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Batra K, Sehrawat A, Kumar A, Singh M, Kaur R, Yadav DC, Singh N, Maan S. Identification of circulatory microRNA based biomarkers for early pregnancy diagnosis in buffalo. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1386241. [PMID: 38770151 PMCID: PMC11102991 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1386241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The most crucial factor in improving animal reproduction efficiency is early pregnancy diagnosis. Early diagnosis not only reduces the time interval between two calvings but also aids farmers in identifying open animals, thereby preventing significant milk production losses. Therefore, the objective of this study was to discover circulatory miRNAs that would be useful for early pregnancy diagnosis in buffalo. Material and methods: Blood samples were taken on 0, 6th, 12th, and 18th day after artificial insemination from pregnant animals (n = 30) and non-pregnant animals (n = 20). During these stages of pregnancy, total RNA was extracted, and a small RNA library was subsequently generated and sequenced on the Illumina platform. Subsequently, Real-time PCR was used to validate the findings. Results and discussion: There were 4,022 miRNAs found during the pregnancy, with 15 of those lacking sequences and 4,007 having sequences already in the database. From the beginning of pregnancy until the 18th day, 25 of these miRNAs showed a substantial shift in expression levels in the maternal blood, with a change more than two logs. Furthermore, based on qPCR results, 19 miRNAs were found to be more abundant in pregnant animals than in non-pregnant animals. We used target prediction analysis to learn how maternally expressed miRNAs relate to fetal-maternal communication. In conclusion, miRNA based biomarkers that could be associated with the diagnosis of pregnancy were identified including miR-181a and miR-486 highly upregulated on the 18th day of pregnancy. This study also provides a comprehensive profile of the entire miRNA population in maternal buffalo blood during the early stages of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanisht Batra
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Anju Sehrawat
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Aman Kumar
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Man Singh
- Department of Livestock Production and Management, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Ramandeep Kaur
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Dipin Chander Yadav
- Department of Livestock Production and Management, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Neha Singh
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Sushila Maan
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
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Tian Y, Li M, Yang J, Chen H, Lu D. Preimplantation genetic testing in the current era, a review. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2024; 309:1787-1799. [PMID: 38376520 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-024-07370-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: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), also referred to as preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), is an advanced reproductive technology used during in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles to identify genetic abnormalities in embryos prior to their implantation. PGT is used to screen embryos for chromosomal abnormalities, monogenic disorders, and structural rearrangements. DEVELOPMENT OF PGT Over the past few decades, PGT has undergone tremendous development, resulting in three primary forms: PGT-A, PGT-M, and PGT-SR. PGT-A is utilized for screening embryos for aneuploidies, PGT-M is used to detect disorders caused by a single gene, and PGT-SR is used to detect chromosomal abnormalities caused by structural rearrangements in the genome. PURPOSE OF REVIEW In this review, we thoroughly summarized and reviewed PGT and discussed its pros and cons down to the minutest aspects. Additionally, recent studies that highlight the advancements of PGT in the current era, including their future perspectives, were reviewed. CONCLUSIONS This comprehensive review aims to provide new insights into the understanding of techniques used in PGT, thereby contributing to the field of reproductive genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafei Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
- MOE Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Mingan Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Shuyang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian, 223800, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jingmin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, (Chongqing Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing Population and Family Planning Science and Technology Research Institute), Chongqing, 400020, China
| | - Hongyan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Daru Lu
- MOE Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, (Chongqing Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing Population and Family Planning Science and Technology Research Institute), Chongqing, 400020, China.
