AQP8 and AQP9 expression in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and its association with in vitro fertilization‑embryo transfer outcomes

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate aquaporin (AQP)8 and AQP9 expression in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its association with in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) outcomes. A total of 45 patients with PCOS undergoing IVF-ET (test group) and 50 patients with oviduct obstruction or ovarian cyst (control group) were assessed for the mRNA expression of AQP8 and AQP9 in ovarian tissues by reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q)PCR. The levels of luteinizing hormone, anti-mullerian hormone and testosterone were determined, which were revealed to be significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05). The RT-qPCR results indicated that AQP8 expression in the control group was lower than that in the test group (t=37.75, P<0.01), whereas AQP9 expression in the control group was higher than that in the test group (t=19.59, P<0.01). The number of eggs obtained in the group with high AQP8 expression was significantly lower than that in the group with low AQP8 expression (t=2.64, P<0.01). The number of high-quality embryos in the high AQP8 expression group was not significantly different from that in the low AQP8 expression group (t=1.02, P>0.05). The pregnancy rate in patients with high AQP9 expression was higher than that in the low AQP9 expression group (P<0.05) and the abortion rate in the former was lower than that in the latter (P<0.05). In conclusion, AQP8 and AQP9 are differentially expressed in ovarian tissues of patients with PCOS vs. normal control subjects. The expression of AQP8 is closely associated with the occurrence and development of oocytes, whereas the expression of AQP9 is associated with the success rate of pregnancy in patients with PCOS.

The Relevance of Aquaporins for the Physiology, Pathology, and Aging of the Female Reproductive System in Mammals

“…The use of modulators to lower the expression of AQPs (especially AQP7 and AQP9) may improve glycerol metabolism and indirectly improve ovulation by reducing the level of androgens. Studies conducted at the mRNA level indicate a significantly higher expression of AQP8 and a significantly lower expression of AQP9 in the ovarian tissues of patients with PCOS compared with the control sample [111]. It appears, therefore, that the above scheme may become a biological indicator of the disease.…”

“…Like AQPs, voltage-dependent anion channels (VDAC) belong to the porin family. The role of AQPs in both the female and male reproductive systems has been partially explained and described in the literature by many authors [102,111,115]. The second family of porin genes includes genes responsible for the expression of three different proteins: VDAC1, 2, 3 [154][155][156].…”

In Search of New Therapeutics—Molecular Aspects of the PCOS Pathophysiology: Genetics, Hormones, Metabolism and Beyond

“…The above is supported by a more recent study, which examined AQP 8 and 9 levels in the ovarian tissue and follicular fluid of PCOS patients. Elevated AQP 8 expression and decreased AQP 9 expression were observed and were correlated with the incidence of PCOS, leading to the idea of using the two AQPs as biological indicators of the condition [ 130 ]. The issue is touched upon in another study, focusing on AQP 7 and 9, although the expression of both AQPs was found to be elevated in the PCOS-afflicted group in comparison with the control group [ 131 ].…”

AQP8 participates in oestrogen‐mediated buffalo follicular development by regulating apoptosis of granulosa cells

“…Apoptosis is characterized by a series of morphological events beginning with the apoptotic volume decrease (AVD), and AQPs are involved in the occurrence of AVD by regulating water passing through the plasma membrane (Heymann et al., 1998; Jablonski et al., 2004; Maeno et al., 2000; McConnell et al., 2002). AQP8 had been identified as a novel gene participating in female reproductive physiology, and its expression was closely associated with the oogenesis (Li et al., 2013; Richard et al., 2003; Xiong et al., 2019). Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) had high expression of AQP8 in ovarian tissues and obtained few oocytes (Xiong et al., 2019).…”

“…AQP8 had been identified as a novel gene participating in female reproductive physiology, and its expression was closely associated with the oogenesis (Li et al, 2013;Richard et al, 2003;Xiong et al, 2019). Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) had high expression of AQP8 in ovarian tissues and obtained few oocytes (Xiong et al, 2019). Deficiency of AQP8 increased the number of matured follicles in mice due to the reduction of apoptotic GCs by slowing AVD (Su et al, 2010(Su et al, , 2013 and increasing cell proliferation (Wang et al, 2018).…”