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Galli J, Almiñana C, Wiesendanger M, Schuler G, Kowalewski MP, Klisch K. Bovine placental extracellular vesicles carry the fusogenic syncytin BERV-K1. Theriogenology 2024; 223:59-69. [PMID: 38678697 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.04.012] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Syncytins are endogenous retroviral envelope proteins which induce the fusion of membranes. A human representative of this group, endogenous retrovirus group W member 1 envelope (ERVW-1) or syncytin-1 is present in trophoblast-derived extracellular vesicles and supports the incorporation of these extracellular vesicles into recipient cells. During pregnancy, placenta-derived extracellular vesicles participate in feto-maternal communication. Bovine fetal binucleate trophoblast cells express the syncytin, bovine endogenous retroviral envelope protein K1 (BERV-K1). These cells release extracellular vesicles into the maternal stroma, but it is unclear whether BERV-K1 is included in these extracellular vesicles. Here, extracellular vesicles were isolated from bovine placental tissue using collagenase digestion, ultracentrifugation, and size exclusion chromatography. They were characterized with transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, immunoblotting and mass spectrometry. Immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy were used to localize BERV-K1 within the bovine placental tissue. The isolated extracellular vesicles range between 50 and 300 nm, carrying multiple extracellular vesicle biomarkers. Proteomic analysis and immunoelectron microscopy confirmed BERV-K1 presence on the isolated extracellular vesicles. Further, BERV-K1 was localized on intraluminal vesicles in secretory granules of binucleate trophoblast cells. The presence of BERV-K1 on bovine placental extracellular vesicles suggests their role in feto-maternal communication and potential involvement of BERV-K1 in uptake of extracellular vesicles by target cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Galli
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carmen Almiñana
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mahesa Wiesendanger
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Virology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gerhard Schuler
- Veterinary Clinic for Reproductive Medicine and Neonatology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 106, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Mariusz Pawel Kowalewski
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland; Center for Clinical Studies (ZKS), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Karl Klisch
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland; Division of Veterinary Anatomy, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 120, 3350, Bern, Switzerland.
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Stefanetti V, Pascucci L, Wilsher S, Cappelli K, Capomaccio S, Reale L, Passamonti F, Coletti M, Crociati M, Monaci M, Marenzoni ML. Differential Expression Pattern of Retroviral Envelope Gene in the Equine Placenta. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:693416. [PMID: 34307531 PMCID: PMC8298818 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.693416] [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: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are proviral phases of exogenous retroviruses, which have coevolved with vertebrate genomes for millions of years. The conservation of ERV genes throughout evolution suggests their beneficial effects on their hosts' survival. An example of such positive selection is demonstrated by the syncytin gene, which encodes a protein with affinity for various mammalian placentas that is involved in the formation of syncytiotrophoblasts. Although the horse has an epitheliochorial placenta, in which the fetal trophoblasts are simply apposed to the intact uterine epithelium, we have previously demonstrated that the equine ERV (EqERV) env RNA is unexpectedly expressed in placental tissue. In the present study, we investigated the mRNA expression pattern of the EqERV env gene in different parts of the equine placenta, to gain more insight into its putative role in the fetal–maternal relationship. To this end, we used reverse transcription–quantitative PCR (RT–qPCR) and in situ hybridization assays to analyze different target areas of the equine placenta. The retroviral env gene is expressed in the equine placenta, even though there is no syncytium or erosion of the uterine endometrium. The gene is also expressed in all the sampled areas, although with some quantitative differences. We suggest that these differences are attributable to variations in the density, height, and degree of morphological complexity of the chorionic villi forming the microcotyledons. The involvement of the EqERV env gene in different functional pathways affecting the fetus–mother relationship can be hypothesized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luisa Pascucci
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Sandra Wilsher
- The Paul Mellon Laboratory of Equine Reproduction, 'Brunswick', Newmarket, United Kingdom
| | - Katia Cappelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Stefano Capomaccio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Lara Reale
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Mauro Coletti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Martina Crociati
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.,Centre for Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Monaci
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.,Centre for Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Bergallo M, Marozio L, Botta G, Tancredi A, Daprà V, Galliano I, Montanari P, Coscia A, Benedetto C, Tovo PA. Human Endogenous Retroviruses Are Preferentially Expressed in Mononuclear Cells From Cord Blood Than From Maternal Blood and in the Fetal Part of Placenta. Front Pediatr 2020; 8:244. [PMID: 32478020 PMCID: PMC7240011 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.00244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Placenta shows high transcription levels of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) that are overexpressed during embryonic and fetal development. Methods: In order to gather further information on the degree of HERV activation in maternal and fetal tissues we assessed the transcription levels of pol genes of HERV-H, -K, and -W in PBMCs of newborns and their mothers as well as in chorion (fetal part) and decidua basalis (maternal part) of the placenta using a real time PCR assay. Results: Transcripts of pol genes of the three HERV families were significantly higher in mononuclear cells from cord blood than from maternal blood and in the fetal part than in the maternal part of the placenta. Conclusions: The HERV over-expressions in cells and tissues of the offspring are further clues that they play pivotal physiologic roles during early life events and suggest that HERV-driven abnormalities of pregnancy and fetal development may derive mostly from the conceptus, not from the mother.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Bergallo