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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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Cimadomo D, Innocenti F, Taggi M, Saturno G, Campitiello MR, Guido M, Vaiarelli A, Ubaldi FM, Rienzi L. How should the best human embryo in vitro be? Current and future challenges for embryo selection. Minerva Obstet Gynecol 2024; 76:159-173. [PMID: 37326354 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-606x.23.05296-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In-vitro fertilization (IVF) aims at overcoming the causes of infertility and lead to a healthy live birth. To maximize IVF efficiency, it is critical to identify and transfer the most competent embryo within a cohort produced by a couple during a cycle. Conventional static embryo morphological assessment involves sequential observations under a light microscope at specific timepoints. The introduction of time-lapse technology enhanced morphological evaluation via the continuous monitoring of embryo preimplantation in vitro development, thereby unveiling features otherwise undetectable via multiple static assessments. Although an association exists, blastocyst morphology poorly predicts chromosomal competence. In fact, the only reliable approach currently available to diagnose the embryonic karyotype is trophectoderm biopsy and comprehensive chromosome testing to assess non-mosaic aneuploidies, namely preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A). Lately, the focus is shifting towards the fine-tuning of non-invasive technologies, such as "omic" analyses of waste products of IVF (e.g., spent culture media) and/or artificial intelligence-powered morphologic/morphodynamic evaluations. This review summarizes the main tools currently available to assess (or predict) embryo developmental, chromosomal, and reproductive competence, their strengths, the limitations, and the most probable future challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Cimadomo
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, GENERA, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy -
| | - Federica Innocenti
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, GENERA, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy
| | - Marilena Taggi
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, GENERA, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy
- Lazzaro Spallanzani Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Gaia Saturno
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, GENERA, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy
- Lazzaro Spallanzani Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Maria R Campitiello
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, ASL Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Maurizio Guido
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Alberto Vaiarelli
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, GENERA, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo M Ubaldi
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, GENERA, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Rienzi
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, GENERA, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Carlo Bo University of Urbino, Urbino, Italy
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Chousal JN, Morey R, Srinivasan S, Lee K, Zhang W, Yeo AL, To C, Cho K, Garzo VG, Parast MM, Laurent LC, Cook-Andersen H. Molecular profiling of human blastocysts reveals primitive endoderm defects among embryos of decreased implantation potential. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113701. [PMID: 38277271 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113701] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Human embryo implantation is remarkably inefficient, and implantation failure remains among the greatest obstacles in treating infertility. Gene expression data from human embryos have accumulated rapidly in recent years; however, identification of the subset of genes that determine successful implantation remains a challenge. We leverage clinical morphologic grading-known for decades to correlate with implantation potential-and transcriptome analyses of matched embryonic and abembryonic samples to identify factors and pathways enriched and depleted in human blastocysts of good and poor morphology. Unexpectedly, we discovered that the greatest difference was in the state of extraembryonic primitive endoderm (PrE) development, with relative deficiencies in poor morphology blastocysts. Our results suggest that implantation success is most strongly influenced by the embryonic compartment and that deficient PrE development is common among embryos with decreased implantation potential. Our study provides a valuable resource for those investigating the markers and mechanisms of human embryo implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N Chousal
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Robert Morey
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Srimeenakshi Srinivasan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Katherine Lee
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Reproductive Partners Fertility Center - San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Ana Lisa Yeo
- Reproductive Partners Fertility Center - San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Cuong To
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kyucheol Cho
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - V Gabriel Garzo
- Reproductive Partners Fertility Center - San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Mana M Parast
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Louise C Laurent
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Heidi Cook-Andersen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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6
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Rice GE, Salomon C. IFPA Joan Hunt Senior Award in Placentology lecture: Extracellular vesicle signalling and pregnancy. Placenta 2024:S0143-4004(24)00055-9. [PMID: 38458919 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2024.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
The field of extracellular vesicle (EV) signalling has the potential to transform our understanding of maternal-fetal communication and affords new opportunities for non-invasive prenatal testing and therapeutic intervention. EVs have been implicated in implantation, placentation, maternal adaptation to pregnancy and complications of pregnancy, being detectable in maternal circulation as early as 6 weeks of pregnancy. EVs of differing biogenic origin, composition and bioactivity are released by cells to maintain homoeostasis. Induction of EV signalling is associated with aberrant cellular metabolism and manifests as changes in EV concentrations and/or composition. Characterizing such changes affords opportunity to develop more informative diagnostics and efficacious interventions. To develop accurate and reliable EV-based diagnostics requires: identification of disease-associated biomarkers in specific EV subpopulations; and rapid, reproducible and scalable sample processing. Conventional isolation methods face challenges due to co-isolation of particles with similar physicochemical properties. Methods targeting specific vesicle-surface epitopes and compatible with automated platforms show promise. Effective EV therapeutics require precise targeting, achieved through genetic engineering to release EVs expressing cell-targeting ligands and carrying therapeutic payloads. Unlike cell-based therapies, this approach offers advantages including: low immunogenicity; stability; and long-term storage. Although EV diagnostics and therapeutics in reproductive biology are nascent, available technologies can enhance our understanding of EV signalling between mother and fetus, its role in pregnancies and improve outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory E Rice
- Inoviq Limited, Notting Hill, Australia; Translational Extracellular Vesicles in Obstetrics and Gynae-Oncology Group, The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4029, Australia.
| | - Carlos Salomon
- Translational Extracellular Vesicles in Obstetrics and Gynae-Oncology Group, The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4029, Australia.
