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Zhang P, Zhang H, Li C, Yang B, Feng X, Cao J, Du W, Shahzad M, Khan A, Sun SC, Zhao X. Effects of Regulating Hippo and Wnt on the Development and Fate Differentiation of Bovine Embryo. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3912. [PMID: 38612721 PMCID: PMC11011455 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The improvement of in vitro embryo development is a gateway to enhance the output of assisted reproductive technologies. The Wnt and Hippo signaling pathways are crucial for the early development of bovine embryos. This study investigated the development of bovine embryos under the influence of a Hippo signaling agonist (LPA) and a Wnt signaling inhibitor (DKK1). In this current study, embryos produced in vitro were cultured in media supplemented with LPA and DKK1. We comprehensively analyzed the impact of LPA and DKK1 on various developmental parameters of the bovine embryo, such as blastocyst formation, differential cell counts, YAP fluorescence intensity and apoptosis rate. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was employed to elucidate the in vitro embryonic development. Our results revealed that LPA and DKK1 improved the blastocyst developmental potential, total cells, trophectoderm (TE) cells and YAP fluorescence intensity and decreased the apoptosis rate of bovine embryos. A total of 1203 genes exhibited differential expression between the control and LPA/DKK1-treated (LD) groups, with 577 genes upregulated and 626 genes downregulated. KEGG pathway analysis revealed significant enrichment of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with TGF-beta signaling, Wnt signaling, apoptosis, Hippo signaling and other critical developmental pathways. Our study shows the role of LPA and DKK1 in embryonic differentiation and embryo establishment of pregnancy. These findings should be helpful for further unraveling the precise contributions of the Hippo and Wnt pathways in bovine trophoblast formation, thus advancing our comprehension of early bovine embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peipei Zhang
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No. 2 Yuanmingyuan Western Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Hang Zhang
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No. 2 Yuanmingyuan Western Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Chongyang Li
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No. 2 Yuanmingyuan Western Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Baigao Yang
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No. 2 Yuanmingyuan Western Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaoyi Feng
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No. 2 Yuanmingyuan Western Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jianhua Cao
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No. 2 Yuanmingyuan Western Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Weihua Du
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No. 2 Yuanmingyuan Western Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Muhammad Shahzad
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No. 2 Yuanmingyuan Western Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Adnan Khan
- Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agriculture Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Shao-Chen Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xueming Zhao
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No. 2 Yuanmingyuan Western Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China
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Scatolin GN, Ming H, Wang Y, Zhu L, Castillo EG, Bondioli K, Jiang Z. Single-cell transcriptional landscapes of bovine peri-implantation development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.13.544813. [PMID: 37398069 PMCID: PMC10312721 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.13.544813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Supporting healthy pregnancy outcomes requires a comprehensive understanding of the cellular hierarchy and underlying molecular mechanisms during peri-implantation development. Here, we present a single-cell transcriptome-wide view of the bovine peri-implantation embryo development at day 12, 14, 16 and 18, when most of the pregnancy failure occurs in cattle. We defined the development and dynamic progression of cellular composition and gene expression of embryonic disc, hypoblast, and trophoblast lineages during bovine peri-implantation development. Notably, the comprehensive transcriptomic mapping of trophoblast development revealed a previously unrecognized primitive trophoblast cell lineage that is responsible for pregnancy maintenance in bovine prior to the time when binucleate cells emerge. We analyzed novel markers for the cell lineage development during bovine early development. We also identified cell-cell communication signaling underling embryonic and extraembryonic cell interaction to ensure proper early development. Collectively, our work provides foundational information to discover essential biological pathways underpinning bovine peri-implantation development and the molecular causes of the early pregnancy failure during this critical period. Significance Statement Peri-implantation development is essential for successful reproduction in mammalian species, and cattle have a unique process of elongation that proceeds for two weeks prior to implantation and represents a period when many pregnancies fail. Although the bovine embryo elongation has been studied histologically, the essential cellular and molecular factors governing lineage differentiation remain unexplored. This study profiled the transcriptome of single cells in the bovine peri-implantation development throughout day 12, 14, 16, and 18, and identified peri-implantation stage-related features of cell lineages. The candidate regulatory genes, factors, pathways and embryonic and extraembryonic cell interactions were also prioritized to ensure proper embryo elongation in cattle.
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Speckhart SL, Oliver MA, Ealy AD. Developmental Hurdles That Can Compromise Pregnancy during the First Month of Gestation in Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1760. [PMID: 37889637 PMCID: PMC10251927 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111760] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Several key developmental events are associated with early embryonic pregnancy losses in beef and dairy cows. These developmental problems are observed at a greater frequency in pregnancies generated from in-vitro-produced bovine embryos. This review describes critical problems that arise during oocyte maturation, fertilization, early embryonic development, compaction and blastulation, embryonic cell lineage specification, elongation, gastrulation, and placentation. Additionally, discussed are potential remediation strategies, but unfortunately, corrective actions are not available for several of the problems being discussed. Further research is needed to produce bovine embryos that have a greater likelihood of surviving to term.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alan D. Ealy
- School of Animal Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (S.L.S.); (M.A.O.)
