Human Cumulus Cells in Long-Term In Vitro Culture Reflect Differential Expression Profile of Genes Responsible for Planned Cell Death and Aging—A Study of New Molecular Markers
Błażej Chermuła,
Wiesława Kranc,
Karol Jopek,
Joanna Budna-Tukan,
Greg Hutchings,
Claudia Dompe,
Lisa Moncrieff,
Krzysztof Janowicz,
Małgorzata Józkowiak,
Michal Jeseta,
Jim Petitte,
Paul Mozdziak,
Leszek Pawelczyk,
Robert Z. Spaczyński,
Bartosz Kempisty
Affiliations
Błażej Chermuła
Division of Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecological Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 33 Polna St., 60-535 Poznan, Poland
Wiesława Kranc
Department of Anatomy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Swiecickiego St., 60-781 Poznan, Poland
Karol Jopek
Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Swiecickiego St., 60-781 Poznan, Poland
Joanna Budna-Tukan
Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Swiecickiego St., 60-781 Poznan, Poland
Greg Hutchings
Department of Anatomy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Swiecickiego St., 60-781 Poznan, Poland
Claudia Dompe
Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Swiecickiego St., 60-781 Poznan, Poland
Lisa Moncrieff
Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Swiecickiego St., 60-781 Poznan, Poland
Krzysztof Janowicz
Department of Anatomy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Swiecickiego St., 60-781 Poznan, Poland
Małgorzata Józkowiak
Department of Toxicology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 30 Dojazd St., 60-631 Poznan, Poland
Michal Jeseta
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital and Masaryk University, 20 Jihlavská St., 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
Jim Petitte
Prestage Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Paul Mozdziak
Physiology Graduate Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Leszek Pawelczyk
Division of Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecological Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 33 Polna St., 60-535 Poznan, Poland
Robert Z. Spaczyński
Division of Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecological Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 33 Polna St., 60-535 Poznan, Poland
Bartosz Kempisty
Department of Anatomy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Swiecickiego St., 60-781 Poznan, Poland
In the ovarian follicle, maturation of the oocyte increases in the presence of somatic cells called cumulus cells (CCs). These cells form a direct barrier between the oocyte and external environment. Thanks to bidirectional communication, they have a direct impact on the oocyte, its quality and development potential. Understanding the genetic profile of CCs appears to be important in elucidating the physiology of oocytes. Long-term in vitro culture of CCs collected from patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation during in vitro fertilization procedure was conducted. Using microarray expression analysis, transcript levels were assessed on day 1, 7, 15, and 30 of culture. Apoptosis and aging of CCs strictly influence oocyte quality and subsequently the outcome of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Thus, particular attention was paid to the analysis of genes involved in programmed cell death, aging, and apoptosis. Due to the detailed level of expression analysis of each of the 133 analyzed genes, three groups were selected: first with significantly decreased expression during the culture; second with the statistically lowest increase in expression; and third with the highest significant increase in expression. COL3A1, SFRP4, CTGF, HTR2B, VCAM1, TNFRSF11B genes, belonging to the third group, were identified as potential carriers of information on oocyte quality.
