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Wang P, Wen X, Li H, Lang P, Li S, Lei Y, Shu H, Gao L, Zhao D, Zeng J. Deciphering driver regulators of cell fate decisions from single-cell transcriptomics data with CEFCON. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8459. [PMID: 38123534 PMCID: PMC10733330 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44103-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Single-cell technologies enable the dynamic analyses of cell fate mapping. However, capturing the gene regulatory relationships and identifying the driver factors that control cell fate decisions are still challenging. We present CEFCON, a network-based framework that first uses a graph neural network with attention mechanism to infer a cell-lineage-specific gene regulatory network (GRN) from single-cell RNA-sequencing data, and then models cell fate dynamics through network control theory to identify driver regulators and the associated gene modules, revealing their critical biological processes related to cell states. Extensive benchmarking tests consistently demonstrated the superiority of CEFCON in GRN construction, driver regulator identification, and gene module identification over baseline methods. When applied to the mouse hematopoietic stem cell differentiation data, CEFCON successfully identified driver regulators for three developmental lineages, which offered useful insights into their differentiation from a network control perspective. Overall, CEFCON provides a valuable tool for studying the underlying mechanisms of cell fate decisions from single-cell RNA-seq data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peizhuo Wang
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
- School of Engineering, Westlake University, 310030, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xiao Wen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Han Li
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Lang
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Shuya Li
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
- School of Engineering, Westlake University, 310030, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yipin Lei
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Hantao Shu
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Gao
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, 710071, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Dan Zhao
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
| | - Jianyang Zeng
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
- School of Engineering, Westlake University, 310030, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
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Regin M, Essahib W, Demtschenko A, Dewandre D, David L, Gerri C, Niakan KK, Verheyen G, Tournaye H, Sterckx J, Sermon K, Van De Velde H. Lineage segregation in human pre-implantation embryos is specified by YAP1 and TEAD1. Hum Reprod 2023:7193343. [PMID: 37295962 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Which processes and transcription factors specify the first and second lineage segregation events during human preimplantation development? SUMMARY ANSWER Differentiation into trophectoderm (TE) cells can be initiated independently of polarity; moreover, TEAD1 and YAP1 co-localize in (precursor) TE and primitive endoderm (PrE) cells, suggesting a role in both the first and the second lineage segregation events. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY We know that polarity, YAP1/GATA3 signalling and phospholipase C signalling play a key role in TE initiation in compacted human embryos, however, little is known about the TEAD family of transcription factors that become activated by YAP1 and, especially, whether they play a role during epiblast (EPI) and PrE formation. In mouse embryos, polarized outer cells show nuclear TEAD4/YAP1 activity that upregulates Cdx2 and Gata3 expression while inner cells exclude YAP1 which upregulates Sox2 expression. The second lineage segregation event in mouse embryos is orchestrated by FGF4/FGFR2 signalling which could not be confirmed in human embryos; TEAD1/YAP1 signalling also plays a role during the establishment of mouse EPI cells. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Based on morphology, we set up a development timeline of 188 human preimplantation embryos between Day 4 and 6 post-fertilization (dpf). The compaction process was divided into three subgroups: embryos at the start (C0), during (C1), and at the end (C2) of, compaction. Inner cells were identified as cells that were entirely separated from the perivitelline space and enclosed by cellular contacts on all sides. The blastulation process was divided into six subgroups, starting with early blastocysts with sickle-cell shaped outer cells (B0) and further on, blastocysts with a cavity (B1). Full blastocysts (B2) showed a visible ICM and outer cells referred to as TE. Further expanded blastocysts (B3) had accumulated fluid and started to expand due to TE cell proliferation and zona pellucida (ZP) thinning. The blastocysts then significantly expanded further (B4) and started to hatch out of the ZP (B5) until they were fully hatched (B6). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS After informed consent and the expiration of the 5-year cryopreservation duration, 188 vitrified high quality eight-cell stage human embryos (3 dpf) were warmed and cultured until the required stages were reached. We also cultured 14 embryos that were created for research until the four- and eight-cell stage. The embryos were scored according to their developmental stage (C0-B6) displaying morphological key differences, rather than defining them according to their chronological age. They were fixed and immunostained for different combinations of cytoskeleton (F-actin), polarization (p-ERM), TE (GATA3), EPI (NANOG), PrE (GATA4 and SOX17), and members of the Hippo signalling pathway (YAP1, TEAD1 and TEAD4). We choose these markers based on previous observations in mouse embryos and single cell RNA-sequencing data of human embryos. After confocal imaging (LSM800, Zeiss), we analysed cell numbers within each lineage, different co-localization patterns and nuclear enrichment. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE We found that in human preimplantation embryos compaction is a heterogeneous process that takes place between the eight-cell to the 16-cell stages. Inner and outer cells are established at the end of the compaction process (C2) when the embryos contain up to six inner cells. Full apical p-ERM polarity is present in all outer cells of compacted C2 embryos. Co-localization of p-ERM and F-actin increases steadily from 42.2% to 100% of the outer cells, between C2 and B1 stages, while p-ERM polarizes before F-actin (P < 0.00001). Next, we sought to determine which factors specify the first lineage segregation event. We found that 19.5% of the nuclei stain positive for YAP1 at the start of compaction (C0) which increases to 56.1% during compaction (C1). At the C2 stage, 84.6% of polarized outer cells display high levels of nuclear YAP1 while it is absent in 75% of non-polarized inner cells. In general, throughout the B0-B3 blastocyst stages, polarized outer/TE cells are mainly positive for YAP1 and non-polarized inner/ICM cells are negative for YAP1. From the C1 stage onwards, before polarity is established, the TE marker GATA3 is detectable in YAP1 positive cells (11.6%), indicating that differentiation into TE cells can be initiated independently of polarity. Co-localization of YAP1 and GATA3 increases steadily in outer/TE cells (21.8% in C2 up to 97.3% in B3). Transcription factor TEAD4 is ubiquitously present throughout preimplantation development from the compacted stage onwards (C2-B6). TEAD1 displays a distinct pattern that coincides with YAP1/GATA3 co-localization in the outer cells. Most outer/TE cells throughout the B0-B3 blastocyst stages are positive for TEAD1 and YAP1. However, TEAD1 proteins are also detected in most nuclei of the inner/ICM cells of the blastocysts from cavitation onwards, but at visibly lower levels as compared to that in TE cells. In the ICM of B3 blastocysts, we found one main population of cells with NANOG+/SOX17-/GATA4- nuclei (89.1%), but exceptionally we found NANOG+/SOX17+/GATA4+ cells (0.8%). In seven out of nine B3 blastocysts, nuclear NANOG was found in all the ICM cells, supporting the previously reported hypothesis that PrE cells arise from EPI cells. Finally, to determine which factors specify the second lineage segregation event, we co-stained for TEAD1, YAP1, and GATA4. We identified two main ICM cell populations in B4-6 blastocysts: the EPI (negative for the three markers, 46.5%) and the PrE (positive for the three markers, 28.1%) cells. We conclude that TEAD1 and YAP1 co-localise in (precursor) TE and PrE cells, indicating that TEAD1/YAP1 signalling plays a role in the first and the second lineage segregation events. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION In this descriptive study, we did not perform functional studies to investigate the role of TEAD1/YAP1 signalling during the first and second lineage segregation events. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our detailed roadmap on polarization, compaction, position and lineage segregation events during human preimplantation development paves the way for further functional studies. Understanding the gene regulatory networks and signalling pathways involved in early embryogenesis could ultimately provide insights into why embryonic development is sometimes impaired and facilitate the establishment of guidelines for good practice in the IVF lab. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS This work was financially supported by Wetenschappelijk Fonds Willy Gepts (WFWG) of the University Hospital UZ Brussel (WFWG142) and the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek-Vlaanderen (FWO, G034514N). M.R. is doctoral fellow at the FWO. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Regin
- Research Group Reproduction and Genetics (REGE), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wafaa Essahib
- Research Group Reproduction and Immunology (REIM), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Andrej Demtschenko
- Research Group Reproduction and Genetics (REGE), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Delphine Dewandre
- Research Group Reproduction and Genetics (REGE), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Beacon CARE Fertility, Beacon Consultants Concourse, Sandyford, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Laurent David
- Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Nantes, France
- Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, INSERM, CNRS, SFR Santé, FED 4203, INSERM UMS 016, CNRS UMS 3556, Nantes, France
| | - Claudia Gerri
- Human Embryo and Stem Cell Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, Dresden, 01307, Germany
| | - Kathy K Niakan
- Human Embryo and Stem Cell Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Centre for Trophoblast Research, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge, UK
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Greta Verheyen
- Brussels IVF, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Belgium, Brussels
| | - Herman Tournaye
- Brussels IVF, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Belgium, Brussels
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Perinatology and Reproduction, Institute of Professional Education, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Johan Sterckx
- Brussels IVF, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Belgium, Brussels
| | - Karen Sermon
- Research Group Reproduction and Genetics (REGE), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hilde Van De Velde
- Research Group Reproduction and Immunology (REIM), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Brussels IVF, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Belgium, Brussels
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Lea RA, McCarthy A, Boeing S, Fallesen T, Elder K, Snell P, Christie L, Adkins S, Shaikly V, Taranissi M, Niakan KK. KLF17 promotes human naïve pluripotency but is not required for its establishment. Development 2021; 148:272511. [PMID: 34661235 PMCID: PMC8645209 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Current knowledge of the transcriptional regulation of human pluripotency is incomplete, with lack of interspecies conservation observed. Single-cell transcriptomics analysis of human embryos previously enabled us to identify transcription factors, including the zinc-finger protein KLF17, that are enriched in the human epiblast and naïve human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Here, we show that KLF17 is expressed coincident with the known pluripotency-associated factors NANOG and SOX2 across human blastocyst development. We investigate the function of KLF17 using primed and naïve hESCs for gain- and loss-of-function analyses. We find that ectopic expression of KLF17 in primed hESCs is sufficient to induce a naïve-like transcriptome and that KLF17 can drive transgene-mediated resetting to naïve pluripotency. This implies a role for KLF17 in establishing naïve pluripotency. However, CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout studies reveal that KLF17 is not required for naïve pluripotency acquisition in vitro. Transcriptome analysis of naïve hESCs identifies subtle effects on metabolism and signalling pathways following KLF17 loss of function, and possible redundancy with other KLF paralogues. Overall, we show that KLF17 is sufficient, but not necessary, for naïve pluripotency under the given in vitro conditions. Summary: Given that KLF17 was shown to be sufficient, but not necessary, to establish naïve pluripotent hESCs, KLF17 might function as a peripheral regulator of human pluripotent stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Lea
- Human Embryo and Stem Cell Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Afshan McCarthy
- Human Embryo and Stem Cell Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Stefan Boeing
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Service, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Todd Fallesen
- Crick Advanced Light Microscopy, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Kay Elder
- Bourn Hall Clinic, Bourn, Cambridge CB23 2TN, UK
| | - Phil Snell
