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Ezz MA, Takahashi M, Rivera RM, Balboula AZ. Cathepsin L regulates oocyte meiosis and preimplantation embryo development. Cell Prolif 2024; 57:e13526. [PMID: 37417221 PMCID: PMC10771118 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Early embryonic loss, caused by reduced embryo developmental competence, is the major cause of subfertility in humans and animals. This embryo developmental competence is determined during oocyte maturation and the first embryo divisions. Therefore, it is essential to identify the underlying molecules regulating these critical developmental stages. Cathepsin L (CTSL), a lysosomal cysteine protease, is involved in regulating cell cycle progression, proliferation and invasion of different cell types. However, CTSL role in mammalian embryo development is unknown. Using bovine in vitro maturation and culture systems, we show that CTSL is a key regulator for embryo developmental competence. We employed a specific CTSL detection assay in live cells to show that CTSL activity correlates with meiotic progression and early embryo development. Inhibiting CTSL activity during oocyte maturation or early embryo development significantly impaired oocyte and embryo developmental competence as evidenced by lower cleavage, blastocyst and hatched blastocyst rates. Moreover, enhancing CTSL activity, using recombinant CTSL (rCTSL), during oocyte maturation or early embryo development significantly improved oocyte and embryo developmental competence. Importantly, rCTSL supplementation during oocyte maturation and early embryo development significantly improved the developmental competence of heat-shocked oocytes/embryos which are notoriously known for reduced quality. Altogether, these results provide novel evidence that CTSL plays a pivotal role in regulating oocyte meiosis and early embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Aboul Ezz
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineMansoura UniversityMansouraEgypt
- Division of Animal SciencesUniversity of MissouriColumbiaMissouriUSA
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Estefanía M, Aldana G, Marianela M, Agustina LC, José MM, Fabián P, Sergio G. Lactoferrin affects in vitro and in vivo fertilization and implantation in rats. Biometals 2022; 36:575-585. [PMID: 36326924 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-022-00460-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Lactoferrin (LF) is present in the oviduct, reduces in vitro gamete interaction, and affects sperm capacitation parameters in humans. Our aim was to investigate LF actions on further stages of the reproductive process in the Wistar rat model. Motile sperm were obtained from cauda epididymis to assess LF binding by direct immunofluorescence and LF effect on acrosome reaction (AR) using a Coomassie blue staining. After ovarian hyperstimulation of female rats, oocytes were surgically recovered and coincubated with motile sperm and different doses of LF to estimate the in vitro fertilization (IVF) rate. To evaluate the LF effect on pregnancy and embryo implantation, female rats (80 days old) were placed with males and received daily intraperitoneal injections of LF during one complete estrous cycle (pregnancy experiments) or during the first 8 gestational days (implantation experiments). The number of pregnant females and live born pups was recorded after labor. Moreover, the number of implantation sites was registered during the implantation period. LF was able to bind to the sperm head, midpiece, and tail. 10 and 100 μg/ml LF stimulated the AR but reduced the IVF rate. The administration of 100 and 200 mg/kg LF significantly decreased the number of implantation sites and the litter size, whereas 100 mg/kg LF declined the pregnancy rate. The results suggest that LF might interfere with the reproductive process, possibly interfering with gamete interaction or inducing a premature AR; nevertheless, the mechanisms involved are yet to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massa Estefanía
- Area of Clinical Biochemistry, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas - Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, Rosario, 2000, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Gola Aldana
- Area of Clinical Biochemistry, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas - Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, Rosario, 2000, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Moriconi Marianela
- Area of Clinical Biochemistry, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas - Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, Rosario, 2000, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Lo Celso Agustina
- Area of Clinical Biochemistry, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas - Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, Rosario, 2000, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Madariaga María José
- Area of Morphology, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas - Universidad Nacional de Rosario Suipacha 531, Rosario, 2000, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Pelusa Fabián
- Area of Clinical Biochemistry, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas - Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, Rosario, 2000, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Ghersevich Sergio
- Area of Clinical Biochemistry, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas - Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, Rosario, 2000, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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Genital tract dysbiosis in infertile women with a history of repeated implantation failure and pilot study for reproductive outcomes following oral enteric coating lactoferrin supplementation. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2022; 306:1761-1769. [DOI: 10.1007/s00404-022-06755-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Ochoa TJ, Vogel HJ. Lactoferrin extends its reach into South America. Biochem Cell Biol 2021; 99:v-vii. [PMID: 33617378 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2021-0025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Theresa J Ochoa
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Hans J Vogel
- Biochemistry Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
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