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7
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Campos G, Sciorio R, Fleming S. Healthy Live Births after the Transfer of Mosaic Embryos: Self-Correction or PGT-A Overestimation? Genes (Basel) 2023; 15:18. [PMID: 38275600 PMCID: PMC10815078 DOI: 10.3390/genes15010018] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The implementation of next generation sequencing (NGS) in preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) has led to a higher prevalence of mosaic diagnosis within the trophectoderm (TE) sample. Regardless, mosaicism could potentially increase the rate of live-born children with chromosomic syndromes, though available data from the transfer of embryos with putative PGT-A mosaicism are scarce but reassuring. Even with lower implantation and higher miscarriage rates, mosaic embryos can develop into healthy live births. Therefore, this urges an explanation for the disappearance of aneuploid cells throughout development, to provide guidance in the management of mosaicism in clinical practice. Technical overestimation of mosaicism, together with some sort of "self-correction" mechanisms during the early post-implantation stages, emerged as potential explanations. Unlike the animal model, in which the elimination of genetically abnormal cells from the future fetal lineage has been demonstrated, in human embryos this capability remains unverified even though the germ layer displays an aneuploidy-induced cell death lineage preference with higher rates of apoptosis in the inner cell mass (ICM) than in the TE cells. Moreover, the reported differential dynamics of cell proliferation and apoptosis between euploid, mosaic, and aneuploid embryos, together with pro-apoptosis gene products (cfDNA and mRNA) and extracellular vesicles identified in the blastocoel fluid, may support the hypothesis of apoptosis as a mechanism to purge the preimplantation embryo of aneuploid cells. Alternative hypotheses, like correction of aneuploidy by extrusion of a trisomy chromosome or by monosomic chromosome duplication, are even, though they represent an extremely rare phenomenon. On the other hand, the technical limitations of PGT-A analysis may lead to inaccuracy in embryo diagnoses, identifying as "mosaic" those embryos that are uniformly euploid or aneuploid. NGS assumption of "intermediate copy number profiles" as evidence of a mixture of euploid and aneuploid cells in a single biopsy has been reported to be poorly predictive in cases of mosaicism diagnosis. Additionally, the concordance found between the TE and the ICM in cases of TE biopsies displaying mosaicism is lower than expected, and it correlates differently depending on the type (whole chromosome versus segmental) and the level of mosaicism reported. Thus, in cases of low-/medium-level mosaicism (<50%), aneuploid cells would rarely involve the ICM and other regions. However, in high-level mosaics (≥50%), abnormal cells in the ICM should display higher prevalence, revealing more uniform aneuploidy in most embryos, representing a technical variation in the uniform aneuploidy range, and therefore might impair the live birth rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Campos
- Geisinger Medical Center, Women’s Health Fertility Clinic, Danville, PA 17821, USA;
- GIREXX Fertility Clinics, C. de Cartagena, 258, 08025 Girona, Spain
| | - Romualdo Sciorio
- Fertility Medicine and Gynaecological Endocrinology Unit, Department Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Steven Fleming
- Discipline of Anatomy & Histology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
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Yuan YG, Wang JL, Zhang YX, Li L, Reza AMMT, Gurunathan S. Biogenesis, Composition and Potential Therapeutic Applications of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived Exosomes in Various Diseases. Int J Nanomedicine 2023; 18:3177-3210. [PMID: 37337578 PMCID: PMC10276992 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s407029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Exosomes are nanovesicles with a wide range of chemical compositions used in many different applications. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSCs-EXOs) are spherical vesicles that have been shown to mediate tissue regeneration in a variety of diseases, including neurological, autoimmune and inflammatory, cancer, ischemic heart disease, lung injury, and liver fibrosis. They can modulate the immune response by interacting with immune effector cells due to the presence of anti-inflammatory compounds and are involved in intercellular communication through various types of cargo. MSCs-EXOs exhibit cytokine storm-mitigating properties in response to COVID-19. This review discussed the potential function of MSCs-EXOs in a variety of diseases including neurological, notably epileptic encephalopathy and Parkinson's disease, cancer, angiogenesis, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. We provided an overview of exosome biogenesis and factors that regulate exosome biogenesis. Additionally, we highlight the functions and potential use of MSCs-EXOs in the treatment of the inflammatory disease COVID-19. Finally, we covered a strategies and challenges of MSCs-EXOs. Finally, we discuss conclusion and future perspectives of MSCs-EXOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Guo Yuan
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jia-Lin Wang
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ya-Xin Zhang
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ling Li
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Abu Musa Md Talimur Reza
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Gebze Technical University, Gebze, Kocaeli, Türkiye
