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Yang F, Li X, Zhou L, Cai Y, Kang Z, Liu Z, Yao X, Wang F. Role of secreted frizzled-related protein 5 in granulosa cells of hu sheep ovaries. Theriogenology 2024; 225:142-151. [PMID: 38805996 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.05.013] [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: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine the expression patterns of secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5) in the ovaries of Hu sheep and to explore the key downstream factors of SFRP5 in sheep granulosa cells (GCs) using RNA-seq. In the present study, SFRP5 was widely expressed in the ovary and localized to GCs and oocytes during various stages of follicular development. In addition, the expression of SFRP5 increased with follicular diameter. In contrast to the negative control, SFRP5 knockdown promoted the EdU-positive cell rate with an increase in PCNA mRNA and protein levels, whereas SFRP5 overexpression had the opposite effect. In addition, the cell cycle was propelled from the G0/G1 phase to the S phase with the upregulation of CCNB1, CCND1, CDK1, and CDK4 after SFRP5 knockdown. Moreover, SFRP5 overexpression enhanced the apoptosis of GCs with increased Caspase3 protein levels. Following SFRP5 knockdown, differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the PI3K/AKT, MAPK, Wnt, and Hippo signaling pathways, and several related candidate genes such as MMP1, MMP3, SFRP4, INHA, TGFA, and CASP3 were screened. In general, this study enhances our understanding of the expression of SFRP5 in the GCs of Hu sheep, along with its functions in follicular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- Hu Sheep Academy, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China; Jiangsu Livestock Embryo Engineering Laboratory, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xiaodan Li
- Hu Sheep Academy, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China; Jiangsu Livestock Embryo Engineering Laboratory, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Lei Zhou
- Hu Sheep Academy, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China; Jiangsu Livestock Embryo Engineering Laboratory, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yu Cai
- Hu Sheep Academy, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China; Jiangsu Livestock Embryo Engineering Laboratory, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Ziqi Kang
- Hu Sheep Academy, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China; Jiangsu Livestock Embryo Engineering Laboratory, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Zhipeng Liu
- Hu Sheep Academy, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China; Jiangsu Livestock Embryo Engineering Laboratory, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xiaolei Yao
- Hu Sheep Academy, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China; Jiangsu Livestock Embryo Engineering Laboratory, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
| | - Feng Wang
- Hu Sheep Academy, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China; Jiangsu Livestock Embryo Engineering Laboratory, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
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Dong Y, Zhao S, Zhao H. ZP2: the precision regulator of egg coat architecture during fertilization. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024; 67:1779-1780. [PMID: 38805066 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-024-2611-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Women, Children and Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Shigang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Women, Children and Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
| | - Han Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Women, Children and Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
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Cao G, Yu L, Fang J, Shi R, Li H, Lu F, Shen X, Zhu X, Wang S, Kong N. ZP1-Y262C mutation causes abnormal zona pellucida formation and female infertility in humans. Front Genet 2024; 15:1407202. [PMID: 38966008 PMCID: PMC11222594 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1407202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Defective oocyte maturation is a common cause of female infertility. The loss of the zona pellucida (ZP) represents a specific condition of impaired oocyte maturation. The extracellular matrix known as the ZP envelops mammalian oocytes and preimplantation embryos, exerting significant influence on oogenesis, fertilization, and embryo implantation. However, the genetic factors leading to the loss of the ZP in oocytes are not well understood. This study focused on patients who underwent oocyte retrieval surgery after ovarian stimulation and were found to have abnormal oocyte maturation without the presence of the ZP. Ultrasonography was performed during the surgical procedure to evaluate follicle development. Peripheral blood samples from the patient were subjected to exome sequencing. Here, a novel, previously unreported heterozygous mutation in the ZP1 gene was identified. Within the ZP1 gene, we discovered a novel heterozygous mutation (ZP1 NM_207341.4:c.785A>G (p.Y262C)), specifically located in the trefoil domain. Bioinformatics comparisons further revealed conservation of the ZP1-Y262C mutation across different species. Model predictions of amino acid mutations on protein structure and cell immunofluorescence/western blot experiments collectively confirmed the detrimental effects of the ZP1-Y262C mutation on the function and expression of the ZP1 protein. The ZP1-Y262C mutation represents the novel mutation in the trefoil domain of the ZP1 protein, which is associated with defective oocyte maturation in humans. Our report enhances comprehension regarding the involvement of ZP-associated genes in female infertility and offers enriched understanding for the genetic diagnosis of this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyi Cao
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Center for Molecular Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lina Yu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Junshun Fang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruixin Shi
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Joint Institute of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital for Life and Health, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huijun Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feifei Lu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoyue Shen
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shanshan Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Na Kong
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Center for Molecular Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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Granados-Aparici S, Yang Q, Clarke HJ. SMAD4 promotes somatic-germline contact during murine oocyte growth. eLife 2024; 13:RP91798. [PMID: 38819913 PMCID: PMC11142639 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91798] [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] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Development of the mammalian oocyte requires physical contact with the surrounding granulosa cells of the follicle, which provide it with essential nutrients and regulatory signals. This contact is achieved through specialized filopodia, termed transzonal projections (TZPs), that extend from the granulosa cells to the oocyte surface. Transforming growth factor (TGFβ) family ligands produced by the oocyte increase the number of TZPs, but how they do so is unknown. Using an inducible Cre recombinase strategy together with expression of green fluorescent protein to verify Cre activity in individual cells, we examined the effect of depleting the canonical TGFβ mediator, SMAD4, in mouse granulosa cells. We observed a 20-50% decrease in the total number of TZPs in SMAD4-depleted granulosa cell-oocyte complexes, and a 50% decrease in the number of newly generated TZPs when the granulosa cells were reaggregated with wild-type oocytes. Three-dimensional image analysis revealed that TZPs of SMAD4-depleted cells were longer than controls and more frequently oriented towards the oocyte. Strikingly, the transmembrane proteins, N-cadherin and Notch2, were reduced by 50% in SMAD4-depleted cells. SMAD4 may thus modulate a network of cell adhesion proteins that stabilize the attachment of TZPs to the oocyte, thereby amplifying signalling between the two cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Granados-Aparici
- Research Institute, McGill University Health CentreMontrealCanada
- Present address: Cancer CIBER (CIBERONC)MadridSpain
- Present address: Pathology Department, Medical School, University of Valencia-INCLIVAValenciaSpain
| | - Qin Yang
- Research Institute, McGill University Health CentreMontrealCanada
| | - Hugh J Clarke
- Research Institute, McGill University Health CentreMontrealCanada
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Biology, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill UniversityMontréalCanada
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Wang Y, Chen J, Huang X, Wu B, Dai P, Zhang F, Li J, Wang L. Gene-knockout by iSTOP enables rapid reproductive disease modeling and phenotyping in germ cells of the founder generation. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024; 67:1035-1050. [PMID: 38332217 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2408-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Cytosine base editing achieves C•G-to-T•A substitutions and can convert four codons (CAA/CAG/CGA/TGG) into STOP-codons (induction of STOP-codons, iSTOP) to knock out genes with reduced mosaicism. iSTOP enables direct phenotyping in founders' somatic cells, but it remains unknown whether this works in founders' germ cells so as to rapidly reveal novel genes for fertility. Here, we initially establish that iSTOP in mouse zygotes enables functional characterization of known genes in founders' germ cells: Cfap43-iSTOP male founders manifest expected sperm features resembling human "multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella" syndrome (i.e., MMAF-like features), while oocytes of Zp3-iSTOP female founders have no zona pellucida. We further illustrate iSTOP's utility for dissecting the functions of unknown genes with Ccdc183, observing MMAF-like features and male infertility in Ccdc183-iSTOP founders, phenotypes concordant with those of Ccdc183-KO offspring. We ultimately establish that CCDC183 is essential for sperm morphogenesis through regulating the assembly of outer dynein arms and participating in the intra-flagellar transport. Our study demonstrates iSTOP as an efficient tool for direct reproductive disease modeling and phenotyping in germ cells of the founder generation, and rapidly reveals the essentiality of Ccdc183 in fertility, thus providing a time-saving approach for validating genetic defects (like nonsense mutations) for human infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaling Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Jingwen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
- Institute of Reproduction and Development, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
- NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies), School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xueying Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Bangguo Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
- Institute of Reproduction and Development, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
- NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies), School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Peng Dai
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
- Institute of Reproduction and Development, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Jinsong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Lingbo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Institute of Reproduction and Development, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China.
