Cumulus cells have longer telomeres than leukocytes in reproductive-age women

Abstract

To investigate whether telomere length (TL) in granulosa cells (GC) or cumulus cells (CC) correlates with TL in leukocytes (L). Design: Prospective noninterventional study. Setting: Private assisted reproductive technology center. Patient(s): Thirty-five egg donors were included in the study. Interventions(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Average relative leukocyte telomere length (LTL), cumulus cell telomere length (CCTL), and granulosa cell telomere length (GCTL) measurements from each study subject. Result(s): Participants had a mean age of 25.43 AE 4.57 years, antim€ ullerian hormone level of 1.90 AE 0.92 ng/mL, antral follicle count of 23.29 AE 5.11, and the mean number of mature oocytes retrieved was 23.29 AE 9.13. No significant association between these variables and GCTL, CCTL, or LTL was found. In addition, no correlation was observed between TL measurements of L vs. CC, L vs. GC, or CC vs. GC. Interestingly, CCTL was significantly higher than LTL (1.54-fold), although no significant differences were found between GCTL vs. CCTL or GCTL vs. LTL. Conclusion(s): CC from mature follicles have significantly longer telomeres than L, suggesting that the follicular environment could possess different mechanisms to cope against telomere shortening compared with other somatic tissues. Furthermore, these data do not support the utility of telomere DNA measurement in L as an estimate of TL in follicular cells. (Fertil Steril Ò 2020;113:217-23. Ó2019 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.) El resumen está disponible en Español al final del artículo.

The Interplay between Telomeres, Mitochondria, and Chronic Stress Exposure in the Aging Egg

“…To date, however, the results are still controversial [ 39 ]. A recent study could not translate data on telomere length in leukocytes to follicular cells, highlighting different mechanisms for telomere maintenance in ovary and peripheral tissues [ 40 ]. Furthermore, another study could not confirm the correlation between telomere or mtDNA content and IVF success [ 41 ].…”

Peripheral mitochondrial DNA, telomere length and DNA methylation as predictors of live birth in in vitro fertilization cycles

“…On the other hand, it has recently been supposed that the maintenance system of TL may be atypical in the ovary. Both Morin et al [ 31 ] and Lara-Molina et al [ 32 ] found out that telomere length is higher in cumulus cells rather than in peripheral blood leukocytes, suggesting that the follicular environment could possess peculiar mechanisms to cope against telomere shortening. Similarly, Hanson et al and Olsen et al have confirmed a difference in TL between cumulus or granulosa cells and white blood cells [ 14 , 33 ].…”

Lower anti-Müllerian hormone levels are associated with HIV in reproductive age women and shorter leukocyte telomere length among late reproductive age women

“…Future studies are required to further explore the potential causal relationships between HIV, immune aging, and ovarian reserve. Furthermore, telomere biology in cumulus cells differ considerably from leukocytes [48], and it is possible that telomere length in cumulus and/or granulosa cells are better indicators of ovarian age than LTL.…”