Identification of proteins in human follicular fluid by proteomic profiling

Human follicular fluid (HFF) is the in vivo microenvironment for oocyte maturation and includes a variety of proteins that could be involved in oocyte development and fertilization. We therefore used a proteomic approach to identify new Hi proteins. Hi from mature human follicles was obtained from five women following oocyte collection for in vitro fertilization (IVF) Ethanol-precipitated (HFF) run on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (21 produced approximately 250 Coomassie brilliant blue-stained spots, 64 of which were identified using matrix-assisted laser clesorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI- MS). In this study, several proteins including complement factor H, inter-alpha (globulin) inhibitor H4 inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4 precursor, human zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein chain 13, PRO2619, PRO02044, and complex-forming glycoprotein HC were new proteins that have not been previously reported in HFF using proteomic methods. Additionally, we identified alloalbumin venezia for the first time from trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-precipitated HFF These HIFF proteins could serve as new biomarkers for important human reproductive processes.