- Bourn Hall Clinic, Bourn, Cambridge CB23 2TN, UK
| | | | - Sarah Adkins
- Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre, London W1G 6LP, UK
| | - Valerie Shaikly
- Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre, London W1G 6LP, UK
| | | | - Kathy K Niakan
- Human Embryo and Stem Cell Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK.,The Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
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Aboussahoud WS, Smith H, Stevens A, Wangsaputra I, Hunter HR, Kimber SJ, Seif MW, Brison DR. The expression and activity of Toll-like receptors in the preimplantation human embryo suggest a new role for innate immunity. Hum Reprod 2021; 36:2661-2675. [PMID: 34517414 PMCID: PMC8450873 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deab188] [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: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Is the innate immunity system active in early human embryo development? SUMMARY ANSWER The pattern recognition receptors and innate immunity Toll-like receptor (TLR) genes are widely expressed in preimplantation human embryos and the pathway appears to be active in response to TLR ligands. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Early human embryos are highly sensitive to their local environment, however relatively little is known about how embryos detect and respond to specific environmental cues. While the maternal immune response is known to be key to the establishment of pregnancy at implantation, the ability of human embryos to detect and signal the presence of pathogens is unknown. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Expression of TLR family and related genes in human embryos was assessed by analysis of published transcriptome data (n = 40). Day 5 (D-5) human embryos (n = 25) were cultured in the presence of known TLR ligands and gene expression and cytokine production measured compared to controls. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Human embryos surplus to treatment requirements were donated with informed consent from several ART centres. Embryos were cultured to Day 6 (D-6) in the presence of the TLR3 and TLR5 ligands Poly (I: C) and flagellin, with gene expression measured by quantitative PCR and cytokine release into medium measured using cytometric bead arrays. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE TLR and related genes, including downstream signalling molecules, were expressed variably at all human embryo developmental stages. Results showed the strongest expression in the blastocyst for TLRs 9 and 5, and throughout development for TLRs 9, 5, 2, 6 and 7. Stimulation of Day 5 blastocysts with TLR3 and TLR5 ligands Poly (I: C) and flagellin produced changes in mRNA expression levels of TLR genes, including the hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor (HMMR), TLR5, TLR7, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and monocyte chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) (P < 0.05, P < 0.001 compared to unstimulated controls), and release into culture medium of cytokines and chemokines, notably IL8 (P = 0.00005 and 0.01277 for flagellin and Poly (I: C), respectively). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This was a descriptive and experimental study which suggests that the TLR system is active in human embryos and capable of function, but does not confirm any particular role. Although we identified embryonic transcripts for a range of TLR genes, the expression patterns were not always consistent across published studies and expression levels of some genes were low, leaving open the possibility that these were expressed from the maternal rather than embryonic genome. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This is the first report of the expression and activity of a number of components of the innate immunity TLR system in human embryos. Understanding the role of TLRs during preimplantation human development may be important to reveal immunological mechanisms and potential clinical markers of embryo quality and pregnancy initiation during natural conception and in ART. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, The State of Libya, the UK Medical Research Council, and the NIHR Local Comprehensive Research Network and NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programmes under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No. 812660 (DohART-NET). In accordance with H2020 rules, no new human embryos were sacrificed for research activities performed from the EU funding, which concerned only in silico analyses of recorded time-lapse and transcriptomics datasets. None of the authors has any conflict of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER n/a.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wedad S Aboussahoud
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK.,Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Helen Smith
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK.,Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Adam Stevens
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK.,Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Ivan Wangsaputra
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK.,Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Helen R Hunter
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Old St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Susan J Kimber
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Mourad W Seif
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK.,Department of Reproductive Medicine, Old St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Daniel R Brison
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Old St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK
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Purkayastha M, Roberts SA, Gardiner J, Brison DR, Nelson SM, Lawlor D, Luke B, Sutcliffe A. Cohort profile: a national, population-based cohort of children born after assisted conception in the UK (1992-2009): methodology and birthweight analysis. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e050931. [PMID: 34281932 PMCID: PMC8291329 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To generate a large cohort of children born after assisted reproductive technology (ART) in the UK between 1992 and 2009, their naturally conceived siblings (NCS) and matched naturally conceived population (NCP) controls and linking this with health outcome data to allow exploration of the effects of ART. The effects of fresh and frozen embryo transfer on birth weight (BW) were analysed to test the validity of the cohort. PARTICIPANTS Children recorded on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) register as being born after ART between 1992 and 2009, their NCS and matched NCP controls linked to Office for National Statistics birth registration dataset (HFEA-ONS cohort). This cohort was further linked to the UK Hospital Episode Statistics database to allow monitoring of the child's post-natal health outcomes up to 2015 (HFEA-ONS-HES subcohort). FINDINGS TO DATE The HFEA-ONS cohort consisted of 75 348 children born after non-donor ART carried out in the UK between 1 April 1992 and 31 July 2009 and successfully linked to birth registration records, 14 763 NCS and 164 823 matched NCP controls. The HFEA-ONS-HES subcohort included 63 877 ART, 11 343 NCS and 127 544 matched NCP controls further linked to health outcome data. The exemplar analysis showed that children born after fresh embryo transfers were lighter (BW difference: -131 g, 95% CI: -140 to -123) and those born after frozen embryo transfers were heavier (BW difference: 35 g, 95% CI: 19 to 52) than the NCP controls. The within-sibling analyses were directionally consistent with the population control analyses, but attenuated markedly for the fresh versus natural conception (BW difference: -54 g; 95% CI: -72 to -36) and increased markedly for the frozen versus natural conception (BW difference: 152 g; 95% CI: 113 to 190) analyses. FUTURE PLANS To use this cohort to explore the relationship between ART conception and short-term and long-term health outcomes in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitana Purkayastha
- Population, Policy & Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Population Policy and Practice, London, UK
| | - Stephen A Roberts
- Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Julian Gardiner
- Population, Policy & Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Population Policy and Practice, London, UK
- Department of Education, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Daniel R Brison
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, UK
| | - Scott M Nelson
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, Reproductive & Maternal Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Deborah Lawlor
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol Bristol Population Health Science Institute, Bristol, UK
| | - Barbara Luke
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Alastair Sutcliffe
- Population, Policy & Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Population Policy and Practice, London, UK
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6
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Bahrami-Asl Z, Hajipour H, Rastgar Rezaei Y, Novinbahador T, Latifi Z, Nejabati HR, Farzadi L, Fattahi A, Nouri M, Dominguez F. Cytokines in embryonic secretome as potential markers for embryo selection. Am J Reprod Immunol 2020; 85:e13385. [PMID: 33300214 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13385] [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: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite performing certain morphological assessments for selecting the best embryo for transfer, the results have not been satisfactory. Given the global tendency for performing quick and noninvasive tests for embryo selection, great efforts have been made to discover the predictive biomarkers of embryo implantation potential. In recent years, many factors have been detected in embryo culture media as a major source of embryo secretions. Previous studies have evaluated cytokines, miRNAs, extracellular vesicles, and other factors such as leukemia inhibitory factor, colony-stimulating factor, reactive oxygen species, soluble human leukocyte antigen G, amino acids, and apolipoproteins in these media. Given the key role of cytokines in embryo implantation, these factors can be considered promising molecules for predicting the implantation success of assisted reproductive technology (ART). The present study was conducted to review embryo-secreted molecules as potential biomarkers for embryo selection in ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Bahrami-Asl
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Hajipour
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Yeganeh Rastgar Rezaei
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Tannaz Novinbahador
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Zeinab Latifi
- Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hamid Reza Nejabati
- Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Laya Farzadi
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amir Fattahi
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Nouri
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Francisco Dominguez
- Fundacion Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad (FIVI), Instituto Universitario IVI (IUIVI), ISS LaFe, Valencia, Spain
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7
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Coticchio G, Lagalla C, Sturmey R, Pennetta F, Borini A. The enigmatic morula: mechanisms of development, cell fate determination, self-correction and implications for ART. Hum Reprod Update 2020; 25:422-438. [PMID: 30855681 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmz008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2018] [Revised: 01/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Assisted reproduction technology offers the opportunity to observe the very early stages of human development. However, due to practical constraints, for decades morphological examination of embryo development has been undertaken at a few isolated time points at the stages of fertilisation (Day 1), cleavage (Day 2-3) and blastocyst (Day 5-6). Rather surprisingly, the morula stage (Day 3-4) has been so far neglected, despite its involvement in crucial cellular processes and developmental decisions. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE The objective of this review is to collate novel and unsuspected insights into developmental processes occurring during formation of the morula, highlighting the key importance of this stage for a better understanding of preimplantation development and an improvement of ART. SEARCH METHODS PubMed was used to search the MEDLINE database for peer-reviewed English-language original articles and reviews concerning the morula stage in mammals. Searches were performed by adopting 'embryo', 'morula', 'compaction', 'cell fate' and 'IVF/assisted reproduction' as main terms, in association with other keywords expressing concepts relevant to the subject (e.g. cell polarity). The most relevant publications, i.e. those concerning major phenomena occurring during formation of the morula in established experimental models and the human species, were assessed and discussed critically. OUTCOMES Novel live cell imaging technologies and cell biology studies have extended our understanding of morula formation as a key stage for the development of the blastocyst and determination of the inner cell mass (ICM) and the trophectoderm (TE). Cellular processes, such as dynamic formation of filopodia and cytoskeleton-mediated zippering cell-to-cell interactions, intervene to allow cell compaction (a geometrical requisite essential for development) and formation of the blastocoel, respectively. At the same time, differential orientation of cleavage planes, cell polarity and cortical tensile forces interact and cooperate to position blastomeres either internally or externally, thereby influencing their cellular fate. Recent time lapse microscopy (TLM) observations also suggest that in the human the process of compaction may represent an important checkpoint for embryo viability, through which chromosomally abnormal blastomeres are sensed and eliminated by the embryo. WIDER IMPLICATIONS In clinical embryology, the morula stage has been always perceived as a 'black box' in the continuum of preimplantation development. This has dictated its virtual exclusion from mainstream ART procedures. Recent findings described in this review indicate that the morula, and the associated process of compaction, as a crucial stage not only for the formation of the blastocyst, but also for the health of the conceptus. This understanding may open new avenues for innovative approaches to embryo manipulation, assessment and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cristina Lagalla
