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Jobson S, Hamel JF, Mercier A. A rare case of intra-ovarian oocyte maturation. ZYGOTE 2024:1-5. [PMID: 38828553 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199424000170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
The intra-ovarian presence of ootids, i.e. female gametes that have completed meiosis, is considered exceptional in the animal kingdom. The present study explores the first such case to be reported in a sea cucumber (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea). In the overwhelming majority of animals, including holothuroids, oocytes (i.e. immature female gametes) that are developing in the ovary undergo a primary arrest at the prophase stage of meiosis, which may last from days to decades. In free-spawning taxa, this arrest is normally lifted only during or shortly before transit in the gonoduct, when gamete release (spawning) is imminent. However, oocytes of the holothuroid Chiridota laevis were discovered to have resumed the second meiotic division including the completion of germinal vesicle breakdown and polar-body expulsion inside the ovary, effectively reaching the ootid stage concomitantly with ovulation (i.e. escape from follicle cells) prior to spawning. The potential drivers and significance of this exceptionally rare case of full intra-ovarian oogenic maturation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Jobson
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Jean-François Hamel
- Society for the Exploration and Valuing of the Environment, St. Philips, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Annie Mercier
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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2
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Wood BW, Shi X, Weil TT. F-actin coordinates spindle morphology and function in Drosophila meiosis. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011111. [PMID: 38206959 PMCID: PMC10807755 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Meiosis is a highly conserved feature of sexual reproduction that ensures germ cells have the correct number of chromosomes prior to fertilization. A subset of microtubules, known as the spindle, are essential for accurate chromosome segregation during meiosis. Building evidence in mammalian systems has recently highlighted the unexpected requirement of the actin cytoskeleton in chromosome segregation; a network of spindle actin filaments appear to regulate many aspects of this process. Here we show that Drosophila oocytes also have a spindle population of actin that appears to regulate the formation of the microtubule spindle and chromosomal movements throughout meiosis. We demonstrate that genetic and pharmacological disruption of the actin cytoskeleton has a significant impact on spindle morphology, dynamics, and chromosome alignment and segregation during maturation and the metaphase-anaphase transition. We further reveal a role for calcium in maintaining the microtubule spindle and spindle actin. Together, our data highlights potential conservation of morphology and mechanism of the spindle actin during meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin W. Wood
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Xingzhu Shi
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy T. Weil
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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3
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Xia Q, Wang W, Liu Z, Xiao J, Qiao C, Zhao Y, Li B, Liu Y, Peng Y, Yang X, Shi J, Gao X, Wang D. New insights into mechanisms of berberine in alleviating reproductive disorders of polycystic ovary syndrome: Anti-inflammatory properties. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 939:175433. [PMID: 36535493 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex reproductive disorder that seriously harms female reproductive health and decreases quality of life. Although spontaneous or assisted ovulation occurs, women with PCOS suffer from poor-quality oocytes and embryos and lower fertilization and final pregnancy rates. Therefore, it is urgent to identify new pathological mechanisms and discover the underlying therapeutic targets for reproductive disorders associated with PCOS. Berberine, one of the famous traditional Chinese medicines, has been shown to improve ovulation and live birth rates in women with PCOS. The effects of berberine on insulin resistance and abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism for restoring the reproductive health of women with PCOS are well recognized and have been widely studied, but much less attention has been given to its anti-inflammatory properties. Chronic low-grade inflammation is the unifying feature of PCOS and may contribute to reproductive disorders in PCOS. Berberine can modulate the inflammatory state of the ovaries and uterus in PCOS. The anti-inflammatory properties of berberine may provide new insight into the mechanisms by which berberine alleviates reproductive disorders associated with PCOS. Here, we summarized the most recent insights into the anti-inflammatory properties of berberine in PCOS reproductive disorders to inspire researchers to pursue new study directions involving berberine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Xia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Wenjing Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Zijie Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jiaying Xiao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Cong Qiao
