51
|
Zhao L, Zheng X, Liu J, Zheng R, Yang R, Wang Y, Sun L. The placental transcriptome of the first-trimester placenta is affected by in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2019; 17:50. [PMID: 31262321 PMCID: PMC6604150 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-019-0494-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The placenta is a highly specialized temporary organ that is related to fetal development and pregnancy outcomes, and epidemiological data demonstrate an increased risk of placental abnormality after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHODS This study examines alterations in the transcriptome profile of first-trimester placentas from IVF-ET pregnancies and analyzes the potential mechanisms that play a role in the adverse perinatal outcomes associated with IVF-ET procedures. Four human placental villi from first-trimester samples were obtained through fetal bud aspiration from patients subjected to IVF-ET due to oviductal factors. An additional four control human placental villi were derived from a group of subjects who spontaneously conceived a twin pregnancy. We analyzed their transcriptomes by microarray. Then, RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry were utilized to analyze several dysregulated genes to validate the microarray results. Biological functions and pathways were analyzed with bioinformatics tools. RESULTS A total of 3405 differentially regulated genes were identified as significantly dysregulated (> 2-fold change; P < 0.05) in the IVF-ET placenta in the first trimester: 1910 upregulated and 1495 downregulated genes. Functional enrichment analysis of the differentially regulated genes demonstrated that the genes were involved in more than 50 biological processes and pathways that have been shown to play important roles in the first trimester in vivo. These pathways can be clustered into coagulation cascades, immune response, transmembrane signaling, metabolism, cell cycle, stress control, invasion and vascularization. Nearly the same number of up- and downregulated genes participate in the same biological processes related to placental development and maintenance. Procedures utilized in IVF-ET altered the expression of first-trimester placental genes that are critical to these biological processes and triggered a compensatory mechanism during early implantation in vivo. CONCLUSION These data provide a potential basis for further analysis of the higher frequency of adverse perinatal outcomes following IVF-ET, with the ultimate goal of developing safer IVF-ET protocols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan, Hospital, No. 31, Xinjiekou East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuli Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan, Hospital, No. 31, Xinjiekou East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingfang Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan, Hospital, No. 31, Xinjiekou East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, People's Republic of China
| | - Rong Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan, Hospital, No. 31, Xinjiekou East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Yang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49, Huayuan North Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Wang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49, Huayuan North Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Lifang Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan, Hospital, No. 31, Xinjiekou East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
52
|
Yu B, Smith TH, Battle SL, Ferrell S, Hawkins RD. Superovulation alters global DNA methylation in early mouse embryo development. Epigenetics 2019; 14:780-790. [PMID: 31060426 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2019.1615353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Assisted reproductive technologies are known to alter the developmental environment of gametes and early embryos during the most dynamic period of establishing the epigenome. This may result in the introduction of errors during active DNA methylation reprogramming. Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, or superovulation, is a ubiquitously used intervention which has been demonstrated to alter the methylation of certain imprinted genes. The objective of this study was to investigate whether ovarian hyperstimulation results in genome-wide DNA methylation changes in mouse early embryos. Ovarian hyperstimulation was induced by treating mice with either low doses (5 IU) or high doses (10 IU) of PMSG and hCG. Natural mating (NM) control mice received no treatment. Zygotes and 8-cell embryos were collected from each group and DNA methylomes were generated by whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. In the NM group, mean CpG methylation levels slightly decreased from zygote to 8-cell stage, whereas a large decrease in mean CpG methylation level was observed in both superovulated groups. A separate analysis of the mean CpG methylation levels within each developmental stage confirmed that significant genome-wide erasure of CpG methylation from the zygote to 8-cell stage only occurred in the superovulation groups. Our results suggest that superovulation alters the genome-wide DNA methylation erasure process in mouse early pre-implantation embryos. It is not clear whether these changes are transient or persistent. Further studies are ongoing to investigate the impact of ovarian hyperstimulation on DNA methylation re-establishment in later stages of embryo development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Yu
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.,b Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA
| | - Thomas H Smith
- c Departments of Medicine and Genome Sciences , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA
| | - Stephanie L Battle
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.,c Departments of Medicine and Genome Sciences , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA
| | - Shannon Ferrell
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA
| | - R David Hawkins
- b Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.,c Departments of Medicine and Genome Sciences , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA
| |
Collapse
|
53
|
Imatinib treatments have long-term impact on placentation and embryo survival. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2535. [PMID: 30796277 PMCID: PMC6385245 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39134-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Imatinib is an oral chemotherapeutic used primarily to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). The potential effects of cancer treatments on a patient’s future fertility are a major concern affecting the quality of life for cancer survivors. The effects of imatinib on future fertility are unknown. It is teratogenic. Therefore, patients are advised to stop treatment before pregnancy. Unfortunately, CML and GIST have high rates of recurrence in the absence of the drug, therefore halting imatinib during pregnancy endangers the mother. Possible long-term (post-treatment) effects of imatinib on reproduction have not been studied. We have used a mouse model to examine the effects of imatinib on the placenta and implantation after long-term imatinib exposure. We found significant changes in epigenetic markers of key imprinted genes in the placenta. There was a significant decrease in the labyrinth zone and vasculature of the placenta, which could impact fetal growth later in pregnancy. These effects on placental growth occurred even when imatinib was stopped prior to pregnancy. These results indicate potential long-term effects of imatinib on pregnancy and implantation. A prolonged wash-out period prior to pregnancy or extra monitoring for possible placental insufficiency may be advisable.
Collapse
|
54
|
Ma Y, Ma Y, Wen L, Lei H, Chen S, Wang X. Changes in DNA methylation and imprinting disorders in E9.5 mouse fetuses and placentas derived from vitrified eight-cell embryos. Mol Reprod Dev 2019; 86:404-415. [PMID: 30680835 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Vitrification is increasingly used in assisted reproductive technology (ART) laboratories worldwide, and potential vitrification-induced risks require further exploration. The effect of vitrification on changes in DNA methylation and imprinting disorders was investigated in E9.5 mouse fetuses and placentas. Fetus and placental tissues were collected from the natural mating (nautural conception [NC]) group, in vitro culture (IVC) group and vitrified embryo transfer (VET) group. The fetal crown-rump length at E9.5 in both the IVC (0.210 ± 0.059 mm) and VET (0.205 ± 0.048 mm) groups was significantly reduced compared with the NC group (0.288 ± 0.083 mm). The global methylation levels of fetuses were decreased in the IVC group compared with the NC group and it was increased after vitrification compared with IVC (p < 0.05), similar to what was observed in the NC group (p > 0.05). The changes could be attributed to the disorders of DNA methyltransferases and ten-eleven translocations. In the IVC and VET fetuses, a majority of maternally expressed genes were upregulated, which repressed fetal growth. Furthermore, vitrification led to a change in the methylation level of KvDMR1, which resulted in the disturbance of gene imprinting. According to our results, vitrification could contribute to increased methylation compared with IVC and contributes to a gene imprinting disorder rather than recovery. Despite the routine use of embryo vitrification in clinical settings, the effect that this procedure may have on genomic imprinting deserves much greater attention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Reproductive Medicine Center, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yefei Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Reproductive Medicine Center, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Liang Wen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Reproductive Medicine Center, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hui Lei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Reproductive Medicine Center, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shuqiang Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Reproductive Medicine Center, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Reproductive Medicine Center, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| |
Collapse
|
55
|
Zhang J, Wang Y, Liu H, Mao X, Chen Q, Fan Y, Xiao Y, Kuang Y. Effect of in vitro culture period on birth weight after vitrified-warmed transfer cycles: analysis of 4,201 singleton newborns. Fertil Steril 2019; 111:97-104. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
|
56
|
Naseri F, Hosseini S, Ghaffari Novin M, Hosseini A, Heidari MH, Salehi M. Does blastomere removal alter the expression level of miR-Let7a and its target genes following mouse embryo biopsy? J Cell Biochem 2018; 120:9430-9436. [PMID: 30506995 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.28218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Embryo manipulations may cause the misexpression of various genes, most of which play critical roles in the regulation of implantation. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of embryo biopsy on the expression of miR-Let-7a and its gene targets including ErbB4, Tgf-α, Itg-αv, Itg β3 on the implantation of mouse embryo. Embryos were produced by in vitro fertilization followed by blastomere biopsy at the eight-cell stage. The effects of blastomere removal on the expression of genes ErbB4, Tgf-α, Itg αv, Itg β3, and miR-Let-7a as well as the alteration of the blastocyst cell number were compared in both biopsied and non-biopsied groups. Finally, blastocyst attachment was assessed on culture dishes precoated with Fibronectin. The results revealed that there were no significant differences between the biopsied and non-biopsied embryos with reference to the blastocyst formation rates, the average inner cell mass, trophectoderm cell number, and percentage of attachment of blastocysts (P > 0.05). The expression of ErbB4, Itg-β3, Itg-αv, TGF-α transcripts, and miR-Let-7a in blastocysts biopsied embryos did not differ from the non-biopsied blastocysts (P > 0.05). The results demonstrated that the preimplantation embryo development and attachment of biopsied embryos in vitro is not adversely affected by one blastomere biopsy at the eight-cell stage embryo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Naseri
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Hosseini
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marefat Ghaffari Novin
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Hosseini
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hasan Heidari
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Salehi
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
57
|
Lou H, Le F, Hu M, Yang X, Li L, Wang L, Wang N, Gao H, Jin F. Aberrant DNA Methylation of IGF2-H19 Locus in Human Fetus and in Spermatozoa From Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Reprod Sci 2018; 26:997-1004. [PMID: 30270743 DOI: 10.1177/1933719118802052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Given the higher risk of developing imprinting disorders in assisted reproductive technology (ART)-conceived children, we hypothesized that ART may affect DNA methylation of the insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), H19, small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide N (SNRPN) differentially methylated regions (DMRs) at the fetal stage, which in turn may be associated with sperm abnormalities. A total of 4 patient groups were recruited, namely, multifetal reduction following in vitro fertilization (IVF)/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI; n = 56), multifetal reduction following controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH; n = 42), male patients with normal semen parameters denoted as normozoospermia group (NZ) for IVF (n = 36), and male patients presenting with asthenozoospermia (OAZ) for ICSI (n = 38). The expression levels and the DNA methylation status of IGF2-H19 and SNRPN DMRs in the fetuses and the semen samples were evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and pyrosequencing. In our results, the expression levels of H19 were significantly higher, whereas the methylation rates were lower in IVF-conceived fetuses compared to the control group (P < .05). Furthermore, higher methylation rates of IGF2 DMR2 and SNRPN DMR were detected both in IVF- and ICSI-conceived fetuses (P < .05). The data further indicated that the patients who presented with the majority of the CpG sites in the H19 DMR region that were lower methylated were those in the OAZ group. The results demonstrated that the epigenetic dysregulations of IGF2-H19 and SNRPN DMRs that were caused by ART were noted in the fetuses. Moreover, the present study suggested that epigenetic perturbations of the H19 DMR might be a key biomarker for spermatogenesis defects in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hangying Lou
- 1 Center of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,2 Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fang Le
- 1 Center of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Minhao Hu
- 1 Center of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinyun Yang
- 1 Center of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lejun Li
- 1 Center of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liya Wang
- 1 Center of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ning Wang
- 1 Center of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huijuan Gao
- 1 Center of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fan Jin
- 1 Center of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,2 Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
58
|
