1
|
Morales-Vázquez MM, Meza-Serrano E, Lara-Pereyra I, Acuña-González RJ, Alonso-Morales R, Hayen-Valles S, Boeta AM, Zarco L, Lozano-Cuenca J, López-Canales JS, Flores-Herrera H. Equine Placentitis in Mares Induces the Secretion of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine eIL-1β and the Active Extracellular Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP)-9. Vet Sci 2023; 10:532. [PMID: 37756054 PMCID: PMC10536981 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10090532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Equine placentitis is characterized by infection and inflammation of the placenta. Different biomarkers associated with this inflammatory response have been evaluated in experimentally induced equine placentitis, but not in pregnant mares with spontaneous placentitis. The aim of the current study was to determine the concentration of eIL-1β and the activity of proMMP-2 and proMMP-9 in the serum of healthy mares and mares with placentitis on days 240 and 320 of gestation to explore whether these biomarkers are associated with equine maternal placentitis and/or with the birth of an infected or inviable foals. Serum samples were collected from sixteen pregnant English Thoroughbred mares, retrospectively classified as follows: (1) healthy mares with full-term gestation; and (2) mares with ultrasonographic signs of placentitis. The health of each foal was examined at birth, and it was decided to classify the cases into four groups: (1) healthy mares delivering a healthy foals (HM-HF, n = 6); (2) mares with USP delivering a healthy foal (USP-HF, n = 3); (3) mares with USP delivering a live septic foal (USP-LSeF, n = 4); and (4) mares with USP delivering a dead foal (USP-DF, n = 3). eIL-1β was quantified by ELISA, and proMMP-2 and proMMP-9 activity by gelatin zymography electrophoresis. In healthy mares, the serum concentrations of eIL-1β underwent a significant 16.5-fold increase from day 240 to day 320 of gestation. Although similar results were found in the mares with ultrasonographic signs of placentitis that delivered a healthy foal, those delivering a live septic or nonviable foal exhibited much higher concentrations of eIL-1β. proMMP-2 and proMMP-9 activity was not associated with maternal placentitis, foal infection, or death. Hence, the presence of placentitis severe enough to affect the health of the foal can be confirmed or discarded by determining the eIL-1β concentration in mares that have shown ultrasonographic signs of placentitis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María Margarita Morales-Vázquez
- Departamento de Immunobioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología “Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes” INPerIER, Ciudad de México 11000, CP, Mexico; (M.M.M.-V.); (R.J.A.-G.)
- Departamento de Reproducción, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México 04510, CP, Mexico; (E.M.-S.); (S.H.-V.); (A.M.B.)
| | - Europa Meza-Serrano
- Departamento de Reproducción, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México 04510, CP, Mexico; (E.M.-S.); (S.H.-V.); (A.M.B.)
| | - Irlando Lara-Pereyra
- Departamento de Ginecología, Hospital General de Zona 252, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Atlacomulco 28984, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Josué Acuña-González
- Departamento de Immunobioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología “Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes” INPerIER, Ciudad de México 11000, CP, Mexico; (M.M.M.-V.); (R.J.A.-G.)
| | - Rogelio Alonso-Morales
- Genética, Laboratorio de Biotecnologías, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México 04510, CP, Mexico;
| | - Sergio Hayen-Valles
- Departamento de Reproducción, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México 04510, CP, Mexico; (E.M.-S.); (S.H.-V.); (A.M.B.)
| | - Ana Myriam Boeta
- Departamento de Reproducción, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México 04510, CP, Mexico; (E.M.-S.); (S.H.-V.); (A.M.B.)
| | - Luis Zarco
- Centro de Enseñanza, Investigación y Extensión en Producción Ovina, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tres Marías, Ciudad de México 62515, Mexico;
| | - Jair Lozano-Cuenca
- Departamento de Fisiología y Desarrollo Celular, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología “Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes” INPerIER, Ciudad de México 11000, Mexico; (J.L.-C.); (J.S.L.-C.)
| | - Jorge Skiold López-Canales
- Departamento de Fisiología y Desarrollo Celular, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología “Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes” INPerIER, Ciudad de México 11000, Mexico; (J.L.-C.); (J.S.L.-C.)
