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Staicu FD, Canha-Gouveia A, Soriano-Úbeda C, Martínez-Soto JC, Adoamnei E, Chavarro JE, Matás C. Nitrite and Nitrate Levels in Follicular Fluid From Human Oocyte Donors Are Related to Ovarian Response and Embryo Quality. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:647002. [PMID: 33937241 PMCID: PMC8079729 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.647002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitric oxide, a key regulatory molecule in the follicular fluid, has been suggested as a possible biomarker to predict ovarian response in stimulated cycles and the potential of the retrieved oocytes for developing high-quality embryos. Nevertheless, a consensus on whether or not nitric oxide can help in this context has not been reached. We simultaneously measured the oxidation products of nitric oxide, nitrite, and nitrate, via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-UV in follicular fluid samples from 72 oocyte donors. We found no associations of follicular fluid nitrite, nitrate, total nitric oxide, or nitrate/nitrite ratio with total or metaphase II (MII) oocyte yield. However, nitrite and nitrate levels were related to the yield of MII oocytes when this outcome was expressed as a proportion of all oocytes retrieved. The adjusted MII proportion in the lowest and highest nitrite levels were 68% (58–77%) and 79% (70–85%), respectively (p, linear trend = 0.02), whereas the adjusted MII proportion in extreme tertiles of nitrate levels were 79% (70–85%) and 68% (57–77%) (p, linear trend = 0.03). In addition, nitrate levels showed a suggestive inverse correlation with embryos with maximum or high potential of implantation (p = 0.07). These results suggest that the follicular fluid concentrations of nitrite and nitrate may be a useful tool in predicting how healthy oocyte donors respond to superovulation and the implantation potential of the embryos produced from their oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florentin-Daniel Staicu
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research (Campus Mare Nostrum), University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
| | - Analuce Canha-Gouveia
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research (Campus Mare Nostrum), University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
| | - Cristina Soriano-Úbeda
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research (Campus Mare Nostrum), University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), Murcia, Spain.,Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | | | - Evdochia Adoamnei
- Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), Murcia, Spain.,Department of Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jorge E Chavarro
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.,Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Carmen Matás
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research (Campus Mare Nostrum), University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
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2
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Wu SJ, Cheng YS, Liu HL, Wang HH, Huang HL. Global transcriptional expression in ovarian follicles from Tsaiya ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) with a high-fertilization rate. Theriogenology 2016; 85:1439-1445.e1. [PMID: 26861074 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Revised: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Novel candidates for biomarkers of a high-fertilization rate were identified here through global transcriptional profiling of ovarian follicles. Some other differentially expressed candidate genes were first noted to influence animal reproduction in our previous cDNA microarray analysis and are now recognized as markers for marker-assisted selection. In the present study, we compared gene expression in ovarian follicles from animals with high- and low-fertilization rates using an oligonucleotide array. On the basis of a fold change of greater than 1.2 and less than -1.2, a difference of >100 Affymetrix arbitrary units between the two groups, and a P value of less than 0.05, 47 genes were found to be associated with fertilization rate. GOEAST and MetaCore software were further used to identify the functional categories of genes that were differentially expressed. Then, we focused on three interesting genes associated with a high-fertilization rate: one of these genes was discovered to participate in signaling pathways of fertilization, and two genes take roles in lipid metabolism. An oligonucleotide array showed that the levels of orthodenticle homeobox 2 (OTX2) and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) gene expression were 1.62-fold and 1.95-fold higher in the high-fertilization rate group than in the low-fertilization rate group, respectively (P < 0.05). The level of apolipoprotein A-I (APOA1) gene expression was also higher in the high-fertilization rate group, with a difference of 2.31-fold (P < 0.05). The data were validated through quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. These results confirm the usefulness of the array technique and data mining methods in the discovery of new biomarkers and add knowledge to our understanding of the factors affecting fertilization rates in ovarian follicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyh-Jong Wu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Shin Cheng
- Livestock Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Lung Liu
- Livestock Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Hsing-He Wang
- Department of Post-Modern Agriculture, MingDao University, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Lin Huang
- Department of Post-Modern Agriculture, MingDao University, Changhua, Taiwan.
