Expression of Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Related Genes and Plasticity of Aspirated Follicular Cells Obtained from Infertile Women

Abstract

After removal of oocytes forin vitrofertilization, follicular aspirates which are rich in somatic follicular cells are discarded in daily medical practice. However, there is some evidence that less differentiated cells with stem cell characteristics are present among aspirated follicular cells (AFCs). The aim of this study was to culture AFCsin vitroand to analyze their gene expression profile. Using the RT2Profiler PCR array, we investigated the expression profile of 84 genes related to stemness, mesenchymal stem cells (MCSs), and cell differentiation in AFCs enriched by hypoosmotic protocol from follicular aspirates of infertile women involved in assisted reproduction programme in comparison with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and fibroblasts. Altogether the expression of 57 genes was detected in AFCs: 16 genes (OCT4,CD49f,CD106,CD146,CD45,CD54,IL10,IL1B,TNF,VEGF,VWF,HDAC1,MITF,RUNX2,PPARG, andPCAF) were upregulated and 20 genes (FGF2,CASP3,CD105,CD13,CD340,CD73,CD90,KDR,PDGFRB,BDNF,COL1A1,IL6,MMP2,NES,NUDT6,BMP6,SMURF2,BMP4,GDF5, andJAG1) were downregulated in AFCs when compared with BM-MSCs. The genes which were upregulated in AFCs were mostly related to MSCs and connected with ovarian function, and differed from those in fibroblasts. The cultured AFCs with predominating granulosa cells were successfullyin vitrodifferentiated into adipogenic-, osteogenic-, and pancreatic-like cells. The upregulation of some MSC-specific genes andin vitrodifferentiation into other types of cells indicated a subpopulation of AFCs with specific stemness, which was not similar to those of BM-MSCs or fibroblasts.