Single-cell RNA-sequencing of retrieved human oocytes and eggs in clinical practice and for human ovarian cell atlasing

Abstract

With the advancement of single-cell separation techniques and high-throughput sequencing platforms, single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) has emerged as a vital technology for understanding tissue and organ systems at cellular resolution. Through transcriptional analysis, it is possible to characterize unique or rare cell types, interpret their interactions, and reveal novel functional states or shifts in developmental stages. As such, this technology is uniquely suited for studying the cells within the human ovary. The ovary is a cellularly heterogeneous organ that houses follicles, the reproductive and endocrine unit that consists of an oocyte surrounded by hormone-producing support cells, as well as many other cell populations constituting stroma, vasculature, lymphatic, and immune components. Here we review studies that have utilized scRNA-seq technology to analyze cells from healthy human ovaries and discuss the single-cell isolation techniques used. We identified two overarching applications for scRNA-seq in the human ovary. The first applies this technology to investigate transcriptional differences in oocytes/eggs from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization treatments to ultimately improve clinical outcomes. The second utilizes scRNA-seq for the pursuit of creating a comprehensive single-cell atlas of the human ovary. The knowledge gained from these studies underscores the importance of scRNA-seq technologies in unlocking a new biological understanding of the human ovary.

Keywords: human ovary; single-cell RNA-sequencing; transcriptomics.

Figure 1

scRNA‐seq experiments analyzed oocytes, eggs, and ovarian cells collected from various sources. (a) scRNA‐seq analysis on oocytes, eggs, and fertilized eggs for clinical purposes. (b) scRNA‐seq analysis performed on fetal germ cells and their niche cells from 4 to 26 weeks post‐fertilization. (c) scRNA‐seq analysis on cells from the cortex and medulla in reproductive age women. Created in BioRender.com.