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Tan GH, Liu SJ, Dou ML, Zhao DF, Zhang A, Li HK, Luo FN, Shi T, Wang HP, Lei JY, Zhang Y, Jiang Y, Zheng Y, Wang F. Spatially resolved transcriptomic profiling of placental development in dairy cow. Zool Res 2024; 45:586-600. [PMID: 38766743 PMCID: PMC11188604 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The placenta plays a crucial role in successful mammalian reproduction. Ruminant animals possess a semi-invasive placenta characterized by a highly vascularized structure formed by maternal endometrial caruncles and fetal placental cotyledons, essential for full-term fetal development. The cow placenta harbors at least two trophoblast cell populations: uninucleate (UNC) and binucleate (BNC) cells. However, the limited capacity to elucidate the transcriptomic dynamics of the placental natural environment has resulted in a poor understanding of both the molecular and cellular interactions between trophoblast cells and niches, and the molecular mechanisms governing trophoblast differentiation and functionalization. To fill this knowledge gap, we employed Stereo-seq to map spatial gene expression patterns at near single-cell resolution in the cow placenta at 90 and 130 days of gestation, attaining high-resolution, spatially resolved gene expression profiles. Based on clustering and cell marker gene expression analyses, key transcription factors, including YBX1 and NPAS2, were shown to regulate the heterogeneity of trophoblast cell subpopulations. Cell communication and trajectory analysis provided a framework for understanding cell-cell interactions and the differentiation of trophoblasts into BNCs in the placental microenvironment. Differential analysis of cell trajectories identified a set of genes involved in regulation of trophoblast differentiation. Additionally, spatial modules and co-variant genes that help shape specific tissue structures were identified. Together, these findings provide foundational insights into important biological pathways critical to the placental development and function in cows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang-Hui Tan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Shi-Jie Liu
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Ming-Le Dou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - De-Feng Zhao
- College of Information Engineering, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Ao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Heng-Kuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Fu-Nong Luo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Tao Shi
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Hao-Ping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Jing-Yuan Lei
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yu Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yi Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China. E-mail:
| | - Fei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China. E-mail:
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Chan HY, Tran HM, Breen J, Schjenken JE, Robertson SA. The endometrial transcriptome transition preceding receptivity to embryo implantation in mice. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:590. [PMID: 37794337 PMCID: PMC10552439 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09698-3] [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: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Receptivity of the uterus is essential for embryo implantation and progression of mammalian pregnancy. Acquisition of receptivity involves major molecular and cellular changes in the endometrial lining of the uterus from a non-receptive state at ovulation, to a receptive state several days later. The precise molecular mechanisms underlying this transition and their upstream regulators remain to be fully characterized. Here, we aimed to generate a comprehensive profile of the endometrial transcriptome in the peri-ovulatory and peri-implantation states, to define the genes and gene pathways that are different between these states, and to identify new candidate upstream regulators of this transition, in the mouse. RESULTS High throughput RNA-sequencing was utilized to identify genes and pathways expressed in the endometrium of female C57Bl/6 mice at estrus and on day 3.5 post-coitum (pc) after mating with BALB/c males (n = 3-4 biological replicates). Compared to the endometrium at estrus, 388 genes were considered differentially expressed in the endometrium on day 3.5 post-coitum. The transcriptional changes indicated substantial modulation of uterine immune and vascular systems during the pre-implantation phase, with the functional terms Angiogenesis, Chemotaxis, and Lymphangiogenesis predominating. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software predicted the activation of several upstream regulators previously shown to be involved in the transition to receptivity including various cytokines, ovarian steroid hormones, prostaglandin E2, and vascular endothelial growth factor A. Our analysis also revealed four candidate upstream regulators that have not previously been implicated in the acquisition of uterine receptivity, with growth differentiation factor 2, lysine acetyltransferase 6 A, and N-6 adenine-specific DNA methyltransferase 1 predicted to be activated, and peptidylprolyl isomerase F predicted to be inhibited. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms that the transcriptome of a receptive uterus is vastly different to the non-receptive uterus and identifies several genes, regulatory pathways, and upstream drivers not previously associated with implantation. The findings will inform further research to investigate the molecular mechanisms of uterine receptivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hon Yeung Chan
- The Robinson Research Institute, School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Ha M Tran
- The Robinson Research Institute, School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - James Breen
- The Robinson Research Institute, School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - John E Schjenken
- The Robinson Research Institute, School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Infertility and Reproduction Research Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Discipline of Biological Sciences, The University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Sarah A Robertson
- The Robinson Research Institute, School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia.
