Telomerase activity, telomere length, and the euploidy rate of human embryos

Background Telomeres maintain chromosome stability, while telomerase counteracts their progressive shortening. Telomere length varies between cell types, with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) decreasing with age. Reduced telomerase activity has been linked to reproductive issues in females, such as l...

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Main Authors: Maria Longo, Ermanno Greco, Ilaria Listorti, Maria Teresa Varricchio, Katerina Litwicka, Cristiana Arrivi, Cecilia Mencacci, Pierfrancesco Greco
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Gynecological Endocrinology
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09513590.2024.2373742
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author Maria Longo
Ermanno Greco
Ilaria Listorti
Maria Teresa Varricchio
Katerina Litwicka
Cristiana Arrivi
Cecilia Mencacci
Pierfrancesco Greco
author_facet Maria Longo
Ermanno Greco
Ilaria Listorti
Maria Teresa Varricchio
Katerina Litwicka
Cristiana Arrivi
Cecilia Mencacci
Pierfrancesco Greco
author_sort Maria Longo
collection DOAJ
description Background Telomeres maintain chromosome stability, while telomerase counteracts their progressive shortening. Telomere length varies between cell types, with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) decreasing with age. Reduced telomerase activity has been linked to reproductive issues in females, such as low pregnancy rates and premature ovarian failure, with recent studies indicating correlations between telomere length in granulosa cells and IVF outcomes.Objectives The study aims to explore the relationship between telomere length, telomerase activity, and euploid blastocyst rate in infertile women undergoing IVF/ICSI PGT-A cycles.Methods This prospective study involves 108 patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation and PGT-A. Telomere length and telomerase activity were measured in peripheral mononuclear cells and granulosa cells (GC), respectively.Results The telomere repeat copy number to single gene copy number ratio (T/S) results respectively 0.6 ± 0.8 in leukocytes and 0.7 ± 0.9 in GC. An inverse relationship was found between LTL and the patient’s age (p < .01). A higher aneuploid rate was noticed in patients with short LTL, with no differences in ovarian reserve markers (p = .15), number of oocytes retrieved (p = .33), and number of MII (p = 0.42). No significant association was noticed between telomere length in GC and patients’ age (p = 0.95), in ovarian reserve markers (p = 0.32), number of oocytes retrieved (p = .58), number of MII (p = .74) and aneuploidy rate (p = .65).Conclusion LTL shows a significant inverse correlation with patient age and higher aneuploidy rates. Telomere length in GCs does not correlate with patient age or reproductive outcomes, indicating differential telomere dynamics between leukocytes and granulosa cells.
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spelling doaj-art-270433bdcd2243238add49f7cf4684972025-08-20T02:00:03ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGynecological Endocrinology0951-35901473-07662024-12-0140110.1080/09513590.2024.2373742Telomerase activity, telomere length, and the euploidy rate of human embryosMaria Longo0Ermanno Greco1Ilaria Listorti2Maria Teresa Varricchio3Katerina Litwicka4Cristiana Arrivi5Cecilia Mencacci6Pierfrancesco Greco7Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the Mother, Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, ItalyCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Casa di Cura Privata Villa Mafalda, Rome, ItalyCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Casa di Cura Privata Villa Mafalda, Rome, ItalyCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Casa di Cura Privata Villa Mafalda, Rome, ItalyCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Casa di Cura Privata Villa Mafalda, Rome, ItalyCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Casa di Cura Privata Villa Mafalda, Rome, ItalyCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Casa di Cura Privata Villa Mafalda, Rome, ItalyCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Casa di Cura Privata Villa Mafalda, Rome, ItalyBackground Telomeres maintain chromosome stability, while telomerase counteracts their progressive shortening. Telomere length varies between cell types, with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) decreasing with age. Reduced telomerase activity has been linked to reproductive issues in females, such as low pregnancy rates and premature ovarian failure, with recent studies indicating correlations between telomere length in granulosa cells and IVF outcomes.Objectives The study aims to explore the relationship between telomere length, telomerase activity, and euploid blastocyst rate in infertile women undergoing IVF/ICSI PGT-A cycles.Methods This prospective study involves 108 patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation and PGT-A. Telomere length and telomerase activity were measured in peripheral mononuclear cells and granulosa cells (GC), respectively.Results The telomere repeat copy number to single gene copy number ratio (T/S) results respectively 0.6 ± 0.8 in leukocytes and 0.7 ± 0.9 in GC. An inverse relationship was found between LTL and the patient’s age (p < .01). A higher aneuploid rate was noticed in patients with short LTL, with no differences in ovarian reserve markers (p = .15), number of oocytes retrieved (p = .33), and number of MII (p = 0.42). No significant association was noticed between telomere length in GC and patients’ age (p = 0.95), in ovarian reserve markers (p = 0.32), number of oocytes retrieved (p = .58), number of MII (p = .74) and aneuploidy rate (p = .65).Conclusion LTL shows a significant inverse correlation with patient age and higher aneuploidy rates. Telomere length in GCs does not correlate with patient age or reproductive outcomes, indicating differential telomere dynamics between leukocytes and granulosa cells.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09513590.2024.2373742Telomeretelomeraseaneuploidiestelomere lengthgranulosa cell
spellingShingle Maria Longo
Ermanno Greco
Ilaria Listorti
Maria Teresa Varricchio
Katerina Litwicka
Cristiana Arrivi
Cecilia Mencacci
Pierfrancesco Greco
Telomerase activity, telomere length, and the euploidy rate of human embryos
Gynecological Endocrinology
Telomere
telomerase
aneuploidies
telomere length
granulosa cell
title Telomerase activity, telomere length, and the euploidy rate of human embryos
title_full Telomerase activity, telomere length, and the euploidy rate of human embryos
title_fullStr Telomerase activity, telomere length, and the euploidy rate of human embryos
title_full_unstemmed Telomerase activity, telomere length, and the euploidy rate of human embryos
title_short Telomerase activity, telomere length, and the euploidy rate of human embryos
title_sort telomerase activity telomere length and the euploidy rate of human embryos
topic Telomere
telomerase
aneuploidies
telomere length
granulosa cell
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09513590.2024.2373742
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