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Bovine embryos release extracellular vesicles with differential miRNA signature during the compaction and blastulation stages. Reprod Biol 2023; 23:100725. [PMID: 36565511 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2022.100725] [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: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Pre-implantation embryos release extracellular vesicles (EVs) to extracellular environment. In this work it is hypothesized that the EVs miRNA cargo will vary during pre-implantation development due to the constant changes in gene expression that take place through this period. The concentration, size and miRNA cargo of EVs secreted by competent bovine embryos during the period from compaction to blastulation (Day 3-7) were analyzed. For this analysis tow developmental windows were defined: W2 from 8-cells (D3) to morula (D5) and W3 from morula (D5) to blastocyst (D7). For W2, in vitro produced embryos were individually cultured in EVs-depleted medium from D3 to D5; culture media were collected and assigned to Group W2. Morulae were kept in culture up to blastocyst stage to determine the developmental competence. For W3, D5 morulae were collected and cultured individually in EVs-depleted medium up to blastocyst stage; culture media were assigned to Group W3, and blastocysts were kept in culture up to day 11 to define their competence. The mean size of EVs was similar between groups, however, EVs concentration was lower in W2. A total of 140 miRNAs were identified. From them, 79 were differentially expressed between the groups, 28 upregulated and 51 downregulated. miRNAs differentially detected between both developmental windows participate in the regulation of signaling pathways which crucial for embryonic development. It was concluded that the secretion of EVs is regulated by the developmental progress of the embryo during the pre-implantation period.
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Gonzalez Fernandez J, Moncayo Arlandi J, Ochando A, Simon C, Vilella F. The role of extracellular vesicles in intercellular communication in human reproduction. Clin Sci (Lond) 2023; 137:281-301. [PMID: 36762584 DOI: 10.1042/cs20220793] [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: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Embryo-maternal cross-talk has emerged as a vitally important process for embryo development and implantation, which is driven by secreted factors and extracellular vesicles (EVs). The EV cargo of bioactive molecules significantly influences target cells and primes them for critical stages of reproductive biology, including embryo development, adhesion, and implantation. Recent research has suggested that EVs and their cargo represent a powerful non-invasive tool that can be leveraged to assess embryo and maternal tissue quality during assisted reproduction treatments. Here, we review the current scientific literature regarding the intercellular cross-talk between embryos and maternal tissues from fertilization to implantation, focusing on human biology and signaling mechanisms identified in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Gonzalez Fernandez
- Carlos Simon Foundation, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, C/ Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Javier Moncayo Arlandi
- Carlos Simon Foundation, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, C/ Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Ochando
- Carlos Simon Foundation, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, C/ Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carlos Simon
- Carlos Simon Foundation, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, C/ Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Felipe Vilella
- Carlos Simon Foundation, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, C/ Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain
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Lo Faro MJ, Leonardi AA, Priolo F, Fazio B, Irrera A. Future Prospects of Luminescent Silicon Nanowires Biosensors. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:1052. [PMID: 36421170 PMCID: PMC9688548 DOI: 10.3390/bios12111052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we exploit the perspective of luminescent Si nanowires (NWs) in the growing field of commercial biosensing nanodevices for the selective recognition of proteins and pathogen genomes. We fabricated quantum confined fractal arrays of Si NWs with room temperature emission at 700 nm obtained by thin-film, metal-assisted, chemical etching with high production output at low cost. The fascinating optical features arising from multiple scattering and weak localization of light promote the use of Si NWs as optical biosensing platforms with high sensitivity and selectivity. In this work, label-free Si NW optical sensors are surface modified for the selective detection of C-reactive protein through antigen-gene interaction. In this case, we report the lowest limit of detection (LOD) of 1.6 fM, fostering the flexibility of different dynamic ranges for detection either in saliva or for serum analyses. By varying the NW surface functionalization with the specific antigen, the luminescence quenching of NW biosensors is used to measure the hepatitis B-virus pathogen genome without PCR-amplification, with an LOD of about 20 copies in real samples or blood matrix. The promising results show that NW optical biosensors can detect and isolate extracellular vesicles (EV) marked with CD81 protein with unprecedented sensitivity (LOD 2 × 105 sEV/mL), thus enabling their measurement even in a small amount of blastocoel fluid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Josè Lo Faro
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95123 Catania, Italy
- CNR-IMM UoS Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio Alessio Leonardi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95123 Catania, Italy
- CNR-IMM UoS Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Francesco Priolo
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Barbara Fazio
- URT LAB SENS, Beyond Nano—CNR, c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres 5, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Alessia Irrera
- URT LAB SENS, Beyond Nano—CNR, c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres 5, 98166 Messina, Italy
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12