- Department of Pathology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Bowen Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yuanli Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; Basic Medical Institute, Heilongjiang Medical Science Academy, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Center of Northern China, Harbin, China; Key Laboratory of Heilongjiang Province for Genetically Modified Animals, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yahui Peng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; Basic Medical Institute, Heilongjiang Medical Science Academy, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Center of Northern China, Harbin, China; Key Laboratory of Heilongjiang Province for Genetically Modified Animals, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xinyu Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jiabin Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xu Gao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; Basic Medical Institute, Heilongjiang Medical Science Academy, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Center of Northern China, Harbin, China; Key Laboratory of Heilongjiang Province for Genetically Modified Animals, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
| | - Dayong Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; Basic Medical Institute, Heilongjiang Medical Science Academy, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Center of Northern China, Harbin, China; Key Laboratory of Heilongjiang Province for Genetically Modified Animals, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
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4
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Gindi N, Grossman H, Bar-Joseph H, Miller I, Nemerovsky L, Hadas R, Nevo N, Galiani D, Dekel N, Shalgi R. Fyn and argonaute 2 participate in maternal-mRNA degradation during mouse oocyte maturation. Cell Cycle 2022; 21:792-804. [PMID: 35104175 PMCID: PMC8973342 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2022.2031427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Fertilization triggers physiological degradation of maternal-mRNAs, which are then replaced by embryonic transcripts. Ample evidence suggests that Argonaut 2 (AGO2) is a possible post-fertilization regulator of maternal-mRNAs degradation; but its role in degradation of maternal-mRNAs during oocyte maturation remains obscure. Fyn, a member of the Src family kinases (SFKs), and an essential factor in oocyte maturation, was reported to inhibit AGO2 activity in oligodendrocytes. Our aim was to examine the role of Fyn and AGO2 in degradation of maternal-mRNAs during oocyte maturation by either suppressing their activity with SU6656 - an SFKs inhibitor; or by microinjecting DN-Fyn RNA for suppression of Fyn and BCl-137 for suppression of AGO2. Batches of fifteen mouse oocytes or embryos were analyzed by qPCR to measure the expression level of nine maternal-mRNAs that were selected for their known role in oocyte growth, maturation and early embryogenesis. We found that Fyn/SFKs are involved in maintaining the stability of at least four pre-transcribed mRNAs in oocytes at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage, whereas AGO2 had no role at this stage. During in-vivo oocyte maturation, eight maternal-mRNAs were significantly degraded. Inhibition of AGO2 prevented the degreadation of at least five maternal-mRNAs, whereas inhibition of Fyn/SFK prevented degradation of at least five Fyn maternal-mRNAs and two SFKs maternal-mRNAs; pointing at their role in promoting the physiological degradation which occurs during in-vivo oocyte maturation. Our findings imply the involvement of Fyn/SFKs in stabilization of maternal-mRNA at the GV stage and the involvement of Fyn, SFKs and AGO2 in degradation of maternal mRNAs during oocyte maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Gindi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-AvivIsrael
| | - Hadas Grossman
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-AvivIsrael
| | - Hadas Bar-Joseph
- The Unit for Tmcr, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-AvivIsrael
| | - Irit Miller
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-AvivIsrael
| | - Luba Nemerovsky
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-AvivIsrael
| | - Ron Hadas
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, RehovotIsrael
| | - Nava Nevo
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, RehovotIsrael
| | - Dalia Galiani
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, RehovotIsrael
| | - Nava Dekel
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, RehovotIsrael
| | - Ruth Shalgi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-AvivIsrael,CONTACT Ruth Shalgi Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv69978, Israel
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5
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Bestetti I, Barbieri C, Sironi A, Specchia V, Yatsenko SA, De Donno MD, Caslini C, Gentilini D, Crippa M, Larizza L, Marozzi A, Rajkovic A, Toniolo D, Bozzetti MP, Finelli P. Targeted whole exome sequencing and Drosophila modelling to unveil the molecular basis of primary ovarian insufficiency. Hum Reprod 2021; 36:2975-2991. [PMID: 34480478 PMCID: PMC8523209 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deab192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Can a targeted whole exome sequencing (WES) on a cohort of women showing a primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) phenotype at a young age, combined with a study of copy number variations, identify variants in candidate genes confirming their deleterious effect on ovarian function? SUMMARY ANSWER This integrated approach has proved effective in identifying novel candidate genes unveiling mechanisms involved in POI pathogenesis. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY POI, a condition occurring in 1% of women under 40 years of age, affects women’s fertility leading to a premature loss of ovarian reserve. The genetic causes of POI are highly heterogeneous and several determinants contributing to its prominent oligogenic inheritance pattern still need to be elucidated. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION WES screening for pathogenic variants of 41 Italian women with non-syndromic primary and early secondary amenorrhoea occurring before age 25 was replicated on another 60 POI patients, including 35 French and 25 American women, to reveal statistically significant shared variants. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The Italian POI patients’ DNA were processed by targeted WES including 542 RefSeq genes expressed or functioning during distinct reproductive or ovarian processes (e.g. DNA repair, meiosis, oocyte maturation, folliculogenesis and menopause). Extremely rare variants were filtered and selected by means of a Fisher Exact test using several publicly available datasets. A case-control Burden test was applied to highlight the most significant genes using two ad-hoc control female cohorts. To support the obtained data, the identified genes were screened on a novel cohort of 60 Caucasian POI patients and the same case-control analysis was carried out. Comparative analysis of the human identified genes was performed on mouse and Drosophila melanogaster by analysing the orthologous genes in their ovarian phenotype, and two of the selected genes were fruit fly modelled to explore their role in fertility. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The filtering steps applied to search for extremely rare pathogenic variants in the Italian cohort revealed 64 validated single-nucleotide variants/Indels in 59 genes in 30 out of 41 screened women. Burden test analysis highlighted 13 ovarian genes as being the most enriched and significant. To validate these findings, filtering steps and Burden analysis on the second cohort of Caucasian patients yielded 11 significantly enriched genes. Among them, AFP, DMRT3, MOV10, FYN and MYC were significant in both patient cohorts and hence were considered strong candidates for POI. Mouse and Drosophila comparative analysis evaluated a conserved role through the evolution of several candidates, and functional studies using a Drosophila model, when applicable, supported the conserved role of the MOV10 armitage and DMRT3 dmrt93B orthologues in female fertility. LARGE SCALE DATA The datasets for the Italian cohort generated during the current study are publicly available at ClinVar database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/clinvar/): accession numbers SCV001364312 to SCV001364375. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This is a targeted WES analysis hunting variants in candidate genes previously identified by different genomic approaches. For most of the investigated sporadic cases, we could not track the parental inheritance, due to unavailability of the parents’ DNA samples; in addition, we might have overlooked additional rare variants in novel candidate POI genes extracted from the exome data. On the contrary, we might have considered some inherited variants whose clinical significance is uncertain and might not be causative for the patients’ phenotype. Additionally, as regards the Drosophila model, it will be extremely important in the future to have more mutants or RNAi strains available for each candidate gene in order to validate their role in POI pathogenesis. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The genomic, statistical, comparative and functional approaches integrated in our study convincingly support the extremely heterogeneous oligogenic nature of POI, and confirm the maintenance across the evolution of some key genes safeguarding fertility and successful reproduction. Two principal classes of genes were identified: (i) genes primarily involved in meiosis, namely in synaptonemal complex formation, asymmetric division and oocyte maturation and (ii) genes safeguarding cell maintenance (piRNA and DNA repair pathways). STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by Italian Ministry of Health grants ‘Ricerca Corrente’ (08C621_2016 and 08C924_2019) provided to IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, and by ‘Piano Sostegno alla Ricerca’ (PSR2020_FINELLI_LINEA_B) provided by the University of Milan; M.P.B. was supported by Telethon-Italy (grant number GG14181). There are no conflicts of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Bestetti
- Research Laboratory of Medical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.,Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Segrate, Milan, Italy
| | - C Barbieri
- Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, San Raffaele Research Institute and Vita Salute University, Milan, Italy
| | - A Sironi
- Research Laboratory of Medical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.,Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Segrate, Milan, Italy
| | - V Specchia
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - S A Yatsenko
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - M D De Donno
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - C Caslini
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Segrate, Milan, Italy
| | - D Gentilini
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Bioinformatics and Statistical Genomics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - M Crippa
- Research Laboratory of Medical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.,Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Segrate, Milan, Italy
| | - L Larizza
- Research Laboratory of Medical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - A Marozzi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Segrate, Milan, Italy
| | - A Rajkovic
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San, Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Institute of Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - D Toniolo
- Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, San Raffaele Research Institute and Vita Salute University, Milan, Italy
| | - M P Bozzetti
