miR-320a-3p Levels in Human Granulosa Cells: A Promising Bio-marker of Good Quality Embryo and Clinical Pregnancy after IVF/ICSI.

Abstract BackgroundmiRNAs in body fluids are considered potential biomarkers of diseases. This study investigated whether miR-320a-3p and miR-483-5p levels in human granulosa cells from follicular fluids were associated with embryo developmental competence. MethodsWe collected 195 patients’ granulosa cells samples undergoing in vitro fertilization (n =147) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (n =48) cycles, and gathered information about the outcomes of the treatment. miR-320a-3p and miR-483-5p levels were measured using qRT-PCR.ResultsThe miR-320a-3p levels in human granulosa cells across different patient groups were significantly different in the good quality embryo rates, with lowest levels in the Q4 intervals (P<0.05). The relative expression levels of miR-320a-3p were negatively associated with clinical pregnancy rate (P<0.05) and positively correlated with the patient age (P=0.0033). Moreover, both the basal FSH (P=0.0003) and ovarian stimulation protocol (P=0.006 and P=0.004) significantly and positively affected miR-320a-3p levels. The days of stimulation was negatively correlated with the relative expression of miR-320a-3p (P=0.0466). The relative expression levels of miR-483-5p were significantly positively correlated with AMH (P=0.0047). Neither miR-320a-3p nor miR-483-5p levels in granulosa cells were associated with normal fertilized rate, blastulation rate and abortion rate. ConclusionsThe miR-320a-3p levels in human granulosa cells were negatively correlated with the good quality embryo rate and clinical pregnancy rate and positively correlated with the patient age, indicating that miR-320a-3p can be used as a potential indicator to predict embryo development ability and clinical pregnancy.