Differential developmental competence and gene expression patterns in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) nuclear transfer embryos reconstructed with fetal fibroblasts and amnion mesenchymal stem cells

Comprehensive characterisation and cryopreservation optimisation of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Over half of the world's buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) inhabit India, and buffaloes frequently encounter health challenges that resist conventional treatments, prompting the exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies. One promising approach is stem cell therapy, particularly multipotent mesenchymal/stromal stem cells (MSCs). These cells have shown significant efficacy in addressing various diseases in livestock that exhibit resistance to conventional therapies. Adipose tissue-derived MSCs (ADSCs) have garnered attention due to their accessibility and robust expansion potential. The current study comprehensively characterises buffalo ADSCs (bADSCs), confirming their identity as MSCs capable of differentiating into diverse cell lineages-the identified characteristics position bADSCs as promising candidates for applications in regenerative medicine, applicable in veterinary contexts. Notably, the study established that a cryoprotective solution comprising 10 % dimethyl sulfoxide and 90 % fetal bovine serum is optimal for preserving bADSCs. This cryoprotective solution maintains vital parameters, including viability, apoptosis, senescence, cell adherence, adherent cell viability, metabolic and clonogenic efficiency, and the activity of reactive oxygen species and trilineage differentiation potential following thawing. These findings lay the foundation for developing a cryo-banking system for bADSCs. Subsequent research efforts are focused on exploring the therapeutic potential of bADSCs in specific disease models and clinical settings. The outcomes of such investigations may pave the way for innovative and effective treatments, further enhancing our understanding of the regenerative capabilities of bADSCs.

Comparison of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Fibroblasts as Donor Nuclei for Handmade Cloning in Sheep Using a Single-Cell Transcriptome

Oocytes are efficient at reprogramming terminally differentiated cells to a totipotent state. Nuclear transfer techniques can exploit this property to produce cloned animals. However, the overall efficiency is low. The use of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) as donor nuclei may increase blastocyst rates, but the exact reasons for this remain unexplored. A single-cell transcriptomic approach was used to map the transcriptome profiles of eight-cell embryos that were in vitro-fertilized and handmade-cloned using umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and fibroblasts as nuclear donors. Differences were examined at the chromatin level, the level of differentially expressed genes, the level of histone modifications and the level of DNA methylation. This research provides critical information regarding the use of UC-MSCs as a preferred donor nucleus for nuclear transfer techniques. It also offers unique insights into the mechanism of cellular reprogramming.

Stem Cells as Nuclear Donors for Mammalian Cloning

Mammals are routinely cloned by introducing somatic nuclei into enucleated oocytes. Cloning contributes to propagating desired animals, to germplasm conservation efforts, among other applications. A challenge to more broader use of this technology is the relatively low cloning efficiency, which inversely correlates with donor cell differentiation status. Emerging evidence suggests that adult multipotent stem cells improve cloning efficiency, while the greater potential of embryonic stem cells for cloning remains restricted to the mouse. The derivation of pluripotent or totipotent stem cells from livestock and wild species and their association with modulators of epigenetic marks in donor cells should increase cloning efficiency.

Epigenetic manipulation to improve mouse SCNT embryonic development

Cloned mammals can be achieved through somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), which involves reprogramming of differentiated somatic cells into a totipotent state. However, low cloning efficiency hampers its application severely. Cloned embryos have the same DNA as donor somatic cells. Therefore, incomplete epigenetic reprogramming accounts for low development of cloned embryos. In this review, we describe recent epigenetic barriers in SCNT embryos and strategies to correct these epigenetic defects and avoid the occurrence of abnormalities in cloned animals.

Impact of nano-selenium on nuclear maturation and genes expression profile of buffalo oocytes matured in vitro

Supplementation of maturation media with antioxidant (bulk form) improves oocyte maturation. However, the influence of adding antioxidant (nano-particles) on oocyte maturation is not well known. We aimed to evaluate the effect of selenium nano-particles (SeNP) and bulk selenium (Se) on buffalo oocytes maturation, in terms nuclear maturation and molecular level. Oocytes were distributed into four groups; 1st group was control, 2nd group was supplied with Se (10 ng/ml), 3rd and 4th groups were supplied with 1 µg/ml SeNP (67 nm), and SeNP (40 nm), respectively. Matured oocytes were fixed and stained to determine nuclear maturation. Oocytes and COC after IVM were stored at - 80 °C, for RNA isolation and qRT-PCR for selected genes. The Se and seNP (40 nm) had a positive effect on oocytes nuclear maturation rates. Apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase (CASP3) was reduced in all supplemented groups. Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) was up-regulated in oocytes supplemented with SeNP (40 nm). In COC, AMH increased in group supplemented with SeNP (67 nm). In oocytes, phospholipase A2 group III (PLA2G3) decreased in all supplemented groups. While in COC, PLA2G3increased in group supplied with Se. In COC, luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) increased in groups supplied with Se or SeNP (40 nm).Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) increased in all supplemented groups, in oocytes and COC. In oocytes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) was up-regulated in supplemented groups {Se and SeNP (67 nm)}.The DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) in oocytes was reduced in supplemented groups. In oocytes, the POU class 5 homeobox 1 (OCT4) increased in all supplemented groups. In COC, the OCT4 was over-expressed in group supplemented with SeNP (40 nm). Selenium supplementation in bulk or nano-particle improved in vitro buffalo oocytes maturation, viaup-regulation of antioxidant defense and development competence genes. SeNP (smaller size, 40 nm) induced higher expression of antioxidant gene.