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Padilla-Banks E, Jefferson WN, Papas BN, Suen AA, Xu X, Carreon DV, Willson CJ, Quist EM, Williams CJ. Developmental estrogen exposure in mice disrupts uterine epithelial cell differentiation and causes adenocarcinoma via Wnt/β-catenin and PI3K/AKT signaling. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002334. [PMID: 37856394 PMCID: PMC10586657 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue development entails genetically programmed differentiation of immature cell types to mature, fully differentiated cells. Exposure during development to non-mutagenic environmental factors can contribute to cancer risk, but the underlying mechanisms are not understood. We used a mouse model of endometrial adenocarcinoma that results from brief developmental exposure to an estrogenic chemical, diethylstilbestrol (DES), to determine causative factors. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) and spatial transcriptomics of adult control uteri revealed novel markers of uterine epithelial stem cells (EpSCs), identified distinct luminal and glandular progenitor cell (PC) populations, and defined glandular and luminal epithelium (LE) cell differentiation trajectories. Neonatal DES exposure disrupted uterine epithelial cell differentiation, resulting in a failure to generate an EpSC population or distinguishable glandular and luminal progenitors or mature cells. Instead, the DES-exposed epithelial cells were characterized by a single proliferating PC population and widespread activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. The underlying endometrial stromal cells had dramatic increases in inflammatory signaling pathways and oxidative stress. Together, these changes activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT serine-threonine kinase signaling and malignant transformation of cells that were marked by phospho-AKT and the cancer-associated protein olfactomedin 4. Here, we defined a mechanistic pathway from developmental exposure to an endocrine disrupting chemical to the development of adult-onset cancer. These findings provide an explanation for how human cancers, which are often associated with abnormal activation of PI3K/AKT signaling, could result from exposure to environmental insults during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Padilla-Banks
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Wendy N. Jefferson
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Brian N. Papas
- Integrative Bioinformatics, Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Alisa A. Suen
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Xin Xu
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Diana V. Carreon
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Cynthia J. Willson
- Inotiv-RTP, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Erin M. Quist
- Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Carmen J. Williams
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
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Oh Y, Quiroz E, Wang T, Medina-Laver Y, Redecke SM, Dominguez F, Lydon JP, DeMayo FJ, Wu SP. The NR2F2-HAND2 signaling axis regulates progesterone actions in the uterus at early pregnancy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1229033. [PMID: 37664846 PMCID: PMC10473531 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1229033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometrial function is dependent on a tight crosstalk between the epithelial and stromal cells of the endometrium. This communication is critical to ensure a fertile uterus and relies on progesterone and estrogen signaling to prepare a receptive uterus for embryo implantation in early pregnancy. One of the key mediators of this crosstalk is the orphan nuclear receptor NR2F2, which regulates uterine epithelial receptivity and stromal cell differentiation. In order to determine the molecular mechanism regulated by NR2F2, RNAseq analysis was conducted on the uterus of PgrCre;Nr2f2f/f mice at Day 3.5 of pregnancy. This transcriptomic analysis demonstrated Nr2f2 ablation in Pgr-expressing cells leads to a reduction of Hand2 expression, increased levels of Hand2 downstream effectors Fgf1 and Fgf18, and a transcriptome manifesting suppressed progesterone signaling with an altered immune baseline. ChIPseq analysis conducted on the Day 3.5 pregnant mouse uterus for NR2F2 demonstrated the majority of NR2F2 occupies genomic regions that have H3K27ac and H3K4me1 histone modifications, including the loci of major uterine transcription regulators Hand2, Egr1, and Zbtb16. Furthermore, functional analysis of an NR2F2 occupying site that is conserved between human and mouse was capable to enhance endogenous HAND2 mRNA expression with the CRISPR activator in human endometrial stroma cells. These data establish the NR2F2 dependent regulation of Hand2 in the stroma and identify a cis-acting element for this action. In summary, our findings reveal a role of the NR2F2-HAND2 regulatory axis that determines the uterine transcriptomic pattern in preparation for the endometrial receptivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeongseok Oh
