RNA sequencing-based transcriptome analysis of granulosa cells from follicular fluid: Genes involved in embryo quality during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

Background: Granulosa cells play an important role in folliculogenesis, however, the role of RNA transcripts of granulosa cells in assessing embryo quality remains unclear. Therefore, we aims to investigate that RNA transcripts of granulosa cells be used to assess the probability of the embryonic developmental capacity.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was attempted to figure out the probability of the embryonic developmental capacity using RNA sequencing of granulosa cells. Granulosa cells were collected from 48 samples in good-quality embryo group and 79 in only poor- quality embryo group from women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer treatment. Three samples from each group were used for RNA sequencing.

Results: 226 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were related to high developmental competence of embryos. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis indicated that these DEGs were primarily involved in biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components. Additionally, pathway analysis revealed that these DEGs were enriched in 13 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction verified the differential expression of the 13 selected DEGs. Among them,10 genes were differently expressed in the poor-quality embryo group compared to good-quality embryo group, including CSF1R, CTSH, SERPINA1, CYP27A1, ITGB2, IL1β, TNF, TAB1, BCL2A1, and CCL4.

Conclusions: RNA sequencing data provide the support or confute granulosa expressed genes as non-invasive biomarkers for identifying the embryonic developmental capacity.