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - P Finelli
- Research Laboratory of Medical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.,Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Segrate, Milan, Italy
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6
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Li CJ, Lin LT, Tsai HW, Chern CU, Wen ZH, Wang PH, Tsui KH. The Molecular Regulation in the Pathophysiology in Ovarian Aging. Aging Dis 2021; 12:934-949. [PMID: 34094652 PMCID: PMC8139203 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2020.1113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The female reproductive system is of great significance to women’s health. Aging of the female reproductive system occurs approximately 10 years prior to the natural age-associated functional decline of other organ systems. With an increase in life expectancy worldwide, reproductive aging has gradually become a key health issue among women. Therefore, an adequate understanding of the causes and molecular mechanisms of ovarian aging is essential towards the inhibition of age-related diseases and the promotion of health and longevity in women. In general, women begin to experience a decline in ovarian function around the age of 35 years, which is mainly manifested as a decrease in the number of ovarian follicles and the quality of oocytes. Studies have revealed the occurrence of mitochondrial dysfunction, reduced DNA repair, epigenetic changes, and metabolic alterations in the cells within the ovaries as age increases. In the present work, we reviewed the possible factors of aging-induced ovarian insufficiency based on its clinical diagnosis and performed an in-depth investigation of the relevant molecular mechanisms and potential targets to provide novel approaches for the effective improvement of ovarian function in older women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Jung Li
- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,2Institute of BioPharmaceutical sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Li-Te Lin
- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,2Institute of BioPharmaceutical sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,3Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Wen Tsai
- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,2Institute of BioPharmaceutical sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chyi-Uei Chern
- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Zhi-Hong Wen
- 4Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Peng-Hui Wang
- 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,6Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,7Female Cancer Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Hao Tsui
- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,2Institute of BioPharmaceutical sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,3Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,8Department of Pharmacy and Master Program, College of Pharmacy and Health Care, Tajen University, Pingtung County, Taiwan
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7
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Zaidan H, Galiani D, Gaisler-Salomon I. Pre-reproductive stress in adolescent female rats alters oocyte microRNA expression and offspring phenotypes: pharmacological interventions and putative mechanisms. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:113. [PMID: 33547270 PMCID: PMC7865076 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01220-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Pre-reproductive stress (PRS) to adolescent female rats alters anxiogenic behavior in first (F1)- and second-generation (F2) offspring and increases mRNA expression of corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 1 (Crhr1) in oocytes and in neonate offspring brain. Here, we ask whether the expression of Crhr1 and Crhr1-targeting microRNA is altered in brain, blood, and oocytes of exposed females and in the brain of their neonate and adult F1 and F2 offspring. In addition, we inquire whether maternal post-stress drug treatment reverses PRS-induced abnormalities in offspring. We find that PRS induces a selective increase in Crhr1-targeting mir-34a and mir-34c in blood and oocytes, while non-Crhr1 microRNA molecules remain unaltered. PRS induces similar microRNA changes in prefrontal cortex of F1 and F2 neonates. In adult animals, cortical Crhr1, but not mir-34, expression is affected by both maternal and direct stress exposure. Post-PRS fluoxetine (FLX) treatment increases pup mortality, and both FLX and the Crhr1 antagonist NBI 27914 reverse some of the effects of PRS and also have independent effects on F1 behavior and gene expression. PRS also alters behavior as well as gene and miRNA expression patterns in paternally derived F2 offspring, producing effects that are different from those previously found in maternally derived F2 offspring. These findings extend current knowledge on inter- and trans-generational transfer of stress effects, point to microRNA changes in stress-exposed oocytes as a potential mechanism, and highlight the consequences of post-stress pharmacological interventions in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiba Zaidan
- grid.18098.380000 0004 1937 0562School of Psychological Sciences and the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Dalia Galiani
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Inna Gaisler-Salomon
- School of Psychological Sciences and the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
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8
