Relier les profils d’expression de gènes spécifiques dans les cellules du cumulus à la compétence de l’ovocyte permet d’identifier des marqueurs fiables de la qualité ovocytaire et embryonnaire et de prédire la survenue de la grossesse.

Genes expression profile of cumulus cells which surrounds oocyte correlated to different outcomes, allowing the identification of a specific expression signature of embryos developing towards pregnancy. Interestingly, genes in cumulus samples resulting in a successful pregnancy were predominantly up-regulated, including BCL2L11 and PCK1, respectively involved in apoptotis and gluconeogenesis. Some genes were nevertheless found down regulated in cumulus cells associated with a good pregnancy outcome, such as the transcription factor NFIB.