Biomarkers of human oocyte developmental competence expressed in cumulus cells before ICSI: a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
To identify reliable genomic biomarkers expressed in cumulus cells that accurately and non-invasively predict the oocyte developmental competence and reinforce the already used morphological criteria.


METHODS
Eight consenting patients were selected for ovarian stimulation and ICSI procedures. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were transvaginally punctured and individually selected based on both good morphological criteria and high zona pellucida birefringence. Following ICSI, two 3-day embryos per patient were transferred. Pregnancy outcome was recorded and proven implantation was thereafter confirmed. Differential gene expression was assessed using two microarray platforms. Further real-time PCR validation, Ingenuity pathways analysis and intra-patient analysis were performed on 17 selected candidates.


RESULTS
Seven genes were differentially (p ≤ 0.05) associated to successful pregnancy and implantation. These biomarkers could be used to predict the oocyte developmental competence.


CONCLUSIONS
These genomic markers are a powerful reinforcement of morphological approaches of oocyte selection. Their large-scale validation could increase pregnancy outcome and single embryo transfer efficiency.
Centre de recherche en biologie de la reproduction, Département des Sciences Animales, Laval University, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada, G1K 7P4.
Mourad
M
Assidi
Markus
M
Montag
Katrin
K
Van der Ven
Marc-André
MA
Sirard
D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000235:genetics; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
D005819:Genetic Markers; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate