title: Genomic expression profiles in cumulus cells derived from germinal vesicle and MII mouse oocytes.
abstract: Cumulus cells (CCs) are distinct from other granulosa cells and the mutual communication between CCs and oocytes is essential for the establishment of oocyte competence. In the present study we assessed genomic expression profiles in mouse CCs before and after oocyte maturation in vitro. Microarray analysis revealed significant changes in gene expression in CCs between the germinal vesicle (GV) and metaphase II (MII) stages, with 2615 upregulated and 2808 downregulated genes. Genes related to epidermal growth factor, extracellular matrix (Ptgs2, Ereg, Tnfaip6 and Efemp1), mitochondrial metabolism (Fdx1 and Aifm2), gap junctions and the cell cycle (Gja1, Gja4, Ccnd2, Ccna2 and Ccnb2) were highlighted as being differentially expressed between the two development stages. Real-time polymerase chain reaction confirmed the validity and reproducibility of the results for the selected differentially expressed genes. Similar expression patterns were identified by western blot analysis for some functional proteins, including EFEMP1, FDX1, GJA1 and CCND2, followed by immunofluorescence localisation. These genes may be potential biomarkers for oocyte developmental competence following fertilisation and will be investigated further in future studies.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing 210029, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing 210029, China.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, 687 Pine Avenue West, Montreal H3A 1A1, Canada.|Corresponding authors. Emails.
authors.forename: Ri-Cheng
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Chian
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing 210029, China.
authors.forename: Yixin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing 210029, China.
authors.forename: Zhengjie
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing 210029, China.
authors.forename: Yihui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing 210029, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing 210029, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing 210029, China.
authors.forename: Jiayin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing 210029, China.|Corresponding authors. Emails.
authors.forename: Yugui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
keywords: biomarkers; developmental competence; in vitro maturation