Induction of the IFN-gamma gene and protein is linked to the establishment of cell polarity in a porcine epithelial cell line

Transcriptome Analysis Revealed the Embryo-Induced Gene Expression Patterns in the Endometrium from Meishan and Yorkshire Pigs

The expression patterns in Meishan- and Yorkshire-derived endometrium during early (gestational day 15) and mid-gestation (gestational days 26 and 50) were investigated, respectively. Totally, 689 and 1649 annotated genes were identified to be differentially expressed in Meishan and Yorkshire endometrium during the three gestational stages, respectively. Hierarchical clustering analysis identified that, of the annotated differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 73 DEGs were unique to Meishan endometrium, 536 DEGs were unique to Yorkshire endometrium, and 228 DEGs were common in Meishan and Yorkshire endometriums. Subsequently, DEGs in each of the three types of expression patterns were grouped into four distinct categories according to the similarities in their temporal expression patterns. The expression patterns identified from the microarray analysis were validated by quantitative RT-PCR. The functional enrichment analysis revealed that the common DEGs were enriched in pathways of steroid metabolic process and regulation of retinoic acid receptor signaling. These unique DEGs in Meishan endometrium were involved in cell cycle and adherens junction. The DEGs unique to Yorkshire endometrium were associated with regulation of Rho protein signal transduction, maternal placenta development and cell proliferation. This study revealed the different gene expression patterns or pathways related to the endometrium remodeling in Meishan and Yorkshire pigs, respectively. These unique DEGs in either Meishan or Yorkshire endometriums may contribute to the divergence of the endometrium environment in the two pig breeds.

Generation of colonies of induced trophoblast cells during standard reprogramming of porcine fibroblasts to induced pluripotent stem cells

During reprogramming of porcine mesenchymal cells with a four-factor (POU5F1/SOX2/KLF4/MYC) mixture of vectors, a fraction of the colonies had an atypical phenotype and arose earlier than the recognizable porcine induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell colonies. Within days after each passage, patches of cells with an epithelial phenotype formed raised domes, particularly under 20% O(2) conditions. Relative to gene expression of the iPS cells, there was up-regulation of genes for transcription factors associated with trophoblast (TR) lineage emergence, e.g., GATA2, PPARG, MSX2, DLX3, HAND1, GCM1, CDX2, ID2, ELF5, TCFAP2C, and TEAD4 and for genes required for synthesis of products more typical of differentiated TR, such as steroids (HSD17B1, CYP11A1, and STAR), pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG6), and select cytokines (IFND, IFNG, and IL1B). Although POU5F1 was down-regulated relative to that in iPS cells, it was not silenced in the induced TR (iTR) cells over continued passage. Like iPS cells, iTR cells did not senesce on extended passage and displayed high telomerase activity. Upon xenografting into immunodeficient mice, iTR cells formed nonhemorrhagic teratomas composed largely of layers of epithelium expressing TR markers. When cultured under conditions that promoted embryoid body formation, iTR cells formed floating spheres consisting of a single epithelial sheet whose cells were tethered laterally by desmosome-like structures. In conclusion, reprogramming of porcine fibroblasts to iPS cells generates, as a by-product, colonies composed of self-renewing populations of TR cells, possibly containing TR stem cells.

Quantification of poly(I:C)-mediated protection against genital herpes simplex virus type 2 infection

Alternative strategies for controlling the growing herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) epidemic are needed. A novel class of immunomodulatory microbicides has shown promise as antiherpetics, including intravaginally applied CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotides that stimulate toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9). In the current study, we quantified protection against experimental genital HSV-2 infection provided by an alternative nucleic acid-based TLR agonist, polyinosine-poly(C) (PIC) (TLR3 agonist). Using a protection quantification paradigm, groups of mice were PIC treated and then subdivided into groups challenged with escalating doses of HSV-2. Using this paradigm, a temporal window of PIC efficacy for single applications was defined as 1 day prior to (prophylactic) through 4 h after (therapeutic) viral challenge. PIC treatment within this window protected against 10-fold-higher HSV-2 challenges, as indicated by increased 50% infectious dose values relative to those for vehicle-treated controls. Disease resolution and survival were significantly enhanced by repetitive PIC doses. Using optimal PIC regimens, cytokine induction was evaluated in murine vaginal lavages and in human vaginal epithelial cells. Similar induction patterns were observed, with kinetics that explained the limited durability of PIC-afforded protection. Daily PIC delivery courses did not generate sustained cytokine levels in murine vaginal fluids that would be indicative of local immunotoxicity. No evidence of immunotoxicity was observed in selected organs that were analyzed following repetitive vaginal PIC doses. Animal and in vitro data indicate that PIC may prove to be a valuable preventative microbicide and/or therapeutic agent against genital herpes by increasing resistance to HSV-2 and enhancing disease resolution following a failure of prevention.

