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Braz HB, Barreto RDSN, da Silva-Júnior LN, Horvath-Pereira BDO, da Silva TS, da Silva MD, Acuña F, Miglino MA. Evolutionary Patterns of Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy and Implantation in Eutherian Mammals. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2077. [PMID: 39061539 PMCID: PMC11274353 DOI: 10.3390/ani14142077] [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: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The implantation of the embryo into the maternal endometrium is a complex process associated with the evolution of viviparity and placentation in mammals. In this review, we provide an overview of maternal recognition of pregnancy signals and implantation modes in eutherians, focusing on their diverse mechanisms and evolutionary patterns. Different pregnancy recognition signals and implantation modes have evolved in eutherian mammals, reflecting the remarkable diversity of specializations in mammals following the evolution of viviparity. Superficial implantation is the ancestral implantation mode in Eutheria and its major clades. The other modes, secondary, partially, and primary interstitial implantation have each independently evolved multiple times in the evolutionary history of eutherians. Although significant progress has been made in understanding pregnancy recognition signals and implantation modes, there is still much to uncover. Rodents and chiropterans (especially Phyllostomidae) offer valuable opportunities for studying the transitions among implantation modes, but data is still scarce for these diverse orders. Further research should focus on unstudied taxa so we can establish robust patterns of evolutionary changes in pregnancy recognition signaling and implantation modes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rodrigo da Silva Nunes Barreto
- Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil;
| | - Leandro Norberto da Silva-Júnior
- Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (L.N.d.S.-J.); (B.d.O.H.-P.); (T.S.d.S.); (M.D.d.S.)
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Marília, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
| | - Bianca de Oliveira Horvath-Pereira
- Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (L.N.d.S.-J.); (B.d.O.H.-P.); (T.S.d.S.); (M.D.d.S.)
| | - Thamires Santos da Silva
- Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (L.N.d.S.-J.); (B.d.O.H.-P.); (T.S.d.S.); (M.D.d.S.)
| | - Mônica Duarte da Silva
- Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (L.N.d.S.-J.); (B.d.O.H.-P.); (T.S.d.S.); (M.D.d.S.)
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Francisco Acuña
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata B1900, Argentina;
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Fu P, Zhang D, Yang C, Yuan X, Luo X, Zheng H, Deng Y, Liu Q, Cui K, Gao F, Shi D. Whole-genome transcriptome and DNA methylation dynamics of pre-implantation embryos reveal progression of embryonic genome activation in buffaloes. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2023; 14:94. [PMID: 37430306 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-023-00894-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During mammalian pre-implantation embryonic development (PED), the process of maternal-to-zygote transition (MZT) is well orchestrated by epigenetic modification and gene sequential expression, and it is related to the embryonic genome activation (EGA). During MZT, the embryos are sensitive to the environment and easy to arrest at this stage in vitro. However, the timing and regulation mechanism of EGA in buffaloes remain obscure. RESULTS Buffalo pre-implantation embryos were subjected to trace cell based RNA-seq and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) to draw landscapes of transcription and DNA-methylation. Four typical developmental steps were classified during buffalo PED. Buffalo major EGA was identified at the 16-cell stage by the comprehensive analysis of gene expression and DNA methylation dynamics. By weighted gene co-expression network analysis, stage-specific modules were identified during buffalo maternal-to-zygotic transition, and key signaling pathways and biological process events were further revealed. Programmed and continuous activation of these pathways was necessary for success of buffalo EGA. In addition, the hub gene, CDK1, was identified to play a critical role in buffalo EGA. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides a landscape of transcription and DNA methylation in buffalo PED and reveals deeply the molecular mechanism of the buffalo EGA and genetic programming during buffalo MZT. It will lay a foundation for improving the in vitro development of buffalo embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penghui Fu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Disease Control, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 402460, China
| | - Du Zhang
- Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518120, China
| | - Chunyan Yang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Reproduction and Breeding, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Nanning, 530001, China
| | - Xiang Yuan
- Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences and the People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, 530016, China
| | - Xier Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, 528225, China
| | - Haiying Zheng
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Reproduction and Breeding, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Nanning, 530001, China
| | - Yanfei Deng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Disease Control, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Qingyou Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Disease Control, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, 528225, China
| | - Kuiqing Cui
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Disease Control, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, 528225, China
| | - Fei Gao
- Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518120, China.
- Comparative Pediatrics and Nutrition, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK 1870 C, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
| | - Deshun Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Disease Control, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.
