Exploring the role of Oncostatin M from periovarian adipose tissue on extracellular matrix dynamics in the ovarian cortex

Details

Supervisors

Andrade Amorim, Christiani

Faculty

Faculté de pharmacie et des sciences biomédicales

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences biomédicales, à finalité spécialisée: nutrition humaine

Abstract

The ovarian cortex is a highly specialized microenvironment whose extracellular matrix (ECM) provides essential structural and biochemical cues for follicle survival and activation. With age, this ECM undergoes profound remodeling, characterized by increased collagen deposition, loss of elasticity, and heightened inflammatory signaling, ultimately contributing to ovarian dysfunction and menopause. Emerging evidence suggests that periovarian adipose tissue (POAT), a visceral fat depot intimately connected to the ovary, may influence these age-related changes through the secretion of adipokines, cytokines, and growth factors. Among the bioactive molecules produced by POAT, Oncostatin M (OSM), a pleiotropic IL-6 family cytokine, is a compeling candidate regulator of ovarian ECM dynamics due to its established roles in inflammation, fibroblast activation, and fibrotic remodeling in other tissues. The goal of this project is to clarify OSM’s contribution to ovarian aging by (1) characterizing the spatial distribution of OSM and its receptor (OSMR) in the ovarian cortex and adjacent POAT across reproductive stages, and (2) assessing the direct impact of OSM on ECM remodeling using an in vitro ovarian tissue culture model. By integrating adipose-ovary crosstalk with cytokine-driven ECM regulation, this work aims to uncover how OSM may act as a molecular link between POAT inflammation and ovarian tissue stiffening. Understanding this pathway could reveal new mechanisms underlying reproductive aging and identify potential targets to preserve ovarian function.