Molecular characterization of corona radiata cells from patients with diminished ovarian reserve using microarray and microfluidic-based gene expression profiling

BACKGROUND: Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is one of the causes of infertility in young women. In this prospective study, gene expression profiling (GEP) of corona radiata cells (CRC) was performed to identify genes deregulated in DOR patients. METHODS: Microarray-based GEP of CRC isolated from eight women undergoing IVF was performed to identify genes differentially expressed between patients with normal ovarian reserve and DOR patients. Microfluidic-based quantitative RT-PCR assays were used to validate selected transcripts on 40 independent patients. A principal component analysis was used to identify more homogeneous subgroups of DOR patients. In silico analyses focusing on cis-regulation were performed to refine the interactions between patient\u27s biological characteristics and their GEP. RESULTS: Forty-eight transcripts were differentially expressed, including CXXC finger protein 5 (CXXC5), forkhead box C1 (FOXC1) (down-regulated in DOR) as well as connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) (up-regulated in DOR). According to these transcripts, two DOR patients\u27 subgroups (DOR Gr1 and Gr2) were identified. In DOR Gr2 patients, C-terminal domain 2 (CITED2), CTGF, growth arrest-specific 1 (GAS1), insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2), PTGS2, SOCS2 and Versican (VCAN) were expressed at significantly higher levels and CXXC5, FOXC1, guanylate-binding protein 2 (GBP2) and zinc finger MIZ-domain containing 1 (ZMIZ1) at significantly lower levels. Higher baseline estradiol (E(2)) levels were observed in DOR Gr2 patients (P < 0.006). The in silico analyses suggested that all 11 genes differentially expressed between DOR Gr1 and DOR Gr2 subgroups could be transcriptional targets of estrogen. CONCLUSIONS: Despite small sample size limitations, 12 genes deregulated in the CRC of DOR patients were identified, which could be involved in DOR pathogenesis. A DOR patient\u27s subgroup with high baseline E(2) levels and deregulated estrogen-responsive genes was also identified

Whole genome duplication is an early event leading to aneuploidy in -wild type glioblastoma

Glioblastoma, the most frequent and lethal form of glioma, displays chromosome instability and recurrent somatic copy number alterations (SCNA). Chromothripsis and whole genome duplication (WGD) have been recently identified in cancer. In the present study, we analyzed SCNA and determine the ploidy pattern in 123 -wild-type glioblastomas, using SNP array data. WGD and chromothripsis events were validated using, respectively, FISH and CTLPScanner. WGD was detected in 11.4% glioblastomas (14/123) and was associated with mutation ( = 0.0068). It was an early event occurring after the recurrent SCNA observed in diffuse high-grade gliomas. Glioblastomas with WGD were more aneuploid compared to glioblastomas without WGD ( < 0.0001). Chromothripsis occurred in 29.3% glioblastomas (36/123) and mostly affected chromosomes 7, 9 and 12, with amplification of oncogenes (EGFR, /), and homozygous deletion of tumor suppressor genes (). There was a significant association between chromothripsis and gene rearrangement at a given locus. WGD is an early genetic event significantly associated to mutation and leading to chromosome instability and aneuploidy in -wild-type glioblastoma. Chromothripsis recurrently targets oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that are key players in gliomagenesis and tumor progression. The occurrence of chromothripsis points to underlying gene rearrangements (including gene fusions), potential therapeutic targets in glioblastoma