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Lipinska P, Pawlak P, Warzych E. Species and embryo genome origin affect lipid droplets in preimplantation embryos. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1187832. [PMID: 37250899 PMCID: PMC10217358 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1187832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian embryo development is affected by multiple metabolism processes, among which energy metabolism seems to be crucial. Therefore the ability and the scale of lipids storage in different preimplantation stages might affect embryos quality. The aim of the present studies was to show a complex characterization of lipid droplets (LD) during subsequent embryo developmental stages. It was performed on two species (bovine and porcine) as well as on embryos with different embryo origin [after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and after parthenogenetic activation (PA)]. Embryos after IVF/PA were collected at precise time points of development at the following stages: zygote, 2-cell, 4-cell, 8/16-cell, morula, early blastocyst, expanded blastocyst. LD were stained with BODIPY 493/503 dye, embryos were visualized under a confocal microscope and images were analyzed with the ImageJ Fiji software. The following parameters were analyzed: lipid content, LD number, LD size and LD area within the total embryo. The most important results show that lipid parameters in the IVF vs. PA bovine embryos differ at the most crucial moments of embryonic development (zygote, 8-16-cell, blastocyst), indicating possible dysregulations of lipid metabolism in PA embryos. When bovine vs. porcine species are compared, we observe higher lipid content around EGA stage and lower lipid content at the blastocyst stage for bovine embryos, which indicates different demand for energy depending on the species. We conclude that lipid droplets parameters significantly differ among developmental stages and between species but also can be affected by the genome origin.
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Ramos-Ibeas P, Pérez-Gómez A, González-Brusi L, Quiroga AC, Bermejo-Álvarez P. Pre-hatching exposure to N2B27 medium improves post-hatching development of bovine embryos in vitro. Theriogenology 2023; 205:73-78. [PMID: 37087966 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.04.018] [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: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Ungulate embryos undergo critical cell differentiation and proliferation events around and after blastocyst hatching. Failures in these processes lead to early pregnancy losses, which generate an important economic impact on farming. Conventional embryo culture media, such as SOF, are unable to support embryo development beyond hatching. In contrast, N2B27 medium supports early post-hatching development, evidencing a swift in embryonic nutritional requirements during this developmental window. Here, we investigate if earlier exposure to N2B27 could improve embryo development after hatching. Embryo culture in N2B27 from day (D) 5, 6 or 7 significantly enhanced complete hypoblast migration (>45 vs. ∼24%) and epiblast development into an embryonic disc (ED)-like structure at D12 (>40 vs. 23%), compared to embryos cultured in SOF up to D9. Culture in N2B27 from D5 significantly increased epiblast and hypoblast cell number in D8 blastocysts, but post-hatching embryos cultured in N2B27 from D5 or 6 frequently showed a disorganized distribution of epiblast cells. In conclusion, bovine embryo culture in N2B27 from D7 onwards improves subsequent post-hatching development. This improved fully in vitro system will be very useful to functionally explore cell differentiation mechanisms and the bases of early pregnancy failures without requiring animal experimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ramos-Ibeas
- Animal Reproduction Department, INIA, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| | - A Pérez-Gómez
- Animal Reproduction Department, INIA, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - L González-Brusi
- Animal Reproduction Department, INIA, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - A C Quiroga
- Animal Reproduction Department, INIA, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain
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Pluripotent Core in Bovine Embryos: A Review. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12081010. [PMID: 35454256 PMCID: PMC9032358 DOI: 10.3390/ani12081010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Early development in mammals is characterized by the ability of each cell to produce a complete organism plus the extraembryonic, or placental, cells, defined as pluripotency. During subsequent development, pluripotency is lost, and cells begin to differentiate to a particular cell fate. This review summarizes the current knowledge of pluripotency features of bovine embryos cultured in vitro, focusing on the core of pluripotency genes (OCT4, NANOG, SOX2, and CDX2), and main chemical strategies for controlling pluripotent networks during early development. Finally, we discuss the applicability of manipulating pluripotency during the morula to blastocyst transition in cattle species.
