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Giaccari C, Antonouli S, Anifandis G, Cecconi S, Di Nisio V. An Update on Physiopathological Roles of Akt in the ReprodAKTive Mammalian Ovary. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:722. [PMID: 38929705 PMCID: PMC11204812 DOI: 10.3390/life14060722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway is a key signaling cascade responsible for the regulation of cell survival, proliferation, and metabolism in the ovarian microenvironment. The optimal finetuning of this pathway is essential for physiological processes concerning oogenesis, folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation, and embryo development. The dysregulation of PI3K/Akt can impair molecular and structural mechanisms that will lead to follicle atresia, or the inability of embryos to reach later stages of development. Due to its pivotal role in the control of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and survival mechanisms, the dysregulation of this molecular pathway can trigger the onset of pathological conditions. Among these, we will focus on diseases that can harm female fertility, such as polycystic ovary syndrome and premature ovarian failure, or women's general health, such as ovarian cancer. In this review, we report the functions of the PI3K/Akt pathway in both its physiological and pathological roles, and we address the existing application of inhibitors and activators for the balancing of the molecular cascade in ovarian pathological environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Giaccari
- Department of Environmental Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy;
| | - Sevastiani Antonouli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41334 Larisa, Greece; (S.A.); (G.A.)
| | - George Anifandis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41334 Larisa, Greece; (S.A.); (G.A.)
| | - Sandra Cecconi
- Department of Life, Health, and Environmental Sciences, Università dell’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Valentina Di Nisio
- Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-14186 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-14186 Stockholm, Sweden
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2
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Kalous J, Aleshkina D, Anger M. A Role of PI3K/Akt Signaling in Oocyte Maturation and Early Embryo Development. Cells 2023; 12:1830. [PMID: 37508495 PMCID: PMC10378481 DOI: 10.3390/cells12141830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A serine/threonine-specific protein kinase B (PKB), also known as Akt, is a key factor in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway that regulates cell survival, metabolism and proliferation. Akt phosphorylates many downstream specific substrates, which subsequently control the nuclear envelope breakdown (NEBD), centrosome maturation, spindle assembly, chromosome segregation, and cytokinesis. In vertebrates, Akt is also an important player during oogenesis and preimplantation development. In the signaling pathways regulating mRNA translation, Akt is involved in the control of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and thereby regulates the activity of a translational repressor, the eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) binding protein 1 (4E-BP1). In this review, we summarize the functions of Akt in mitosis, meiosis and early embryonic development. Additionally, the role of Akt in the regulation of mRNA translation is addressed with respect to the significance of this process during early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Kalous
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 277 21 Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Daria Aleshkina
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 277 21 Libechov, Czech Republic
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 00 Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Anger
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 277 21 Libechov, Czech Republic
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3
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Fan W, Qi Y, Wang Y, Yan H, Li X, Zhang Y. Messenger roles of extracellular vesicles during fertilization of gametes, development and implantation: Recent advances. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 10:1079387. [PMID: 36684431 PMCID: PMC9849778 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1079387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have become a research hotspot in recent years because they act as messengers between cells in the physiological and pathological processes of the human body. It can be produced by the follicle, prostate, embryo, uterus, and oviduct in the reproductive field and exists in the extracellular environment as follicular fluid, semen, uterine cavity fluid, and oviduct fluid. Because extracellular vesicles are more stable at transmitting information, it allows all cells involved in the physiological processes of embryo formation, development, and implantation to communicate with one another. Extracellular vesicles carried miRNAs and proteins as mail, and when the messenger delivers the mail to the recipient cell, the recipient cell undergoes a series of changes. Current research begins with intercepting and decoding the information carried by extracellular vesicles. This information may help us gain a better understanding of the secrets of reproduction, as well as assist reproductive technology as an emerging marker and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weisen Fan
- The First Clinical Medical College of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yinghua Qi
- Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yaqian Wang
- The First Clinical Medical College of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Huiting Yan
- The First Clinical Medical College of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xuan Li
- The First Clinical Medical College of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yingjie Zhang
- The First Clinical Medical College of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China,*Correspondence: Yingjie Zhang,
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Zhong J, Han C, Zhang X, Chen P, Liu R. scGET: Predicting Cell Fate Transition During Early Embryonic Development by Single-cell Graph Entropy. GENOMICS, PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2021; 19:461-474. [PMID: 34954425 PMCID: PMC8864248 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2020.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
During early embryonic development, cell fate commitment represents a critical transition or "tipping point" of embryonic differentiation, at which there is a drastic and qualitative shift of the cell populations. In this study, we presented a computational approach, scGET, to explore the gene-gene associations based on single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data for critical transition prediction. Specifically, by transforming the gene expression data to the local network entropy, the single-cell graph entropy (SGE) value quantitatively characterizes the stability and criticality of gene regulatory networks among cell populations and thus can be employed to detect the critical signal of cell fate or lineage commitment at the single-cell level. Being applied to five scRNA-seq datasets of embryonic differentiation, scGET accurately predicts all the impending cell fate transitions. After identifying the "dark genes" that are non-differentially expressed genes but sensitive to the SGE value, the underlying signaling mechanisms were revealed, suggesting that the synergy of dark genes and their downstream targets may play a key role in various cell development processes.The application in all five datasets demonstrates the effectiveness of scGET in analyzing scRNA-seq data from a network perspective and its potential to track the dynamics of cell differentiation. The source code of scGET is accessible at https://github.com/zhongjiayuna/scGET_Project.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayuan Zhong
- School of Mathematics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Chongyin Han
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Xuhang Zhang
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Pei Chen
- School of Mathematics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, PR China.