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Yang Y, Luo H, Pan L, Feng C, Guo Z, Zou Y, Zeng B, Huang S, Yuan H, Wu P, Liu D, Dan Y, Xiao J, Li X, Chen Z, Zeng XN, Jiang X, Yang B, Liu Y, Liu Y. Reevaluating the splice-altering variant in TECTA as a cause of nonsyndromic hearing loss DFNA8/12 by functional analysis of RNA. Hum Mol Genet 2024:ddae071. [PMID: 38676628 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddae071] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to determine the genetic cause of early onset autosomal dominant hearing loss segregating in five-generation kindred of Chinese descent and provide preimplantation genetic testing (PGT)for them. METHODS Clinical examination, pedigree analysis and exome sequencing were carried out on the family. Minigene-based splicing analysis, in vivo RNA analysis and protein structure prediction by molecular modeling were conducted on the candidate variant. PGT for the causative variation and chromosome aneuploidis based on SNP analysis has been used for avoidance of hearing loss in this family. RESULTS All the affected individuals presented with moderate down-sloping hearing loss and whole-exome sequencing identified a novel splice-site variant c.5383+6T>A in the tested subjects within the TECTA locus. Genotyping of all the 32 family members confirmed segregation of this variant and the hearing loss phenotype in the extended family. Functional analysis of RNA and molecular modeling indicates that c.5383+6T>A is a pathogenic splice-site variant and should be considered as genetic cause of the hearing loss. Furthermore, a successful singleton pregnancy with no variation in TECTA c.5383+6 was established and a healthy male child was born by PGT. CONCLUSION We have identified a novel variant c.5383+6T>A in TECTA ZA-ZP inter-domain, which could be attributable to the early-onset autosomal dominant hearing loss. The implications of our study are valuable in elucidating the disrupted RNA splicing and uncovering the genetic cause of hearing loss with TECTA pathogenic variants, as well as providing reproductive approaches to healthy offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yang
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No. 508, Xizhan Street, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, 330006, China
| | - Haiyan Luo
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No. 508, Xizhan Street, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, 330006, China
| | - Lijuan Pan
- Department of Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 87, Xiangya Road, Kaifu District, Changsha City, Hunan Province, 410083, China
| | - Chuanxin Feng
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No. 508, Xizhan Street, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, 330006, China
| | - Zhen Guo
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No. 508, Xizhan Street, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, 330006, China
| | - Yongyi Zou
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No. 508, Xizhan Street, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, 330006, China
| | - Baitao Zeng
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No. 508, Xizhan Street, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, 330006, China
| | - Shuhui Huang
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No. 508, Xizhan Street, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, 330006, China
| | - Huizhen Yuan
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No. 508, Xizhan Street, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, 330006, China
| | - Ping Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 566, University Avenue Road, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, 330006, China
| | - Danping Liu
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No. 508, Xizhan Street, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, 330006, China
| | - Yi Dan
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No. 508, Xizhan Street, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, 330006, China
| | - Junfang Xiao
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No. 508, Xizhan Street, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, 330006, China
| | - XinYu Li
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No. 508, Xizhan Street, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, 330006, China
| | - ZhongFa Chen
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No. 508, Xizhan Street, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, 330006, China
| | - Xiao Ni Zeng
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 17, Yongwai Zhengjie Road, Donghu District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, 330006, China
| | - XiangLong Jiang
- Nan Chang Reproductive Hospital, No. 198, Jinggangshan Avenue Road, Qingyun Pu District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Bicheng Yang
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No. 508, Xizhan Street, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, 330006, China
| | - Yuhe Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yongan Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Yanqiu Liu
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No. 508, Xizhan Street, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, 330006, China
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Hu R, Huang Y, Geng Y, Liu Z, Li F, Zhang Z, Ma W, Song K, Dong H, Song Y, Zhang M. Jiawei Buzhong Yiqi decoction ameliorates polycystic ovary syndrome via oocyte-granulosa cell communication. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 323:117654. [PMID: 38158097 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Jiawei Buzhong Yiqi Decoction (JWBZYQ), from records of FuqingzhuNvke, is a classical formula for treating obese women related infertility. JWBZYQ has been shown to be effective in treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in both clinical studies and practical practice, with the pharmacological mechanism remaining unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY To explore the potential therapeutic effects and mechanistic insights of JWBZYQ in PCOS. MATERIALS AND METHODS An overweight PCOS rat model was established via testosterone propionate (TP) injection and 45% high-fat diet (HFD). Then they were categorized into five distinct groups: Control group, Model group, low-dose of JWBZYQ (JWBZYQ1) group, high-dose of JWBZYQ (JWBZYQ2) group, and metformin (Met) group. Body weight, estrous cycle, and sex hormone levels were observed. Hematoxylin-Eosin staining was employed to investigate the histological characteristics of the ovaries. To identify the pathways that changed significantly, transcriptome analysis was performed. The protein and mRNA levels of key molecules in ovarian zona pellucida (ZP) organization, transzonal projections (TZPs) assembly, steroid hormone receptors, and steroidogenesis were assessed using phalloidin staining, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS RNA-seq analysis demonstrated that regulation of hormone secretion, cilium assembly, cell projection assembly, and ZP production may all have crucial impact on the etiology of PCOS and therapeutic effect of JWBZYQ. In particular, PCOS rats exhibited elevated expressions of ZP1-3, which can be reversed by JWBZYQ2 particularly. Simultaneously, TZPs assembly was totally disrupted in PCOS rats, evidenced by the phalloidin staining, upregulated calcium-/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II beta (CaMKIIβ), and deficient p-CaMKIIβ, myosin X (MYO10), proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2), and Fascin. Nonetheless, JWBZYQ or metformin treatment revived the disturbance, repairing the oocyte-granulosa cell communication, regulating steroidogenesis in PCOS rats. In this way, JWBZYQ and metformin exerted remarkable effects in alleviating altered ovarian morphology and function in PCOS rats, with JWBZYQ2 revealing the best effect. CONCLUSIONS JWBZYQ restored the altered ovarian morphology and function by regulating the oocyte-granulosa cell communication, which was related with ZP organization and TZPs assembly in the ovary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runan Hu
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Yanjing Huang
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Yuli Geng
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Zhuo Liu
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Fan Li
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Zhuo Zhang
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Wenwen Ma
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Kunkun Song
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Haoxu Dong
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Yufan Song
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Mingmin Zhang
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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8
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Mirza Agha M, Tavili E, Dabirmanesh B. Functional amyloids. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2024; 206:389-434. [PMID: 38811086 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2024.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
While amyloid has traditionally been viewed as a harmful formation, emerging evidence suggests that amyloids may also play a functional role in cell biology, contributing to normal physiological processes that have been conserved throughout evolution. Functional amyloids have been discovered in several creatures, spanning from bacteria to mammals. These amyloids serve a multitude of purposes, including but not limited to, forming biofilms, melanin synthesis, storage, information transfer, and memory. The functional role of amyloids has been consistently validated by the discovery of more functional amyloids, indicating a conceptual convergence. The biology of amyloids is well-represented by non-pathogenic amyloids, given the numerous ones already identified and the ongoing rate of new discoveries. In this chapter, functional amyloids in microorganisms, animals, and plants are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansoureh Mirza Agha
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elaheh Tavili
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahareh Dabirmanesh
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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9
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Nishio S, Emori C, Wiseman B, Fahrenkamp D, Dioguardi E, Zamora-Caballero S, Bokhove M, Han L, Stsiapanava A, Algarra B, Lu Y, Kodani M, Bainbridge RE, Komondor KM, Carlson AE, Landreh M, de Sanctis D, Yasumasu S, Ikawa M, Jovine L. ZP2 cleavage blocks polyspermy by modulating the architecture of the egg coat. Cell 2024; 187:1440-1459.e24. [PMID: 38490181 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.02.013] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Following the fertilization of an egg by a single sperm, the egg coat or zona pellucida (ZP) hardens and polyspermy is irreversibly blocked. These events are associated with the cleavage of the N-terminal region (NTR) of glycoprotein ZP2, a major subunit of ZP filaments. ZP2 processing is thought to inactivate sperm binding to the ZP, but its molecular consequences and connection with ZP hardening are unknown. Biochemical and structural studies show that cleavage of ZP2 triggers its oligomerization. Moreover, the structure of a native vertebrate egg coat filament, combined with AlphaFold predictions of human ZP polymers, reveals that two protofilaments consisting of type I (ZP3) and type II (ZP1/ZP2/ZP4) components interlock into a left-handed double helix from which the NTRs of type II subunits protrude. Together, these data suggest that oligomerization of cleaved ZP2 NTRs extensively cross-links ZP filaments, rigidifying the egg coat and making it physically impenetrable to sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Nishio
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Chihiro Emori
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Benjamin Wiseman
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Dirk Fahrenkamp
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Elisa Dioguardi
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | | | - Marcel Bokhove
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Ling Han
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Alena Stsiapanava
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Blanca Algarra
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Yonggang Lu
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mayo Kodani
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Rachel E Bainbridge
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kayla M Komondor
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Anne E Carlson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Michael Landreh
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, 75124 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Shigeki Yasumasu
- Department of Materials and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Luca Jovine
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
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10
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Wei Y, Wang J, Qu R, Zhang W, Tan Y, Sha Y, Li L, Yin T. Genetic mechanisms of fertilization failure and early embryonic arrest: a comprehensive review. Hum Reprod Update 2024; 30:48-80. [PMID: 37758324 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmad026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infertility and pregnancy loss are longstanding problems. Successful fertilization and high-quality embryos are prerequisites for an ongoing pregnancy. Studies have proven that every stage in the human reproductive process is regulated by multiple genes and any problem, at any step, may lead to fertilization failure (FF) or early embryonic arrest (EEA). Doctors can diagnose the pathogenic factors involved in FF and EEA by using genetic methods. With the progress in the development of new genetic technologies, such as single-cell RNA analysis and whole-exome sequencing, a new approach has opened up for us to directly study human germ cells and reproductive development. These findings will help us to identify the unique mechanism(s) that leads to FF and EEA in order to find potential treatments. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE The goal of this review is to compile current genetic knowledge related to FF and EEA, clarifying the mechanisms involved and providing clues for clinical diagnosis and treatment. SEARCH METHODS PubMed was used to search for relevant research articles and reviews, primarily focusing on English-language publications from January 1978 to June 2023. The search terms included fertilization failure, early embryonic arrest, genetic, epigenetic, whole-exome sequencing, DNA methylation, chromosome, non-coding RNA, and other related keywords. Additional studies were identified by searching reference lists. This review primarily focuses on research conducted in humans. However, it also incorporates relevant data from animal models when applicable. The results were presented descriptively, and individual study quality was not assessed. OUTCOMES A total of 233 relevant articles were included in the final review, from 3925 records identified initially. The review provides an overview of genetic factors and mechanisms involved in the human reproductive process. The genetic mutations and other genetic mechanisms of FF and EEA were systematically reviewed, for example, globozoospermia, oocyte activation failure, maternal effect gene mutations, zygotic genome activation abnormalities, chromosome abnormalities, and epigenetic abnormalities. Additionally, the review summarizes progress in treatments for different gene defects, offering new insights for clinical diagnosis and treatment. WIDER IMPLICATIONS The information provided in this review will facilitate the development of more accurate molecular screening tools for diagnosing infertility using genetic markers and networks in human reproductive development. The findings will also help guide clinical practice by identifying appropriate interventions based on specific gene mutations. For example, when an individual has obvious gene mutations related to FF, ICSI is recommended instead of IVF. However, in the case of genetic defects such as phospholipase C zeta1 (PLCZ1), actin-like7A (ACTL7A), actin-like 9 (ACTL9), and IQ motif-containing N (IQCN), ICSI may also fail to fertilize. We can consider artificial oocyte activation technology with ICSI to improve fertilization rate and reduce monetary and time costs. In the future, fertility is expected to be improved or restored by interfering with or supplementing the relevant genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqiu Wei
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingxuan Wang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Rui Qu
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Weiqian Zhang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiling Tan
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanwei Sha
- Department of Andrology, Women and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Lin Li
- Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Tailang Yin
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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11
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Wang X, Guo X, He X, Di R, Zhang X, Zhang J, Chu M. Proteomic Analysis Identifies Distinct Protein Patterns for High Ovulation in FecB Mutant Small Tail Han Sheep Granulosa Cells. Animals (Basel) 2023; 14:11. [PMID: 38200742 PMCID: PMC10778137 DOI: 10.3390/ani14010011] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The Booroola fecundity (FecB) mutation in the bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 1B (BMPR1B) gene increases ovulation in sheep. However, its effect on follicular maturation is not fully understood. Therefore, we collected granulosa cells (GCs) at a critical stage of follicle maturation from nine wild-type (WW), nine heterozygous FecB mutant (WB), and nine homozygous FecB mutant (BB) Small Tail Han sheep. The GCs of three ewes were selected at random from each genotype and consolidated into a single group, yielding a total of nine groups (three groups per genotype) for proteomic analysis. The tandem mass tag technique was utilized to ascertain the specific proteins linked to multiple ovulation in the various FecB genotypes. Using a general linear model, we identified 199 proteins significantly affected by the FecB mutation with the LIMMA package (p < 0.05). The differential abundance of proteins was enriched in pathways related to cholesterol metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and glutathione metabolism. These pathways are involved in important processes for GC-regulated 'conservation' of oocyte maturation. Further, the sparse partial least-squares discriminant analysis and the Fuzzy-C-mean clustering method were combined to estimate weights and cluster differential abundance proteins according to ovulation to screen important ovulation-related proteins. Among them, ZP2 and ZP3 were found to be enriched in the cellular component catalog term "egg coat", as well as some apolipoproteins, such as APOA1, APOA2, and APOA4, enriched in several Gene Ontology terms related to cholesterol metabolism and lipoprotein transport. A higher abundance of these essential proteins for oocyte maturation was observed in BB and WB genotypes compared with WW ewes. These proteins had a high weight in the model for discriminating sheep with different FecB genotypes. These findings provide new insight that the FecB mutant in GCs improves nutrient metabolism, leading to better oocyte maturation by altering the abundance of important proteins (ZP2, ZP3, and APOA1) in favor of increased ovulation or better oocyte quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (X.W.); (X.H.); (R.D.)
