Single-Cell Sequencing Reveals an Intrinsic Heterogeneity of the Preovulatory Follicular Microenvironment

Bibliographic Details
Title: Single-Cell Sequencing Reveals an Intrinsic Heterogeneity of the Preovulatory Follicular Microenvironment
Authors: Huihua Wu, Rui Zhu, Bo Zheng, Guizhi Liao, Fuxin Wang, Jie Ding, Hong Li, Mingqing Li
Source: Biomolecules, Vol 12, Iss 2, p 231 (2022)
Publisher Information: MDPI AG, 2022.
Publication Year: 2022
Collection: LCC:Microbiology
Subject Terms: scRNA-seq, ovulation, preovulatory follicle, granulosa cell, macrophage, Microbiology, QR1-502
More Details: The follicular microenvironment, including intra-follicular granulosa cells (GCs), is responsible for oocyte maturation and subsequent ovulation. However, the functions of GCs and cellular components of the follicular microenvironment in preovulatory follicles have not been extensively explored. Here, we surveyed the single-cell transcriptome of the follicular microenvironment around MII oocytes in six human preovulatory follicles in in vitro fertilization. There were six different cell types in the preovulatory follicles, including GCs and various immune cells. In GCs, we identified nine different functional clusters with different functional transcriptomic profiles, including specific clusters involved in inflammatory responses and adhesive function. Follicular macrophages are involved in immune responses, extracellular matrix remoulding and assist GCs in promoting the oocyte meiotic resumption. Interestingly, we observed that the specific terminal state subcluster of GCs with high levels of adhesive-related molecules should result in macrophage recruitment and residence, further contributing to an obvious heterogeneity of the immune cell proportion in preovulatory follicles from different patients. Our results provide a comprehensive understanding of the transcriptomic landscape of the preovulatory follicular microenvironment at the single-cell level. It provides valuable insights into understanding the regulation of the oocyte maturation and ovulation process, offering potential clues for the diagnosis and treatment of oocyte-maturation-related and ovulation-related diseases.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2218-273X
Relation: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/2/231; https://doaj.org/toc/2218-273X
DOI: 10.3390/biom12020231
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/0d75b80a6e6b44fabc82f8cfbf74b577
Accession Number: edsdoj.0d75b80a6e6b44fabc82f8cfbf74b577
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
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More Details
ISSN:2218273X
DOI:10.3390/biom12020231
Published in:Biomolecules
Language:English