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Kakourou G, Mamas T, Vrettou C, Traeger-Synodinos J. An Update on Non-invasive Approaches for Genetic Testing of the Preimplantation Embryo. Curr Genomics 2022; 23:337-352. [PMID: 36778192 PMCID: PMC9878856 DOI: 10.2174/1389202923666220927111158] [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: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) aims to reduce the chance of an affected pregnancy or improve success in an assisted reproduction cycle. Since the first established pregnancies in 1990, methodological approaches have greatly evolved, combined with significant advances in the embryological laboratory. The application of preimplantation testing has expanded, while the accuracy and reliability of monogenic and chromosomal analysis have improved. The procedure traditionally employs an invasive approach to assess the nucleic acid content of embryos. All biopsy procedures require high technical skill, and costly equipment, and may impact both the accuracy of genetic testing and embryo viability. To overcome these limitations, many researchers have focused on the analysis of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) at the preimplantation stage, sampled either from the blastocoel or embryo culture media, to determine the genetic status of the embryo non-invasively. Studies have assessed the origin of cfDNA and its application in non-invasive testing for monogenic disease and chromosomal aneuploidies. Herein, we discuss the state-of-the-art for modern non-invasive embryonic genetic material assessment in the context of PGT. The results are difficult to integrate due to numerous methodological differences between the studies, while further work is required to assess the suitability of cfDNA analysis for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Kakourou
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, St. Sophia's Children's Hospital, 11527, Athens, Greece,Address correspondence to this author at the Laboratory of Medical Genetics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, St. Sophia's Children's Hospital, 11527, Athens, Greece; Tel/Fax: +302107467467; E-mail:
| | - Thalia Mamas
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, St. Sophia's Children's Hospital, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Christina Vrettou
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, St. Sophia's Children's Hospital, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Joanne Traeger-Synodinos
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, St. Sophia's Children's Hospital, 11527, Athens, Greece
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Mushtaq A, Mumtaz M, Raza A, Salem N, Yasir MN. Artificial Intelligence-Based Detection of Human Embryo Components for Assisted Reproduction by In Vitro Fertilization. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:7418. [PMID: 36236516 PMCID: PMC9573355 DOI: 10.3390/s22197418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Assisted reproductive technology is helping humans by addressing infertility using different medical procedures that help in a successful pregnancy. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of those assisted reproduction methods in which the sperm and eggs are combined outside the human body in a specialized environment and kept for growth. Assisted reproductive technology is helping humans by addressing infertility using different medical procedures that help in a successful pregnancy. The morphology of the embryological components is highly related to the success of the assisted reproduction procedure. In approximately 3-5 days, the embryo transforms into the blastocyst. To prevent the multiple-birth risk and to increase the chance of pregnancy the embryologist manually analyzes the blastocyst components and selects valuable embryos to transfer to the women's uterus. The manual microscopic analysis of blastocyst components, such as trophectoderm, zona pellucida, blastocoel, and inner cell mass, is time-consuming and requires keen expertise to select a viable embryo. Artificial intelligence is easing medical procedures by the successful implementation of deep learning algorithms that mimic the medical doctor's knowledge to provide a better diagnostic procedure that helps in reducing the diagnostic burden. The deep learning-based automatic detection of these blastocyst components can help to analyze the morphological properties to select viable embryos. This research presents a deep learning-based embryo component segmentation network (ECS-Net) that accurately detects trophectoderm, zona pellucida, blastocoel, and inner cell mass for embryological analysis. The proposed method (ECS-Net) is based on a shallow deep segmentation network that uses two separate streams produced by a base convolutional block and a depth-wise separable convolutional block. Both streams are densely concatenated in combination with two dense skip paths to produce powerful features before and after upsampling. The proposed ECS-Net is evaluated on a publicly available microscopic blastocyst image dataset, the experimental segmentation results confirm the efficacy of the proposed method. The proposed ECS-Net is providing a mean Jaccard Index (Mean JI) of 85.93% for embryological analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abeer Mushtaq
- Department of Primary and Secondary Healthcare, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Maria Mumtaz
- Department of Primary and Secondary Healthcare, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Ali Raza
- Department of Primary and Secondary Healthcare, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Nema Salem
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Effat College of Engineering, Effat University, Jeddah 22332, Saudi Arabia
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14
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Extracellular Vesicles and Membrane Protrusions in Developmental Signaling. J Dev Biol 2022; 10:jdb10040039. [PMID: 36278544 PMCID: PMC9589955 DOI: 10.3390/jdb10040039] [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: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
During embryonic development, cells communicate with each other to determine cell fate, guide migration, and shape morphogenesis. While the relevant secreted factors and their downstream target genes have been characterized extensively, how these signals travel between embryonic cells is still emerging. Evidence is accumulating that extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are well defined in cell culture and cancer, offer a crucial means of communication in embryos. Moreover, the release and/or reception of EVs is often facilitated by fine cellular protrusions, which have a history of study in development. However, due in part to the complexities of identifying fragile nanometer-scale extracellular structures within the three-dimensional embryonic environment, the nomenclature of developmental EVs and protrusions can be ambiguous, confounding progress. In this review, we provide a robust guide to categorizing these structures in order to enable comparisons between developmental systems and stages. Then, we discuss existing evidence supporting a role for EVs and fine cellular protrusions throughout development.
