title: The gene expression profile of cumulus cells reveals altered pathways in patients with endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this experimental study was to compare the global gene expression profile of CC of mature oocytes in 18 patients with severe endometriosis and CC in 18 control patients affected by a severe male factor.
  
  
  METHODS
  For each group, the CC were pooled, RNA was extracted and a microarray performed. For validating the microarray, a quantitative real-time PCR was performed in the CC of an independent set of patients with endometriosis (n = 5) and controls (n = 7).
  
  
  RESULTS
  595 differentially expressed genes (320 down-regulated, 275 up-regulated, p < 0.05, fold change ≥1.5) were identified. The most significant changes were observed in genes involved in the chemokine signaling and cell-cell or cell-extracellular matrix adhesion pathways. Several genes of these pathways were down-regulated in endometriosis. Individual RT-PCR assays confirmed the microarray for ten genes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several genes involved in the chemokine mediated-signaling pathway and in the functional cross-talk between CC and the oocyte are down-regulated in endometriosis CC. The impairment of these processes could explain the reduction of oocyte competence in endometriosis. This preliminary knowledge could be the starting point for a more detailed elucidation of the relationship between endometriosis and oocyte competence.
authors.affiliation: Andros Day Surgery Clinic, Reproductive Medicine Unit, Via Ausonia 43/45, 90144, Palermo, Italy, allegra@centroandros.it.
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allegra
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raimondo
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volpes
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fanale
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cicero
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Leo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sammartano
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Allegra
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alessandro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D046228:Microarray Analysis / Q000379:methods; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000235:genetics*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
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