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Kang SM, Idrees M, Perera CD, Lee SH, Zhang M, Yu X, Jin Y, Kong IK. GDF-8 improves in vitro implantation and cryo-tolerance by stimulating the ALK5-SMAD2/3 signaling in bovine IVF embryo development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1345669. [PMID: 38577502 PMCID: PMC10991729 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1345669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) plays a critical role in regulating trophoblast invasion and proliferation. Growth differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8) is a member of the TGF-β superfamily and is categorized as a myostatin subtype. It is primarily a secreted protein synthesized in skeletal muscle cells. It is expressed in the placenta, reproductive tissues, and cells. In this study, we investigated the role of GDF-8 in the development and hatching rate of bovine embryos. We noted a notable elevation (p < 0.05) in the development and hatching rates compared to the control embryos. Furthermore, the GDF-8 group showed a significantly improved total cell number (p < 0.05) and an increase in trophectoderm ratio inner cell mass (trophectoderm: inner cell mass) cells (p < 0.001) compared to the control group. Additionally, blastocysts treated with GDF-8 exhibited significantly higher mRNA levels of caudal-type homeobox 2 (CDX2) (p < 0.05). The trophoblast invasion area was significantly larger in the GDF-8 group than in the control group (p < 0.01). Furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis revealed significantly higher mRNA levels (p < 0.05) of matrix metalloproteinases 9 (MMP9) and follistatin-like 3(FSTL3), both of which are associated with the ALK5-SMAD2/3 signaling pathway, in the GDF-8 group than those in the control group. The mRNA expression levels of genes related to tight junctions (TJ) and adherent junctions were higher in the GDF-8 group than those in the control group (p < 0.05). After 24 h of thawing, blastocysts were analyzed using 4-kDa FITC-dextran, which revealed a higher TJ integrity in the GDF-8 group (p < 0.01). Thus, GDF-8 plays a crucial role in bovine embryonic development, in vitro implantation, and cryotolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seon-Min Kang
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Graduate School of Applied Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - Muhammad Idrees
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Graduate School of Applied Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea
- Division of Animal Science, Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - Chalani Dilshani Perera
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Graduate School of Applied Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - Seo-Hyun Lee
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Graduate School of Applied Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - Mingjun Zhang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Model, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xianfeng Yu
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Model, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yongxun Jin
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Model, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Il-Keun Kong
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Graduate School of Applied Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea
- Division of Animal Science, Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea
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Kim M, Lee J, Cai L, Choi H, Oh D, Jawad A, Hyun SH. Neurotrophin-4 promotes the specification of trophectoderm lineage after parthenogenetic activation and enhances porcine early embryonic development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1194596. [PMID: 37519302 PMCID: PMC10373506 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1194596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), a neurotrophic factor, appears to affect early embryonic development because it is secreted not only by neurons but also by oviductal and uterine epithelial cells. However, no studies have characterized the effects of NT-4 on early embryonic development in pigs. In this study, we applied the experimental model of parthenogenetic-activation (PA)-derived embryos. Herein, we investigated the effect of NT-4 supplementation during the in vitro culture (IVC) of embryos, analyzed the transcription levels of specific genes, and outlined the first cell lineage specification for porcine PA-derived blastocysts. We confirmed that NT-4 and its receptor proteins were localized in both the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) in porcine blastocysts. Across different concentrations (0, 1, 10, and 100 ng/mL) of NT-4 supplementation, the optimal concentration of NT-4 to improve the developmental competence of porcine parthenotes was 10 ng/mL. NT-4 supplementation during porcine IVC significantly (p < 0.05) increased the proportion of TE cells by inducing the transcription of TE lineage markers (CDX2, PPAG3, and GATA3 transcripts). NT-4 also reduced blastocyst apoptosis by regulating the transcription of apoptosis-related genes (BAX and BCL2L1 transcripts) and improved blastocyst quality via the interaction of neurotrophin-, Hippo-yes-associated protein (Hippo-YAP) and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway. Additionally, NT-4 supplementation during IVC significantly (p < 0.05) increased YAP1 transcript levels and significantly (p < 0.01) decreased LATS2 transcript levels, respectively, in the porcine PA-derived blastocysts. We also confirmed through fluorescence intensity that the YAP1 protein was significantly (p < 0.001) increased in the NT-4-treated blastocysts compared with that in the control. NT-4 also promoted differentiation into the TE lineage rather than into the ICM lineage during porcine early embryonic development. In conclusion, 10 ng/mL NT-4 supplementation enhanced blastocyst quality by regulating the apoptosis- and TE lineage specification-related genes and interacting with neurotrophin-, Hippo-YAP-, and MAPK/ERK signaling pathway during porcine in vitro embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirae Kim
- Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Joohyeong Lee
- Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Lian Cai
- Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Veterinary Biosecurity and Protection, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyerin Choi
- Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongjin Oh
- Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Ali Jawad
- Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Hwan Hyun
- Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Veterinary Biosecurity and Protection, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
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3
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Oh D, Choi H, Kim M, Cai L, Lee J, Jawad A, Kim S, Zheng H, Lee G, Jeon Y, Hyun SH. Interleukin-7 enhances in vitro development and blastocyst quality in porcine parthenogenetic embryos. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:1052856. [PMID: 36570506 PMCID: PMC9772438 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1052856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-7 (IL-7), a vital factor that affects cell development, proliferation, and survival, plays an important role in oocyte maturation. However, its role in embryonic development remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of IL-7 supplementation on in vitro culture (IVC) of porcine embryos after parthenogenetic activation (PA) based on characteristics such as cleavage, blastocyst formation rate, intracellular glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in cleaved embryos, total cell number, apoptosis rate, and cell lineage specification in blastocysts. Immunofluorescence revealed that IL-7 and its receptor, IL-7Rα (IL-7R) localized in the cytoplasm of porcine parthenote embryos. By supplementing the IVC medium (PZM5) with various concentrations of IL-7, an optimal concentration that enhanced embryonic development, promoted intracellular GSH, and decreased ROS levels in the cleavage stage during porcine embryo IVC was determined. Investigation of mRNA expression patterns via qRT-PCR suggested that IL-7 possibly regulated maternal mRNA clearance and zygotic genome activation. Furthermore, IL-7 supplementation reduced blastocyst apoptosis, enhanced the expression of the inner cell mass marker SOX2, and phosphorylated STAT5 levels in the blastocysts. Moreover, it altered the transcription patterns of genes that regulate apoptosis, IL-7 signaling, and development. Thus, we demonstrated the localization of IL-7 and IL-7R in porcine preimplantation embryos in vitro for the first time. Furthermore, we suggest that IL-7 supplementation can be employed to enhance embryonic development and blastocyst quality based on the activation of the transcripts of genes that are involved in developmental competence and IL-7 signaling during in vitro porcine embryo development following PA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongjin Oh
- Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea,Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Hyerin Choi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea,Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Mirae Kim
- Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea,Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Lian Cai
- Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea,Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea,Graduate School of Veterinary Biosecurity and Protection, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Joohyeong Lee
- Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea,Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Ali Jawad
- Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea,Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Sohee Kim
- Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea,Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Haomiao Zheng
- Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea,Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Gabsang Lee
- Department of Neurology, Institute for Cell Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, ML, United States
| | - Yubyeol Jeon
- Laboratory of Theriogenology and Reproductive Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, South Korea,*Correspondence: Yubyeol Jeon
| | - Sang-Hwan Hyun
- Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea,Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea,Graduate School of Veterinary Biosecurity and Protection, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea,Sang-Hwan Hyun
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4
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Kim M, Hwang SU, Yoon JD, Lee J, Kim E, Cai L, Choi H, Oh D, Lee G, Hyun SH. Physiological and Functional Roles of Neurotrophin-4 During In Vitro Maturation of Porcine Cumulus–Oocyte Complexes. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:908992. [PMID: 35898394 PMCID: PMC9310091 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.908992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), a granulosa cell-derived factor and a member of the neurotrophin family, is known to promote follicular development and oocyte maturation in mammals. However, the physiological and functional roles of NT-4 in porcine ovarian development are not yet known. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological role of NT-4-related signaling in the in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs). The NT-4 protein and its receptors were detected in matured porcine COCs via immunofluorescence analysis. NT-4 was shown to promote the maturation of COCs by upregulating NFKB1 transcription via the neurotrophin/p75NTR signaling pathway. Notably, the mRNA expression levels of the oocyte-secreted factors GDF9 and BMP15, sperm–oocyte interaction regulator CD9, and DNA methylase DNMT3A were significantly upregulated in NT-4-treated than in untreated porcine oocytes. Concurrently, there were no significant differences in the levels of total and phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase between NT-4-treated and untreated cumulus cells (CCs); however, the level of phosphorylated ERK1/2 was significantly higher in NT-4-treated CCs. Both total and phosphorylated ERK1/2 levels were significantly higher in NT-4-treated than in untreated oocytes. In addition, NT-4 improved subsequent embryonic development after in vitro fertilization and somatic cell nuclear transfer. Therefore, the physiological and functional roles of NT-4 in porcine ovarian development include the promotion of oocyte maturation, CC expansion, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in porcine COCs during IVM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirae Kim
- Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
- Institute of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Seon-Ung Hwang
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Junchul David Yoon
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Joohyeong Lee
- Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
- Institute of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Eunhye Kim
- Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
| | - Lian Cai
- Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
- Graduate School of Veterinary Biosecurity and Protection, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Hyerin Choi
- Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
- Institute of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Dongjin Oh
- Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
- Institute of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Gabsang Lee
- Department of Neurology, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sang-Hwan Hyun
- Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology (VETEMBIO), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
- Institute of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
- Graduate School of Veterinary Biosecurity and Protection, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Sang-Hwan Hyun,
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5
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Yang S, Yang Y, Hao H, Du W, Pang Y, Zhao S, Zou H, Zhu H, Zhang P, Zhao X. Supplementation of EGF, IGF-1, and Connexin 37 in IVM Medium Significantly Improved the Maturation of Bovine Oocytes and Vitrification of Their IVF Blastocysts. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:805. [PMID: 35627190 PMCID: PMC9140688 DOI: 10.3390/genes13050805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The quality and developmental capacity of oocytes derived from in vitro maturation (IVM) remain unsatisfactory, which greatly impairs the efficiency and application of embryo technologies. The present experiment was designed to investigate the effect of the supplementation of EGF, IGF-1, and Cx37 in an IVM medium on the maturation quality and development ability of bovine oocytes. The cytoplasmic maturation events of oocytes and the quality of in vitro fertilization (IVF) blastocysts were examined to investigate the relative mechanisms. Our results showed that the nuclear maturation and blastocyst development after the IVF of oocytes treated with 25 μg/mL Cx37 or the combination of 50 ng/mL EGF and 100 ng/mL IGF-1 were significantly increased compared to those of the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the blastocyst rate, and blastocyst total cell number and survival rate after vitrification of the EGF+IGF-1+Cx37 group, were significantly higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05), but lower than those of the FSH+LH+EGF+IGF-1+Cx37 group (p < 0.05). The transzonal projection (TZP) intensity, glutathione (GSH) level, and mitochondrial function of the EGF+IGF-1+Cx37 group were significantly higher than that of the control group, and lower than those of the FSH+LH+EGF+IGF-1+Cx37 group, in contrast to the results of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. In conclusion, our results showed that the supplementation of 50 ng/mL EGF, 100 ng/mL IGF-1, and 25 μg/mL Cx37 in the IVM of bovine oocytes significantly improved their quality and developmental ability by increasing the TZP, mitochondrial function, and GSH level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Yang
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (S.Y.); (H.H.); (W.D.); (Y.P.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (H.Z.); (P.Z.)
| | - Yuze Yang
- Beijing General Station of Animal Husbandry, Beijing 100101, China;
| | - Haisheng Hao
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (S.Y.); (H.H.); (W.D.); (Y.P.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (H.Z.); (P.Z.)
| | - Weihua Du
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (S.Y.); (H.H.); (W.D.); (Y.P.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (H.Z.); (P.Z.)
| | - Yunwei Pang
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (S.Y.); (H.H.); (W.D.); (Y.P.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (H.Z.); (P.Z.)
| | - Shanjiang Zhao
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (S.Y.); (H.H.); (W.D.); (Y.P.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (H.Z.); (P.Z.)
| | - Huiying Zou
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (S.Y.); (H.H.); (W.D.); (Y.P.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (H.Z.); (P.Z.)
| | - Huabin Zhu
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (S.Y.); (H.H.); (W.D.); (Y.P.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (H.Z.); (P.Z.)
| | - Peipei Zhang
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (S.Y.); (H.H.); (W.D.); (Y.P.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (H.Z.); (P.Z.)
| | - Xueming Zhao
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (S.Y.); (H.H.); (W.D.); (Y.P.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (H.Z.); (P.Z.)