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15
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Oviductal Extracellular Vesicles Enhance Porcine In Vitro Embryo Development by Modulating the Embryonic Transcriptome. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12091300. [PMID: 36139139 PMCID: PMC9496104 DOI: 10.3390/biom12091300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Oviductal extracellular vesicles (oEVs) have been identified as important components of the oviductal fluid (OF) and have been pointed to as key modulators of gamete/embryo-maternal interactions. Here, we determined the functional impact of oEVs on embryo development and the embryonic transcriptome in porcine. Experiment 1 examined the effect of oEVs and OF on embryo development. In vitro-produced embryos were cultured with oEVs or OF for 2 or 7 days using an in vitro sequential system or without supplementation (control). Experiment 2 analyzed transcriptomic alterations of EV-treated embryos versus control and the oEVs RNA cargo by RNA-sequencing. Two days of EV treatment enhanced embryo development over time when compared to other treatments. Different RNA expression profiles between embryos treated with EVs for two or seven days and untreated controls were obtained, with 54 and 59 differentially expressed (DE) genes and six and seven DE miRNAs, respectively. In oEV RNA cargo, 12,998 RNAs and 163 miRNAs were identified. Integrative analyses pointed to specific oEV components that might act as modulators of the embryonic transcriptome, such as S100A11, ANXA2 or miR-21-5p. Overall, the findings suggested that oEVs could be a potential strategy to improve porcine IVP outcomes, particularly by using two days of EV treatment.
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Arsalan M, Haider A, Cho SW, Kim YH, Park KR. Human Blastocyst Components Detection Using Multiscale Aggregation Semantic Segmentation Network for Embryonic Analysis. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10071717. [PMID: 35885022 PMCID: PMC9313331 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10071717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Infertility is one of the most important health concerns worldwide. It is characterized by not being successful of pregnancy after some periods of periodic unprotected sexual intercourse. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an assisted reproduction technique that efficiently addresses infertility. IVF replaces the actual mode of reproduction through a manual procedure wherein embryos are cultivated in a controlled laboratory environment until they reach the blastocyst stage. The standard IVF procedure includes the transfer of one or two blastocysts from several blastocysts that are grown in a controlled environment. The morphometric properties of blastocysts with their compartments such as trophectoderm (TE), zona pellucida (ZP), inner cell mass (ICM), and blastocoel (BL), are analyzed through manual microscopic analysis to predict viability. Deep learning has been extensively used for medical diagnosis and analysis and can be a powerful tool to automate the morphological analysis of human blastocysts. However, the existing approaches are inaccurate and require extensive preprocessing and expensive architectures. Thus, to cope with the automatic detection of blastocyst components, this study proposed a novel multiscale aggregation semantic segmentation network (MASS-Net) that combined four different scales via depth-wise concatenation. The extensive use of depthwise separable convolutions resulted in a decrease in the number of trainable parameters. Further, the innovative multiscale design provided rich spatial information of different resolutions, thereby achieving good segmentation performance without a very deep architecture. MASS-Net utilized 2.06 million trainable parameters and accurately detects TE, ZP, ICM, and BL without using preprocessing stages. Moreover, it can provide a separate binary mask for each blastocyst component simultaneously, and these masks provide the structure of each component for embryonic analysis. Further, the proposed MASS-Net was evaluated using publicly available human blastocyst (microscopic) imaging data. The experimental results revealed that it can effectively detect TE, ZP, ICM, and BL with mean Jaccard indices of 79.08, 84.69, 85.88%, and 89.28%, respectively, for embryological analysis, which was higher than those of the state-of-the-art methods.
