The Hydroxysteroid (17β) Dehydrogenase Family Gene HSD17B12 Is Involved in the Prostaglandin Synthesis Pathway, the Ovarian Function, and Regulation of Fertility

Temporal genomics in Hawaiian crickets reveals compensatory intragenomic coadaptation during adaptive evolution

Theory predicts that compensatory genetic changes reduce negative indirect effects of selected variants during adaptive evolution, but evidence is scarce. Here, we test this in a wild population of Hawaiian crickets using temporal genomics and a high-quality chromosome-level cricket genome. In this population, a mutation, flatwing, silences males and rapidly spread due to an acoustically-orienting parasitoid. Our sampling spanned a social transition during which flatwing fixed and the population went silent. We find long-range linkage disequilibrium around the putative flatwing locus was maintained over time, and hitchhiking genes had functions related to negative flatwing-associated effects. We develop a combinatorial enrichment approach using transcriptome data to test for compensatory, intragenomic coevolution. Temporal changes in genomic selection were distributed genome-wide and functionally associated with the population's transition to silence, particularly behavioural responses to silent environments. Our results demonstrate how 'adaptation begets adaptation'; changes to the sociogenetic environment accompanying rapid trait evolution can generate selection provoking further, compensatory adaptation.

In vitro culture and tissue-derived specific expression of melanocytes from ovary of adult Silky Fowl

The presence of a significant number of melanocytes in the ovary and follicular membrane of Silky Fowl suggests their potential involvement in follicle development. Currently, there is a lack of available data regarding to the isolation of primary melanocytes from adult chickens. To date, primary melanocytes and their in vitro culture system have been successfully conducted in the peritoneum of chicken embryos. Herein, melanocytes from silky fowl ovaries were isolated and identified. Silky Fowl ovaries were obtained by mixed digestion of 0.1% collagenase II and 0.25% trypsin-EDTA. Melanocytes could be further purified and cultured up to 5 generations in vitro. RNA-seq analysis was used to investigate whether there were differences in the functional status of melanocytes in different tissues and developmental stages. Consequently, differential gene expressions between peritoneal and ovarian melanocytes were compared. These findings demonstrated that the Silky Fowl ovary had higher expression levels of genes involved in the production of sexual hormones and melanogenesis, while those of melanocytes derived from the peritoneum were involved in amino acid metabolism, lipid synthesis, and overall metabolic rates. This suggests that the role of melanocytes is dependent on the origin tissue and developmental stage, and is tightly connected to the function of the specific source tissue from which the cells were derived. This study provides a method for isolating adult melanocytes and serve as a basis for further investigate the effect of SFOM on germ cells.

Transcriptomics and metabolomics of blood, urine and ovarian follicular fluid of yak at induced estrus stage

To gain a deeper understanding of the metabolic differences within and outside the body, as well as changes in transcription levels following estrus in yaks, we conducted transcriptome and metabolome analyses on female yaks in both estrus and non-estrus states. The metabolome analysis identified 114, 13, and 91 distinct metabolites in urine, blood, and follicular fluid, respectively. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis highlighted an enrichment of pathways related to amino acid and lipid metabolism across all three body fluids. Our transcriptome analysis revealed 122 differentially expressed genes within microRNA (miRNA) and 640 within long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). Functional enrichment analysis of lncRNA and miRNA indicated their involvement in cell signaling, disease resistance, and immunity pathways. We constructed a regulatory network composed of 10 lncRNAs, 4 miRNAs, and 30 mRNAs, based on the targeted regulation relationships of the differentially expressed genes. In conclusion, the accumulation of metabolites such as amino acids, steroids, and organic acids, along with the expression changes of key genes like miR-129 during yak estrus, provide initial insights into the estrus mechanism in yaks.

Theoretical Analysis and Expression Profiling of 17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Genes in Gonadal Development and Steroidogenesis of Leopard Coral Grouper (Plectropomus leopardus)

The differentiation and developmental trajectory of fish gonads, significantly important for fish breeding, culture, and production, has long been a focal point in the fields of fish genetics and developmental biology. However, the mechanism of gonadal differentiation in leopard coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus) remains unclear. This study investigates the 17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (Hsd17b) gene family in P. leopardus, with a focus on gene characterization, expression profiling, and functional analysis. The results reveal that the P. leopardus's Hsd17b gene family comprises 11 members, all belonging to the SDR superfamily. The amino acid similarity is only 12.96%, but conserved motifs, such as TGxxxGxG and S-Y-K, are present in these genes. Hsd17b12a and Hsd17b12b are unique homologs in fish, and chromosomal localization has confirmed that they are not derived from different transcripts of the same gene, but rather are two independent genes. The Hsd17b family genes, predominantly expressed in the liver, heart, gills, kidneys, and gonads, are involved in synthesizing or metabolizing sex steroid hormones and neurotransmitters, with their expression patterns during gonadal development categorized into three distinct categories. Notably, Hsd17b4 and Hsd17b12a were highly expressed in the testis and ovary, respectively, suggesting their involvement in the development of reproductive cells in these organs. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) further indicated specific expression sites for these genes, with Hsd17b4 primarily expressed in germ stem cells and Hsd17b12a in oocytes. This comprehensive study provides foundational insights into the role of the Hsd17b gene family in gonadal development and steroidogenesis in P. leopardus, contributing to the broader understanding of fish reproductive biology and aquaculture breeding.

Risk assessment and environmental consequences of the use of the Allium-derived compound propyl-propane thiosulfonate (PTSO) in agrifood applications

The organosulfur compound propyl-propane thiosulfonate (PTSO), mainly found in Allium cepa, has a promising use in the agrifood industry. To confirm its safety for livestock, consumers, and environment, toxicological assessment is needed. In this regard, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are in the spotlight of research. Therefore, as part of the risk assessment of PTSO, in the present work, an in vivo study was performed in mice exposed to PTSO to investigate its potential reproductive toxicity considering fertility, genetic and endocrine endpoints. Five-weeks-old CD1 mice (80 males, 80 females) were exposed for 11 or 16 weeks (males or females, respectively) to different doses of PTSO (0, 14, 28 and 55 mg PTSO/kg b.w./day; 20 animals per group and sex) through the food pellets. No clinical observations or mortality and no changes in absolute organ weights and relative organ weights/body weight or brain ratios occurred during the study. The estrous cycle did not undergo any significant toxicologically relevant change. Most of the sex hormones displayed normal values. Some alterations in the expression of some genes related to reproduction is only observed in females, but they do not appear to have consequences in the development of sex organs. Docking results showed the impossibility of stable binding to estrogen and androgen receptors. Considering all the results obtained, the safe profile of PTSO can be confirmed for different agrifood applications at the conditions assayed.

