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Molecular signatures of oocyte viability identified by follicular fluid proteomics

Kristensen, Stine Gry ; Subiran Adrados, Cristina ; Elsner, Kevin ; Cadenas, Jesus ; Jensen, Lea Bejstrup ; Tanvig, Mette Honnens ; Greve, Vinnie Hornshøj ; Colmorn, Lotte Berdiin ; Marko-Varga, György LU and Malm, Johan LU , et al. (2026) In Scientific Reports 16(1).
Abstract

Women are born with thousands of ovarian follicles, yet less than 1% will ovulate a mature oocyte. What distinguishes the 99% of follicles destined for demise from the rare 1% that succeed? Here, we leveraged a unique clinical opportunity, paired follicular fluid samples from small antral follicles containing either a viable or an atretic oocyte within the same patients, to uncover the proteomic determinants governing oocyte fate. Our analysis identified nearly 1,500 proteins. Follicular fluid from healthy follicles was enriched with proteins crucial for energy metabolism, antioxidative defense, structural integrity, and robust intercellular signaling networks, supporting oocyte survival and maturation. In contrast, follicular fluid... (More)

Women are born with thousands of ovarian follicles, yet less than 1% will ovulate a mature oocyte. What distinguishes the 99% of follicles destined for demise from the rare 1% that succeed? Here, we leveraged a unique clinical opportunity, paired follicular fluid samples from small antral follicles containing either a viable or an atretic oocyte within the same patients, to uncover the proteomic determinants governing oocyte fate. Our analysis identified nearly 1,500 proteins. Follicular fluid from healthy follicles was enriched with proteins crucial for energy metabolism, antioxidative defense, structural integrity, and robust intercellular signaling networks, supporting oocyte survival and maturation. In contrast, follicular fluid from atretic oocytes exhibited a distinct inflammatory signature characterized by acute-phase and immune activation proteins, indicative of active degeneration. These novel proteomic insights deepen our understanding of human follicle biology and open new avenues for biomarker development, optimization of assisted reproductive technologies, and targeted therapeutic strategies to preserve and enhance female fertility.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Biomarkers, Follicular atresia, Follicular fluid, Oocyte viability, Proteomics
in
Scientific Reports
volume
16
issue
1
article number
10010
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • scopus:105034458000
  • pmid:41720862
ISSN
2045-2322
DOI
10.1038/s41598-026-40907-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d011ad2c-5a9c-4aa8-b4b2-bbb0579ef1e6
date added to LUP
2026-06-11 13:30:10
date last changed
2026-08-07 23:19:40
@article{d011ad2c-5a9c-4aa8-b4b2-bbb0579ef1e6,
  abstract     = {{<p>Women are born with thousands of ovarian follicles, yet less than 1% will ovulate a mature oocyte. What distinguishes the 99% of follicles destined for demise from the rare 1% that succeed? Here, we leveraged a unique clinical opportunity, paired follicular fluid samples from small antral follicles containing either a viable or an atretic oocyte within the same patients, to uncover the proteomic determinants governing oocyte fate. Our analysis identified nearly 1,500 proteins. Follicular fluid from healthy follicles was enriched with proteins crucial for energy metabolism, antioxidative defense, structural integrity, and robust intercellular signaling networks, supporting oocyte survival and maturation. In contrast, follicular fluid from atretic oocytes exhibited a distinct inflammatory signature characterized by acute-phase and immune activation proteins, indicative of active degeneration. These novel proteomic insights deepen our understanding of human follicle biology and open new avenues for biomarker development, optimization of assisted reproductive technologies, and targeted therapeutic strategies to preserve and enhance female fertility.</p>}},
  author       = {{Kristensen, Stine Gry and Subiran Adrados, Cristina and Elsner, Kevin and Cadenas, Jesus and Jensen, Lea Bejstrup and Tanvig, Mette Honnens and Greve, Vinnie Hornshøj and Colmorn, Lotte Berdiin and Marko-Varga, György and Malm, Johan and Gil, Jeovanis}},
  issn         = {{2045-2322}},
  keywords     = {{Biomarkers; Follicular atresia; Follicular fluid; Oocyte viability; Proteomics}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Scientific Reports}},
  title        = {{Molecular signatures of oocyte viability identified by follicular fluid proteomics}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40907-7}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s41598-026-40907-7}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}