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McKeegan PJ, Boardman SF, Wanless AA, Boyd G, Warwick LJ, Lu J, Gnanaprabha K, Picton HM. Intracellular oxygen metabolism during bovine oocyte and preimplantation embryo development. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21245. [PMID: 34711892 PMCID: PMC8553752 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99512-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a novel method to profile intrcellular oxygen concentration (icO2) during in vitro mammalian oocyte and preimplantation embryo development using a commercially available multimodal phosphorescent nanosensor (MM2). Abattoir-derived bovine oocytes and embryos were incubated with MM2 in vitro. A series of inhibitors were applied during live-cell multiphoton imaging to record changes in icO2 associated with mitochondrial processes. The uncoupler carbonyl cyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) uncouples mitochondrial oxygen consumption to its maximum, while antimycin inhibits complex III to ablate mitochondrial oxygen consumption. Increasing oxygen consumption was expected to reduce icO2 and decreasing oxygen consumption to increase icO2. Use of these inhibitors quantifies how much oxygen is consumed at basal in comparison to the upper and lower limits of mitochondrial function. icO2 measurements were compared to mitochondrial DNA copy number analysed by qPCR. Antimycin treatment increased icO2 for all stages tested, suggesting significant mitochondrial oxygen consumption at basal. icO2 of oocytes and preimplantation embryos were unaffected by FCCP treatment. Inner cell mass icO2 was lower than trophectoderm, perhaps reflecting limitations of diffusion. Mitochondrial DNA copy numbers were similar between stages in the range 0.9-4 × 106 copies and did not correlate with icO2. These results validate the MM2 probe as a sensitive, non-toxic probe of intracellular oxygen concentration in mammalian oocytes and preimplantation embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J McKeegan
- Reproduction and Early Development Research Group, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
- Centre for Anatomical and Human Sciences, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK.
| | - Selina F Boardman
- Reproduction and Early Development Research Group, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- CARE Fertility, Manchester, England, UK
| | - Amy A Wanless
- Reproduction and Early Development Research Group, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- Assisted Conception Unit, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Grace Boyd
- Reproduction and Early Development Research Group, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, England, UK
| | - Laura J Warwick
- Reproduction and Early Development Research Group, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- St James's University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF, England, UK
| | - Jianping Lu
- Reproduction and Early Development Research Group, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Keerthi Gnanaprabha
- Reproduction and Early Development Research Group, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- GCRM Fertility, 21 Fifty Pitches Way, Glasgow, G51 4FD, Scotland, UK
| | - Helen M Picton
- Reproduction and Early Development Research Group, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
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7
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Lee M, Choi K, Oh J, Kim S, Lee D, Choe GC, Jeong J, Lee C. SOX2 plays a crucial role in cell proliferation and lineage segregation during porcine pre-implantation embryo development. Cell Prolif 2021; 54:e13097. [PMID: 34250657 PMCID: PMC8349655 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Gene regulation in early embryos has been widely studied for a long time because lineage segregation gives rise to the formation of a pluripotent cell population, known as the inner cell mass (ICM), during pre-implantation embryo development. The extraordinarily longer pre-implantation embryo development in pigs leads to the distinct features of the pluripotency network compared with mice and humans. For these reasons, a comparative study using pre-implantation pig embryos would provide new insights into the mammalian pluripotency network and help to understand differences in the roles and networks of genes in pre-implantation embryos between species. MATERIALS AND METHODS To analyse the functions of SOX2 in lineage segregation and cell proliferation, loss- and gain-of-function studies were conducted in pig embryos using an overexpression vector and the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Then, we analysed the morphological features and examined the effect on the expression of downstream genes through immunocytochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS Our results showed that among the core pluripotent factors, only SOX2 was specifically expressed in the ICM. In SOX2-disrupted blastocysts, the expression of the ICM-related genes, but not OCT4, was suppressed, and the total cell number was also decreased. Likewise, according to real-time PCR analysis, pluripotency-related genes, excluding OCT4, and proliferation-related genes were decreased in SOX2-targeted blastocysts. In SOX2-overexpressing embryos, the total blastocyst cell number was greatly increased but the ICM/TE ratio decreased. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results demonstrated that SOX2 is essential for ICM formation and cell proliferation in porcine early-stage embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyun Lee