The domesticated buffalo - An emerging model for experimental and therapeutic use of extraembryonic tissues

Large animals play important roles as model animals for biomedical sciences and translational research. The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is an economically important, multipurpose livestock species. Important assisted reproduction techniques, such as in vitro fertilization, cryo-conservation of sperm and embryos, embryo transfer, somatic cell nuclear transfer, genetic engineering, and genome editing have been successfully applied to buffaloes. Recently, detailed whole genome data and transcriptome maps have been generated. In addition, rapid progress has been made in stem cell biology of the buffalo. Apart from embryonic stem cells, bubaline extra-embryonic stem cells have gained particular interest. The multipotency of non-embryonic stem cells has been revealed, and their utility in basic and applied research is currently investigated. In particular, success achieved in bubaline extra-embryonic stem cells may have important roles in experimental biology and therapeutic regenerative medicine. Progress in other farm animals in assisted reproduction techniques, stem cell biology and genetic engineering, which could be of importance for buffalo, will also be briefly summarized.

Zebularine significantly improves the preimplantation development of ovine somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos

Aberrant DNA methylation reduces the developmental competence of mammalian somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. Thus, hypomethylation-associated drugs are beneficial for improving reprogramming efficiency. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the effect of zebularine, a relatively novel DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, on the developmental potential of ovine SCNT embryos. First, reduced overall DNA methylation patterns and gene-specific DNA methylation levels at the promoter regions of pluripotency genes (octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4), SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 2 (Sox2) and Nanog) were found in zebularine-treated cumulus cells. In addition, the DNA methylation levels in SCNT embryos derived from zebularine-treated cumulus cells were significantly reduced at the 2-, 4-, 8-cell, and blastocyst stages compared with their corresponding controls (P<0.05). The blastocyst rate was significantly improved in SCNT embryos reconstructed by the cumulus donor cells treated with 5nM zebularine for 12h compared with the control group (25.4±1.6 vs 11.8±1.7%, P<0.05). Moreover, the abundance of Oct4 and Sox2 mRNA was significantly increased during the preimplantation stages after zebularine treatment (P<0.05). In conclusion, the results indicate that, in an ovine model, zebularine decreases overall DNA methylation levels in donor cumulus cells and reconstructed embryos, downregulates the DNA methylation profile in the promoter region of pluripotency genes in donor cells and ultimately elevates the expression of pluripotency genes in the reconstructed embryos, which can lead to improved development of SCNT embryos.

Mesenchymal stem cell: Basic research and potential applications in cattle and buffalo

Characteristic features like self-renewal, multilineage differentiation potential, and immune-modulatory/anti-inflammatory properties, besides the ability to mobilize and home distant tissues make stem cells (SCs) a lifeline for an individual. Stem cells (SCs) if could be harvested and expanded without any abnormal change may be utilized as an all-in-one solution to numerous clinical ailments. However, slender understanding of their basic physiological properties, including expression potential, behavioral alternations during culture, and the effect of niche/microenvironment has currently restricted the clinical application of SCs. Among various types of SCs, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are extensively studied due to their easy availability, straightforward harvesting, and culturing procedures, besides, their less likelihood to produce teratogens. Large ruminant MSCs have been harvested from various adult tissues and fetal membranes and are well characterized under in vitro conditions but unlike human or other domestic animals in vivo studies on cattle/buffalo MSCs have mostly been aimed at improving the animals' production potential. In this document, we focused on the status and potential application of MSCs in cattle and buffalo.

Isolation and characterization of buffalo (bubalus bubalis) amniotic mesenchymal stem cells derived from amnion from the first trimester pregnancy

Amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) from livestock are valuable resources for animal reproduction and veterinary therapeutic. The purpose of this study is to explore a suitable way to isolate and culture the buffalo AMSCs (bAMSCs), and to identify their biological characteristics. Digestion with a combination of trypsin-EDTA and collagenase type I could obtain pure bAMSCs more effectively than trypsin-EDTA or collagenase type I alone. bAMSCs could proliferate steadily in vitro culture and exhibited fibroblastic-like morphology in vortex-shaped colony. bAMSCs were positive for MSC-specific markers CD44, CD90, CD105, CD73, β-integrin (CD29) and CD166, and pluripotent markers OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, REX-1, SSEA-1, SSEA-4 and TRA-1-81, but negative for hematopoietic markers CD34, CD45 and epithelial cells specific marker Cytokeratin 18. In addition, bAMSCs were capable of differentiating into adipogenic, osteogenic, chondrogenic and neural lineages, with expression of FABP4, Ost, ACAN, COL2A1, Nestin and β III-tubulin. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 inhibitor: kenpaullone promoted bAMSCs to differentiate into neural lineage. This study provides an effective protocol to obtain and characterize bAMSCs, which have proven useful as a cell resource for buffalo cell reprogramming studies and transgenic animal production.

