ADAMTS-1 Expression in Cumulus Cells: A Biomarker for Oocyte Maturity

Cumulus cells regulate oocyte maturation through bilateral communication during follicular growth. Expression of disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type I motifs-1 (ADAMTS-1) is essential for structural remodeling during the follicle growth, to maintain normal granulosa cell layers in the follicles. Since limited studies have been performed on this issue, we aimed to evaluate the expression of ADAMTS-1 in human cumulus cells and the possible correlation between ADAMTS-1 expression and oocyte maturity.
Fifty infertile women aged 18-40 years undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) were recruited. The participants had tubal obstruction and/or their partners were diagnosed with male factor infertility. Cumulus cells were obtained immediately after the isolation of cumulus-oocyte complexes. Adamts-1 and β-actin mRNA expression levels were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
PCR results showed expression of ADAMTS-1 in cumulus cells. qRT-PCR demonstrated an increased expression of ADAMTS-1 in cumulus cells of mature oocyte compared to the vesicle-stage (GV) oocyte (P=0.02). It is worth mentioning that 5.14 was considered the cut-off point for determining the false and true negative results. Moreover, sensitivity and specificity of the ADAMTS-1 were 90% and 67%, respectively (an area under the ROC curve of 0.8).
ADAMTS-1 expression was remarkably lower in GV oocytes than the mature ones, and it can be considered as a specific biomarker in cumulus cells separated from oocytes for determining the rate of oocyte maturation.