- 9.Baby, Family and Fertility Center, Via Dante 15, Bologna, Italy
| | - Roger Sturmey
- Centre for Cardiovascular Metabolic Research, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
| | | | - Andrea Borini
- 9.Baby, Family and Fertility Center, Via Dante 15, Bologna, Italy
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8
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Aberkane A, Essahib W, Spits C, De Paepe C, Sermon K, Adriaenssens T, Mackens S, Tournaye H, Brosens JJ, Van de Velde H. Expression of adhesion and extracellular matrix genes in human blastocysts upon attachment in a 2D co-culture system. Mol Hum Reprod 2019; 24:375-387. [PMID: 29846687 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gay024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION What are the changes in human embryos, in terms of morphology and gene expression, upon attachment to endometrial epithelial cells? SUMMARY ANSWER Apposition and adhesion of human blastocysts to endometrial epithelial cells are predominantly initiated at the embryonic pole and these steps are associated with changes in expression of adhesion and extracellular matrix (ECM) genes in the embryo. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Both human and murine embryos have been co-cultured with Ishikawa cells, although embryonic gene expression associated with attachment has not yet been investigated in an in vitro implantation model. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Vitrified human blastocysts were warmed and co-cultured for up to 48 h with Ishikawa cells, a model cell line for receptive endometrial epithelium. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Six days post-fertilization (6dpf) human embryos were co-cultured with Ishikawa cells for 12, 24 (7dpf) or 48 h (8dpf) and attachment rate and morphological development investigated. Expression of 84 adhesion and ECM genes was analysed by quantitative PCR. Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to assess the expression of three informative genes at the protein level. Data are reported on 145 human embryos. Mann-Whitney U was used for statistical analysis between two groups, with P < 0.05 considered significant. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The majority of embryos attached to Ishikawa cells at the level of the polar trophectoderm; 41% of co-cultured embryos were loosely attached after 12 h and 86% firmly attached after 24 h. Outgrowth of hCG-positive embryonic cells at 8dpf indicated differentiation of trophectoderm into invasive syncytiotrophoblast. Gene expression analysis was performed on loosely attached and unattached embryos co-cultured with Ishikawa cells for 12 h. In contrast to unattached embryos, loosely attached embryos expressed THBS1, TNC, COL12A1, CTNND2, ITGA3, ITGAV and LAMA3 and had significantly higher CD44 and TIMP1 transcript levels (P = 0.014 and P = 0.029, respectively). LAMA3, THBS1 and TNC expressions were validated at the protein level in firmly attached 7dpf embryos. Thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) resided in the cytoplasm of embryonic cells whereas laminin subunit alpha 3 (LAMA3) and tenascin C (TNC) were expressed on the cell surface of trophectoderm cells. Incubation with a neutralizing TNC antibody did not affect the rate of embryo attachment or hCG secretion. LARGE SCALE DATA None. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This in vitro study made use of an endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line to mimic receptive luminal epithelium. Also, the number of embryos was limited. Contamination of recovered embryos with Ishikawa cells was unlikely based on their differential gene expression profiles. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Taken together, we provide a 'proof of concept' that initiation of the implantation process coincides with the induction of specific embryonic genes. Genome-wide expression profiling of a larger sample set may provide insights into the molecular embryonic pathways underlying successful or failed implantation. STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTEREST(S) A.A. was supported by a grant from the 'Instituut voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie' (IWT, 121716, Flanders, Belgium). This work was supported by the 'Wetenschappelijk Fonds Willy Gepts' (WFWG G142 and G170, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel). The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Aberkane
- Research Group Reproduction and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - W Essahib
- Research Group Reproduction and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - C Spits
- Research Group Reproduction and Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - C De Paepe
- Research Group Reproduction and Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - K Sermon
- Research Group Reproduction and Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - T Adriaenssens
- Research Group Follicle Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - S Mackens
- Research Group Reproduction and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Brussels University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - H Tournaye
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Brussels University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - J J Brosens
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Science Research Laboratories, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.,Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK
| | - H Van de Velde
- Research Group Reproduction and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Brussels University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
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9
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Sehati R, Kazemi P, Zandi G, Mahdavinezhad F, Sarmadi F, Fayazi S, Hajarian H, Dashtizad M. Different Origin, Different Response: Gene Expression Pattern in Collapsed Vitrified Blastocyst. Reprod Biol 2019; 19:158-164. [PMID: 31196737 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2019.05.001] [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: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
There is a large body of animal experimental data about assisted reproductive techniques that could be applied to improve clinical outcomes. The great part of this information was obtained from research on in vivo-derived embryos. But whether these results are always similar with those we expect from embryos having in vitro origin in the clinical cases is a critical question. The present study was designed to compare the effects of vitrification (VIT) and artificial collapse (AC) as two commonly used techniques on in vivo- and in vitro-derived mouse embryos. In this regard, both origins of blastocysts were produced and randomly divided into three experimental groups, including control (non-vitrified), VIT, and AC-VIT. The survival and hatching rates and the expression of development-related genes were assessed in all groups and compared with their control counterpart. According to our results, although in vivo and in vitro origins followed the same pattern in the hatching rate, the real-time PCR data showed two distinct patterns of gene expression. Compared to the control, vitrification increased the expression of pluripotency genes in in vivo group. While in vitro vitrified blastocysts showed a significant reduction in the transcripts of these genes. More interestingly, although AC resulted in a sharp decrease of Gata6 and Grb2 in post warmed in vivo blastocysts, it could not affect the vitrified IVP ones. In conclusion, it seems that vitrification and artificial collapse techniques have different effects on embryo fate depending on in vivo or in vitro origins of the embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronak Sehati
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (Embio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Parinaz Kazemi
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (Embio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran; Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ghazaleh Zandi
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (Embio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Forough Mahdavinezhad
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (Embio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Sarmadi
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (Embio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Samaneh Fayazi
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (Embio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Hadi Hajarian
- Department of Animal Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Dashtizad
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (Embio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran.
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10
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Huntriss J, Balen AH, Sinclair KD, Brison DR, Picton HM. Epigenetics and Reproductive Medicine. BJOG 2018; 125:e43-e54. [DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.15240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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11
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Simopoulou M, Sfakianoudis K, Rapani A, Giannelou P, Anifandis G, Bolaris S, Pantou A, Lambropoulou M, Pappas A, Deligeoroglou E, Pantos K, Koutsilieris M. Considerations Regarding Embryo Culture Conditions: From Media to Epigenetics. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 32:451-460. [PMID: 29695546 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.11261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
There are numerous reports on embryo culture media and conditions in the laboratory, as the subject is multifaceted and complex, reflecting the variation in practice. In this scoping review, we attempt to approach the topic of culture media and conditions from the practitioners' perspective aiming to highlight, in a comprehensive fashion, important aspects regarding the options available, introduce points of debate and controversy, while maintaining the viewpoint of the practicing embryologist's concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Simopoulou
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece .,Assisted Conception Unit, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Anna Rapani
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Polina Giannelou
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Centre for Human Reproduction, Genesis Athens Clinic, Athens, Greece
| | - George Anifandis
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Stamatis Bolaris
- Assisted Conception Unit, Elena Venizelou General-Maternity District Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Agni Pantou
- Centre for Human Reproduction, Genesis Athens Clinic, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Lambropoulou
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Athanasios Pappas
- Centre for Human Reproduction, Genesis Athens Clinic, Athens, Greece
| | - Efthimios Deligeoroglou
- Assisted Conception Unit, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Michael Koutsilieris
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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12
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Hosseini SM, Moulavi F, TanhaieVash N, Shams-Esfandabadi N, Nasr-Esfahani MH, Shirazi A. Evidence of Oocyte Polarity in Bovine; Implications for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection and Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer. CELL JOURNAL 2017; 19:482-491. [PMID: 28836411 PMCID: PMC5570413 DOI: 10.22074/cellj.2017.4887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Objective We recently demonstrated spatial regionalization of maternal transcripts and
proteins within unfertilized ovine oocyte. Here, we investigated the likelihood of oocyte
polarity for the first time in bovine. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, in vitro matured bovine oocytes were
used for manual bisection [into oocyte halve that were near-to (HNS) and far-from (FS)
spindle] or trisection [into MII-spindle (S), the spindle-side half (NS), and the distal half
unassociated with the spindle (FS)]. Prepared pools of oocyte substructures were used
for comparative quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). To map the
possible preferential sperm entry point (SEP), the spatial relationship between SEP and
MII-spindle was measured 5 hours post-fertilization. Results The proportional amount of maternal mRNA in S oocyte fragment was estimated
to be 6 to 11-fold higher than NS and FS counterparts. The relative abundances
of Nanog, Oct4, Fgf4 and Tead4 were significantly higher in HNS oocyte fragment
compared t0 FS. The relative abundances of Ctnb, Carm1, Rex1, Sox2 and Cdx2 were
comparable between HNS and NS oocyte fragments. FS oocyte fragment possessed significantly
higher transcripts of Gata4 compared to HNS. The distribution of certain transcripts
related to pluripotency and lineage commitment were different depending upon the
region of the oocyte; either enriched at S (Tead4, Nanog, Ctnb and Sox2), NS (Oct4), or
FS (Gata6). The SEP in almost (90%) fertilized oocytes was located in MII-hemisphere. Conclusion The observation of spatial restriction of mRNAs and SEP within MII-oocyte
may indicate that the principal forces of oocyte polarity are evolutionary conserved. This
may in turn highlight the need for refinements in the methodology of intracytoplasmic
sperm injection (where a sperm is injected far from the MII-spindle) and somatic cell nuclear
transfer (where a major amount of regulative mRNAs that are associated with MIIspindle
is removed during enucleation).