Senapati S, Wang F, Ord T, Coutifaris C, Feng R, Mainigi M. Superovulation alters the expression of endometrial genes critical to tissue remodeling and placentation. J Assist Reprod Genet 2018; 35:1799-1808. [PMID: 29959621 PMCID: PMC6150905 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-018-1244-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Epidemiologic data suggest that in vitro fertilization (IVF) is associated with an increased risk of disorders of placentation including preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. Specifically, studies have demonstrated that singleton pregnancies conceived following a fresh embryo transfer are at an increased risk of delivering an infant with low birth weight compared to those conceived following a frozen embryo transfer. The mechanism responsible for this association remains unclear. Procedures utilized in IVF have also been linked with epigenetic changes and gene expression changes in both fetal and maternal tissues. Data suggest that modifications in the maternal endometrium can lead to disordered trophoblast invasion and placentation. This study examines the effect of ovarian stimulation on endometrial gene expression and DNA methylation during the window of implantation to examine potential pathways playing a role in the adverse outcomes associated with IVF. METHODS Endometrial biopsies were obtained from oocyte donors and age-matched naturally cycling women 11 days following oocyte retrieval in donors or 12 days following luteinizing hormone (LH) surge in naturally cycling women. Global gene expression was analyzed via Affymetrix Human Gene 1.1 ST array and confirmed with RT-qPCR. DNA methylation was assessed with the Infinium DNA methylation 450 K BeadChip. RESULTS Analysis of endometrial gene expression from 23 women (11 oocyte donors and 12 controls) demonstrated 165 genes with a greater than twofold change in expression between donors and controls. While there were 785 genes with significant differential methylation in the endometrium of donors when compared with control subjects, none of the genes with altered expression showed significant changes in DNA methylation. Analysis of the differentially expressed genes showed enrichment for genes involved in endometrial remodeling including PLAT, HSPE2, MMP2, and TIMP1. Validation studies using RT-qPCR found a 73% reduction in expression of heparanase 2 (HSPE2) an enzyme associated with both angiogenesis and cell invasion, a greater than twofold increase in tissue-type plasminogen activator (PLAT), a serine protease participating in matrix degradation, and a 70% increase in MMP2, a gelatinase involved in collagen and fibronectin breakdown. CONCLUSIONS Superovulation alters expression of genes critical to endometrial remodeling during early implantation. Such changes could lead to altered trophoblast migration and impaired endovascular invasion. These findings offer a potential mechanism for the adverse perinatal outcomes observed following embryo transfer during fresh IVF cycles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suneeta Senapati
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3701 Market Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Fan Wang
- Department of Molecular Cardiology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Teri Ord
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3701 Market Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Christos Coutifaris
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3701 Market Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Rui Feng
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Monica Mainigi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3701 Market Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
59
|
Ahmadi H, Fathi F, Moeini A, Amidi F, Sobhani A. Evaluation of prooxidant-antioxidant balance in in vitro fertilization-conceived mice. Clin Exp Reprod Med 2018; 45:82-87. [PMID: 29984208 PMCID: PMC6030613 DOI: 10.5653/cerm.2018.45.2.82] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Concerns about the safety of assisted reproductive technology (ART) have been raised, as some studies have shown elevated incidence rates of childhood cancer, asthma, allergies, and other diseases in ART-conceived babies. Findings regarding the health of ART-conceived babies are controversial. The present study was conducted to evaluate the prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) in in vitro fertilization (IVF)-conceived mice in comparison to naturally conceived offspring. Methods Mice (6-8 weeks) were divided into two groups (IVF-conceived and naturally conceived) matched by sex, age, weight, and litter size. A 1-mL blood sample was taken and the sera were separated. The oxidant-antioxidant balance was evaluated using a fast and reliable PAB assay. The results were expressed as mean±standard deviation. Results The mean PAB values (HK units) in the IVF-conceived and naturally conceived groups were 59.70±22.30 and 54.70±18.22, respectively (p=0.82). Conclusion Since free radicals contribute to several pathological conditions and antioxidants play an important protective role against oxidative stress, evaluating the oxidant-antioxidant balance is very important. Although the results of this study showed that the quality of the defense mechanism against free radicals was not significantly different between the IVF-conceived and naturally conceived mice, other parameters of metabolic dysfunction need to be measured.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Ahmadi
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fardin Fathi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Ashraf Moeini
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Arash Women's Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fardin Amidi
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aligholi Sobhani
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
60
|
Li R, Ou S, Ouyang N, Zheng L, Zhang Q, Yang D, Wang W. Brief co-incubation of gametes benefits the outcomes of newborns. J Assist Reprod Genet 2018; 35:1537-1542. [PMID: 29926375 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-018-1229-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The objective of this study was to determine whether ammonium accumulates in IVF media during fertility process and whether the brief co-incubation of gametes (bIVF) benefited the outcomes of newborns. METHODS Ammonium levels in IVF media during gamete co-incubation were measured and the effects of bIVF on neonatal outcomes were evaluated retrospectively in this study. RESULTS A total of 609 live newborns cycles were included in this study. The results showed that ammonium levels in the conventional IVF (cIVF) media was significantly increased than that in bIVF and control media (27.32 ± 5.60 vs 20.71 ± 3.89, P = 0.03; 27.32 ± 5.60 vs 19.46 ± 1.31, P = 0.01, respectively). In the cIVF group, the mean gestational age was significantly lower (37.36 ± 2.29 vs. 37.74 ± 1.94 weeks, P = 0.031) and the incidence of preterm birth (< 37 weeks) was higher than that in the bIVF group (25.80 vs. 17.63%, P = 0.015). Singleton cycles and twin cycles were then analyzed respectively. The gestational age and birth weight of the singleton cycles were similar between the two groups. However, of the twin cycles, the gestational age was significantly decreased and the rate of preterm birth was increased significantly in the cIVF group (35.76 ± 2.31 vs. 36.48 ± 1.73, P = 0.013; 53.33 vs. 31.52%, P = 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS There is an ammonium accumulation in IVF media during co-incubation of gametes. And bIVF reduces the risk of preterm birth (< 37 weeks), especially with regard to preterm birth of the twin cycles, and seems to be a safe alternative method for improving the neonatal outcomes compared with cIVF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Reproductive Medicine Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Songbang Ou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Reproductive Medicine Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Nengyong Ouyang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Reproductive Medicine Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Lingyan Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Reproductive Medicine Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Qingxue Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Reproductive Medicine Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Dongzi Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Reproductive Medicine Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
| | - Wenjun Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Reproductive Medicine Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
| |
Collapse
|
61
|
O'Doherty AM, McGettigan P, Irwin RE, Magee DA, Gagne D, Fournier E, Al-Naib A, Sirard MA, Walsh CP, Robert C, Fair T. Intragenic sequences in the trophectoderm harbour the greatest proportion of methylation errors in day 17 bovine conceptuses generated using assisted reproductive technologies. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:438. [PMID: 29866048 PMCID: PMC5987443 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-4818-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are widely used to treat fertility issues in humans and for the production of embryos in mammalian livestock. The use of these techniques, however, is not without consequence as they are often associated with inauspicious pre- and postnatal outcomes including premature birth, intrauterine growth restriction and increased incidence of epigenetic disorders in human and large offspring syndrome in cattle. Here, global DNA methylation profiles in the trophectoderm and embryonic discs of in vitro produced (IVP), superovulation-derived (SOV) and unstimulated, synchronised control day 17 bovine conceptuses (herein referred to as AI) were interrogated using the EmbryoGENE DNA Methylation Array (EDMA). Pyrosequencing was used to validate four loci identified as differentially methylated on the array and to assess the differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of six imprinted genes in these conceptuses. The impact of embryo-production induced DNA methylation aberrations was determined using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, shedding light on the potential functional consequences of these differences. Results Of the total number of differentially methylated loci identified (3140) 77.3 and 22.7% were attributable to SOV and IVP, respectively. Differential methylation was most prominent at intragenic sequences within the trophectoderm of IVP and SOV-derived conceptuses, almost a third (30.8%) of the differentially methylated loci mapped to intragenic regions. Very few differentially methylated loci were detected in embryonic discs (ED); 0.16 and 4.9% of the differentially methylated loci were located in the ED of SOV-derived and IVP conceptuses, respectively. The overall effects of SOV and IVP on the direction of methylation changes were associated with increased methylation; 70.6% of the differentially methylated loci in SOV-derived conceptuses and 57.9% of the loci in IVP-derived conceptuses were more methylated compared to AI-conceptuses. Ontology analysis of probes associated with intragenic sequences suggests enrichment for terms associated with cancer, cell morphology and growth. Conclusion By examining (1) the effects of superovulation and (2) the effects of an in vitro system (oocyte maturation, fertilisation and embryo culture) we have identified that the assisted reproduction process of superovulation alone has the largest impact on the DNA methylome of subsequent embryos. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-4818-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alan M O'Doherty
- School of Agriculture and Food Science and Lyons Research Farm, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Paul McGettigan
- School of Agriculture and Food Science and Lyons Research Farm, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Rachelle E Irwin
- Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine, UK
| | - David A Magee
- School of Agriculture and Food Science and Lyons Research Farm, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Dominic Gagne
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction (CRBR), Département des Sciences Animales, Université Laval, Québec, Qc, Canada
| | - Eric Fournier
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction (CRBR), Département des Sciences Animales, Université Laval, Québec, Qc, Canada
| | - Abdullah Al-Naib
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agriculture, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksberg, VA, USA
| | - Marc-André Sirard
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction (CRBR), Département des Sciences Animales, Université Laval, Québec, Qc, Canada
| | - Colum P Walsh
- Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine, UK
| | - Claude Robert
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction (CRBR), Département des Sciences Animales, Université Laval, Québec, Qc, Canada
| | - Trudee Fair
- School of Agriculture and Food Science and Lyons Research Farm, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
62
|
Lin T, Dang S, Su Q, Zhang H, Zhang J, Zhang L, Zhang X, Lu Y, Li H, Zhu Z. The Impact and Mechanism of Methylated Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors 1 and 5 in the Hippocampus on Depression-Like Behavior in Prenatal Stress Offspring Rats. J Clin Med 2018; 7:jcm7060117. [PMID: 29882864 PMCID: PMC6025529 DOI: 10.3390/jcm7060117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 05/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of epidemiological investigations and animal models research suggest that prenatal stress (PS) could cause depression-like behavior in the offspring, which is sex specific. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This study is to investigate the promoter methylation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1) and metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 (mGluR5) gene modification on PS induced depression-like behavior in offspring rats (OR). PS models were established, with or without 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-azaD, decitabine) treatment. Animal behavior was assessed by the sucrose preference test (SPT), forced swimming test (FST), and open field test (OFT). The mRNA and protein expression levels of mGluR1 and mGluR5 in the hippocampus of offspring were detected with quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. The promoter methylation in the hippocampus of mGluR1 and mGluR5 OR were also analyzed. SPT showed significantly reduced sucrose preference in PS induced OR. FST showed significantly prolonged immobility time in PS induced OR. OFT showed significantly reduced central residence time in PS induced OR and no significantly influence in rearing as well as in frequency of micturition. Moreover, the mRNA, protein expression levels, and gene promoter methylation level of mGluR1 and mGluR5 in the hippocampus were significantly increased in the PS induced male OR, while no significantly influence in the PS induced female OR. Furthermore, the PS induced effects in male OR could be reversed by the microinjection of 5-azaD. In conclusion, our results showed that the promoter methylation of mGluR1 and mGluR5 gene modification is only involved in PS induced depression-like behavior in male OR in a sex-specific manner. These findings might contribute to the understanding of the disease pathogenesis and clinical treatment in future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianwei Lin
- Shaanxi Province Biomedicine Key Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Shaokang Dang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Qian Su
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Huiping Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Junli Zhang
- Shaanxi Province Biomedicine Key Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Lin Zhang
- Shaanxi Province Biomedicine Key Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Xiaoxiao Zhang
- Shaanxi Province Biomedicine Key Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Yong Lu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Zhongliang Zhu
- Shaanxi Province Biomedicine Key Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, China.