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miR-373-3p Regulates the Proliferative and Migratory Properties of Human HTR8 Cells via SLC38A1 Modulation. DISEASE MARKERS 2022; 2022:6582357. [PMID: 35837487 PMCID: PMC9274228 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6582357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The genetic pathogenesis of selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR) remains elusive, with evidence suggesting an important role of epigenetic factors such as microRNAs. In this study, we explored the relevance of miR-373-3p to the occurrence of sIUGR. Hypoxia enhanced the levels of miR-373-3p and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, while HIF-1α knockdown not only boosted the migration and proliferation of HTR8 cells but also suppressed the hypoxia-induced upregulation of miR-373-3p and SLC38A1. By contrast, HIF-1α overexpression induced miR-373-3p downregulation and SLC38A1 upregulation, reducing cell growth and migration, which could be reversed by a miR-373-3p inhibitor. Importantly, the miR-373-3p inhibitor and mimic reproduced phenomena similar to those induced by HIF-1α downregulation and overexpression, respectively (including altered SLC38A1 expression, mTOR activation, cell growth, and migration). Mechanistically, the miRNA regulated cell behaviors and related mTOR signaling by targeting SLC38A1 expression through an interaction with the 3′-untranslated region of SLC38A1. The placental tissues of smaller sIUGR fetuses exhibited miR-373-3p and HIF-1α upregulation, SLC38A1 downregulation, and activated mTOR. Overall, miR-373-3p appears to restrict the growth and migration of HTR8 trophoblast cells by targeting SLC38A1, as observed in the placental tissues associated with smaller sIUGR fetuses, and it could have utility in the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder.
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18
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Gurunathan S, Kang MH, Song H, Kim NH, Kim JH. The role of extracellular vesicles in animal reproduction and diseases. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2022; 13:62. [PMID: 35681164 PMCID: PMC9185900 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-022-00715-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized membrane-enclosed compartments that serve as messengers in cell-to-cell communication, both in normal physiology and in pathological conditions. EVs can transfer functional proteins and genetic information to alter the phenotype and function of recipient cells, which undergo different changes that positively affect their structural and functional integrity. Biological fluids are enriched with several subpopulations of EVs, including exosomes, microvesicles (MVs), and apoptotic bodies carrying several cargoes, such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. EVs associated with the reproductive system are actively involved in the regulation of different physiological events, including gamete maturation, fertilization, and embryo and fetal development. EVs can influence follicle development, oocyte maturation, embryo production, and endometrial-conceptus communication. EVs loaded with cargoes are used to diagnose various diseases, including pregnancy disorders; however, these are dependent on the type of cell of origin and pathological characteristics. EV-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) and proteins in the placenta regulate inflammatory responses and trophoblast invasion through intercellular delivery in the placental microenvironment. This review presents evidence regarding the types of extracellular vesicles, and general aspects of isolation, purification, and characterization of EVs, particularly from various types of embryos. Further, we discuss EVs as mediators and messengers in reproductive biology, the effects of EVs on placentation and pregnancy disorders, the role of EVs in animal reproduction, in the male reproductive system, and mother and embryo cross-communication. In addition, we emphasize the role of microRNAs in embryo implantation and the role of EVs in reproductive and therapeutic medicine. Finally, we discuss the future perspectives of EVs in reproductive biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangiliyandi Gurunathan
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Korea
| | - Min-Hee Kang
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Korea
| | - Hyuk Song
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Korea
| | - Nam Hyung Kim
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal models for Biomedicine, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, 529020, China
| | - Jin-Hoi Kim
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Korea.
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19
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Extracellular vesicles in mammalian reproduction: a review. ZYGOTE 2022; 30:440-463. [PMID: 35652626 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199422000090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decades, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been found to be implicated in a complex universal mechanism of communication between different cell types. EVs are nanostructures of lipid nature that have an exosomal or ectosomal biogenesis, responsible for the intercellular transport of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, ions, among other molecules. The content of EVs can vary due to various factors such as hormonal stimuli, non-physiological conditions, metabolic state, etc. Once EVs reach their target cell, they can modulate processes such as gene expression, metabolism, response to external factors, and can even be associated with the delivery of molecules involved in epigenetic inheritance processes in germ cells. In mammalian reproduction, EVs have been shown to play an important role, either in vivo or in vitro, modulating a variety of processes in sperm, oocytes and embryos, and in their respective environments. Moreover, EVs represent a biodegradable, harmless and specific vehicle, which makes them attractive allies to consider when improving assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). Therefore, the present review aims to describe the content of the main EVs involved in mammalian reproduction and how they can vary due to different factors, as well as to detail how EVs modulate, directly or indirectly, different molecular processes in gametes and embryos. In addition, we will highlight the mechanisms that remain to be elucidated. We will also propose new perspectives according to the characteristics of each particular EV to improve the different ARTs.
