Biomarker candidates for oocyte and embryo quality assessment in assisted reproduction: A systematic review

In assisted reproductive technologies, a major challenge is the relatively low overall success rate, mainly due to the absence of reliable markers for assessing oocyte and embryo quality. This study focuses on identifying new biomarkers in follicular fluid and granulosa cells to better understand the factors essential for oocyte maturation. We followed the 2020 PRISMA guidelines to review recent studies from PubMed, Scopus, and Embase, dated 2014-2024. Our review included 3062 participants from 29 studies, which identified key biomarkers in follicular fluid, such as melatonin and interleukin-10, and in granulosa cells, including mitochondrial DNA and specific transcriptomic signatures. These studies also highlighted the importance of morphological variables and DNA methylation in oocyte quality assessment. Our findings suggest that oxidative stress evaluation in follicular fluid and transcriptomic analysis of granulosa cells are promising approaches for determining oocyte quality in assisted reproduction. This knowledge has the potential to enhance patient care and optimize treatment outcomes in this field.