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Morteza Hosseini
- Research Institute of Animal Embryo Technology, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran.,Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Fariba Moulavi
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Nima TanhaieVash
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | | | - Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Abolfazl Shirazi
- Research Institute of Animal Embryo Technology, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran.,Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
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13
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Noli L, Ogilvie C, Khalaf Y, Ilic D. Potential of human twin embryos generated by embryo splitting in assisted reproduction and research. Hum Reprod Update 2017; 23:156-165. [PMID: 27852683 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmw041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Embryo splitting or twinning has been widely used in veterinary medicine over 20 years to generate monozygotic twins with desirable genetic characteristics. The first human embryo splitting, reported in 1993, triggered fierce ethical debate on human embryo cloning. Since Dolly the sheep was born in 1997, the international community has acknowledged the complexity of the moral arguments related to this research and has expressed concerns about the potential for reproductive cloning in humans. A number of countries have formulated bans either through laws, decrees or official statements. However, in general, these laws specifically define cloning as an embryo that is generated via nuclear transfer (NT) and do not mention embryo splitting. Only the UK includes under cloning both embryo splitting and NT in the same legislation. On the contrary, the Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine does not have a major ethical objection to transferring two or more artificially created embryos with the same genome with the aim of producing a single pregnancy, stating that 'since embryo splitting has the potential to improve the efficacy of IVF treatments for infertility, research to investigate the technique is ethically acceptable'. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE Embryo splitting has been introduced successfully to the veterinary medicine several decades ago and today is a part of standard practice. We present here an overview of embryo splitting experiments in humans and non-human primates and discuss the potential of this technology in assisted reproduction and research. SEARCH METHODS A comprehensive literature search was carried out using PUBMED and Google Scholar databases to identify studies on embryo splitting in humans and non-human primates. 'Embryo splitting' and 'embryo twinning' were used as the keywords, alone or in combination with other search phrases relevant to the topics of biology of preimplantation embryos. OUTCOMES A very limited number of studies have been conducted in humans and non-human primates. The published material, especially the studies with human embryos, is controversial. Some reports suggest that twinning technology will find clinical use in reproductive medicine in the future, whereas others conclude the opposite that human twin embryos created in vitro are unsuitable not only for clinical, but also for research, purposes. WIDER IMPLICATIONS The blastomere biopsy technique of embryo splitting seems to be unsuitable for either clinical or research purposes; however, embryo bisection, a preferable method of cloning in veterinary medicine, has not yet been tested on human embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laila Noli
- Division of Women's Health, Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK.,Assisted Conception Unit, Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Caroline Ogilvie
- Genetics Laboratories, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Yacoub Khalaf
- Division of Women's Health, Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK.,Assisted Conception Unit, Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Dusko Ilic
- Division of Women's Health, Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK.,Assisted Conception Unit, Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK
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14
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Barandalla M, Shi H, Xiao H, Colleoni S, Galli C, Lio P, Trotter M, Lazzari G. Global gene expression profiling and senescence biomarker analysis of hESC exposed to H 2O 2 induced non-cytotoxic oxidative stress. Stem Cell Res Ther 2017; 8:160. [PMID: 28676096 PMCID: PMC5497375 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-017-0602-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) potentially offer new routes to study, on the basis of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept, how the maternal environment during pregnancy influences the offspring’s health and can predispose to chronic disease in later life. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant defences and cellular redox status play a key function in gene expression regulation and are involved in diabetes and metabolic syndromes as in ageing. Methods We have, therefore, designed an in vitro cell model of oxidative stress by exposing hESCs to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) during 72 h, in order to resemble the period of preimplantation embryonic development. Results We have analysed the global gene expression profiles of hESCs (HUES3) exposed to non-cytotoxic H2O2 concentrations, using Illumina microarray HT-12 v4, and we found the differential expression of 569 upregulated and 485 downregulated genes. The most affected gene ontology categories were those related with RNA processing and splicing, oxidation reduction and sterol metabolic processes. We compared our findings with a published RNA-seq profiling dataset of human embryos developed in vitro, thereupon exposed to oxidative stress, and we observed that one of the common downregulated genes between this publication and our data, NEDD1, is involved in centrosome structure and function. Conclusions Therefore, we assessed the presence of supernumerary centrosomes and showed that the percentage of cells with more than two centrosomes increased acutely with H2O2 treatment in hESCs (HUES3 and 7) and in a control somatic cell line (Hs27), inducing a premature entry into senescence. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13287-017-0602-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Barandalla
- Avantea srl, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Via Porcellasco 7/F, Cremona, 26100, Italy.
| | - Hui Shi
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hui Xiao
- Computer laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Silvia Colleoni
- Avantea srl, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Via Porcellasco 7/F, Cremona, 26100, Italy
| | - Cesare Galli
- Avantea srl, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Via Porcellasco 7/F, Cremona, 26100, Italy.,Department of Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Pietro Lio
- Computer laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Matthew Trotter
- Celgene Institute for Translational Research Europe (CITRE), Seville, Spain
| | - Giovanna Lazzari
- Avantea srl, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Via Porcellasco 7/F, Cremona, 26100, Italy
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15
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HosseinNia P, Hajian M, Tahmoorespur M, Hosseini SM, Ostadhosseini S, Nasiri MR, Nasr-Esfahani MH. Expression Profile of Developmentally Important Genes in preand peri-Implantation Goat Embryos Produced In Vitro. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FERTILITY & STERILITY 2016; 10:310-319. [PMID: 27695614 PMCID: PMC5023042 DOI: 10.22074/ijfs.2016.4659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background: Little is understood about the regulation of gene expression during early
goat embryo development. This study investigated the expression profile of 19 genes,
known to be critical for early embryo development in mouse and human, at five different
stages of goat in vitro embryo development (oocyte, 8-16 cell, morula, day-7 blastocyst,
and day 14 blastocyst). Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, stage-specific profiling using real
time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) revealed robust and dynamic
patterns of stage-specific gene activity that fall into four major clusters depending on
their respective mRNA profiles. Results: The gradual pattern of reduction in the maternally stored transcripts without renewal thereafter (cluster-1: Lifr1, Bmpr1, Alk4, Id3, Ctnnb, Akt, Oct4, Rex1, Erk1, Smad1
and 5) implies that their protein products are essential during early cleavages when the
goat embryo is silent and reliant to the maternal legacy of mRNA. The potential importance of transcription augment at day-3 (cluster-2: Fzd, c-Myc, Cdc25a, Sox2) or day-
14 (cluster-3: Fgfr4, Nanog) suggests that they are nascent embryonic mRNAs which
intimately involved in the overriding of MET or regulation of blastocyst formation, respectively. The observation of two expression peaks at both day-3 and day-14 (cluster-4:
Gata4, Cdx2) would imply their potential importance during these two critical stages of
preand periimplantation development. Conclusion: Evolutionary comparison revealed that the selected subset of genes has been
rewired in goat and human/goat similarity is greater than the mouse/goat or bovine/goat
similarities. The developed profiles provide a resource for comprehensive understanding
of goat preimplantation development and pluripotent stem cell engineering as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pouria HosseinNia
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mehdi Hajian
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Tahmoorespur
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Sayyed Morteza Hosseini
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Somayyeh Ostadhosseini
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Nasiri
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
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16
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Vlismas A, Bletsa R, Mavrogianni D, Mamali G, Pergamali M, Dinopoulou V, Partsinevelos G, Drakakis P, Loutradis D, Kiessling AA. Microarray Analyses Reveal Marked Differences in Growth Factor and Receptor Expression Between 8-Cell Human Embryos and Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cells Dev 2016; 25:160-77. [PMID: 26493868 PMCID: PMC4733324 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2015.0284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous microarray analyses of RNAs from 8-cell (8C) human embryos revealed a lack of cell cycle checkpoints and overexpression of core circadian oscillators and cell cycle drivers relative to pluripotent human stem cells [human embryonic stem cells/induced pluripotent stem (hES/iPS)] and fibroblasts, suggesting growth factor independence during early cleavage stages. To explore this possibility, we queried our combined microarray database for expression of 487 growth factors and receptors. Fifty-one gene elements were overdetected on the 8C arrays relative to hES/iPS cells, including 14 detected at least 80-fold higher, which annotated to multiple pathways: six cytokine family (CSF1R, IL2RG, IL3RA, IL4, IL17B, IL23R), four transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) family (BMP6, BMP15, GDF9, ENG), one fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family [FGF14(FH4)], one epidermal growth factor member (GAB1), plus CD36, and CLEC10A. 8C-specific gene elements were enriched (73%) for reported circadian-controlled genes in mouse tissues. High-level detection of CSF1R, ENG, IL23R, and IL3RA specifically on the 8C arrays suggests the embryo plays an active role in blocking immune rejection and is poised for trophectoderm development; robust detection of NRG1, GAB1, -2, GRB7, and FGF14(FHF4) indicates novel roles in early development in addition to their known roles in later development. Forty-four gene elements were underdetected on the 8C arrays, including 11 at least 80-fold under the pluripotent cells: two cytokines (IFITM1, TNFRSF8), five TGFBs (BMP7, LEFTY1, LEFTY2, TDGF1, TDGF3), two FGFs (FGF2, FGF receptor 1), plus ING5, and WNT6. The microarray detection patterns suggest that hES/iPS cells exhibit suppressed circadian competence, underexpression of early differentiation markers, and more robust expression of generic pluripotency genes, in keeping with an artificial state of continual uncommitted cell division. In contrast, gene expression patterns of the 8C embryo suggest that it is an independent circadian rhythm-competent equivalence group poised to signal its environment, defend against maternal immune rejection, and begin the rapid commitment events of early embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonis Vlismas
- 1 Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of University of Athens, “Alexandra” Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Ritsa Bletsa
- 1 Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of University of Athens, “Alexandra” Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Despina Mavrogianni
- 1 Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of University of Athens, “Alexandra” Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgina Mamali
- 1 Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of University of Athens, “Alexandra” Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Pergamali
- 1 Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of University of Athens, “Alexandra” Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Dinopoulou
- 1 Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of University of Athens, “Alexandra” Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Bedford Research Foundation, Bedford, Massachusetts
| | - George Partsinevelos
- 1 Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of University of Athens, “Alexandra” Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Peter Drakakis
- 1 Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of University of Athens, “Alexandra” Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitris Loutradis
- 1 Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of University of Athens, “Alexandra” Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece
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Piliszek A, Grabarek JB, Frankenberg SR, Plusa B. Cell fate in animal and human blastocysts and the determination of viability. Mol Hum Reprod 2016; 22:681-690. [DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaw002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
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Noli L, Capalbo A, Ogilvie C, Khalaf Y, Ilic D. Discordant Growth of Monozygotic Twins Starts at the Blastocyst Stage: A Case Study. Stem Cell Reports 2015; 5:946-953. [PMID: 26584541 PMCID: PMC4682124 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2015.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2015] [Revised: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Discordant growth is a common complication of monochorionic/diamniotic pregnancies; in approximately 50% of cases, the cause is unknown. The case presented here suggests that discordant growth of monozygotic twins could start during preimplantation development. Two inner cell masses (ICMs) within the same blastocyst may originate in uneven splitting of a single “parental” ICM, or the two ICMs may be formed independently de novo. We studied the transcriptomes of two morphologically distinct ICMs within a single blastocyst using high-resolution RNA sequencing. The data indicated that the two ICM were at different stages of development; one was in the earliest stages of lineage commitment, while the other had already differentiated into epiblast and primitive endoderm. IGF1-mediated signaling is likely to play a key role in ICM growth and to be the major driver behind these differences. Two ICMs within the same blastocyst were at different stages of development IGF1-mediated signaling is likely to be the major driver behind these differences The expression pattern of YAP1 is different in human embryos from in the mouse
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Affiliation(s)
- Laila Noli
- Division of Women's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London and Assisted Conception Unit, Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Antonio Capalbo
- GENERA: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Clinica Valle Giulia, 00197 Rome, Italy; GENETYX: Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Via Fermi 1, 36063 Marostica, Italy
| | | | - Yacoub Khalaf
- Division of Women's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London and Assisted Conception Unit, Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Dusko Ilic
- Division of Women's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London and Assisted Conception Unit, Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK.
