Human Cervical Mucus and its Mucous Glycoprotein during the Menstrual Cycle

Kooij, R.J. van; Roelofs, H. J. M.; Kathmann, Godefrida A.M.; Kramer, M. F.

doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(16)44952-6

Cited by 33 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The quantity and quality, in terms of overall protein content and viscosity of the mucus, itself is changing cyclically in response to estrogen and progesterone stimulation. Particularly in the luteal phase the viscosity, and protein as well as cell load of the mucus would normally increase [30,31]. This complex and changing composition of the mucus renders it a challenging but potentially very informative “multi-tasking” sample: it could also contain surrogate biomarkers reflecting the changes at the endometrium level.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clues to Non-Invasive Implantation Window Monitoring: Isolation and Characterisation of Endometrial Exosomes

Luddi

Zarovni

Maltinti

et al. 2019

Cells

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Despite the significant advances in the last decades, low implantation rate per transferred embryo still remains a major concern in assisted reproductive techniques, highlighting a need to better characterize endometrial receptivity also by mean of specific biomarkers. Based on physiology and on the intimate contact with endometrium as the tissue of interest, in this study we developed and validated an optimized protocol that uses extracellular vesicles (EVs) recovered from uterine flushings and from a cervical brush, the latter never used until now as an EVs source, as surrogates for endometrial biopsies. This method combines the safety of sampling with the ability to study the expression profile across the uterine cycle. We have compared the yield and composition of EVs recovered from different biofluids samples and fractions thereof, opting for chemical precipitation as the EV isolation procedure, assuring the highest yield without introducing any bias in specific EV recovery. Moreover, collected EVs, in particular exosome-like vesicles, express putative endometrial markers, such as glycodelin A and receptors for estrogen and progesterone, thus confirming their endometrial origin. We also identified uterine flushing EVs, in particular those recovered from its mucous fraction, as the richest source of endometrial transcripts, likely correlated to cellular (epithelial) origin of these vesicles. Finally, our pilot quantitative assessment of three endometrial gene profiles, in samples collected at different time points along the luteal phase, revealed the fluctuations apparently recapitulating gene expression variability prior reported during the menstrual cycle. Unlike tissue biopsy that is subjected to inter- and intra-sample differences, our data suggest that EVs from liquid biopsies (from uterine flushings and a cervical brush) obtained through less-invasive procedures, can be substrate to detect and track the tissue representative expression profiles, better depicting the total endometrium complexity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clues to Non-Invasive Implantation Window Monitoring: Isolation and Characterisation of Endometrial Exosomes

Luddi

Zarovni

Maltinti

et al. 2019

Cells

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“…However, its functions are not yet fully understood. Moreover, the biological and chemical–physical properties of cervical mucus change during the menstrual cycle [ 1 , 2 ]: its content of glycoproteins (mucins) peaks near ovulation due to high secretion, but the abundance of other proteins is highest during the luteal phase [ 3 ]. During the first half of the cycle, the mucus is scant, thick and viscous, forming a barrier or cervical plug that limits the access of sperm to the upper genital tract.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proteome Mapping of Cervical Mucus and Its Potential as a Source of Biomarkers in Female Tract Disorders

Oždian

Vodička

Dostál

et al. 2023

IJMS

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Cervical mucus (CM) is a viscous fluid that is produced by the cervical glands and functions as a uterine cervix plug. Its viscosity decreases during ovulation, providing a window for non-invasive sampling. This study focuses on proteomic characterization of CM to evaluate its potential as a non-invasively acquired source of biomarkers and in understanding of molecular (patho)physiology of the female genital tract. The first objective of this work was to optimize experimental workflow for CM processing and the second was to assess differences in the proteomic composition of CM during natural ovulatory cycles obtained from intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles and in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Proteomic analysis of CM samples revealed 4370 proteins involved in processes including neutrophil degranulation, cellular stress responses, and hemostasis. Differential expression analysis revealed 199 proteins enriched in IUI samples and 422 enriched in IVF. The proteins enriched in IUI were involved in phosphatidic acid synthesis, responses to external stimulus, and neutrophil degranulation, while those enriched in IVF samples were linked to neutrophil degranulation, formation of a cornified envelope and hemostasis. Subsequent analyses clarified the protein composition of the CM and how it is altered by hormonal stimulation of the uterus.

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Terminal Glycosylation in Human Cervical Mucin

Chantler¹,

Scudder²

1984

Ciba Foundation Symposium 109 ‐ Mucus and Mucosa

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Human Cervical Mucus and its Mucous Glycoprotein during the Menstrual Cycle

Cited by 33 publications

References 17 publications

Clues to Non-Invasive Implantation Window Monitoring: Isolation and Characterisation of Endometrial Exosomes

Clues to Non-Invasive Implantation Window Monitoring: Isolation and Characterisation of Endometrial Exosomes

Proteome Mapping of Cervical Mucus and Its Potential as a Source of Biomarkers in Female Tract Disorders

Terminal Glycosylation in Human Cervical Mucin

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