2. Academic Validation
  3. Protective effect of Zymosan-A against radiation-induced premature ovarian insufficiency in a murine model

Protective effect of Zymosan-A against radiation-induced premature ovarian insufficiency in a murine model

  • iScience. 2026 Feb 14;29(4):115027. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.115027.
Yike Yu 1 2,  Jicong Du 2,  Bendong Li 1,  Ying Cheng 2,  Fan Lin 1,  Jiawei Zhou 1,  Yihang Song 3,  Cong Liu 2,  Shengyun Cai 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
  • 2 Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
  • 3 Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
PMID: 41858627 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.115027
Abstract

Pelvic radiotherapy, a key treatment for pelvic malignancies, frequently causes iatrogenic premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) in young female patients, highlighting the urgent need for targeted, effective, and low-toxic radioprotectants. Zymosan-A, a TLR2/6 agonist, has potential radioprotective effects. We established a 60Co γ-radiation-induced murine POI model and evaluated Zymosan-A's efficacy. Results showed Zymosan-A mitigated granulosa cell Apoptosis, improved ovarian hormone levels and estrous cycle regularity, increased embryo number, and enhanced offspring weight. Its radioprotective effect against ovarian injury, mediated via the TLRs-NF-κB pathway, was abolished in TLR2-knockout mice. Thus, Zymosan-A effectively protects against radiotherapy-induced POI primarily through the TLR2-NF-κB pathway.

Keywords

biological sciences; female reproductive endocrinology; health sciences; therapeutics.

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