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
- Department of Life Science and Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Elvis Quiroz
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Tianyuan Wang
- Biostatistics & Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Yassmin Medina-Laver
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, IVI Foundation, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), Valencia, Spain
| | - Skylar Montague Redecke
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Francisco Dominguez
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, IVI Foundation, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), Valencia, Spain
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Francesco J. DeMayo
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - San-Pin Wu
- Reproductive and Development Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
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5
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Wang S, Sun ST, Zhang XY, Ding HR, Yuan Y, He JJ, Wang MS, Yang B, Li YB. The Evolution of Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Technology and Application: Progress and Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032943. [PMID: 36769267 PMCID: PMC9918030 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
As an emerging sequencing technology, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) has become a powerful tool for describing cell subpopulation classification and cell heterogeneity by achieving high-throughput and multidimensional analysis of individual cells and circumventing the shortcomings of traditional sequencing for detecting the average transcript level of cell populations. It has been applied to life science and medicine research fields such as tracking dynamic cell differentiation, revealing sensitive effector cells, and key molecular events of diseases. This review focuses on the recent technological innovations in scRNA-Seq, highlighting the latest research results with scRNA-Seq as the core technology in frontier research areas such as embryology, histology, oncology, and immunology. In addition, this review outlines the prospects for its innovative application in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research and discusses the key issues currently being addressed by scRNA-Seq and its great potential for exploring disease diagnostic targets and uncovering drug therapeutic targets in combination with multiomics technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bin Yang
- Correspondence: (B.Y.); (Y.-B.L.)
| | - Yu-Bo Li
- Correspondence: (B.Y.); (Y.-B.L.)
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6
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METTL3 is essential for normal progesterone signaling during embryo implantation via m 6A-mediated translation control of progesterone receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2214684120. [PMID: 36693099 PMCID: PMC9945998 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2214684120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Embryo implantation, a crucial step in human reproduction, is tightly controlled by estrogen and progesterone (P4) via estrogen receptor alpha and progesterone receptor (PGR), respectively. Here, we report that N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most abundant mRNA modification in eukaryotes, plays an essential role in embryo implantation through the maintenance of P4 signaling. Conditional deletion of methyltransferase-like 3 (Mettl3), encoding the m6A writer METTL3, in the female reproductive tract using a Cre mouse line with Pgr promoter (Pgr-Cre) resulted in complete implantation failure due to pre-implantation embryo loss and defective uterine receptivity. Moreover, the uterus of Mettl3 null mice failed to respond to artificial decidualization. We further found that Mettl3 deletion was accompanied by a marked decrease in PGR protein expression. Mechanistically, we found that Pgr mRNA is a direct target for METTL3-mediated m6A modification. A luciferase assay revealed that the m6A modification in the 5' untranslated region (5'-UTR) of Pgr mRNA enhances PGR protein translation efficiency in a YTHDF1-dependent manner. Finally, we demonstrated that METTL3 is required for human endometrial stromal cell decidualization in vitro and that the METTL3-PGR axis is conserved between mice and humans. In summary, this study provides evidence that METTL3 is essential for normal P4 signaling during embryo implantation via m6A-mediated translation control of Pgr mRNA.