| | - Xiaofei Guo
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Breeding and Biotechnology, Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Animal Healthy Farming, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300381, China; (X.G.); (X.Z.); (J.Z.)
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Grassland Farming, Jilin Province Feed Processing and Ruminant Precision Breeding Cross Regional Cooperation Technology Innovation Center, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China
| | - Xiaoyun He
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (X.W.); (X.H.); (R.D.)
| | - Ran Di
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (X.W.); (X.H.); (R.D.)
| | - Xiaosheng Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Breeding and Biotechnology, Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Animal Healthy Farming, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300381, China; (X.G.); (X.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jinlong Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Breeding and Biotechnology, Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Animal Healthy Farming, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300381, China; (X.G.); (X.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Mingxing Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (X.W.); (X.H.); (R.D.)
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12
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Schultz IJ, Zimmerman Y, Moelans CB, Chrusciel M, Krijgh J, van Diest PJ, Huhtaniemi IT, Coelingh Bennink HJT. A tumor cell specific Zona Pellucida glycoprotein 3 RNA transcript encodes an intracellular cancer antigen. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1233039. [PMID: 38125942 PMCID: PMC10731367 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1233039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Expression of Zona Pellucida glycoprotein 3 (ZP3) in healthy tissue is restricted to the extracellular Zona Pellucida layer surrounding oocytes of ovarian follicles and to specific cells of the spermatogenic lineage. Ectopic expression of ZP3 has been observed in various types of cancer, rendering it a possible therapeutic target. Methods To support its validity as therapeutic target, we extended the cancer related data by investigating ZP3 expression using immunohistochemistry (IHC) of tumor biopsies. We performed a ZP3 transcript specific analysis of publicly available RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data of cancer cell lines (CCLs) and tumor and normal tissues, and validated expression data by independent computational analysis and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). A correlation between the ZP3 expression level and pathological and clinical parameters was also investigated. Results IHC data for several cancer types showed abundant ZP3 protein staining, which was confined to the cytoplasm, contradicting the extracellular protein localization in oocytes. We noticed that an alternative ZP3 RNA transcript, which we term 'ZP3-Cancer', was annotated in gene databases that lacks the genetic information encoding the N-terminal signal peptide that governs entry into the secretory pathway. This explains the intracellular localization of ZP3 in tumor cells. Analysis of publicly available RNA-seq data of 1339 cancer cell lines (CCLs), 10386 tumor tissues (The Cancer Genome Atlas) and 7481 healthy tissues (Genotype-Tissue Expression) indicated that ZP3-Cancer is the dominant ZP3 RNA transcript in tumor cells and is highly enriched in many cancer types, particularly in rectal, ovarian, colorectal, prostate, lung and breast cancer. Expression of ZP3-Cancer in tumor cells was confirmed by qPCR. Higher levels of the ZP3-Cancer transcript were associated with more aggressive tumors and worse survival of patients with various types of cancer. Conclusion The cancer-restricted expression of ZP3-Cancer renders it an attractive tumor antigen for the development of a therapeutic cancer vaccine, particularly using mRNA expression technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cathy B. Moelans
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - Jan Krijgh
- Pantarhei Oncology BV, Zeist, Netherlands
| | - Paul J. van Diest
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Ilpo T. Huhtaniemi
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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13
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Matassa R, Gatti M, Crociati M, Brunelli R, Battaglione E, Papi M, De Spirito M, Nottola SA, Familiari G. Self-assembly of glycoprotein nanostructured filaments for modulating extracellular networks at long range. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:17972-17986. [PMID: 37905731 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr02644b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
The intriguing capability of branched glycoprotein filaments to change their hierarchical organization, mediated by external biophysical stimuli, continues to expand understanding of self-assembling strategies that can dynamically rearrange networks at long range. Previous research has explored the corresponding biological, physiological and genetic mechanisms, focusing on protein assemblies within a limited range of nanometric units. Using direct microscopy bio-imaging, we have determined the morpho-structural changes of self-assembled filament networks of the zona pellucida, revealing controlled levels of structured organizations to join distinct evolved stages of the oocyte (Immature, Mature, and Fertilized). This natural soft network reorganizes its corresponding hierarchical network to generate symmetric, asymmetric, and ultimately a state with the lowest asymmetry of the outer surface roughness, and internal pores reversibly changed from elliptical to circular configurations at the corresponding stages. These elusive morpho-structural changes are regulated by the nanostructured polymorphisms of the branched filaments by self-extension/-contraction/-bending processes, modulated by determinate theoretical angles among repetitive filament units. Controlling the nanoscale self-assembling properties by delivering a minimum number of activation bio-signals may be triggered by these specific nanostructured polymorphic organizations. Finally, this research aims to guide this soft biomaterial into a desired state to protect oocytes, eggs, and embryos during development, to favour/prevent the fertilization/polyspermy processes and eventually to impact interactions with bacteria/virus at multiscale levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Matassa
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Section of Human Anatomy, Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Borelli 50, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Marta Gatti
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Section of Human Anatomy, Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Borelli 50, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Martina Crociati
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo, 4, Perugia, 06126, Italy
- Centre for Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy
| | - Roberto Brunelli
- Department of Gynecological-Obstetric and Urologic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ezio Battaglione
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Section of Human Anatomy, Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Borelli 50, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Massimiliano Papi
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco De Spirito
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Annarita Nottola
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Section of Human Anatomy, Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Borelli 50, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Familiari
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Section of Human Anatomy, Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Borelli 50, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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14
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Drees L, Schneider S, Riedel D, Schuh R, Behr M. The proteolysis of ZP proteins is essential to control cell membrane structure and integrity of developing tracheal tubes in Drosophila. eLife 2023; 12:e91079. [PMID: 37872795 PMCID: PMC10597583 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane expansion integrates multiple forces to mediate precise tube growth and network formation. Defects lead to deformations, as found in diseases such as polycystic kidney diseases, aortic aneurysms, stenosis, and tortuosity. We identified a mechanism of sensing and responding to the membrane-driven expansion of tracheal tubes. The apical membrane is anchored to the apical extracellular matrix (aECM) and causes expansion forces that elongate the tracheal tubes. The aECM provides a mechanical tension that balances the resulting expansion forces, with Dumpy being an elastic molecule that modulates the mechanical stress on the matrix during tracheal tube expansion. We show in Drosophila that the zona pellucida (ZP) domain protein Piopio interacts and cooperates with the ZP protein Dumpy at tracheal cells. To resist shear stresses which arise during tube expansion, Piopio undergoes ectodomain shedding by the Matriptase homolog Notopleural, which releases Piopio-Dumpy-mediated linkages between membranes and extracellular matrix. Failure of this process leads to deformations of the apical membrane, tears the apical matrix, and impairs tubular network function. We also show conserved ectodomain shedding of the human TGFβ type III receptor by Notopleural and the human Matriptase, providing novel findings for in-depth analysis of diseases caused by cell and tube shape changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard Drees
- Research Group Molecular Organogenesis, Department of Molecular Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Susi Schneider
- Cell biology, Institute for Biology, Leipzig UniversityLeipzigGermany
| | - Dietmar Riedel
- Facility for electron microscopy, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Reinhard Schuh
- Research Group Molecular Organogenesis, Department of Molecular Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Matthias Behr
- Cell biology, Institute for Biology, Leipzig UniversityLeipzigGermany
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15
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Liu SL, Zuo HY, Zhao BW, Guo JN, Liu WB, Lei WL, Li YY, Ouyang YC, Hou Y, Han ZM, Wang WZ, Sun QY, Wang ZB. A heterozygous ZP2 mutation causes zona pellucida defects and female infertility in mouse and human. iScience 2023; 26:107828. [PMID: 37736051 PMCID: PMC10509300 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The zona pellucida (ZP) is an extracellular glycoprotein matrix surrounding mammalian oocytes. Recently, numerous mutations in genes encoding ZP proteins have been shown to be possibly related to oocyte abnormality and female infertility; few reports have confirmed the functions of these mutations in living animal models. Here, we identified a novel heterozygous missense mutation (NM_001376231.1:c.1616C>T, p.Thr539Met) in ZP2 from a primary infertile female. We showed that the mutation reduced ZP2 expression and impeded ZP2 secretion in cell lines. Furthermore, we constructed the mouse model with the mutation (Zp2T541M) using CRISPR-Cas9. Zp2WT/T541M female mice had normal fertility though generated oocytes with the thin ZP, whereas Zp2T541M female mice were completely infertile due to degeneration of oocytes without ZP. Additionally, ZP deletion impaired folliculogenesis and caused female infertility in Zp2T541M mice. Our study not only expands the spectrum of ZP2 mutation sites but also, more importantly, increases the understanding of pathogenic mechanisms of ZP2 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai-Li Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Hai-Yang Zuo
- The Six Medical Center of Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Bing-Wang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Jia-Ni Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Wen-Bo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Wen-Long Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Ying-Chun Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yi Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zhi-Ming Han
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Wei-Zhou Wang
- The Six Medical Center of Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Qing-Yuan Sun
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases and Reproductive Health, Guangdong-Hong Kong Metabolism & Reproduction Joint Laboratory, Reproductive Medicine Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou 510317, China
| | - Zhen-Bo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
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16
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Andrews CJ, Yapura J, Potter MA, McGlade K, Thomas DG. Prolonged glucocorticoid administration affects oocyte morphology in cats (Felis catus) undergoing an ovarian stimulation protocol. Theriogenology 2023; 208:77-87. [PMID: 37302246 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