| | - Rui Liu
- School of Mathematics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, PR China; Pazhou Lab, Guangzhou 510330, PR China.
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Mazzarella R, Bastos NM, Bridi A, Del Collado M, Andrade GM, Pinzon J, Prado CM, Silva LA, Meirelles FV, Pugliesi G, Perecin F, da Silveira JC. Changes in Oviductal Cells and Small Extracellular Vesicles miRNAs in Pregnant Cows. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:639752. [PMID: 33748215 PMCID: PMC7969882 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.639752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Early embryonic development occurs in the oviduct, where an ideal microenvironment is provided by the epithelial cells and by the oviductal fluid produced by these cells. The oviductal fluid contains small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), which through their contents, including microRNAs (miRNAs), can ensure proper cell communication between the mother and the embryo. However, little is known about the modulation of miRNAs within oviductal epithelial cells (OECs) and sEVs from the oviductal fluid in pregnant cows. In this study, we evaluate the miRNAs profile in sEVs from the oviductal flushing (OF-sEVs) and OECs from pregnant cows compared to non-pregnant, at 120 h after ovulation induction. In OF-sEVs, eight miRNAs (bta-miR-126-5p, bta-miR-129, bta-miR-140, bta-miR-188, bta-miR-219, bta-miR-345-3p, bta-miR-4523, and bta-miR-760-3p) were up-regulated in pregnant and one miRNA (bta-miR-331-5p) was up-regulated in non-pregnant cows. In OECs, six miRNAs (bta-miR-133b, bta-miR-205, bta-miR-584, bta-miR-551a, bta-miR-1193, and bta-miR-1225-3p) were up-regulated in non-pregnant and none was up-regulated in pregnant cows. Our results suggest that embryonic maternal communication mediated by sEVs initiates in the oviduct, and the passage of gametes and the embryo presence modulate miRNAs contents of sEVs and OECs. Furthermore, we demonstrated the transcriptional levels modulation of selected genes in OECs in pregnant cows. Therefore, the embryonic-maternal crosstalk potentially begins during early embryonic development in the oviduct through the modulation of miRNAs in OECs and sEVs in pregnant cows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosane Mazzarella
- Molecular Morphology and Development Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | - Natália Marins Bastos
- Molecular Morphology and Development Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Bridi
- Molecular Morphology and Development Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | - Maite Del Collado
- Molecular Morphology and Development Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | - Gabriella Mamede Andrade
- Molecular Morphology and Development Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | - Jorge Pinzon
- Graduate Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, National University of Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Cibele Maria Prado
- Molecular Morphology and Development Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | - Luciano Andrade Silva
- Molecular Morphology and Development Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | - Flávio Vieira Meirelles
- Molecular Morphology and Development Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Pugliesi
- Molecular Endocrinology Physiology Laboratory, Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Felipe Perecin
- Molecular Morphology and Development Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | - Juliano Coelho da Silveira
- Molecular Morphology and Development Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
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Timofeeva A, Drapkina Y, Fedorov I, Chagovets V, Makarova N, Shamina M, Kalinina E, Sukhikh G. Small Noncoding RNA Signatures for Determining the Developmental Potential of an Embryo at the Morula Stage. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249399. [PMID: 33321810 PMCID: PMC7764539 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
As part of the optimization of assisted reproductive technology programs, the aim of the study was to identify key small noncoding RNA (sncRNA) molecules that participate in maternal-to-zygotic transition and determine development potential and competence to form a healthy fetus. Small RNA deep sequencing followed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR was used to profile sncRNAs in 50 samples of spent culture medium from morula with different development potentials (no potential (degradation/developmental arrest), low potential (poor-quality blastocyst), and high potential (good/excellent quality blastocyst capable of implanting and leading to live birth)) obtained from 27 subfertile couples who underwent in vitro fertilization. We have shown that the quality of embryos at the morula stage is determined by secretion/uptake rates of certain sets of piRNAs and miRNAs, namely hsa_piR_011291, hsa_piR_019122, hsa_piR_001311, hsa_piR_015026, hsa_piR_015462, hsa_piR_016735, hsa_piR_019675, hsa_piR_020381, hsa_piR_020485, hsa_piR_004880, hsa_piR_000807, hsa-let-7b-5p, and hsa-let-7i-5p. Predicted gene targets of these sncRNAs included those globally decreased at the 8-cell–morula–blastocyst stage and critical to early embryo development. We show new original data on sncRNA profiling in spent culture medium from morula with different development potential. Our findings provide a view of a more complex network that controls human embryogenesis at the pre-implantation stage. Further research is required using reporter analysis to experimentally confirm interactions between identified sncRNA/gene target pairs.