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China.
| |
Collapse
|
63
|
Ly L, Chan D, Aarabi M, Landry M, Behan NA, MacFarlane AJ, Trasler J. Intergenerational impact of paternal lifetime exposures to both folic acid deficiency and supplementation on reproductive outcomes and imprinted gene methylation. Mol Hum Reprod 2018; 23:461-477. [PMID: 28535307 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gax029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Do paternal exposures to folic acid deficient (FD), and/or folic acid supplemented (FS) diets, throughout germ cell development adversely affect male germ cells and consequently offspring health outcomes? SUMMARY ANSWER Male mice exposed over their lifetimes to both FD and FS diets showed decreased sperm counts and altered imprinted gene methylation with evidence of transmission of adverse effects to the offspring, including increased postnatal-preweaning mortality and variability in imprinted gene methylation. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY There is increasing evidence that disruptions in male germ cell epigenetic reprogramming are associated with offspring abnormalities and intergenerational disease. The fetal period is the critical time of DNA methylation pattern acquisition for developing male germ cells and an adequate supply of methyl donors is required. In addition, DNA methylation patterns continue to be remodeled during postnatal spermatogenesis. Previous studies have shown that lifetime (prenatal and postnatal) folic acid deficiency can alter the sperm epigenome and increase the incidence of fetal morphological abnormalities. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Female BALB/c mice (F0) were placed on one of four amino-acid defined diets for 4 weeks before pregnancy and throughout pregnancy and lactation: folic acid control (Ctrl; 2 mg/kg), 7-fold folic acid deficient (7FD; 0.3 mg/kg), 10-fold high FS (10FS, 20 mg/kg) or 20-fold high FS (20FS, 40 mg/kg) diets. F1 males were weaned to their respective prenatal diets to allow for diet exposure during all windows of germline epigenetic reprogramming: the erasure, re-establishment and maintenance phases. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTINGS, METHODS F0 females were mated with chow-fed males to produce F1 litters whose germ cells were exposed to the diets throughout embryonic development. F1 males were subsequently mated with chow-fed female mice. Two F2 litters, unexposed to the experimental diets, were generated from each F1 male; one litter was collected at embryonic day (E)18.5 and one delivered and followed postnatally. DNA methylation at a global level and at the differentially methylated regions of imprinted genes (H19, Imprinted Maternally Expressed Transcript (Non-Protein Coding)-H19, Small Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Polypeptide N-Snrpn, KCNQ1 Opposite Strand/Antisense Transcript 1 (Non-Protein Coding)-Kcnq1ot1, Paternally Expressed Gene 1-Peg1 and Paternally Expressed Gene 3-Peg3) was assessed by luminometric methylation analysis and bisulfite pyrosequencing, respectively, in F1 sperm, F2 E18.5 placenta and F2 E18.5 brain cortex. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE F1 males exhibited lower sperm counts following lifetime exposure to both folic acid deficiency and the highest dose of folic acid supplementation (20FS), (both P < 0.05). Post-implantation losses were increased amongst F2 E18.5 day litters from 20FS exposed F1 males (P < 0.05). F2 litters derived from both 7FD and 20FS exposed F1 males had significantly higher postnatal-preweaning pup death (both P < 0.05). Sperm from 10FS exposed males had increased variance in methylation across imprinted gene H19, P < 0.05; increased variance at a few sites within H19 was also found for the 7FD and 20FS groups (P < 0.05). While the 20FS diet resulted in inter-individual alterations in methylation across the imprinted genes Snrpn and Peg3 in F2 E18.5 placenta, ≥50% of individual sites tested in Peg1 and/or Peg3 were affected in the 7FD and 10FS groups. Inter-individual alterations in Peg1 methylation were found in F2 E18.5 day 10FS group brain cortex (P < 0.05). LARGE SCALE DATA Not applicable. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION The cause of the increase in postnatal-preweaning mortality was not investigated post-mortem. Further studies are required to understand the mechanisms underlying the adverse effects of folic acid deficiency and supplementation on developing male germ cells. Genome-wide DNA and histone methylome studies as well as gene expression studies are required to better understand the links between folic acid exposures, an altered germ cell epigenome and offspring outcomes. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The findings of this study provide further support for paternally transmitted environmental effects. The results indicate that both folic acid deficiency and high dose supplementation can be detrimental to germ cell development and reproductive fitness, in part by altering DNA methylation in sperm. STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTERESTS This study was supported by a grant to J.M.T. from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR #89944). The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lundi Ly
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, 1205 Dr. Penfield Avenue, Montréal, QC, Canada H3A 1B1.,Child Health and Human Development Program (CHHD), Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Decarie Blvd, Westmount, QC, Canada H4A 3J1
| | - Donovan Chan
- Child Health and Human Development Program (CHHD), Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Decarie Blvd, Westmount, QC, Canada H4A 3J1
| | - Mahmoud Aarabi
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, 1205 Dr. Penfield Avenue, Montréal, QC, Canada H3A 1B1.,Child Health and Human Development Program (CHHD), Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Decarie Blvd, Westmount, QC, Canada H4A 3J1
| | - Mylène Landry
- Child Health and Human Development Program (CHHD), Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Decarie Blvd, Westmount, QC, Canada H4A 3J1
| | - Nathalie A Behan
- Nutrition Research Division, Health Canada, 251 Promenade Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0K9
| | - Amanda J MacFarlane
- Nutrition Research Division, Health Canada, 251 Promenade Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0K9
| | - Jacquetta Trasler
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, 1205 Dr. Penfield Avenue, Montréal, QC, Canada H3A 1B1.,Child Health and Human Development Program (CHHD), Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Decarie Blvd, Westmount, QC, Canada H4A 3J1.,Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 3655 Prom. Sir William Osler, Montreal, QC, Canada H3G 1Y6
| |
Collapse
|
64
|
Mackin SJ, Thakur A, Walsh CP. Imprint stability and plasticity during development. Reproduction 2018; 156:R43-R55. [PMID: 29743259 DOI: 10.1530/rep-18-0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
There have been a number of recent insights in the area of genomic imprinting, the phenomenon whereby one of two autosomal alleles is selected for expression based on the parent of origin. This is due in part to a proliferation of new techniques for interrogating the genome that are leading researchers working on organisms other than mouse and human, where imprinting has been most studied, to become interested in looking for potential imprinting effects. Here, we recap what is known about the importance of imprints for growth and body size, as well as the main types of locus control. Interestingly, work from a number of labs has now shown that maintenance of the imprint post implantation appears to be a more crucial step than previously appreciated. We ask whether imprints can be reprogrammed somatically, how many loci there are and how conserved imprinted regions are in other species. Finally, we survey some of the methods available for examining DNA methylation genome-wide and look to the future of this burgeoning field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah-Jayne Mackin
- Genomic Medicine Research GroupSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Avinash Thakur
- Genomic Medicine Research GroupSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Colum P Walsh
- Genomic Medicine Research GroupSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Northern Ireland, UK
| |
Collapse
|
65
|
Fleming TP, Watkins AJ, Velazquez MA, Mathers JC, Prentice AM, Stephenson J, Barker M, Saffery R, Yajnik CS, Eckert JJ, Hanson MA, Forrester T, Gluckman PD, Godfrey KM. Origins of lifetime health around the time of conception: causes and consequences. Lancet 2018; 391:1842-1852. [PMID: 29673874 PMCID: PMC5975952 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)30312-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 622] [Impact Index Per Article: 103.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Revised: 12/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Parental environmental factors, including diet, body composition, metabolism, and stress, affect the health and chronic disease risk of people throughout their lives, as captured in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease concept. Research across the epidemiological, clinical, and basic science fields has identified the period around conception as being crucial for the processes mediating parental influences on the health of the next generation. During this time, from the maturation of gametes through to early embryonic development, parental lifestyle can adversely influence long-term risks of offspring cardiovascular, metabolic, immune, and neurological morbidities, often termed developmental programming. We review periconceptional induction of disease risk from four broad exposures: maternal overnutrition and obesity; maternal undernutrition; related paternal factors; and the use of assisted reproductive treatment. Studies in both humans and animal models have demonstrated the underlying biological mechanisms, including epigenetic, cellular, physiological, and metabolic processes. We also present a meta-analysis of mouse paternal and maternal protein undernutrition that suggests distinct parental periconceptional contributions to postnatal outcomes. We propose that the evidence for periconceptional effects on lifetime health is now so compelling that it calls for new guidance on parental preparation for pregnancy, beginning before conception, to protect the health of offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tom P Fleming
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Adam J Watkins
- School of Medicine, Division of Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Miguel A Velazquez
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - John C Mathers
- Human Nutrition Research Centre, Institute of Cellular Medicine and Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Andrew M Prentice
- MRC Unit, The Gambia and MRC International Nutrition Group, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Judith Stephenson
- UCL EGA Institute for Women's Health, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mary Barker
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton & University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Richard Saffery
- Cancer & Disease Epigenetics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Judith J Eckert
- Institute of Developmental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Mark A Hanson
- Institute of Developmental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton & University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Terrence Forrester
- University of the West Indies Solutions for Developing Countries, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica
| | - Peter D Gluckman
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Keith M Godfrey
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Institute of Developmental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton & University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
66
|
