Protein pathways working in human follicular fluid: the future for tailored IVF?

Abstract

The human follicular fluid (HFF) contains molecules and proteins that may affect follicle growth, oocyte maturation and competence acquiring. Despite the numerous studies, an integrated broad overview on biomolecular and patho/ physiological processes that are proved or supposed to take place in HFF during folliculogenesis and oocyte development is still missing. In this review we report, for the first time, all the proteins unambiguously detected in HFF and, applying DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery) and MetaCore bioinformatic resources, we shed new lights on their functional correlation, delineating protein patterns and pathways with reasonable potentialities for oocyte quality estimation in in vitro fertilisation (IVF) programs. Performing a rigorous PubMed search, we redacted a list of 617 unique proteins unambiguously-annotated as HFF components. Their functional processing suggested the occurrence in HFF of a tight and highly dynamic functional-network, which is balanced by specific effectors, primarily involved in extracellular matrix degradation and remodelling, inflammation and coagulation. Metalloproteinases, thrombin and vitamin-Dreceptor/retinoid-X-receptor-alpha resulted as the main key factors in the nets and their differential activity may be indicative of ovarian health and oocyte quality. Despite future accurate clinical investigations are absolutely needed, the present analysis may provide a starting point for more accurate oocyte quality estimation and for defining personalised therapies in reproductive medicine.

Growth hormone alleviates oxidative stress and improves oocyte quality in Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

“…In addition , we found that the OS markers in FF and serum concurred. FF originates from blood diffusion and from secretion from GCs and oocytes; thus, OS markers in FF reflect the systemic OS status and that of the ovaries 32 . Through correlation analysis, we found that the basal serum TOS and OSI were both positively correlated with HOMA-IR, FINS and TT levels and negatively correlated with SHBG.…”

Natriuretic peptides improve the developmental competence of in vitro cultured porcine oocytes

“…PMC can only be achieved by blocking the inevitably spontaneous nuclear maturation that starts immediately after the oocyte that has been disconnected from the somatic compartment of the follicle, and extending the period of GV-stage arrest in PMC might alleviate this asynchrony by allowing time for completion of cytoplasmic maturity [4, 6, 42, 43]. As reported, the path to cytoplasmic competence included the buildup and storage of transcripts [44–46], synthesis and accumulation of proteins, posttranslational modifications, and ultrastructural changes. The meiotic arrest can be induced pharmacologically by manipulating the intraoocyte cAMP levels [4, 6].…”

Growth Hormone Activates PI3K/Akt Signaling and Inhibits ROS Accumulation and Apoptosis in Granulosa Cells of Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

“…During hyper-ovarian stimulation, ROS accumulates with accelerated metabolic rates for more energy and nutrients [26]. Ovarian antioxidants are numerous, and OS occurs when the natural antioxidant system cannot balance excessive ROS.…”