The RNA-binding protein Adad1 is necessary for germ cell maintenance and meiosis in zebrafish

The double stranded RNA binding protein Adad1 (adenosine deaminase domain containing 1) is a member of the adenosine deaminase acting on RNAs (Adar) protein family with germ cell-specific expression. In mice, Adad1 is necessary for sperm differentiation, however its function outside of mammals has not been investigated. Here, through an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) based forward genetic screen, we identified an adad1 mutant zebrafish line that develops as sterile males. Further histological examination revealed complete lack of germ cells in adult mutant fish, however germ cells populated the gonad, proliferated, and entered meiosis in larval and juvenile fish. Although meiosis was initiated in adad1 mutant testes, the spermatocytes failed to progress beyond the zygotene stage. Thus, Adad1 is essential for meiosis and germline maintenance in zebrafish. We tested if spermatogonial stem cells were affected using nanos2 RNA FISH and a label retaining cell (LRC) assay, and found that the mutant testes had fewer LRCs and nanos2-expressing cells compared to wild-type siblings, suggesting that failure to maintain the spermatogonial stem cells resulted in germ cell loss by adulthood. To identify potential molecular processes regulated by Adad1, we sequenced bulk mRNA from mutants and wild-type testes and found mis-regulation of genes involved in RNA stability and modification, pointing to a potential broader role in post-transcriptional regulation. Our findings suggest that the RNA regulatory protein Adad1 is required for fertility through regulation of spermatogonial stem cell maintenance in zebrafish.

Identification of HSD17B12 as an enzyme catalyzing drug reduction reactions through investigation of nabumetone metabolism

Nabumetone, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory prodrug, is converted to a pharmacologically active metabolite, 6-methoxy-2-naphthylacetic acid (6-MNA); however, it is 11-fold more efficiently converted to 4-(6-methoxy-2-naphthyl)butan-2-ol (MNBO) via a reduction reaction in human hepatocytes. The goal of this study was to identify the enzyme(s) responsible for MNBO formation from nabumetone in the human liver. MNBO formation by human liver microsomes (HLM) was 5.7-fold higher than in the liver cytosol. In a panel of 24 individual HLM samples with quantitative proteomics data, the 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 12 (HSD17B12) protein level had the high correlation coefficient (r = 0.80, P < 0.001) among 4457 proteins quantified in microsomal fractions during MNBO formation. Recombinant HSD17B12 expressed in HEK293T cells exhibited prominent nabumetone reductase activity, and the contribution of HSD17B12 to the activity in the HLM was calculated as almost 100%. MNBO formation in HepG2 and Huh7 cells was significantly decreased by the knockdown of HSD17B12. We also examined the role of HSD17B12 in drug metabolism and found that recombinant HSD17B12 catalyzed the reduction reactions of pentoxifylline and S-warfarin, suggesting that HSD17B12 prefers compounds containing a methyl ketone group on the alkyl chain. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that HSD17B12 is responsible for the formation of MNBO from nabumetone. Together with the evidence for pentoxifylline and S-warfarin reduction, this is the first study to report that HSD17B12, which is known to metabolize endogenous compounds, such as estrone and 3-ketoacyl-CoA, plays a role as a drug-metabolizing enzyme.

Malvidin-3-O-Glucoside Ameliorates Cadmium-Mediated Cell Dysfunction in the Estradiol Generation of Human Granulosa Cells

Cadmium (Cd) is a frequent environmental pollutant associated with biological toxicity that can harm female reproduction. Anthocyanins have been reported to reduce the toxicity of Cd. In the present study, the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of malvidin-3-O-glucoside (M3G) against the toxicity of Cd on female reproduction in KGN cells (human ovarian granulosa-like tumor cells) were investigated. After treating cells with 10 µmol/L cadmium chloride, the results showed that M3G lessened Cd-induced KGN cell cytotoxicity better than malvidin and malvidin-3,5-O-diglucoside. Additionally, M3G significantly decreased the Cd-induced generation of reactive oxygen species, inhibited the Cd-induced arrest of the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, and increased estradiol (E2) production. According to transcriptomic results, M3G reduced the abnormal expression of genes that responded to estrogen. Additionally, M3G promoted the endogenous synthesis and secretion of E2 by controlling the expression of CYP17A1 and HSD17B7. The current findings indicated that M3G is of great potential to prevent Cd-induced female reproductive impairment as a dietary supplement.

Identification of selection signatures in Capra hircus and Capra aegagrus in Iran

Identification of selection signatures may provide a better understanding of domestication process and candidate genes contributing to this process. In this study, two populations of domestic and wild goats from Iran were analyzed to identify selection signatures. RSB, iHS, and XP-EHH statistics were used in order to identify robust selection signatures in the goat genome. Genotype data of domestic and wild goats from the NextGen project was used. The data was related to 18 Capra aegagrus (wild goat) and 20 Capra hircus (domestic goat) from Iran. The iHS method indicated 675 and 441 selection signatures in C. aegagrus and C. hircus, respectively. RSB and XP-EHH methods showed about 370 and 447 selection signatures in C. aegagrus and C. hircus, respectively. These selection signatures were mainly associated with milk production, fleece trait, mammary epithelial cells, reproduction, and immune system.

Integrative Analysis of miRNA-mRNA in Ovarian Granulosa Cells Treated with Kisspeptin in Tan Sheep

Kisspeptin is a peptide hormone encoded by the kiss-1 gene that regulates animal reproduction. Our studies revealed that kisspeptin can regulate steroid hormone production and promote cell proliferation in ovarian granulosa cells of Tan sheep, but the mechanism has not yet been fully understood. We speculated that kisspeptin might promote steroid hormone production and cell proliferation by mediating the expression of specific miRNA and mRNA in granulosa cells. Accordingly, after granulosa cells were treated with kisspeptin, the RNA of cells was extracted to construct a cDNA library, and miRNA-mRNA sequencing was performed. Results showed that 1303 expressed genes and 605 expressed miRNAs were identified. Furthermore, eight differentially expressed miRNAs were found, and their target genes were significantly enriched in progesterone synthesis/metabolism, hormone biosynthesis, ovulation cycle, and steroid metabolism regulation. Meanwhile, mRNA was significantly enriched in steroid biosynthesis, IL-17 signaling pathway, and GnRH signaling pathway. Integrative analysis of miRNA-mRNA revealed that the significantly different oar-let-7b targets eight genes, of which EGR1 (early growth response-1) might play a significant role in regulating the function of granulosa cells, and miR-10a regulates lipid metabolism and steroid hormone synthesis by targeting HNRNPD. Additionally, PPI analysis revealed genes that are not miRNA targets but crucial to other biological processes in granulosa cells, implying that kisspeptin may also indirectly regulate granulosa cell function by these pathways. The findings of this work may help understand the molecular mechanism of kisspeptin regulating steroid hormone secretion, cell proliferation, and other physiological functions in ovarian granulosa cells of Tan sheep.

Multi-Omics Analysis and Machine Learning Prediction Model for Pregnancy Outcomes After Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection–in vitro Fertilization

Background

To explore the methylation profiles in cumulus cells (CCs) of women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection–in vitro fertilization (ICSI–IVF) and establish a prediction model of pregnancy outcomes using machine learning approaches.

Methods

Methylation data were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were subjected to gene set analyses. Support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and logistic regression (LR) were used to establish the prediction model, and microarray data from GEO was analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with the dichotomous outcomes of clinical pregnancy (pregnant vs. non-pregnant). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis provided multi-dimensional validation for selected DMGs.

Results

A total of 338 differentially methylated CpG sites associated with 146 unique genes across the genome were identified. Among the identified pathways, the prominent ones were involved in the regulation of cell growth and oocyte development (hsa04340, hsa04012, hsa04914, hsa04614, hsa04913, hsa04020, and hsa00510). The area under the curve (AUC) of machine learning classifiers was 0.94 (SVM) vs. 0.88 (RF) vs. 0.97 (LR). 196 DEGs were found in transcriptional microarray. Mapped genes were selected through overlapping enriched pathways in transcriptional profiles and methylated data of CCs, predictive of successful pregnancy.

Conclusions

Methylated profiles of CCs were significantly different between women receiving ICSI-IVF procedures that conceived successfully and those that did not conceive. Machine learning approaches are powerful tools that may provide crucial information for prognostic assessment. Pathway analysis may be another way in multiomics analysis of cumulus cells.

Identification, characterization and functional analysis of gonadal long noncoding RNAs in a protogynous hermaphroditic teleost fish, the ricefield eel (Monopterus albus)

Background

An increasing number of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to play important roles in sex differentiation and gonad development by regulating gene expression at the epigenetic, transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. The ricefield eel, Monopterus albus, is a protogynous hermaphroditic fish that undergoes a sequential sex change from female to male. However, the roles of lncRNA in the sex change is unclear.

Results

Herein, we performed RNA sequencing to analyse lncRNA expression patterns in five different stages of M. albus development to investigate the roles of lncRNAs in the sex change process. A total of 12,746 lncRNAs (1503 known lncRNAs and 11,243 new lncRNAs) and 2901 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE-lncRNAs) were identified in the gonads. The target genes of the DE-lncRNAs included foxo1, foxm1, smad3, foxr1, camk4, ar and tgfb3, which were mainly enriched in signalling pathways related to gonadal development, such as the insulin signalling pathway, MAPK signalling pathway, and calcium signalling pathway. We selected 5 highly expressed DE-lncRNAs (LOC109952131, LOC109953466, LOC109954337, LOC109954360 and LOC109958454) for full length amplification and expression pattern verification. They were all expressed at higher levels in ovaries and intersex gonads than in testes, and exhibited specific time-dependent expression in ovarian tissue incubated with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The results of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis and a dual-luciferase assay showed that znf207, as the gene targeted by LOC109958454, was expressed in multiple tissues and gonadal developmental stages of M. albus, and its expression was also inhibited by the hormones FSH and hCG.

Conclusions

These results provide new insights into the role of lncRNAs in gonad development, especially regarding natural sex changes in fish, which will be useful for enhancing our understanding of sequential hermaphroditism and sex changes in the ricefield eel (M. albus) and other teleosts.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08679-2.

Effects of Nerve Growth Factor-β From Bull Seminal Plasma on Steroidogenesis and Angiogenic Markers of the Bovine Pre-ovulatory Follicle Wall Cell Culture

Nerve growth factor-β (NGF) is critical for ovulation in the mammalian ovary and is luteotrophic when administered systemically to camelids and cattle. This study aimed to assess the direct effects of purified bovine NGF on steroidogenesis and angiogenic markers in the bovine pre-ovulatory follicle. Holstein heifers (n = 2) were synchronized with a standard protocol, and heifers with a preovulatory follicle (≥ 12 mm) had the ovary containing the dominant follicle removed via colpotomy. Pre-ovulatory follicles were dissected into 24 pieces containing theca and granulosa cells that were randomly allocated into culture media supplemented with either purified bovine NGF (100 ng/mL) or untreated (control) for 72 h. The supernatant media was harvested for quantification of progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol concentrations, whereas explants were subjected to mRNA analyses to assess expression of steroidogenic and angiogenic markers. Treatment of follicle wall pieces with NGF upregulated gene expression of steroidogenic enzyme HDS17B (P = 0.04) and increased testosterone production (P < 0.01). However, NGF treatment did not alter production of progesterone (P = 0.81) or estradiol (P = 0.14). Consistently, gene expression of steroidogenic enzymes responsible for producing these hormones (STAR, CYP11A1, HSD3B, CYP17A1, CYP19A1) were unaffected by NGF treatment (P ≥ 0.31). Treatment with NGF downregulated gene expression of the angiogenic enzyme FGF2 (P = 0.02) but did not alter PGES (P = 0.63), VEGFA (P = 0.44), and ESR1 (P = 0.77). Collectively, these results demonstrate that NGF from seminal plasma may interact directly on the theca and granulosa cells of the bovine pre-ovulatory follicle to stimulate testosterone production, which may be secondary to theca cell proliferation. Additionally, decreased FGF2 expression in NGF-treated follicle wall cells suggests hastened onset of follicle wall cellular remodeling that occurs during early luteal development.