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7
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Kirkwood PM, Gibson DA, Shaw I, Dobie R, Kelepouri O, Henderson NC, Saunders PTK. Single-cell RNA sequencing and lineage tracing confirm mesenchyme to epithelial transformation (MET) contributes to repair of the endometrium at menstruation. eLife 2022; 11:e77663. [PMID: 36524724 PMCID: PMC9873258 DOI: 10.7554/elife.77663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The human endometrium experiences repetitive cycles of tissue wounding characterised by piecemeal shedding of the surface epithelium and rapid restoration of tissue homeostasis. In this study, we used a mouse model of endometrial repair and three transgenic lines of mice to investigate whether epithelial cells that become incorporated into the newly formed luminal epithelium have their origins in one or more of the mesenchymal cell types present in the stromal compartment of the endometrium. Using scRNAseq, we identified a novel population of PDGFRb + mesenchymal stromal cells that developed a unique transcriptomic signature in response to endometrial breakdown/repair. These cells expressed genes usually considered specific to epithelial cells and in silico trajectory analysis suggested they were stromal fibroblasts in transition to becoming epithelial cells. To confirm our hypothesis we used a lineage tracing strategy to compare the fate of stromal fibroblasts (PDGFRa+) and stromal perivascular cells (NG2/CSPG4+). We demonstrated that stromal fibroblasts can undergo a mesenchyme to epithelial transformation and become incorporated into the re-epithelialised luminal surface of the repaired tissue. This study is the first to discover a novel population of wound-responsive, plastic endometrial stromal fibroblasts that contribute to the rapid restoration of an intact luminal epithelium during endometrial repair. These findings form a platform for comparisons both to endometrial pathologies which involve a fibrotic response (Asherman's syndrome, endometriosis) as well as other mucosal tissues which have a variable response to wounding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe M Kirkwood
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Douglas A Gibson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Isaac Shaw
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Ross Dobie
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Olympia Kelepouri
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Neil C Henderson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Philippa TK Saunders
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
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8
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Christensen AO, Li G, Young CH, Snow B, Khan SA, DeVore SB, Edwards S, Bouma GJ, Navratil AM, Cherrington BD, Rothfuss HM. Peptidylarginine deiminase enzymes and citrullinated proteins in female reproductive physiology and associated diseases†. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:1395-1410. [PMID: 36087287 PMCID: PMC10248218 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Citrullination, the post-translational modification of arginine residues, is catalyzed by the four catalytically active peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD or PADI) isozymes and alters charge to affect target protein structure and function. PADs were initially characterized in rodent uteri and, since then, have been described in other female tissues including ovaries, breast, and the lactotrope and gonadotrope cells of the anterior pituitary gland. In these tissues and cells, estrogen robustly stimulates PAD expression resulting in changes in levels over the course of the female reproductive cycle. The best-characterized targets for PADs are arginine residues in histone tails, which, when citrullinated, alter chromatin structure and gene expression. Methodological advances have allowed for the identification of tissue-specific citrullinomes, which reveal that PADs citrullinate a wide range of enzymes and structural proteins to alter cell function. In contrast to their important physiological roles, PADs and citrullinated proteins are also involved in several female-specific diseases including autoimmune disorders and reproductive cancers. Herein, we review current knowledge regarding PAD expression and function and highlight the role of protein citrullination in both normal female reproductive tissues and associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda O Christensen
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Guangyuan Li
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Coleman H Young
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Bryce Snow
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | | | - Stanley B DeVore
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Sydney Edwards
- Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Gerrit J Bouma
- Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Amy M Navratil
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Brian D Cherrington
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Heather M Rothfuss
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
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9