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6
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Embryo production by in vitro fertilization in wild ungulates: progress and perspectives. ANNALS OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/aoas-2022-0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Wild ungulates are of fundamental importance for balancing ecosystems, as well as being the species of economic interest. Increasing concern over the accelerated population reduction of these species has resulted in the development of assisted reproduction techniques, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), as a tool for conservation and multiplication. In the present scenario, IVF protocols were developed based on the methodologies used for domestic ungulates. Nevertheless, owing to the physiological and reproductive differences among the species, several factors associated with IVF and its relationship with the characteristics of the species of interest require clarification. In vitro conditions for the collection and selection of female and male gametes, oocyte maturation, sperm capacitation, co-incubation of gametes, and embryonic development can influence IVF results. Therefore, the present review considers the main advances in the methodologies already used for wild ungulates, emphasizing the strategies for improving the protocols to obtain better efficiency rates. Additionally, we discuss the conditions of each IVF stage, with emphasis on aspects related to in vitro manipulation and comparability with the protocols for domestic ungulates.
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7
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Martínez-Falguera D, Iborra-Egea O, Gálvez-Montón C. iPSC Therapy for Myocardial Infarction in Large Animal Models: Land of Hope and Dreams. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1836. [PMID: 34944652 PMCID: PMC8698445 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9121836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Myocardial infarction is the main driver of heart failure due to ischemia and subsequent cell death, and cell-based strategies have emerged as promising therapeutic methods to replace dead tissue in cardiovascular diseases. Research in this field has been dramatically advanced by the development of laboratory-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that harbor the capability to become any cell type. Like other experimental strategies, stem cell therapy must meet multiple requirements before reaching the clinical trial phase, and in vivo models are indispensable for ensuring the safety of such novel therapies. Specifically, translational studies in large animal models are necessary to fully evaluate the therapeutic potential of this approach; to empirically determine the optimal combination of cell types, supplementary factors, and delivery methods to maximize efficacy; and to stringently assess safety. In the present review, we summarize the main strategies employed to generate iPSCs and differentiate them into cardiomyocytes in large animal species; the most critical differences between using small versus large animal models for cardiovascular studies; and the strategies that have been pursued regarding implanted cells' stage of differentiation, origin, and technical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daina Martínez-Falguera
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona (UB), 08036 Barcelona, Spain;
- ICREC Research Program, Germans Trias i Pujol Health Research Institute, Can Ruti Campus, 08916 Badalona, Spain;
- Heart Institute (iCor), Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Oriol Iborra-Egea
- ICREC Research Program, Germans Trias i Pujol Health Research Institute, Can Ruti Campus, 08916 Badalona, Spain;
- Heart Institute (iCor), Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Carolina Gálvez-Montón
- ICREC Research Program, Germans Trias i Pujol Health Research Institute, Can Ruti Campus, 08916 Badalona, Spain;
- Heart Institute (iCor), Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, 08916 Badalona, Spain
- CIBERCV, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
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8
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Lu X, Zhang Y, Wang L, Wang L, Wang H, Xu Q, Xiang Y, Chen C, Kong F, Xia W, Lin Z, Ma S, Liu L, Wang X, Ni H, Li W, Guo Y, Xie W. Evolutionary epigenomic analyses in mammalian early embryos reveal species-specific innovations and conserved principles of imprinting. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabi6178. [PMID: 34818044 PMCID: PMC8612685 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abi6178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
While mouse remains the most popular model, the conservation of parental-to-embryonic epigenetic transition across mammals is poorly defined. Through analysis of oocytes and early embryos in human, bovine, porcine, rat, and mouse, we revealed remarkable species-specific innovations as no single animal model fully recapitulates the human epigenetic transition. In rodent oocytes, transcription-dependent DNA methylation allows methylation of maternal imprints but not intergenic paternal imprints. Unexpectedly, prevalent DNA hypermethylation, paralleled by H3K36me2/3, also occurs in nontranscribed regions in porcine and bovine oocytes, except for megabase-long “CpG continents (CGCs)” where imprinting control regions preferentially reside. Broad H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 domains exist in nonhuman oocytes, yet only rodent H3K27me3 survives beyond genome activation. Coincidently, regulatory elements preferentially evade H3K27me3 in rodent oocytes, and failure to do so causes aberrant embryonic gene repression. Hence, the diverse mammalian innovations of parental-to-embryonic transition center on a delicate “to-methylate-or-not” balance in establishing imprints while protecting other regulatory regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xukun Lu
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Lijuan Wang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Leyun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Huili Wang
- Institute of Animal Science, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Qianhua Xu
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yunlong Xiang
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Chaolei Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Feng Kong
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Weikun Xia
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zili Lin
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Sinan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiangguo Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Hemin Ni
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yong Guo
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Wei Xie
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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Springer C, Zakhartchenko V, Wolf E, Simmet K. Hypoblast Formation in Bovine Embryos Does Not Depend on NANOG. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092232. [PMID: 34571882 PMCID: PMC8466907 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of the pluripotency factor NANOG during the second embryonic lineage differentiation has been studied extensively in mouse, although species-specific differences exist. To elucidate the role of NANOG in an alternative model organism, we knocked out NANOG in fibroblast cells and produced bovine NANOG-knockout (KO) embryos via somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). At day 8, NANOG-KO blastocysts showed a decreased total cell number when compared to controls from SCNT (NT Ctrl). The pluripotency factors OCT4 and SOX2 as well as the hypoblast (HB) marker GATA6 were co-expressed in all cells of the inner cell mass (ICM) and, in contrast to mouse Nanog-KO, expression of the late HB marker SOX17 was still present. We blocked the MEK-pathway with a MEK 1/2 inhibitor, and control embryos showed an increase in NANOG positive cells, but SOX17 expressing HB precursor cells were still present. NANOG-KO together with MEK-inhibition was lethal before blastocyst stage, similarly to findings in mouse. Supplementation of exogenous FGF4 to NANOG-KO embryos did not change SOX17 expression in the ICM, unlike mouse Nanog-KO embryos, where missing SOX17 expression was completely rescued by FGF4. We conclude that NANOG mediated FGF/MEK signaling is not required for HB formation in the bovine embryo and that another—so far unknown—pathway regulates HB differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Springer
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (C.S.); (V.Z.); (E.W.)
- Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Valeri Zakhartchenko
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (C.S.); (V.Z.); (E.W.)
- Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (C.S.); (V.Z.); (E.W.)
- Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Kilian Simmet
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (C.S.); (V.Z.); (E.W.)
- Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
- Correspondence:
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10
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Pérez-Gómez A, González-Brusi L, Bermejo-Álvarez P, Ramos-Ibeas P. Lineage Differentiation Markers as a Proxy for Embryo Viability in Farm Ungulates. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:680539. [PMID: 34212020 PMCID: PMC8239129 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.680539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic losses constitute a major burden for reproductive efficiency of farm animals. Pregnancy losses in ungulate species, which include cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, majorly occur during the second week of gestation, when the embryo experiences a series of cell differentiation, proliferation, and migration processes encompassed under the term conceptus elongation. Conceptus elongation takes place following blastocyst hatching and involves a massive proliferation of the extraembryonic membranes trophoblast and hypoblast, and the formation of flat embryonic disc derived from the epiblast, which ultimately gastrulates generating the three germ layers. This process occurs prior to implantation and it is exclusive from ungulates, as embryos from other mammalian species such as rodents or humans implant right after hatching. The critical differences in embryo development between ungulates and mice, the most studied mammalian model, have precluded the identification of the genes governing lineage differentiation in livestock species. Furthermore, conceptus elongation has not been recapitulated in vitro, hindering the study of these cellular events. Luckily, recent advances on transcriptomics, genome modification and post-hatching in vitro culture are shedding light into this largely unknown developmental window, uncovering possible molecular markers to determine embryo quality. In this review, we summarize the events occurring during ungulate pre-implantation development, highlighting recent findings which reveal that several dogmas in Developmental Biology established by knock-out murine models do not hold true for other mammals, including humans and farm animals. The developmental failures associated to in vitro produced embryos in farm animals are also discussed together with Developmental Biology tools to assess embryo quality, including molecular markers to assess proper lineage commitment and a post-hatching in vitro culture system able to directly determine developmental potential circumventing the need of experimental animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Pérez-Gómez
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Leopoldo González-Brusi
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Bermejo-Álvarez
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Priscila Ramos-Ibeas
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Madrid, Spain
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11
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Strategy to Establish Embryo-Derived Pluripotent Stem Cells in Cattle. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22095011. [PMID: 34065074 PMCID: PMC8125899 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22095011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell research is essential not only for the research and treatment of human diseases, but also for the genetic preservation and improvement of animals. Since embryonic stem cells (ESCs) were established in mice, substantial efforts have been made to establish true ESCs in many species. Although various culture conditions were used to establish ESCs in cattle, the capturing of true bovine ESCs (bESCs) has not been achieved. In this review, the difficulty of establishing bESCs with various culture conditions is described, and the characteristics of proprietary induced pluripotent stem cells and extended pluripotent stem cells are introduced. We conclude with a suggestion of a strategy for establishing true bESCs.
