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PTEN expression in human cumulus cells is associated with embryo development competence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 April 2022

Jianfeng Yao ,
Ming Li ,
Liqing Lin ,
Youzhu Li ,
Jianlong Zhuang ,
Yanfang Huang ,
Weilin Peng ,
Jianfeng Lian ,
Rongfu Huang  and
Xiaoyu Yang Open the ORCID record for Xiaoyu Yang [Opens in a new window]
Jianfeng Yao
Affiliation:
Quanzhou Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Quanzhou, China The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
Ming Li
Affiliation:
Department of Histology and Embryology, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua, China
Liqing Lin
Affiliation:
Quanzhou Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Quanzhou, China
Youzhu Li
Affiliation:
The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
Jianlong Zhuang
Affiliation:
Quanzhou Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Quanzhou, China
Yanfang Huang
Affiliation:
The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
Weilin Peng
Affiliation:
Quanzhou Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Quanzhou, China
Jianfeng Lian
Affiliation:
Quanzhou Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Quanzhou, China
Rongfu Huang*
Affiliation:
The Second Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
Xiaoyu Yang*
Affiliation:
Fuzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
*
Authors for correspondence: Rongfu Huang. The Second Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China. Email: hrf55555@163.com Xiaoyu Yang. Fuzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China. Email: yangxiaoyu683@163.com
Authors for correspondence: Rongfu Huang. The Second Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China. Email: hrf55555@163.com Xiaoyu Yang. Fuzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China. Email: yangxiaoyu683@163.com
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Summary

Embryo quality determines the success of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment. Biomarkers for the evaluation of embryo quality have some limitations. Apoptosis in cumulus cells (CCs) is important for ovarian function. PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) is a well known tumour suppressor gene that functions as a mediator of apoptosis and is crucial for mammalian reproduction. In the present study, we analyzed the expression level of PTEN in human CCs and aimed to investigate its association with embryo developmental competence in IVF treatment cycles. The PTEN mRNA level in CCs was measured using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The association of the differential expression of PTEN with embryo quality was analyzed. Our data showed that PTEN mRNA levels were significantly decreased in CCs surrounding mature oocytes compared with immature oocytes. Similar changes were found in the analysis of fertilization and blastocyst formation. The speculation that the measurement of PTEN mRNA levels in human CCs would provide a useful tool for selecting oocytes with greater chances to implant into the uterus needs to be further verified through single-embryo transfer in the future. The proapoptotic mechanism of PTEN in human reproduction needs to be further studied.

Keywords

Cumulus cellsEmbryo qualityGene expressionPCRPTEN
Type
Research Article
Information
Zygote , Volume 30 , Issue 5 , October 2022 , pp. 611 - 618
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

*

J Yao and M Li contributed equally to this work.

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