title: Transcriptomic Analysis and Meta-Analysis of Human Granulosa and Cumulus Cells.
abstract: Specific gene expression in oocytes and its surrounding cumulus (CC) and granulosa (GC) cells is needed for successful folliculogenesis and oocyte maturation. The aim of the present study was to compare genome-wide gene expression and biological functions of human GC and CC. Individual GC and CC were derived from 37 women undergoing IVF procedures. Gene expression analysis was performed using microarrays, followed by a meta-analysis. Results were validated using quantitative real-time PCR. There were 6029 differentially expressed genes (q < 10-4); of which 650 genes had a log2 FC ≥ 2. After the meta-analysis there were 3156 genes differentially expressed. Among these there were genes that have previously not been reported in human somatic follicular cells, like prokineticin 2 (PROK2), higher expressed in GC, and pregnancy up-regulated nonubiquitous CaM kinase (PNCK), higher expressed in CC. Pathways like inflammatory response and angiogenesis were enriched in GC, whereas in CC, cell differentiation and multicellular organismal development were among enriched pathways. In conclusion, transcriptomes of GC and CC as well as biological functions, are distinctive for each cell subpopulation. By describing novel genes like PROK2 and PNCK, expressed in GC and CC, we upgraded the existing data on human follicular biology.
authors: Department of Human Reproduction, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slajmerjeva 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Tanja
authors: T
authors: Burnik Papler
authors: Department of Human Reproduction, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slajmerjeva 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Eda
authors: E
authors: Vrtacnik Bokal
authors: Department of Medical Genetics, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre, Slajmerjeva 4, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Ales
authors: A
authors: Maver
authors: Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloska 4, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Andreja Natasa
authors: AN
authors: Kopitar
authors: Department of Medical Genetics, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre, Slajmerjeva 4, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Lovrečić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054729:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; C423608:PROK2 protein, human; D054729:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 1; C517606:PNCK protein, human