title: Abnormal expression of TLRs may play a role in lower embryo quality of women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) localize in mammalian ovary, including granulosa cells, cumulus cells, and theca cells. Previous studies demonstrated that TLRs may be important for the cumulus-oocyte complex expansion and fertilization. There is no evidence to indicate that the deletion of TLRs will induce infertility; however, the abnormal expression of TLRs may decrease oocyte quality and fertility rate. In the present study, we investigated the effects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on the expression of TLRs in cumulus cells by using western-blot and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses. We found that the expression of TLR4 and 9 in cumulus cells was influenced significantly by PCOS. We also observed that overweight/obesity changed the expression of TLR2 and 5 in cumulus cells of PCOS subjects. In addition, we found that the rate of available embryos of women with PCOS was slightly lower. These results indicate that the abnormal expression of TLRs in cumulus may be a reason for the lower embryo quality of women with PCOS.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ART: assisted reproductive technology BMI: body mass index COC: cumulus-cell-oocyte complex PCOS: polycystic ovary syndrome q
  quantitative real-time PCR TLRs: Toll-like receptors.
authors.affiliation: a Reproductive Medicine Center , Henan Provincial People's Hospital & People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Bao-Xia
authors.initials: BX
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: a Reproductive Medicine Center , Henan Provincial People's Hospital & People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: a Reproductive Medicine Center , Henan Provincial People's Hospital & People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Bao-Li
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: a Reproductive Medicine Center , Henan Provincial People's Hospital & People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hai-Bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: a Reproductive Medicine Center , Henan Provincial People's Hospital & People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , P.R. China.
authors.forename: He-Long
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: a Reproductive Medicine Center , Henan Provincial People's Hospital & People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shao-Di
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: a Reproductive Medicine Center , Henan Provincial People's Hospital & People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Cui-Lian
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C495345:TLR4 protein, human; C495371:TLR9 protein, human; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9
keywords: Cumulus; PCOS; TLR