Extracellular vesicles in follicular fluid: clinical aspects and molecular biology

Dovgan A.A., Akhmedova Z.F., Sysoeva A.P., Zingerenko B.V., Romanov E.A., Silachev D.N., Makarova N.P., Kalinina E.A.

Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs), membrane vesicles secreted into the extracellular medium by various cell types of reproductive tissues, have been discovered in human follicular fluid (FF). It was originally thought that EV secretion might be a mechanism used by cells to eliminate intracellular 'debris', but subsequent studies have shown that EVs are used to deliver specific molecular information encapsulated in a double-layered lipid membrane from the donor cell to the recipient cell. EVs contain bioactive molecules, such as mRNA, microRNA, proteins, and lipids, that enable communication and interaction between different cells and tissues, including between the oocyte and somatic cells of the growing follicle. EVs in follicular fluid play an important role in the biological processes of folliculogenesis, oogenesis, and early embryogenesis.
Conclusion: The reviewed studies provide an opportunity to increase our understanding of the complex mechanisms of reproductive biology and improve the potential for the use of EVs to optimize the embryological stage of in vitro oocyte and embryo culture in assisted reproductive technology programs.

Authors' contributions: Dovgan A.A., Akhmedova Z.F., Sysoeva A.P., Zingerenko B.V., Romanov E.A., Silachev D.N., Makarova N.P., Kalinina E.A. – concept of article, search and review of relevant literature, manuscript drafting, and editing.
Conflicts of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding: This study was funded by state task #12101040600410-7 of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation "Addressing infertility in modern conditions by developing a clinical and diagnostic model for infertile couples and using innovative technologies in assisted reproductive programs".
For citation: Dovgan A.A., Akhmedova Z.F., Sysoeva A.P., Zingerenko B.V.,
Romanov E.A., Silachev D.N., Makarova N.P., Kalinina E.A. Extracellular vesicles
in follicular fluid: clinical aspects and molecular biology.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2023; (6): 38-43 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2022.320

Keywords

follicular fluid
extracellular vesicles
exosomes
microvesicles
microRNA
intercellular communication
assisted reproductive technology (ART)

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Received 30.12.2022

Accepted 27.03.2023

About the Authors

Alina A. Dovgan, MD, PhD, Researcher, Department of Assistive Technologies in Infertility Treatment, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, +7(929)910-46-00, lina.dovgan@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4927-3590, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparin str., 4.
Zumriiat F. Akhmedova, Postgraduate Student, Department of Assistive Technologies in Infertility Treatment, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, +7(926)626-22-24, zyuka-1997@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4483-8820, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparin str., 4.
Anastasia P. Sysoeva, Clinical Embryologist, Department of Assistive Technologies in Infertility Treatment, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, sysoeva.a.p@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6502-4498,
117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparin str., 4.
Boris V. Zingerenko, Junior Researcher, Department of Assistive Technologies in Infertility Treatment, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, b_zingerenko@oparina4.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8784-5502,
117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparin str., 4.
Evgeniy A. Romanov, Clinical Embryologist, Department of Assistive Technologies in Infertility Treatment, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, e_romanov@oparina4.ru, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparin str., 4.
Denis N. Silachev, PhD, Chief of the Laboratory of Cellular Technologies, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, d_silachev@oparina4.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0581-9755, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparin str., 4.
Natalya P. Makarova, PhD, Leading Researcher, Department of Assistive Technologies in Infertility Treatment, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, np_makarova@oparina4.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-8922-2878,
117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparin str., 4.
Elena A. Kalinina, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Head of the Department of Assistive Technologies in Infertility Treatment, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, e_kalinina@oparina4.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8922-2878,
117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparin str., 4.

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