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Llobat L. Pluripotency and Growth Factors in Early Embryonic Development of Mammals: A Comparative Approach. Vet Sci 2021; 8:vetsci8050078. [PMID: 34064445 PMCID: PMC8147802 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8050078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The regulation of early events in mammalian embryonic development is a complex process. In the early stages, pluripotency, cellular differentiation, and growth should occur at specific times and these events are regulated by different genes that are expressed at specific times and locations. The genes related to pluripotency and cellular differentiation, and growth factors that determine successful embryonic development are different (or differentially expressed) among mammalian species. Some genes are fundamental for controlling pluripotency in some species but less fundamental in others, for example, Oct4 is particularly relevant in bovine early embryonic development, whereas Oct4 inhibition does not affect ovine early embryonic development. In addition, some mechanisms that regulate cellular differentiation do not seem to be clear or evolutionarily conserved. After cellular differentiation, growth factors are relevant in early development, and their effects also differ among species, for example, insulin-like growth factor improves the blastocyst development rate in some species but does not have the same effect in mice. Some growth factors influence genes related to pluripotency, and therefore, their role in early embryo development is not limited to cell growth but could also involve the earliest stages of development. In this review, we summarize the differences among mammalian species regarding the regulation of pluripotency, cellular differentiation, and growth factors in the early stages of embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lola Llobat
- Research Group Microbiological Agents Associated with Animal Reproduction (PROVAGINBIO), Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA) Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46113 Valencia, Spain
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Springer C, Wolf E, Simmet K. A New Toolbox in Experimental Embryology-Alternative Model Organisms for Studying Preimplantation Development. J Dev Biol 2021; 9:15. [PMID: 33918361 PMCID: PMC8167745 DOI: 10.3390/jdb9020015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Preimplantation development is well conserved across mammalian species, but major differences in developmental kinetics, regulation of early lineage differentiation and implantation require studies in different model organisms, especially to better understand human development. Large domestic species, such as cattle and pig, resemble human development in many different aspects, i.e., the timing of zygotic genome activation, mechanisms of early lineage differentiations and the period until blastocyst formation. In this article, we give an overview of different assisted reproductive technologies, which are well established in cattle and pig and make them easily accessible to study early embryonic development. We outline the available technologies to create genetically modified models and to modulate lineage differentiation as well as recent methodological developments in genome sequencing and imaging, which form an immense toolbox for research. Finally, we compare the most recent findings in regulation of the first lineage differentiations across species and show how alternative models enhance our understanding of preimplantation development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Springer
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (C.S.); (E.W.)
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (C.S.); (E.W.)
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Kilian Simmet
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (C.S.); (E.W.)
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Antczak DF, Allen WRT. Placentation in Equids. ADVANCES IN ANATOMY, EMBRYOLOGY, AND CELL BIOLOGY 2021; 234:91-128. [PMID: 34694479 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-77360-1_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
This chapter focuses on the early stages of placental development in horses and their relatives in the genus Equus and highlights unique features of equid reproductive biology. The equine placenta is classified as a noninvasive, epitheliochorial type. However, equids have evolved a minor component of invasive trophoblast, the chorionic girdle and endometrial cups, which links the equine placenta with the highly invasive hemochorial placentae of rodents and, particularly, with the primate placenta. Two types of fetus-to-mother signaling in equine pregnancy are mediated by the invasive equine trophoblast cells. First, endocrinological signaling mediated by equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) drives maternal progesterone production to support the equine conceptus between days 40 and 100 of gestation. Only in primates and equids does the placenta produce a gonadotrophin, but the evolutionary paths taken by these two groups of mammals to produce this placental signal were very different. Second, florid expression of paternal major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules by invading chorionic girdle cells stimulates strong maternal anti-fetal antibody responses that may play a role in the development of immunological tolerance that protects the conceptus from destruction by the maternal immune system. In humans, invasive extravillous trophoblasts also express MHC class I molecules, but the loci involved, and their likely function, are different from those of the horse. Comparison of the cellular and molecular events in these disparate species provides outstanding examples of convergent evolution and co-option in mammalian pregnancy and highlights how studies of the equine placenta have produced new insights into reproductive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas F Antczak
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - W R Twink Allen
- Sharjah Equine Hospital, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Robinson College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- The Paul Mellon Laboratory of Equine Reproduction, 'Brunswick', Newmarket, Suffolk, UK
