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Bržezická T, Kohútová L, Glatz Z. Atypical applications of transverse diffusion of laminar flow profiles methodology for in-capillary reactions in capillary electrophoresis. J Sep Sci 2024; 47:e2400157. [PMID: 38982555 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.202400157] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a powerful separation technique offering quick and efficient analyses in various fields of bioanalytical chemistry. It is characterized by many well-known advantages, but one, which is perhaps the most important for this application field, is somewhat overlooked. It is the possibility to perform chemical and biochemical reactions at the nL scale inside the separation capillary. There are two basic formats applicable for this purpose, heterogeneous and homogeneous. In the former, one reactant is immobilized onto a particle or monolithic support or directly on the capillary wall, and the other is injected. In the latter, the reactant mixing inside a capillary is based on electromigration or diffusion. One of the diffusion-based methodologies, termed Transverse Diffusion of Laminar Flow Profiles, is the subject of this review. Since most studies utilizing in-capillary reactions in CE focus on enzymes, which are being continuously and exhaustively reviewed, this review covers the atypical applications of this methodology, but still in the bioanalytical field. As can be seen from the demonstrated applications, they are not limited to reactions, but can also be utilized for other biochemical systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taťána Bržezická
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Kohútová
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zdeněk Glatz
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Moustakli E, Zikopoulos A, Skentou C, Bouba I, Dafopoulos K, Georgiou I. Evolution of Minimally Invasive and Non-Invasive Preimplantation Genetic Testing: An Overview. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2160. [PMID: 38673433 PMCID: PMC11050362 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13082160] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) has become a common supplementary diagnοstic/testing tοol for in vitro fertilization (ΙVF) cycles due to a significant increase in cases of PGT fοr mοnogenic cοnditions (ΡGT-M) and de novο aneuplοidies (ΡGT-A) over the last ten years. This tendency is mostly attributable to the advancement and application of novel cytogenetic and molecular techniques in clinical practice that are capable of providing an efficient evaluation of the embryonic chromosomal complement and leading to better IVF/ICSI results. Although PGT is widely used, it requires invasive biopsy of the blastocyst, which may harm the embryo. Non-invasive approaches, like cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, have lower risks but have drawbacks in consistency and sensitivity. This review discusses new developments and opportunities in the field of preimplantation genetic testing, enhancing the overall effectiveness and accessibility of preimplantation testing in the framework of developments in genomic sequencing, bioinformatics, and the integration of artificial intelligence in the interpretation of genetic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efthalia Moustakli
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (E.M.); (I.B.)
| | - Athanasios Zikopoulos
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Barrack Rd, Exeter EX2 5DW, UK;
| | - Charikleia Skentou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School of Ioannina, University General Hospital, 45110 Ioannina, Greece;
| | - Ioanna Bouba
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (E.M.); (I.B.)
| | - Konstantinos Dafopoulos
- IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece;
| | - Ioannis Georgiou
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (E.M.); (I.B.)
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Tsopp E, Kilk K, Taalberg E, Pärn P, Viljaste-Seera A, Kavak A, Jaakma Ü. Associations of the Single Bovine Embryo Growth Media Metabolome with Successful Pregnancy. Metabolites 2024; 14:89. [PMID: 38392981 PMCID: PMC10890179 DOI: 10.3390/metabo14020089] [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: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigated whether metabolomic fingerprints of bovine embryo growth media improve the prediction of successful embryo implantation. In this prospective cohort study, the metabolome from in vitro-produced day 7 blastocysts with successful implantation (n = 11), blastocysts with failed implantation (n = 10), and plain culture media without embryos (n = 5) were included. Samples were analyzed using an AbsoluteIDQ® p180 Targeted Metabolomics Kit with LC-MS/MS, and a total of 189 metabolites were analyzed from each sample. Blastocysts that resulted in successful embryo implantation had significantly higher levels of methionine sulfoxide (p < 0.001), DOPA (p < 0.05), spermidine (p < 0.001), acetylcarnitine-to-free-carnitine ratio (p < 0.05), C2 + C3-to-free-carnitine ratio (p < 0.05), and lower levels of threonine (nep < 0.001) and phosphatidylcholine PC ae C30:0 (p < 0.001) compared to control media. However, when compared to embryos that failed to implant, only DOPA, spermidine, C2/C0, (C2 + C3)/C0, and PC ae C30:0 levels differentiated significantly. In summary, our study identifies a panel of differential metabolites in the culture media of bovine blastocysts that could act as potential biomarkers for the selection of viable blastocysts before embryo transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina Tsopp
- Chair of Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kalle Kilk
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Egon Taalberg
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Pille Pärn
- Chair of Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Anni Viljaste-Seera
- Chair of Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ants Kavak
- Chair of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ülle Jaakma
- Chair of Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
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del Collado M, Andrade GM, Gonçalves NJN, Fortini S, Perecin F, Carriero MM. The embryo non-invasive pre-implantation diagnosis era: how far are we? Anim Reprod 2023; 20:e20230069. [PMID: 37720726 PMCID: PMC10503888 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2023-0069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Advancements in assisted reproduction (AR) methodologies have allowed significant improvements in live birth rates of women who otherwise would not be able to conceive. One of the tools that allowed this improvement is the possibility of embryo selection based on genetic status, performed via preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). Even though the widespread use of PGT from TE biopsy helped to decrease the interval from the beginning of the AR intervention to pregnancy, especially in older patients, in AR, there are still many concerns about the application of this invasive methodology in all cycles. Therefore, recently, researchers started to study the use of cell free DNA (cfDNA) released by the blastocyst in its culture medium to perform PGT, in a method called non-invasive PGT (niPGT). The development of a niPGT would bring the diagnostics power of conventional PGT, but with the advantage of being potentially less harmful to the embryo. Its implementation in clinical practice, however, is under heavy discussion since there are many unknowns about the technique, such as the origin of the cfDNA or if this genetic material is a true representative of the actual ploidy status of the embryo. Available data indicates that there is high correspondence between results observed in TE biopsies and the ones observed from cfDNA, but these results are still contradictory and highly debatable. In the present review, the advantages and disadvantages of niPGT are presented and discussed in relation to tradition TE biopsy-based PGT. Furthermore, there are also presented some other possible non-invasive tools that could be applied in the selection of the best embryo, such as quantification of other molecules as quality biomarkers, or the use artificial intelligence (AI) to identify the best embryos based on morphological and/or morphokitetic parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Samuel Fortini
- Nilo Frantz Medicina Reprodutiva, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brasil
| | - Felipe Perecin
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brasil
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Skrutková Langmajerová M, Pelcová M, Vedrová P, Celá A, Glatz Z. Capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry as a tool for the noninvasive target metabolomic analysis of underivatized amino acids for evaluating embryo viability in assisted reproduction. Electrophoresis 2021; 43:679-687. [PMID: 34897743 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202100328] [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: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Monitoring metabolite uptake and excretion in the culture medium is a noninvasive technique that is used for the metabolic study of cleaving embryos after in vitro fertilization. Low sample consumption, the versatility of the detection, and optimal sensitivity and selectivity are essential elements for extracellular metabolome analyses, and can be conveniently achieved by combining CE with mass spectrometric detection. This paper reports a method for amino acid determination in a limited volume sample (8 μL) of spent culture media collected after the cultivation of in vitro fertilized embryos. Special attention was focused on the sample preparation procedure. The sample was processed with acetonitrile, which facilitates online sample preconcentration via field-amplified sample stacking, and undesired sample evaporation was significantly reduced by the simultaneous addition of dimethyl sulfoxide. Key parameters that affected electrophoretic separation and mass spectrometric detection were investigated, including the type of buffers and organic solvent, optimization of their concentrations, and finally the settings for their ionization. The separation and quantification of 19 amino acids were achieved using 15% acetic acid as the background electrolyte with a sheath liquid consisting of an equimolar mixture of methanol and water. The applicability of the optimized system was demonstrated by determining the amino acid profile in 40 samples of spent cultivation medium in this pilot study. This developed method also has great potential for amino acid analyses in minute sample volumes of other biological matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta Pelcová
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Vedrová
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Andrea Celá
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zdeněk Glatz
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Leese HJ, McKeegan PJ, Sturmey RG. Amino Acids and the Early Mammalian Embryo: Origin, Fate, Function and Life-Long Legacy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:9874. [PMID: 34574797 PMCID: PMC8467587 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18189874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amino acids are now recognised as having multiple cellular functions in addition to their traditional role as constituents of proteins. This is well-illustrated in the early mammalian embryo where amino acids are now known to be involved in intermediary metabolism, as energy substrates, in signal transduction, osmoregulation and as intermediaries in numerous pathways which involve nitrogen metabolism, e.g., the biosynthesis of purines, pyrimidines, creatine and glutathione. The amino acid derivative S-adenosylmethionine has emerged as a universal methylating agent with a fundamental role in epigenetic regulation. Amino acids are now added routinely to preimplantation embryo culture media. This review examines the routes by which amino acids are supplied to the early embryo, focusing on the role of the oviduct epithelium, followed by an outline of their general fate and function within the embryo. Functions specific to individual amino acids are then considered. The importance of amino acids during the preimplantation period for maternal health and that of the conceptus long term, which has come from the developmental origins of health and disease concept of David Barker, is discussed and the review concludes by considering the potential utility of amino acid profiles as diagnostic of embryo health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry J. Leese
- Centre for Atherothrombosis and Metabolic Disease, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK;
| | - Paul J. McKeegan
- Centre for Anatomical and Human Sciences, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK;
| | - Roger G. Sturmey
- Centre for Atherothrombosis and Metabolic Disease, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK;
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, The University of Manchester, St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
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Benammar A, Derisoud E, Vialard F, Palmer E, Ayoubi JM, Poulain M, Chavatte-Palmer P. The Mare: A Pertinent Model for Human Assisted Reproductive Technologies? Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:2304. [PMID: 34438761 PMCID: PMC8388489 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although there are large differences between horses and humans for reproductive anatomy, follicular dynamics, mono-ovulation, and embryo development kinetics until the blastocyst stage are similar. In contrast to humans, however, horses are seasonal animals and do not have a menstrual cycle. Moreover, horse implantation takes place 30 days later than in humans. In terms of artificial reproduction techniques (ART), oocytes are generally matured in vitro in horses because ovarian stimulation remains inefficient. This allows the collection of oocytes without hormonal treatments. In humans, in vivo matured oocytes are collected after ovarian stimulation. Subsequently, only intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is performed in horses to produce embryos, whereas both in vitro fertilization and ICSI are applied in humans. Embryos are transferred only as blastocysts in horses. In contrast, four cells to blastocyst stage embryos are transferred in humans. Embryo and oocyte cryopreservation has been mastered in humans, but not completely in horses. Finally, both species share infertility concerns due to ageing and obesity. Thus, reciprocal knowledge could be gained through the comparative study of ART and infertility treatments both in woman and mare, even though the horse could not be used as a single model for human ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achraf Benammar
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.V.); (J.M.A.); (M.P.)
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, BREED, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Foch Hospital, 92150 Suresnes, France
| | - Emilie Derisoud
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.V.); (J.M.A.); (M.P.)
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, BREED, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - François Vialard
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.V.); (J.M.A.); (M.P.)
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, BREED, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Eric Palmer
- Académie d’Agriculture de France, 75007 Paris, France;
| | - Jean Marc Ayoubi
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.V.); (J.M.A.); (M.P.)
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, BREED, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Foch Hospital, 92150 Suresnes, France
| | - Marine Poulain
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.V.); (J.M.A.); (M.P.)
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, BREED, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Foch Hospital, 92150 Suresnes, France
| | - Pascale Chavatte-Palmer
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.V.); (J.M.A.); (M.P.)
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, BREED, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
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