Understanding mechanisms of oocyte development by follicular fluid lipidomics

• Published in: Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics 2019-05, Vol.36 (5), p.1003-1011
• Main Authors: Montani, Daniela Antunes, Braga, Daniela Paes de Almeida Ferreira, Borges, Edson, Camargo, Mariana, Cordeiro, Fernanda Bertuccez, Pilau, Eduardo Jorge, Gozzo, Fábio Cesar, Fraietta, Renato, Lo Turco, Edson Guimarães
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Apoptosis; Biomarkers - analysis; Cell activation; Cell cycle; Embryo Implantation; Female; Fertilization in Vitro - methods; Fingerprinting; Follicular fluid; Follicular Fluid - metabolism; Gamete Biology; Gynecology; Human Genetics; Humans; Implantation; In vitro fertilization; Kinases; Lipids; Lipids - analysis; Mass spectroscopy; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oocytes - cytology; Oocytes - metabolism; Oogenesis; Ovulation Induction; Phosphatidic acid; Phosphatidylglycerol; Predictive Value of Tests; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Protein kinase C; Reproductive Medicine; Signal transduction; Steroidogenesis
• ISSN: 1058-0468; 1573-7330
• DOI: 10.1007/s10815-019-01428-7

Purpose The present study aimed to provide a non-invasive approach to studying mechanisms responsible for oocyte development. Methods To this end, follicular fluid (FF) from 62 patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles was split into two groups depending on the pregnancy outcome: pregnant ( n  = 28) and non-pregnant ( n  = 34) groups. Data were acquired by the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were applied to the data set. A ROC curve, to predict success rate, was constructed, and the lipids were attributed. Results Six ions were differentially represented in FF of pregnant and non-pregnant patients, with an area under the curve of 0.962. Phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylglycerol, and triacylglycerol were hyper-represented in the pregnant group, while glucosylceramide was hyper-represented in the non-pregnant group. Enriched functions related to these lipids are steroidogenesis, cellular response, signal transduction, cell cycle, and activation of protein kinase C for the pregnant group and apoptosis inhibition for the non-pregnant group. Conclusion Human FF fingerprinting can both improve the understanding concerning mechanisms responsible for oocyte development and its effect on embryo implantation potential and assist in the management of IVF cycles.