Coenzyme and cofactor metabolism belongs to biochemical processes significantly regulated in human granulosa cells collected after IVF during long-term primary in vitro culture

Abstract

Granulosa cells (GCs) provide the microenvironment necessary for the development of the follicle and the maturation of the oocyte. GCs are associated with reproductive system function and the maintenance of pregnancy by participating in the synthesis of steroid hormones. Many authors point to new ways of using GCs in regenerative medicine and indicate the significant plasticity of this cell population, suggesting that GCs can undergo a transdifferentiation process. Employing primary in vitro cell cultures and high-throughput transcriptome analysis via Affymetrix microarrays, this study describes groups of genes associated with enzymatic reactions. 52 genes were identified belonging to four gene ontology biological process terms (GO BP): “coenzyme biosynthetic process”, “coenzyme metabolic process”, “cofactor biosynthetic process” and “cofactor metabolic process”. All identified genes showed reduction in the level of mRNA expression during long-term in vitro cultivation. Significanthe transcriptomic profile variability was exhibited for the genes (ELOVL5, ELOVL6 and GPAM) involved in enzymatic regulation of fatty acid metabolism.Running title: Enzymatic regulation in granulosa cells

Composition and distribution of fatty acids in various lipid fractions in serum and follicular fluid of women undergoing assisted reproductive technology

“…This could indicate conversion of the saturated or shorter chain precursor FA to their more unsaturated (and elongated) counterparts. Indeed, several genes related to FA desaturation and elongation, like stearoyl-CoA desaturase, FA desaturase and FA elongase, are expressed in granulosa cells [ 32 , 33 ]. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase is a rate-limiting enzyme in the cellular synthesis of MUFA from SFA [ 34 ], while the enzymes Δ5 desaturase and Δ6 desaturase—encoded by FA desaturase 1 and FA desaturase 2, respectively—are the rate-limiting enzymes in the desaturation of C18:2n-6 to C20:4n-6, and C18:3n-3 to C20:5n-3 and C22:6n-3 [ 35 ], and FA elongase is involved in the elongation of long-chain PUFA [ 36 ].…”