College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, P. R. China.
Reproduction. 2024 Aug 2;168(3). doi: 10.1530/REP-24-0128. Print 2024 Sep 1.
Genes expressed in cumulus cells might be used as markers for competent oocytes/embryos. This study identified and validated a new group of cumulus expansion and/or apoptosis-regulating genes, which may be used for selection of quality oocytes/embryos.
Studies on the mechanisms behind cumulus expansion and cumulus cell (CC) apoptosis are essential for understanding the mechanisms for oocyte maturation. Genes expressed in CCs might be used as markers for competent oocytes and/or embryos. In this study, both in vitro (IVT) and in vivo (IVO) mouse oocyte models with significant difference in cumulus expansion and CC apoptosis were used to identify and validate new genes regulating cumulus expansion and CC apoptosis of mouse oocytes. We first performed mRNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis using the IVT oocyte model to identify candidate genes. We then analyzed functions of the candidate genes by RNAi or gene overexpression to select the candidate cumulus expansion and CC apoptosis-regulating genes. Finally, we validated the cumulus expansion and CC apoptosis-regulating genes using the IVO oocyte model. The results showed that while Spp1, Sdc1, Ldlr, Ezr and Mmp2 promoted, Bmp2, Angpt2, Edn1, Itgb8, Cxcl10 and Agt inhibited cumulus expansion. Furthermore, Spp1, Sdc1 and Ldlr inhibited CC apoptosis. In conclusion, by using both IVT and IVO oocyte models, we have identified and validated a new group of cumulus expansion and/or apoptosis-regulating genes, which may be used for selection of quality oocytes/embryos and for elucidating the molecular mechanisms behind oocyte maturation.
研究卵丘扩展和卵丘细胞（CC）凋亡背后的机制对于理解卵母细胞成熟的机制至关重要。在 CC 中表达的基因可用作有能力的卵母细胞和/或胚胎的标志物。在这项研究中，使用体外（IVT）和体内（IVO）小鼠卵母细胞模型，这些模型在卵丘扩展和 CC 凋亡方面存在显著差异，用于鉴定和验证新的基因调节小鼠卵母细胞的卵丘扩展和 CC 凋亡。我们首先使用 IVT 卵母细胞模型进行 mRNA 测序和生物信息学分析，以鉴定候选基因。然后，我们通过 RNAi 或基因过表达分析候选基因的功能，以选择候选的卵丘扩展和 CC 凋亡调节基因。最后，我们使用 IVO 卵母细胞模型验证了卵丘扩展和 CC 凋亡调节基因。结果表明，Spp1、Sdc1、Ldlr、Ezr 和 Mmp2 促进了卵丘扩展，而 Bmp2、Angpt2、Edn1、Itgb8、Cxcl10 和 Agt 则抑制了卵丘扩展。此外，Spp1、Sdc1 和 Ldlr 抑制了 CC 凋亡。总之，通过使用 IVT 和 IVO 卵母细胞模型，我们已经鉴定和验证了一组新的调节卵丘扩展和/或凋亡的基因，这些基因可用于选择优质的卵母细胞/胚胎，并阐明卵母细胞成熟背后的分子机制。