Identifying Environmental Endocrine Disruptors Associated With the Age at Menarche by Integrating a Transcriptome-Wide Association Study With Chemical-Gene-Interaction Analysis

Menarche is the first occurrence of menstrual bleeding and one of the most important events of female puberty. Alarmingly, over the last several decades, the mean age at menarche (AAM) has decreased. Environmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs) are chemicals that may interfere with the endocrine system, resulting in adverse developmental, immunological, neurological, and reproductive effects in humans. Thus, the effects of EEDs on fertility and reproduction are growing concerns in modern societies. In this study, we aimed to determine the influence of genetic and environmental factors on AAM. We used data from an AAM genome-wide association study of 329,345 women to conduct a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) with FUSION software. As references, we determined the gene-expression levels in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovaries, uterus, and whole blood. We performed Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses using the significantly dysregulated genes identified by the TWAS. Using the STRING database, we also generated a protein-protein-interaction network to analyze common AAM-specific genes identified by the TWAS with different tissues. We performed chemical-related gene set enrichment analysis (CGSEA) and identified significant TWAS genes to uncover relationships between different chemicals and AAM. The TWAS identified 9,848 genes; among these, 1580 genes were significant (P < 0.05), and 11 genes were significant among the hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary, uterus, and whole blood. CGSEA identified 1,634 chemicals, including 120 chemicals significantly correlated with AAM. In summary, we performed a TWAS (for genetic factors) and CGSEA (for environmental factors) focusing on AAM and identified several AAM-associated genes and EEDs. The results of this study expand our understanding of genetic and environmental factors related to the onset of female puberty.

Sex-biased dynamics of three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) gene expression patterns

The study of the differences between sexes presents an excellent model to unravel how phenotypic variation is achieved from a similar genetic background. Sticklebacks are of particular interest since evidence of a heteromorphic chromosome pair has not always been detected. The present study investigated sex-biased mRNA and small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) expression patterns in the brain, adipose tissues, and gonads of the three-spined stickleback. The sncRNA analysis indicated that regulatory functions occurred mainly in the gonads. Alleged miRNA-mRNA interactions were established and a mapping bias of differential expressed transcripts towards chromosome 19 was observed. Key players previously shown to control sex determination and differentiation in other fish species but also genes like gapdh were among the transcripts identified. This is the first report in the three-spined stickleback demonstrating tissue-specific expression comprising both mRNA and sncRNA between sexes, emphasizing the importance of mRNA-miRNA interactions as well as new presumed genes not yet identified to have gender-specific roles.

Ovarian activation delays in peripubertal ewe lambs infected with Haemonchus contortus can be avoided by supplementing protein in their diets

BACKGROUND

The ewe lamb nutritional and physiological state interfere with the ovarian environment and fertility. The lack or excess of circulating nutrients reaching the ovary can change its gene expression. A protein deficiency in the blood caused by an Haemonchus contortus abomasal infection is detrimental to the organism's development during puberty. The peripubertal period is a time of intensive growth that requires a high level of nutrients. An essential feature controlling pubertal arousal and female reproductive potential is ovarian follicle growth activation. Protein supplementation improves the sheep's immune response to helminthic infections. We aimed to determine if supplementing protein in infected ewe lambs' diet would impact the ovarian environment leading to earlier ovarian follicle activation than in infected not supplemented animals.

METHODS

We fed 18 Santa Ines ewe lambs (Ovis aries) - bred by the same ram - with either 12% protein (Control groups) or 19% protein (Supplemented groups) in their diets. After 35 days of the diet, they were each artificially infected or not with 10,000 Haemonchus contortus L3 larvae. Following 77 days of the diet and 42 days of infection, we surgically collected their left ovaries and examined their genes expression through RNA sequencing.

RESULTS

We found that protein supplementation in infected animals led to an up-regulation of genes (FDR p-values < 0.05) and biological processes (p-value cut-off = 0.01) linked to meiotic activation in pre-ovulatory follicles and primordial follicle activation, among others. The supplemented not infected animals also up-regulated genes and processes linked to meiosis and others, such as circadian behaviour. The not supplemented animals had these same processes down-regulated while up-regulated processes related to tissue morphogenesis, inflammation and immune response.

CONCLUSION

Diet's protein supplementation of peripubertal infected animals allowed them to express genes related to a more mature ovarian follicle stage than their half-sisters that were not supplemented. These results could be modelling potential effects of the interaction between environmental factors, nutrition and infection on reproductive health. When ovarian activation is achieved in a timely fashion, the ewe may generate more lambs during its reproductive life, increasing sheep breeders' productivity.

UHPLC-MS-MS analysis of oxylipins metabolomics components of follicular fluid in infertile individuals with diminished ovarian reserve

BACKGROUND

Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) refers to a decrease in the number and quality of oocytes in the ovary, which results in a lack of sex hormones and a decline of fertility in women. DOR can potentially progress to premature ovarian failure (POF), which has a negative impact on women's quality of life and is a major cause of female infertility. Oxidative stress is a major contributor to fertility decrease in DOR patients, affecting the follicular microenvironment, oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryo development. Understanding intracellular signal transduction can be achieved by defining specific oxidized lipid components in follicular fluid (FF) of DOR infertile patients.

METHODS

The oxylipins metabolic signatures in the FF of DOR patients and females with normal ovarian reserve (NOR) enrolled for the in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle were analyzed using UHPLC-MS-MS technology. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal projections to latent structure discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to analyze the derived metabolomic profiles. Pathway enrichment analysis was carried out using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and MetaboAnalyst databases. Furthermore, the Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used to determine the correlation between age, FSH, AMH, AFC, oocytes retrieved, MII oocytes, fertilization, high-quality embryos, and the concentration of differential oxidized lipid metabolites in FF.

RESULTS

Fifteen oxylipins metabolites were found to be lower in the FF of DOR patients than those in the NOR group, including ±20-HDoHE, ±5-iso PGF_2α-VI, 12S-HHTrE, 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-PGJ₂, 1a,1b-dihomo PGE₂, 1a,1b-dihomo PGF_2α, 20-COOH-AA, 20-HETE, 8S,15S-DiHETE, PGA₂, PGD₂, PGE₁, PGF_1α, PGF_2α, and PGJ₂. The pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the 15 differentially oxidized lipid metabolites were closely related to the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway. Correlation analysis revealed that the concentration of 8 different oxidized lipid metabolites in FF was negatively correlated to FSH and positively correlated with AFC. AMH, the number of oocytes retrieved, MII oocytes and fertilization, were all positively correlated with 9 different oxidized lipid metabolites, but only one metabolite was positively correlated with the number of high-quality embryos.

