Characterization and quantification of proteins secreted by single human embryos prior to implantation

Abstract The use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) has revolutionized the treatment of infertility and is now responsible for 1–5% of all births in industrialized countries. During IVF, it is typical for patients to generate multiple embryos. However, only a small proportion of them possess the geneti...

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Main Authors: Maurizio Poli, Alessandro Ori, Tim Child, Souraya Jaroudi, Katharina Spath, Martin Beck, Dagan Wells
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2015-10-01
Series:EMBO Molecular Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.201505344
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author Maurizio Poli
Alessandro Ori
Tim Child
Souraya Jaroudi
Katharina Spath
Martin Beck
Dagan Wells
author_facet Maurizio Poli
Alessandro Ori
Tim Child
Souraya Jaroudi
Katharina Spath
Martin Beck
Dagan Wells
author_sort Maurizio Poli
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) has revolutionized the treatment of infertility and is now responsible for 1–5% of all births in industrialized countries. During IVF, it is typical for patients to generate multiple embryos. However, only a small proportion of them possess the genetic and metabolic requirements needed in order to produce a healthy pregnancy. The identification of the embryo with the greatest developmental capacity represents a major challenge for fertility clinics. Current methods for the assessment of embryo competence are proven inefficient, and the inadvertent transfer of non‐viable embryos is the principal reason why most IVF treatments (approximately two‐thirds) end in failure. In this study, we investigate how the application of proteomic measurements could improve success rates in clinical embryology. We describe a procedure that allows the identification and quantification of proteins of embryonic origin, present in attomole concentrations in the blastocoel, the enclosed fluid‐filled cavity that forms within 5‐day‐old human embryos. By using targeted proteomics, we demonstrate the feasibility of quantifying multiple proteins in samples derived from single blastocoels and that such measurements correlate with aspects of embryo viability, such as chromosomal (ploidy) status. This study illustrates the potential of high‐sensitivity proteomics to measure clinically relevant biomarkers in minute samples and, more specifically, suggests that key aspects of embryo competence could be measured using a proteomic‐based strategy, with negligible risk of harm to the living embryo. Our work paves the way for the development of “next‐generation” embryo competence assessment strategies, based on functional proteomics.
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spelling doaj-art-616dbd362a21406a8d0287edcc5d22ba2025-08-20T03:05:55ZengSpringer NatureEMBO Molecular Medicine1757-46761757-46842015-10-017111465147910.15252/emmm.201505344Characterization and quantification of proteins secreted by single human embryos prior to implantationMaurizio Poli0Alessandro Ori1Tim Child2Souraya Jaroudi3Katharina Spath4Martin Beck5Dagan Wells6Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Reproductive Sciences, University of OxfordEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology UnitNuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Reproductive Sciences, University of OxfordReprogenetics UK, Institute of Reproductive SciencesNuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Reproductive Sciences, University of OxfordEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology UnitNuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Reproductive Sciences, University of OxfordAbstract The use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) has revolutionized the treatment of infertility and is now responsible for 1–5% of all births in industrialized countries. During IVF, it is typical for patients to generate multiple embryos. However, only a small proportion of them possess the genetic and metabolic requirements needed in order to produce a healthy pregnancy. The identification of the embryo with the greatest developmental capacity represents a major challenge for fertility clinics. Current methods for the assessment of embryo competence are proven inefficient, and the inadvertent transfer of non‐viable embryos is the principal reason why most IVF treatments (approximately two‐thirds) end in failure. In this study, we investigate how the application of proteomic measurements could improve success rates in clinical embryology. We describe a procedure that allows the identification and quantification of proteins of embryonic origin, present in attomole concentrations in the blastocoel, the enclosed fluid‐filled cavity that forms within 5‐day‐old human embryos. By using targeted proteomics, we demonstrate the feasibility of quantifying multiple proteins in samples derived from single blastocoels and that such measurements correlate with aspects of embryo viability, such as chromosomal (ploidy) status. This study illustrates the potential of high‐sensitivity proteomics to measure clinically relevant biomarkers in minute samples and, more specifically, suggests that key aspects of embryo competence could be measured using a proteomic‐based strategy, with negligible risk of harm to the living embryo. Our work paves the way for the development of “next‐generation” embryo competence assessment strategies, based on functional proteomics.https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.201505344blastocoelgene expressionhuman embryoin vitro fertilizationproteomics
spellingShingle Maurizio Poli
Alessandro Ori
Tim Child
Souraya Jaroudi
Katharina Spath
Martin Beck
Dagan Wells
Characterization and quantification of proteins secreted by single human embryos prior to implantation
EMBO Molecular Medicine
blastocoel
gene expression
human embryo
in vitro fertilization
proteomics
title Characterization and quantification of proteins secreted by single human embryos prior to implantation
title_full Characterization and quantification of proteins secreted by single human embryos prior to implantation
title_fullStr Characterization and quantification of proteins secreted by single human embryos prior to implantation
title_full_unstemmed Characterization and quantification of proteins secreted by single human embryos prior to implantation
title_short Characterization and quantification of proteins secreted by single human embryos prior to implantation
title_sort characterization and quantification of proteins secreted by single human embryos prior to implantation
topic blastocoel
gene expression
human embryo
in vitro fertilization
proteomics
url https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.201505344
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