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4
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Amaral TF, Diaza AG, Heredia D, Melo GD, Estrada-Cortés E, Jensen LM, Pohler K, Hansen PJ. Actions of DKK1 on the preimplantation bovine embryo to affect pregnancy establishment, placental function and postnatal phenotype†. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:945-955. [PMID: 35765194 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac128] [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: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
One mechanism by which the maternal environment regulates the early embryo is by secretion of cell-signaling molecules. One of these is dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor 1 (DKK1). Objectives were to A) resolve discrepancies in the literature regarding effects of DKK1 in the bovine embryo on development of trophectoderm (TE) and competence to establish pregnancy after embryo transfer and B) determine whether there are long-term consequences of DKK1 on placental function and postnatal phenotype. Embryos produced in vitro were cultured with vehicle or 100 ng/mL recombinant human DKK1 from day 5 to 7.5 of development (i.e. the morula and blastocyst stages of development). DKK1 increased the number of cells positive for the TE marker CDX2 at day 7.5 of development while having no effect on numbers of cells positive for the inner cell mass marker SOX2. There was no effect of DKK1 on pregnancy or calving rate after transfer of blastocysts produced with Y-sorted semen to either lactating dairy cows or suckling beef cows. Treatment with DKK1 at the morula-to-blastocyst stages programmed placental function, as measured by an effect of DKK1 on plasma concentrations of pregnancy associated glycoproteins and placental lactogen at day 160 of gestation (although not on other days examined). DKK1 treatment also resulted in calves that were heavier at birth as compared to calves derived from control embryos. After birth, DKK1 calves grew slower than controls. Results confirm that DKK1 alters the developmental program of the bovine embryo to affect both prenatal and postnatal phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago F Amaral
- Department of Animal Sciences, Donald Henry Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville FL, USA.,Current position: Zoetis, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
| | - Angela Gonella Diaza
- North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL, USA
| | - Daniella Heredia
- North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL, USA
| | - Gabriela D Melo
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA
| | - Eliab Estrada-Cortés
- Department of Animal Sciences, Donald Henry Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville FL, USA.,Campo Experimental Centro Altos de Jalisco, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Tepatitlán de Morelos, Jalisco, México
| | - Laura M Jensen
- Department of Animal Sciences, Donald Henry Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville FL, USA
| | - Ky Pohler
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA
| | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, Donald Henry Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville FL, USA
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5
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Sharma J, Madan P. Differential regulation of Hippo signaling pathway components between 8-cell and blastocyst stages of bovine preimplantation embryogenesis. Mol Reprod Dev 2022; 89:146-161. [PMID: 35243707 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The Hippo signaling pathway is an important regulator of lineage segregation (trophectoderm and inner cell mass) during blastocyst formation in the mouse embryos. However, the role and regulation of Hippo signaling pathway components during bovine embryonic development is not completely understood. This study was thus designed to interpret the roles of Hippo cell signaling pathway components using two different yet specific chemical inhibitors (Cerivastatin and XMU-MP-1). A significant decrease in the blastocyst rates were observed on treatment with Cerivastatin and XMU-MP-1 inhibitors for the treatment groups, in comparison to the control groups. At the 8-cell stage, a significant decrease was observed in the gene expression and nuclear protein localization of YAP1 (Yes Associated Protein 1) and pYAP1 components of Hippo signaling pathway. However, no such effect of Cerivastatin treatment was observed on the localization of TAZ at this cell stage. On the contrary, during bovine blastocyst formation a significant decrease in the gene expression and nuclear localization of both YAP1 and TAZ suggest differences in the regulation of these components at 8-cell and blastocyst stages of embryonic development. Furthermore, XMU-MP-1 mediated chemical inhibition of Mst1 at the blastocyst stage also suggests differences in the regulation of Yap1 and Taz components of Hippo signaling pathway. Overall, this study indicates novel differences in the regulation of Hippo signaling transcript levels and protein localization between the 8-cell and blastocyst stages of bovine preimplantation embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Sharma
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pavneesh Madan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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The Hippo pathway effectors YAP and TAZ interact with EGF-like signaling to regulate expansion-related events in bovine cumulus cells in vitro. J Assist Reprod Genet 2022; 39:481-492. [PMID: 35091965 PMCID: PMC8956774 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-021-02384-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine if the inhibition of the interaction between the Hippo effector YAP or its transcriptional co-activator TAZ with the TEAD family of transcription factors is critical for the cumulus expansion-related events induced by the EGF network in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). METHODS We performed a series of experiments using immature bovine COCs subjected to an IVM protocol for up 24 h in which cumulus expansion was stimulated with EGF recombinant protein or FSH. RESULTS The main results indicated that EGFR activity stimulation in bovine cumulus cells (CC) increases mRNA levels encoding the classic YAP/TAZ-TEAD target gene CTGF. To determine if important genes for cumulus expansion are transcriptional targets of YAP/TAZ-TEAD interaction in CC, COCs were then subjected to IVM in the presence of FSH with or without distinct concentrations of Verteporfin (VP; a small molecule inhibitor that interferes with YAP/TAZ binding to TEADs). COCs were then collected at 6, 12, 18, and 24 h for total RNA extraction and RT-qPCR analyses. This experiment indicated that VP inhibits in a time- and concentration-dependent manner distinct cumulus expansion and oocyte maturation-related genes, by regulating EGFR and CTGF expression in CC. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, the results presented herein represent considerable insight into the functional relevance of a completely novel signaling pathway underlying cumulus expansion and oocyte maturation in monovulatory species. YAP/TAZ or CTGF may represent potential targets to improve the efficiency of IVM systems, not only for monovulatory species of agricultural importance as the cow, but for human embryo production.
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7
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Cell fate determination and Hippo signaling pathway in preimplantation mouse embryo. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 386:423-444. [PMID: 34586506 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-021-03530-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
First cell fate determination plays crucial roles in cell specification during early phases of embryonic development. Three classical concepts have been proposed to explain the lineage specification mechanism of the preimplantation embryo: inside-outside, pre-patterning, and polarity models. Transcriptional effectors of the Hippo signal pathway are YAP and TAZ activators that can create a shuttle between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Despite different localizations of YAP in the cell, it determines the fate of ICM and TE. How the decisive cue driving factors that determine YAP localization are coordinated remains a central unanswered question. How can an embryonic cell find its position? The objective of this review is to summarize the molecular and mechanical aspects in cell fate decision during mouse preimplantation embryonic development. The findings will reveal the relationship between cell-cell adhesion, cell polarity, and determination of cell fate during early embryonic development in mice and elucidate the inducing/inhibiting mechanisms that are involved in cell specification following zygotic genome activation and compaction processes. With future studies, new biophysical and chemical cues in the cell fate determination will impart significant spatiotemporal effects on early embryonic development. The achieved knowledge will provide important information to the development of new approaches to be used in infertility treatment and increase the success of pregnancy.
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8
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Gutiérrez-Añez JC, Henning H, Lucas-Hahn A, Baulain U, Aldag P, Sieg B, Hensel V, Herrmann D, Niemann H. Melatonin improves rate of monospermic fertilization and early embryo development in a bovine IVF system. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0256701. [PMID: 34473747 PMCID: PMC8412339 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The developmental competence of male and female gametes is frequently reduced under in vitro conditions, mainly due to oxidative stress during handling. The amino-acid derived hormone melatonin has emerged as a potent non-enzymatic antioxidant in many biological systems. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effects of melatonin on post-thaw sperm quality, fertilizing ability, and embryo development and competence in vitro after in vitro fertilization. Frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa were incubated either in the presence of 10−11 M melatonin (MT), or its solvent (ethanol; Sham-Control), or plain Tyrode’s Albumin Lactate Pyruvate medium (TALP, Control). Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) and flow cytometry data after 30 min, 120 min, and 180 min incubation did not reveal any significant effects of melatonin on average motility parameters, sperm subpopulation structure as determined by hierarchical cluster, or on the percentage of viable, acrosome intact sperm, or viable sperm with active mitochondria. Nevertheless, in vitro matured cumulus-oocyte-complexes fertilized with spermatozoa which had been preincubated with 10−11 M melatonin (MT-Sperm) showed higher (P < 0.01) rates of monospermic fertilization, reduced (P < 0.05) polyspermy and enhanced (P < 0.05) embryo development compared to the Control group. Moreover, the relative abundance of MAPK13 in the in vitro-derived blastocysts was greater (P < 0.05) than observed in the Control group. In conclusion, adding melatonin to the sperm-preparation protocol for bovine IVF improved proper fertilization and enhanced embryonic development and competence in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Gutiérrez-Añez