CONCLUSIONS

Metabolomic analysis of FF revealed that oxylipins metabolism disorders were closely related to ovarian reserve function. Among these oxylipins metabolites, arachidonic acid metabolism undergoes significant changes that may be related to oocyte development, resulting in decreased fertility in DOR patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR, ChiCTR2000038182 , Registered 12 September 2020-Retrospectively registered.

A comparative analysis of the intrauterine transcriptome in fertile and subfertile mares using cytobrush sampling

Background

Subfertility is a major problem in modern horse breeding. Especially, mares without clinical signs of reproductive diseases, without known uterine pathogens and no evidence of inflammation but not becoming pregnant after several breeding attempts are challenging for veterinarians. To obtain new insights into the cause of these fertility problems and aiming at improving diagnosis of subfertile mares, a comparative analysis of the intrauterine transcriptome in subfertile and fertile mares was performed. Uterine cytobrush samples were collected during estrus from 57 mares without clinical signs of uterine diseases. RNA was extracted from the cytobrush samples and samples from 11 selected subfertile and 11 fertile mares were used for Illumina RNA-sequencing.

Results

The cytobrush sampling was a suitable technique to isolate enough RNA of high quality for transcriptome analysis. Comparing subfertile and fertile mares, 114 differentially expressed genes (FDR = 10%) were identified. Metascape enrichment analysis revealed that genes with lower mRNA levels in subfertile mares were related to ‘extracellular matrix (ECM)’, ‘ECM-receptor interaction’, ‘focal adhesion’, ‘immune response’ and ‘cytosolic calcium ion concentration’, while DEGs with higher levels in subfertile mares were enriched for ‘monocarboxyl acid transmembrane transport activity’ and ‘protein targeting’.

Conclusion

Our study revealed significant differences in the uterine transcriptome between fertile and subfertile mares and provides leads for potential uterine molecular biomarkers of subfertility in the mare.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07701-3.

Effects of Induced Exosomes from Endometrial Cancer Cells on Tumor Activity in the Presence of Aurea helianthus Extract

Endometrial cancer (EC) cells metastasize to various regions, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, blood, liver, bone, and brain. Various carcinogens are known to cause EC. Exosomes are released from several types of cells and contain various cellular components. In this study, flow cytometry and quantitative PCR were used to evaluate marker levels, cell migration, cell invasion, and mitochondrial membrane potential, and cellular senescence tests were used to estimate cancer activity. The microRNAs were profiled using next-generation sequencing. Although tocopherol-α and rutin content in Aurea helianthus is high, A. helianthus extract was more useful in modulating tumor activity compared to the two aforementioned substances. Notably, we established that the extract induced bioactive exosomes in EC cells, and profiling of miRNAs in the extract-inducing exosomes (EIE) indicated their potency to be developed as a biological drug. The extract and EIE contributed to the following five biological process categories for EC cells: (1) cell migration and invasion suppression, (2) cellular senescence activation by attenuating mitochondrial membrane potential and enhancing autophagy, (3) reproductive cancer activity attenuation, (4) drug susceptibility activation, and (5) EIE containing miRNAs associated with decreasing inflammation.

Circular DDX10 is associated with ovarian function and assisted reproductive technology outcomes through modulating the proliferation and steroidogenesis of granulosa cells

circRNAs are present in human ovarian tissue, but how they regulate ovarian function remains unknown. In the current study, we investigated the levels of circRNAs in granulosa cells (GCs) derived from human follicular fluid, explored their correlation with female ovarian reserve function and clinical outcomes of assisted reproduction technique (ART), and investigated their effects on the biological functions of GC cell lines (COV434) in vitro. We identified that the levels of circDDX10 in GCs decreased gradually with aging (P < 0.01) and was positively correlated with AMH (r = 0.45, P < 0.01) and AFC (r = 0.32, P < 0.01), but not with FSH and estradiol (P > 0.05). Additionally, circDDX10 was related to the number of oocytes obtained, and good quality embryo rates. Silencing circDDX10 in GCs could markedly up-regulate the expression of apoptosis-related factors, reduce cell proliferation activity, inhibit the expression of steroid hormone synthesis-related factors, and prohibit the synthesis of estradiol. On the contrary, over-expression of circDDX10 had the opposite effect. circDDX10 is expected to become a novel biomarker for predicting the outcomes of ART, and may participate in the regulation of ovarian function by affecting the proliferation and apoptosis of GCs and steroid hormone synthesis.

Hydroxysteroid (17β) dehydrogenase 12 is essential for metabolic homeostasis in adult mice

Hydroxysteroid 17β dehydrogenase 12 (HSD17B12) is suggested to be involved in the elongation of very long chain fatty acids. Previously, we have shown a pivotal role for the enzyme during mouse development. In the present study we generated a conditional Hsd17b12 knockout (HSD17B12cKO) mouse model by breeding mice homozygous for a floxed Hsd17b12 allele with mice expressing the tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase at the ROSA26 locus. Gene inactivation was induced by administering tamoxifen to adult mice. The gene inactivation led to a 20% loss of body weight within 6 days, associated with drastic reduction in both white (83% males, 75% females) and brown (65% males, 60% females) fat, likely due to markedly reduced food and water intake. Furthermore, the knockout mice showed sickness behavior and signs of liver toxicity, specifically microvesicular hepatic steatosis and increased serum alanine aminotransferase (4.6-fold in males, 7.7-fold in females). The hepatic changes were more pronounced in females than males. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-17, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, were increased in the HSD17B12cKO mice indicating an inflammatory response. Serum lipidomics study showed an increase in the amount of dihydroceramides, despite the dramatic overall loss of lipids. In line with the proposed role for HSD17B12 in fatty acid elongation, we observed accumulation of ceramides, dihydroceramides, hexosylceramides, and lactosylceramides with shorter than 18-carbon fatty acid side chains in the serum. The results indicate that HSD17B12 is essential for proper lipid homeostasis and HSD17B12 deficiency rapidly results in fatal systemic inflammation and lipolysis in adult mice.

