicker arrow) on AKT and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) phosphorylation than hCG does, whereas binding of hCG (B) generates a greater intracellular accumulation (thicker arrow) of cAMP than does LH.
AC, adenylate cyclase;
ATP, adenosine triphosphate;
cAMP, cyclic adenosine monophosphate;
Gs/Gq, G proteins;
IP3, inositol triphosphate;
LHCGR, luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor;
PKA, protein kinase A;
PLC, phospholipase C;
PKC, protein kinase C.