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich Loeffler Institut (FLI), Mariensee, Germany
- Medical-Surgical Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela
- * E-mail: , (JCGA); (HN)
| | - Heiko Henning
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich Loeffler Institut (FLI), Mariensee, Germany
| | - Andrea Lucas-Hahn
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich Loeffler Institut (FLI), Mariensee, Germany
| | - Ulrich Baulain
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich Loeffler Institut (FLI), Mariensee, Germany
| | - Patrick Aldag
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich Loeffler Institut (FLI), Mariensee, Germany
| | - Birgit Sieg
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich Loeffler Institut (FLI), Mariensee, Germany
| | - Vivian Hensel
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich Loeffler Institut (FLI), Mariensee, Germany
| | - Doris Herrmann
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich Loeffler Institut (FLI), Mariensee, Germany
| | - Heiner Niemann
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
- * E-mail: , (JCGA); (HN)
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Karasek C, Ashry M, Driscoll CS, Knott JG. A tale of two cell-fates: role of the Hippo signaling pathway and transcription factors in early lineage formation in mouse preimplantation embryos. Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 26:653-664. [PMID: 32647873 PMCID: PMC7473788 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaaa052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, the first cell-fate decision occurs during preimplantation embryo development when the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) lineages are established. The ICM develops into the embryo proper, while the TE lineage forms the placenta. The underlying molecular mechanisms that govern lineage formation involve cell-to-cell interactions, cell polarization, cell signaling and transcriptional regulation. In this review, we will discuss the current understanding regarding the cellular and molecular events that regulate lineage formation in mouse preimplantation embryos with an emphasis on cell polarity and the Hippo signaling pathway. Moreover, we will provide an overview on some of the molecular tools that are used to manipulate the Hippo pathway and study cell-fate decisions in early embryos. Lastly, we will provide exciting future perspectives on transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that modulate the activity of the Hippo pathway in preimplantation embryos to ensure robust lineage segregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Challis Karasek
- Developmental Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Mohamed Ashry
- Developmental Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Chad S Driscoll
- Developmental Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Jason G Knott
- Developmental Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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10
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Du C, Chen X. Transcriptome Profiling of Oocytes at the Germinal Vesicle Stage from Women from Mongolia with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Int J Gen Med 2021; 14:4469-4478. [PMID: 34413674 PMCID: PMC8369228 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s321853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders. Evidence indicates that genetic and environmental factors contribute to the pathogenesis of PCOS. The molecular basis of PCOS is not well understood. Methods Whole-genome RNA sequencing was performed on single oocyte at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage from females with normal ovulation and females with PCOS. All subjects were women from Mongolia undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection in vitro fertilization (ICSI-IVF) who met the Rotterdam criteria for PCOS. Women with normal ovulation who were undergoing ICSI-IVF owing to male factor infertility were recruited as control subjects. Results A total of 1313 differentially expressed genes were found by bio-informatics software in the GV oocytes of PCOS patients and compared with the control group. There were 367 upregulated and 946 downregulated genes (fold change > 2, false discovery rate < 0.01). When compared with the healthy controls, it was shown that the DEGs like VEGF, IGF, FADS1 et al were investigated as potential causes of PCOS oocytes. The DEGs were related to kinase activity, cell proliferation, gene regulation, and the signaling pathways of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Hippo, and ECM-receptor pathway in patients with PCOS. In addition, the interconnected gene co-expression network was constructed by gene bionetwork analysis, indicating that ITGB5, ITGB3, and CAV2 were the core genes in regulating the module expression of DEGs in PCOS. Conclusion RNA sequencing analysis demonstrated DEGs were linked to inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and lipid metabolism in the GV oocytes of women with PCOS. We hypothesize that ITGB5, ITGB3, and CAV2 may be involved in metabolic disorders associated with the different phenotypes of PCOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Du
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Affiliated Hospital, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, 010050, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiujuan Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Affiliated Hospital, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, 010050, People's Republic of China
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11
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Gerri C, Menchero S, Mahadevaiah SK, Turner JMA, Niakan KK. Human Embryogenesis: A Comparative Perspective. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2021; 36:411-440. [PMID: 33021826 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-022020-024900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Understanding human embryology has historically relied on comparative approaches using mammalian model organisms. With the advent of low-input methods to investigate genetic and epigenetic mechanisms and efficient techniques to assess gene function, we can now study the human embryo directly. These advances have transformed the investigation of early embryogenesis in nonrodent species, thereby providing a broader understanding of conserved and divergent mechanisms. Here, we present an overview of the major events in human preimplantation development and place them in the context of mammalian evolution by comparing these events in other eutherian and metatherian species. We describe the advances of studies on postimplantation development and discuss stem cell models that mimic postimplantation embryos. A comparative perspective highlights the importance of analyzing different organisms with molecular characterization and functional studies to reveal the principles of early development. This growing field has a fundamental impact in regenerative medicine and raises important ethical considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Gerri
- Human Embryo and Stem Cell Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom;
| | - Sergio Menchero
- Sex Chromosome Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom;
| | - Shantha K Mahadevaiah
- Sex Chromosome Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom;
| | - James M A Turner
- Sex Chromosome Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom;
| | - Kathy K Niakan
- Human Embryo and Stem Cell Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom;
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12
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Zolini AM, Block J, Rabaglino MB, Tríbulo P, Hoelker M, Rincon G, Bromfield JJ, Hansen PJ. Molecular fingerprint of female bovine embryos produced in vitro with high competence to establish and maintain pregnancy†. Biol Reprod 2021; 102:292-305. [PMID: 31616926 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective was to identify the transcriptomic profile of in vitro-derived embryos with high competence to establish and maintain gestation. Embryos produced with X-sorted sperm were cultured from day 5 to day 7 in serum-free medium containing 10 ng/ml recombinant bovine colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) or vehicle. The CSF2 was administered because this molecule can increase blastocyst competence for survival after embryo transfer. Blastocysts were harvested on day 7 of culture and manually bisected. One demi-embryo from a single blastocyst was transferred into a synchronized recipient and the other half was used for RNA-seq analysis. Using P < 0.01 and a fold change >2-fold or <0.5 fold as cutoffs, there were 617 differentially expressed genes (DEG) between embryos that survived to day 30 of gestation vs those that did not, 470 DEG between embryos that survived to day 60 and those that did not, 432 DEG between embryos that maintained pregnancy from day 30 to day 60 vs those where pregnancy failed after day 30, and 635 DEG regulated by CSF2. Pathways and ontologies in which DEG were overrepresented included many related to cellular responses to stress and cell survival. It was concluded that gene expression in the blastocyst is different between embryos that are competent to establish and maintain pregnancy vs those that are not. The relationship between expression of genes related to cell stress and subsequent embryonic survival probably reflects cellular perturbations caused by embryonic development taking place in the artificial environment associated with cell culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Zolini
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - J Block
- Zoetis Inc., Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
| | - M B Rabaglino
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud, CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina.,Quantitative Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Group, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - P Tríbulo
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - M Hoelker
- Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Teaching and Research Station Frankenforst, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bonn, Königswinter, Germany.,Center of Integrated Dairy Research, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - G Rincon
- Zoetis Inc., Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
| | - J J Bromfield
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - P J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Cao Z, Tong X, Yin H, Zhou N, Zhang X, Zhang M, Wang X, Liu Q, Yan Y, Ma Y, Yu T, Li Y, Zhang Y. Histone Arginine Methyltransferase CARM1-Mediated H3R26me2 Is Essential for Morula-to-Blastocyst Transition in Pigs. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:678282. [PMID: 34150772 PMCID: PMC8206646 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.678282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1) is involved in both establishment of first pluripotent lineage and pluripotency maintenance of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in mice. However, the histone substrates and role of CARM1 in early embryonic development remain largely unknown. Here, we show that CARM1 specifically catalyzes H3R26me2 to promote porcine blastocyst formation. The putative histone substrates of CARM1, including H3R2me2, H3R17me2, and H3R26me2, are present in pig early embryos. The changes of CARM1 mRNA during early embryogenesis parallel that of H3R26me2. Functional studies using a combinational approach of chemical inhibition and RNA interference (RNAi) showed that catalytic activity inhibition of CARM1 protein or knockdown (KD) of CARM1 mRNA did not alter the levels of both H3R2me2 and H3R17me2, but significantly reduced H3R26me2 levels in porcine embryos. Furthermore, CARM1 inhibition or KD did not affect embryo development to the 2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell, and morula stages, but severely compromised blastocyst development. CARM1 knocked down embryos that developed to the blastocyst stage had fewer total cells, inner cell mass (ICM), and trophectoderm (TE) cells. Mechanistically, single embryo RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that CARM1 KD altered the transcriptome characterized by downregulation of key genes associated with Hippo and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways. Taken together, these results demonstrate that CARM1 specifically catalyzes H3R26me2 in porcine embryos and participates in blastocyst development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zubing Cao
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Xu Tong
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Huiqun Yin
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The 901st Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Naru Zhou
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China.,Reproductive and Genetic Branch, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xiangdong Zhang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Mengya Zhang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Qiuchen Liu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Yelian Yan
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Yangyang Ma
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Tong Yu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Yunsheng Li
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Yunhai Zhang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
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Dos Anjos SAA, da Costa CP, Assumpção MEOA, Visintin JA, Goissis MD. Inhibition of apical domain formation does not block blastocyst development in bovine embryos. Reprod Fertil Dev 2021; 33:665-673. [PMID: 34092280 DOI: 10.1071/rd20339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The first event of cellular differentiation consists of the segregation of the trophectoderm and the inner cell mass. Studies in mice suggest that cell contractility and the formation of an apical domain play important roles in this event; however, this remains unknown in the bovine. We tested the hypothesis that blocking apical domain formation would halt subsequent trophectoderm differentiation in bovine embryos. We first assessed the formation of an apical domain by the presence of Par-6 Family Cell Polarity Regulator Beta (PARD6B) and Ezrin (EZR), which appeared after the 8-cell stage. We inhibited apical domain formation by blocking cell contractility with 25μM (-)-blebbistatin. Treatment from 90 to 186h after insemination did not reduce blastocyst development compared with the untreated control group or the group treated with inactive (+)-blebbistatin. Immunofluorescence staining after blebbistatin treatment revealed the absence of EZR and the trophectoderm marker Caudal Type Homeobox 2 (CDX2). Following blebbistatin treatment, Yes1 Associated Transcriptional Regulator (YAP), which is involved in the Hippo signalling pathway, exhibited cytoplasmic staining instead of nuclear localisation. Despite changes in protein expression and localisation, no difference in trophectoderm or total cell numbers was observed. In conclusion, inhibition of cell contractility inhibited apical domain formation without impairing blastocyst formation, suggesting that a different biological mechanism is involved in trophectoderm and inner cell mass differentiation in bovine embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A A Dos Anjos
- Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil; and Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil
| | - C P da Costa
- Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil
| | - M E O A Assumpção
- Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil
| | - J A Visintin
- Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil
| | - M D Goissis
- Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil; and Corresponding author
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15
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Saito S, Yamamura S, Kohri N, Bai H, Takahashi M, Kawahara M. Requirement for expression of WW domain containing transcription regulator 1 in bovine trophectoderm development. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 555:140-146. [PMID: 33813273 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.03.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
WW domain-containing transcription regulator 1 (WWTR1) is one of the primary effectors in the Hippo pathway, which plays essential roles in cell differentiation into trophectoderm (TE) and inner cell mass cell lineages at the blastocyst stage. However, little is known about the roles of WWTR1 in preimplantation development. The present study aimed to explore the significance of WWTR1 expression in preimplantation development using an mRNA knockdown (KD) system in bovine embryos. We first quantitated WWTR1 expression at protein and mRNA levels from fertilization to blastocyst stage. WWTR1 proteins gradually shifted from extranuclear localization during the 16-cell stage to nuclear localization by morula stage. WWTR1 mRNA expression was also transiently upregulated at the 16-cell stage. WWTR1 KD efficiently repressed WWTR1 expression at protein and mRNA levels. The WWTR1 KD embryos developed to the blastocyst stage at rates equivalent to those of controls, but TE cell numbers were significantly decreased. Representative TE-expressed genes, including CDX2 and IFNT were also significantly decreased in WWTR1 KD blastocysts. These results provide the first demonstration that WWTR1 expression is responsible for normal TE cell development in preimplantation embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Saito
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Kita 9, Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan
| | - Shota Yamamura
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Kita 9, Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan
| | - Nanami Kohri
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Kita 9, Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan
| | - Hanako Bai
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Kita 9, Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan
| | - Masashi Takahashi
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Kita 9, Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan
| | - Manabu Kawahara
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Kita 9, Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan.
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Sharma J, Antenos M, Madan P. A Comparative Analysis of Hippo Signaling Pathway Components during Murine and Bovine Early Mammalian Embryogenesis. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:281. [PMID: 33669396 PMCID: PMC7920285 DOI: 10.3390/genes12020281] [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: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The time required for successful blastocyst formation varies among multiple species. The formation of a blastocyst is governed by numerous molecular cell signaling pathways, such as the Hippo signaling pathway. The Hippo signaling pathway is initiated by increased cell-cell contact and via apical polarity proteins (AMOT, PARD6, and NF2) during the period of preimplantation embryogenesis. Cell-cell contact and cell polarity activate (phosphorylates) the core cascade components of the pathway (mammalian sterile twenty like 1 and 2 (MST1/2) and large tumor suppressor 1 and 2 (LATS1/2)), which in turn phosphorylate the downstream effectors of the pathway (YAP1/TAZ). The Hippo pathway remains inactive with YAP1 (Yes Associated protein 1) present inside the nucleus in the trophectoderm (TE) cells (polar blastomeres) of the mouse blastocyst. In the inner cell mass (ICM) cells (apolar blastomeres), the pathway is activated with p-YAP1 present in the cytoplasm. On the contrary, during bovine embryogenesis, p-YAP1 is exclusively present in the nucleus in both TE and ICM cells. Contrary to mouse embryos, transcription co activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) (also known as WWTR1) is also predominantly present in the cytoplasm in all the blastomeres during bovine embryogenesis. This review outlines the major differences in the localization and function of Hippo signaling pathway components of murine and bovine preimplantation embryos, suggesting significant differences in the regulation of this pathway in between the two species. The variance observed in the Hippo signaling pathway between murine and bovine embryos confirms that both of these early embryonic models are quite distinct. Moreover, based on the similarity of the Hippo signaling pathway between bovine and human early embryo development, bovine embryos could be an alternate model for understanding the regulation of the Hippo signaling pathway in human embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pavneesh Madan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; (J.S.); (M.A.)
