Proteomics in the study of female fertility: an update

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Female fertility has been a field of interest for the scientific community throughout the years. The contribution of proteomics in the study of female fertility as well as female infertility and in vitro fertilization (IVF) has been significant. Proteomics is a recently developed field, extensively applied to the identification and quantification of proteins, which could be used as potential biomarkers in a diagnostic, prognostic, or predictive manner in a variety of medical conditions.

Areas covered

The present review focuses on proteomic studies of the oocyte and endometrial environment as well as on conditions related to infertility, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, obesity, and unexplained infertility. Moreover, this review presents studies that have been done in an effort to search for fertility biomarkers in individuals following the IVF procedure.

Expert opinion

The comprehension of the molecular pathways behind female fertility and infertility could contribute to the diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of infertility. Moreover, the identification of proteomic biomarkers for IVF cycles could predict the possible outcome of an IVF cycle, prevent an unsuccessful IVF, and monitor the IVF cycle in a personalized manner, leading to increased success rates.

KEYWORDS:

• Fertility
• oocyte
• proteomics
• infertility
• IVF
• PCOS
• endometriosis
• obesity

Article highlights

• An updated review of proteomic studies of the fertile oocyte and fertile endometrial environment

• Proteomic studies of conditions related to infertility, such as PCOS, endometriosis, obesity, and unexplained infertility

• Βiomarkers indicating good oocyte quality and endometrial receptivity, which could lead to higher success rates in IVF

• The comprehension of the molecular pathways behind female fertility and infertility could contribute to the diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of infertility. Moreover, the identification of biomarkers could be utilized to predict the possible outcome of an IVF cycle, prevent an unsuccessful attempt of IVF, and monitor the IVF cycle in a personalized manner in order to achieve the desirable outcome.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.