Characteristics and sex dimorphism of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase family genes in the olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Sex steroid hormones play important roles in fish sex differentiation, gonadal development and secondary sexual characteristics. Olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus is a valuable commercial marine fish species and has marked sexual dimorphism. However, the mechanisms of action of sex hormones in flounder sex are still unclear. In this study, a total of ten Hsd17b family genes, including Hsd17b3, -4, -7, -8, -9, -10, -12a, -12b, -14 and -15, were identified in the flounder, which encoded critical enzymes acting on sex steroid synthesis and metabolism. Hsd17b genes were distributed on eight chromosomes. Hsd17b12a and -12b were located on chromosomes 19 and 7, respectively. It was speculated that these two genes were just highly similar rather than different transcripts derived from the same gene. According to the results of domain and motif analyses, they all belonged to the SDR superfamily and contained conserved Hsd17b motifs TGxxxGxG, PGxxxT, NNAG and YxxxK. Analysis of amino acid sequences predicted that Hsd17b1, -4, -7, -12a and -14 were hydrophilic proteins. The stability of Hsd17b1, -3 and -12b proteins was predicted to be low. The various Hsd17b family genes differed in tissue expression pattern, and Hsd17b10, -12a and -12b were highly expressed in the flounder ovary. Moreover, throughout gonadal development, Hsd17b3 was highly expressed in the testis, and Hsd17b1, -12a and -12b were highly expressed in the ovary, suggesting that they might play an important role in testosterone synthesis in the testis or estrogen synthesis in the ovary. Activities of Hsd17b3 at stages I-V were all significantly higher in the testis than in the ovary (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Transfection analysis in HEK293T cells showed that Hsd17b1 and -3 were located in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. Additionally, after challenging fish with tamoxifen, Hsd17b3 expression level in the testis decreased significantly (P < 0.01), and in the ovary no significant change was observed. Moreover, the expression of Hsd17b1 in the ovary was significantly upregulated after injection with flutamide (P < 0.05). These findings introduce the characteristics of the flounder Hsd17b in subfamily, which contribute to our understanding of the regulation of sex steroid hormone synthesis in fish gonadal development.

Contribution of unfixed transposable element insertions to human regulatory variation

Thousands of unfixed transposable element (TE) insertions segregate in the human population, but little is known about their impact on genome function. Recently, a few studies associated unfixed TE insertions to mRNA levels of adjacent genes, but the biological significance of these associations, their replicability across cell types and the mechanisms by which they may regulate genes remain largely unknown. Here, we performed a TE-expression QTL analysis of 444 lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) and 289 induced pluripotent stem cells using a newly developed set of genotypes for 2743 polymorphic TE insertions. We identified 211 and 176 TE-eQTL acting in cis in each respective cell type. Approximately 18% were shared across cell types with strongly correlated effects. Furthermore, analysis of chromatin accessibility QTL in a subset of the LCL suggests that unfixed TEs often modulate the activity of enhancers and other distal regulatory DNA elements, which tend to lose accessibility when a TE inserts within them. We also document a case of an unfixed TE likely influencing gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Our study points to broad and diverse cis-regulatory effects of unfixed TEs in the human population and underscores their plausible contribution to phenotypic variation. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Crossroads between transposons and gene regulation'.

Genome-Wide Analysis and Function Prediction of Long Noncoding RNAs in Sheep Pituitary Gland Associated with Sexual Maturation

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) plays a crucial role in the hypothalamic-pituitary-testis (HPT) axis associated with sheep reproduction. The pituitary plays a connecting role in the HPT axis. However, little is known of their expression pattern and potential roles in the pituitary gland. To explore the potential lncRNAs that regulate the male sheep pituitary development and sexual maturation, we constructed immature and mature sheep pituitary cDNA libraries (three-month-old, TM, and nine-month-old, NM, respectively, n = 3) for lncRNA and mRNA high-throughput sequencing. Firstly, the expression of lncRNA and mRNA were comparatively analyzed. 2417 known lncRNAs and 1256 new lncRNAs were identified. Then, 193 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs and 1407 DE mRNAs were found in the pituitary between the two groups. Moreover, mRNA-lncRNA interaction network was constructed according to the target gene prediction of lncRNA and functional enrichment analysis. Five candidate lncRNAs and their targeted genes HSD17B12, DCBLD2, PDPK1, GPX3 and DLL1 that enriched in growth and reproduction related pathways were further filtered. Lastly, the interaction of candidate lncRNA TCONS_00066406 and its targeted gene HSD17B12 were validated in in vitro of sheep pituitary cells. Our study provided a systematic presentation of lncRNAs and mRNAs in male sheep pituitary, which revealed the potential role of lncRNA in male reproduction.

Beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Genes in Orange-Spotted Grouper (Epinephelus coioides): Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis During Sex Reversal

Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (β-HSDs) are a group of steroidogenic enzymes that are involved in steroid biosynthesis and metabolism, and play a crucial role in mammalian physiology and development, including sex determination and differentiation. In the present study, a genome-wide analysis identified the numbers of β-hsd genes in orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) (19), human (Homo sapiens) (22), mouse (Mus musculus) (24), chicken (Gallus gallus) (16), xenopus (Xenopus tropicalis) (24), coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) (17), spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) (14), zebrafish (Danio rerio) (19), fugu (Takifugu rubripes) (19), tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (19), medaka (Oryzias latipes) (19), stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) (17) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) (27) samples. A comparative analysis revealed that the number of β-hsd genes in teleost fish was no greater than in tetrapods due to gene loss followed by a teleost-specific whole-genome duplication event. Based on transcriptome data from grouper brain and gonad samples during sex reversal, six β-hsd genes had relatively high expression levels in the brain, indicating that these genes may be required for neurogenesis or the maintenance of specific biological processes in the brain. In the gonad, two and eight β-hsd genes were up- and downregulated, respectively, indicating their important roles in sex reversal. Our results demonstrated that β-hsd genes may be involved in the sex reversal of grouper by regulating the synthesis and metabolism of sex steroid hormones.