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Interspecific Variation in One-Carbon Metabolism within the Ovarian Follicle, Oocyte, and Preimplantation Embryo: Consequences for Epigenetic Programming of DNA Methylation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041838. [PMID: 33673278 PMCID: PMC7918761 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
One-carbon (1C) metabolism provides methyl groups for the synthesis and/or methylation of purines and pyrimidines, biogenic amines, proteins, and phospholipids. Our understanding of how 1C pathways operate, however, pertains mostly to the (rat) liver. Here we report that transcripts for all bar two genes (i.e., BHMT, MAT1A) encoding enzymes in the linked methionine-folate cycles are expressed in all cell types within the ovarian follicle, oocyte, and blastocyst in the cow, sheep, and pig; as well as in rat granulosa cells (GCs) and human KGN cells (a granulosa-like tumor cell line). Betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) protein was absent in bovine theca and GCs, as was activity of this enzyme in GCs. Mathematical modeling predicted that absence of this enzyme would lead to more volatile S-adenosylmethionine-mediated transmethylation in response to 1C substrate (e.g., methionine) or cofactor provision. We tested the sensitivity of bovine GCs to reduced methionine (from 50 to 10 µM) and observed a diminished flux of 1C units through the methionine cycle. We then used reduced-representation bisulfite sequencing to demonstrate that this reduction in methionine during bovine embryo culture leads to genome-wide alterations to DNA methylation in >1600 genes, including a cohort of imprinted genes linked to an abnormal fetal-overgrowth phenotype. Bovine ovarian and embryonic cells are acutely sensitive to methionine, but further experimentation is required to determine the significance of interspecific variation in BHMT expression.
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18
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Interleukin-6 promotes primitive endoderm development in bovine blastocysts. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2021; 21:3. [PMID: 33430761 PMCID: PMC7802221 DOI: 10.1186/s12861-020-00235-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Background Interleukin-6 (IL6) was recently identified as an embryotrophic factor in bovine embryos, where it acts primarily to mediate inner cell mass (ICM) size. This work explored whether IL6 affects epiblast (EPI) and primitive endoderm (PE) development, the two embryonic lineages generated from the ICM after its formation. Nuclear markers for EPI (NANOG) and PE (GATA6) were used to differentiate the two cell types. Results Increases (P < 0.05) in total ICM cell numbers and PE cell numbers were detected in bovine blastocysts at day 8 and 9 post-fertilization after exposure to 100 ng/ml recombinant bovine IL6. Also, IL6 increased (P < 0.05) the number of undifferentiated ICM cells (cells containing both PE and EPI markers). The effects of IL6 on EPI cell numbers were inconsistent. Studies were also completed to explore the importance of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)-dependent signaling in bovine PE cells. Definitive activation of STAT3, a downstream target for JAK2, was observed in PE cells. Also, pharmacological inhibition of JAK2 decreased (P < 0.05) PE cell numbers. Conclusions To conclude, IL6 manipulates ICM development after EPI/PE cell fates are established. The PE cells are the target for IL6, where a JAK-dependent signal is used to regulate PE numbers. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12861-020-00235-z.
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19
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Sharma J, Madan P. Characterisation of the Hippo signalling pathway during bovine preimplantation embryo development. Reprod Fertil Dev 2021; 32:392-401. [PMID: 31718770 DOI: 10.1071/rd18320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Blastocyst formation is an important milestone during preimplantation embryo development. During murine preimplantation embryogenesis, the Hippo signalling pathway is known to play a significant role in lineage segregation and henceforth the formation of blastocysts. However, the role of this cell signalling pathway during bovine embryogenesis remains unknown. Thus, the aim of the present study was to characterise the Hippo signalling pathway during bovine preimplantation embryo development. mRNA transcripts of Hippo signalling pathway constituents (i.e. crumbs cell polarity complex component 3 (CRB3), mammalian sterile 20-like 1 (MST1), mammalian sterile 20-like 2 (MST2), Yes associated protein 1 (YAP1), transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ)) were observed during all stages of bovine preimplantation embryo development. To evaluate the localisation of Hippo pathway components, bovine embryos at timed stages of development were stained using specific antibodies and observed under a laser confocal microscope. Although MST1/2 proteins were in the cytoplasm during various stages of bovine embryonic development, TAZ and phosphorylated (p-) YAP were detected in the nucleus during the blastocyst stages. Localisation of TAZ and p-YAP proteins was distinct in the bovine compared with mouse model, suggesting that the Hippo signalling pathway is regulated differently in early bovine embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Sharma
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Pavneesh Madan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; and Corresponding author.
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20
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Carreiro LE, Santos GSD, Luedke FE, Goissis MD. Cell differentiation events in pre-implantation mouse and bovine embryos. Anim Reprod 2021; 18:e20210054. [PMID: 35035540 PMCID: PMC8747937 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2021-0054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Early mammal embryogenesis starts with oocyte fertilization, giving rise to the zygote. The events that the newly formed zygote surpasses are crucial to the embryo developmental success. Shortly after activation of its genome, cells of the embryo segregate into the inner cell mass (ICM) or the trophectoderm (TE). The first will give rise to the embryo while the latter will become the placenta. This first segregation involves cellular and molecular processes that include cell polarity linked to intracellular pathway activation, which will regulate the transcription of trophectoderm-related genes. Then, cells of the ICM undergo the second event of mammalian cell differentiation, which consists of the separation between epiblast (EPI) and hypoblast or primitive endoderm (PrE). This second segregation involves paracrine signaling, leading to differential expression of key genes that will dictate the fate of the cell. Although these processes are described in detail in the mouse, recent studies suggest that the bovine embryo could also be an interesting model for early development, since there are differences to the mouse and similarities with early human embryogenesis. In this review, we gathered the main data available in the literature upon bovine and mouse early development events, suggesting that both models should be analyzed and studied in a complementary way, to better model early events occurring in human development.