While captivity-related stress and the associated rise in baseline glucocorticoid (GC) concentrations have been linked to ovarian quiescence in some felid species, no study has examined the effects of elevated GC on oocyte quality. This study examined the effects of exogenous GC administration on the ovarian response and oocyte quality of domestic cats after an ovarian stimulation protocol. Entire mature female cats were divided into treatment (n = 6) and control (n = 6) groups. Cats in the GC treatment (GCT) group were given 1 mg kg-1 oral prednisolone daily from Day 0-45. All cats (n = 12) were given 0.088 mg kg-1 day-1 progesterone orally from Day 0-37, before treatment with 75 IU eCG im to induce follicular growth on Day 40, followed by 50 IU hCG im 80 h later to induce ovulation. Cats were ovariohysterectomised 30 h after the hCG treatment. Blood samples were collected on Days 0, 10, 30 and 40 (prior to eCG treatment), 80 h after eCG treatment, and on Day 45 for cortisol, glucose, prednisolone, oestradiol, and progesterone analysis. Cortisol concentrations did not differ between treatment groups throughout the study. Mean glucose concentrations were higher in the GCT cats (P = 0.004). Prednisolone was undetectable in all samples. Oestradiol and progesterone concentrations confirmed that the eCG treatment stimulated follicular activity and ovulation in all cats. Following ovariohysterectomy, the ovarian responses were graded (1 = excellent, 4 = poor) and oocytes retrieved from the oviducts. Each oocyte was given a total oocyte score (TOS: using an 9-point scale, 8 = best) based on four parameters: oocyte morphology, size, ooplasm uniformity and granularity, and zona pellucida (ZP) thickness and variation. Ovulation was confirmed in all cats, with a mean of 10.5 ± 1.1 ovulations per cat. Ovarian mass, ovarian response, number of ovulations, and oocyte recovery did not differ between groups. Oocyte diameter did not differ between the groups, but the ZP was thinner in the GCT group (3.1 ± 0.3 μm vs. 4.1 ± 0.3 μm, P = 0.03). The TOS was similar between treatment and control cats, but the ooplasm grade was lower (1.5 ± 0.1 vs. 1.9 ± 0.1, P = 0.01) and there was a tendency for ZP grade to be poorer (0.8 ± 0.1 vs. 1.2 ± 0.2; P = 0.08) in the treatment group. In conclusion, the GC treatment resulted in morphological changes to oocytes collected following ovarian stimulation. Whether these changes would affect fertility warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Andrews
- Animal Science Group, School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.
| | - Jimena Yapura
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.
| | - Murray A Potter
- Wildlife and Ecology Group, School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.
| | - Kevanne McGlade
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.
| | - David G Thomas
- Animal Science Group, School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.
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17
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Suri K, Rajput N, Sharma P, Omble AD, Kulkarni K, Gahlay GK. In silico identification and characterization of the SNPs in the human ASTL gene and their probable role in female infertility. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1151672. [PMID: 37363721 PMCID: PMC10285486 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1151672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovastacin (ASTL), a zinc metalloprotease, is released from a fertilized egg during exocytosis of cortical granules which occurs minutes after the sperm and egg fuse. ASTL cleaves ZP2, one of the four primary glycoproteins of human zona pellucida, and this cleavage prevents polyspermy, causes zona pellucida hardening, and also protects the pre-implantation embryo. Any perturbation in the activity of ASTL can thus disturb this process and may lead to infertility without changing the gross morphology of the oocyte. A small amount of ASTL is also released by unfertilized oocytes but its catalytic activity is absent as it is bound by its inhibitor, Fetuin-B (FETUB). Pre-mature release of ASTL when FETUB is absent also causes infertility. To identify and understand the structural and functional effects of deleterious SNPs of ASTL on its interaction with ZP2 and FETUB and hence on fertility, a total of 4,748 SNPs from the dbSNP database were evaluated using a variety of in silico tools. All of the 40 shortlisted nsSNPs were present in the catalytic domain of the protein. Comparison of the wild type with mutants using MutPred2 suggests an alteration in the catalytic activity/zinc binding site in many SNPs. Docking studies show the involvement of hydrophobic interactions and H bonding between ASTL and ZP2 and also between ASTL and FETUB. Four positions in ASTL involved in the hydrophobic interactions (P105 and D200 between ASTL and ZP2; D198 and L278 between ASTL and FETUB) and 5 in H bonding (E75 and R159 between ASTL and ZP2; and K93, R159, and C281 between ASTL and FETUB) have SNP's associated with them validating their importance. Interestingly, a cluster of multiple SNPs was found in the motif 198DRD200, which is also a well-conserved region among several species. Statistical Coupling Analysis (SCA) suggested that the deleterious SNPs were present in the functionally important amino acid positions of ASTL and are evolutionarily coupled. Thus, these results attempt to identify the regions in ASTL, mutations in which can affect its binding with ZP2 or FETUB and cause female infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kapali Suri
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Neha Rajput
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Priya Sharma
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Aishwarya D. Omble
- Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India
| | - Kiran Kulkarni
- Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India
| | - Gagandeep K. Gahlay
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
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18
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Privatt SR, Ngalamika O, Zhang J, Li Q, Wood C, West JT. Upregulation of Cell Surface Glycoproteins in Correlation with KSHV LANA in the Kaposi Sarcoma Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2171. [PMID: 37046832 PMCID: PMC10093722 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072171] [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: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-associated epidemic Kaposi sarcoma (EpKS) remains one of the most prevalent cancers in sub-Saharan Africa despite the widespread uptake of anti-retroviral therapy and HIV-1 suppression. In an effort to define potential therapeutic targets against KS tumors, we analyzed previously published KS bulk tumor transcriptomics to identify cell surface biomarkers. In addition to upregulated gene expression (>6-fold) in the EpKS tumor microenvironment, biomarkers were selected for correlation with KSHV latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) expression. The cell surface glycoprotein genes identified were KDR, FLT4, ADAM12, UNC5A, ZP2, and OX40, as well as the endothelial lineage determinants Prox-1 and CD34. Each protein was evaluated for its expression and co-localization with KSHV LANA using multi-color immunofluorescence in KS tissues, KSHV-infected L1T2 cells, uninfected TIVE cells, and murine L1T2 tumor xenografts. Five surface glycoproteins (KDR, FLT4, UNC5A, ADAM12, and CD34) were associated with LANA-positive cells but were also detected in uninfected cells in the KS microenvironment. In vitro L1T2 cultures showed evidence of only FLT4, KDR, and UNC5A, whereas mouse L1T2 xenografts recapitulated human KS cell surface expression profiles, with the exception of CD34 and Prox-1. In KS tumors, most LANA-positive cells co-expressed markers of vascular as well as lymphatic endothelial lineages, suggesting KS-associated dedifferentiation to a more mesenchymal/progenitor phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara R. Privatt
- School of Biological Sciences, Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Louisiana Cancer Research Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Owen Ngalamika
- University Teaching Hospital, University of Zambia School of Medicine, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
| | - Jianshui Zhang
- School of Biological Sciences, Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Qinsheng Li
- School of Biological Sciences, Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Charles Wood
- School of Biological Sciences, Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Louisiana Cancer Research Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - John T. West
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Louisiana Cancer Research Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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19
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Bedenk J, Režen T, Jančar N, Geršak K, Virant Klun I. Effect of In Vitro Maturation of Human Oocytes Obtained After Controlled Ovarian Hormonal Stimulation on the Expression of Development- and Zona Pellucida-Related Genes and Their Interactions. Reprod Sci 2023; 30:667-677. [PMID: 35915350 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-022-01047-1] [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: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In an in vitro fertilization program, approximately 10-15% of oocytes obtained after controlled ovarian stimulation are immature, with germinal vesicles (GVs). These oocytes are usually discarded in clinical practice; however, an in vitro maturation (IVM) procedure can be applied to mature them. There are scarce data in the literature on the effect of IVM on the expression of important development- and zona pellucida (ZP)-related genes in human oocytes; therefore, we wanted to determine this. One hundred nine human oocytes were collected from patients enrolled in an intracytoplasmic sperm injection program. The expression of the BMP4, GDF9, ZP1, ZP2, ZP3, and ZP4 genes was analyzed using RT-qPCR in oocytes matured in vitro with different reproductive hormones in the IVM medium (AMH, FSH + hCG, FSH + hCG + AMH), in in vivo matured oocytes and in immature oocytes with GVs. No statistically significant differences in the expression of selected genes in oocytes were observed among groups with different reproductive hormones in IVM medium. However, several interesting significant correlations were found between BMP4 and GDF9, and ZP1 and ZP4; between GDF9 and ZP1, and ZP2 and ZP4; and between ZP1 and ZP3 and ZP4 in the in vitro matured oocytes, while no such correlations were present in other groups of oocytes. The type of reproductive hormone in the maturation medium does not affect the expression of the analyzed genes in oocytes during the maturation process. However, the in vitro maturation procedure itself generated correlations among analyzed genes that were otherwise not present in in vivo matured and immature oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jure Bedenk
- Clinical Research Centre, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Tadeja Režen
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Centre for Functional Genomics and Bio-Chips, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nina Jančar
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ksenija Geršak
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Irma Virant Klun
- Clinical Research Centre, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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20
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Novel variants in ZP1, ZP2 and ZP3 associated with empty follicle syndrome and abnormal zona pellucida. Reprod Biomed Online 2023; 46:847-855. [PMID: 36931917 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION Which genetic variants might explain the causes of empty follicle syndrome (EFS) and abnormal zona pellucida (ZP) and affect the success of treatment with assisted reproductive technologies (ART)? DESIGN Whole-exome sequencing was performed in probands with EFS and abnormal ZP. Sanger sequencing was used for variant validation. Using HEK-293T cells, the effects of ZP1 and ZP2 variants on protein expression were explored by western blotting, and the effect of the ZP1 variant on protein location was investigated via immunofluorescence. The protein structure was also analysed to investigate the pathogenicity of variants. RESULTS A homozygous nonsense variant in ZP1 (c.874C>T, p.Gln292*) was detected in a patient with EFS. A novel homozygous frameshift variant in ZP2 (c.836_837delAG, p.Glu279Valfs*6) and a novel heterozygous missense variant in ZP3 (c.1159G>A, p.Val387Met) were identified in two patients with ZP morphological abnormalities, respectively. Western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis showed that the ZP1 variant results in a premature stop codon, leading to the truncated ZP1 protein. The ZP2 variant, which is situated in the N-terminus, triggers the degradation of a premature termination protein. Additionally, the patient with the ZP3 variant achieved clinical pregnancy following intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. CONCLUSIONS These findings expand the mutational spectrum of ZP1, ZP2 and ZP3, and provide new evidence for genetic diagnosis of female infertility. The targeted genetic diagnosis of ZP genes is recommended to choose appropriate fertilization methods and improve success rates of treatment with ART.