- Pediatric Laboratory, Department of Pediatric Sciences and Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Department of Pediatric Sciences and Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Luca Marozio
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology 1, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giovanni Botta
- Department of Pathology AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Annalisa Tancredi
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology 1, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Valentina Daprà
- Pediatric Laboratory, Department of Pediatric Sciences and Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Department of Pediatric Sciences and Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Ilaria Galliano
- Pediatric Laboratory, Department of Pediatric Sciences and Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Department of Pediatric Sciences and Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Paola Montanari
- Pediatric Laboratory, Department of Pediatric Sciences and Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Department of Pediatric Sciences and Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandra Coscia
- Neonatology Unit, Department of Pediatric Sciences and Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Chiara Benedetto
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology 1, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Pier Angelo Tovo
- Department of Pediatric Sciences and Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Cappelli K, Gialletti R, Tesei B, Bassotti G, Fettucciari K, Capomaccio S, Bonfili L, Cuccioloni M, Eleuteri AM, Spaterna A, Laus F. Guanylin, Uroguanylin and Guanylate Cyclase-C Are Expressed in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Horses. Front Physiol 2019; 10:1237. [PMID: 31611814 PMCID: PMC6776823 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) is a multifunctional receptor encoded by the GUCY2C gene, representing an attractive target for therapy in several gastrointestinal diseases in humans. Little is known about this system in horses. We investigated for the first time the gene expression of guanylin, uroguanylin and GC-C receptors in different horse’s gastrointestinal tracts. Tissue samples from stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, head and body of cecum, left and right dorsal colon, left and right ventral colon, pelvic flexure, transverse colon, descending colon and rectum were collected from adult horses within 1 h post mortem. For each sample, total RNA was extracted from 100 mg of ground tissue, and qRT-PCR performed on GUCA2a, GUCA2b and GUCY2 transcripts on a CFX96 Touch instrument. Data analysis was carried out with Bio-Rad CFX Manager software, and genes of interest normalized relative to the abundance of the two reference genes (SDHA, HPRT). Additionally, the protein expression levels of GC-C receptor were analyzed through western blotting. A common pattern of expression throughout the gastrointestinal lumen for all three investigated transcripts was found. The expression of GUCA2a, GUCA2b and GUCY2 genes was higher in jejunum, ileum, descending colon and rectum. The levels of expression of GC-C protein confirmed these data. The findings of this study might open new scenarios for the therapeutic approach to enteric diseases of horse using selective agonists of GC-C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katia Cappelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Gialletti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Beniamino Tesei
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Gabrio Bassotti
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Katia Fettucciari
- Department of Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Stefano Capomaccio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Laura Bonfili
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | | | - Anna Maria Eleuteri
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Andrea Spaterna
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Fulvio Laus
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
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Liu C, Xu J, Wen F, Yang F, Li X, Geng D, Li L, Chen J, Zheng J. Upregulation of syncytin-1 promotes invasion and metastasis by activating epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related pathway in endometrial carcinoma. Onco Targets Ther 2018; 12:31-40. [PMID: 30588028 PMCID: PMC6301305 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s191041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is the most common and lethal malignancy worldwide. Syncytin-1 is expressed in multiple types of cancer. However, the expression pattern and potential mechanism of syncytin-1 and its clinical significance in EC remain unclear. Materials and methods We analyzed 130 primary EC specimens from Binzhou Medical University to investigate the clinical role of syncytin-1 in EC by using different advanced pathological stages of EC tissues. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to measure the overall survival of EC patients. Syncytin-1 expression was analyzed by Western blot assays in HECCL-1 and RL-95-2 cells. Cell proliferation, cycle, migration, and invasion abilities were detected by cell counting kit-8, flow cytometry, and transwell assays. AKT and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes were assessed by Western blot assays in HECCL-1 and RL-95-2 cells. Results Syncytin-1 was upregulated in EC tissues and cells and was related to clinical stages, expression of ER, Ki-67, and overall survival of EC. Functional research revealed that overexpression of syncytin-1 can promote cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and the migration and invasion of EC cells. Suppression of syncytin-1 expression also inhibited cell proliferation and apoptosis in vitro. The expression of syncytin-1 substantially improved the expression levels of EMT-related genes (vimentin, E-cadherin, slug, and ZEB1) but significantly decreased those of epithelial markers (N-cadherin and snail). In addition, we found that syncytin-1 was not correlated with AKT-related genes (total-AKT, p-AKT, and vinculin). Conclusion Our results suggested that syncytin-1 may promote aggressive behavior and can serve as a novel prognostic biomarker for EC. Our study provides new insights into the regulatory mechanism of EMT signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changmin Liu
