Oncofertility case report: live birth 10 years after oocyte in vitro maturation and zygote cryopreservation.

PURPOSE: This study aims to report a case of urgent fertility preservation in an oncological patient with collection of immature oocytes in the absence of ovarian stimulation that, through in vitro maturation (IVM), followed by ICSI and cryopreservation of zygotes resulted, 10 years later, in the live birth of a healthy baby. METHODS: In September 2008, our clinic performed IVM in a 32-year-old woman diagnosed with a ductal invasive carcinoma with positive estradiol receptors, negative progesterone receptors and positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. The retrieval of immature oocytes was performed in the absence of ovarian stimulation after a simple mastectomy and prior to any chemotherapy treatment. The compact cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) collected were placed in Lag medium for 2 h, followed by incubation in IVM medium, supplemented with heat inactivated patient serum, recombinant FSH, and recombinant LH. After 30 h in culture, cumulus cells were removed, the metaphase II oocytes were microinjected, and the zygotes obtained were cryopreserved. In 2017, the zygotes were thawed and cultured until day 3. One embryo was transferred and the other cryopreserved. RESULTS: Four compact COCs were collected and subjected to IVM. Two oocytes reached metaphase II and were microinjected. Two zygotes were obtained and were cryopreserved at the two pronuclear stage. Approximately 9 years later, the two zygotes were thawed and cultured until day 3. An embryo with 10 cells was transferred and implanted, resulting in the birth of a healthy baby. CONCLUSIONS: In cases where urgency to start adjuvant therapy requires immediate oocyte collection, IVM may be the only option to obtain fully competent mature oocytes allowing for effective preservation of the reproductive potential.

The role of endoplasmic reticulum in amyloid precursor protein processing and trafficking: implications for Alzheimer's disease.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the principal organelle responsible for the proper folding/processing of nascent proteins and perturbed ER function leads to a state known as ER stress. Mammalian cells try to overcome ER stress through a set of protein signaling pathways and transcription factors termed the unfolded protein response (UPR). However, under unresolvable ER stress conditions, the UPR is hyperactivated inducing cell dysfunction and death. The accumulation of misfolded proteins in the brain of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients suggests that alterations in ER homeostasis might be implicated in the neurodegenerative events that characterize this disorder. This review discusses the involvement of ER stress in the pathogenesis of AD, focusing the processing and trafficking of the AD-related amyloid precursor protein (APP) during disease development. The potential role of ER as a therapeutic target in AD will also be debated.

Mitochondrial quality control systems sustain brain mitochondrial bioenergetics in early stages of type 2 diabetes.

Mitochondria have a crucial role in the supply of energy to the brain. Mitochondrial alterations can lead to detrimental consequences on the function of brain cells and are thought to have a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of several neurologic disorders. This study was aimed to evaluate mitochondrial function, fusion-fission and biogenesis and autophagy in brain cortex of 6-month-old Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, an animal model of nonobese type 2 diabetes (T2D). No statistically significant alterations were observed in mitochondrial respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation system. A significant decrease in the protein levels of OPA1, a protein that facilitates mitochondrial fusion, was observed in brain cortex of GK rats. Furthermore, a significant decrease in the protein levels of LC3-II and a significant increase in protein levels of mTOR phosphorylated at serine residue 2448 were observed in GK rats suggesting a suppression of autophagy in diabetic brain cortex. No significant alterations were observed in the parameters related to mitochondrial biogenesis. Altogether, these results demonstrate that during the early stages of T2D, brain mitochondrial function is maintained in part due to a delicate balance between mitochondrial fusion-fission and biogenesis and autophagy. However, future studies are warranted to evaluate the role of mitochondrial quality control pathways in late stages of T2D.

Insulin therapy modulates mitochondrial dynamics and biogenesis, autophagy and tau protein phosphorylation in the brain of type 1 diabetic rats.

The main purpose of this study was to examine whether streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes (T1D) and insulin (INS) treatment affect mitochondrial function, fission/fusion and biogenesis, autophagy and tau protein phosphorylation in cerebral cortex from diabetic rats treated or not with INS. No significant alterations were observed in mitochondrial function as well as pyruvate levels, despite the significant increase in glucose levels observed in INS-treated diabetic rats. A significant increase in DRP1 protein phosphorylated at Ser616 residue was observed in the brain cortex of STZ rats. Also an increase in NRF2 protein levels and in the number of copies of mtDNA were observed in STZ diabetic rats, these alterations being normalized by INS. A slight decrease in LC3-II levels was observed in INS-treated rats when compared to STZ diabetic animals. An increase in tau protein phosphorylation at Ser396 residue was observed in STZ diabetic rats while INS treatment partially reversed that effect. Accordingly, a modest reduction in the activation of GSK3ß and a significant increase in the activity of phosphatase 2A were found in INS-treated rats when compared to STZ diabetic animals. No significant alterations were observed in caspases 9 and 3 activity and synaptophysin and PSD95 levels. Altogether our results show that mitochondrial alterations induced by T1D seem to involve compensation mechanisms since no significant changes in mitochondrial function and synaptic integrity were observed in diabetic animals. In addition, INS treatment is able to normalize the alterations induced by T1D supporting the importance of INS signaling in the brain.

Crosstalk between diabetes and brain: glucagon-like peptide-1 mimetics as a promising therapy against neurodegeneration.