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21
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Fiorentino G, Cimadomo D, Innocenti F, Soscia D, Vaiarelli A, Ubaldi FM, Gennarelli G, Garagna S, Rienzi L, Zuccotti M. Biomechanical forces and signals operating in the ovary during folliculogenesis and their dysregulation: implications for fertility. Hum Reprod Update 2023; 29:1-23. [PMID: 35856663 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmac031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Folliculogenesis occurs in the highly dynamic environment of the ovary. Follicle cyclic recruitment, neo-angiogenesis, spatial displacement, follicle atresia and ovulation stand out as major events resulting from the interplay between mechanical forces and molecular signals. Morphological and functional changes to the growing follicle and to the surrounding tissue are required to produce oocytes capable of supporting preimplantation development to the blastocyst stage. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE This review will summarize the ovarian morphological and functional context that contributes to follicle recruitment, growth and ovulation, as well as to the acquisition of oocyte developmental competence. We will describe the changes occurring during folliculogenesis to the ovarian extracellular matrix (ECM) and to the vasculature, their influence on the mechanical properties of the ovarian tissue, and, in turn, their influence on the regulation of signal transduction. Also, we will outline how their dysregulation might be associated with pathologies such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis or premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Finally, for each of these three pathologies, we will highlight therapeutic strategies attempting to correct the altered biomechanical context in order to restore fertility. SEARCH METHODS For each area discussed, a systematic bibliographical search was performed, without temporal limits, using PubMed Central, Web of Science and Scopus search engines employing the keywords extracellular matrix, mechanobiology, biomechanics, vasculature, angiogenesis or signalling pathway in combination with: ovary, oogenesis, oocyte, folliculogenesis, ovarian follicle, theca, granulosa, cumulus, follicular fluid, corpus luteum, meiosis, oocyte developmental competence, preimplantation, polycystic ovary syndrome, premature ovarian insufficiency or endometriosis. OUTCOMES Through search engines queries, we yielded a total of 37 368 papers that were further selected based on our focus on mammals and, specifically, on rodents, bovine, equine, ovine, primates and human, and also were trimmed around each specific topic of the review. After the elimination of duplicates, this selection process resulted in 628 papers, of which 287 were cited in the manuscript. Among these, 89.2% were published in the past 22 years, while the remaining 8.0%, 2.4% or 0.3% were published during the 1990s, 1980s or before, respectively. During folliculogenesis, changes occur to the ovarian ECM composition and organization that, together with vasculature modelling around the growing follicle, are aimed to sustain its recruitment and growth, and the maturation of the enclosed oocyte. These events define the scenario in which mechanical forces are key to the regulation of cascades of molecular signals. Alterations to this context determine impaired folliculogenesis and decreased oocyte developmental potential, as observed in pathological conditions which are causes of infertility, such as PCOS, endometriosis or POI. WIDER IMPLICATIONS The knowledge of these mechanisms and the rules that govern them lay a sound basis to explain how follicles recruitment and growth are modulated, and stimulate insights to develop, in clinical practice, strategies to improve follicular recruitment and oocyte competence, particularly for pathologies like PCOS, endometriosis and POI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Fiorentino
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Center for Health Technologies, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | - Daria Soscia
- Clinica Valle Giulia, GeneraLife IVF, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Gianluca Gennarelli
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Physiopathology of Reproduction and IVF Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, Sant'Anna Hospital, University of Torino, Turin, Italy.,Livet, GeneraLife IVF, Turin, Italy
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Center for Health Technologies, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Laura Rienzi
- Clinica Valle Giulia, GeneraLife IVF, Rome, Italy.,Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", Urbino, Italy
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Center for Health Technologies, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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22
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Zhou J, Wang M, Yang Q, Li D, Li Z, Hu J, Jin L, Zhu L. Can successful pregnancy be achieved and predicted from patients with identified ZP mutations? A literature review. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2022; 20:166. [PMID: 36476320 PMCID: PMC9730648 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-022-01046-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In mammals, normal fertilization depends on the structural and functional integrity of the zona pellucida (ZP), which is an extracellular matrix surrounding oocytes. Mutations in ZP may affect oogenesis, fertilization and early embryonic development, which may cause female infertility. METHODS A PubMed literature search using the keywords 'zona pellucida', 'mutation' and 'variant' limited to humans was performed, with the last research on June 30, 2022. The mutation types, clinical phenotypes and pregnancy outcomes were summarized and analyzed. The naive Bayes classifier was used to predict clinical pregnancy outcomes for patients with ZP mutations. RESULTS A total of 29 publications were included in the final analysis. Sixty-nine mutations of the ZP genes were reported in 87 patients with different clinical phenotypes, including empty follicle syndrome (EFS), ZP-free oocytes (ZFO), ZP-thin oocytes (ZTO), degenerated and immature oocytes. The phenotypes of patients were influenced by the types and location of the mutations. The most common effects of ZP mutations are protein truncation and dysfunction. Three patients with ZP1 mutations, two with ZP2 mutations, and three with ZP4 mutations had successful pregnancies through Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) from ZFO or ZTO. A prediction model of pregnancy outcome in patients with ZP mutation was constructed to assess the chance of pregnancy with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.898. The normalized confusion matrix showed the true positive rate was 1.00 and the true negative rate was 0.38. CONCLUSION Phenotypes in patients with ZP mutations might be associated with mutation sites or the degree of protein dysfunction. Successful pregnancy outcomes could be achieved in some patients with identified ZP mutations. Clinical pregnancy prediction model based on ZP mutations and clinical characteristics will be helpful to precisely evaluate pregnancy chance and provide references and guidance for the clinical treatment of relevant patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juepu Zhou
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095, Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Meng Wang
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095, Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Qiyu Yang
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095, Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Dan Li
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095, Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Zhou Li
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095, Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Juan Hu
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095, Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Lei Jin
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095, Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Lixia Zhu
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095, Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430030 China
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23
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Clarke HJ. Transzonal projections: Essential structures mediating intercellular communication in the mammalian ovarian follicle. Mol Reprod Dev 2022; 89:509-525. [PMID: 36112806 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The development of germ cells relies on contact and communication with neighboring somatic cells that provide metabolic support and regulatory signals. In females, contact is achieved through thin cytoplasmic processes that project from follicle cells surrounding the oocyte, extend through an extracellular matrix (ECM) that lies between them, and reach its surface. In mammals, the ECM is termed the zona pellucida and the follicular cell processes are termed transzonal projections (TZPs). TZPs become detectable when the zona pellucida is laid down during early folliculogenesis and subsequently increase in number as oocyte growth progresses. They then rapidly disappear at the time of ovulation, permanently breaking germ-soma contact. Here we review the life cycle and functions of the TZPs. We begin with an overview of the morphology and cytoskeletal structure of TZPs, in the context of actin- and tubulin-based cytoplasmic processes in other cell types. Next, we review the roles played by TZPs in mediating progression through successive stages of oocyte development. We then discuss two mechanisms that may generate TZPs-stretching at pre-existing points of granulosa cell-oocyte contact and elaboration of new processes that push through the zona pellucida-as well as gene products implicated in their formation or function. Finally, we describe the signaling pathways that cause TZPs to be retracted in response to signals that also trigger meiotic maturation and ovulation of the oocyte. The principles and mechanisms that govern TZP behavior may be relevant to understanding communication between physically separated cells in other physiological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugh J Clarke
- Program in Child Health and Human Development, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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24
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Montano M, Victor AR, Griffin DK, Duong T, Bolduc N, Farmer A, Garg V, Hadjantonakis AK, Coates A, Barnes FL, Zouves CG, Greene WC, Viotti M. SARS-CoV-2 can infect human embryos. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15451. [PMID: 36104397 PMCID: PMC9472724 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18906-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The spread of SARS-CoV-2 has led to a devastating pandemic, with infections resulting in a range of symptoms collectively known as COVID-19. The full repertoire of human tissues and organs susceptible to infection is an area of active investigation, and some studies have implicated the reproductive system. The effects of COVID-19 on human reproduction remain poorly understood, and particularly the impact on early embryogenesis and establishment of a pregnancy are not known. In this work, we explore the susceptibility of early human embryos to SARS-CoV-2 infection. By using RNA-seq and immunofluorescence, we note that ACE2 and TMPRSS2, two canonical cell entry factors for SARS-CoV-2, are co-expressed in cells of the trophectoderm in blastocyst-stage preimplantation embryos. For the purpose of viral entry studies, we used fluorescent reporter virions pseudotyped with Spike (S) glycoprotein from SARS-CoV-2, and we observe robust infection of trophectoderm cells. This permissiveness could be attenuated with blocking antibodies targeting S or ACE2. When exposing human blastocysts to the live, fully infectious SARS-CoV-2, we detected cases of infection that compromised embryo health. Therefore, we identify a new human target tissue for SARS-CoV-2 with potential medical implications for reproductive health during the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.