- Department of Oncology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou 256603, Shandong, China
| | - Jiqin Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shuyang People's Hospital, Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Feifei Wen
- Department of Pathology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou 256603, Shandong, China
| | - Fangfang Yang
- Department of Oncology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou 256603, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoming Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Dianzhong Geng
- Department of Oncology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou 256603, Shandong, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Oncology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou 256603, Shandong, China
| | - Jiming Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Changzhou No 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213000, Jiangsu, China,
| | - Jing Zheng
- Department of Clinical Medicine Laboratory, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou 256603, Shandong, China,
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Zhu H, Gifford RJ, Murcia PR. Distribution, Diversity, and Evolution of Endogenous Retroviruses in Perissodactyl Genomes. J Virol 2018; 92:e00927-18. [PMID: 30209175 PMCID: PMC6232481 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00927-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolution of mammalian genomes has been shaped by interactions with endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). In this study, we investigated the distribution and diversity of ERVs in the mammalian order Perissodactyla, with a view to understanding their impact on the evolution of modern equids (family Equidae). We characterize the major ERV lineages in the horse genome in terms of their genomic distribution, ancestral genome organization, and time of activity. Our results show that subsequent to their ancestral divergence from rhinoceroses and tapirs, equids acquired four novel ERV lineages. We show that two of these ERV lineages proliferated extensively in the lineage leading to modern horses, and one contains loci that are actively transcribed in specific tissues. In addition, we show that the white rhinoceros has resisted germ line colonization by retroviruses for more than 54 million years-longer than any other extant mammalian species. The map of equine ERVs that we provide here will be of great utility to future studies aiming to investigate the potential functional roles of equine ERVs and their impact on equine evolution.IMPORTANCE ERVs in the host genome are highly informative about the long-term interactions of retroviruses and hosts. They are also interesting because they have influenced the evolution of mammalian genomes in various ways. In this study, we derive a calibrated timeline describing the process through which ERV diversity has been generated in the equine germ line. We determined the distribution and diversity of perissodactyl ERV lineages and inferred their retrotranspositional activity during evolution, thereby gaining insight into the long-term coevolutionary history of retroviruses and mammals. Our study provides a platform for future investigations to identify equine ERV loci involved in physiological processes and/or pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henan Zhu
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | | | - Pablo Ramiro Murcia
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Read JE, Cabrera-Sharp V, Kitscha P, Cartwright JE, King PJ, Fowkes RC, de Mestre AM. Glial Cells Missing 1 Regulates Equine Chorionic Gonadotrophin Beta Subunit via Binding to the Proximal Promoter. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:195. [PMID: 29755409 PMCID: PMC5932191 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) is a placental glycoprotein critical for early equine pregnancy and used therapeutically in a number of species to support reproductive activity. The factors in trophoblast that transcriptionally regulate eCGβ-subunit (LHB), the gene which confers the hormones specificity for the receptor, are not known. The aim of this study was to determine if glial cells missing 1 regulates LHB promoter activity. Here, studies of the LHB proximal promoter identified four binding sites for glial cells missing 1 (GCM1) and western blot analysis confirmed GCM1 was expressed in equine chorionic girdle (ChG) and surrounding tissues. Luciferase assays demonstrated endogenous activity of the LHB promoter in BeWo choriocarcinoma cells with greatest activity by a proximal 335 bp promoter fragment. Transactivation studies in COS7 cells using an equine GCM1 expression vector showed GCM1 could transactivate the proximal 335 bp LHB promoter. Chromatin immunoprecipitation using primary ChG trophoblast cells showed GCM1 to preferentially bind to the most proximal GCM1-binding site over site 2. Mutation of site 1 but not site 2 resulted in a loss of endogenous promoter activity in BeWo cells and failure of GCM1 to transactivate the promoter in COS-7 cells. Together, these data show that GCM1 binds to site 1 in the LHB promoter but also requires the upstream segment of the LHB promoter between -119 bp and -335 bp of the translation start codon for activity. GCM1 binding partners, ETV1, ETV7, HOXA13, and PITX1, were found to be differentially expressed in the ChG between days 27 and 34 and are excellent candidates for this role. In conclusion, GCM1 was demonstrated to drive the LHB promoter, through direct binding to a predicted GCM1-binding site, with requirement for another factor(s) to bind the proximal promoter to exert this function. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that ETV7 and HOXA13 act in concert with GCM1 to initiate LHB transcription between days 30 and 31, with ETV1 partnering with GCM1 to maintain transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan E. Read
- Department Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria Cabrera-Sharp
- Department Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Phoebe Kitscha
- Department Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Judith E. Cartwright
- St. Georges Medical School, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter J. King
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert C. Fowkes
- Department Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda M. de Mestre
- Department Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Amanda M. de Mestre,
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