1
|
Lee AWT, Ng JKW, Liao J, Luk AC, Suen AHC, Chan TTH, Cheung MY, Chu HT, Tang NLS, Zhao MP, Lian Q, Chan WY, Chan DYL, Leung TY, Chow KL, Wang W, Wang LH, Chen NCH, Yang WJ, Huang JY, Li TC, Lee TL. Single-cell RNA sequencing identifies molecular targets associated with poor in vitro maturation performance of oocytes collected from ovarian stimulation. Hum Reprod 2021; 36:1907-1921. [PMID: 34052851 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deab100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION What is the transcriptome signature associated with poor performance of rescue IVM (rIVM) oocytes and how can we rejuvenate them? SUMMARY ANSWER The GATA-1/CREB1/WNT signalling axis was repressed in rIVM oocytes, particularly those of poor quality; restoration of this axis may produce more usable rIVM oocytes. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY rIVM aims to produce mature oocytes (MII) for IVF through IVM of immature oocytes collected from stimulated ovaries. It is not popular due to limited success rate in infertility treatment. Genetic aberrations, cellular stress and the absence of cumulus cell support in oocytes could account for the failure of rIVM. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We applied single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to capture the transcriptomes of human in vivo oocytes (IVO) (n = 10) from 7 donors and rIVM oocytes (n = 10) from 10 donors. The effects of maternal age and ovarian responses on rIVM oocyte transcriptomes were also studied. In parallel, we studied the effect of gallic acid on the maturation rate of mouse oocytes cultured in IVM medium with (n = 84) and without (n = 85) gallic acid. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Human oocytes were collected from donors aged 28-41 years with a body mass index of <30. RNA extraction, cDNA generation, library construction and sequencing were performed in one preparation. scRNA-seq data were then processed and analysed. Selected genes in the rIVM versus IVO comparison were validated by quantitative real-time PCR. For the gallic acid study, we collected immature oocytes from 5-month-old mice and studied the effect of 10-μM gallic acid on their maturation rate. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The transcriptome profiles of rIVM/IVO oocytes showed distinctive differences. A total of 1559 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, genes with at least 2-fold change and adjusted P < 0.05) were found to be enriched in metabolic processes, biosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation. Among these DEGs, we identified a repression of WNT/β-catenin signalling in rIVM when compared with IVO oocytes. We found that oestradiol levels exhibited a significant age-independent correlation with the IVO mature oocyte ratio (MII ratio) for each donor. rIVM oocytes from women with a high MII ratio were found to have over-represented cellular processes such as anti-apoptosis. To further identify targets that contribute to the poor clinical outcomes of rIVM, we compared oocytes collected from young donors with a high MII ratio with oocytes from donors of advanced maternal age and lower MII ratio, and revealed that CREB1 is an important regulator. Thus, our study identified that GATA-1/CREB1/WNT signalling was repressed in both rIVM oocytes versus IVO oocytes and in rIVM oocytes of lower versus higher quality. Consequently we investigated gallic acid, as a potential antioxidant substrate in human rIVM medium, and found that it increased the mouse oocyte maturation rate by 31.1%. LARGE SCALE DATA Raw data from this study can be accessed through GSE158539. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION In the rIVM oocytes of the high- and low-quality comparison, the number of samples was limited after data filtering with stringent selection criteria. For the oocyte stage identification, we were unable to predict the presence of oocyte spindle, so polar body extrusion was the only indicator. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This study showed that GATA-1/CREB1/WNT signalling was repressed in rIVM oocytes compared with IVO oocytes and was further downregulated in low-quality rIVM oocytes, providing us the foundation of subsequent follow-up research on human oocytes and raising safety concerns about the clinical use of rescued oocytes. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by the Collaborative Research Fund, Research Grants Council, C4054-16G, and Research Committee Funding (Research Sustainability of Major RGC Funding Schemes), The Chinese University of Hong Kong. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A W T Lee
- Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - J K W Ng
- Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - J Liao
- Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - A C Luk
- Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - A H C Suen
- Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - T T H Chan
- Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - M Y Cheung
- Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - H T Chu
- Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - N L S Tang
- Department of Chemical Pathology, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - M P Zhao
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Q Lian
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - W Y Chan
- Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - D Y L Chan
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - T Y Leung
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - K L Chow
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China.,Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - W Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IVF Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - L H Wang
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology & Department of Medical Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - N C H Chen
- Department of Infertility and Reproductive Medicine, Taiwan IVF Group Center, Hsinchu City, Taiwan
| | - W J Yang
- Department of Infertility and Reproductive Medicine, Taiwan IVF Group Center, Hsinchu City, Taiwan
| | - J Y Huang
- Department of Infertility and Reproductive Medicine, Taiwan IVF Group Center, Hsinchu City, Taiwan
| | - T C Li
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - T L Lee
- Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wall MA, Padmanabhan V, Shikanov A. Hormonal Stimulation of Human Ovarian Xenografts in Mice: Studying Folliculogenesis, Activation, and Oocyte Maturation. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5939202. [PMID: 33099627 PMCID: PMC7671278 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and banking provides a fertility preservation option for patients who cannot undergo oocyte retrieval; it is quickly becoming a critical component of assisted reproductive technology programs across the world. While the transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue has resulted in over 130 live births, the field has ample room for technological improvements. Specifically, the functional timeline of grafted tissue and each patient's probability of achieving pregnancy is largely unpredictable due to patient-to-patient variability in ovarian reserve, lack of a reliable method for quantifying follicle numbers within tissue fragments, potential risk of reintroduction of cancer cells harbored in ovarian tissues, and an inability to control follicle activation rates. This review focuses on one of the most common physiological techniques used to study human ovarian tissue transplantation, xenotransplantation of human ovarian tissue to mice and endeavors to inform future studies by discussing the elements of the xenotransplantation model, challenges unique to the use of human ovarian tissue, and novel tissue engineering techniques currently under investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Anne Wall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Vasantha Padmanabhan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Ariella Shikanov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Correspondence: Ariella Shikanov, PhD, 2126 LBME, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Biomedical Engineering Building, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kaneko H, Kikuchi K, Men NT, Noguchi J. Developmental ability of oocytes retrieved from Meishan neonatal ovarian tissue grafted into nude mice. Anim Sci J 2019; 90:344-352. [PMID: 30656795 PMCID: PMC6590305 DOI: 10.1111/asj.13160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian xenografting makes it possible to obtain oocytes with fertilization ability from immature pigs of Western breeds. In this study, we applied these methods to the Meishan, an indigenous Chinese pig breed, and investigated the developmental competence of oocytes grown in their neonatal tissue after grafting into nude mice. First, mice harboring neonatal ovarian tissue were infused with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) (62.5 U/ml) for 13 days starting at 10, 30, and 60 days after vaginal opening (D10‐, D30‐, and D60‐FSH groups, respectively). Development of antral follicles and their oocytes was most enhanced in the D60‐FSH group. For the next step, we examined the in vitro maturation ability of the oocytes recovered from host mice after infusion with FSH at a dose of 62.5 U/ml or 125 U/ml (FSH‐62.5 or ‐125 group) for 13 days starting at 60 days after vaginal opening. Many more oocytes with maturation ability were obtained from the FSH‐125 group. The FSH‐125 mature oocytes were fertilized in vitro, as shown by formation of male and female pronuclei, but did not reach the blastocyst stage. These results indicate that Meishan neonatal ovaries are able to produce oocytes with fertilization ability after being grafted into nude mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Kaneko
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Kikuchi
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.,The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Nguyen Thi Men
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Junko Noguchi
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| |
Collapse
|