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25
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Mechanical Characterization and Modelling of Subcellular Components of Oocytes. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13071087. [PMID: 35888904 PMCID: PMC9319074 DOI: 10.3390/mi13071087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The early steps of embryogenesis are controlled exclusively by the quality of oocyte that linked closely to its mechanical properties. The mechanical properties of an oocyte were commonly characterized by assuming it was homogeneous such that the result deviated significantly from the true fact that it was composed of subcellular components. In this work, we accessed and characterized the subcellular components of the oocytes and developed a layered high-fidelity finite element model for describing the viscoelastic responses of an oocyte under loading. The zona pellucida (ZP) and cytoplasm were isolated from an oocyte using an in-house robotic micromanipulation platform and placed on AFM to separately characterizing their mechanical profiling by analyzing the creep behavior with the force clamping technique. The spring and damping parameters of a Kelvin–Voigt model were derived by fitting the creeping curve to the model, which were used to define the shear relaxation modulus and relaxation time of ZP or cytoplasm in the ZP and cytoplasm model. In the micropipette aspiration experiment, the model was accurate sufficiently to deliver the time-varying aspiration depth of the oocytes under the step negative pressure of a micropipette. In the micropipette microinjection experiment, the model accurately described the intracellular strain introduced by the penetration. The developed oocyte FEM model has implications for further investigating the viscoelastic responses of the oocytes under different loading settings.
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26
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Liu Q, Chen X, Qiao J. Advances in studying human gametogenesis and embryonic development in China. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:12-26. [PMID: 35788258 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac134] [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: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive medicine in China has developed rapidly since 1988 due to the support from the government and scientific exploration. However, the success rate of assisted reproduction technology (ART) is around 30-40% and many unknown "black boxes" in gametogenesis and embryo development are still present. With the development of single-cell and low-input sequencing technologies, the network of transcriptome and epigenetic regulation (DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, and histone modifications) during the development of human primordial germ cells (PGCs), gametes and embryos has been investigated in depth. Furthermore, pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) has also rapidly developed. In this review, we summarize and analyze China's outstanding progress in these fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Liu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Qiao
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China.,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Beijing, China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Research Units of Comprehensive Diagnosis and Treatment of Oocyte Maturation Arrest, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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27
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A new method to rescue embryos contaminated by bacteria. F S Rep 2022; 3:168-171. [PMID: 35789727 PMCID: PMC9250145 DOI: 10.1016/j.xfre.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To report a case of successful pregnancy involving embryos that wereaffected by bacterial contamination. Design A case report. Setting Academic assisted reproductive center. Patient(s) A 31-year–old infertile patient with obstructed fallopian tubes facing bacterial contamination in her embryos during in vitro fertilization. Intervention(s) The zona pellucida (ZP) of the embryos that was contaminated by bacteria was removed by acidic Tyrode’s solution. The ZP-free embryos were then cultured in a time-lapse culture dish with 1 zygote per well until day 5 when a single ZP-free blastocyst was selected for transfer. Main Outcome Measure(s) The rate of obtaining embryos without recurrence of bacterial contamination and the developmental potential of the embryos. Result(s) Twenty oocytes were retrieved and were coincubated with sperm in vitro overnight. A total of 9 zygotes with 2 pronuclei and 3 zygotes with 1 pronucleus were obtained. Unfortunately, all zygotes were contaminated by the Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria. The ZP of 7 zygotes were removed using acidic Tyrode’s solution (ZP-free group), whereas the remaining 5 zygotes and 3 metaphase II (MII) stage oocytes were washed with G-1 PLUS medium multiple times (washing treatment group). In the washing treatment group, all embryos experienced recontamination on day 2 and were dead by day 3. In the ZP-free group, 2 embryos were found to be recontaminated on day 2. The remaining 5 embryos that stayed uncontaminated were selected for blastocyst culture. On day 5, 2 of the cultured embryos developed into blastocysts. One blastocyst was transferred during the fresh cycle, and the other was vitrified. A single intrauterine gestation was confirmed 4 weeks after the transfer. At the time of writing this article, the patient was 30 weeks pregnant without any occurrence of intrauterine infection during pregnancy. Conclusion(s) Zona pellucida removal is a safe and effective method to rescue embryos contaminated with bacteria.
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Magerd S, Senarai T, Thongsum O, Chawiwithaya C, Sato C, Kitajima K, Weerachatyanukul W, Asuvapongpatana S, Surinlert P. Shrimp thrombospondin (TSP): presence of O-β1,4 N-acetylglucosamine polymers and its function in TSP chain association in egg extracellular matrix. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7925. [PMID: 35562392 PMCID: PMC9106747 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11873-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We characterized the existence of O-β(1,4)-GlcNAc polymers (β1,4GNP) that were anchored on the O-linked glycosylation sites of shrimp thrombospondin (pmTSP-II). There were five putative β1,4GNP linkages on the epithelial growth factor-like domain of pmTSP-II. Antibody against O-β-GlcNAc (CTD110.6) was used to prove the existence of linear and complex β1,4GNP. The antibody well reacted with linear chito-triose, -tetraose and -pentaose conjugated with phosphatidylethanolamine lipid. The immunoreactivity could also be detected with a complex β1,4GNP within pmTSP-II (at MW > 250 kDa). Upon denaturing the protein with SDS-PAGE buffer, the size of pmTSP-II was shifted to be 250 kDa, approximately 2.5 folds larger than the deduced molecular mass of pmTSP-II (110 kDa), suggesting additional association of pmTSP-II apart from its known disulfide bridging. This was confirmed by chitinase digestion on pmTSP-II protein leading to the subsequent smaller protein bands at 110–170 kDa in time- and concentration-dependent manners. These bands well reacted with CTD110.6 antibody and disappeared after extensive chitinase hydrolysis. Together, we believe that β1,4GNP on pmTSP-II serve the function in an inter-chain association to provide structural architecture of egg extracellular matrix, a novel function of pmTSP-II in reproductive biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirilug Magerd
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thanyaporn Senarai
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Orawan Thongsum
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Chihiro Sato
- Bioscience and Biotechnology Center and Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ken Kitajima
- Bioscience and Biotechnology Center and Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | | | | | - Piyaporn Surinlert
- Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathum-Thani, Thailand. .,Research Unit in Synthesis and Applications of Graphene, Thammasat University, Pathum-Thani, Thailand.
