The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) in follicular fluid (FF) as biomarkers of ovarian aging and predictors of in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. The goal is to identify noninvasive molecular markers that correlate with oocyte quality and reproductive potential, particularly in women of advanced maternal age.
There is a substantial gap in understanding how these miRNAs operate in humans, especially in a non-invasive or minimally invasive context. Specifically: * The role of exosomal miRNAs in follicular fluid (FF) in human ovarian aging is not well defined. * Few studies have directly compared miRNA expression profiles in FF across age groups using high-throughput sequencing. * There is limited evidence linking specific FF miRNAs to oocyte quality or IVF success rates. * No validated non-invasive biomarkers based on FF exosomal miRNA currently exist for predicting IVF outcomes, especially in women of advanced reproductive age. This study seeks to address these knowledge gaps by identifying and validating exosomal miRNA signatures in FF that are associated with maternal age and IVF outcomes. The most relevant preliminary data come from preclinical rodent studies performed by our research team: * miRNA profiling in aged vs. young mouse ovarian tissues demonstrated clear age-associated changes in miRNA expression. * Gene target analyses revealed that these miRNAs are likely to regulate critical signaling pathways involved in ovarian aging (e.g., FoxO, mTOR, PI3k/Akt). * These results support the biological plausibility that similar miRNA changes could occur in human follicular environments and impact oocyte competence. Although direct human data from FF is not yet available, the team has validated methods for exosome isolation from biofluids, miRNA sequencing, and in vitro assays. These tools are now being applied to the human FF samples collected during IVF cycles, making this study a logical and feasible extension of our previous work.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
100
No interventions for participants
University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida, United States
RECRUITINGIdentify exosomal miRNAs using RNA sequencing
Identify differentially expressed exosomal miRNAs in the follicular fluid of younger (\<31 years) versus older (\>38 years) women undergoing IVF using small RNA sequencing.
Time frame: 1 year
Validate and assess miRNA for IVF
Validate the expression of selected miRNAs in an independent sample set and assess their correlation with clinical IVF parameters, including oocyte maturity, fertilization, and embryo development.
Time frame: 1 year
Determine molecular pathways regulated by age
Use bioinformatic analysis and in vitro functional assays to determine the molecular pathways regulated by age associated miRNAs, particularly those involved in follicular development, hormone signaling, and cellular aging.
Time frame: 1 year
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.