Trophoblast gene expression: transcription factors in the specification of early trophoblast

Azone of trophoblast specification is established when the embryo is a morula, presumably reflecting a unique combination of transcription factors in that zone of cells and the influence of various environmental cues and growth factors on them. A key first step in this process of specification is the down-regulation of Oct4, a transcription factor that acts as a negative regulator of trophoblast specification and of genes normally up-regulated as the trophectoderm first forms. The transcription factors believed to have a positive association with trophectoderm specification have been inferred primarily in two ways: by their expression patterns in embryos, ES cells and TS cells and by the consequences of gene disruption on embryonic development. Many of these transcription factors also control the expression of genes characteristically expressed in trophoblast but not in the epiblast, primitive endoderm and their derivatives. ES and TS cells from the mouse and other species are beginning to provide insights into the changes in gene expression that accompany lineage specification and the subsequent post-specification events that lead to functional trophoblast derivatives.

IFN-gamma gene expression in epithelial trophectoderm cells is linked to downregulation of the p44/p42 MAP kinase pathway

We previously stated that interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is highly expressed in a transient and developmentally regulated manner by the trophectoderm of the pig blastocyst, which represents a monolayer of polarized epithelial cells, during early pregnancy. In order to study the molecular mechanisms of this atypical IFN-gamma gene expression, we established the pig trophectoderm cell line TBA B4-3. These cells develop a polarized phenotype with high transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) when grown on a microporous membrane. We previously showed that treatment of polarized TBA B4-3 cells with the strong protein kinase C (PKC) agonist phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) induced 3-4 days later a transient IFN-gamma mRNA expression and apical IFN-gamma protein secretion. In the present paper, we report that after PMA removal, a transient phase of p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation occurs, followed by a strong downregulation preceding the phase of IFN-gamma expression. Surprisingly, we found that inhibition of this surge of p44/p42 MAP kinase activation with MEK inhibitors (U0126 and PD98059) triggers earlier IFN-gamma mRNA and protein expression, correlated with earlier TER rising and restoration of epithelial phenotype. These results indicate that in the TBA B4-3 cell system, activation of this signaling pathway has a negative effect on IFN-gamma gene expression. These observations reinforce the hypothesis of a link between establishment of cell polarity and induction of IFN-gamma that could be mediated by signaling from intercellular junctions.

Atypical mechanisms regulate the PMA-induced expression of IFN-gamma in a porcine trophectoderm cell line

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is a major effector cytokine of the immune system with an expression pattern strictly restricted to cells of the lymphoid lineage. Several years ago, we reported that, during early pregnancy, the trophectoderm of the pig blastocyst, which represents a monolayer of polarized epithelial cells secretes high amount of IFN-gamma in a transient and developmentally regulated manner. In an effort to study the molecular basis of this atypical IFN-gamma gene expression, a pig trophectoderm cell line, TBA B4-3, was established in our laboratory. These cells developed a polarized phenotype with high transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) when grown on a microporous membrane. We found that treatment of polarized TBA B4-3 cells with the strong PKC agonist PMA induced, 3-4 days later, a transient IFN-gamma mRNA expression and vectorial IFN-gamma protein secretion. In order to better understand IFN-gamma gene regulation in TBA B4-3 cells, we examined in this system the effect of several drugs and factors known to affect the inducibility of this cytokine in T lymphocytes, the main source of IFN-gamma in the immunocompetent animal. We found that cyclosporine A (CsA) treatment of TBA B4-3 cells induces a partial inhibition of IFN-gamma secretion, thus indicating a minor role for the calcineurin signaling pathway in IFN-gamma expression. In addition, we found that although PMA alone can induce IFN-gamma secretion, the calcium ionophore A23187 synergizes with PMA for induction. We also analyzed by Southern blot the methylation status of a CpG dinucleotide in the 5' flanking region of IFN-gamma promoter and found that it was unmethylated in TBA B4-3 cells and in several pig epithelial cell lines that do not express IFN-gamma thus indicating the absence of correlation between demethylation and the ability to express IFN-gamma. Taken together, these results indicate that the mechanisms involved in IFN-gamma induction in TBA B4-3 cells are atypical compared to those presently known to operate in the T cell lineage.