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La Marca V, Maresca B, Spagnuolo MS, Cigliano L, Dal Piaz F, Di Iorio G, Abrescia P. Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase in brain: Does oxidative stress influence the 24-hydroxycholesterol esterification? Neurosci Res 2015; 105:19-27. [PMID: 26454063 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2015.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Revised: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
24-Hydroxycholesterol (24OH-C) is esterified by the enzyme lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We report here that the level of 24OH-C esters was lower in CSF of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis than in healthy subjects (54% vs 68% of total 24OH-C, p=0.0005; n=8). Similarly, the level of 24OH-C esters in plasma was lower in patients than in controls (62% vs 77% of total 24OH-C; p=0.0076). The enzyme amount in CSF, as measured by densitometry of the protein band revealed by immunoblotting, was about 4-fold higher in patients than in controls (p=0.0085). As differences in the concentration of the LCAT stimulator Apolipoprotein E were not found, we hypothesized that the reduced 24OH-C esterification in CSF of patients might depend on oxidative stress. We actually found that oxidative stress reduced LCAT activity in vitro, and 24OH-C effectively stimulated the enzyme secretion from astrocytoma cells in culture. Enhanced LCAT secretion from astrocytes might represent an adaptive response to the increase of non-esterified 24OH-C percentage, aimed to avoid the accumulation of this neurotoxic compound. The low degree of 24OH-C esterification in CSF or plasma might reflect reduced activity of LCAT during neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria La Marca
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Napoli Federico II, via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Bernardetta Maresca
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Napoli Federico II, via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Maria Stefania Spagnuolo
- Istituto per il Sistema Produzione Animale in Ambiente Mediterraneo (ISPAAM), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Argine 1085, 80147 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Luisa Cigliano
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Napoli Federico II, via Cinthia 4, 80126 Napoli, Italy; Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca sui Peptidi Bioattivi (CIRPEB), via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Dal Piaz
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Di Iorio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche, Neurologiche, Metaboliche e dell'Invecchiamento, Seconda Università di Napoli, Piazza Miraglia 2, 80138 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Paolo Abrescia
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Napoli Federico II, via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Napoli, Italy; Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca sui Peptidi Bioattivi (CIRPEB), via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy.
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Gohin M, Bobe J, Chesnel F. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of follicle-enclosed oocyte maturational and developmental competence acquisition in two non-mammalian vertebrates. BMC Genomics 2010; 11:18. [PMID: 20059772 PMCID: PMC2821372 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-11-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2009] [Accepted: 01/08/2010] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In vertebrates, late oogenesis is a key period during which the oocyte acquires its ability to resume meiosis (i.e. maturational competence) and to develop, once fertilized, into a normal embryo (i.e. developmental competence). However, the molecular mechanisms involved in these key biological processes are far from being fully understood. In order to identify key mechanisms conserved among teleosts and amphibians, we performed a comparative analysis using ovarian tissue sampled at successive steps of the maturational competence acquisition process in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and in the clawed toad (Xenopus laevis). Our study aimed at identifying common differentially expressed genes during late oogenesis in both species. Using an existing transcriptomic analysis that had previously been carried out in rainbow trout, candidate genes were selected for subsequent quantitative PCR-based comparative analysis. RESULTS Among the 1200 differentially expressed clones in rainbow trout, twenty-six candidate genes were selected for further analysis by real-time PCR in both species during late oogenesis. Among these genes, eight had similar expression profiles in trout and Xenopus. Six genes were down-regulated during oocyte maturation (cyp19a1, cyp17a1, tescalcin, tfr1, cmah, hsd11b3) while two genes exhibited an opposite pattern (apoc1, star). In order to document possibly conserved molecular mechanisms, four genes (star, cyp19a1, cyp17a1 and hsd11b3) were further studied due to their known or suspected role in steroidogenesis after characterization of the orthology relationships between rainbow trout and Xenopus genes. Apoc1 was also selected for further analysis because of its reported function in cholesterol transport, which may modulate steroidogenesis by regulating cholesterol bioavailability in the steroidogenic cells. CONCLUSIONS We have successfully identified orthologous genes exhibiting conserved expression profiles in the ovarian follicle during late oogenesis in both trout and Xenopus. While some identified genes were previously uncharacterized during Xenopus late oogenesis, the nature of these genes has pointed out molecular mechanisms possibly conserved in amphibians and teleosts. It should also be stressed that in addition to the already suspected importance of steroidogenesis in maturational competence acquisition, our approach has shed light on other regulatory pathways which may be involved in maturational and developmental competence acquisitions that will require further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maella Gohin
- CNRS/IGDR (UMR 6061), IFR140 GFAS, Université de Rennes I, 2, Avenue du Pr, Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes Cedex, France.
