LHCGR Functional Assay

The luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR), also lutropin/choriogonadotropin receptor (LCGR) or luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) is a transmembrane receptor found predominantly in the ovary and testis, but also many extragonadal organs such as the uterus and breasts. The receptor interacts with both luteinizing hormone (LH) and chorionic gonadotropins (such as hCG in humans). Its activation is necessary for the hormonal functioning during reproduction. In women, the hormone stimulates the ovaries to produce oestradiol. Two weeks into a woman’s cycle, a surge in luteinizing hormone causes the ovaries to release an egg during ovulation. If fertilization occurs, luteinizing hormone will stimulate the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone to sustain the pregnancy. Both hormones stimulates gonadal function in assisted conception techniques such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF). LHCGR Functional Assay allows the measurement of the activity and potency of both recombinant human LH (rhLH) and choriogonadotropin (rhCG).

To analyze the activity of recombinant hormones, we use a stable cell line stably expressing LHCGR. This cell line also expresses the cAMP-Nomad biosensor, which increases its fluorescence intensity upon LHCGR activation. When rhLH or rhCG binds to the LHCGR, it activates a G protein, which in turn triggers a cellular response mediated by second messengers (cAMP). This cAMP-Nomad LHCGR cell line measures cAMP increase in the cytosol in a dose-response way in presence of any of both recombinant hormones.