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Alexandri C, Daniel A, Bruylants G, Demeestere I. The role of microRNAs in ovarian function and the transition toward novel therapeutic strategies in fertility preservation: from bench to future clinical application. Hum Reprod Update 2020; 26:174-196. [PMID: 32074269 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmz039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND New therapeutic approaches in oncology have converted cancer from a certain death sentence to a chronic disease. However, there are still challenges to be overcome regarding the off-target toxicity of many of these treatments. Oncological therapies can lead to future infertility in women. Given this negative impact on long-term quality of life, fertility preservation is highly recommended. While gamete and ovarian tissue cryopreservation are the usual methods offered, new pharmacological-based options aiming to reduce ovarian damage during oncological treatment are very attractive. In this vein, advances in the field of transcriptomics and epigenomics have brought small noncoding RNAs, called microRNAs (miRNAs), into the spotlight in oncology. MicroRNAs also play a key role in follicle development as regulators of follicular growth, atresia and steroidogenesis. They are also involved in DNA damage repair responses and they can themselves be modulated during chemotherapy. For these reasons, miRNAs may be an interesting target to develop new protective therapies during oncological treatment. This review summarizes the physiological role of miRNAs in reproduction. Considering recently developed strategies based on miRNA therapy in oncology, we highlight their potential interest as a target in fertility preservation and propose future strategies to make the transition from bench to clinic. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE How can miRNA therapeutic approaches be used to develop new adjuvant protective therapies to reduce the ovarian damage caused by cytotoxic oncological treatments? SEARCH METHODS A systematic search of English language literature using PubMed and Google Scholar databases was performed through to 2019 describing the role of miRNAs in the ovary and their use for diagnosis and targeted therapy in oncology. Personal data illustrate miRNA therapeutic strategies to target the gonads and reduce chemotherapy-induced follicular damage. OUTCOMES This review outlines the importance of miRNAs as gene regulators and emphasizes the fact that insights in oncology can inspire new adjuvant strategies in the field of onco-fertility. Recent improvements in nanotechnology offer the opportunity for drug development using next-generation miRNA-nanocarriers. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Although there are still some barriers regarding the immunogenicity and toxicity of these treatments and there is still room for improvement concerning the specific delivery of miRNAs into the ovaries, we believe that, in the future, miRNAs can be developed as powerful and non-invasive tools for fertility preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Alexandri
- Research Laboratory in Human Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - A Daniel
- Research Laboratory in Human Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium.,Université de Tours, Faculty of Science and Technology, 37200 Tours, France
| | - G Bruylants
- Engineering of Molecular NanoSystems, Ecole Polytechnique de Bruxelles, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - I Demeestere
- Research Laboratory in Human Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium.,Fertility Clinic, CUB-Erasme, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
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9
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Yang Z, Tang Z, Cao X, Xie Q, Hu C, Zhong Z, Tan J, Zheng Y. Controlling chronic low-grade inflammation to improve follicle development and survival. Am J Reprod Immunol 2020; 84:e13265. [PMID: 32395847 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic low-grade inflammation is one cause of follicle development disturbance. Chronic inflammation exists in pathological conditions such as premature ovarian failure, physiological aging of the ovaries, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Inflammation of the whole body can affect oocytes via the follicle microenvironment, oxidative stress, and GM-CSF. Many substances without toxic side-effects extracted from natural organisms have gradually gained researchers' attention. Recently, chitosan oligosaccharide, resveratrol, anthocyanin, and melatonin have been found to contribute to an improvement in inflammation. This review discusses the interrelationships between chronic low-grade inflammation and follicle development, the underlying mechanisms, and methods that may improve follicle development by controlling the level of chronic low-grade inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Yang
- Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology and Pathology of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
| | - Zijuan Tang
- Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology and Pathology of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiuping Cao
- Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology and Pathology of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
| | - Qi Xie
- Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology and Pathology of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
| | - Chuan Hu
- Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology and Pathology of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
| | - Zhisheng Zhong
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jun Tan
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Nanchang, China
| | - Yuehui Zheng
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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10
