1
|
Diao H, Xiao S, Zhou T, Martin TE, Watford WT, Ye X. Attenuated retinoic acid signaling is among the early responses in mouse uterus approaching embryo attachment. REPRODUCTIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE 2024; 8:61-65. [PMID: 38404366 PMCID: PMC10885870 DOI: 10.1097/rd9.0000000000000090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The uterus is transiently receptive for embryo implantation. It remains to be understood why the uterus does not reject a semi-allogeneic embryo (to the biological mother) or an allogeneic embryo (to a surrogate) for implantation. To gain insights, we examined uterine early response genes approaching embryo attachment on day 3 post coitum (D3) at 22 hours when blue dye reaction, an indication of embryo attachment, had not manifested in mice. C57BL/6 pseudo-pregnant (control) and pregnant mouse uteri were collected on D3 at 22 hours for microarray analysis. The self-assembling-manifold (SAM) algorithm identified 21,858 unique probesets. Principal component analysis indicated a clear separation between the pseudo-pregnant and pregnant groups. There were 106 upregulated and five downregulated protein-coding genes in the pregnant uterus with fold change (fc) >1.5 and q value <5%. Gene ontology (GO) analysis of the 106 upregulated genes revealed 38 significant GO biological process (GOBP) terms (P <0.05), and 32 (84%) of them were associated with immune responses, with a dominant natural killer (NK) cell activation signature. Among the top eight upregulated protein-coding genes, Cyp26a1 inactivates retinoic acid (RA) while Lrat promotes vitamin A storage, both of which are expected to attenuate RA bioavailability; Atp6v0d2 and Gjb2 play roles in ion transport and transmembrane transport; Gzmb, Gzmc, and Il2rb are involved in immune responses; and Tdo2 is important for kynurenine pathway. Most of these genes or their related pathways have functions in immune regulations. RA signaling has been implicated in immune tolerance and immune homeostasis, and uterine NK cells have been implicated in immunotolerance at the maternal-fetal interface in the placenta. The mechanisms of immune responses approaching embryo attachment remain to be elucidated. The coordinated effects of the early response genes may hold the keys to the question of why the uterus does not reject an implanting embryo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Honglu Diao
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Shuo Xiao
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Tong Zhou
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Taylor E. Martin
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Wendy T. Watford
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Xiaoqin Ye
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kelleher AM, Allen CC, Davis DJ, Spencer TE. Prss29 Cre recombinase mice are useful to study adult uterine gland function. Genesis 2022; 60:e23493. [PMID: 35866844 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23493] [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: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
All mammalian uteri contain glands in their endometrium that develop only or primarily after birth. In mice, those endometrial glands govern post implantation pregnancy establishment via regulation of blastocyst implantation, stromal cell decidualization, and placental development. Here, we describe a new uterine glandular epithelium (GE) specific Cre recombinase mouse line that is useful for the study of uterine gland function during pregnancy. Utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, Cre recombinase was inserted into the endogenous serine protease 29 precursor (Prss29) gene. Both Prss29 mRNA and Cre recombinase activity was specific to the GE of the mouse uterus following implantation, but was absent from other areas of the female reproductive tract. Next, Prss29-Cre mice were crossed with floxed forkhead box A2 (Foxa2) mice to conditionally delete Foxa2 specifically in the endometrial glands. Foxa2 was absent in the glands of the post-implantation uterus, and Foxa2 deleted mice exhibited complete infertility after their first pregnancy. These results establish that Prss29-Cre mice are a valuable resource to elucidate and explore the functions of glands in the adult uterus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Kelleher
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Carolyn C Allen
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Daniel J Davis
- Animal Modeling Core, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Thomas E Spencer
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lee SH, Lim CL, Shen W, Tan SMX, Woo ARE, Yap YHY, Sian CAS, Goh WWB, Yu WP, Li L, Lin VCL. Activation function 1 of progesterone receptor is required for progesterone antagonism of oestrogen action in the uterus. BMC Biol 2022; 20:222. [PMID: 36199058 PMCID: PMC9535881 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01410-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Progesterone receptor (PGR) is a master regulator of uterine function through antagonistic and synergistic interplays with oestrogen receptors. PGR action is primarily mediated by activation functions AF1 and AF2, but their physiological significance is unknown. RESULTS We report the first study of AF1 function in mice. The AF1 mutant mice are infertile with impaired implantation and decidualization. This is associated with a delay in the cessation of epithelial proliferation and in the initiation of stromal proliferation at preimplantation. Despite tissue selective effect on PGR target genes, AF1 mutations caused global loss of the antioestrogenic activity of progesterone in both pregnant and ovariectomized models. Importantly, the study provides evidence that PGR can exert an antioestrogenic effect by genomic inhibition of Esr1 and Greb1 expression. ChIP-Seq data mining reveals intermingled PGR and ESR1 binding on Esr1 and Greb1 gene enhancers. Chromatin conformation analysis shows reduced interactions in these genes' loci in the mutant, coinciding with their upregulations. CONCLUSION AF1 mediates genomic inhibition of ESR1 action globally whilst it also has tissue-selective effect on PGR target genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shi Hao Lee
- grid.59025.3b0000 0001 2224 0361School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551 Singapore
| | - Chew Leng Lim