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Ruder EH, Hartman TJ, Blumberg J, Goldman MB. Oxidative stress and antioxidants: exposure and impact on female fertility. Hum Reprod Update 2008; 14:345-57. [PMID: 18535004 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmn011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reproductive failure is a significant public health concern. Although relatively little is known about factors affecting fertility and early pregnancy loss, a growing body of literature suggests that environmental and lifestyle factors play an important role. There is sufficient evidence to hypothesize that diet, particularly its constituent antioxidants, and oxidative stress (OS) may influence the timing and maintenance of a viable pregnancy. We hypothesize that conditions leading to OS in the female affect time-to-pregnancy and early pregnancy loss. METHODS We review the epidemiology of female infertility related to antioxidant defenses and oxidation and examine potential sources of OS from the ovarian germ cell through the stages of human pregnancy and pregnancy complications related to infertility. Articles were identified through a search of the PubMed database. RESULTS Female OS is a likely mediator of conception and threshold levels for OS exist, dependent on anatomic location and stage of preconception. CONCLUSIONS Prospective pregnancy studies with dietary assessment and collection of biological samples prior to conception with endpoints of time-to-pregnancy and early pregnancy loss are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth H Ruder
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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Angelucci S, Ciavardelli D, Di Giuseppe F, Eleuterio E, Sulpizio M, Tiboni GM, Giampietro F, Palumbo P, Di Ilio C. Proteome analysis of human follicular fluid. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2006; 1764:1775-85. [PMID: 17067859 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2006.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2006] [Accepted: 09/01/2006] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
We used proteomic approach to analyze the protein profile of human follicular fluid (HFF) obtained from 25 normo-ovulatory women undergoing assisted reproduction techniques due to a male infertility factor. In all HFF samples analyzed we found 695 common spots distributed in the 3 to 10 pH range and in the 10-200 kDa range. Only 625 of these spots were also present in the plasma. We used MALDI-TOF-MS analysis to unequivocally assign 183 HFF/plasma matched spots and 27 HFF/plasma unmatched spots. A large number of acute-phase proteins, including transferrin, ceruloplasmin, afamin, hemopexin, haptoglobin and plasma amyloid protein, were identified in HFF in relatively high concentration supporting the hypothesis that mammalian ovulation can be compared to an inflammatory event. We also identified several important antioxidant enzymes; i.e., catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione transferase, paraoxonase, heat shock protein 27 and protein disulfide isomerase. This indicates that during maturation the human follicle is well protected against toxic injury due to oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Angelucci
- Department of Biomedical Science, G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara Italy and Center of Excellence on Aging-G. d'Annunzio University Foundation, Chieti, Italy.
