Single-cell transcriptome and cell-specific network analysis reveal the reparative effect of neurotrophin-4 in preantral follicles grown in vitro

Abstract Background In-vitro-grow (IVG) of preantral follicles is essential for female fertility preservation, while practical approach for improvement is far from being explored. Studies have indicated that neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) is preferentially expressed in human preantral follicles and may be cr...

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Main Authors: Yingchun Guo (Author), Peigen Chen (Author), Tingting Li (Author), Lei Jia (Author), Yi Zhou (Author), Jiana Huang (Author), Xiaoyan Liang (Author), Chuanchuan Zhou (Author), Cong Fang (Author)
Format: Book
Published: BMC, 2021-09-01T00:00:00Z.
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Summary:Abstract Background In-vitro-grow (IVG) of preantral follicles is essential for female fertility preservation, while practical approach for improvement is far from being explored. Studies have indicated that neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) is preferentially expressed in human preantral follicles and may be crucial to preantral follicle growth. Methods We observed the location and expression of Tropomyosin-related kinase B (TRKB) in human and mouse ovaries with immunofluorescence and Western blot, and the relation between oocyte maturation and NT-4 level in follicular fluid (FF). Mice model was applied to investigate the effect of NT-4 on preantral follicle IVG. Single-cell RNA sequencing of oocyte combined with cell-specific network analysis was conducted to uncover the underlying mechanism of effect. Results We reported the dynamic location of TRKB in human and mouse ovaries, and a positive relationship between human oocyte maturation and NT-4 level in FF. Improving effect of NT-4 was observed on mice preantral follicle IVG, including follicle development and oocyte maturation. Transcriptome analysis showed that the reparative effect of NT-4 on oocyte maturation might be mediated by regulation of PI3K-Akt signaling and subsequent organization of F-actin. Suppression of advanced stimulated complement system in granulosa cells might contribute to the improvement. Cell-specific network analysis revealed NT-4 may recover the inflammation damage induced by abnormal lipid metabolism in IVG. Conclusions Our data suggest that NT-4 is involved in ovarian physiology and may improve the efficiency of preantral follicle IVG for fertility preservation.
Item Description:10.1186/s12958-021-00818-w
1477-7827