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Jedrusik A. Making the first decision: lessons from the mouse. Reprod Med Biol 2015; 14:135-150. [PMID: 29259411 PMCID: PMC5715835 DOI: 10.1007/s12522-015-0206-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2014] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pre-implantation development encompasses a period of 3-4 days over which the mammalian embryo has to make its first decision: to separate the pluripotent inner cell mass (ICM) from the extra-embryonic epithelial tissue, the trophectoderm (TE). The ICM gives rise to tissues mainly building the body of the future organism, while the TE contributes to the extra-embryonic tissues that support embryo development after implantation. This review provides an overview of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control the critical aspects of this first decision, and highlights the role of critical events, namely zytotic genome activation, compaction, polarization, asymmetric cell divisions, formation of the blastocyst cavity and expression of key transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Jedrusik
- Wellcome Trust/CR UK Gurdon InstituteTennis Court RoadCB2 1QNCambridgeUK
- Department of Physiology, Development and NeuroscienceUniversity of CambridgeDowning StreetCB2 3DYCambridgeUK
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Hosseini SM, Hajian M, Ostadhosseini S, Forouzanfar M, Abedi P, Jafarpour F, Gourabi H, Shahverdi AH, Vosough A, Ghanaie HR, Nasr-Esfahani MH. Contrasting effects of G1.2/G2.2 and SOF1/SOF2 embryo culture media on pre- and post-implantation development of non-transgenic and transgenic cloned goat embryos. Reprod Biomed Online 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2015.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Caballero J, Gilbert I, Fournier E, Gagné D, Scantland S, Macaulay A, Robert C. Exploring the function of long non-coding RNA in the development of bovine early embryos. Reprod Fertil Dev 2015; 27:40-52. [PMID: 25472043 DOI: 10.1071/rd14338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Now recognised as part of the cellular transcriptome, the function of long non-coding (lnc) RNA remains unclear. Previously, we found that some lncRNA molecules in bovine embryos are highly responsive to culture conditions. In view of a recent demonstration that lncRNA may play a role in regulating important functions, such as maintenance of pluripotency, modification of epigenetic marks and activation of transcription, we sought evidence of its involvement in embryogenesis. Among the numerous catalogued lncRNA molecules found in oocytes and early embryos of cattle, three candidates chosen for further characterisation were found unexpectedly in the cytoplasmic compartment rather than in the nucleus. Transcriptomic survey of subcellular fractions found these candidates also associated with polyribosomes and one of them spanning transzonal projections between cumulus cells and the oocyte. Knocking down this transcript in matured oocytes increased developmental rates, leading to larger blastocysts. Transcriptome and methylome analyses of these blastocysts showed concordant data for a subset of four genes, including at least one known to be important for blastocyst survival. Functional characterisation of the roles played by lncRNA in supporting early development remains elusive. Our results suggest that some lncRNAs play a role in translation control of target mRNA. This would be important for managing the maternal reserves within which is embedded the embryonic program, especially before embryonic genome activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta Caballero
- Département des sciences animales, Centre de recherche en biologie de la reproduction, Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels, Université Laval, 2440 boulevard Hochelaga QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Isabelle Gilbert
- Département des sciences animales, Centre de recherche en biologie de la reproduction, Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels, Université Laval, 2440 boulevard Hochelaga QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Eric Fournier
- Département des sciences animales, Centre de recherche en biologie de la reproduction, Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels, Université Laval, 2440 boulevard Hochelaga QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Dominic Gagné
- Département des sciences animales, Centre de recherche en biologie de la reproduction, Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels, Université Laval, 2440 boulevard Hochelaga QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Sara Scantland
- Département des sciences animales, Centre de recherche en biologie de la reproduction, Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels, Université Laval, 2440 boulevard Hochelaga QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Angus Macaulay
- Département des sciences animales, Centre de recherche en biologie de la reproduction, Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels, Université Laval, 2440 boulevard Hochelaga QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Claude Robert
- Département des sciences animales, Centre de recherche en biologie de la reproduction, Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels, Université Laval, 2440 boulevard Hochelaga QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
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Zhao N, Zhang Y, Liu Q, Xiang W. Mfn2 Affects Embryo Development via Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Apoptosis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0125680. [PMID: 25978725 PMCID: PMC4433325 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2014] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Growth factors, energy sources, and mitochondrial function strongly affect embryo growth and development in vitro. The biological role and prospective significance of the mitofusin gene Mfn2 in the development of preimplantation embryos remain poorly understood. Our goal is to profile the role of Mfn2 in mouse embryos and determine the underlying mechanism of Mfn2 function in embryo development. Methods We transfected Mfn2-siRNA into 2-cell fertilized eggs and then examined the expression of Mfn2, the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and the apoptosis-promoting protein Bax by Western blot. Additionally, we determined the blastocyst formation rate and measured ATP levels, mtDNA levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and apoptosis in all of the embryos. Results The results indicate that the Mfn2 and Bcl-2 levels were markedly decreased, whereas Bax levels were increased in the T group (embryos transfected with Mfn2-siRNA) compared with the C group (embryos transfected with control-siRNA). The blastocyst formation rate was significantly decreased in the T group. The ATP content and the relative amounts of mtDNA and cDNA in the T group were significantly reduced compared with the C group. In the T group, ΔΨm and Ca2+ levels were reduced, and the number of apoptotic cells was increased. Conclusion Low in vitro expression of Mfn2 attenuates the blastocyst formation rate and cleavage speed in mouse zygotes and causes mitochondrial dysfunction, as confirmed by the ATP and mtDNA levels and mitochondrial membrane potential. Mfn2 deficiency induced apoptosis through the Bcl-2/Bax and Ca2+ pathways. These findings indicate that Mfn2 could affect preimplantation embryo development through mitochondrial function and cellular apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Zhao
- Family Planning Research Institute, Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qun Liu
- Family Planning Research Institute, Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wenpei Xiang
- Family Planning Research Institute, Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- * E-mail:
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Táncos Z, Bock I, Nemes C, Kobolák J, Dinnyés A. Cloning and characterization of rabbit POU5F1, SOX2, KLF4, C-MYC and NANOG pluripotency-associated genes. Gene 2015; 566:148-57. [PMID: 25895477 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2015.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Revised: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
While the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is an important research model for aspects of human development and disease that cannot be studied in rodents, the lack of data on the genetic regulation of rabbit preimplantation development is a limitation. To assist in the understanding of this process, our aim was to isolate and characterize genes necessary for the induction and maintenance of cellular pluripotency. We are the first to report the isolation of complete coding regions of rabbit SOX2, KLF4, C-MYC and NANOG, which encode transcription factors that play crucial regulatory roles during early mammalian embryonic development. We determined the exon-intron boundaries and chromosomal localization of these genes using computational analysis. The sequences of mRNA and translated protein of the newly identified genes and those of POU5F1 were aligned to their mammalian orthologs to determine the degree of evolutionary conservation. Furthermore, the expression of these genes in embryonic and adult cells was studied at the mRNA and protein levels. We found the sequences and the expression pattern of these pluripotency-associated genes to be highly conserved between human and rabbit, indicating that the rabbit would be a valuable model for human preimplantation development. Implementing the newly identified genes either as biomarkers or as reprogramming factors might also pave the way towards the creation of stable pluripotent rabbit cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsuzsanna Táncos
- Molecular Animal Biotechnology Laboratory, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary; Biotalentum Ltd, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - István Bock
- Molecular Animal Biotechnology Laboratory, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary; Biotalentum Ltd, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | | | | | - András Dinnyés
- Molecular Animal Biotechnology Laboratory, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary; Biotalentum Ltd, Gödöllő, Hungary; Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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24
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Burch T, Yu L, Nyalwidhe J, Horcajadas JA, Bocca S, Swanson RJ, Oehninger S. Characterization of secreted proteins of 2-cell mouse embryos cultured in vitro to the blastocyst stage with and without protein supplementation. J Assist Reprod Genet 2015; 31:757-65. [PMID: 24658922 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-014-0207-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 02/27/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To identify the secreted proteins of murine embryos grown in vitro. METHODS Two-cell mouse embryos (n=432) were randomly allocated to culture to the blastocyst stage in protein-free and in protein-supplemented (3 % BSA) media. Proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE; bands were visualized by coomassie staining, followed by in-gel trypsin digestion and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. RT-PCR and confocal microscopy were used to confirm gene/protein expression in blastocysts. RESULTS Of all individually identified proteins, 34 and 23 were found in embryos cultured without and with BSA, respectively, and 20 were common. Identified proteins having an N-terminal secretory sequence or transmembrane domains located on the extracellular backbone were postulated as secreted proteins. Gene and protein expression for two selected molecules were confirmed. Functional analysis revealed over-represented processes related to lipid metabolism, cyclase activity, and cell adhesion/membrane functions. CONCLUSIONS This study provided evidence to further characterize secreted proteins by mouse embryos grown from the 2-cell to the blastocyst stage in vitro. Because of homology between murine and human, these results may provide information to be translated to the clinical setting.