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Madani S, Machaty Z, Vajta G. An Alternative Way to Improve Mammalian Embryo Development In Vitro: Culture of Zona Pellucida-Free Embryos. Cell Reprogram 2022; 24:111-117. [PMID: 35506897 DOI: 10.1089/cell.2022.0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of data proves that the presence of the zona pellucida is not essential to mammalian embryo production, including maturation, fertilization, and embryo culture. In fact, the structure of the zona pellucida of in vitro-produced embryos differs significantly from its in vivo counterpart, influencing metabolism and requiring disproportionate efforts to crack open at the time of hatching. This review aims to focus attention on this field and stimulate research in zona-free embryo culture. In domestic animals, extensive application of purpose-designed culture systems for zona-free embryos proved the feasibility of this approach. It may open new possibilities and increase efficiency in both transgenic research and human-assisted reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Madani
- Department of Biology and Physiology of Organisms, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Houari Boumedien, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Zoltan Machaty
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Gábor Vajta
- RVT Australia, Cairns, Australia.,VitaVitro Biotech Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China
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Rivera AM, Wilburn DB, Swanson WJ. Domain Expansion and Functional Diversification in Vertebrate Reproductive Proteins. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:msac105. [PMID: 35587583 PMCID: PMC9154058 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid evolution of fertilization proteins has generated remarkable diversity in molecular structure and function. Glycoproteins of vertebrate egg coats contain multiple zona pellucida (ZP)-N domains (1-6 copies) that facilitate multiple reproductive functions, including species-specific sperm recognition. In this report, we integrate phylogenetics and machine learning to investigate how ZP-N domains diversify in structure and function. The most C-terminal ZP-N domain of each paralog is associated with another domain type (ZP-C), which together form a "ZP module." All modular ZP-N domains are phylogenetically distinct from nonmodular or free ZP-N domains. Machine learning-based classification identifies eight residues that form a stabilizing network in modular ZP-N domains that is absent in free domains. Positive selection is identified in some free ZP-N domains. Our findings support that strong purifying selection has conserved an essential structural core in modular ZP-N domains, with the relaxation of this structural constraint allowing free N-terminal domains to functionally diversify.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto M. Rivera
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Damien B. Wilburn
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Willie J. Swanson
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Liu R, Dai M, Gong G, Chen M, Cao C, Wang T, Hou Z, Shi Y, Guo J, Zhang Y, Xia X. The role of extracellular matrix on unfavorable maternal–fetal interface: focusing on the function of collagen in human fertility. JOURNAL OF LEATHER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s42825-022-00087-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
AbstractExtracellular matrix (ECM) is characterized as widespread, abundant, and pluripotent. Among ECM members, collagen is widely accepted as one of the most prominent components for its essential structural property that can provide a scaffold for other components of ECM and the rich biological functions, which has been extensively used in tissue engineering. Emerging evidence has shown that the balance of ECM degradation and remodeling is vital to regulations of maternal–fetal interface including menstrual cycling, decidualization, embryo implantation and pregnancy maintenance. Moreover, disorders in these events may eventually lead to failure of pregnancy. Although the improvement of assisted conception and embryo culture technologies bring hope to many infertile couples, some unfavorable outcomes, such as recurrent implantation failure (RIF), recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) or recurrent miscarriage (RM), keep troubling the clinicians and patients. Recently, in vitro three-dimensional (3D) model mimicking the microenvironment of the maternal–fetal interface is developed to investigate the physiological and pathological conditions of conception and pregnancy. The progress of this technology is based on clarifying the role of ECM in the endometrium and the interaction between endometrium and conceptus. Focusing on collagen, the present review summarized the degradation and regulation of ECM and its role in normal menstruation, endometrium receptivity and unsatisfying events occurring in infertility treatments, as well as the application in therapeutic approaches to improve pregnancy outcomes. More investigations about ECM focusing on the maternal–fetal interface interaction with mesenchymal stem cells or local immunoregulation may inspire new thoughts and advancements in the clinical application of infertility treatments.
Graphical abstract
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Novel mutations in ZP2 and ZP3 cause female infertility in three patients. J Assist Reprod Genet 2022; 39:1205-1215. [PMID: 35366744 PMCID: PMC9107549 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-022-02466-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to identify the disease-causing mutations found in three infertile female patients who were diagnosed with abnormal zona pellucida (ZP) and empty follicle syndrome (EFS). METHODS We performed whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing to identify and verify the disease-causing mutations. Additionally, we performed Western blotting and mini-gene splicing assay to assess the effects of the mutations. RESULTS We identified two novel compound heterozygous mutations in the ZP2 gene, a patient with an abnormal ZP carrying a novel compound heterozygous mutation (c.1695-2A>G and c.1831G>T, p.V611F) and a patient with EFS carrying a novel compound heterozygous mutation (c.1695-2A>G and c.1924 C>T, p.R642*). Furthermore, we identified a patient with typical abnormal ZP carrying a novel heterozygous mutation (c.400G>T, p.A134S) in the ZP3 gene. The splice site mutation (c.1695-2A>G) can cause abnormal pre-mRNA splicing that inserts an extra sequence of 61 bp in the mRNA of ZP2, and the missense mutation (c.1831G>T) can cause a decrease of ZP2 protein in HEK293 cells. CONCLUSION We identified three novel mutations in the ZP2 gene and the ZP3 gene in three Chinese female patients with infertility. Our study expands the spectrum of ZP gene mutations and phenotypes and thus is beneficial in the genetic diagnosis of infertility in females.
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Rivera AM, Swanson WJ. The Importance of Gene Duplication and Domain Repeat Expansion for the Function and Evolution of Fertilization Proteins. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:827454. [PMID: 35155436 PMCID: PMC8830517 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.827454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The process of gene duplication followed by gene loss or evolution of new functions has been studied extensively, yet the role gene duplication plays in the function and evolution of fertilization proteins is underappreciated. Gene duplication is observed in many fertilization protein families including Izumo, DCST, ZP, and the TFP superfamily. Molecules mediating fertilization are part of larger gene families expressed in a variety of tissues, but gene duplication followed by structural modifications has often facilitated their cooption into a fertilization function. Repeat expansions of functional domains within a gene also provide opportunities for the evolution of novel fertilization protein. ZP proteins with domain repeat expansions are linked to species-specificity in fertilization and TFP proteins that experienced domain duplications were coopted into a novel sperm function. This review outlines the importance of gene duplications and repeat domain expansions in the evolution of fertilization proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto M. Rivera
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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Yang D, Yang H, Yang B, Wang K, Zhu Q, Wang J, Ding F, Rao B, Xue R, Peng J, Wang Q, Cao Y, Zou W, Chen B, Zhang Z. Embryological Characteristics of Human Oocytes With Agar-Like Zona Pellucida and Its Clinical Treatment Strategy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:859361. [PMID: 35813655 PMCID: PMC9259955 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.859361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Zona pellucida (ZP) abnormalities are the cause of low fertility or infertility, agar-like ZP is more common in abnormal ZP. The purpose of this exploration is to systematically analyze the fertilization competence of agar-like ZP oocytes, the development characteristics of subsequent embryos as well as the results of embryo transfer, aiming to explore effective clinical treatment strategies. A total of 58 patients with agar-like ZP were set as the case group and the control group involved 3866 patients, in which the patients' oocytes presented normal ZP. BMI, basal hormone levels, and hormone levels were similar in both groups. The case patients suffered significantly longer infertility years than control (p<0.05), and most patients were diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory diseases. A distinct difference was observed in the structure of oocyte corona cumulus complexes between the two groups. The embryo development parameters, which include the rates of cleavage, high-quality embryo, blastocyst, and high-quality blastocyst in the case group were greatly lower than that in the control group (p<0.05). The rates of cumulative clinical pregnancy and live birth were comparable between the two groups. In the subsequent follow-up, thirty-four of the 58 patients receiving intracytoplasmic single sperm injection (ICSI) or early rescue ICSI (R-ICSI) treatment successfully gave birth to babies, and all of the newborns were with no neonatal defects. In addition, the fertilization rate of the R-ICSI group was significantly lower than that of the ICSI group (p<0.05). The occurrence of agar-like ZP impairs the development competence of human oocytes, however, the human oocytes with agar-like ZP can develop into healthy offspring, and an ICSI regimen is the optimal treatment strategy for them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Yang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, China
| | - Han Yang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, China
| | - Kaijuan Wang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, China
| | - Qi Zhu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Fangfang Ding
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Bihua Rao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Rufeng Xue
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, China
| | - Jing Peng
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qiushuang Wang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, China
| | - Weiwei Zou
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Zhiguo Zhang, ; Beili Chen, ; Weiwei Zou,
| | - Beili Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Zhiguo Zhang, ; Beili Chen, ; Weiwei Zou,
| | - Zhiguo Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Zhiguo Zhang, ; Beili Chen, ; Weiwei Zou,
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Shen Y, Guo J, Zhang X, Wang X, Zhu S, Chen D, Xiong W, Lu G, Liu X, Dai C, Gong F, Wang Y, Lin G, Wang Z, Xu W. OUP accepted manuscript. Hum Reprod 2022; 37:859-872. [PMID: 35211729 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deac026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Shen
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Guo
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Xueguang Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shaomi Zhu
- The Reproductive & Women-Children Hospital, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Daijuan Chen
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- The Joint Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine of SCU-CUHK, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Guangxiu Lu
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
- Laboratory of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaojun Liu
- Medriv Academy of Genetics and Reproduction, Peking, China
| | - Can Dai
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Fei Gong
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Reproduction Medical Center of West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ge Lin
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
- Labortatory of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem and Reproductive Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhenbo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenming Xu
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- The Joint Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine of SCU-CUHK, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Lee S, Kim HJ, Park JI, Cho HB, Park JS, Park KH. Organelle targeting using a fluorescent probe that selectively penetrates the zona pellucida. Int J Pharm 2021; 610:121282. [PMID: 34774691 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.121282] [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: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The characteristics of oocytes, which are female germ cells, have not been studied using optical materials. The structural layers (zona pellucida, ZP) around oocytes make it difficult to deliver drugs aimed at treating infertility. Here, we investigated whether the fluorescent probes sulforhodamine, fluorescein 5(6)-isothiocyanate, tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate, cyanine 3 carboxylic acid, and cyanine 5 carboxylic acid penetrate oocytes. By targeting the ZP layer of the oocyte, the characteristics of the model drug, a fluorescent probe, were analyzed, and the position of the probe in the oocyte was confirmed for differences in the characteristics. Penetration of the ZP and delivery into the cytoplasm differed between the fluorescent probes. This was due to their different physiochemical properties, including hydrophobicity (contact angle and surface tension), surfactant activity, and electrical charge. Among the fluorescent probes delivered to cytoplasm, unlike TRITC, Cy3 and Cy5 perturbed oocyte development. These results suggest that in oocytes with high physical barriers (cell membrane, zona pellucida), the delivery efficiency can be estimated by considering the properties (molecular weight and structure, solubility and functional structure, etc.) of the drug. In addition, it suggests that an encapsulated or bound carrier of a drug with properties similar to that of a fluorescent probe can be efficiently delivered into oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujin Lee
- Laboratory of Nano-regenerative Medical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, 618, CHA Biocomplex, Sampyeong-Dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Jin Kim
- Laboratory of Nano-regenerative Medical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, 618, CHA Biocomplex, Sampyeong-Dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-In Park
- Laboratory of Nano-regenerative Medical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, 618, CHA Biocomplex, Sampyeong-Dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Hui Bang Cho
- Laboratory of Nano-regenerative Medical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, 618, CHA Biocomplex, Sampyeong-Dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Sun Park
- Laboratory of Nano-regenerative Medical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, 618, CHA Biocomplex, Sampyeong-Dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 13488, Republic of Korea.
| | - Keun-Hong Park
- Laboratory of Nano-regenerative Medical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, 618, CHA Biocomplex, Sampyeong-Dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 13488, Republic of Korea.
