Obesity Modulates Inflammation and Lipid Metabolism Oocyte Gene Expression: A Single-Cell Transcriptome Perspective

It is hypothesized that obesity adversely affects the ovarian environment, which can disrupt oocyte maturation and embryonic development.

This study aimed to compare oocyte gene expression profiles and follicular fluid (FF) content from overweight/obese (OW) women and normal-weight (NW) women who were undergoing fertility treatments.

Using single-cell transcriptomic analyses, we investigated oocyte gene expression using RNA sequencing.

Eleven OW women and 13 NW women undergoing fertility treatments were enrolled.

Oocyte messenger RNA profiles as well as serum and FF hormone and lipid levels were assessed.

OW women had significantly higher body mass index, body fat percentage, and serum homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance index compared with NW women (P < 0.01). Serum leptin and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels as well as FF leptin, CRP, and triglyceride levels were increased (P < 0.05) in OW compared with NW women. Oocytes from OW women had increased expression of proinflammatory (CXCL2; P = 0.071) and oxidative stress-related (DUSP1; P = 0.051) genes but had decreased expression of GAS7 (fat metabolism; P = 0.065), TXNIP (oxidative stress; P = 0.055), and transcription factors ID3 (P = 0.075) and TWIST1 (P = 0.099) compared with NW women.

These findings provide evidence for the significant influence of body composition on oocyte transcript abundance in women undergoing hormonal induction to retrieve oocytes. They further identify the potential for maternal diet to influence oocyte gene expression. The preconception period is, therefore, an important window of opportunity to consider for lifestyle interventions.