Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 5% of reproductive aged women and is the leading cause of anovulatory infertility. A hallmark of PCOS is excessive theca cell androgen secretion, which is directly linked to the symptoms of PCOS. Our previous studies demonstrated that theca cells from PCOS ovaries maintained in long term culture persistently secrete significantly greater amounts of androgens than normal theca cells, suggesting an intrinsic abnormality. Furthermore, previous studies suggested that ovarian hyperandrogenemia is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. However, the genes responsible for ovarian hyperandrogenemia of PCOS have not been identified. In this present study, Wood JR, et al carried out microarray analysis to define the gene networks involved in excess androgen synthesis by the PCOS theca cells in order to identify candidate PCOS genes. Analysis revealed that PCOS theca cells have a gene expression profile that is distinct from normal theca cells. Included in the cohort of genes with increased mRNA abundance in PCOS theca cells were aldehyde dehydrogenase 6 and retinol dehydrogenase 2, which play a role in all-trans-retinoic acid biosynthesis and the transcription factor GATA6. We demonstrated that retinoic acid and GATA6 increased the expression of 17alpha-hydroxylase, providing a functional link between altered gene expression and intrinsic abnormalities in PCOS theca cells. Thus, the analyses have 1) defined a stable molecular phenotype of PCOS theca cells, 2) suggested new mechanisms for excess androgen synthesis by PCOS theca cells, and 3) identified new candidate genes that may be involved in the genetic etiology of PCOS. This is one of the genes with Altered mRNA Abundance in PCOS Theca Cells as compared with normal theca cells Maintained Under Basal Conditions.
Ovarian localization
Oocyte, Theca
Comment
Slow freezing and vitrification differentially modify the gene expression profile of human metaphase II oocytes. Monzo C et al. BACKGROUNDCryopreservation is now considered as an efficient way to store human oocytes to preserve fertility. However, little is known about the effects of this technology on oocyte gene expression. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the two cryopreservation procedures, slow freezing and vitrification, on the gene expression profile of human metaphase II (MII) oocytes.METHODSUnfertilized MII oocytes following ICSI failure were cryopreserved either by slow freezing or by the Cryotip method for vitrification. After thawing, total RNA was extracted and analyzed using Affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 GeneChip arrays. The gene expression profiles and associated biological pathways in slowly frozen/thawed and vitrified MII oocytes were determined and compared with those of non-cryopreserved MII oocytes used as controls.RESULTSBoth cryopreservation procedures negatively affected the gene expression profile of human MII oocytes in comparison with controls. However, slowly frozen and vitrified MI oocytes displayed specific gene expression signatures. Slow freezing was associated with down-regulation of genes involved in chromosomal structure maintenance (KIF2C and KIF3A) and cell cycle regulation (CHEK2 and CDKN1B) that may lead to a reduction in the oocyte developmental competence. In vitrified oocytes, many genes of the ubiquitination pathway were down-regulated, including members of the ubiquitin-specific peptidase family and subunits of the 26S proteasome. Such inhibition of the degradation machinery might stabilize the maternal protein content that is necessary for oocyte developmental competence.CONCLUSIONSThe low pregnancy rates commonly observed when using human MII oocytes after slow freezing-thawing may be explained by the alterations of the oocyte gene expression profile.