School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Syst Biol Reprod Med. 2012 Apr;58(2):88-101. doi: 10.3109/19396368.2012.656217. Epub 2012 Feb 8.
Common aspects of infertility can be seen across several species. In humans, dairy cows, and mares there is only a 25-35% chance of producing a live offspring after a single insemination, whether natural or artificial. Oocyte quality and subsequent embryo development can be affected by factors such as nutrition, hormonal regulation, and environmental influence. The objective of this study was to identify genes expressed in oocytes and/or cumulus cells, across a diverse range of species, which may be linked to the ability an oocyte has to develop following fertilization. Performing a meta-analysis on previously published microarray data on various models of oocyte and embryo quality allowed for the identification of 56 candidate genes associated with oocyte quality across several species, 4 of which were identified in the cumulus cells that surround the oocyte. Twenty-one potential biomarkers were associated with increased competence and 35 potential biomarkers were associated with decreased competence. The upregulation of Metap2, and the decrease of multiple genes linked to mRNA and protein synthesis in models of competence, highlights the importance of de novo protein synthesis and its regulation for successful oocyte maturation and subsequent development. The negative regulation of Wnt signaling has emerged in human, monkey, bovine, and mouse models of oocyte competence. Atrx expression was linked to decreased competence in both oocytes and cumulus cells. Biological networks and transcription factor regulation associated with increased and decreased competence were also identified. These genes could potentially act as biomarkers of oocyte quality or as pharmacological targets for manipulation in order to improve oocyte developmental potential.
几种物种的不孕不育有一些共同的方面。在人类、奶牛和母马中，无论是自然受精还是人工授精，单次受精后产生活后代的几率只有 25-35%。卵母细胞质量和随后的胚胎发育可能受到营养、激素调节和环境影响等因素的影响。本研究的目的是鉴定在多种物种的卵母细胞和/或卵丘细胞中表达的基因，这些基因可能与卵母细胞受精后发育的能力有关。对不同卵母细胞和胚胎质量模型的已发表微阵列数据进行荟萃分析，确定了 56 个与几种物种的卵母细胞质量相关的候选基因，其中 4 个在围绕卵母细胞的卵丘细胞中被鉴定出来。有 21 个潜在的生物标志物与增加的能力相关，35 个潜在的生物标志物与降低的能力相关。在有能力的模型中，Metap2 的上调和与 mRNA 和蛋白质合成相关的多个基因的下调，突出了从头蛋白质合成及其调节对成功的卵母细胞成熟和随后的发育的重要性。Wnt 信号的负调控在人类、猴子、牛和小鼠的卵母细胞能力模型中出现。Atrx 的表达与卵母细胞和卵丘细胞中能力的降低有关。还确定了与增加和降低能力相关的生物网络和转录因子调节。这些基因可能潜在地作为卵母细胞质量的生物标志物，或作为药物靶点进行操作，以提高卵母细胞的发育潜力。