Koscinski I, Merten M, Kazdar N, Guéant JL. [Culture conditions for gametes and embryos: Which culture medium? Which impact on newborn?]. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 46:474-480. [PMID: 29709567 DOI: 10.1016/j.gofs.2018.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Many studies have examined the impact of cell/embryo culture media on the development of human embryo during IVF process, but few studies have followed up and compared the effects of these culture media on the developmental outcome of children conceived by IVF. As recurrent experimental evidence from animal studies suggests potential long-term effects of embryo culture media on the health outcome of IVF-conceived children, more studies are needed to clarify the role of the culture media and mechanisms underlying such effects. In human, however, the effects of culture media are difficult to pinpoint due to complications stem from both the influence of maternal nutrition during the gestational period and the parental genetic. Based on a simple review of the literature integrating animal experimentations and human clinic studies, we suggest that the composition of culture medium should be considered beyond the character of unique or sequential medium, corresponding to "let embryo choose" or "back to nature" respectively. Instead, we suggest that the main components of embryo culture media should be considered from the point of view of metabolic consequences and potential epigenetic effects. Given that energetic metabolites can regulate epigenetic machinery, we hypothesize that metabolic abnormalities linked to morphological abnormalities could reveal epigenetic defects in embryos.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I Koscinski
- Laboratoire de biologie de la reproduction, CHRU de Nancy, 10, rue du Dr-Heydenreich, 54000 Nancy, France; Unité Inserm 954 N-GERE, 9, avenue de la Forêt-de-Hayes, CS 5018, 54505 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
| | - M Merten
- Unité Inserm 954 N-GERE, 9, avenue de la Forêt-de-Hayes, CS 5018, 54505 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France; Laboratoire de biochimie, CHRU de Nancy, rue du Morvan, 54511 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - N Kazdar
- Laboratoire Eylau-Unilabs, clinique Pierre-Cherest, 5, rue Pierre-Cherest, 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
| | - J-L Guéant
- Unité Inserm 954 N-GERE, 9, avenue de la Forêt-de-Hayes, CS 5018, 54505 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France; Laboratoire de biochimie, CHRU de Nancy, rue du Morvan, 54511 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| |
Collapse
|
67
|
Whidden L, Martel J, Rahimi S, Chaillet JR, Chan D, Trasler JM. Compromised oocyte quality and assisted reproduction contribute to sex-specific effects on offspring outcomes and epigenetic patterning. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 25:4649-4660. [PMID: 28173052 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Revised: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical studies have revealed an increased incidence of growth and genomic imprinting disorders in children conceived using assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), and aberrant DNA methylation has been implicated. We propose that compromised oocyte quality associated with female infertility may make embryos more susceptible to the induction of epigenetic defects by ART. DNA methylation patterns in the preimplantation embryo are dependent on the oocyte-specific DNA methyltransferase 1o (DNMT1o), levels of which are decreased in mature oocytes of aging females. Here, we assessed the effects of maternal deficiency in DNMT1o (Dnmt1Δ1o/+) in combination with superovulation and embryo transfer on offspring DNA methylation and development. We demonstrated a significant increase in the rates of morphological abnormalities in offspring collected from Dnmt1Δ1o/+ females only when combined with ART. Together, maternal oocyte DNMT1o deficiency and ART resulted in an accentuation of placental imprinting defects and the induction of genome-wide DNA methylation alterations, which were exacerbated in the placenta compared to the embryo. Significant sex-specific trends were also apparent, with a preponderance of DNA hypomethylation in females. Among genic regions affected, a significant enrichment for neurodevelopmental pathways was observed. Taken together, our results demonstrate that oocyte DNMT1o-deficiency exacerbates genome-wide DNA methylation abnormalities induced by ART in a sex-specific manner and plays a role in mediating poor embryonic outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Whidden
- Montreal Children's Hospital and Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Josée Martel
- Montreal Children's Hospital and Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sophia Rahimi
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - J Richard Chaillet
- Department of OB/GYN and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Donovan Chan
- Montreal Children's Hospital and Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jacquetta M Trasler
- Montreal Children's Hospital and Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada,Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada,Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
68
|
Ward MA. An Interview with Dr Marisa Bartolomei. Biol Reprod 2017; 98:147-149. [PMID: 29228104 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/iox170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Monika A Ward
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii
| |
Collapse
|
69
|
Palermo GD, O'Neill CL, Chow S, Cheung S, Parrella A, Pereira N, Rosenwaks Z. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection: state of the art in humans. Reproduction 2017; 154:F93-F110. [PMID: 29158352 PMCID: PMC5719728 DOI: 10.1530/rep-17-0374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Among infertile couples, 25% involve both male and female factors, while male factor alone accounts for another 25% due to oligo-, astheno-, teratozoospermia, a combination of the three, or even a complete absence of sperm cells in the ejaculate and can lead to a poor prognosis even with the help of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has been with us now for a quarter of a century and in spite of the controversy generated since its inception, it remains in the forefront of the techniques utilized in ART. The development of ICSI in 1992 has drastically decreased the impact of male factor, resulting in millions of pregnancies worldwide for couples who, without ICSI, would have had little chance of having their own biological child. This review focuses on the state of the art of ICSI regarding utility of bioassays that evaluate male factor infertility beyond the standard semen analysis and describes the current application and advances in regard to ICSI, particularly the genetic and epigenetic characteristics of spermatozoa and their impact on reproductive outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G D Palermo
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - C L O'Neill
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - S Chow
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - S Cheung
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - A Parrella
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - N Pereira
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Z Rosenwaks
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
70
|
Chen XJ, Chen F, Lv PP, Zhang D, Ding GL, Hu XL, Feng C, Sheng JZ, Huang HF. Maternal high estradiol exposure alters CDKN1C and IGF2 expression in human placenta. Placenta 2017; 61:72-79. [PMID: 29277274 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 11/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The increased maternal estradiol (E2) concentrations induced by assisted reproductive technology (ART) result in lower birth weight of offspring, which is associated with increased risk of adult diseases. However, the exact mechanism remains unknown. The present study investigated the effect of high E2 exposure on the expression of imprinted genes CDKN1C and IGF2 in human placentas and the DNA methylation status of their differential methylation regions (DMRs). METHODS The mRNA expression of CDKN1C and IGF2 in human placentas and the human trophoblast cells (HTR8) treated with E2 were investigated by reverse transcription-real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The DNA methylation of their DMRs were investigated by sodium bisulfite sequencing. RESULTS CDKN1C and IGF2 were significantly up-regulated in ART conceived placentas. The mean birth weight of ART singletons was significantly lower than that of naturally conceived (NC) ones, with the increased percentage of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth. The DNA methylation was significantly down-regulated in the DMR of CDKN1C (KvDMR1) and up-regulated in the DMR of IGF2 (H19 DMR) in ART placentas. The treatment of E2 altered the expression of the two genes and the DNA methylation of their DMRs in HTR8 to a similar tendency as in vivo. DISCUSSION The maternal high E2 levels after ART up-regulate the expression of imprinted genes in human placentas through epigenetic modifications, which influences the growth potential of the offspring. Further studies are needed to follow up the growth and development of the ART offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Jing Chen
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Ping-Ping Lv
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Guo-Lian Ding
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China; Institute of Embryo-Fetal Original Adult Diseases and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Xiao-Ling Hu
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Chun Feng
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; The Center of Reproductive Medicine, The 2nd Afliated Hospital of Medical School, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China
| | - Jian-Zhong Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - He-Feng Huang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China; Institute of Embryo-Fetal Original Adult Diseases and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China.
| |
Collapse
|
71
|
Chen Z, Hagen DE, Ji T, Elsik CG, Rivera RM. Global misregulation of genes largely uncoupled to DNA methylome epimutations characterizes a congenital overgrowth syndrome. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12667. [PMID: 28978943 PMCID: PMC5627257 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13012-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Assisted reproductive therapies (ART) have become increasingly common worldwide and numerous retrospective studies have indicated that ART-conceived children are more likely to develop the overgrowth syndrome Beckwith-Wiedemann (BWS). In bovine, the use of ART can induce a similar overgrowth condition, which is referred to as large offspring syndrome (LOS). Both BWS and LOS involve misregulation of imprinted genes. However, it remains unknown whether molecular alterations at non-imprinted loci contribute to these syndromes. Here we examined the transcriptome of skeletal muscle, liver, kidney, and brain of control and LOS bovine fetuses and found that different tissues within LOS fetuses have perturbations of distinct gene pathways. Notably, in skeletal muscle, multiple pathways involved in myoblast proliferation and fusion into myotubes are misregulated in LOS fetuses. Further, characterization of the DNA methylome of skeletal muscle demonstrates numerous local methylation differences between LOS and controls; however, only a small percent of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including the imprinted gene IGF2R, could be associated with the neighboring differentially methylated regions. In summary, we not only show that misregulation of non-imprinted genes and loss-of-imprinting characterize the ART-induced overgrowth syndrome but also demonstrate that most of the DEGs is not directly associated with DNA methylome epimutations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Chen
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.,ZC-159 G Warren Alpert Building, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Darren E Hagen
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA. .,Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, 311C Noble Research Center, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA.