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Robertson SA, Moldenhauer LM, Green ES, Care AS, Hull ML. Immune determinants of endometrial receptivity: a biological perspective. Fertil Steril 2022; 117:1107-1120. [PMID: 35618356 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Immune cells are essential for endometrial receptivity to embryo implantation and early placental development. They exert tissue-remodeling and immune regulatory roles-acting to promote epithelial attachment competence, regulate the differentiation of decidual cells, remodel the uterine vasculature, control and resolve inflammatory activation, and suppress destructive immunity to paternally inherited alloantigens. From a biological perspective, the endometrial immune response exerts a form of "quality control"-it promotes implantation success when conditions are favorable but constrains receptivity when physiological circumstances are not ideal. Women with recurrent implantation failure and recurrent miscarriage may exhibit altered numbers or disturbed function of certain uterine immune cell populations-most notably uterine natural killer cells and regulatory T cells. Preclinical and animal studies indicate that deficiencies or aberrant activation states in these cells can be causal in the pathophysiological mechanisms of infertility. Immune cells are, therefore, targets for diagnostic evaluation and therapeutic intervention. However, current diagnostic tests are overly simplistic and have limited clinical utility. To be more informative, they need to account for the full complexity and reflect the range of perturbations that can occur in uterine immune cell phenotypes and networks. Moreover, safe and effective interventions to modulate these cells are in their infancy, and personalized approaches matched to specific diagnostic criteria will be needed. Here we summarize current biological understanding and identify knowledge gaps to be resolved before the promise of therapies to target the uterine immune response can be fully realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Robertson
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
| | - Lachlan M Moldenhauer
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Ella S Green
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Alison S Care
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - M Louise Hull
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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10
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Tian Q, He JP, Zhu C, Zhu QY, Li YG, Liu JL. Revisiting the Transcriptome Landscape of Pig Embryo Implantation Site at Single-Cell Resolution. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:796358. [PMID: 35602598 PMCID: PMC9114439 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.796358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Litter size is one of the most economically important traits in commercial pig farming. It has been estimated that approximately 30% of porcine embryos are lost during the peri-implantation period. Despite rapid advances over recent years, the molecular mechanism underlying embryo implantation in pigs remains poorly understood. In this study, the conceptus together with a small amount of its surrounding endometrial tissues at the implantation site was collected and subjected to single-cell RNA-seq using the 10x platform. Because embryo and maternal endometrium were genetically different, we successfully dissected embryonic cells from maternal endometrial cells in the data according to single nucleotide polymorphism information captured by single-cell RNA-seq. Undoubtedly, the interaction between trophoblast cells and uterine epithelial cells represents the key mechanism of embryo implantation. Using the CellChat tool, we revealed cell-cell communications between these 2 cell types in terms of secreted signaling, ECM-receptor interaction and cell-cell contact. Additionally, by analyzing the non-pregnant endometrium as control, we were able to identify global gene expression changes associated with embryo implantation in each cell type. Our data provide a valuable resource for deciphering the molecular mechanism of embryo implantation in pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Yu-Gu Li
- *Correspondence: Yu-Gu Li, ; Ji-Long Liu,
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Li R, Wang TY, Xu X, Emery OM, Yi M, Wu SP, DeMayo FJ. Spatial transcriptomic profiles of mouse uterine microenvironments at pregnancy day 7.5†. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:529-545. [PMID: 35357464 PMCID: PMC9382390 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Uterine dysfunctions lead to fertility disorders and pregnancy complications. Normal uterine functions at pregnancy depend on crosstalk among multiple cell types in uterine microenvironments. Here, we performed the spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA-seq assays to determine local gene expression profiles at the embryo implantation site of the mouse uterus on pregnancy day 7.5 (D7.5). The spatial transcriptomic annotation identified 11 domains of distinct gene signatures, including a mesometrial myometrium, an anti-mesometrial myometrium, a mesometrial decidua enriched with natural killer cells, a vascular sinus zone for maternal vessel remodeling, a fetal-maternal interface, a primary decidual zone, a transition decidual zone, a secondary decidual zone, undifferentiated stroma, uterine glands, and the embryo. The scRNA-Seq identified 12 types of cells in the D7.5 uterus including three types