Combined positive effect of oocyte extracts and brilliant cresyl blue stained recipient cytoplasts on epigenetic reprogramming and gene expression in buffalo nuclear transfer embryos

This study examined the effects of buffalo oocyte extracts (BOE) on donor cells reprogramming and molecular characterisation of oocytes screened via brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining and comparison of gene expression profiles of developmentally important genes in blastocysts from IVF and cloned derived from BOE treated donor cells with BCB selected recipient cytoplasts. Relative abundance (RA) of OCT4 and NANOG was increased (P < 0.05) and HDAC-1, DNMT-1, and DNMT-3A decreased (P < 0.05) in extract treated cells (ETCs). This ETCs dedifferentiated into neuron-like lineage under appropriate induction condition. The RA of NASP, EEF1A1, DNMT1, ODC1 and RPS27A was increased (P < 0.05) in BCB+ oocytes, whereas ATP5A1 and S100A10 increased (P < 0.05) in BCB- oocytes. Total cell number and RA of OCT4, NANOG, SOX2, DNMT1, IGF2, IGF2R, MNSOD, GLUT1, BAX and BCL2 in cloned blastocysts derived from BCB+ oocytes with ETC more closely followed that of IVF counterparts compared to BCB+ oocytes with extract untreated cell and BCB- oocytes with ETC derived blastocysts. In conclusion, BOE influenced epigenetic reprogramming of buffalo fibroblasts making them suitable donors for nuclear transfer (NT). BCB staining can be effectively used for selection of developmentally competent oocytes for NT. The combined effects of epigenetic reprogramming of donor nuclei by BOE and higher nuclear reprogramming capacity of BCB+ oocytes improve developmentally important gene expression in cloned blastocysts. Whether these improvements have long-term effects on buffalo calves born following embryo transfer remains unknown.

Developmental competence and expression profile of genes in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) oocytes and embryos collected under different environmental stress

The study examined the effects of different environmental stress on developmental competence and the relative abundance (RA) of various gene transcripts in oocytes and embryos of buffalo. Oocytes collected during cold period (CP) and hot period (HP) were matured, fertilized and cultured in vitro to blastocyst hatching stage. The mRNA expression patterns of genes implicated in developmental competence (OCT-4, IGF-2R and GDF-9), heat shock (HSP-70.1), oxidative stress (MnSOD), metabolism (GLUT-1), pro-apoptosis (BAX) and anti-apoptosis (BCL-2) were evaluated in immature and matured oocytes as well as in pre-implantation stage embryos. Oocytes reaching MII stage, cleavage rates, blastocyst yield and hatching rates increased (P < 0.05) during the CP. In MII oocytes and 2-cell embryos, the RA of OCT-4, IGF-2R, GDF-9, MnSOD and GLUT-1 decreased (P < 0.05) during the HP. In 4-cell embryos, the RA of OCT-4, IGF-2R and BCL-2 decreased (P < 0.05) in the HP, whereas GDF-9 increased (P < 0.05). In 8-to 16-cell embryos, the RA of OCT-4 and BCL-2 decreased (P < 0. 05) in the HP, whereas HSP-70.1 and BAX expression increased (P < 0.05). In morula and blastocyst, the RA of OCT-4, IGF-2R and MnSOD decreased (P < 0.05) during the HP, whereas HSP-70.1 was increased (P < 0.05). In conclusion, deleterious seasonal effects induced at the GV-stage carry-over to subsequent embryonic developmental stages and compromise oocyte developmental competence and quality of developed blastocysts.

Differences in developmental competence and gene expression profiles between buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) preimplantation embryos cultured in three different embryo culture media

The objective of this study was to compare effects of in vitro culture systems on embryonic development and expression patterns of developmentally important genes in preimplantation buffalo embryos. After IVM/IVF presumptive zygotes were cultured in one of three systems: undefined TCM-199, mCR2aa medium supplemented with 10 % FBS and defined PVA-myo-inositol-phosphate-EGF medium. No (P > 0.05) differences at 2-cell, 4-cell and 8-cell to 16- cell stages were observed among the three cultured media used, however, increased (P < 0.05) blastocyst yield, cell number and hatching rate were found in defined medium compared to undefined media. The expression patterns of genes implicated in embryo metabolism (GLUT-1), anti-apoptosis (BCL-2), imprinting (IGF-2R), DNA methylation (DNMT-3A) and maternal recognition of pregnancy (IFNT) were increased (P < 0.05) in hatched blastocysts derived from defined medium compared to undefined media. In conclusion, serum-free, defined medium improved developmental competence of in vitro cultured buffalo embryos. Whether these differences in morphological development and gene expression have long-term effects on buffalo calves born after embryo transfer remains unknown. However, it is possible that early adaptations of the preimplantation embryo to its environment persist during fetal and post-natal development.