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21
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Estrada-Cortés E, Negrón-Peréz VM, Tríbulo P, Zenobi MG, Staples CR, Hansen PJ. Effects of choline on the phenotype of the cultured bovine preimplantation embryo. J Dairy Sci 2020; 103:10784-10796. [PMID: 32896407 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Choline is a precursor of acetylcholine, phosphatidylcholine, and the methyl-donor betaine. Reports indicate that supplementation with rumen-protected choline improves postpartum reproductive function of dairy cows. The objective was to determine whether addition of choline to culture medium of in vitro-produced embryos alters the phenotype of the resultant blastocysts. Treatments were choline chloride (ChCl; 0.004, 1.3, 1.8, and 6.37 mM) and phosphatidylcholine (1.3 mM). Treatment with 0.004 mM ChCl improved development to the blastocyst stage, increased blastocyst cell number, and increased the percentage of blastocysts that were hatching or hatched. Development was not affected by higher concentrations of ChCl but was reduced by 1.3 mM phosphatidylcholine. Treatment of embryos with 1.3 mM ChCl (but not other concentrations) increased expression in blastocysts of 11 of 165 genes examined (AMOT, NANOG, HDAC8, HNF4A, STAT1, MBNL3, SOX2, STAT3, KDM2B, SAV1, and GPAM) and decreased expression of one gene (ASS1). Treatment with 1.3 mM ChCl decreased global DNA methylation at d 3.5 of development and increased DNA methylation at d 7.5 in blastocysts. Treatment with 1.8 mM ChCl also increased methylation in blastocysts. In conclusion, addition of choline to the culture medium alters the phenotype of preimplantation bovine embryos produced in vitro. Choline chloride can act in a concentration-dependent manner to alter development, expression of specific genes, and DNA methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Estrada-Cortés
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-0910; Campo Experimental Centro Altos de Jalisco, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Tepatitlán de Morelos, Jalisco, México 47600
| | - V M Negrón-Peréz
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico 00681
| | - P Tríbulo
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Córdoba, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas, Córdoba, Argentina X5145; Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, Córdoba, Argentina X5000; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas (CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina, X5000
| | - M G Zenobi
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Córdoba, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas, Córdoba, Argentina X5145
| | - C R Staples
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-0910
| | - P J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-0910.
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Yamamura S, Goda N, Akizawa H, Kohri N, Balboula AZ, Kobayashi K, Bai H, Takahashi M, Kawahara M. Yes-associated protein 1 translocation through actin cytoskeleton organization in trophectoderm cells. Dev Biol 2020; 468:14-25. [PMID: 32946790 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.09.004] [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: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
A mammalian embryo experiences the first cell segregation at the blastocyst stage, in which cells giving form to the embryo are sorted into two lineages; trophectoderm (TE) and inner cell mass (ICM). This first cell segregation process is governed by cell position-dependent Hippo signaling, which is a phosphorylation cascade determining whether Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), one of the key components of the Hippo signaling pathway, localizes within the nucleus or cytoplasm. YAP1 localization determines the transcriptional on/off switch of a key gene, Cdx2, required for TE differentiation. However, the control mechanisms involved in YAP1 nucleocytoplasmic shuttling post blastocyst formation remain unknown. This study focused on the mechanisms involved in YAP1 release from TE nuclei after blastocoel contraction in bovine blastocysts. The blastocysts contracted by blastocoel fluid aspiration showed that the YAP1 translocation from nucleus to cytoplasm in the TE cells was concomitant with the protruded actin cytoskeleton. This YAP1 release from TE nuclei in the contracted blastocysts was prevented by actin disruption and stabilization. In contrast, Y27632, which is a potent inhibitor of Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 1/2 (ROCK) activity, was found to promote YAP1 nuclear localization in the TE cells of contracted blastocysts. Meanwhile, lambda protein phosphatase (LPP) treatment inducing protein dephosphorylation could not prevent YAP1 release from TE nuclei in the contracted blastocysts, indicating that YAP1 release from TE nuclei does not depend on the Hippo signaling pathway. These results suggested that blastocyst contraction causes YAP1 release from TE nuclei through actin cytoskeleton remodeling in a Hippo signaling-independent manner. Thus, the present study raised the possibility that YAP1 subcellular localization is controlled by actin cytoskeletal organization after the blastocyst formation. Our results demonstrate diverse regulatory mechanisms for YAP1 nucleocytoplasmic shuttling in TE cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shota Yamamura
- Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku Kita 9 Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan
| | - Nanami Goda
- Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku Kita 9 Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan
| | - Hiroki Akizawa
- Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku Kita 9 Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan
| | - Nanami Kohri
- Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku Kita 9 Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan
| | - Ahmed Z Balboula
- Animal Sciences Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Ken Kobayashi
- Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku Kita 9 Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan
| | - Hanako Bai
- Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku Kita 9 Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan
| | - Masashi Takahashi
- Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku Kita 9 Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan
| | - Manabu Kawahara
- Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku Kita 9 Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan.
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Yue C, Chen ACH, Tian S, Fong SW, Lee KC, Zhang J, Ng EHY, Lee KF, Yeung WSB, Lee YL. Human embryonic stem cell–derived blastocyst-like spheroids resemble human trophectoderm during early implantation process. Fertil Steril 2020; 114:653-664.e6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Kohri N, Akizawa H, Iisaka S, Bai H, Takahashi M, Kawahara M. The role of RHOA signaling in trophectoderm cell-fate decision in cattle. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 528:713-718. [PMID: 32513530 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.05.210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian blastocysts are composed of two distinct cell lineages, namely the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE). TE cells that give rise to the embryonic placenta are marked by an exclusive expression of the key determinant transcription factor, CDX2. Although Hippo signaling pathway is known to be responsible for this TE-specific expression of CDX2, the upstream regulator of this pathway in mammalian embryos is still controversial. In the present study, the involvement of the small molecular G protein, RHOA, in TE cell-fate decision in cattle was investigated. Inhibition of RHOA by the specific inhibitor, C3 transferase (C3), severely impaired the blastocyst formation. Further, C3 treatment significantly decreased the number of blastomeres with nuclearized YAP1, the prominent effector of Hippo pathway. An artificial isolation of ICM cells from blastocysts followed by the continuing culture to regenerate TE cells was conducted and showed that TE re-emergence from the isolated ICM is governed by Hippo pathway and suppressed by C3 treatment like that observed in developing embryos. Finally, the long-term exposure to C3 suggests the presence of alternative regulators of CDX2 expression other than RHOA signaling because there were still CDX2-positive cells after C3 treatment. These results demonstrated that RHOA signaling plays a significant role in TE cell-fate decision by regulating Hippo pathway in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanami Kohri
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Kita 9, Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan.
| | - Hiroki Akizawa
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Kita 9, Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan.
| | - Sakie Iisaka
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Kita 9, Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan.
| | - Hanako Bai
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Kita 9, Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan.
| | - Masashi Takahashi
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Kita 9, Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan.
| | - Manabu Kawahara
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Kita 9, Nishi 9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan.