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Jovine L. Using machine learning to study protein-protein interactions: From the uromodulin polymer to egg zona pellucida filaments. Mol Reprod Dev 2021; 88:686-693. [PMID: 34590381 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Neural network-based models for protein structure prediction have recently reached near-experimental accuracy and are fast becoming a powerful tool in the arsenal of biologists. As suggested by initial studies using RoseTTAFold or the ColabFold implementation of AlphaFold2, a particularly interesting future development will be the optimization of these computational methods to also routinely yield high-confidence predictions of protein-protein interactions. Here I use AlphaFold2 and ColabFold to investigate the activation and polymerization of uromodulin (UMOD)/Tamm-Horsfall protein, a zona pellucida (ZP) module-containing protein whose precursor and filamentous structures have been previously determined experimentally by X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM, respectively. Despite having no knowledge of the UMOD polymer structure (coordinates for which were neither used for model training nor as template), AlphaFold2/ColabFold are able to recapitulate a crucial conformational change underlying UMOD polymerization, as well as the general organization of protein subunits within the resulting filament. This surprising result is achieved by simply deleting from the input sequence a stretch of residues that correspond to a polymerization-inhibiting C-terminal propeptide. By mimicking in silico the activating effect of propeptide dissociation triggered by site-specific proteolysis of the protein precursor, this example has implications for the assembly of egg coat proteins and the many other molecules that also contain a ZP module. Most importantly, it shows the potential of exploiting machine learning not only to accurately predict the structures of individual proteins or complexes, but also to carry out computational experiments replicating specific molecular events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Jovine
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
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Camaioni A, Massimiani M, Lacconi V, Magrini A, Salustri A, Sotiriou GA, Singh D, Bitounis D, Bocca B, Pino A, Barone F, Prota V, Iavicoli I, Scimeca M, Bonanno E, Cassee FR, Demokritou P, Pietroiusti A, Campagnolo L. Silica encapsulation of ZnO nanoparticles reduces their toxicity for cumulus cell-oocyte-complex expansion. Part Fibre Toxicol 2021; 18:33. [PMID: 34479598 PMCID: PMC8414698 DOI: 10.1186/s12989-021-00424-z] [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: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly used in many industrial and biomedical applications, hence their impact on occupational and public health has become a concern. In recent years, interest on the effect that exposure to NPs may exert on human reproduction has grown, however data are still scant. In the present work, we investigated whether different metal oxide NPs interfere with mouse cumulus cell-oocyte complex (COC) expansion. Methods Mouse COCs from pre-ovulatory follicles were cultured in vitro in the presence of various concentrations of two types of TiO2 NPs (JRC NM-103 and NM-104) and four types of ZnO NPs (JRC NM-110, NM-111, and in-house prepared uncoated and SiO2-coated NPs) and the organization of a muco-elastic extracellular matrix by cumulus cells during the process named cumulus expansion was investigated. Results We show that COC expansion was not affected by the presence of both types of TiO2 NPs at all tested doses, while ZnO NM-110 and NM-111 induced strong toxicity and inhibited COCs expansion at relatively low concentration. Medium conditioned by these NPs showed lower toxicity, suggesting that, beside ion release, inhibition of COC expansion also depends on NPs per se. To further elucidate this, we compared COC expansion in the presence of uncoated or SiO2-coated NPs. Differently from the uncoated NPs, SiO2-coated NPs underwent slower dissolution, were not internalized by the cells, and showed an overall lower toxicity. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that ZnO NPs, but not SiO2-coated ZnO NPs, affected the expression of genes fundamental for COC expansion. Dosimetry analysis revealed that the delivered-to-cell mass fractions for both NPs was very low. Conclusions Altogether, these results suggest that chemical composition, dissolution, and cell internalization are all responsible for the adverse effects of the tested NPs and support the importance of a tailored, safer-by-design production of NPs to reduce toxicity. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12989-021-00424-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Camaioni
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Micol Massimiani
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.,Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Via di Sant'Alessandro, 8, 00131, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Lacconi
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Magrini
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonietta Salustri
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Georgios A Sotiriou
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, SE-1, 71 77, Stockholm, Sweden.,Center for Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology, Department of Environmental Health, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Dilpreet Singh
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, SE-1, 71 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dimitrios Bitounis
- Center for Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology, Department of Environmental Health, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Beatrice Bocca
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Pino
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Barone
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Prota
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Ivo Iavicoli
- Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Manuel Scimeca
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Bonanno
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Flemming R Cassee
- Department of Inhalation Toxicology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, 3721, MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Philip Demokritou
- Center for Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology, Department of Environmental Health, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Antonio Pietroiusti
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.,Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Via di Sant'Alessandro, 8, 00131, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Campagnolo
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
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Zona Pellucida Genes and Proteins: Essential Players in Mammalian Oogenesis and Fertility. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12081266. [PMID: 34440440 PMCID: PMC8391237 DOI: 10.3390/genes12081266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
All mammalian oocytes and eggs are surrounded by a relatively thick extracellular matrix (ECM), the zona pellucida (ZP), that plays vital roles during oogenesis, fertilization, and preimplantation development. Unlike ECM surrounding somatic cells, the ZP is composed of only a few glycosylated proteins, ZP1–4, that are unique to oocytes and eggs. ZP1–4 have a large region of polypeptide, the ZP domain (ZPD), consisting of two subdomains, ZP-N and ZP-C, separated by a short linker region, that plays an essential role in polymerization of nascent ZP proteins into crosslinked fibrils. Both subdomains adopt immunoglobulin (Ig)-like folds for their 3-dimensional structure. Mouse and human ZP genes are encoded by single-copy genes located on different chromosomes and are highly expressed in the ovary by growing oocytes during late stages of oogenesis. Genes encoding ZP proteins are conserved among mammals, and their expression is regulated by cis-acting sequences located close to the transcription start-site and by the same/similar trans-acting factors. Nascent ZP proteins are synthesized, packaged into vesicles, secreted into the extracellular space, and assembled into long, crosslinked fibrils that have a structural repeat, a ZP2-ZP3 dimer, and constitute the ZP matrix. Fibrils are oriented differently with respect to the oolemma in the inner and outer layers of the ZP. Sequence elements in the ZPD and the carboxy-terminal propeptide of ZP1–4 regulate secretion and assembly of nascent ZP proteins. The presence of both ZP2 and ZP3 is required to assemble ZP fibrils and ZP1 and ZP4 are used to crosslink the fibrils. Inactivation of mouse ZP genes by gene targeting has a detrimental effect on ZP formation around growing oocytes and female fertility. Gene sequence variations in human ZP genes due to point, missense, or frameshift mutations also have a detrimental effect on ZP formation and female fertility. The latter mutations provide additional support for the role of ZPD subdomains and other regions of ZP polypeptide in polymerization of human ZP proteins into fibrils and matrix.
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Tscherner AK, Macaulay AD, Ortman CS, Baltz JM. Initiation of cell volume regulation and unique cell volume regulatory mechanisms in mammalian oocytes and embryos. J Cell Physiol 2021; 236:7117-7133. [PMID: 33634482 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The period beginning with the signal for ovulation, when a fully-grown oocyte progresses through meiosis to become a mature egg that is fertilized and develops as a preimplantation embryo, is crucial for healthy development. The early preimplantation embryo is unusually sensitive to cell volume perturbations, with even moderate decreases in volume or dysregulation of volume-regulatory mechanisms resulting in developmental arrest. To prevent this, early embryos possess mechanisms of cell volume control that are apparently unique to them. These rely on the accumulation of glycine and betaine (N, N, N-trimethylglycine) as organic osmolytes-compounds that can provide intracellular osmotic support without the deleterious effects of inorganic ions. Preimplantation embryos also have the same mechanisms as somatic cells that mediate rapid responses to deviations in cell volume, which rely on inorganic ion transport. Both the unique, embryo-specific mechanisms that use glycine and betaine and the inorganic ion-dependent mechanisms undergo major changes during meiotic maturation and preimplantation development. The most profound changes occur immediately after ovulation is triggered. Before this, oocytes cannot regulate their volume, since they are strongly attached to their rigid extracellular matrix shell, the zona pellucida. After ovulation is triggered, the oocyte detaches from the zona pellucida and first becomes capable of independent volume regulation. A complex set of developmental changes in each cell volume-regulatory mechanism continues through egg maturation and preimplantation development. The unique cell volume-regulatory mechanisms in eggs and preimplantation embryos and the developmental changes they undergo appear critical for normal healthy embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison K Tscherner
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Angus D Macaulay
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chyna S Ortman
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jay M Baltz
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Wang S, Gong Y, Wang Z, Greenbaum J, Xiao HM, Deng HW. Cell-specific network analysis of human folliculogenesis reveals network rewiring in antral stage oocytes. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:2851-2860. [PMID: 33599396 PMCID: PMC7957178 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Although previous studies have explored the gene expression profiles of human oocytes and granulosa cells by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), the dynamic regulatory network at a single-cell resolution during folliculogenesis remains largely unknown. We identified 10 functional modules by WGCNA, four of which were significantly correlated with primary/antral oocyte and antral/pre-ovulatory granulosa cells. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the brown module, which was correlated with antral oocyte, was enriched in oocyte differentiation, and two core subnetworks identified by MCODE were involved in cell cycle (blue subnetwork) and oogenesis (red subnetwork). The cell-specific network (CSN) analysis demonstrated a distinct gene network structure associated with the antral follicular stage, which was notably different from other developmental stages. To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore gene functions during folliculogenesis at single-cell network level. We uncovered two potential gene subnetworks, which may play an important role in oocyte function beginning at the antral stage, and further established their rewiring process at intra-network/whole transcriptome level. The findings provide crucial insights from a novel network perspective to be further explored in functional mechanistic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengran Wang
- Center for System Biology, Data Sciences and Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yun Gong
- Tulane Center of Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Zun Wang
- Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jonathan Greenbaum
- Tulane Center of Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Hong-Mei Xiao
- Institute of Reproductive & Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Center of Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hong-Wen Deng
- Center for System Biology, Data Sciences and Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Tulane Center of Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
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