Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Jul 27;24(7):410-416.
doi: 10.22074/cellj.2022.8051.

TGFß Gene Members and Their Regulatory Factors in Granulosa Compared to Cumulus Cells in PCOS: A Case-Control Study

Faezeh Alvandian  1   2   3 , Elham Hosseini  4   5 , Zohre Hashemian  2 , Mona Khosravifar  2 , Bahar Movaghar  6 , Maryam Shahhosein  2   7   8 , Marzieh Shiva  9 , Parvaneh Afsharian  1   10
Affiliations

TGFß Gene Members and Their Regulatory Factors in Granulosa Compared to Cumulus Cells in PCOS: A Case-Control Study

Faezeh Alvandian et al. Cell J. .

Abstract

Objective: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily and its members that include bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), growth /differentiation factor-9 (GDF9), and their respective receptors: BMPR1A, BMPR1B, and BMPR2 have been implicated as key regulators in various aspects of ovarian function. The abnormal function of the ovaries is one of the main contributing factors to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), so this study aimed to investigate the mRNA expression profile of these factors in granulosa (GCs) and cumulus cells (CCs) of those patients.

Materials and methods: The case-control research was conducted on 30 women (15 infertile PCOS and 15 normo-ovulatory patients, 22≤age ≤38 years old) who underwent ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF)/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle. GCs/CCs were obtained during ovarian puncture. The expression analysis of the aforementioned genes was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results: AMH and BMPR1A expression levels were significantly increased in GCs of PCOS compared to the control group. In contrast, GDF9, BMP15, BMPR1B, and BMPR2 expressions were decreased. PCOS' CC showed the same expression patterns. GDF9 and AMH were effectively expressed in normal CCs, and BMP15 and BMPR1B in normal GCs (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Differential gene expression levels of AMH and its regulatory factors and their primary receptors were detected in granulosa and cumulus cells in PCOS women. Since the same antagonist protocol for ovarian stimulation was used in both PCOS and control groups, the results were independent of the protocols. This diversity in gene expression pattern may contribute to downstream pathways alteration of these genes, which are involved in oocyte competence and maturation.

Keywords: Cumulus Cell; Granulosa cell; Polycystic ovarian syndrome; TGF-Beta Superfamily.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Results of RT-PCR for mRNA expression of GDF9, BMP15, AMH, BMPR1B, BMPR1A, and BMPR2 genes (DNA ladder 50 base pair). RT-PCR; Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
Fig 2
Fig 2
Expression level of GDF9, BMP15, AMH and their receptors in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) women and control group. A. Gene expression of granulosa cell from PCOS women compared to control group. B. Gene expression of cumulus cells from PCOS women compared to control group.
Fig 3
Fig 3
Differential gene expression profile in granulosa compared to cumulus cells. A. Gene expression profile in granulosa cells compared to cumulus cells in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) group. B. Gene expression profile in granulosa cells compared to cumulus cells in control groups.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Lizneva D, Atabiekov I, Azziz R. In: encyclopedia of reproduction (second edition) Oxford. skinner MK, editor. Academic Press; 2018. Polycystic ovary syndrome; pp. 59–69.
    1. Alzamil H, Aloraini K, AlAgeel R, Ghanim A, Alsaaran R, Alsomali N, et al. Disparity among Endocrinologists and Gynaecologists in the Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2020;20(3):e323–e329. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Arroyo A, Kim B, Yeh J. Luteinizing hormone action in human oocyte maturation and quality: signaling pathways, regulation, and clinical impact. Reprod Sci. 2020;27(6):1223–1252. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Albu D, Albu A. The ratio of exogenous Luteinizing hormone to Follicle stimulating hormone administered for controlled ovarian stimulation is associated with oocytes’ number and competence. Biosci Rep. 2020;40(1):BSR20190811–BSR20190811. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Burnik Papler T, Vrtacnik Bokal E, Lovrecic L, Kopitar AN, Maver A. No specific gene expression signature in human granulosa and cumulus cells for prediction of oocyte fertilisation and embryo implantation. PLoS One. 2015;10(3):e0115865–e0115865. - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources