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Fan Y, Pavani KC, Bogado Pascottini O, Smits K, Van Soom A, Peelman L. Selection and application of small non-coding RNAs for normalizing RT-qPCR data of bovine preimplantation embryo conditioned medium. Theriogenology 2024; 226:87-94. [PMID: 38870583 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) present in the conditioned medium (CM) of bovine preimplantation embryos are potential noninvasive biomarkers for assessing embryo quality. Accurate quantification of sncRNA levels in the spent CM is of utmost importance in this regard. RT-qPCR is considered as the gold standard for quantifying RNA. In order to standardize RT-qPCR data in the sample type under investigation, the use of suitable stable sncRNAs is essential. Here, we selected 10 sncRNAs from small RNA sequencing of CM samples derived from both bovine blastocysts and degenerate embryos, and evaluated their expression stability together with that of cel-miR-39 as a spike and the often-used U6 small nuclear RNA at different embryo developmental stages. In CM of 2-cell embryos, rsRNA-1044 showed the most stable expression, while tDR-1:32-Gly-CCC-1 was the most stable expressed sncRNA in CM of the stages beyond the 2-cell stage. Next, tDR-1:32-Gly-CCC-1 was used for normalizing the RT-qPCR data from the CM of blastocysts and degenerate embryos. Bta-miR-155 and tDR-39:75-Arg-CCG-2 were found to be significantly up-regulated in the CM of blastocysts compared to that of the degenerated embryos (P = 0.028 and P = 0.017, respectively), suggesting their expression levels are related to embryo development stage. In conclusion, tDR-1:32-Gly-CCC-1 can serve as a suitable reference sncRNA for normalization of RT-qPCR data of the CM from bovine blastocysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Fan
- Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Krishna Chaitanya Pavani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium; Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Osvaldo Bogado Pascottini
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Katrien Smits
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Ann Van Soom
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Luc Peelman
- Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
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Cañón-Beltrán K, Cajas YN, Almpanis V, Egido SG, Gutierrez-Adan A, González EM, Rizos D. MicroRNA-148b secreted by bovine oviductal extracellular vesicles enhance embryo quality through BPM/TGF-beta pathway. Biol Res 2024; 57:11. [PMID: 38520036 PMCID: PMC10960404 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-024-00488-z] [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: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their cargoes, including MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in cell-to-cell communication. We previously demonstrated the upregulation of bta-mir-148b in EVs from oviductal fluid of cyclic cows. This miRNA is linked to the TGF-β pathway in the cell proliferation. Our aim was to verify whether miR-148b is taken up by embryos through gymnosis, validate its target genes, and investigate the effect of miR-148b supplementation on early embryo development and quality. METHODS Zygotes were cultured in SOF + 0.3% BSA (Control) or supplemented with: 1 µM miR-148b mimics during: D1-D7 (miR148b) or D1-D4 (miR148b-OV: representing miRNA effect in the oviduct) or D4-D7 (miR148b-UT: representing miRNA effect in the uterus) or 1 µM control mimics was used during: D1-D7 (CMimic). Embryos at ≥ 16-cells and D7 blastocysts (BD7) were collected to examine the mRNA abundance of transcripts linked to the TGF-β pathway (TGFBR2, SMAD1, SMAD2, SMAD3, SMAD5, BMPR2, RPS6KB1, POU5F1, NANOG), total cell number (TC), trophectoderm (TE), and inner cell mass (ICM) were also evaluated. One-way ANOVA was used for all analyses. RESULTS We demonstrated that miR-148b can be taken up in both 16-cell embryos and BD7 by gymnosis, and we observed a decrease in SMAD5 mRNA, suggesting it's a potential target of miR-148b. Cleavage and blastocysts rates were not affected in any groups; however, supplementation of miR-148b mimics had a positive effect on TC, TE and ICM, with values of 136.4 ± 1.6, 92.5 ± 0.9, 43.9 ± 1.3 for miR148b and 135.3 ± 1.5, 92.6 ± 1.2, 42.7 ± 0.8, for miR148b-OV group. Furthermore, mRNA transcripts of SMAD1 and SMAD5 were decreased (P ≤ 0.001) in 16-cell embryos and BD7 from miR148b and miR148b-OV groups, while POU5F1 and NANOG were upregulated (P ≤ 0.001) in BD7 and TGFBR2 was only downregulated in 16-cell embryos. pSMAD1/5 levels were higher in the miR148b and miR148b-OV groups. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that supplementation of bta-miR-148b mimics during the entire culture period (D1 - D7) or from D1 - D4 improves embryo quality and influences the TGF-β signaling pathway by altering the transcription of genes associated with cellular differentiation and proliferation. This highlights the importance of miR-148b on embryo quality and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Cañón-Beltrán
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
- Programa de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Corporación Universitaria del Huila (CORHUILA), Grupo Kyron, Huila, Colombia
| | - Yulia N Cajas
- Department Agrarian Production, Technical University of Madrid (UPM), Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL), Loja, Ecuador
| | - Vasileios Almpanis
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Guisado Egido
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfonso Gutierrez-Adan
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Encina M González
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Dimitrios Rizos
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Madrid, Spain.
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Fan Y, Pavani KC, Smits K, Van Soom A, Peelman L. tRNA Glu-derived fragments from embryonic extracellular vesicles modulate bovine embryo hatching. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2024; 15:23. [PMID: 38424649 PMCID: PMC10905895 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-024-00997-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) have been shown to be involved in early embryo development and repression of endogenous retroelements in embryos and stem cells. However, it is unknown whether tsRNAs also regulate embryo hatching. In this study, we mined the sequencing data of a previous experiment in which we demonstrated that the microRNA (miRNA) cargo of preimplantation embryonic extracellular vesicles (EVs) influences embryo development. We thus profiled the tsRNA cargo of EVs secreted by blastocysts and non-blastocysts. The majority of tsRNAs was identified as tRNA halves originating from the 5´ ends of tRNAs. Among the 148 differentially expressed tsRNAs, the 19 nt tRNA fragment (tRF) tDR-14:32-Glu-CTC-1 was found to be significantly up-regulated in EVs derived from non-blastocysts. RT-qPCR assays confirmed its significant up-regulation in non-blastocyst embryos and their conditioned medium compared to the blastocyst group (P < 0.05). Inhibition of tDR-14:32-Glu-CTC-1 by supplementing antagomirs to the conditioned medium improved embryo hatching (P < 0.05). Transcriptomic analysis of embryos treated with tDR-14:32-Glu-CTC-1 antagomirs further showed differential expression of genes that are associated with embryo hatching and implantation. In summary, tDR-14:32-Glu-CTC-1 is up-regulated in non-blastocyst embryos and their secretions, and inhibition of tDR-14:32-Glu-CTC-1 promotes embryo hatching, while influencing embryo implantation-related genes and pathways. These results indicate that embryonic EVs containing specific tRFs may regulate preimplantation embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Fan
- Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Krishna Chaitanya Pavani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
- Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katrien Smits
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Ann Van Soom
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Luc Peelman
- Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
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Pavani KC, Meese T, Pascottini OB, Guan X, Lin X, Peelman L, Hamacher J, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Deforce D, Boel A, Heindryckx B, Tilleman K, Van Soom A, Gadella BM, Hendrix A, Smits K. Hatching is modulated by microRNA-378a-3p derived from extracellular vesicles secreted by blastocysts. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2122708119. [PMID: 35298333 PMCID: PMC8944274 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2122708119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
SignificanceHatching from the zona pellucida is a prerequisite for embryo implantation and is less likely to occur in vitro for reasons unknown. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted by the embryo into the culture medium. Yet the role that embryonic EVs and their cargo microRNAs (miRNAs) play in blastocyst hatching has not been elucidated, partially due to the difficulties of isolating them from low amounts of culture medium. Here, we optimized EV-miRNA isolation from medium conditioned by individually cultured bovine embryos and subsequently showed that miR-378a-3p, which was up-regulated in EVs secreted by blastocysts, plays a crucial role in promoting blastocyst hatching. This demonstrates the regulatory effect of miR-378-3p on hatching, which is an established embryo quality parameter linked with implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Chaitanya Pavani
- Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
- Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Tim Meese
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Osvaldo Bogado Pascottini
- Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Gamete Research Center, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - XueFeng Guan
- Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Xiaoyuan Lin
- Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Luc Peelman
- Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joachim Hamacher
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, Plant Pathology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Filip Van Nieuwerburgh
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dieter Deforce
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Annekatrien Boel
- Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team, Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Björn Heindryckx
- Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team, Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kelly Tilleman
- Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Ann Van Soom
- Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Bart M. Gadella
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - An Hendrix
- Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katrien Smits
- Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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Cajas YN, Cañón-Beltrán K, de la Blanca MGM, Sánchez JM, Fernandez-Fuertes B, González EM, Rizos D. Role of reproductive fluids and extracellular vesicles in embryo–maternal interaction during early pregnancy in cattle. Reprod Fertil Dev 2021; 34:117-138. [PMID: 35231231 DOI: 10.1071/rd21275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The coordinated interaction between the developing embryo and the maternal reproductive tract is essential for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in mammals. An early cross-talk is established between the oviduct/uterus and the gametes and embryo. This dialogue will shape the microenvironment in which gamete transport, fertilisation, and early embryonic development occur. Due to the small size of the gametes and the early embryo relative to the volume of the oviductal and uterine lumina, collection of tissue and fluid adjacent to these cells is challenging in cattle. Thus, the combination of in vivo and in vitro models seems to be the most appropriate approach to better understand this fine dialogue. In this respect, the aim of this review is to summarise the recent findings in relation to gamete/embryo-maternal interaction during the pre-elongation period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia N Cajas
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; and Laboratorio de Biotecnología de la Reproducción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de Cuenca (UC), EC010205 Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Karina Cañón-Beltrán
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; and Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Ambientales, Programa de Medicina Veterinaria, Fundación Universitaria Juan de Castellanos (JdC), 150001 Tunja, Colombia
| | - María Gemma Millán de la Blanca
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Sánchez
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Fernandez-Fuertes
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Encina M González
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Dimitrios Rizos
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Hawke DC, Ahmed DB, Watson AJ, Betts DH. Murine Blastocysts Release Mature MicroRNAs Into Culture Media That Reflect Developmental Status. Front Genet 2021; 12:655882. [PMID: 34122510 PMCID: PMC8193861 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.655882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular microRNA (miRNA) sequences derived from the pre-implantation embryo have attracted interest for their possible contributions to the ongoing embryonic-uterine milieu, as well as their potential for use as accessible biomarkers indicative of embryonic health. Spent culture media microdroplets used to culture late-stage E4.0 murine blastocysts were screened for 641 mature miRNA sequences using a reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction-based array. We report here 39 miRNAs exclusively detected in the conditioned media, including the implantation-relevant miR-126a-3p, miR-101a, miR-143, and miR-320, in addition to members of the highly expressed embryonic miR-125 and miR-290 families. Based on these results, an miRNA panel was assembled comprising five members of the miR-290 family (miR-291-295) and five conserved sequences with significance to the embryonic secretome (miR-20a, miR-30c, miR-142-3p, miR-191, and miR-320). Panel profiling of developing embryo cohort lysates and accompanying conditioned media microdroplets revealed extensive similarities in relative quantities of miRNAs and, as a biomarker proof of concept, enabled distinction between media conditioned with differently staged embryos (zygote, 4-cell, and blastocyst). When used to assess media conditioned with embryos of varying degrees of degeneration, the panel revealed increases in all extracellular panel sequences, suggesting cell death is an influential and identifiable factor detectable by this assessment. In situ hybridization of three panel sequences (miR-30c, miR-294, and miR-295) in late-stage blastocysts revealed primarily inner cell mass expression with a significant presence of miR-294 throughout the blastocyst cavity. Furthermore, extracellular miR-290 sequences responded significantly to high centrifugal force, suggesting a substantial fraction of these sequences may exist within a vesicle such as an exosome, microvesicle, or apoptotic bleb. Together, these results support the use of extracellular miRNA to assess embryonic health and enable development of a non-invasive viability diagnostic tool for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Connor Hawke
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Children's Health Research Institute-LHRI, London, ON, Canada
| | - Danyal Baber Ahmed
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Children's Health Research Institute-LHRI, London, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew John Watson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Children's Health Research Institute-LHRI, London, ON, Canada
| | - Dean Harvey Betts
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Children's Health Research Institute-LHRI, London, ON, Canada
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Perrone F, Cacace R, van der Zee J, Van Broeckhoven C. Emerging genetic complexity and rare genetic variants in neurodegenerative brain diseases. Genome Med 2021; 13:59. [PMID: 33853652 PMCID: PMC8048219 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-021-00878-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of the molecular etiology of neurodegenerative brain diseases (NBD) has substantially increased over the past three decades. Early genetic studies of NBD families identified rare and highly penetrant deleterious mutations in causal genes that segregate with disease. Large genome-wide association studies uncovered common genetic variants that influenced disease risk. Major developments in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies accelerated gene discoveries at an unprecedented rate and revealed novel pathways underlying NBD pathogenesis. NGS technology exposed large numbers of rare genetic variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in coding regions, highlighting the genetic complexity of NBD. Since experimental studies of these coding rare VUS are largely lacking, the potential contributions of VUS to NBD etiology remain unknown. In this review, we summarize novel findings in NBD genetic etiology driven by NGS and the impact of rare VUS on NBD etiology. We consider different mechanisms by which rare VUS can act and influence NBD pathophysiology and discuss why a better understanding of rare VUS is instrumental for deriving novel insights into the molecular complexity and heterogeneity of NBD. New knowledge might open avenues for effective personalized therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Perrone
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp – CDE, Universiteitsplein 1, BE-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Rita Cacace
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp – CDE, Universiteitsplein 1, BE-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Julie van der Zee
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp – CDE, Universiteitsplein 1, BE-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Christine Van Broeckhoven
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp – CDE, Universiteitsplein 1, BE-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
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Hawke DC, Watson AJ, Betts DH. Extracellular vesicles, microRNA and the preimplantation embryo: non-invasive clues of embryo well-being. Reprod Biomed Online 2020; 42:39-54. [PMID: 33303367 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2020.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Elective single embryo transfer is rapidly becoming the standard of care in assisted reproductive technology for patients under the age of 35 years with a good prognosis. Clinical pregnancy rates have become increasingly dependent on the selection of a single viable embryo for transfer, and diagnostic techniques facilitating this selection continue to develop. Current progress in elucidating the extracellular vesicle and microRNA components of the embryonic secretome is reviewed, and the potential for these findings to improve clinical embryo selection discussed. Key results have shown that extracellular vesicles and microRNAs are rapidly detectable constituents of the embryonic secretome. Evidence suggests that the vesicular population is largely exosomal in nature, secreted at all stages of preimplantation development and capable of traversing the zona pellucida. Both extracellular vesicle and microRNA concentrations within the secretome are elevated for blastocysts with diminished developmental competence, as indicated either by degeneracy or implantation failure, whereas studies have yet to firmly correlate individual microRNA sequences with pregnancy outcome. These emerging correlations support the viability of extracellular vesicles and microRNAs as the basis for a new diagnostic test to supplement or replace morphokinetic assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Connor Hawke
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute; Lawson Health Research Institute, London Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew John Watson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute; Lawson Health Research Institute, London Ontario, Canada
| | - Dean Harvey Betts
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute; Lawson Health Research Institute, London Ontario, Canada.
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9
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Melo-Baez B, Wong YS, Aguilera CJ, Cabezas J, Mançanares ACF, Riadi G, Castro FO, Rodriguez-Alvarez L. MicroRNAs from Extracellular Vesicles Secreted by Bovine Embryos as Early Biomarkers of Developmental Competence. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21238888. [PMID: 33255183 PMCID: PMC7727673 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21238888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
During early development, embryos secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) that participate in embryo–maternal communication. Among other molecules, EVs carry microRNAs (miRNAs) that interfere with gene expression in target cells; miRNAs participate in embryo–maternal communication. Embryo selection based on secreted miRNAs may have an impact on bovine breeding programs. This research aimed to evaluate the size, concentration, and miRNA content of EVs secreted by bovine embryos with different developmental potential, during the compaction period (days 3.5–5). Individual culture media from in vitro–produced embryos were collected at day 5, while embryos were further cultured and classified at day 7, as G1 (conditioned-culture media by embryos arrested in the 8–16-cells stage) and G2 (conditioned-culture media by embryos that reached blastocyst stages at day 7). Collected nanoparticles from embryo conditioned culture media were cataloged as EVs by their morphology and the presence of classical molecular markers. Size and concentration of EVs from G1 were higher than EVs secreted by G2. We identified 95 miRNAs; bta-miR-103, bta-miR-502a, bta-miR-100, and bta-miR-1 were upregulated in G1, whereas bta-miR-92a, bta-miR-140, bta-miR-2285a, and bta-miR-222 were downregulated. The most significant upregulated pathways were fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism, lysine degradation, gap junction, and signaling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells. The characteristics of EVs secreted by bovine embryos during the compaction period vary according to embryo competence. Embryos that reach the blastocyst stage secrete fewer and smaller vesicles. Furthermore, the loading of specific miRNAs into the EVs depends on embryo developmental competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Melo-Baez
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Mendez 595, Chillan 3780000, Chile; (B.M.-B.); (Y.S.W.); (C.J.A.); (J.C.); (A.C.F.M.); (F.O.C.)
| | - Yat S. Wong
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Mendez 595, Chillan 3780000, Chile; (B.M.-B.); (Y.S.W.); (C.J.A.); (J.C.); (A.C.F.M.); (F.O.C.)
| | - Constanza J. Aguilera
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Mendez 595, Chillan 3780000, Chile; (B.M.-B.); (Y.S.W.); (C.J.A.); (J.C.); (A.C.F.M.); (F.O.C.)
| | - Joel Cabezas
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Mendez 595, Chillan 3780000, Chile; (B.M.-B.); (Y.S.W.); (C.J.A.); (J.C.); (A.C.F.M.); (F.O.C.)
| | - Ana C. F. Mançanares
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Mendez 595, Chillan 3780000, Chile; (B.M.-B.); (Y.S.W.); (C.J.A.); (J.C.); (A.C.F.M.); (F.O.C.)
| | - Gonzalo Riadi
- ANID-Millennium Science Initiative Program Millennium Nucleus of Ion Channels-Associated Diseases (MiNICAD), Center for Bioinformatics, Simulation and Modeling, CBSM, Department of Bioinformatics, Faculty of Engineering, Campus Talca, University of Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile;
| | - Fidel O. Castro
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Mendez 595, Chillan 3780000, Chile; (B.M.-B.); (Y.S.W.); (C.J.A.); (J.C.); (A.C.F.M.); (F.O.C.)
| | - Lleretny Rodriguez-Alvarez
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Mendez 595, Chillan 3780000, Chile; (B.M.-B.); (Y.S.W.); (C.J.A.); (J.C.); (A.C.F.M.); (F.O.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +56-242208835
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