Mammalian ovarian lipid distributions by desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) imaging

Merging optical images of tissue sections with the spatial distributions of molecules seen by imaging mass spectrometry is a powerful approach to better understand the metabolic roles of the mapped molecules. Here, we use histologically friendly desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) to map the lipid distribution in tissue sections of ovaries from cows (N = 8), sows (N = 3), and mice (N = 12). Morphologically friendly DESI-MS imaging allows the same sections to be examined for morphological information. Independent of the species, ovarian follicles, corpora lutea, and stroma could be differentiated by principal component analysis, showing that lipid profiles are well conserved among species. As examples of specific findings, arachidonic acid and the phosphatidylinositol PI(38:4), were both found concentrated in the follicles and corpora lutea, structures that promoted ovulation and implantation, respectively. Adrenic acid was spatially located in the corpora lutea, suggesting the importance of this fatty acid in the ovary luteal phase. In summary, lipid information captured by DESI-MS imaging could be related to ovarian structures and data were all conserved among cows, sows, and mice. Further application of DESI-MS imaging to either physiological or pathophysiological models of reproductive conditions will likely expand knowledge of the roles of specific lipids and pathways in ovarian activity and mammalian fertility. Graphical abstract Desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) is performed directly from frozen ovarian tissue sections placed onto glass slides. Because the desorption and ionization process of small molecules is so gentle, the tissue architecture is preserved. The sample can then be stained and tissue morphology information can be overlaid with the chemical information obtained by DESI-MS.

Phenotypic and Molecular Characterization of Risk Loci Associated With Asthma and Lung Function

Purpose

Respiratory diseases have a highly multifactorial etiology where different mechanisms contribute to the individual's susceptibility. We conducted a deep characterization of loci associated with asthma and lung function by previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS).

Methods

Sixteen variants were selected from previous GWAS of childhood/adult asthma and pulmonary function tests. We conducted a phenome-wide association study of these loci in 4,083 traits assessed in the UK Biobank (n = 361,194 participants). Data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project were used to conduct a transcriptomic analysis with respect to tissues relevant for asthma pathogenesis. A pediatric cohort assessed with the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) Phase II tools was used to further explore the association of these variants with 116 traits related to asthma comorbidities.

Results

Our phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS) identified 206 phenotypic associations with respect to the 16 variants identified. In addition to the replication of the phenotypes tested in the discovery GWAS, we observed novel associations related to blood levels of immune cells (eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes) for the asthma-related variants. Conversely, the lung-function variants were associated with phenotypes related to body fat mass. In the ISAAC-assessed cohort, we observed that risk alleles associated with increased fat mass can exacerbate allergic reactions in individuals affected by allergic respiratory diseases. The GTEx-based analysis showed that the variants tested affect the transcriptomic regulation of multiple surrounding genes across several tissues.

Conclusions

This study generated novel data regarding the genetics of respiratory diseases and their comorbidities, providing a deep characterization of loci associated with asthma and lung function.

17B-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases as acyl thioester metabolizing enzymes

17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSD17B) catalyze the oxidation/reduction of 17β-hydroxy/keto group in position C17 in C18- and C19 steroids. Most HSD17Bs are also catalytically active with substrates other than steroids. A subset of these enzymes is able to process thioesters of carboxylic acids. This group of enzymes includes HSD17B4, HSD17B8, HSD17B10 and HSD17B12, which execute reactions in intermediary metabolism, participating in peroxisomal β-oxidation of fatty acids, mitochondrial oxidation of 3R-hydroxyacyl-groups, breakdown of isoleucine and fatty acid chain elongation in endoplasmic reticulum. Divergent substrate acceptance capabilities exemplify acquirement of catalytic site adaptiveness during evolution. As an additional common feature these HSD17Bs are multifunctional enzymes that arose either via gene fusions (HSD17B4) or are incorporated as subunits into multifunctional protein complexes (HSD17B8 and HSD17B10). Crystal structures of HSD17B4, HSD17B8 and HSD17B10 give insight into their structure-function relationships. Thus far, deficiencies of HSD17B4 and HSD17B10 have been assigned to inborn errors in humans, underlining their significance as enzymes of metabolism.

Subcellular localization and membrane topology of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases

The 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17β-HSDs) comprise enzymes initially identified by their ability to interconvert active and inactive forms of sex steroids, a vital process for the tissue-specific control of estrogen and androgen balance. However, most 17β-HSDs have now been shown to accept substrates other than sex steroids, including bile acids, retinoids and fatty acids, thereby playing unanticipated roles in cell physiology. This functional divergence is often reflected by their different subcellular localization, with 17β-HSDs found in the cytosol, peroxisome, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and in lipid droplets. Moreover, a subset of 17β-HSDs are integral membrane proteins, with their specific topology dictating the cellular compartment in which they exert their enzymatic activity. Here, we summarize the present knowledge on the subcellular localization and membrane topology of the 17β-HSD enzymes and discuss the correlation with their biological functions.

Comparative analysis of differentially expressed genes between the ovaries from pregnant and nonpregnant goats using RNA-Seq

Background

A multitude of genes tightly regulate ovarian follicular development and hormone secretion. These complex and coordinated biological processes are altered during pregnancy. In order to further understand the regulatory role of these genes during pregnancy, it is important to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the ovaries of pregnant and nonpregnant mammals. To detect the genes associated with the development of pregnancy in goats, DEGs from the ovaries from pregnant and nonpregnant Anhui white goats (pAWGs and nAWGs, respectively) were analyzed using RNA sequencing technology (RNA-Seq).

Results

In this study, 13,676,394 and 13,549,560 clean reads were generated from pAWGs and nAWGs, respectively, and 1724 DEGs were identified between the two libraries. Compared with nAWGs, 1033 genes were upregulated and 691 genes were downregulated in pAWGs, including PGR, PRLR, STAR and CYP19A1, which play important roles in goat reproduction. Gene Ontology analysis showed that the DEGs were enriched for 49 functional GO terms. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed that 397 DEGs were significantly enriched in 13 pathways, including “cell cycle”, “cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction” and “steroid biosynthesis”, suggesting that the genes may be associated with cell cycle regulation, follicular development and hormone secretion to regulate the reproduction process. Additionally, quantitative real-time PCR was used to verify the reliability of the RNA-Seq data.