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Chen X, Li Y, Luo J, Hou N. Molecular Mechanism of Hippo-YAP1/TAZ Pathway in Heart Development, Disease, and Regeneration. Front Physiol 2020; 11:389. [PMID: 32390875 PMCID: PMC7191303 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The Hippo-YAP1/TAZ pathway is a highly conserved central mechanism that controls organ size through the regulation of cell proliferation and other physical attributes of cells. The transcriptional factors Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) and PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) act as downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway, and their subcellular location and transcriptional activities are affected by multiple post-translational modifications (PTMs). Studies have conclusively demonstrated a pivotal role of the Hippo-YAP1/TAZ pathway in cardiac development, disease, and regeneration. Targeted therapeutics for the YAP1/TAZ could be an effective treatment option for cardiac regeneration and disease. This review article provides an overview of the Hippo-YAP1/TAZ pathway and the increasing impact of PTMs in fine-tuning YAP1/TAZ activation; in addition, we discuss the potential contributions of the Hippo-YAP1/TAZ pathway in cardiac development, disease, and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, and The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yilang Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, and The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiandong Luo
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, and The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ning Hou
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, and The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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26
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Plewes MR, Hou X, Zhang P, Liang A, Hua G, Wood JR, Cupp AS, Lv X, Wang C, Davis JS. Yes-associated protein 1 is required for proliferation and function of bovine granulosa cells in vitro†. Biol Reprod 2019; 101:1001-1017. [PMID: 31350850 PMCID: PMC6877782 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) is a major component of the Hippo signaling pathway. Although the exact extracellular signals that control the Hippo pathway are currently unknown, increasing evidence supports a critical role for the Hippo pathway in embryonic development, regulation of organ size, and carcinogenesis. Granulosa cells (GCs) within the ovarian follicle proliferate and produce steroids and growth factors, which facilitate the growth of follicle and maturation of the oocyte. We hypothesize that YAP1 plays a role in proliferation and estrogen secretion of GCs. In the current study, we examined the expression of the Hippo signaling pathway in bovine ovaries and determined whether it was important for GC proliferation and estrogen production. Mammalian STE20-like protein kinase 1 (MST1) and large tumor suppressor kinase 2 (LATS2) were identified as prominent upstream components of the Hippo pathway expressed in granulosa and theca cells of the follicle and large and small cells of the corpus luteum. Immunohistochemistry revealed that YAP1 was localized to the nucleus of growing follicles. In vitro, nuclear localization of the downstream Hippo signaling effector proteins YAP1 and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) was inversely correlated with GC density, with greater nuclear localization under conditions of low cell density. Treatment with verteporfin and siRNA targeting YAP1 or TAZ revealed a critical role for these transcriptional co-activators in GC proliferation. Furthermore, knockdown of YAP1 in GCs inhibited follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-induced estradiol biosynthesis. The data indicate that Hippo pathway transcription co-activators YAP1/TAZ play an important role in GC proliferation and estradiol synthesis, two processes necessary for maintaining normal follicle development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele R Plewes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Olson Center for Women's Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Xiaoying Hou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Olson Center for Women's Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Pan Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Olson Center for Women's Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Aixin Liang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Olson Center for Women's Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Guohua Hua
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Olson Center for Women's Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jennifer R Wood
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Andrea S Cupp
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Xiangmin Lv
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Olson Center for Women's Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Cheng Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Olson Center for Women's Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - John S Davis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Olson Center for Women's Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE, USA
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Hansen PJ, Tríbulo P. Regulation of present and future development by maternal regulatory signals acting on the embryo during the morula to blastocyst transition - insights from the cow. Biol Reprod 2019; 101:526-537. [PMID: 31220231 PMCID: PMC8127039 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The preimplantation embryo has a remarkable ability to execute its developmental program using regulatory information inherent within itself. Nonetheless, the uterine environment is rich in cell signaling molecules termed embryokines that act on the embryo during the morula-to-blastocyst transition, promoting blastocyst formation and programming the embryo for subsequent developmental events. Programming can not only affect developmental processes important for continuance of development in utero but also affect characteristics of the offspring during postnatal life. Given the importance of embryokines for regulation of embryonic development, it is likely that some causes of infertility involve aberrant secretion of embryokines by the uterus. Embryokines found to regulate development of the bovine embryo include insulin-like growth factor 1, colony stimulating factor 2 (CSF2), and dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor 1. Embryo responses to CSF2 exhibit sexual dimorphism, suggesting that sex-specific programming of postnatal function is caused by maternal signals acting on the embryo during the preimplantation period that regulate male embryos differently than female embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Paula Tríbulo
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Córdoba (IRAC), Zona Rural General Paz, Córdoba, Argentina
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Tríbulo P, Rabaglino MB, Bo MB, Carvalheira LDR, Bishop JV, Hansen TR, Hansen PJ. Dickkopf-related protein 1 is a progestomedin acting on the bovine embryo during the morula-to-blastocyst transition to program trophoblast elongation. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11816. [PMID: 31413296 PMCID: PMC6694114 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48374-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Progesterone regulates the endometrium to support pregnancy establishment and maintenance. In the ruminant, one action of progesterone early in pregnancy is to alter embryonic development and hasten the process of trophoblast elongation around day 14–15 of pregnancy, which is required for maternal recognition of pregnancy. Here we demonstrate that the WNT antagonist DKK1, whose expression is increased by progesterone treatment, can act on the bovine embryo during day 5 to 7.5 of development (the morula to blastocyst stage) to promote embryonic elongation on day 15 of pregnancy. Embryos were produced in vitro and exposed to 0 or 100 ng/ml recombinant human DKK1 from day 5 to 7.5 of culture. Blastocysts were transferred into synchronized recipient cows on day 7.5 (n = 23 for control and 17 for DKK1). On day 15, cows were slaughtered and embryos recovered by flushing the uterus. Embryo recovery was n = 11 for controls (48% recovery) and n = 11 for DKK1 (65% recovery). Except for two DKK1 embryos, all embryos were filamentous. Treatment with DKK1 increased (P = 0.007) the length of filamentous embryos from 43.9 mm to 117.4 mm and the intrauterine content of the maternal recognition of pregnancy signal IFNT (P = 0.01) from 4.9 µg to 16.6 µg. Determination of differentially expressed genes (DEG), using the R environment, revealed 473 DEG at p < 0.05 but none at FDR < 0.05, suggesting that DKK1 did not strongly modify the embryo transcriptome at the time it was measured. However, samples clustered apart in a multidimensional scaling analyisis. Weighted gene co-expression analysis of the transcriptome of filamentous embryos revealed a subset of genes that were related to embryo length, with identification of a significant module of genes in the DKK1 group only. Thus, several of the differences between DKK1 and control groups in gene expression were due to differences in embryo length. In conclusion, DKK1 can act on the morula-to-blastocyst stage embryo to modify subsequent trophoblast elongation. Higher pregnancy rates associated with transfer of DKK1-treated embryos may be due in part to enhancements of trophoblast growth and antiluteolytic signaling through IFNT secretion. Given that progesterone can regulate both timing of trophoblast elongation and DKK1 expression, DKK1 may be a mediator of progesterone effects on embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Tríbulo
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0910, USA
| | | | | | - Luciano de R Carvalheira
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirugia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Jeanette V Bishop
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1683, USA
| | - Thomas R Hansen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1683, USA
| | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0910, USA.
