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Characterizing the Human Fetal Perimeiotic 45,X Ovary at Single-Cell Resolution

McGlacken-Byrne, Sinead M; Del Valle, Ignacio; Xenakis, Theodoros; Suntharalingham, Jenifer P; Nel, Lydia; Liptrot, Danielle; Crespo, Berta; ... Achermann, John C; + view all (2025) Characterizing the Human Fetal Perimeiotic 45,X Ovary at Single-Cell Resolution. Journal of the Endocrine Society , 9 (7) , Article bvaf094. 10.1210/jendso/bvaf094. Green open access

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Abstract

Context: Turner syndrome (TS) is the most common genetic cause of premature (primary) ovarian insufficiency (POI). Human fetal 45,X ovaries demonstrate marked apoptosis by 15 to 20 weeks post conception (wpc), likely partly driven by X-chromosome haploinsufficiency. However, the genomic drivers of ovarian insufficiency in TS remain largely unexplored. Objective: We used single-nuclei sequencing (snRNA-seq) and bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technologies to profile the transcriptome of ovarian insufficiency in TS. Methods: Using snRNA-seq, we profiled 2 perimeiotic 46,XX and 2 45,X (TS) human fetal ovaries (12-13 wpc). Using bulk RNA-seq, we conducted a time-series analysis of human fetal tissue across 4 developmental time points (19 fetal ovary, 20 fetal testis, 8 fetal control tissue (n = 47 total samples; Carnegie stage 22-16 wpc)). Results: Germ and somatic cell subpopulations were mostly shared across 46,XX and 45,X ovaries, aside from an oogonia cluster depleted in 45,X ovaries containing genes with functions relating to sex chromosome synapsis. snRNA-seq enabled accurate cell counting across individual cell clusters and revealed that the 45,X ovary has fewer germ cells than the 46,XX ovary in every germ cell subpopulation, confirmed by histopathological analysis. The normal sequence of X-chromosome inactivation and reactivation is disrupted in 45,X ovaries. The 45,X ovary has a globally abnormal transcriptome, with lower expression of genes with proteostasis functions (RSP4X); cell cycle progression (BUB1B); and OXPHOS energy production (COX6C, ATP11C). Discussion: We characterize the human fetal perimeiotic 45,X ovary at single-cell resolution and offer insights into the genomic mechanisms of the ovarian insufficiency phenotype in TS.

Type: Article
Title: Characterizing the Human Fetal Perimeiotic 45,X Ovary at Single-Cell Resolution
Location: United States
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvaf094
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvaf094
Language: English
Additional information: © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. See the journal About page for additional terms.
Keywords: Turner syndrome, single-nucleus sequencing, single-cell sequencing, ovarian insufficiency, X chromosome genetics
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health > Developmental Biology and Cancer Dept
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health > Genetics and Genomic Medicine Dept
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10214212
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