Investigation of gene expression profiles of human cumulus cells to evaluation of oocyte development capacity as a biomarker

In this study, the relationship between the expression level of versican (VCAN), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthetase 2 (PTGS2), inositol-triphosphate 3-kinase A (ITPKA) genes in cumulus cells and embryo morphology, pregnancy outcomes were evaluated by using qPCR. 20 unexplained infertile patients who applied to Gazi University IVF Center were included in the study. Cumulus cells of oocytes obtained by controlled ovarian hypersitulation in IVF treatment were collected and then frozen. The best quality embryos are choosen for transfer. The β-hcg level in the serum was measured 12 days after the transfer, and the pregnancy outcome was assessed. Dissolving the cumulus cells of the oocyte, which provided the production of the good and poor embryos of the patients, was used to isolate RNA. Then expression levels of genes were evaluated by qPCR. According to embryo morphology, there was no significant difference in the expression levels of ITPKA (p-value = 0.11), VCAN (p-value = 0.78), PTGS2 (p-value = 0.19) genes in the cumulus cells. (p-value <0.005 significance level). When the relationship between the expression of genes in the cumulus cells of the transferred good quality embryos was compared to pregnancy outcomes, no significant difference was observed in the expression of the ITPKA gene. When the expression level of the VCAN gene in cumulus cells was found to be higher, but not statistically significant. (p = 0.10). The expression level of the PTGS2 gene increased significantly in the pregnant group relative to the non-pregnant group. (p = 0.01; significance level p> 0.05). When pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women, gene expression in high quality embryos increased 3.18 times. The 3.18-fold increase in gene expression may be used as a biomarker in pregnancy prediction, according to the findings. We believe that the success rate in IVF treatment can be increased by this means.