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Thouas GA, Dominguez F, Green MP, Vilella F, Simon C, Gardner DK. Soluble ligands and their receptors in human embryo development and implantation. Endocr Rev 2015; 36:92-130. [PMID: 25548832 DOI: 10.1210/er.2014-1046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Extensive evidence suggests that soluble ligands and their receptors mediate human preimplantation embryo development and implantation. Progress in this complex area has been ongoing since the 1980s, with an ever-increasing list of candidates. This article specifically reviews evidence of soluble ligands and their receptors in the human preimplantation stage embryo and female reproductive tract. The focus will be on candidates produced by the human preimplantation embryo and those eliciting developmental responses in vitro, as well as endometrial factors related to implantation and receptivity. Pathways to clinical translation, including innovative diagnostics and other technologies, are also highlighted, drawing from this collective evidence toward facilitating joint improvements in embryo quality and endometrial receptivity. This strategy could not only benefit clinical outcomes in reproductive medicine but also provide broader insights into the peri-implantation period of human development to improve fetal and neonatal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- George A Thouas
- Reproductive Biology and Assisted Conception Laboratory (G.A.T., M.P.G., D.K.G.), School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3010; Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad (F.D., F.V., C.S.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain; La Fundación para la Investigación del Hospital Clínico de la Comunidad Valenciana Health Research Institute (F.D., F.V., C.S.), 46010 Valencia, Spain; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.S.), Stanford University, Stanford, California 90095
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Female tract cytokines and developmental programming in embryos. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2015; 843:173-213. [PMID: 25956299 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2480-6_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In the physiological situation, cytokines are pivotal mediators of communication between the maternal tract and the embryo. Compelling evidence shows that cytokines emanating from the oviduct and uterus confer a sophisticated mechanism for 'fine-tuning' of embryo development, influencing a range of cellular events from cell survival and metabolism, through division and differentiation, and potentially exerting long-term impact through epigenetic remodelling. The balance between survival agents, including GM-CSF, CSF1, LIF, HB-EGF and IGFII, against apoptosis-inducing factors such as TNFα, TRAIL and IFNg, influence the course of preimplantation development, causing embryos to develop normally, adapt to varying maternal environments, or in some cases to arrest and undergo demise. Maternal cytokine-mediated pathways help mediate the biological effects of embryo programming, embryo plasticity and adaptation, and maternal tract quality control. Thus maternal cytokines exert influence not only on fertility and pregnancy progression but on the developmental trajectory and health of offspring. Defining a clear understanding of the biology of cytokine networks influencing the embryo is essential to support optimal outcomes in natural and assisted conception.
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Quantitative expression of pluripotency-related genes in parthenogenetically produced buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryos and in putative embryonic stem cells derived from them. Gene Expr Patterns 2014; 16:23-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2014.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2013] [Revised: 05/29/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Chan YS, Göke J, Ng JH, Lu X, Gonzales KAU, Tan CP, Tng WQ, Hong ZZ, Lim YS, Ng HH. Induction of a human pluripotent state with distinct regulatory circuitry that resembles preimplantation epiblast. Cell Stem Cell 2014; 13:663-75. [PMID: 24315441 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2013.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 299] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Revised: 11/04/2013] [Accepted: 11/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst. Despite sharing the common property of pluripotency, hESCs are notably distinct from epiblast cells of the preimplantation blastocyst. Here we use a combination of three small-molecule inhibitors to sustain hESCs in a LIF signaling-dependent hESC state (3iL hESCs) with elevated expression of NANOG and epiblast-enriched genes such as KLF4, DPPA3, and TBX3. Genome-wide transcriptome analysis confirms that the expression signature of 3iL hESCs shares similarities with native preimplantation epiblast cells. We also show that 3iL hESCs have a distinct epigenetic landscape, characterized by derepression of preimplantation epiblast genes. Using genome-wide binding profiles of NANOG and OCT4, we identify enhancers that contribute to rewiring of the regulatory circuitry. In summary, our study identifies a distinct hESC state with defined regulatory circuitry that will facilitate future analysis of human preimplantation embryogenesis and pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Shen Chan
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore 138672, Singapore.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The advances in the world of IVF during the last decades have been rapid and impressive and culture media play a major role in this success. Until the 1980s fertility centers made their media in house. Nowadays, there are numerous commercially available culture media that contain various components including nutrients, vitamins and growth factors. This review goes through the past, present and future of IVF culture media and explores their composition and quality assessment. METHODS A computerized search was performed in PubMed regarding IVF culture media including results from 1929 until March 2014. Information was gathered from the websites of companies who market culture media, advertising material, instructions for use and certificates of analysis. The regulation regarding IVF media mainly in the European Union (EU) but also in non-European countries was explored. RESULTS The keyword 'IVF culture media' gave 923 results in PubMed and 'embryo culture media' 12 068 results dating from 1912 until March 2014, depicting the increased scientific activity in this field. The commercialization of IVF culture media has increased the standards bringing a great variety of options into clinical practice. However, it has led to reduced transparency and comparisons of brand names that do not facilitate the scientific dialogue. Furthermore, there is some evidence suggesting that suboptimal culture conditions could cause long-term reprogramming in the embryo as the periconception period is particularly susceptible to epigenetic alterations. IVF media are now classified as class III medical devices and only CE (Conformité Européene)-marked media should be used in the EU. CONCLUSION The CE marking of IVF culture media is a significant development in the field. However, the quality and efficiency of culture media should be monitored closely. Well-designed randomized controlled trials, large epidemiological studies and full transparency should be the next steps. Reliable, standardized models assessing multiple end-points and post-implantation development should replace the mouse embryo assay. Structured long-term follow-up of children conceived by assisted reproduction technologies and traceability are of paramount importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elpiniki Chronopoulou
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
| | - Joyce C Harper
- UCL Centre for PG and D, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK The Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health, UCLH, London, UK
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Henderson GRW, Brahmasani SR, Yelisetti UM, Konijeti S, Katari VC, Sisinthy S. Candidate gene expression patterns in rabbit preimplantation embryos developed in vivo and in vitro. J Assist Reprod Genet 2014; 31:899-911. [PMID: 24760721 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-014-0233-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The levels and timing of expression of genes like BCLXL, HDAC1 and pluripotency marker genes namely, OCT4, SOX2, NANOG and KLF4 are known to influence preimplantation embryo development. Despite this information, precise understanding of their influence during preimplantation embryo development is lacking. The present study attempts to compare the expression of these genes in the in vivo and in vitro developed preimplantation embryos. METHODS The in vivo and in vitro developed rabbit embryos collected at distinct developmental stages namely, pronuclear, 2 cell, 4 cell, 8 cell, 16 cell, Morula and blastocyst were compared at the transcriptional and translational levels using Real Time PCR and immunocytochemical studies respectively. RESULTS The study establishes the altered levels of candidate genes at the transcriptional level and translational level with reference to the zygotic genome activation (ZGA) phase of embryo development in the in vivo and in vitro developed embryos. The expression of OCT4, KLF4, NANOG and SOX2 genes were higher in the in vitro developed embryos whereas and HDAC1 was lower. BCLXL expression had its peak at ZGA in in vivo developed embryos. Protein expression of all the candidate genes was observed in the embryos. BCLXL, KLF4 and NANOG exhibited diffused localisation whereas HDAC1, OCT4, and SOX2 exhibited nuclear localisation. CONCLUSIONS This study leads to conclude that BCLXL peak expression at the ZGA phase may be a requirement for embryo development. Further expression of all the candidate genes was influenced by ZGA phase of development at the transcript level, but not at the protein level.
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How should we assess the safety of IVF technologies? Reprod Biomed Online 2013; 27:710-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2013.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2013] [Revised: 05/03/2013] [Accepted: 09/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Oliveira LJ, Mansourri-Attia N, Fahey AG, Browne J, Forde N, Roche JF, Lonergan P, Fair T. Characterization of the Th profile of the bovine endometrium during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75571. [PMID: 24204576 PMCID: PMC3808391 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2013] [Accepted: 08/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite extensive research in the area of cow fertility, the extent to which the maternal immune system is modulated during pregnancy in cattle remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to characterize the presence and response profile of B, T-helper (LTh), T- cytotoxic (LTc), gamma delta-T (γδT) and natural killer (NK) lymphocytes in terms of cell number, distribution and cytokine expression in bovine endometrial tissue to pregnancy. Endometrial tissue samples were collected from beef heifers on Days 5, 7, 13 and 16 of the estrous cycle or pregnancy. Samples were analysed by immunofluorescence to identify the presence and abundance of B-B7 (B-cells), CD4 (LTh), CD8 (LTc), γδT cell receptor (TCR) and CD335/NKp46 (NK cells) -positive immune cells. Quantitative real time PCR (QPCR) was carried out to analyse mRNA relative abundance of FOXP3 (a marker of regulatory T (Treg) cells) and a panel of immune factors, including MHC-I, LIF, Interleukins 1, 2, 6, 8, 10, 11,12A, IFNa and IFNG. Results indicate that B-B7+ cells are quite populous in bovine endometrial tissue, CD4+ and CD8+ -cells are present in moderate numbers and γδTCR+ and CD335+ cells are present in low numbers. Pregnancy affected the total number and distribution pattern of the NK cell population, with the most significant variation observed on Day 16 of pregnancy. Neither B lymphocytes nor T lymphocyte subsets were regulated temporally during the oestrous cycle or by pregnancy prior to implantation. mRNA transcript abundance of the immune factors LIF, IL1b, IL8 and IL12A, IFNa and IFNG, expression was regulated temporally during the estrous cycle and LIF, IL1b, IL-10, IL11, IL12A were also temporally regulated during pregnancy. In conclusion, the endometrial immune profile of the oestrous cycle favours a Th2 environment in anticipation of pregnancy and the presence of an embryo acts to fine tune this environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian J. Oliveira
- Faculty of Food Engineering and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Alan G. Fahey
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John Browne
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niamh Forde
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - James F. Roche
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Patrick Lonergan
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Trudee Fair
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- * E-mail:
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Shaw L, Sneddon SF, Zeef L, Kimber SJ, Brison DR. Global gene expression profiling of individual human oocytes and embryos demonstrates heterogeneity in early development. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64192. [PMID: 23717564 PMCID: PMC3661520 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2013] [Accepted: 04/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Early development in humans is characterised by low and variable embryonic viability, reflected in low fecundity and high rates of miscarriage, relative to other mammals. Data from assisted reproduction programmes provides additional evidence that this is largely mediated at the level of embryonic competence and is highly heterogeneous among embryos. Understanding the basis of this heterogeneity has important implications in a number of areas including: the regulation of early human development, disorders of pregnancy, assisted reproduction programmes, the long term health of children which may be programmed in early development, and the molecular basis of pluripotency in human stem cell populations. We have therefore investigated global gene expression profiles using polyAPCR amplification and microarray technology applied to individual human oocytes and 4-cell and blastocyst stage embryos. In order to explore the basis of any variability in detail, each developmental stage is replicated in triplicate. Our data show that although transcript profiles are highly stage-specific, within each stage they are relatively variable. We describe expression of a number of gene families and pathways including apoptosis, cell cycle and amino acid metabolism, which are variably expressed and may be reflective of embryonic developmental competence. Overall, our data suggest that heterogeneity in human embryo developmental competence is reflected in global transcript profiles, and that the vast majority of existing human embryo gene expression data based on pooled oocytes and embryos need to be reinterpreted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Shaw
- Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Old St Mary’s Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Sharon F. Sneddon
- Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Old St Mary’s Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Leo Zeef
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Susan J. Kimber
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel R. Brison
- Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Old St Mary’s Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Morrison JT, Bantilan NS, Wang VN, Nellett KM, Cruz YP. Expression patterns of Oct4, Cdx2, Tead4, and Yap1 proteins during blastocyst formation in embryos of the marsupial,Monodelphis domesticaWagner. Evol Dev 2013; 15:171-85. [DOI: 10.1111/ede.12031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. T. Morrison
- Department of Biology; Oberlin College; Oberlin, OH 44074; USA
| | - N. S. Bantilan
- Department of Biology; Oberlin College; Oberlin, OH 44074; USA
| | - V. N. Wang
- Department of Biology; Oberlin College; Oberlin, OH 44074; USA
| | - K. M. Nellett
- Department of Biology; Oberlin College; Oberlin, OH 44074; USA
| | - Y. P. Cruz
- Department of Biology; Oberlin College; Oberlin, OH 44074; USA
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Dupont C, Gribnau J. Different flavors of X-chromosome inactivation in mammals. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2013; 25:314-21. [PMID: 23578369 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2013.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Revised: 02/27/2013] [Accepted: 03/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Dosage compensation of X-linked gene products between the sexes in therians has culminated in the inactivation of one of the two X chromosomes in female cells. Over the years, the mouse has been the preferred animal model to study this X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) process in placental mammals (eutherians). Similar to the imprinted inactivation of the paternally inherited X chromosome (Xp) in marsupials (methatherians), the Xp is inactivated during early mouse development. In this eutherian model, cell derivatives of the primitive endoderm (PE) and trophectoderm (TE) will continue to display this imprinted form of XCI. Cells developing from the mouse epiblast will reactivate the Xp, and subsequently initiate XCI of either the Xp or the maternally inherited Xm, in a random manner. Examination of XCI in other eutherians and in metatherians, however, indicates clear differences in the form and timing of XCI. This review highlights and discusses imprinted and random XCI from such a comparative viewpoint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathérine Dupont
- Department of Reproduction and Development, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, 3015GE Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Niakan KK, Eggan K. Analysis of human embryos from zygote to blastocyst reveals distinct gene expression patterns relative to the mouse. Dev Biol 2013; 375:54-64. [PMID: 23261930 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 248] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2012] [Revised: 11/29/2012] [Accepted: 12/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Early mammalian embryogenesis is controlled by mechanisms governing the balance between pluripotency and differentiation. The expression of early lineage-specific genes can vary significantly between species, with implications for developmental control and stem cell derivation. However, the mechanisms involved in patterning the human embryo are still unclear. We analyzed the appearance and localization of lineage-specific transcription factors in staged preimplantation human embryos from the zygote until the blastocyst. We observed that the pluripotency-associated transcription factor OCT4 was initially expressed in 8-cell embryos at 3 days post-fertilization (dpf), and restricted to the inner cell mass (ICM) in 128-256 cell blastocysts (6dpf), approximately 2 days later than the mouse. The trophectoderm (TE)-associated transcription factor CDX2 was upregulated in 5dpf blastocysts and initially coincident with OCT4, indicating a lag in CDX2 initiation in the TE lineage, relative to the mouse. Once established, the TE expressed intracellular and cell-surface proteins cytokeratin-7 (CK7) and fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR1), which are thought to be specific to post-implantation human trophoblast progenitor cells. The primitive endoderm (PE)-associated transcription factor SOX17 was initially heterogeneously expressed in the ICM where it co-localized with a sub-set of OCT4 expressing cells at 4-5dpf. SOX17 was progressively restricted to the PE adjacent to the blastocoel cavity together with the transcription factor GATA6 by 6dpf. We observed low levels of Laminin expression in the human PE, though this basement membrane component is thought to play an important role in mouse PE cell sorting, suggesting divergence in differentiation mechanisms between species. Additionally, while stem cell lines representing the three distinct cell types that comprise a mouse blastocyst have been established, the identity of cell types that emerge during early human embryonic stem cell derivation is unclear. We observed that derivation from plating intact human blastocysts resulted predominantly in the outgrowth of TE-like cells, which impairs human embryonic stem cell derivation. Altogether, our findings provide important insight into developmental patterning of preimplantation human embryos with potential consequences for stem cell derivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathy K Niakan
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute and the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, 7 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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Piotrowska-Nitsche K, Chan AWS. Effect of sperm entry on blastocyst development after in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection - mouse model. J Assist Reprod Genet 2012; 30:81-9. [PMID: 23224695 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-012-9896-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2012] [Accepted: 11/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate whether in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), influence the embryo's development and its quality using the mouse as a model. METHODS Assisted fertilization was performed using ICSI and IVF. Fluorescent beads were adhered to the fertilization cone or place of previous sperm injection in the natural mated (NM), IVF and ICSI embryos, respectively. Embryo examination was carried out at the two-cell and blastocyst stage to determine the position of fluorescent bead. Protein expression was detected by fluorescence immunocytochemical staining and confocal microscopic imaging of blastocysts. RESULTS IVF and ICSI embryos developed at rates comparable to NM group. Embryos show similar expression patterns of two transcription factors, Oct4 and Cdx2. The most preferred place for spermatozoa attachment was the equatorial site of the egg, whether fertilization occurred in vitro or under natural conditions. We also link the sperm entry position (SEP) to embryo morphology and the number of cells at the blastocyst stage, with no influence of the method of fertilization. CONCLUSIONS IVF and ICSI, do not compromise in vitro pre-implantation development. Additional data, related to sperm entry, could offer further criteria to predict embryos that will implant successfully. Based on embryo morphology, developmental rate and protein expression level of key transcription factors, our results support the view that ART techniques, such as IVF and ICSI, do not perturb embryonic development or quality.
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Ozawa M, Sakatani M, Yao J, Shanker S, Yu F, Yamashita R, Wakabayashi S, Nakai K, Dobbs KB, Sudano MJ, Farmerie WG, Hansen PJ. Global gene expression of the inner cell mass and trophectoderm of the bovine blastocyst. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2012; 12:33. [PMID: 23126590 PMCID: PMC3514149 DOI: 10.1186/1471-213x-12-33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2012] [Accepted: 10/30/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Background The first distinct differentiation event in mammals occurs at the blastocyst stage when totipotent blastomeres differentiate into either pluripotent inner cell mass (ICM) or multipotent trophectoderm (TE). Here we determined, for the first time, global gene expression patterns in the ICM and TE isolated from bovine blastocysts. The ICM and TE were isolated from blastocysts harvested at day 8 after insemination by magnetic activated cell sorting, and cDNA sequenced using the SOLiD 4.0 system. Results A total of 870 genes were differentially expressed between ICM and TE. Several genes characteristic of ICM (for example, NANOG, SOX2, and STAT3) and TE (ELF5, GATA3, and KRT18) in mouse and human showed similar patterns in bovine. Other genes, however, showed differences in expression between ICM and TE that deviates from the expected based on mouse and human. Conclusion Analysis of gene expression indicated that differentiation of blastomeres of the morula-stage embryo into the ICM and TE of the blastocyst is accompanied by differences between the two cell lineages in expression of genes controlling metabolic processes, endocytosis, hatching from the zona pellucida, paracrine and endocrine signaling with the mother, and genes supporting the changes in cellular architecture, stemness, and hematopoiesis necessary for development of the trophoblast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manabu Ozawa
- Department of Animal Sciences and D,H, Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, FL 32611-0910, USA
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Shaw L, Sneddon SF, Brison DR, Kimber SJ. Comparison of gene expression in fresh and frozen–thawed human preimplantation embryos. Reproduction 2012; 144:569-82. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-12-0047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Identification and characterisation of differentially regulated genes in preimplantation human embryonic development are required to improve embryo quality and pregnancy rates in IVF. In this study, we examined expression of a number of genes known to be critical for early development and compared expression profiles in individual preimplantation human embryos to establish any differences in gene expression in fresh compared to frozen–thawed embryos used routinely in IVF. We analysed expression of 19 genes by cDNA amplification followed by quantitative real-time PCR in a panel of 44 fresh and frozen–thawed human preimplantation embryos. Fresh embryos were obtained from surplus early cleavage stage embryos and frozen–thawed embryos from cryopreserved 2PN embryos. Our aim was to determine differences in gene expression between fresh and frozen–thawed human embryos, but we also identified differences in developmental expression patterns for particular genes. We show that overall gene expression among embryos of the same stage is highly variable and our results indicate that expression levels between groups did differ and differences in expression of individual genes was detected. Our results show that gene expression from frozen–thawed embryos is more consistent when compared with fresh, suggesting that cryopreserved embryos may represent a reliable source for studying the molecular events underpinning early human embryo development.
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Stevenson L, Allen WL, Turkington R, Jithesh PV, Proutski I, Stewart G, Lenz HJ, Van Schaeybroeck S, Longley DB, Johnston PG. Identification of galanin and its receptor GalR1 as novel determinants of resistance to chemotherapy and potential biomarkers in colorectal cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2012; 18:5412-26. [PMID: 22859720 PMCID: PMC3463501 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-12-1780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE A major factor limiting the effective clinical management of colorectal cancer (CRC) is resistance to chemotherapy. Therefore, the identification of novel, therapeutically targetable mediators of resistance is vital. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We used a CRC disease-focused microarray platform to transcriptionally profile chemotherapy-responsive and nonresponsive pretreatment metastatic CRC liver biopsies and in vitro samples, both sensitive and resistant to clinically relevant chemotherapeutic drugs (5-FU and oxaliplatin). Pathway and gene set enrichment analyses identified candidate genes within key pathways mediating drug resistance. Functional RNAi screening identified regulators of drug resistance. RESULTS Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, focal adhesion, cell cycle, insulin signaling, and apoptosis were identified as key pathways involved in mediating drug resistance. The G-protein-coupled receptor galanin receptor 1 (GalR1) was identified as a novel regulator of drug resistance. Notably, silencing either GalR1 or its ligand galanin induced apoptosis in drug-sensitive and resistant cell lines and synergistically enhanced the effects of chemotherapy. Mechanistically, GalR1/galanin silencing resulted in downregulation of the endogenous caspase-8 inhibitor FLIP(L), resulting in induction of caspase-8-dependent apoptosis. Galanin mRNA was found to be overexpressed in colorectal tumors, and importantly, high galanin expression correlated with poor disease-free survival of patients with early-stage CRC. CONCLUSION This study shows the power of systems biology approaches to identify key pathways and genes that are functionally involved in mediating chemotherapy resistance. Moreover, we have identified a novel role for the GalR1/galanin receptor-ligand axis in chemoresistance, providing evidence to support its further evaluation as a potential therapeutic target and biomarker in CRC.
