AK Visiting Lecture Series 03 w/ Dr. Peluffo

2023 Anne Klibanski Visiting Lecture Series 03
“Novel role of chemokines in the ovulatory cascade and their potential application for nonhormonal contraceptive development”

Time: 5:00 – 6:00 pm (6-7 pm ART)

The Anne Klibanski Visiting Lecture Series was created to support and advance the careers of women. These lectures offer the opportunity for women faculty from outside institutions that have hosted Anne Klibanski Scholars to present on their expertise, either alone or in tandem with an Anne Klibanski Scholar.

Shortly before ovulation, the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge induces processes critical for fertility, including C-OE and resumption of meiosis. This presentation discussed the novel role of chemokines in periovulatory events, describing recent evidence. Dr. Peluffo showed her laboratory findings supporting this, together with limited published studies by others to 1) review the current knowledge regarding the ovulatory cascade and the role of chemokine in the periovulatory period; 2) introduce her study research project outcomes; 3) analyze the direct involvement of the chemokine receptor CCR2 in periovulatory events such as COE and oocyte maturation; 4) analyze and discuss the interaction of CCR2 receptor with the EGFR in regards to the periovulatory events; 5) Finally, the presentation discussed future aims and how to move forward in advancing in elucidating new molecular mechanisms involved in the ovulatory cascade that eventually can be targeted to develop a new non-hormonal female contraceptive.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this activity, participants were able to:

• Describe the periovulatory events and the increasing evidence for the role of chemokines in regulating these crucial events in different species
• Assess our laboratory evidence regarding the chemokine receptor CCR2 and its chemokine ligands in the ovarian follicles and cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) in the rhesus monkeys and domestic cats
• Analyze the direct effect of triggering or inhibiting the CCR2 receptor within the COC using a feline model in vitro
• Evaluate the interaction between the CCR2 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, a crucial intermediate in the ovulatory cascade) systems within the feline COC
• Review and discuss the overall course of this research

Target Audience: This activity is intended for faculty and faculty trainees.
Course Director: Miriam A. Bredella, MD, MBA, Director, Center for Faculty Development; Professor of Radiology, Harvard Medical School

Presenter: Marina Cinthia Peluffo, PhD, Independent Scientist, CONICET, División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Dr. Peluffo is a reproductive biologist that has been focused on ovarian processes such as folliculogenesis, follicular atresia, as well as corpus luteum formation, and luteolysis. She got her PhD. at the Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) and she did a post-doctorate at the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC-OHSU, USA). After her post-doctorate, she returned to her home country (Argentina) and she established an independent laboratory studying the role of chemokines in C-OE and oocyte maturation at the “Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE-CONICET). Recently, she received a promotion to an Independent Scientist by the Argentine National Research Council (CONICET).

ACCREDITATION

In support of improving patient care, Mass General Brigham is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Mass General Brigham designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.