Development of a Long-Acting Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Using Serum Albumin Fab-Associated Technology for Female Infertility

Background Recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (rhFSH) is commonly used to treat female infertility, but its short half-life necessitates multiple doses. Even corifollitropin alfa, with an extended half-life, requires supplementary injections of rhFSH after 7 days. This study aimed to dev...

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Main Authors: Daham Kim, Yoon Hee Cho, Min Jeong Kang, So Jeong Lee, Soohyun Lee, Bo Hyon Yun, Hyunjin Chi, Jeongsuk An, Kyungsun Lee, Jaekyu Han, Susan Chi, Moo Young Song, Sang-Hoon Cha, Eun Jig Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Endocrine Society 2025-02-01
Series:Endocrinology and Metabolism
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Online Access:http://e-enm.org/upload/pdf/enm-2024-2090.pdf
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author Daham Kim
Yoon Hee Cho
Min Jeong Kang
So Jeong Lee
Soohyun Lee
Bo Hyon Yun
Hyunjin Chi
Jeongsuk An
Kyungsun Lee
Jaekyu Han
Susan Chi
Moo Young Song
Sang-Hoon Cha
Eun Jig Lee
author_facet Daham Kim
Yoon Hee Cho
Min Jeong Kang
So Jeong Lee
Soohyun Lee
Bo Hyon Yun
Hyunjin Chi
Jeongsuk An
Kyungsun Lee
Jaekyu Han
Susan Chi
Moo Young Song
Sang-Hoon Cha
Eun Jig Lee
author_sort Daham Kim
collection DOAJ
description Background Recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (rhFSH) is commonly used to treat female infertility, but its short half-life necessitates multiple doses. Even corifollitropin alfa, with an extended half-life, requires supplementary injections of rhFSH after 7 days. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a long-acting follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) formulation using anti-serum albumin Fab-associated (SAFA) technology to avoid additional injections and enhance ovarian function. Methods SAFA-FSH was synthesized using a Chinese hamster ovary expression system. Its biological efficacy was confirmed through assays measuring its ability to stimulate cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production, estradiol synthesis, and the expression of human cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A member 1 (hCYP19α1) and human steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (hSTAR) in human ovarian granulosa (KGN) cells. To evaluate the effects of SAFA-FSH, we compared its impact on serum estradiol levels and ovarian weight increase with that of rhFSH in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats using the modified Steelman-Pohley test. Results The results indicated that SAFA-FSH induces cAMP synthesis in KGN cells and upregulates the expression of hCYP19α1 and hSTAR in a dose-dependent manner. Female SD rats, aged 21 days, receiving daily subcutaneous human chorionic gonadotropin injections for 5 days exhibited a significant increase in serum estradiol levels and ovarian weight when administered SAFA-FSH on the first day or when given nine injections of rhFSH over 5 days. Notably, the group receiving SAFA-FSH on the first and third days demonstrated an even greater rise in serum estradiol levels and ovarian weight. Conclusion These findings suggest that SAFA-FSH presents a promising alternative to current rhFSH treatments for female infertility. However, further research is essential to thoroughly assess its safety and efficacy in clinical contexts.
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spelling doaj-art-3d65275f2fea4bb3b055f48c1d5266782025-08-20T03:07:20ZengKorean Endocrine SocietyEndocrinology and Metabolism2093-596X2093-59782025-02-0140114615510.3803/EnM.2024.20902562Development of a Long-Acting Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Using Serum Albumin Fab-Associated Technology for Female InfertilityDaham Kim0Yoon Hee Cho1Min Jeong Kang2So Jeong Lee3Soohyun Lee4Bo Hyon Yun5Hyunjin Chi6Jeongsuk An7Kyungsun Lee8Jaekyu Han9Susan Chi10Moo Young Song11Sang-Hoon Cha12Eun Jig Lee13 Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Department of Tropical Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea AprilBio Co. Ltd., Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea AprilBio Co. Ltd., Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea AprilBio Co. Ltd., Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea AprilBio Co. Ltd., Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea AprilBio Co. Ltd., Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea AprilBio Co. Ltd., Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea AprilBio Co. Ltd., Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, KoreaBackground Recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (rhFSH) is commonly used to treat female infertility, but its short half-life necessitates multiple doses. Even corifollitropin alfa, with an extended half-life, requires supplementary injections of rhFSH after 7 days. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a long-acting follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) formulation using anti-serum albumin Fab-associated (SAFA) technology to avoid additional injections and enhance ovarian function. Methods SAFA-FSH was synthesized using a Chinese hamster ovary expression system. Its biological efficacy was confirmed through assays measuring its ability to stimulate cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production, estradiol synthesis, and the expression of human cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A member 1 (hCYP19α1) and human steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (hSTAR) in human ovarian granulosa (KGN) cells. To evaluate the effects of SAFA-FSH, we compared its impact on serum estradiol levels and ovarian weight increase with that of rhFSH in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats using the modified Steelman-Pohley test. Results The results indicated that SAFA-FSH induces cAMP synthesis in KGN cells and upregulates the expression of hCYP19α1 and hSTAR in a dose-dependent manner. Female SD rats, aged 21 days, receiving daily subcutaneous human chorionic gonadotropin injections for 5 days exhibited a significant increase in serum estradiol levels and ovarian weight when administered SAFA-FSH on the first day or when given nine injections of rhFSH over 5 days. Notably, the group receiving SAFA-FSH on the first and third days demonstrated an even greater rise in serum estradiol levels and ovarian weight. Conclusion These findings suggest that SAFA-FSH presents a promising alternative to current rhFSH treatments for female infertility. However, further research is essential to thoroughly assess its safety and efficacy in clinical contexts.http://e-enm.org/upload/pdf/enm-2024-2090.pdffollicle stimulating hormonefemale infertilityovulationgonadotropins
spellingShingle Daham Kim
Yoon Hee Cho
Min Jeong Kang
So Jeong Lee
Soohyun Lee
Bo Hyon Yun
Hyunjin Chi
Jeongsuk An
Kyungsun Lee
Jaekyu Han
Susan Chi
Moo Young Song
Sang-Hoon Cha
Eun Jig Lee
Development of a Long-Acting Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Using Serum Albumin Fab-Associated Technology for Female Infertility
Endocrinology and Metabolism
follicle stimulating hormone
female infertility
ovulation
gonadotropins
title Development of a Long-Acting Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Using Serum Albumin Fab-Associated Technology for Female Infertility
title_full Development of a Long-Acting Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Using Serum Albumin Fab-Associated Technology for Female Infertility
title_fullStr Development of a Long-Acting Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Using Serum Albumin Fab-Associated Technology for Female Infertility
title_full_unstemmed Development of a Long-Acting Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Using Serum Albumin Fab-Associated Technology for Female Infertility
title_short Development of a Long-Acting Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Using Serum Albumin Fab-Associated Technology for Female Infertility
title_sort development of a long acting follicle stimulating hormone using serum albumin fab associated technology for female infertility
topic follicle stimulating hormone
female infertility
ovulation
gonadotropins
url http://e-enm.org/upload/pdf/enm-2024-2090.pdf
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