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Co-localization of NANOG and OCT4 in human pre-implantation embryos and in human embryonic stem cells. J Assist Reprod Genet 2012; 29:1021-8. [PMID: 22743827 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-012-9824-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2012] [Accepted: 06/14/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE NANOG and OCT4 are required for the maintenance of pluripotency in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). These proteins are also expressed in the inner cell mass (ICM) of the mouse pre-implantation embryo. METHODS Immunohistochemistry was used to show the presence of NANOG and OCT4 protein, and in situ hybridization was used to localize NANOG mRNA in human embryos from two-cell to blastocyst stage, and in human ESCs (hESCs). RESULTS Nanog and Oct4 were co-localized in human embryos from morula and blastocyst stages. NANOG mRNA was detected in a group of cells in the morula, in cells of the ICM of blastocysts, and evenly in hESCs. All non-differentiated hESCs expressed NANOG and OCT4 protein. Pluripotent cells expressing NANOG and Oct4 were eccentrically localized, probably in polarized cells in a human compacted morula, which appears to be different from expression in murine embryos. CONCLUSION In this study, we demonstrate that whole mount in situ hybridization is amenable to localization of mRNAs in human development, as in other species.
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Human placentation from nidation to 5 weeks of gestation. Part I: What do we know about formative placental development following implantation? Placenta 2012; 33:327-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2012.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2011] [Revised: 01/19/2012] [Accepted: 01/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Filliers M, Goossens K, Van Soom A, Merlo B, Pope CE, de Rooster H, Smits K, Vandaele L, Peelman LJ. Gene expression profiling of pluripotency and differentiation-related markers in cat oocytes and preimplantation embryos. Reprod Fertil Dev 2012; 24:691-703. [DOI: 10.1071/rd11068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2011] [Accepted: 07/20/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During mammalian preimplantation development, two successive differentiation events lead to the establishment of three committed lineages with separate fates: the trophectoderm, the primitive endoderm and the pluripotent epiblast. In the mouse embryo, the molecular mechanisms underlying these two cell fate decisions have been studied extensively, leading to the identification of lineage-specific transcription factors. Species-specific differences in expression patterns of key regulatory genes have been reported, raising questions regarding their role in different species. The aim of the present study was to characterise the gene expression patterns of pluripotency (OCT4, SOX2, NANOG) and differentiation (CDX2, GATA6)-related markers during feline early development using reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In addition, we assessed the impact of in vitro development on gene expression by comparing transcript levels of the genes investigated between in vitro and in vivo blastocysts. To normalise quantitative data within different preimplantation embryo stages, we first validated a set of stable reference genes. Transcript levels of all genes investigated were present and changed over the course of preimplantation development; a highly significant embryo-stage effect on gene expression was observed. Transcript levels of OCT4 were significantly reduced in in vitro blastocysts compared with their in vivo counterparts. None of the other genes investigated showed altered expression under in vitro conditions. The different gene expression patterns of OCT4, SOX2, CDX2 and GATA6 in cat embryos resembled those described in mouse embryos, indicative of a preserved role for these genes during early segregation. However, because of the absence of any upregulation of NANOG transcription levels after embryonic genome activation, it is unlikely that NANOG is a key regular of lineage segregation. Such results support the hypothesis that the behaviour of early lineage markers can be species specific. The present study also revealed a pool of maternal NANOG mRNA transcripts, the role of which remains to be elucidated. Comparing transcription levels of these genes between in vivo and in vitro blastocysts revealed low levels of OCT4 mRNA in the latter, which may contribute to the reduced developmental competence of embryos under suboptimal conditions.
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Harper J, Cristina Magli M, Lundin K, Barratt CLR, Brison D. When and how should new technology be introduced into the IVF laboratory? Hum Reprod 2011; 27:303-13. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/der414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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Roode M, Blair K, Snell P, Elder K, Marchant S, Smith A, Nichols J. Human hypoblast formation is not dependent on FGF signalling. Dev Biol 2011; 361:358-63. [PMID: 22079695 PMCID: PMC3368271 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2011] [Revised: 10/24/2011] [Accepted: 10/26/2011] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Mouse embryos segregate three different lineages during preimplantation development: trophoblast, epiblast and hypoblast. These differentiation processes are associated with restricted expression of key transcription factors (Cdx2, Oct4, Nanog and Gata6). The mechanisms of segregation have been extensively studied in the mouse, but are not as well characterised in other species. In the human embryo, hypoblast differentiation has not previously been characterised. Here we demonstrate co-exclusive immunolocalisation of Nanog and Gata4 in human blastocysts, implying segregation of epiblast and hypoblast, as in rodent embryos. However, the formation of hypoblast in the human is apparently not dependent upon FGF signalling, in contrast to rodent embryos. Nonetheless, the persistence of Nanog-positive cells in embryos following treatment with FGF inhibitors is suggestive of a transient naïve pluripotent population in the human blastocyst, which may be similar to rodent epiblast and ES cells but is not sustained during conventional human ES cell derivation protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mila Roode
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
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Berg DK, Smith CS, Pearton DJ, Wells DN, Broadhurst R, Donnison M, Pfeffer PL. Trophectoderm lineage determination in cattle. Dev Cell 2011; 20:244-55. [PMID: 21316591 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2011.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 228] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2010] [Revised: 11/30/2010] [Accepted: 01/03/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The trophectoderm (TE) and inner cell mass (ICM) are committed and marked by reciprocal expression of Cdx2 and Oct4 in mouse late blastocysts. We find that the TE is not committed at equivalent stages in cattle, and that bovine Cdx2 is required later, for TE maintenance, but does not repress Oct4 expression. A mouse Oct4 (mOct4) reporter, repressed in mouse TE, remained active in the cattle TE; bovine Oct4 constructs were not repressed in the mouse TE. mOct4 has acquired Tcfap2 binding sites mediating Cdx2-independent repression-cattle, humans, and rabbits do not contain these sites and maintain high Oct4 levels in the TE. Our data suggest that the regulatory circuitry determining ICM/TE identity has been rewired in mice, to allow rapid TE differentiation and early blastocyst implantation. These findings thus emphasize ways in which mice may not be representative of the earliest stages of mammalian development and stem cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra K Berg
- Reproductive Technologies, AgResearch Crown Research Institute, Hamilton 3214, New Zealand
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Sneddon SF, DeSousa PA, Arnesen RE, Lieberman BA, Kimber SJ, Brison DR. Gene expression analysis of a new source of human oocytes and embryos for research and human embryonic stem cell derivation. Fertil Steril 2011; 95:1410-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.08.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2010] [Revised: 07/29/2010] [Accepted: 08/20/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Mtango NR, VandeVoort CA, Latham KE. Ontological aspects of pluripotency and stemness gene expression pattern in the rhesus monkey. Gene Expr Patterns 2011; 11:285-98. [PMID: 21329766 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2011.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2010] [Revised: 02/03/2011] [Accepted: 02/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Two essential aspects of mammalian development are the progressive specialization of cells toward different lineages, and the maintenance of progenitor cells that will give rise to the differentiated components of each tissue and also contribute new cells as older cells die or become injured. The transition from totipotentiality to pluripotentiality, to multipotentiality, to monopotentiality, and then to differentiation is a continuous process during development. The ontological relationship between these different stages is not well understood. We report for the first time an ontological survey of expression of 45 putative "stemness" and "pluripotency" genes in rhesus monkey oocytes and preimplantation stage embryos, and comparison to the expression in the inner cell mass, trophoblast stem cells, and a rhesus monkey (ORMES6) embryonic stem cell line. Our results reveal that some of these genes are not highly expressed in all totipotent or pluripotent cell types. Some are predominantly maternal mRNAs present in oocytes and embryos before transcriptional activation, and diminishing before the blastocyst stage. Others are well expressed in morulae or early blastocysts, but are poorly expressed in later blastocysts or ICMs. Also, some of the genes employed to induce pluripotent stem cells from somatic cells (iPS genes) appear unlikely to play major roles as stemness or pluripotency genes in normal embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namdori R Mtango
- The Fels Institute for Cancer Research & Molecular Biology, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
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Suwinska A, Ciemerych MA. Factors regulating pluripotency and differentiation in early mammalian embryos and embryo-derived stem cells. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2011; 87:1-37. [PMID: 22127235 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-386015-6.00022-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian development relies on the cellular proliferation and precisely orchestrated differentiation processes. In preimplantation embryos preservation of the pluripotent state and timely onset of differentiation are secured by specific mechanisms involving such factors as OCT₄, NANOG, SOX₂, or SALL₄. The pluripotency-sustaining cellular machinery is operational not only in the cells of preimplantation embryos but also in embryo-derived embryonic stem cells and epiblast stem cells. However, certain variations in the execution of pluripotency exist and result in the differences not only between embryonic cells and stem cells of the same mammalian species, but also between those of different mammalian species, such as mouse, rat, bank vole, or humans. In this review we describe the involvement of exogenous stimuli (e.g., LIF, WNT, BMP, FGF, and Activin) and function of intrinsic factors (e.g., OCT₄, NANOG, SOX₂, SALL₄) in the regulation of pluripotency in mammalian preimplantation embryos and pluripotent stem cells derived from them. We also focus at the existence of species-specific differences at the level of growth factor requirements, signaling pathways, and transcription factors. Thus, we discuss differences in mechanisms which understanding is one of the necessary steps allowing establishment of methods of efficient derivation, defined in vitro culture conditions, and possible future therapeutic applications of pluripotent stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneta Suwinska
- Department of Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warsaw, Poland
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Li Y, Geng YJ. A potential role for insulin-like growth factor signaling in induction of pluripotent stem cell formation. Growth Horm IGF Res 2010; 20:391-398. [PMID: 20956084 DOI: 10.1016/j.ghir.2010.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2010] [Revised: 09/17/2010] [Accepted: 09/21/2010] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent success in reprogramming somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) with a cluster of nuclear transcription factors, such as Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-myc, opens up a new era in regenerative medicine. However, reportedly poor efficiency and slow kinetics of the reprogramming process by viral transfection of the nuclear factors may create an obstacle that hampers clinical application of the iPS cell technology. Furthermore, the viral transfection may induce mutagenesis and raises the risk for cancer development. Hence, generation of iPS cells using a non-viral approach appears to be an important prerequisite for iPS cell-based regenerative medicine. Through its receptor/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K) signaling pathway, insulin-like growth factor (IGF) plays a critical role in promotion of survival and proliferation in a diversity of cell types, including both embryonic and adult stem cells. In addition, IGF may enhance expression of reprogramming or surviving factors in reprogramming somatic cells. This review summarizes recent advances in IGF research and discusses the potential for IGF to act as a co-stimulatory factor for somatic cell reprogramming and iPS cell development. Currently available evidence from experimental animal and human studies highly suggests that IGF may contribute to reprogramming of somatic cells into iPS cell generation, and enhancement of iPS cell survival and growth, which will be instrumental in regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangxin Li
- Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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