| | - Tieming Ji
- Department of Statistics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Christine G Elsik
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Rocío M Rivera
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
72
|
Canovas S, Ross PJ, Kelsey G, Coy P. DNA Methylation in Embryo Development: Epigenetic Impact of ART (Assisted Reproductive Technologies). Bioessays 2017; 39. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201700106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Canovas
- Physiology of Reproduction Group; University of Murcia; Murcia Spain
- IMIB-Arrixaca Spain; Murcia Spain
| | - Pablo J. Ross
- Department of Animal Science; UC Davis; Davis CA USA
| | - Gavin Kelsey
- Epigenetics Programme; The Babraham Institute; Cambridge UK
| | - Pilar Coy
- Physiology of Reproduction Group; University of Murcia; Murcia Spain
- IMIB-Arrixaca Spain; Murcia Spain
| |
Collapse
|
73
|
Abstract
Prenatal insults, such as maternal stress, are associated with an increased neurodevelopmental disease risk and impact males significantly more than females, including increased rates of autism, mental retardation, stuttering, dyslexia, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Sex differences in the placenta, which begin with sex chromosomes, are likely to produce sex-specific transplacental signals to the developing brain. Our studies and others have identified X-linked genes that are expressed at higher levels in the female placenta. Through a genome-wide screen after maternal stress in mice, we identified the X-linked gene O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase (OGT) and demonstrated its causality in neurodevelopmental programming producing a male-specific stress phenotype. Elucidating the sex-specific molecular mechanisms involved in transplacental signals that impact brain development is key to understanding the sex bias in neurodevelopmental disorders and is expected to yield novel insight into disease risk and resilience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tracy L Bale
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| |
Collapse
|
74
|
Ambeskovic M, Roseboom TJ, Metz GAS. Transgenerational effects of early environmental insults on aging and disease incidence. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 117:297-316. [PMID: 28807754 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2016] [Revised: 06/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Adverse early life experiences are major influences on developmental trajectories with potentially life-long consequences. Prenatal or early postnatal exposure to stress, undernutrition or environmental toxicants may reprogram brain development and increase risk of behavioural and neurological disorders later in life. Not only experience within a single lifetime, but also ancestral experience affects health trajectories and chances of successful aging. The central mechanism in transgenerational programming of a disease may be the formation of epigenetic memory. This review explores transgenerational effects of early adverse experience on health and disease incidence in older age. First, we address mechanisms of developmental and transgenerational programming of disease and inheritance. Second, we discuss experimental and clinical findings linking early environmental determinants to adverse aging trajectories in association with possible parental contributions and sex-specific effects. Third, we outline the main mechanisms of age-related functional decline and suggest potential interventions to reverse negative effects of transgenerational programming. Thus, strategies that support healthy development and successful aging should take into account the potential influences of transgenerational inheritance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mirela Ambeskovic
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K3M4, Canada
| | - Tessa J Roseboom
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Gerlinde A S Metz
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K3M4, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
75
|
Velker BAM, Denomme MM, Krafty RT, Mann MRW. Maintenance of Mest imprinted methylation in blastocyst-stage mouse embryos is less stable than other imprinted loci following superovulation or embryo culture. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2017; 3:dvx015. [PMID: 29492315 PMCID: PMC5804554 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvx015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Revised: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Assisted reproductive technologies are fertility treatments used by subfertile couples to conceive their biological child. Although generally considered safe, these pregnancies have been linked to genomic imprinting disorders, including Beckwith-Wiedemann and Silver-Russell Syndromes. Silver-Russell Syndrome is a growth disorder characterized by pre- and post-natal growth retardation. The Mest imprinted domain is one candidate region on chromosome 7 implicated in Silver-Russell Syndrome. We have previously shown that maintenance of imprinted methylation was disrupted by superovulation or embryo culture during pre-implantation mouse development. For superovulation, this disruption did not originate in oogenesis as a methylation acquisition defect. However, in comparison to other genes, Mest exhibits late methylation acquisition kinetics, possibly making Mest more vulnerable to perturbation by environmental insult. In this study, we present a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of superovulation and in vitro culture on genomic imprinting at the Mest gene. Superovulation resulted in disruption of imprinted methylation at the maternal Mest allele in blastocysts with an equal frequency of embryos having methylation errors following low or high hormone treatment. This disruption was not due to a failure of imprinted methylation acquisition at Mest in oocytes. For cultured embryos, both the Fast and Slow culture groups experienced a significant loss of maternal Mest methylation compared to in vivo-derived controls. This loss of methylation was independent of development rates in culture. These results indicate that Mest is more susceptible to imprinted methylation maintenance errors compared to other imprinted genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brenna A. M. Velker
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Western Ontario, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, ON, Canada
- Children’s Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
| | - Michelle M. Denomme
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Western Ontario, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, ON, Canada
- Children’s Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
- Fertility Laboratories Of Colorado, 10290 Ridgegate Circle, Lonetree, CO 80124 USA
| | - Robert T. Krafty
- Department of Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mellissa R. W. Mann
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
76
|
Anckaert E, Fair T. DNA methylation reprogramming during oogenesis and interference by reproductive technologies: Studies in mouse and bovine models. Reprod Fertil Dev 2017; 27:739-54. [PMID: 25976160 DOI: 10.1071/rd14333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) to overcome fertility problems has continued to increase since the birth of the first baby conceived by ART over 30 years ago. Similarly, embryo transfer is widely used as a mechanism to advance genetic gain in livestock. Despite repeated optimisation of ART treatments, pre- and postnatal outcomes remain compromised. Epigenetic mechanisms play a fundamental role in successful gametogenesis and development. The best studied of these is DNA methylation; the appropriate establishment of DNA methylation patterns in gametes and early embryos is essential for healthy development. Superovulation studies in the mouse indicate that specific ARTs are associated with normal imprinting establishment in oocytes, but abnormal imprinting maintenance in embryos. A similar limited impact of ART on oocytes has been reported in cattle, whereas the majority of embryo-focused studies have used cloned embryos, which do exhibit aberrant DNA methylation. The present review discusses the impact of ART on oocyte and embryo DNA methylation with regard to data available from mouse and bovine models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Anckaert
- Follicle Biology Laboratory and Center for Reproductive Medicine, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, Brussels 1090, Belgium
| | - Trudee Fair
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
77
|
Karimi H, Mahdavi P, Fakhari S, Faryabi MR, Esmaeili P, Banafshi O, Mohammadi E, Fathi F, Mokarizadeh A. Altered helper T cell-mediated immune responses in male mice conceived through in vitro fertilization. Reprod Toxicol 2017; 69:196-203. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2017.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 03/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
|
78
|
Ghosh J, Coutifaris C, Sapienza C, Mainigi M. Global DNA methylation levels are altered by modifiable clinical manipulations in assisted reproductive technologies. Clin Epigenetics 2017; 9:14. [PMID: 28191261 PMCID: PMC5295214 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-017-0318-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background We analyzed placental DNA methylation levels at repeated sequences (LINE1 elements) and all CCGG sites (the LUMA assay) to study the effect of modifiable clinical or laboratory procedures involved in in vitro fertilization. We included four potential modifiable factors: oxygen tension during embryo culture, fresh embryo transfer vs frozen embryo transfer, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) vs conventional insemination or day 3 embryo transfer vs day 5 embryo transfer. Results Global methylation levels differed between placentas from natural conceptions compared to placentas conceived by IVF. Placentas from embryos cultured at 20% oxygen showed significant differences in LINE1 methylation compared to in vivo conceptions, while those from embryos cultured at 5% oxygen, did not have significant differences. In addition, placentas from fresh embryo transfer had significantly different LINE1 methylation compared to placentas from in vivo conceptions, while embryos resulting from frozen embryos were not significantly different from controls. On sex-stratified analysis, only males had significant methylation differences at LINE1 elements stratified for the modifiable factors. As expected, LINE1 methylation was significantly different between males and females in the control population. However, we did not observe sex-specific differences in the IVF group. We validated this sex-specific observation in an additional cohort and in opposite sex IVF twins. Conclusion We show that two clinically modifiable factors (embryo culture in 5 vs 20% oxygen tension and fresh vs frozen embryo transfer) are associated with global placental methylation differences. Interestingly, males appear more vulnerable to such treatment-related global changes in DNA methylation than do females. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13148-017-0318-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jayashri Ghosh
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Christos Coutifaris
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3701 Market Street, 8th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Carmen Sapienza
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140 USA.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140 USA
| | - Monica Mainigi
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3701 Market Street, 8th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| |
Collapse
|
79
|
Saenz-de-Juano MD, Marco-Jiménez F, Vicente JS. Embryo transfer manipulation cause gene expression variation in blastocysts that disrupt implantation and offspring rates at birth in rabbit. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2016; 207:50-55. [PMID: 27825027 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2016.10.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Revised: 08/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In the current study we aimed to evaluate the effect of embryo transfer on gene expression during pre-implantation development and its consequences on implantation rate, offspring rate at birth and embryonic and fetal losses in the rabbit model. STUDY DESIGN The mRNA expressions of 8 candidate genes were compared between 6-day-old in vivo-produced embryos (non-manipulated embryos) to those of 6-day-old embryos previously recovery at the third day of development and transferred into recipient rabbit females (manipulated embryos). Furthermore, we compared between both experimental groups the implantation rate and offspring rate at birth and embryonic and fetal losses. RESULTS Differences in transcript abundance of OCT4, C1qTNF1, EMP1 and TNFAIP6 were observed in transferred embryos. In addition, lower implantation and offspring rates at birth were obtained in transferred embryos than in the control group. In addition, embryonic losses were significantly higher in the transferred group than in the control. However, fetal losses were similar between groups. CONCLUSION The findings of the current study show that embryo transfer manipulation influenced mRNA expression of late blastocysts prior to implantation, resulting in higher gestational losses as a consequence of faulty embryonic implantation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Francisco Marco-Jiménez
- Institute of Science and Animal Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Jose Salvador Vicente
- Institute of Science and Animal Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
80
|
Feuer S, Liu X, Donjacour A, Simbulan R, Maltepe E, Rinaudo P. Common and specific transcriptional signatures in mouse embryos and adult tissues induced by in vitro procedures. Reproduction 2016; 153:REP-16-0473. [PMID: 27799627 PMCID: PMC5411347 DOI: 10.1530/rep-16-0473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Stressful environmental exposures incurred early in development can affect postnatal metabolic health and susceptibility to non-communicable diseases in adulthood, although the molecular mechanisms by which this occurs have yet to be elucidated. Here we use a mouse model to investigate how assorted in vitro exposures restricted exclusively to the preimplantation period affect transcription both acutely in embryos and long-term in subsequent offspring adult tissues, to determine if reliable transcriptional markers of in vitro stress are present at specific developmental time points and throughout development. Each in vitro fertilization or embryo culture environment led to a specific and unique blastocyst transcriptional profile, but we identified a common 18-gene and 9-pathway signature of preimplantation embryo manipulation that was present in all in vitro embryos irrespective of culture condition or method of fertilization. This fingerprint did not persist throughout development and there was no clear transcriptional cohesion between adult IVF offspring tissues or compared to their preceding embryos, indicating a tissue-specific impact of in vitro stress on gene expression. However, the transcriptional changes present in each IVF tissue were targeted by the same upstream transcriptional regulators, which provide insight as to how acute transcriptional responses to stressful environmental exposures might be preserved throughout development to influence adult gene expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sky Feuer
- S Feuer, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Xiaowei Liu
- X Liu, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Annemarie Donjacour
- A Donjacour, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Rhodel Simbulan
- R Simbulan, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Emin Maltepe
- E Maltepe, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Paolo Rinaudo
- P Rinaudo, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, 94115, United States
| |
Collapse
|
81
|
A review of fundamental principles for animal models of DOHaD research: an Australian perspective. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2016; 7:449-472. [DOI: 10.1017/s2040174416000477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiology formed the basis of ‘the Barker hypothesis’, the concept of ‘developmental programming’ and today’s discipline of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD). Animal experimentation provided proof of the underlying concepts, and continues to generate knowledge of underlying mechanisms. Interventions in humans, based on DOHaD principles, will be informed by experiments in animals. As knowledge in this discipline has accumulated, from studies of humans and other animals, the complexity of interactions between genome, environment and epigenetics, has been revealed. The vast nature of programming stimuli and breadth of effects is becoming known. As a result of our accumulating knowledge we now appreciate the impact of many variables that contribute to programmed outcomes. To guide further animal research in this field, the Australia and New Zealand DOHaD society (ANZ DOHaD) Animals Models of DOHaD Research Working Group convened at the 2nd Annual ANZ DOHaD Congress in Melbourne, Australia in April 2015. This review summarizes the contributions of animal research to the understanding of DOHaD, and makes recommendations for the design and conduct of animal experiments to maximize relevance, reproducibility and translation of knowledge into improving health and well-being.