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29
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Zolini AM, Negrón-Pérez VM, Hansen PJ. Importance of prostate androgen-regulated mucin-like protein 1 in development of the bovine blastocyst. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2019; 19:15. [PMID: 31277570 PMCID: PMC6612098 DOI: 10.1186/s12861-019-0195-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Background Prostate androgen-regulated mucin-like protein 1 (PARM1) is a pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic glycoprotein involved in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the coding region of PARM1 has been associated with competence of bovine embryos to develop to the blastocyst stage. Here we tested the importance of PARM1 for development by evaluating consequences of reducing PARM1 mRNA abundance on embryonic development and differentiation, gene expression and resistance to ER stress. Results Knockdown of PARM1 using an anti-PARM1 GapmeR did not affect competence of embryos to develop into blastocysts but decreased the number of trophectoderm (TE) cells in the blastocyst and tended to increase the number of cells in the blastocyst inner cell mass (ICM). Treatment of embryos with anti-PARM1 GapmeR affected expression of 4 and 3 of 90 genes evaluated at the compact-morula and blastocyst stage of development at days 5.5 and 7.5 after fertilization, respectively. In morulae, treatment increased expression of DAB2, INADL, and STAT3 and decreased expression of CCR2. At the blastocyst stage, knockdown of PARM1 increased expression of PECAM and TEAD4 and decreased expression of CCR7. The potential role of PARM1 in ER stress response was determined by evaluating effects of knockdown of PARM1 on development of embryos after exposure to heat shock or tunicamycin and on expression of ATF6, DDIT3 and EIF2AK3 at the compact morula and blastocyst stages. Both heat shock and tunicamycin reduced the percent of embryos becoming a blastocyst but response was unaffected by PARM1 knockdown. Similarly, there was no effect of knockdown on steady-state amounts of ATF6, DDIT3 or EIF2AK3. Conclusion PARM1 participates in formation of TE and ICM cells in early embryonic development but there is no evidence for the role of PARM1 in the ER stress response. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12861-019-0195-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana M Zolini
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-0910, USA.,Present address: Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Verónica M Negrón-Pérez
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-0910, USA.,Present address: Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-0910, USA.
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Wooldridge LK, Ealy AD. Interleukin-6 increases inner cell mass numbers in bovine embryos. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2019; 19:2. [PMID: 30709330 PMCID: PMC6359871 DOI: 10.1186/s12861-019-0182-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Work in other species suggests that interleukin-6 (IL6) promotes early embryo development. It was unclear whether IL6 serves as an embryokine in cultured bovine embryos. This work was undertaken to elucidate the role of IL6 during in vitro bovine embryo production. Results Transcripts for IL6 and its two cognate receptor subunits (IL6R, IL6ST) were confirmed in bovine embryos from the 1-cell to blastocyst stages. Supplementing 100 ng/ml recombinant bovine IL6 to in vitro-produced bovine embryos at day 1, 3 or 5 increased (P < 0.05) inner cell mass (ICM) cell number and the ICM:trophectoderm (TE) ratio but not TE cell number. No increase in ICM or TE cell number was observed after supplementation of 1 or 10 ng/ml IL6 beginning at either day 1 or 5. Sequential supplementation with 100 ng/ml IL6 at both day 1 and 5 (for a total of 200 ng/ml IL6) increased (P < 0.05) ICM cell number to a greater extent than supplementing IL6 at a single time period in one study but not a second study. Additionally, providing 200 ng/ml IL6 beginning at day 1 or 5 yielded no further increase on ICM cell numbers when compared to supplementing with 100 ng/ml IL6. IL6 treatment had no effect on cleavage or blastocyst formation in group culture. However, IL6 supplementation increased cleavage and day 8 blastocyst formation when bovine embryos were cultured individually. Conclusions These results implicate IL6 as an embryokine that specifically increases ICM cell numbers in bovine embryos and facilitates bovine blastocyst development in embryos cultured individually.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia K Wooldridge
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 3430 Litton-Reaves Hall (0306), Blacksburg, VA, 24060, USA
| | - Alan D Ealy
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 3430 Litton-Reaves Hall (0306), Blacksburg, VA, 24060, USA.
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31
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Simmet K, Zakhartchenko V, Wolf E. Comparative aspects of early lineage specification events in mammalian embryos - insights from reverse genetics studies. Cell Cycle 2018; 17:1688-1695. [PMID: 29995579 PMCID: PMC6133330 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2018.1496747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Within the mammalian class, formation of the blastocyst is morphologically highly conserved among different species. The molecular and cellular events during preimplantation embryo development have been studied extensively in the mouse as model organism, because multiple genetically defined strains and a plethora of reverse genetics tools are available to dissect specific gene functions and regulatory networks. However, major differences in preimplantation developmental kinetics, implantation, and placentation exist among mammalians, and recent studies in species other than mouse showed, that even regulatory mechanisms of the first lineage differentiation events and maintenance of pluripotency are not always conserved. Here, we focus on the first and the second lineage segregation in mouse and bovine embryos, when the first differentiated cell types emerge. We outline their common features and differences in the regulation of these essential events during embryonic development with a glance at further species. In addition, we show how new reverse genetics strategies aid the study of regulatory circuits in embryos of domestic species, enhancing our overall understanding of mammalian preimplantation development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kilian Simmet
- Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Valeri Zakhartchenko
- Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
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32
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Effects of sex on response of the bovine preimplantation embryo to insulin-like growth factor 1, activin A, and WNT7A. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2018; 18:16. [PMID: 30055575 PMCID: PMC6064047 DOI: 10.1186/s12861-018-0176-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alterations in maternal environment can sometimes affect embryonic development in a sexually-dimorphic manner. The objective was to determine whether preimplantation bovine embryos respond to three maternally-derived cell signaling molecules in a sex-dependent manner. RESULTS Actions of three embryokines known to increase competence of bovine embryos to develop to the blastocyst stage, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), activin A, and WNT member 7A (WNT7A), were evaluated for actions on embryos produced in vitro with X- or Y- sorted semen from the same bull. Each embryokine was tested in embryos produced by in vitro fertilization of groups of oocytes with either pooled sperm from two bulls or with sperm from individual bulls. Embryos were treated with IGF1, activin A, or WNT7A on day 5 of culture. All three embryokines increased the proportion of cleaved zygotes that developed to the blastocyst stage and the effect was similar for female and male embryos. As an additional test of sexual dimorphism, effects of IGF1 on blastocyst expression of a total of 127 genes were determined by RT-qPCR using the Fluidigm Delta Gene assay. Expression of 18 genes was affected by sex, expression of 4 genes was affected by IGF1 and expression of 3 genes was affected by the IGF1 by sex interaction. CONCLUSION Sex did not alter how IGF1, activin A or WNT7A altered developmental competence to the blastocyst stage. Thus, sex-dependent differences in regulation of developmental competence of embryos by maternal regulatory signals is not a general phenomenon. The fact that sex altered how IGF1 regulates gene expression is indicative that there could be sexual dimorphism in embryokine regulation of some aspects of embryonic function other than developmental potential to become a blastocyst.
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Negrón-Pérez VM, Rodrigues LT, Mingoti GZ, Hansen PJ. Role of ROCK signaling in formation of the trophectoderm of the bovine preimplantation embryo. Mol Reprod Dev 2018. [PMID: 29542836 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Verónica M Negrón-Pérez
- Department of Animal Sciences, D. H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Luana T Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology, Department of Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil.,Post-Graduate Program in Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gisele Z Mingoti
- Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology, Department of Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil.,Post-Graduate Program in Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D. H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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