Conclusions

The data obtained in this work enrich the genetic resources of goat and provide a further understanding of the complex molecular regulatory mechanisms occurring during the development of pregnancy and reproduction in goats. The DEGs screened in this study may play an important role in follicular development and hormone secretion and they would provide scientific basis for related research in the future.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s40709-019-0095-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

CHP1 Regulates Compartmentalized Glycerolipid Synthesis by Activating GPAT4

Cells require a constant supply of fatty acids to survive and proliferate. Fatty acids incorporate into membrane and storage glycerolipids through a series of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) enzymes, but how these enzymes are regulated is not well understood. Here, using a combination of CRISPR-based genetic screens and unbiased lipidomics, we identified calcineurin B homologous protein 1 (CHP1) as a major regulator of ER glycerolipid synthesis. Loss of CHP1 severely reduces fatty acid incorporation and storage in mammalian cells and invertebrates. Mechanistically, CHP1 binds and activates GPAT4, which catalyzes the initial rate-limiting step in glycerolipid synthesis. GPAT4 activity requires CHP1 to be N-myristoylated, forming a key molecular interface between the two proteins. Interestingly, upon CHP1 loss, the peroxisomal enzyme, GNPAT, partially compensates for the loss of ER lipid synthesis, enabling cell proliferation. Thus, our work identifies a conserved regulator of glycerolipid metabolism and reveals plasticity in lipid synthesis of proliferating cells.

Intracrine Regulation of Estrogen and Other Sex Steroid Levels in Endometrium and Non-gynecological Tissues; Pathology, Physiology, and Drug Discovery

Our understanding of the intracrine (or local) regulation of estrogen and other steroid synthesis and degradation expanded in the last decades, also thanks to recent technological advances in chromatography mass-spectrometry. Estrogen responsive tissues and organs are not passive receivers of the pool of steroids present in the blood but they can actively modify the intra-tissue steroid concentrations. This allows fine-tuning the exposure of responsive tissues and organs to estrogens and other steroids in order to best respond to the physiological needs of each specific organ. Deviations in such intracrine control can lead to unbalanced steroid hormone exposure and disturbances. Through a systematic bibliographic search on the expression of the intracrine enzymes in various tissues, this review gives an up-to-date view of the intracrine estrogen metabolisms, and to a lesser extent that of progestogens and androgens, in the lower female genital tract, including the physiological control of endometrial functions, receptivity, menopausal status and related pathological conditions. An overview of the intracrine regulation in extra gynecological tissues such as the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, brain, colon and bone is given. Current therapeutic approaches aimed at interfering with these metabolisms and future perspectives are discussed.

Cell type-specific analysis of transcriptome changes in the porcine endometrium on Day 12 of pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Along with trophoblast elongation (Days 10 to 12), estradiol is secreted in increasing amounts for recognition of pregnancy. Endometrial secretions driven by ovarian progesterone and conceptus signals are essential for conceptus growth and development. Results of transcriptome analyses of whole endometrial tissue samples in the pig indicated the need for cell type-specific endometrial gene expression analysis for a better understanding of transcriptome changes associated with establishment of pregnancy.

RESULTS

The most distinct transcriptome profile and the majority of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in luminal epithelium (LE). Many DEGs were found only in the cell type-specific analysis. The functional classification of DEGs identified in specific endometrial cell types revealed various distinct functions and pathways. Genes related to immune activation, estrogen signaling pathway, embryo development, and cell proliferation were upregulated in LE of pregnant gilts. Genes involved in sterol biosynthetic and metabolic processes and extracellular matrix were upregulated in stroma. Genes associated with cell communication such as via exosomes and vesicles were found as differential in LE, glandular epithelium (GE), and stroma (S).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that conceptus signals induce different transcriptomic regulations in the endometrial compartments/cell types related to their specific function during recognition and establishment of pregnancy.

MiR-152 Regulates Apoptosis and Triglyceride Production in MECs via Targeting ACAA2 and HSD17B12 Genes

Mammary epithelial cells (MECs) affect milk production capacity during lactation and are critical for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Our previous studies have revealed that the expression of miR-152 was increased significantly in MECs of cows with high milk production. In the present study, bioinformatics analysis identified ACAA2 and HSD17B12 as the potential targets of miR-152, which were further validated by dual-luciferase repoter assay. In addition, the expressions of miR-152 was shown to be negatively correlated with levels of mRNA and protein of ACAA2, HSD17B12 genes by qPCR and western bot analysis. Furthermore, transfection with miR-152 significantly up-regulated triglyceride production, promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis in MECs. Furthermore, overexpression of ACAA2 and HSD17B12 could inhibit triglyceride production, cells proliferation and induce apoptosis; but sh234-ACAA2-181/sh234-HSD17B12-474 could reverse the trend. These findings suggested that miR-152 could significantly influence triglyceride production and suppress apoptosis, possibly via the expression of target genes ACAA2 and HSD17B12.

Genome-wide analysis of brain and gonad transcripts reveals changes of key sex reversal-related genes expression and signaling pathways in three stages of Monopterus albus

Background

The natural sex reversal severely affects the sex ratio and thus decreases the productivity of the rice field eel (Monopterus albus). How to understand and manipulate this process is one of the major issues for the rice field eel stocking. So far the genomics and transcriptomics data available for this species are still scarce. Here we provide a comprehensive study of transcriptomes of brain and gonad tissue in three sex stages (female, intersex and male) from the rice field eel to investigate changes in transcriptional level during the sex reversal process.

Results

Approximately 195 thousand unigenes were generated and over 44.4 thousand were functionally annotated. Comparative study between stages provided multiple differentially expressed genes in brain and gonad tissue. Overall 4668 genes were found to be of unequal abundance between gonad tissues, far more than that of the brain tissues (59 genes). These genes were enriched in several different signaling pathways. A number of 231 genes were found with different levels in gonad in each stage, with several reproduction-related genes included. A total of 19 candidate genes that could be most related to sex reversal were screened out, part of these genes’ expression patterns were validated by RT-qPCR. The expression of spef2, maats1, spag6 and dmc1 were abundant in testis, but was barely detected in females, while the 17β-hsd12, zpsbp3, gal3 and foxn5 were only expressed in ovary.

Conclusion

This study investigated the complexity of brain and gonad transcriptomes in three sex stages of the rice field eel. Integrated analysis of different gene expression and changes in signaling pathways, such as PI3K-Akt pathway, provided crucial data for further study of sex transformation mechanisms.