Collapse
|
82
|
Vrooman LA, Xin F, Bartolomei MS. Morphologic and molecular changes in the placenta: what we can learn from environmental exposures. Fertil Steril 2016; 106:930-40. [PMID: 27523298 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Revised: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, the extraembryonic tissues, which include the placenta, are crucial for embryonic development and growth. Because the placenta is no longer needed for postnatal life, however, it has been relatively understudied as a tissue of interest in biomedical research. Recently, increased efforts have been placed on understanding the placenta and how it may play a key role in human health and disease. In this review, we discuss two very different types of environmental exposures: assisted reproductive technologies and in utero exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. We summarize the current literature on their effects on placental development in both rodent and human, and comment on the potential use of placental biomarkers as predictors of offspring health outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A Vrooman
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Frances Xin
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Marisa S Bartolomei
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| |
Collapse
|
83
|
Loi P, Toschi P, Zacchini F, Ptak G, Scapolo PA, Capra E, Stella A, Marsan PA, Williams JL. Synergies between assisted reproduction technologies and functional genomics. Genet Sel Evol 2016; 48:53. [PMID: 27481215 PMCID: PMC4968447 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-016-0231-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This review, is a synopsis of advanced reproductive technologies in farm animals, including the discussion of their limiting factors as revealed by the study of offspring derived from embryos produced in vitro and through cloning. These studies show that the problems of epigenetic mis-programming, which were reported in the initial stages of assisted reproduction, still persist. The importance of whole-genome analyses, including the methylome and transcriptome, in improving embryo biotechnologies in farm animals, are discussed. Genome editing approaches for the improvement of economically-relevant traits in farm animals are also described. Efficient farm animal embryo biotechnologies, including cloning and the most recent technologies such as genome editing, will effectively complement the latest strategies to accelerate genetic improvement of farm animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pasqualino Loi
- Laboratory of Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.
| | - Paola Toschi
- Laboratory of Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Federica Zacchini
- Laboratory of Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.,Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Postepu 36A, Jastrzębiec, 05-552, Magdalenka, Poland
| | - Grazyna Ptak
- Laboratory of Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.,Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Postepu 36A, Jastrzębiec, 05-552, Magdalenka, Poland.,National Research Institute of Animal Production 1, Krakowska Street, 32-083, Balice n/Kraków, Poland
| | - Pier A Scapolo
- Laboratory of Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Emanuele Capra
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council, 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - Alessandra Stella
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council, 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - Paolo Ajmone Marsan
- Istituto di Zootecnica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy.,Proteomic and Nutrigenomic Research Center - PRONUTRIGEN, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
| | - John L Williams
- Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, 5371, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
84
|
Vrooman LA, Bartolomei MS. Can assisted reproductive technologies cause adult-onset disease? Evidence from human and mouse. Reprod Toxicol 2016; 68:72-84. [PMID: 27474254 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Revised: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Millions of children have been born worldwide though assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Consistent with the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis, there is concern that ART can induce adverse effects, especially because procedures coincide with epigenetic reprogramming events. Although the majority of studies investigating the effects of ART have focused on perinatal outcomes, more recent studies demonstrate that ART-conceived children may be at increased risk for postnatal effects. Here, we present the current epidemiological evidence that ART-conceived children have detectable differences in blood pressure, body composition, and glucose homeostasis. Similar effects are observed in the ART mouse model, which have no underlying infertility, suggesting that cardiometabolic effects are likely caused by ART procedures and not due to reasons related to infertility. We propose that the mouse system can, consequently, be used to adequately study, modify, and improve outcomes for ART children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A Vrooman
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
| | - Marisa S Bartolomei
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
85
|
Koustas G, Sjoblom C. Minute changes to the culture environment of mouse pre-implantation embryos affect the health of the conceptus. ASIAN PACIFIC JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTION 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apjr.2016.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
|
86
|
Behavioural traits propagate across generations via segregated iterative-somatic and gametic epigenetic mechanisms. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11492. [PMID: 27173585 PMCID: PMC4869176 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Parental behavioural traits can be transmitted by non-genetic mechanisms to the offspring. Although trait transmission via sperm has been extensively researched, epidemiological studies indicate the exclusive/prominent maternal transmission of many non-genetic traits. Since maternal conditions impact the offspring during gametogenesis and through fetal/early-postnatal life, the resultant phenotype is likely the aggregate of consecutive germline and somatic effects; a concept that has not been previously studied. Here, we dissected a complex maternally transmitted phenotype, reminiscent of comorbid generalized anxiety/depression, to elementary behaviours/domains and their transmission mechanisms in mice. We show that four anxiety/stress-reactive traits are transmitted via independent iterative-somatic and gametic epigenetic mechanisms across multiple generations. Somatic/gametic transmission alters DNA methylation at enhancers within synaptic genes whose functions can be linked to the behavioural traits. Traits have generation-dependent penetrance and sex specificity resulting in pleiotropy. A transmission-pathway-based concept can refine current inheritance models of psychiatric diseases and facilitate the development of better animal models and new therapeutic approaches. Physiological effects of psychological stress and infection in mothers can increase the incidence of anxiety and psychiatric diseases in offsprings and in subsequent generation. Here, Miklos Toth and colleagues show that intergenerational inheritance of neurological traits is propagated across multiple generations independently by parallel non-genetic mechanisms involving independent segregation of epigenetic specific loci.
Collapse
|
87
|
Gatimel N, Lacroix MZ, Chanthavisouk S, Picard-Hagen N, Gayrard V, Parinaud J, Léandri RD. Bisphenol A in culture media and plastic consumables used for ART. Hum Reprod 2016; 31:1436-44. [PMID: 27179264 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dew116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2015] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Do the embryo culture media and plastic materials used during assisted reproductive technology (ART) laboratory procedures expose embryos to bisphenol A (BPA)? SUMMARY ANSWER BPA was not detected in embryo culture media or protein supplements at concentrations above those encountered in normal patient serum and follicular fluids. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY BPA is strongly suspected of altering the epigenome during mammalian development. Medical devices have been shown to be a source of BPA exposure in adult and neonatal intensive care units. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION An analytical study of ART culture media and plastic labware products was performed under conditions close to routine practice and if BPA was detected, tests were carried out under more stringent conditions. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Two single-step embryo culture media, two sequential media and three different protein supplements [a purified human serum albumin (HSA), a synthetic serum substitute, and a recombinant HSA] were tested for BPA. Thirty-three different plastic consumables, used from oocyte collection through to embryo transfer, were tested for their ability to leach BPA into their surrounding environment.BPA concentrations were measured according to a previously described liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method. This method is linear over the calibration range from 0.5 to 100 ng/ml using a linear model weighted by 1/X² and validated in terms of selectivity, linearity, repeatability, reproducibility and limit of quantification (0.5 ng/ml). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Neither the culture media nor the protein supplements were shown to contain detectable levels of BPA. None of the plastic materials leached BPA into the surrounding medium at levels higher than the upper limit detected previously in serum and follicular fluids in women (about 2 ng/ml). However, the plastic of the three tested strippers used for oocyte denudation/embryo handling did contain BPA. Two of these strippers are made with polycarbonate, a plastic whose synthesis is known to require BPA. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This study is limited to the ART media and materials tested here and using a BPA assay with a limit of quantification at 0.5 ng/ml. A minimum volume was required for testing, and one type of plastic labware could not be tested in conditions identical to those in routine use. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Although we demonstrated that some plastic materials used in ART contain BPA, under routine conditions none appear capable of leaching BPA at levels higher than those from maternal internal exposure. However, BPA is strongly suspected of altering the epigenome. Since important epigenetic modifications occur in the early embryonic stage, it is questionable whether plastics that contain BPA, polycarbonate in particular, should be used in the manufacture of plastic consumables for ART procedures. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS This work was supported by a grant from the Agence de Biomédecine (AOR 2012) and by a grant from the French Ministry of Health (Clinical Research Hospital Program 2012; no.12-018-0560). The authors declared no competing interest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Gatimel
- Médecine de la Reproduction, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, F-31059 Toulouse, France Université de Toulouse; UPS; Groupe de Recherche en Fertilité Humaine (EA 3694, Human Fertility Research Group), F-31059 Toulouse, France
| | - M Z Lacroix
- Institut National de Recherche Agronomique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1331, Toxalim, Research Center in Food Toxicology, F-31027 Toulouse, France Université de Toulouse, Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Ecole d'Ingénieurs de Purpan, Université Paul Sabatier, F-31076 Toulouse, France
| | - S Chanthavisouk
- Médecine de la Reproduction, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, F-31059 Toulouse, France Université de Toulouse; UPS; Groupe de Recherche en Fertilité Humaine (EA 3694, Human Fertility Research Group), F-31059 Toulouse, France
| | - N Picard-Hagen
- Institut National de Recherche Agronomique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1331, Toxalim, Research Center in Food Toxicology, F-31027 Toulouse, France Université de Toulouse, Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Ecole d'Ingénieurs de Purpan, Université Paul Sabatier, F-31076 Toulouse, France
| | - V Gayrard
- Institut National de Recherche Agronomique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1331, Toxalim, Research Center in Food Toxicology, F-31027 Toulouse, France Université de Toulouse, Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Ecole d'Ingénieurs de Purpan, Université Paul Sabatier, F-31076 Toulouse, France
| | - J Parinaud
- Médecine de la Reproduction, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, F-31059 Toulouse, France Université de Toulouse; UPS; Groupe de Recherche en Fertilité Humaine (EA 3694, Human Fertility Research Group), F-31059 Toulouse, France
| | - R D Léandri
- Médecine de la Reproduction, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, F-31059 Toulouse, France Université de Toulouse; UPS; Groupe de Recherche en Fertilité Humaine (EA 3694, Human Fertility Research Group), F-31059 Toulouse, France
| |
Collapse
|
88
|