- grid.59025.3b0000 0001 2224 0361School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551 Singapore
| | - Wei Shen
- grid.35155.370000 0004 1790 4137College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Samuel Ming Xuan Tan
- grid.59025.3b0000 0001 2224 0361School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551 Singapore
| | - Amanda Rui En Woo
- grid.59025.3b0000 0001 2224 0361School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551 Singapore
| | - Yeannie H. Y. Yap
- grid.59025.3b0000 0001 2224 0361School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551 Singapore ,grid.459705.a0000 0004 0366 8575Present Address: Department of Oral Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, MAHSA University, Bandar Saujana Putra, 42610 Jenjarom, Selangor Malaysia
| | - Caitlyn Ang Su Sian
- grid.59025.3b0000 0001 2224 0361School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551 Singapore
| | - Wilson Wen Bin Goh
- grid.59025.3b0000 0001 2224 0361School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551 Singapore
| | - Wei-Ping Yu
- grid.185448.40000 0004 0637 0221Animal Gene Editing Laboratory (AGEL), Biological Resource Centre, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673 Singapore ,grid.418812.60000 0004 0620 9243Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673 Singapore
| | - Li Li
- College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Valerie C. L. Lin
- grid.59025.3b0000 0001 2224 0361School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551 Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Li R, Wang TY, Xu X, Emery OM, Yi M, Wu SP, DeMayo FJ. Spatial transcriptomic profiles of mouse uterine microenvironments at pregnancy day 7.5†. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:529-545. [PMID: 35357464 PMCID: PMC9382390 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Uterine dysfunctions lead to fertility disorders and pregnancy complications. Normal uterine functions at pregnancy depend on crosstalk among multiple cell types in uterine microenvironments. Here, we performed the spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA-seq assays to determine local gene expression profiles at the embryo implantation site of the mouse uterus on pregnancy day 7.5 (D7.5). The spatial transcriptomic annotation identified 11 domains of distinct gene signatures, including a mesometrial myometrium, an anti-mesometrial myometrium, a mesometrial decidua enriched with natural killer cells, a vascular sinus zone for maternal vessel remodeling, a fetal-maternal interface, a primary decidual zone, a transition decidual zone, a secondary decidual zone, undifferentiated stroma, uterine glands, and the embryo. The scRNA-Seq identified 12 types of cells in the D7.5 uterus including three types of stromal fibroblasts with differentiated and undifferentiated markers, one cluster of epithelium including luminal and glandular epithelium, mesothelium, endothelia, pericytes, myelomonocytic cell, natural killer cells, and lymphocyte B. These single-cell RNA signatures were then utilized to deconvolute the cell-type compositions of each individual uterine microenvironment. Functional annotation assays on spatial transcriptomic data revealed uterine microenvironments with distinguished metabolic preferences, immune responses, and various cellular behaviors that are regulated by region-specific endocrine and paracrine signals. Global interactome among regions is also projected based on the spatial transcriptomic data. This study provides high-resolution transcriptome profiles with locality information at the embryo implantation site to facilitate further investigations on molecular mechanisms for normal pregnancy progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rong Li
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Tian-yuan Wang
- Integrative Bioinformatics Supportive Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Xin Xu
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Olivia M Emery
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - MyeongJin Yi
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - San-Pin Wu
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Correspondence: Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 T. W. Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. Tel: +9842873987; E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Dhakal P, Fitzgerald HC, Kelleher AM, Liu H, Spencer TE. Uterine glands impact embryo survival and stromal cell decidualization in mice. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21938. [PMID: 34547143 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101170rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Uterine glands are essential for the establishment of pregnancy and have critical roles in endometrial receptivity to blastocyst implantation, stromal cell decidualization, and placentation. Uterine gland dysfunction is considered a major contributing factor to pregnancy loss, however our understanding of how glands impact embryo survival and stromal cell decidualization is incomplete. Forkhead box A2 (FOXA2) is expressed only in the glandular epithelium and regulates its development and function. Mice with a conditional deletion of FOXA2 in the uterus are infertile due to defective embryo implantation arising from a lack of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), a critical factor of uterine gland origin. Here, a glandless FOXA2-deficient mouse model, coupled with LIF repletion to rescue the implantation defect, was used to investigate the roles of uterine glands in embryo survival and decidualization. Studies found that embryo survival and decidualization were compromised in glandless FOXA2-deficient mice on gestational day 6.5, resulting in abrupt pregnancy loss by day 7.5. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that uterine glands secrete factors other than LIF that impact embryo survival and stromal cell decidualization for pregnancy success.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pramod Dhakal
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Andrew M Kelleher
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.,Division of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Hongyu Liu
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Thomas E Spencer
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.,Division of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| |
Collapse
|