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Nicotinamide Supplementation during the In Vitro Maturation of Oocytes Improves the Developmental Competence of Preimplantation Embryos: Potential Link to SIRT1/AKT Signaling. Cells 2020; 9:cells9061550. [PMID: 32630550 PMCID: PMC7348965 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinamide (NAM), the amide form of vitamin B3, plays pivotal roles in regulating various cellular processes including energy production and maintenance of genomic stability. The current study aimed at deciphering the effect of NAM, when administered during in vitro maturation (IVM), on the developmental competence of bovine preimplantation embryos. Our results showed that low NAM concentrations reduced the oxidative stress and improved mitochondrial profile, total cleavage and 8–16 cell stage embryo development whereas the opposite profile was observed upon exposure to high NAM concentrations (10 mM onward). Remarkably, the hatching rates of day-7 and day-8 blastocysts were significantly improved under 0.1 mM NAM treatment. Using RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence, the autophagy-related (Beclin-1 (BECN1), LC3B, and ATG5) and the apoptotic (Caspases; CASP3 and 9) markers were upregulated in oocytes exposed to high NAM concentration (40 mM), whereas only CASP3 was affected, downregulated, following 0.1 mM treatment. Additionally, the number of cells per blastocyst and the levels of SIRT1, PI3K, AKT, and mTOR were higher, while the inner cell mass-specific transcription factors GATA6, SOX2, and OCT4 were more abundant, in day-8 embryos of NAM-treated group. Taken together, to our knowledge, this is the first study reporting that administration of low NAM concentrations during IVM can ameliorate the developmental competence of embryos through the potential regulation of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and SIRT1/AKT signaling.
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Fiorenza MT, Rava A. The TCL1 function revisited focusing on metabolic requirements of stemness. Cell Cycle 2019; 18:3055-3063. [PMID: 31564197 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2019.1672465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The oncogenic ability of the T-cell leukemia/lymphoma 1 gene, TCL1, has captured the attention in the field of prolymphocytic T-cell and B-cell chronic leukemias for more than two decades. However, the finding that TCL1 is also expressed in totipotent cells of the mouse preimplantation embryos and that it is among the 10 genes, including the transcription factors Nanog, Oct4, Sox2, Tbx3, and Esrrb, that are required for maintaining the mitotic self-renewal state of embryonic stem cells, raises a great interest. In this review, we highlight newly acquired evidence pinpointing TCL1 as a crucial regulator of metabolic pathways that dictate somatic cell reprogramming toward pluripotency. In our opinion, this feature provides a relevant hint for reframing the role that this factor plays at early stages of mammalian embryo development and in tumorigenesis. Hence, the TCL1-dependent enhancement of serine/threonine AKT/PKB kinase activity favoring cell proliferation appears to be associated to the promotion of glucose transport and activation of glycolytic pathways. This is also consistent with the TCL1 ability to suppress mitochondrial biogenesis and oxygen consumption, downplaying the contribution of oxidative phosphorylation to energy metabolism. It thus appears that TCL1 masters the direction of energy metabolism toward the glycolytic pathway to meet a critical metabolic requirement that goes beyond the mere ATP production. For instance, the synthesis of glycolytic intermediates that are required for DNA synthesis likely represents the most pressing cellular need for both cleavage-stage embryos and rapidly proliferating tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Fiorenza
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuroscience and "Daniel Bovet" Neurobiology Research Center, Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia , Rome , Italy
| | - Alessandro Rava
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuroscience and "Daniel Bovet" Neurobiology Research Center, Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy
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