The impact of hypoxia on the cellular phenotype and proteome of KGN cells

Human cells can be isolated from the body and kept alive in incubators, in which, mainly for practical reasons, the oxygen (O2) levels typically correspond to the surrounding atmosphere. This does not reflect the conditions within the human body, where much lower O2 levels exist. This study shows the importance of low O2 levels on the cellular make-up and behavior of KGN cells, which are accepted models for a group of ovarian tumors (GCTs), as well as normal, non-tumorous granulosa cells (from which GCTs originate). We found that when KGN cells were exposed to low O2 levels, cell numbers and cell size, as well as cellular proteins and RNA, changed. The experiments, revealing adaptations associated with hypoxia, may contribute to a better understanding of the normal ovary and ovarian tumors.