Scientists map proteins in fallopian tubes to unlock infertility treatments
Researchers have created the first high-resolution map of how proteins organize inside fallopian tube cells, identifying 11 proteins never before studied in this context. The discovery could unlock new diagnostic tools and therapies for infertility and reproductive diseases affecting millions of women worldwide.
Originaltitel: A high-resolution spatial map of cilia-associated proteins in the human fallopian tube
<p>Molecular alterations in the fallopian tubes play a pivotal role in the development of cancer and reproductive disorders, yet their molecular landscape at the protein level remains poorly defined. Here, we map key fallopian tube proteins at single-cell resolution utilizing an integrated transcriptomics and proteomics approach. Based on RNA-seq analysis, we identify 310 genes with elevated expression in the fallopian tube, the majority of which are associated with motile cilia function. We spatially characterize 133 of the corresponding proteins in the fallopian tube and other human tissues with motile cilia to subcellular structures of ciliated cells, validating the findings with single-cell RNA-seq and mass-spectrometry data. Eleven proteins previously only studied on the transcript level without information in cilia databases are further analyzed in a hydrosalpinx patient, showing a thinner epithelium, lower density of FOXJ1 expression, and reduced expression of FHAD1, RIIAD1, and C2orf81. Our high-resolution spatial map aids in dissecting the pathways underlying infertility and diseases linked to cilia-specific functions.</p>