Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Αναπαραγωγική-Αναγεννητική ΙατρικήLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Supervisors info:
Δρακάκης Πέτρος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Ντόμαλη Αικατερίνη, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Μαυρογιάννη Δέσποινα, Εργαστηριακό Διδακτικό Προσωπικό, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Μελέτη της έκφρασης των ρυθμιστικών γονιδίων της απόπτωσης Bcl-2, Bax σε κοκκώδη κύτταρα υπογόνιμων γυναικών: Συσχέτιση του λόγου Bcl-2/Bax με την ηλικία της γυναίκας, το ποσοστό γονιμοποίησης και το ποσοστό των εμβρύων που έφθασαν στο στάδιο της βλαστοκύστης.
Translated title:
Ιnvestigation of the association between the ratio BCL-2/BAX in cumulus cells of women undergoing IVF/ICSI and the age of women, fertilization rates and blastulation rate.
Summary:
Fertility has always been a matter of exceptional significance for the individuals and the wider group they belong to. Nowadays, human reproduction has been widely studied, as more and more couples that intend a pregnancy deal with some form of difficulty in having a child. Subfertility generally describes any form of reduced fertility with prolonged time of unwanted non-conception and is without doubt a disease of reproductive system that should be treated medically. Assisted reproductive technology is a constantly developing field and the most effective treatment of subfertility.
In the present study the research on human reproduction focuses on the female reproductive system. The basic reproductive unit of the ovary is the follicle, which contains an oocyte surrounded by granulosa and theca cells. Granulosa cells are actively differentiating with several distinct populations during folliculogenesis. The oocyte in the Graafian follicle is surrounded by tightly packed layers of cumulus cells, forming the cumulus-oocyte complex. The communication between cumulus cells and oocyte is bi-directional and controls oocyte maturation and follicle development.
Numerous research studies focus on the predictive role of gene expression in cumulus cells. Their main goal is to identify gene-markers that may be added to the morphological evaluation of an individual oocyte to improve the efficiency of predicting its developmental competence. Such prognostic value would increase the chance of a pregnancy.
BCL-2 and BAX proteins are members of the BCL-2 family of proteins. The primary role of BCL-2 family members is the regulation of apoptosis by taking part in the intrinsic/mitochondrial pathway. The Bcl-2 to Bax interaction represents one endogenous regulator of death, as the ratio of BCL-2 to BAX determines survival or death, following an apoptotic stimulus.
In the present study we investigate the association between the ratio BCL-2/BAX in cumulus cells of women undergoing IVF/ICSI and the age of women, fertilization rates and blastulation rate. The initial hypothesis was that there is a statistically significant association among these parameters. However, the results do not support our hypothesis.
Undoubtedly, further investigation should be done in order to conclude to results of greater significance. An increase in the number of the patients that participate in the research could lead to a more evaluable result. Apart from that, a better understanding of the way other BCL-2 family members express could clarify the way in which the protein-members interact and how this interaction regulates apoptosis. Securing the existence of an evaluable correlation between BCL-2/BAX ratio and fertilization/blastulation rates, could establish Bcl-2 and Bax genes as non-invasive biomarkers, predictive of the IVF outcome. Thus, subfertility could be treated in a more personalized, efficient and cost-effective way.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Βcl-2, Bax, Cumulus cells