Vincent RN, Gooding LD, Louie K, Chan Wong E, Ma S. Altered DNA methylation and expression of PLAGL1 in cord blood from assisted reproductive technology pregnancies compared with natural conceptions. Fertil Steril 2016; 106:739-748.e3. [PMID: 27178226 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2016] [Revised: 04/24/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate DNA methylation and expression of imprinted genes and an imprinted gene network (IGN) in neonates conceived via assisted reproductive technology (ART). DESIGN Case control. SETTING Research institution. PATIENT(S) Two hundred sixty-four cases of cord blood and/or placental villi from neonates (101 IVF, 81 ICSI, 82 naturally conceived). INTERVENTION(S) Placentas were obtained at birth for biopsy and cord blood extraction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) DNA methylation and expression of imprinted genes. RESULT(S) DNA methylation at the PLAGL1 differentially methylated region (DMR) was significantly higher in IVF cord blood (48.0%) compared with controls (46.0%). No differences were found in DNA methylation between conception modes for KvDMR1 and LINE-1 in cord blood and placenta as well as PLAGL1 and PEG10 in placenta villi. PLAGL1 expression was lower in both IVF and ICSI cord blood groups than in controls (relative quantification of 0.65, 0.74, 0.89, respectively). Analyzing the expression of 3 genes in a PLAGL1 regulated IGN revealed different expression between conception modes and a significant correlation to PLAGL1 expression in only one (KCNQ1OT1). CONCLUSION(S) Our results suggest a stability of DNA methylation at imprinted DMRs; however, we show PLAGL1 methylation/expression to be altered after ART. As PLAGL1 expression correlated with only one of the three IGN genes in cord blood, we propose there is a more complex mechanism of regulating the IGN that may involve other genes and epigenetic modifications in this tissue. Further research investigating IGN-implicated genes in various neonatal tissues is warranted to elucidate the full effects ART-induced alterations to PLAGL1 and the IGN may have on fetal growth/development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca N Vincent
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Luke D Gooding
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kenny Louie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Edgar Chan Wong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sai Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
89
|
Yao Q, Chen L, Liang Y, Sui L, Guo L, Zhou J, Fan K, Jing J, Zhang Y, Yao B. Blastomere removal from cleavage-stage mouse embryos alters placental function, which is associated with placental oxidative stress and inflammation. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25023. [PMID: 27109212 PMCID: PMC4842963 DOI: 10.1038/srep25023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Blastomere biopsy is an essential technique in preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), a screening test that can detect genetic abnormalities of embryos before their transfer into uterus. Our results showed that the weights of fetuses derived from biopsied embryos were lower than that of non-biopsied counterparts at E12.5, E15.5, and E18.5. The ratio of fetal/placental (F/P) weights in the biopsied group was significantly lower than that in the non-biopsied group at E18.5. At E18.5, the mRNAs for selected glucose transporters, system A amino acid transporters, system L amino acid transporters, and imprinted genes were downregulated in the placentae of biopsied group, and the GLUT1 and CAT3 protein levels were decreased too. More apoptotic cells were detected by TUNEL in the placentae of biopsied group. Placentae from biopsied embryos exhibited lower levels of SOD and GSH. Furthermore, the concentration of MDA increased in the placentae from biopsied group. The levels of IL1B, IL6, and TNFA also significantly increased in the placentae of biopsied group. This study suggested that placental function may be sensitive to blastomere biopsy procedures, and placental oxidative stress and inflammation associated with blastomere biopsy may be critical factors of abnormal placental function and further influence the fetal development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Yao
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210002, PR China
| | - Li Chen
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210002, PR China
| | - Yuanjiao Liang
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210002, PR China
| | - Liucai Sui
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210002, PR China
| | - Li Guo
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210002, PR China
| | - Jingwei Zhou
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210002, PR China
| | - Kai Fan
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210002, PR China
| | - Jun Jing
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210002, PR China
| | - Yunhai Zhang
- Anhui Provincial Laboratory for Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetic Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, PR China
| | - Bing Yao
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210002, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
90
|
Tan K, Zhang Z, Miao K, Yu Y, Sui L, Tian J, An L. Dynamic integrated analysis of DNA methylation and gene expression profiles in in vivo and in vitro fertilized mouse post-implantation extraembryonic and placental tissues. Mol Hum Reprod 2016; 22:485-98. [PMID: 27090932 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaw028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY HYPOTHESIS How does in vitro fertilization (IVF) alter promoter DNA methylation patterns and its subsequent effects on gene expression profiles during placentation in mice? STUDY FINDING IVF-induced alterations in promoter DNA methylation might have functional consequences in a number of biological processes and functions during IVF placentation, including actin cytoskeleton organization, hematopoiesis, vasculogenesis, energy metabolism and nutrient transport. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY During post-implantation embryonic development, both embryonic and extraembryonic tissues undergo de novo DNA methylation, thereby establishing a global DNA methylation pattern, and influencing gene expression profiles. Embryonic and placental tissues of IVF conceptuses can have aberrant morphology and functions, resulting in adverse pregnancy outcomes such as pregnancy loss, low birthweight, and long-term health effects. To date, the IVF-induced global profiling of DNA methylation alterations, and their functional consequences on aberrant gene expression profiles in IVF placentas have not been systematically studied. STUDY DESIGN, SAMPLES/MATERIALS, METHODS Institute for Cancer Research mice (6 week-old females and 8-9 week-old males) were used to generate in vivo fertilization (IVO) and IVF blastocysts. After either IVO and development (IVO group as control) or in vitro fertilization and culture (IVF group), blastocysts were collected and transferred to pseudo-pregnant recipient mice. Extraembryonic (ectoplacental cone and extraembryonic ectoderm) and placental tissues from both groups were sampled at embryonic day (E) 7.5 (IVO, n = 822; IVF, n = 795) and E10.5 (IVO, n = 324; IVF, n = 278), respectively. The collected extraembryonic (E7.5) and placental tissues (E10.5) were then used for high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-seq). The main dysfunctions indicated by bioinformatic analyses were further validated using molecular detection, and morphometric and phenotypic analyses. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Dynamic functional profiling of high-throughput data, together with molecular detection, and morphometric and phenotypic analyses, showed that differentially expressed genes dysregulated by DNA methylation were functionally involved in: (i) actin cytoskeleton disorganization in IVF extraembryonic tissues, which may impair allantois or chorion formation, and chorioallantoic fusion; (ii) disturbed hematopoiesis and vasculogenesis, which may lead to abnormal placenta labyrinth formation and thereby impairing nutrition transport in IVF placentas; (iii) dysregulated energy and amino acid metabolism, which may cause placental dysfunctions, leading to delayed embryonic development or even lethality; (iv) disrupted genetic information processing, which can further influence gene transcriptional and translational processes. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Findings in mouse placental tissues may not be fully representative of human placentas. Further studies are necessary to confirm these findings and determine their clinical significance. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our study is the first to provide the genome-wide analysis of gene expression dysregulation caused by DNA methylation during IVF placentation. Systematic understanding of the molecular mechanisms implicated in IVF placentation can be useful for the improvement of existing assisted conception systems to prevent these IVF-associated safety concerns. STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTERESTS This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31472092), and the National High-Tech R&D Program (Nos. 2011|AA100303, 2013AA102506). There was no conflict of interest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kun Tan
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Zhenni Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Kai Miao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Yong Yu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Linlin Sui
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Jianhui Tian
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Lei An
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
91
|
Mainigi MA, Sapienza C, Butts S, Coutifaris C. A Molecular Perspective on Procedures and Outcomes with Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2016; 6:a023416. [PMID: 26747835 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a023416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The emerging association of assisted reproductive technologies with adverse perinatal outcomes has prompted the in-depth examination of clinical and laboratory protocols and procedures and their possible effects on epigenetic regulatory mechanism(s). The application of various approaches to study epigenetic regulation to problems in reproductive medicine has the potential to identify relative risk indicators for particular conditions, diagnostic biomarkers of disease state, and prognostic indicators of outcome. Moreover, when applied genome-wide, these techniques are likely to find novel pathways of disease pathogenesis and identify new targets for intervention. The analysis of DNA methylation, histone modifications, transcription factors, enhancer binding and other chromatin proteins, DNase-hypersensitivity and, micro- and other noncoding RNAs all provide overlapping and often complementary snapshots of chromatin structure and resultant "gene activity." In terms of clinical application, the predictive power and utility of epigenetic information will depend on the power of individual techniques to discriminate normal levels of interindividual variation from variation linked to a disease state. At present, quantitative analysis of DNA methylation at multiple loci seems likely to hold the greatest promise for achieving the level of precision, reproducibility, and throughput demanded in a clinical setting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica A Mainigi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Carmen Sapienza
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140
| | - Samantha Butts
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Christos Coutifaris
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| |
Collapse
|
92
|
Tan K, Wang Z, Zhang Z, An L, Tian J. IVF affects embryonic development in a sex-biased manner in mice. Reproduction 2016; 151:443-53. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-15-0588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence indicates that IVF (IVF includes in vitro fertilization and culture) embryos and babies are associated with a series of health complications, and some of them show sex-dimorphic patterns. Therefore, we hypothesized that IVF procedures have sex-biased or even sex-specific effects on embryonic and fetal development. Here, we demonstrate that IVF-induced side effects show significant sexual dimorphic patterns from the pre-implantation to the prenatal stage. During the pre-implantation stage, female IVF embryos appear to be more vulnerable to IVF-induced effects, including an increased percentage of apoptosis (7.22±1.94 vs 0.71±0.76, P<0.01), and dysregulated expression of representative sex-dimorphic genes (Xist, Hprt, Pgk1 and Hsp70). During the mid-gestation stage, IVF males had a higher survival rate than IVF females at E13.5 (male:female=1.33:1), accompanied with a female-biased pregnancy loss. In addition, while both IVF males and females had reduced placental vasculogenesis/angiogenesis, the compensatory placental overgrowth was more evident in IVF males. During the late-gestation period, IVF fetuses had a higher sex ratio (male:female=1.48:1) at E19.5, and both male and female IVF placentas showed overgrowth. After birth, IVF males grew faster than their in vivo (IVO) counterparts, while IVF females showed a similar growth pattern with IVO females. The present study provides a new insight into understanding IVF-induced health complications during embryonic and fetal development. By understanding and minimizing these sex-biased effects of the IVF process, the health of IVF-conceived babies may be improved in the future.
Collapse
|
93
|
The fertilization-induced zinc spark is a novel biomarker of mouse embryo quality and early development. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22772. [PMID: 26987302 PMCID: PMC4796984 DOI: 10.1038/srep22772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Upon activation, mammalian eggs release billions of zinc ions in an exocytotic event termed the “zinc spark.” The zinc spark is dependent on and occurs coordinately with intracellular calcium transients, which are tightly associated with embryonic development. Thus, we hypothesized that the zinc spark represents an early extracellular physicochemical marker of the developmental potential of the zygote. To test this hypothesis, we monitored zinc exocytosis in individual mouse eggs following parthenogenetic activation or in vitro fertilization (IVF) and tracked their development. Retrospective analysis of zinc spark profiles revealed that parthenotes and zygotes that developed into blastocysts released more zinc than those that failed to develop. Prospective selection of embryos based on their zinc spark profile significantly improved developmental outcomes and more than doubled the percentage of embryos that reached the blastocyst stage. Moreover, the zinc spark profile was also associated with embryo quality as the total cell number in the resulting morulae and blastocysts positively correlated with the zinc spark amplitude (R = 0.9209). Zinc sparks can thus serve as an early biomarker of zygote quality in mouse model.