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Płusa B, Piliszek A. Common principles of early mammalian embryo self-organisation. Development 2020; 147:147/14/dev183079. [PMID: 32699138 DOI: 10.1242/dev.183079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Pre-implantation mammalian development unites extreme plasticity with a robust outcome: the formation of a blastocyst, an organised multi-layered structure ready for implantation. The process of blastocyst formation is one of the best-known examples of self-organisation. The first three cell lineages in mammalian development specify and arrange themselves during the morphogenic process based on cell-cell interactions. Despite decades of research, the unifying principles driving early mammalian development are still not fully defined. Here, we discuss the role of physical forces, and molecular and cellular mechanisms, in driving self-organisation and lineage formation that are shared between eutherian mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berenika Płusa
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health (FBMH), Division of Developmental Biology & Medicine, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Anna Piliszek
- Department of Experimental Embryology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Postepu 36A, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland
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Warzych E, Pawlak P, Lechniak D, Madeja ZE. WNT signalling supported by MEK/ERK inhibition is essential to maintain pluripotency in bovine preimplantation embryo. Dev Biol 2020; 463:63-76. [PMID: 32360193 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Capturing stable embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines from domesticated animals still remains one of the challenges of non-rodent embryology. The stake is high, as stable ESCs derived from species such as cattle present high economic and scientific value. Understanding of the processes leading to the embryonic lineage segregation is crucial to provide species-orientated molecular environment capable of supporting self-renewal and pluripotency. Therefore, the aim of this study was to validate the action of the two core regulatory pathways (WNT and MEK/ERK) during bovine embryo development. In vitro produced bovine embryos were obtained in the presence of inhibitors (i), which enable activation of the WNT pathway (via GSK3i, CHIR99021) and suppression of MEK signalling by PD0325901 in the 2i system and PD184325 and SU5402 in the 3i system. We have followed the changes in the distribution of the key lineage specific markers both at the transcript and protein level. Our results showed that WNT signalling promotes the expression of key inner cell mass (ICM) specific markers in bovine embryos, regardless of the MEK/ERK inhibitor cocktail used. MEK/ERK downregulation is crucial to maintain OCT4 and NANOG expression within the ICM and to prevent their exclusion from the trophectoderm (TE). At the same time, the classical TE marker (CDX2) was downregulated at the mRNA and protein level. As a follow up for the observed pluripotency stimulating effect of the inhibitors, we have tested the potential of the 2i and the 3i culture conditions (supported by LIF) to derive primary bovine ESC lines. As a result, we propose a model in which all of the primary signalling pathways determining embryonic cell fate are active in bovine embryos, yet the requirement for pluripotency maintenance in cattle may differ from the described standards. WNT activation leads to the formation (and stabilisation of the ICM) and MEK/ERK signalling is maintained at low levels. Unlike in the mouse, GATA6 is expressed in both ICM and TE. MEK/ERK signalling affects HP formation in cattle, but this process is activated at the post-blastocyst stage. With regard to self-renewal, 2i is preferable, as 3i also blocks the FGF receptor, what may prevent PI3K signalling, important for pluripotency and self-renewal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Warzych
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 33, 60-637, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Piotr Pawlak
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 33, 60-637, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Dorota Lechniak
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 33, 60-637, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Zofia Eliza Madeja
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 33, 60-637, Poznan, Poland.
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Afanassieff M, Perold F, Bouchereau W, Cadiou A, Beaujean N. Embryo-derived and induced pluripotent stem cells: Towards naive pluripotency and chimeric competency in rabbits. Exp Cell Res 2020; 389:111908. [PMID: 32057751 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2020.111908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Both embryo-derived (ESC) and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines have been established in rabbit. They exhibit the essential characteristics of primed pluripotency. In this review, we described their characteristic features at both molecular and functional levels. We also described the attempts to reprogram rabbit pluripotent stem cells (rbPSCs) toward the naive state of pluripotency using methods established previously to capture this state in rodents and primates. In the last section, we described and discussed our current knowledge of rabbit embryo development pertaining to the mechanisms of early lineage segregation. We argued that the molecular signature of naive-state pluripotency differs between mice and rabbits. We finally discussed some of the key issues to be addressed for capturing the naive state in rbPSCs, including the generation of embryo/PSC chimeras.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marielle Afanassieff
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Inserm, INRAE, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, U1208, USC1361, F-69500, Bron, France.
| | - Florence Perold
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Inserm, INRAE, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, U1208, USC1361, F-69500, Bron, France
| | - Wilhelm Bouchereau
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Inserm, INRAE, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, U1208, USC1361, F-69500, Bron, France
| | - Antoine Cadiou
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Inserm, INRAE, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, U1208, USC1361, F-69500, Bron, France
| | - Nathalie Beaujean
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Inserm, INRAE, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, U1208, USC1361, F-69500, Bron, France
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