of stromal fibroblasts with differentiated and undifferentiated markers, one cluster of epithelium including luminal and glandular epithelium, mesothelium, endothelia, pericytes, myelomonocytic cell, natural killer cells, and lymphocyte B. These single-cell RNA signatures were then utilized to deconvolute the cell-type compositions of each individual uterine microenvironment. Functional annotation assays on spatial transcriptomic data revealed uterine microenvironments with distinguished metabolic preferences, immune responses, and various cellular behaviors that are regulated by region-specific endocrine and paracrine signals. Global interactome among regions is also projected based on the spatial transcriptomic data. This study provides high-resolution transcriptome profiles with locality information at the embryo implantation site to facilitate further investigations on molecular mechanisms for normal pregnancy progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Li
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Tian-yuan Wang
- Integrative Bioinformatics Supportive Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Xin Xu
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Olivia M Emery
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - MyeongJin Yi
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - San-Pin Wu
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Correspondence: Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 T. W. Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. Tel: +9842873987; E-mail:
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Aplin JD, Stevens A. Use of 'omics for endometrial timing: the cycle moves on. Hum Reprod 2022; 37:644-650. [PMID: 35147196 PMCID: PMC8971645 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deac022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
For some years, the prospect of precise and personalized timing of the endometrial cycle for optimal embryo replacement has been held out as a potential solution to low implantation rates. It is envisaged that a receptive state can be defined and reached at a predictable time, and embryo replacement performed in synchrony. In the last century, morphological changes characteristic of the mid secretory phase were defined in precisely timed cycles in women of proven fertility, but when deviations from this standardized schedule occur, their significance for implantation has remained uncertain. ‘Omics technologies have been widely advocated for staging the endometrial cycle and defining a set of biochemical requirements for implantation, but after two decades of research, improvements to pregnancy rates have not followed, and there is a striking lack of agreement regarding the molecular characterization of the receptive state. Some of the rationale underlying these problems is now emerging with the application of higher-level computational and biological methodology. Here, we consider the challenges of defining an endometrial phenotype that can support implantation and continuing pregnancy. Receptivity may be an emergent trait depending on contributions from multiple proteins that have low pathway connectivity. We recommend that authors choose language which rigorously avoids the implication that protocols for molecular staging of the mid secretory phase inherently identify a state of receptivity to the implanting blastocyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Aplin
- Maternal and Fetal Health Centre, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, UK
| | - Adam Stevens
- Maternal and Fetal Health Centre, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, UK
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Yang Y, Zhu QY, Liu JL. Deciphering mouse uterine receptivity for embryo implantation at single-cell resolution. Cell Prolif 2021; 54:e13128. [PMID: 34558134 PMCID: PMC8560620 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Mice are widely used as an animal model for studying human uterine receptivity for embryo implantation. Although transcriptional changes related to mouse uterine receptivity have been determined by using bulk RNA‐seq, the data are of limited value because the uterus is a complex organ consisting of many cell types. Here, we aimed to decipher mouse uterine receptivity for embryo implantation at single‐cell resolution. Materials and methods Single‐cell RNA sequencing was performed for the pre‐receptive and the receptive mouse uterus. Gene expression profiles in luminal epithelium and glandular epithelium were validated by comparing against a published laser capture microdissection (LCM)‐coupled microarray dataset. Results We revealed 19 distinct cell clusters, including 3 stromal cell clusters, 2 epithelial cell clusters, 1 smooth muscle cell cluster, 4 endothelial cell clusters and 8 immune cell clusters. We identified global gene expression changes associated with uterine receptivity in each cell type. Additionally, we predicted signalling interactions for distinct cell types to understand the crosstalk between the blastocyst and the receptive uterus. Conclusion Our data provide a valuable resource for deciphering the molecular mechanism underlying uterine receptivity in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qiu-Yang Zhu
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ji-Long Liu
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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