Collapse
|
94
|
Chen H, Zhang L, Deng T, Zou P, Wang Y, Quan F, Zhang Y. Effects of oocyte vitrification on epigenetic status in early bovine embryos. Theriogenology 2016; 86:868-78. [PMID: 27068359 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Revised: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/05/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Oocyte cryopreservation has a great impact on subsequent embryonic development. Currently, several studies have primarily focused on the consequences of vitrification and the development potential of cellular structures. This study determined whether oocyte vitrification caused epigenetic instabilities of bovine embryos. The effects of oocyte vitrification on DNA methylation, histone modifications, and putative imprinted genes' expression in early embryos derived by intracytoplasmic sperm injection were examined. Results showed that oocyte vitrification did not affect zygote cleavage rates (67.0% vs. 73.8% control, P > 0.05) but reduced the blastocyst rate (9.6% vs. 23.0%, P < 0.05). The levels of DNA methylation and H3K9me3 in oocytes and early cleavage embryos were lower (P < 0.05) than those in control group, but the level of acH3K9 increased (P < 0.05) in the vitrification group during the early cleavage phases. No differences were observed for DNA methylation, H3K9me3, and acH3K9 in the inner cell mass of blastocysts, whereas decreased levels of DNA methylation and acH3K9 (P < 0.05) existed in TE cells after vitrification. The expression of putative-imprinted genes PEG10, XIST, and KCNQ1O1T was upregulated in blastocysts. These epigenetic abnormalities may be partially explained by altered expression of genes associated with epigenetic regulations. DNA methylation and H3K9 modification suggest that oocyte vitrification may excessively relax the chromosomes of oocytes and early cleavage embryos. In conclusion, these epigenetic indexes could be used as damage markers of oocyte vitrification during early embryonic development, which offers a new insight to assess oocyte vitrification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huanhuan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tengfei Deng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Pengda Zou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yongsheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Fusheng Quan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Yong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
| |
Collapse
|
95
|
Saenz-de-Juano MD, Billooye K, Smitz J, Anckaert E. The loss of imprinted DNA methylation in mouse blastocysts is inflicted to a similar extent by in vitro follicle culture and ovulation induction. Mol Hum Reprod 2016; 22:427-41. [PMID: 26908643 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaw013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY HYPOTHESIS Does in vitro follicle culture (IFC) have an effect on maintenance of imprinted DNA methylation in preimplantation mouse embryos? STUDY FINDING We report similar alterations in the methylation pattern of H19 imprinted maternally expressed transcript (H19), small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide N (Snrpn) and mesoderm specific transcript (Mest) imprinted genes in mouse blastocysts obtained after ovulation induction and IFC. Furthermore, we observed no differences in the gene expression of maternal effect proteins related with imprinting maintenance between superovulated in vivo grown or IFC oocytes. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Assisted reproductive technology is associated with adverse post-natal outcomes such as increased risk of premature birth, altered birthweight, congenital anomalies and genomic imprinting syndromes in human and in animal models. Previous studies have shown that ovulation induction allowed normal imprinting establishment in mouse oocytes, but interfered with imprinting maintenance during preimplantation . Normal imprinting establishment was also observed in mouse oocytes derived from a standardized IFC from the early pre-antral follicle stage. STUDY DESIGN, SAMPLES/MATERIALS, METHODS The methylation profiles of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of three key imprinted genes (H19, Snrpn and Mest) were compared at hatched blastocyst stage between embryos obtained from IFC or superovulated oocytes, each subjected to IVF and preimplantation in vitro culture (IVC); in non-manipulated in vivo produced late blastocyst (control) and in in vivo produced 2-cell embryos that were in vitro cultured until the hatched blastocyst stage (to assess the effect of IVC). Two different mice strains (Mus musculus C57BL/6J X CBA/Ca and Mus musculus B6 (CAST7)) were used to discriminate between maternal and paternal alleles of imprinted genes. Additionally, a limiting-dilution bisulfite-sequencing technique was carried out on individual embryos in order to avoid amplification bias. To assess whether IFC and ovulation induction differentially affect the mRNA expression of imprinting maintenance genes in the oocyte, a comparison of DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1o), methyl-CpG binding domain protein 3 (MBD3) and developmental pluripotency-associated 3 (Dppa3) was performed by qPCR between in vivo and in vitro grown oocytes at the germinal vesicle and metaphase II (MII) stage. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Results showed a loss of global imprinted DNA methylation in all in vitro manipulated embryos, due to an increase in the amount of abnormal alleles (<50% methylated). Importantly, there were no differences in blastocysts obtained from IFC and ovulation induction. Moreover, similar mRNA expression levels for Dnmt1o, MBD3 and Dppa3 genes were observed in IFC and stimulated oocytes. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The methylation analysis was restricted to a number of well-selected imprinted genes. Future studies need to determine whether ovulation induction and IFC affect maternal effect factors at the protein level. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS In vitro maturation of oocytes (IVM) is a patient-friendly alternative to conventional ovarian stimulation in PCOS patients. IFC is an emerging technology in human oncofertility. The results of this study show for the first time that in vitro oocyte culture induces no additional epigenetic alterations compared with conventional ovulation induction, at least for imprinted genes at the hatched blastocyst stage. The mouse IFC system can be used to test the sensitivity of the oocyte during its growth and maturation to several nutritional, metabolic and hormonal conditions possibly linked to epigenetic alterations. LARGE SCALE DATA N/A. STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTERESTS This study received funding by Strategic Research Programs-Groeiers (OZR/2014/97), IWT/TBM/110680 and by UZ Brussel Fonds Willy Gepts (WFWG 2013). There is no conflict of interest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M D Saenz-de-Juano
- Follicle Biology Laboratory, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - K Billooye
- Follicle Biology Laboratory, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - J Smitz
- Follicle Biology Laboratory, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - E Anckaert
- Follicle Biology Laboratory, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
96
|
Li B, Chen S, Tang N, Xiao X, Huang J, Jiang F, Huang X, Sun F, Wang X. Assisted Reproduction Causes Reduced Fetal Growth Associated with Downregulation of Paternally Expressed Imprinted Genes That Enhance Fetal Growth in Mice1. Biol Reprod 2016; 94:45. [DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.115.136051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
|
97
|
Hoeijmakers L, Kempe H, Verschure PJ. Epigenetic imprinting during assisted reproductive technologies: The effect of temporal and cumulative fluctuations in methionine cycling on the DNA methylation state. Mol Reprod Dev 2016; 83:94-107. [PMID: 26660493 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2015] [Accepted: 12/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lianne Hoeijmakers
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences; University of Amsterdam; Amsterdam the Netherlands
| | - Hermannus Kempe
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences; University of Amsterdam; Amsterdam the Netherlands
| | - Pernette J. Verschure
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences; University of Amsterdam; Amsterdam the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
98
|
Ventura-Juncá P, Irarrázaval I, Rolle AJ, Gutiérrez JI, Moreno RD, Santos MJ. In vitro fertilization (IVF) in mammals: epigenetic and developmental alterations. Scientific and bioethical implications for IVF in humans. Biol Res 2015; 48:68. [PMID: 26683055 PMCID: PMC4684609 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-015-0059-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The advent of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in animals and humans implies an extraordinary change in the environment where the beginning of a new organism takes place. In mammals fertilization occurs in the maternal oviduct, where there are unique conditions for guaranteeing the encounter of the gametes and the first stages of development of the embryo and thus its future. During this period a major epigenetic reprogramming takes place that is crucial for the normal fate of the embryo. This epigenetic reprogramming is very vulnerable to changes in environmental conditions such as the ones implied in IVF, including in vitro culture, nutrition, light, temperature, oxygen tension, embryo-maternal signaling, and the general absence of protection against foreign elements that could affect the stability of this process. The objective of this review is to update the impact of the various conditions inherent in the use of IVF on the epigenetic profile and outcomes of mammalian embryos, including superovulation, IVF technique, embryo culture and manipulation and absence of embryo-maternal signaling. It also covers the possible transgenerational inheritance of the epigenetic alterations associated with assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including its phenotypic consequences as is in the case of the large offspring syndrome (LOS). Finally, the important scientific and bioethical implications of the results found in animals are discussed in terms of the ART in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricio Ventura-Juncá
- Bioethical Center and Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. .,Bioethics Center, Universidad Finis Terrae, Pedro de Valdivia 1509, Providencia, Región Metropolitana, 7501015, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Isabel Irarrázaval
- Bioethical Center and Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Augusto J Rolle
- Bioethical Center and Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Juan I Gutiérrez
- Bioethical Center and Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Ricardo D Moreno
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. .,Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Manuel J Santos
- Bioethical Center and Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. .,Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
99
|
de Waal E, Vrooman LA, Fischer E, Ord T, Mainigi MA, Coutifaris C, Schultz RM, Bartolomei MS. The cumulative effect of assisted reproduction procedures on placental development and epigenetic perturbations in a mouse model. Hum Mol Genet 2015; 24:6975-85. [PMID: 26401051 PMCID: PMC4654053 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddv400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Revised: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are associated with several complications including low birth weight, abnormal placentation and increased risk for rare imprinting disorders. Indeed, experimental studies demonstrate ART procedures independent of existing infertility induce epigenetic perturbations in the embryo and extraembryonic tissues. To test the hypothesis that these epigenetic perturbations persist and result in adverse outcomes at term, we assessed placental morphology and methylation profiles in E18.5 mouse concepti generated by in vitro fertilization (IVF) in two different genetic backgrounds. We also examined embryo transfer (ET) and superovulation procedures to ascertain if they contribute to developmental and epigenetic effects. Increased placental weight and reduced fetal-to-placental weight ratio were observed in all ART groups when compared with naturally conceived controls, demonstrating that non-surgical embryo transfer alone can impact placental development. Furthermore, superovulation further induced overgrowth of the placental junctional zone. Embryo transfer and superovulation defects were limited to these morphological changes, as we did not observe any differences in epigenetic profiles. IVF placentae, however, displayed hypomethylation of imprinting control regions of select imprinted genes and a global reduction in DNA methylation levels. Although we did not detect significant differences in DNA methylation in fetal brain or liver samples, rare IVF concepti displayed very low methylation and abnormal gene expression from the normally repressed allele. Our findings suggest that individual ART procedures cumulatively increase placental morphological abnormalities and epigenetic perturbations, potentially causing adverse neonatal and long-term health outcomes in offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Teri Ord
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA and
| | - Monica A Mainigi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA and
| | - Christos Coutifaris
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA and
| | - Richard M Schultz
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
100
|
State of actin cytoskeleton and development of slow-frozen and vitrified rabbit pronuclear zygotes. Cryobiology 2015; 72:14-20. [PMID: 26687386 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2015.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Revised: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 11/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
This study was focused on the effect of cryopreservation on the state of actin cytoskeleton and development of rabbit pronuclear zygotes. Zygotes were collected from superovulated females and immediately used for 1) slow-freezing in a solution containing 1.5 M 1,2-propanediol and 0.2 M sucrose, or 2) vitrification in a solution containing 42.0% (v/v) of ethylene glycol, 18.0% (w/v) of dextran and 0.3 M sucrose as cryoprotectants. After thawing or warming, respectively, zygotes were evaluated for 1) actin distribution, 2) in vitro or 3) in vivo development to blastocyst. Comparing actin filaments distribution, a significantly higher number of vitrified zygotes with actin distributed in cell border was observed (55 ± 7.7 vs. 74 ± 6.1% for slow-frozen vs. vitrified, respectively). After 24 and 72 h of in vitro development, significant differences in the cleavage and morula rate among the groups were observed (9 ± 2.4 and 3 ± 1.3 vs. 44 ± 3.0 and 28 ± 2.7% for slow-frozen vs. vitrified, respectively). None of the slow-frozen zygotes reached the blastocyst stage, in contrast to the vitrified counterparts (11 ± 1.9%). Under in vivo culture conditions, a significant difference in blastocyst rate was observed between vitrified and fresh embryos (6 ± 1.5 vs. 35 ± 4.4% respectively). Our results showed that alterations in actin cytoskeleton and deteriorated development are more evident in slow-frozen than vitrified pronuclear zygotes. Vitrification method seems to be a more effective option for rabbit zygotes cryopreservation, although pronuclear zygotes manipulation per se resulted in a notable decrease in embryo development.
Collapse
|