ADAMTS-1: a new human ovulatory gene and a cumulus marker for fertilization capacity.

ADAM-metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motifs-1 (ADAMTS-1) null female mice show impaired follicular development and ovulatory processes. However, ADAMTS-1 expression and function in human normal ovulation and folliculogenesis have not yet been determined. The objective of this study is to study the expression patterns of ADAMTS-1 in human granulosa cells (GCs) obtained from follicles aspirated during in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. We found that ADAMTS-1 expression is a luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin (LH/hCG)-induced gene whose expression in the mural GCs directly correlated with antral follicular growth. Interestingly, we were able to show a significant correlation between ADAMTS-1 expression in cumulus cells and the fertilization capacity of the related oocyte. In conclusion, human ADAMTS-1 is an ovulatory gene and its expression is LH/hCG- and follicle-size dependent. The correlation between its expression in cumulus GCs and oocyte fertilization capacity suggests a role for ADAMTS-1 in human cumulus function.