Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42274549›Full record

ArticleCells2026

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)-Induced Remodeling of the Granulosa Cell Exosomal Proteome: Implications for Follicular Communication.

Francesca Mancini, Michela Cicchinelli, Emanuela Teveroni, Erica Pazzaglia, Donatella Lucchetti, Giulia Artemi, Valentina Palmieri, Federica Iavarone, Domenico Milardi, Andrea Urbani and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cells, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Francesca ManciniInternational Scientific Institute Paul VI, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Michela CicchinelliDepartment of Basic Biotechnological Sciences, Intensivological and Perioperative Clinics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0009-0008-8975-4947
Emanuela TeveroniInternational Scientific Institute Paul VI, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Erica PazzagliaMultiplex Spatial Profiling Facility, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Donatella LucchettiMultiplex Spatial Profiling Facility, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Giulia ArtemiDepartment of Neuroscience, Section of Biophysics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Valentina PalmieriInstitute for Complex Systems, National Research Council, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Federica IavaroneClinical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Operations (UOC), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2074-5531
Domenico MilardiDepartment of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Andrea UrbaniClinical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Operations (UOC), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Tullio GhiDepartment of Women, Child and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Annamaria MerolaDepartment of Women, Child and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Fiorella Di NicuoloInternational Scientific Institute Paul VI, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Human follicular development depends on coordinated communication between granulosa cells (GCs) and oocytes through endocrine cues, direct contacts, and extracellular vesicles (EVs). Exosomes are key EV mediators of intrafollicular signaling, but their cargo and functions in gonadotropin-stimulated GCs remain poorly defined. The human granulosa-like tumor cell line KGN was used to investigate exosome secretion and protein composition following human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulation. Exosomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation, characterized via nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Western blotting, and analyzed using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Comparative proteomics integrating exosomal profiles with the whole secretome were performed, followed by bioinformatic analyses of protein networks, gene ontology, and pathway enrichment. hCG reshaped exosomal cargo, identifying 59 proteins enriched in exosomes, including Integrin α3 (ITGα3), Galectin-3-binding protein (LGALS3BP), tetraspanins (CD63, CD151), and proteasome subunits. Functional enrichment indicated roles in extracellular matrix remodeling, integrin signaling, proteostasis, and steroidogenesis. Comparison with the secretome revealed distinct protein distributions, supporting selective exosomal packaging. Western blot confirmed increased ITGα3 and LGALS3BP levels in exosomes upon hCG treatment. In conclusion, hCG modulates exosome cargo composition in granulosa cells, uncovering a novel mechanism of extracellular regulation.

Indexed as

Cell CommunicationChorionic GonadotropinExosomesGranulosa CellsOvarian FollicleProteomeAntigens, NeoplasmExtracellular Matrix ProteinsFemaleHumansProteomicsSignal TransductionAntigens, NeoplasmChorionic GonadotropinExtracellular Matrix ProteinsLGALS3BP protein, humanProteomeexosomesextracellular vesicles (EVs)Galectin-3-binding protein (LGALS3BP)human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)human granulosa cells (KGN)integrin α3 (ITGα3)

Identifiers

PMID42274549
PMCPMC13256384

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.