- Department of Agricultural BiotechnologyAnimal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life SciencesSeoul National UniversityGwanak‐guKorea
| | - Kwang‐Hwan Choi
- Department of Agricultural BiotechnologyAnimal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life SciencesSeoul National UniversityGwanak‐guKorea
- Research and Development CenterSpace F corporationHwasungKorea
| | - Jong‐Nam Oh
- Department of Agricultural BiotechnologyAnimal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life SciencesSeoul National UniversityGwanak‐guKorea
| | - Seung‐Hun Kim
- Department of Agricultural BiotechnologyAnimal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life SciencesSeoul National UniversityGwanak‐guKorea
| | - Dong‐Kyung Lee
- Department of Agricultural BiotechnologyAnimal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life SciencesSeoul National UniversityGwanak‐guKorea
- Research and Development CenterSpace F corporationHwasungKorea
| | - Gyung Cheol Choe
- Department of Agricultural BiotechnologyAnimal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life SciencesSeoul National UniversityGwanak‐guKorea
| | - Jinsol Jeong
- Department of Agricultural BiotechnologyAnimal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life SciencesSeoul National UniversityGwanak‐guKorea
| | - Chang‐Kyu Lee
- Department of Agricultural BiotechnologyAnimal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life SciencesSeoul National UniversityGwanak‐guKorea
- Institute of Green Bio Science and TechnologySeoul National UniversityPyeongchangKorea
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8
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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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9
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Llobat L. Embryo gene expression in pig pregnancy. Reprod Domest Anim 2020; 55:523-529. [PMID: 31986225 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pregnancy is a complex process in which significant changes occur continually in both the corpora lutea and in the endometrium of the females and varies depending on the embryonic, pre-implantation or foetal stages. In the embryonic stages, the majority of genes expressed in the pig embryo correspond to the loss of cellular pluripotency. In contrast, the implantation consists of three phases: elongation of the conceptus, adhesion and union of the embryo to the endometrial epithelium. During these phases, many factors are expressed, including growth factors, molecules that facilitate adhesion and cytokines. All these changes are ultimately regulated by different lipid and hormonal substances, specifically by progesterone, oestradiol and prostaglandins, which regulate the expression of many proteins necessary for the development of the embryo, endometrial remodelling and embryo-maternal communication. This paper is a review of primary gene regulatory mechanisms in pigs during different stages of implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lola Llobat
- Grupo Fisiopatología de la Reproducción, Departamento Producción y Sanidad Animal, Salud Pública y Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Valencia, Spain
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10
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Sun Y, Xiao Y, Sun H, Zhao Z, Zhu J, Zhang L, Dong J, Han T, Jing Q, Zhou J, Jing Z. miR-27a regulates vascular remodeling by targeting endothelial cells' apoptosis and interaction with vascular smooth muscle cells in aortic dissection. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:7961-7975. [PMID: 31695809 PMCID: PMC6831472 DOI: 10.7150/thno.35737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Aortic dissection (AD) is caused by functional disorder of cells in the aortic wall, which is largely attributed to vascular remodeling. Therapeutic strategies for AD remain limited due to our incomplete understanding of the role of endothelial cells (ECs) in AD pathogenesis. This study aimed to identify the regulatory role of miR-27a in AD and provide a mechanistic basis for a non-invasive treatment of AD. Methods: We harvested aortas from normal and AD patients to explore the expression of miR-27a. In vitro and in vivo assays were preformed to explore the biological effects of differential expression of miR-27a in ECs and its regulatory effect on AD. Results: MiR-27a was lower in intima of AD samples than in healthy individuals. Downregulation of miR-27a in EC was due to up-regulated expression of fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD) and the activation of apoptosis pathway, which led to apoptosis of ECs. Migration of vascular smooth muscle cells was promoted by EC after downregulation of miR-27a due to enhancement of growth/differentiation factor 8 (GDF8) and repression of matrix metalloproteinase-20 (MMP20) in the co-culture system supernatants. Increase in FADD and apoptosis of ECs to induce AD was shown using mouse models of AD in which miR-27a was stably knocked-down by antagomir. Up-regulation of miR-27a by agomir led to a protective effect on AD. Conclusion: Treatment with miR-27a activator that targets apoptosis of ECs strongly diminished occurrence of AD, providing a new strategy for this disease.
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