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Cai Y, Lei X, Chen Z, Mo Z. The roles of cirRNA in the development of germ cells. Acta Histochem 2020; 122:151506. [PMID: 32008790 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2020.151506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Circular RNA (CircRNA), a type of endogenous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), is generally generated from precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) by canonical splicing and head-to-tail back splicing. The structure without a polyA tail renders circRNA highly insensitive to ribonuclease. Simultaneously, the distribution of circRNAs is tissue and developmental stage-specific. There are five potential biological functions of circRNAs: 1) promote transcription of their parental genes; 2) function as a miRNA sponge; 3) RNA binding protein (RBP) sponge; 4) encode protein; 5) act as an mRNA trap. Recently, circRNA has attracted attention because studies have shown that circRNAs are associated with follicular development, ovarian senescence, spermatogenesis, and germ cell development process, suggesting that circRNAs may function in germ cells regulation. The investigation of circRNAs in germ cells will provide an excellent opportunity to understand its potential molecular basis, and potentially improving reproduction status in human. In this article, the relationship between circRNA and germ cell development will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqin Cai
- Clinical Anatomy & Reproductive Medicine Application Institute, Department of Histology and Embryology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Diabetic Systems Medicine (Guangxi Key Laboratory of Excellence), Guilin Medical University, Guangxi, Guilin, 541100, China
| | - Xiaocan Lei
- Clinical Anatomy & Reproductive Medicine Application Institute, Department of Histology and Embryology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Zhuo Chen
- Hunan Province Innovative Training Base for Medical Postgraduates, University of South China and Yueyang Women & Children's Medical Center, Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Yueyang, Hunan, 416000, China
| | - Zhongcheng Mo
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Diabetic Systems Medicine (Guangxi Key Laboratory of Excellence), Guilin Medical University, Guangxi, Guilin, 541100, China; Hunan Province Innovative Training Base for Medical Postgraduates, University of South China and Yueyang Women & Children's Medical Center, Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Yueyang, Hunan, 416000, China.
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11
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Salilew-Wondim D, Gebremedhn S, Hoelker M, Tholen E, Hailay T, Tesfaye D. The Role of MicroRNAs in Mammalian Fertility: From Gametogenesis to Embryo Implantation. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21020585. [PMID: 31963271 PMCID: PMC7014195 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21020585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The genetic codes inscribed during two key developmental processes, namely gametogenesis and embryogenesis, are believed to determine subsequent development and survival of adult life. Once the embryo is formed, its further development mainly depends on its intrinsic characteristics, maternal environment (the endometrial receptivity), and the embryo–maternal interactions established during each phase of development. These developmental processes are under strict genetic regulation that could be manifested temporally and spatially depending on the physiological and developmental status of the cell. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), one of the small non-coding classes of RNAs, approximately 19–22 nucleotides in length, are one of the candidates for post-transcriptional developmental regulators. These tiny non-coding RNAs are expressed in ovarian tissue, granulosa cells, testis, oocytes, follicular fluid, and embryos and are implicated in diverse biological processes such as cell-to-cell communication. Moreover, accumulated evidences have also highlighted that miRNAs can be released into the extracellular environment through different mechanisms facilitating intercellular communication. Therefore, understanding miRNAs mediated regulatory mechanisms during gametogenesis and embryogenesis provides further insights about the molecular mechanisms underlying oocyte/sperm formation, early embryo development, and implantation. Thus, this review highlights the role of miRNAs in mammalian gametogenesis and embryogenesis and summarizes recent findings about miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms occurring during early mammalian development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dessie Salilew-Wondim
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding and Husbandry, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 15, 53115 Bonn, Germany; (D.S.-W.); (M.H.); (E.T.); (T.H.)
| | - Samuel Gebremedhn
- Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 1351 Rampart Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA;
| | - Michael Hoelker
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding and Husbandry, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 15, 53115 Bonn, Germany; (D.S.-W.); (M.H.); (E.T.); (T.H.)
- Teaching and Research Station Frankenforst, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bonn, 53639 Königswinter, Germany
| | - Ernst Tholen
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding and Husbandry, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 15, 53115 Bonn, Germany; (D.S.-W.); (M.H.); (E.T.); (T.H.)
| | - Tsige Hailay
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding and Husbandry, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 15, 53115 Bonn, Germany; (D.S.-W.); (M.H.); (E.T.); (T.H.)
| | - Dawit Tesfaye
- Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 1351 Rampart Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-530-564-2806
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