According to World Health Organization estimates, type 2 diabetes (T2D) is an epidemic (particularly in under development countries) and a socio-economic challenge. This is even more relevant since increasing evidence points T2D as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), supporting the hypothesis that AD is a "type 3 diabetes" or "brain insulin resistant state". Despite the limited knowledge on the molecular mechanisms and the etiological complexity of both pathologies, evidence suggests that neurodegeneration/death underlying cognitive dysfunction (and ultimately dementia) upon long-term T2D may arise from a complex interplay between T2D and brain aging. Additionally, decreased brain insulin levels/signaling and glucose metabolism in both pathologies further suggests that an effective treatment strategy for one disorder may be also beneficial in the other. In this regard, one such promising strategy is a novel successful anti-T2D class of drugs, the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) mimetics (e.g. exendin-4 or liraglutide), whose potential neuroprotective effects have been increasingly shown in the last years. In fact, several studies showed that, besides improving peripheral (and probably brain) insulin signaling, GLP-1 analogs minimize cell loss and possibly rescue cognitive decline in models of AD, Parkinson's (PD) or Huntington's disease. Interestingly, exendin-4 is undergoing clinical trials to test its potential as an anti-PD therapy. Herewith, we aim to integrate the available data on the metabolic and neuroprotective effects of GLP-1 mimetics in the central nervous system (CNS) with the complex crosstalk between T2D-AD, as well as their potential therapeutic value against T2D-associated cognitive dysfunction.

Hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia and dementia: role of mitochondria and uncoupling proteins.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases. Since glucose is the main fuel of the brain, its levels should be maintained within a narrow range to ensure normal brain function. Indeed, the literature shows that uncontrolled blood glucose levels, whether too high or too low, impact brain structure and function potentiating cognitive impairment. Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are a family of mitochondrial anion carrier proteins located on the inner mitochondrial membrane, and their primary function is to leak protons from the intermembrane space into the mitochondrial matrix. The specific role of neuronal UCPs has been widely discussed and although there is no general agreement, there is a strong conviction that these proteins may be involved in the defense against mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and, consequently, protecting against oxidative damage. The generation of ROS is increasingly recognized as playing an important role in diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders and aging where mitochondria are both sources and targets of these reactive species. This review examines the neurodegenerative events associated with diabetes, highlighting the role of hyperglycemia and/or hypoglycemia on cognitive function. The role of mitochondria, neuronal UCPs and their impact in central nervous system will be elucidated. Finally, we will discuss neuronal UCPs as possible therapeutic targets for the treatment of diabetes-associated central complications and neurodegenerative diseases, namely Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Mitophagy in neurodegeneration: an opportunity for therapy?

Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are characterized by distinct clinical manifestations and neuropathological hallmarks, but they also share common features like mitochondrial dysfunction. As strategic organelles in several cellular pathways, including life/death decision, it is crucial to maintain a healthy mitochondrial pool to ensure cellular homeostasis. Macroautophagy is a pathway of lysosomal-dependent degradation of cytosolic portions, such as misfolded proteins or damaged organelles. In the last decade this process has gained new frontiers and is currently seen as a specific, rather than a random process. In this regard the term mitophagy came to describe the selective degradation of mitochondria by autophagy. This review is intended to discuss mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The recent developments on the molecular basis of mitophagy will be also argued. Finally, we will discuss mitophagy as a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases.

Effects of mouse ovarian tissue cryopreservation on granulosa cell-oocyte interaction.

BACKGROUND: Current ovarian tissue cryopreservation protocols have yet to be assessed in terms of somatic-germ cell interaction. Accordingly, post-thaw analysis of antral follicles can yield relevant data on the disruption of the granulosa-oocyte interface. METHODS: We compared fresh mouse ovarian tissue with tissues that had been either cryopreserved using dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) or glycerol as cryoprotectants, or exposed to such cryoprotectants without freezing. The assessed parameters were: number of immature oocytes retrieved per ovary, allocation of the oocytes to different classes regarding antral follicle size and oocyte-granulosa cell adhesion, and the relative density of transzonal processes containing filamentous actin (TZPs-Act). RESULTS: Although cryopreservation reduces the average number of oocytes retrieved per ovary, it increases the relative distribution of granulosa-free oocytes while decreasing that of granulosa-enclosed ones. Additionally, a post-thaw decrease in TZPs-Act density was recorded. This decrease was also observed after cryoprotectant exposure without freezing, although at a lower level. For the assessed parameters, DMSO was more effective than glycerol as a cryoprotectant. CONCLUSIONS: In situ cryopreservation of granulosa-oocyte complexes with current protocols disrupts the granulosa-oocyte interface. The different patterns of granulosa cell adhesion and interaction in oocytes derived from different-sized antral follicles further suggests that the granulosa-oocyte interface may be developmentally regulated.

Three-dimensional environments preserve extracellular matrix compartments of ovarian follicles and increase FSH-dependent growth.

In this study we performed a systematic comparative analysis of two culture environments-flat/adhesive liquid and three-dimensional collagen gel-upon in vitro ovarian follicle development. We paid particular attention to the effects of in vitro environments upon the preservation of follicular structure and of peri- and intra-follicular extracellular matrix. We show that flat/adhesive environment leads to an obvious distortion of follicle morphology, marked extracellular matrix modifications and high rates of spontaneous, i.e., FSH-independent, follicle disruption. In contrast, three-dimensional collagen gel environments are able to maintain follicular structure with an in vivo-like basal lamina architecture, minimizing spontaneous disruption. Follicle distortions found in flat/adhesive culture systems include a pronounced flattening, causing the follicle horizontal diameters not to adequately reflect follicle volume. Our volume data, based on three-axis follicle diameter measurements, indicate that three-dimensional collagen gel environments increase follicle growth, particularly in response to FSH. This study demonstrates that preservation of both peri- and intra-follicular extracellular matrix compartments during the in vitro growth and differentiation of ovarian follicles is highly desirable, and is now possible through the use of appropriate three-dimensional collagen gel culture environments. This system allows a better understanding of the specific roles played by each of the follicle compartments during development.