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico
| | - Héctor Flores-Herrera
- Departamento de Immunobioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología “Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes” INPerIER, Ciudad de México 11000, CP, Mexico; (M.M.M.-V.); (R.J.A.-G.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Fedorka CE, Troedsson MH. The immune response to equine ascending placentitis: A narrative review. Theriogenology 2023; 203:11-20. [PMID: 36966581 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
|
3
|
Fedorka CE, Ali HES, Troedsson MHT. Galectinology of Equine Pregnancy. Animals (Basel) 2022; 13:ani13010129. [PMID: 36611738 PMCID: PMC9817698 DOI: 10.3390/ani13010129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Galectins are a family of proteins that bind to glycans, acting in a cytokine-like manner throughout the body. In the majority of mammalians, galectins have been found to be involved in pregnancy maintenance, but few studies have evaluated this in the horse. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the expression of various galectins in pregnant and nonpregnant mares. Next-generation RNA sequencing was performed on the chorioallantois and endometrium of healthy pregnant mares at 120, 180, 300, and 330 days of gestation (n = 4/stage), as well as 45-day chorioallantois (n = 4), postpartum chorioallantois (n = 3), and diestrus endometrium (n = 3). In the endometrium, galectin-1 and galectin-13 were found in the highest expression in the nonpregnant mare, with decreasing levels of expression noted throughout gestation. In contrast, galectin-8 and galectin-12 were found to be the lowest in the nonpregnant mare and reached the highest expression levels in mid-gestation before declining as parturition neared. In the chorioallantois, galectin-1, galectin-3, and galectin-3BP were found to have heightened expression levels at 45 d of gestation, with lesser expression levels noted throughout gestation. In contrast, galectin-9, galectin-12, and galectin-13 experienced the highest expression levels in the late-term chorioallantois (300 d/330 d), with lesser expression noted in early- to mid-gestation. Of note, galectin-1, galectin-3BP, galectin-9, galectin-12, and galectin-13 all experienced the lowest expression levels in the postpartum placenta, with heightened expression noted during gestation. In conclusion, galectins appear to be involved in equine pregnancy, and this is dependent on both the tissue within the feto-maternal interface and the specific galectin involved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carleigh E. Fedorka
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0099, USA
| | - Hossam El-Sheikh Ali
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0099, USA
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Mats H. T. Troedsson
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0099, USA
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ali HES, Scoggin K, Murase H, Norris J, Menarim B, Dini P, Ball B. Transcriptomic and histochemical analysis reveal the complex regulatory networks in equine Chorioallantois during spontaneous term labor. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:1296-1310. [PMID: 35913756 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac154] [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: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The equine chorioallantois (CA) undergoes complex physical and biochemical changes during labor. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling these changes are still unclear. Therefore, the current study aimed to characterize the transcriptome of equine CA during spontaneous labor and compare it to that of normal preterm CA. Placental samples were collected postpartum from mares with normal term labor (TL group, n = 4) and from preterm not in labor mares (330 days GA; PTNL group, n = 4). Our study identified 4137 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (1820 upregulated and 2317 downregulated) in CA during TL as compared to PTNL. TL was associated with the upregulation of several pro-inflammatory mediators (MHC-I, MHC-II, NLRP3, CXCL8, and MIF). Also, TL was associated with the upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP1, MMP2, MMP3, and MMP9) with subsequent extracellular matrix degradation and apoptosis, as reflected by upregulation of several apoptosis-related genes (ATF3, ATF4, FAS, FOS, and BIRC3). In addition, TL was associated with downregulation of 21 transcripts coding for collagens. The upregulation of proteases, along with the downregulation of collagens, is believed to be implicated in separation and rupture of the CA during TL. Additionally, TL was associated with downregulation of transcripts coding for proteins essential for progestin synthesis (SRD5A1 and AKR1C1) and angiogenesis (VEGFA and RTL1), as well as upregulation of prostaglandin synthesis-related genes (PTGS2 and PTGES), which could reflect the physiological switch in placental endocrinology and function during TL. In conclusion, our findings revealed the equine CA gene expression signature in spontaneous labor at term, which improves our understanding of the molecular mechanisms triggering labor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hossam El-Sheikh Ali
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.,Theriogenology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Dakahlia, Egypt
| | - Kirsten Scoggin
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Harutaka Murase
- Equine Science Division, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Hokkaido 057-0171, Japan
| | - Jamie Norris
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Bruno Menarim
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Pouya Dini
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Barry Ball
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Murase H, El-Sheikh Ali H, Ruby RE, Scoggin KE, Ball BA. Transcriptomic analysis of the chorioallantois in equine premature placental separation. Equine Vet J 2022; 55:405-418. [PMID: 35622344 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Equine premature placental separation (PPS) is poorly understood and represents an important risk factor for fetal/neonatal hypoxia. OBJECTIVES To examine transcriptomic changes in the chorioallantois (CA) from mares with clinical PPS compared to the CA from normal foaling mares. Differential gene expression was determined and gene ontology as well as molecular pathways related to PPS were characterised. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case: control study. METHODS CA were collected from Thoroughbred mares with a clinical history of PPS (n=33) and from control Thoroughbred mares (n=4) with normal parturition for examination of transcriptional changes in the placenta associated with PPS. Transcriptomic changes in the villous CA near the cervical star were determined by Illumina® sequencing and subsequent bioinformatic analysis. PPS samples were divided by k-means clustering, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in each PPS cluster were identified by comparing to controls. Shared DEGs between PPS clusters were used for gene ontology analysis and pathway analysis. RESULTS A total of 1204 DEGs were identified between PPS and control. Gene ontology revealed extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell adhesion, and pathway analysis revealed fatty acid, p-53, hypoxia, and inflammation. Eleven key regulator genes of PPS including growth factors (IGF1, TGFB2, TGFB3), transcription factors (HIF1A, JUNB, SMAD3), and transmembrane receptors (FGFR1, TNFRSF1A, TYROBP) were also identified. MAIN LIMITATIONS The use of clinical history of PPS, in the absence of other criteria, may have led to misidentification of some cases as PPS. CONCLUSIONS Transcriptomic analysis indicated that changes in ECM and cell adhesion were important factors in equine PPS. Key predicted upstream events include genes associated with hypoxia, inflammation and growth factors related to the pathogenesis of equine PPS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harutaka Murase
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.,Equine Science Division, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Urakawa, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hossam El-Sheikh Ali
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt
| | - Rebecca E Ruby
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Kirsten E Scoggin
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Barry A Ball
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| |
Collapse
|