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Jerkovic L, Voegele AF, Chwatal S, Kronenberg F, Radcliffe CM, Wormald MR, Lobentanz EM, Ezeh B, Eller P, Dejori N, Dieplinger B, Lottspeich F, Sattler W, Uhr M, Mechtler K, Dwek RA, Rudd PM, Baier G, Dieplinger H. Afamin is a novel human vitamin E-binding glycoprotein characterization and in vitro expression. J Proteome Res 2005; 4:889-99. [PMID: 15952736 DOI: 10.1021/pr0500105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Hydrophobic vitamins are transported in human plasma and extravascular fluids by carrier proteins. No specific protein has been described so far for vitamin E, which plays a crucial role in protecting against oxidative damage and disease. We report here the purification of a 75-kDa glycoprotein with vitamin E-binding properties by stepwise chromatography of lipoprotein-depleted human plasma and monitoring of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)-binding activity. Partial sequencing identified this protein as afamin, a previously described member of the albumin gene family with four or five potential N-glycosylation sites. Glycosylation analysis indicated that >90% of the glycans were sialylated biantennary complex structures. The vitamin E-binding properties were confirmed using recombinantly expressed afamin. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of plasma and extravascular fluids revealed an abundant presence of this protein not only in plasma (59.8+/-13.3 microg/mL) but also in extravascular fluids such as follicular (34.4+/-12.7 microg/mL) and cerebrospinal (0.28+/-0.16 microg/mL) fluids, suggesting potential roles for afamin in fertility and neuroprotection. Afamin is partly (13%) bound to plasma lipoproteins. Afamin and vitamin E concentrations significantly correlate in follicular and cerebrospinal fluids but not in plasma. The vitamin E association of afamin in follicular fluid was directly demonstrated by gel filtration chromatography and immunoprecipitation which complements the in vitro findings for purified native and recombinant afamin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidija Jerkovic
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Medical Genetics, Clinical and Molecular Pharmacology, Innsbruck Medical University, Schoepfstrasse 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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8
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Akar M, Oktay K. Restoration of ovarian endocrine function by ovarian transplantation. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2005; 16:374-80. [PMID: 16126406 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2005.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2005] [Revised: 05/05/2005] [Accepted: 06/16/2005] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Cancer treatment can cause changes in sex hormone production, premature ovarian failure and infertility. As survival rates for young cancer patients improve, protection against iatrogenic infertility caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy assumes a higher priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munire Akar
- The Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 505 East 70(th) Street, HT-340, New York, New York 10021, USA
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Cigliano L, Spagnuolo MS, Cuomo G, Valentini G, Niglio A, Abrescia P. Apolipoprotein A-I-dependent cholesterol esterification in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Life Sci 2005; 77:108-20. [PMID: 15848223 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2004.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2004] [Accepted: 12/29/2004] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that atherogenesis is associated with inflammation or defective removal of cholesterol excess from peripheral cells. Apolipoprotein A-I [ApoA-I] activates the enzyme Lecithin-Cholesterol Acyl-Transferase to esterify cell cholesterol for transport to liver. Haptoglobin [Hpt] was previously found able to bind ApoA-I, and suggested to reduce the enzyme activation. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that enhanced levels of Hpt, as present during inflammation, are associated with low enzyme activity and increased thickness of the arterial wall. Enzyme activity and Hpt concentration were analysed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis having the same plasma levels of antioxidants (ascorbate, urate, alpha-tocopherol, retinol) or oxidation markers (nitrotyrosine, lipoperoxide) of healthy subjects. Cholesterol esterification, determined as ratio of cholesteryl esters with cholesterol in high-density lipoproteins, was lower in patients than in controls, and negatively correlated with the intima-media wall thickness of the common carotid. The ratio of Hpt with ApoA-I was negatively correlated with the enzyme activity, while positively correlated with intima-media wall thickness. The results suggest that high Hpt levels might severely impair the enzyme activity, thus contributing to cholesterol accumulation in vascular cells, and lesion formation in the endothelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Cigliano
- Dipartimento di Fisiologia Generale ed Ambientale, Università di Napoli Federico II, via Mezzocannone 8, Napoli-80134, Italia
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