Single-cell transcriptomic profiling unveils insights into ovarian fibrosis in obese mice

Adiposity profoundly impacts reproductive health in both humans and animals. However, the precise subpopulations contributing to infertility under obese conditions remain elusive.

In this study, we established an obese mouse model through an eighteen-week high-fat diet regimen in adult female mice. Employing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), we constructed a comprehensive single-cell atlas of ovarian tissues from these mice to scrutinize the impact of obesity on the ovarian microenvironment. ScRNA-seq revealed notable alterations in the microenvironment of ovarian tissues in obese mice. Granulosa cells, stromal cells, T cells, and macrophages exhibited functional imbalances compared to the control group. We observed heightened interaction strength in the SPP1-CD44 pairing within lgfbp7⁺ granulosa cell subtypes and Il1b^high monocyte subtypes in the ovarian tissues of obese mice. Moreover, the interaction strength between Il1b^high monocyte subtypes and Pdgfrb⁺ stromal cell subtypes in the form of TNF − TNFrsf1α interaction was also enhanced subsequently to obesity, potentially contributing to ovarian fibrosis pathogenesis.

We propose a model wherein granulosa cells secrete SPP1 to activate monocytes, subsequently triggering TNF-α secretion by monocytes, thereby activating stromal cells and ultimately leading to the development of ovarian fibrosis. Intervening in this process may represent a promising avenue for improving clinical outcomes in fertility treatments for obese women.