The role of micro-ribonucleic acids and extracellular vesicles in In-Vitro Fertilization
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Molecular signaling in in vitro fertilization procedures seems to play a crucial role for embryonic development. In a prospective blinded cohort study, we investigated the role of microRNAs (miRNA) and extracellular vesicles (EV) as potential carriers of miRNAs in embryonic culture media. METHODS: Embryonic culture media from 56 female partners undergoing infertility treatment. miRNA microarray and RT-qPCR assays in combination with bioinformatics were used for the screening, validation and analysis of identified miRNAs. Nanoparticle tracking analysis was applied to measure EV in culture media. RESULTS: The overall miRNA repertoire in culture media was astonishingly complex: 621 miRNAs were present in embryonic culture media. Samples with positive outcome had an overall decreased miRNA repertoire, with the largest effects for miR-29c-3p. RT-qPCR measurements were largely consistent with the microarray results. Comparison to human spermatozoa profiles highlighted that a large part of spermatozoa miRNAs (101 miRNAs) are also present in culture media following embryonic transfer. As potential carrier molecules that could be of relevance for the decreased miRNA repertoire in samples with positive outcome we investigated EV in a small proof-of-concept study. While the size distribution was similar between both cohorts, the total number of EV in pure culture media was zero, in culture media of patients with positive outcome 3.8 billion per ml and in culture media of samples with negative outcome 7.35 billion per ml, correlating well with the results for the miRNAs. CONCLUSIONS: Embryonic culture media of pre-implantation embryos contains a stable population of highly specific to ubiquitous miRNAs that are correlated to embryogenesis and spermatogenesis processes. These miRNAs are potentially harbored by EV.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE93810 | GEO | 2020/01/09
REPOSITORIES: GEO
ACCESS DATA