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20
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Lal A, Kranyak A, Blalock J, Athavale D, Barré A, Doran A, Chang TA, Robinson RD, Zimmerman S, Wininger JD, Fowler LA, Roudebush WE, Chosed RJ. Apoptotic qPCR gene expression array analysis demonstrates proof-of-concept for rapid blastocoel fluid-conditioned media molecular prediction. J Assist Reprod Genet 2022; 39:1515-1522. [PMID: 35543804 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-022-02510-3] [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: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Successful identification of transcriptomic biomarkers within human IVF embryos may enhance implantation prediction and provide insights not available through conventional embryo biopsy genomic analysis. We demonstrate proof-of-concept for a methodology to assess overall embryo gene expression using qPCR with blastocoel fluid-conditioned media by examining the comparative presence of apoptotic genes. METHODS Blastocoel fluid-conditioned media were collected from 19 embryos (11 euploid) following trophectoderm biopsy of day-5 ICSI-IVF blastocysts. Media were assessed for apoptotic gene expression via qPCR. Statistical analysis of gene expression was conducted via Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks test (overall expression), multivariate ANOVA (functional gene groups), and chi-square test of independence (gene level). RESULTS A significantly higher overall apoptotic gene expression within euploid versus aneuploid embryos (p = 0.001) was observed. There was significantly (p = 0.045) higher expression of pro-apoptotic genes between implanted and not implanted embryos. Pro- vs. anti-apoptotic gene expression from all euploid embryos approached significance (p = 0.053). The ploidy status-based claim is further substantiated at the gene level with significantly higher expression of BBC3 (p = 0.012) and BCL2L13 (p = 0.003) in euploid embryos compared to aneuploid embryos. CONCLUSIONS In this preliminary study, we demonstrate that (1) qualitative analysis of blastocoel fluid-conditioned media gene expression is possible, (2) global trends of expression are potentially related to clinical outcomes, and (3) gene-level expression trends exist and may be another viable metric for comparative expression between samples. The presence of statistical significance within analyses conducted with this sample size warrants a larger investigation of blastocoel fluid-conditioned media as an additional beneficial predictive tool for future IVF cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnav Lal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, 701 Grove Road, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA.,School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Allison Kranyak
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, 701 Grove Road, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA
| | - Jonathan Blalock
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, 701 Grove Road, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA
| | - Deepti Athavale
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, 701 Grove Road, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA
| | - Alyssa Barré
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, 701 Grove Road, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA
| | - Addison Doran
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, 701 Grove Road, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA
| | - T Arthur Chang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Randal D Robinson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | | | - J David Wininger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology-Reproductive Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
| | - Lauren A Fowler
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, 701 Grove Road, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA
| | - William E Roudebush
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, 701 Grove Road, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA
| | - Renee J Chosed
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, 701 Grove Road, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA.
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21
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Esmaeilivand M, Abedelahi A, Hamdi K, Farzadi L, Goharitaban S, Fattahi A, Niknafs B. Role of miRNAs in preimplantation embryo development and their potential as embryo selection biomarkers. Reprod Fertil Dev 2022; 34:589-597. [PMID: 35440361 DOI: 10.1071/rd21274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play different roles in oocyte fertilisation, degradation of maternal transcripts, embryo development, and implantation. During in vitro fertilisation (IVF), different miRNAs are released from embryos into the spent culture media (SCM) that can potentially reflect the status of the embryo. AIMS This study is the assessment of miRNAs, which secreted in SCM during the IVF cycles can be used as noninvasive biomarkers to predict an embryo's ability to form a blastocyst, implant, and give live birth. METHODS Systematic literature search was conducted to review all recent studies about miRNAs as potential non-invasive biomarkers for selecting the best embryos in the assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycle. KEY RESULTS Studies have shown that levels of some miRNAs in the SCM have an association with the implantation potential and pregnancy outcome of the embryo. CONCLUSIONS Embryo-secreted miRNAs can be used as potential non-invasive biomarkers for selecting the best embryos in the ART cycle. Unfortunately, few human studies evaluated the association between ART outcomes and miRNAs in SCM. IMPLICATIONS This review can pave the way for further miRNAs transcriptomic studies on human embryo culture media and introducing a specific miRNA profile as a multivariable prediction model for embryo selection in IVF cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Esmaeilivand
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran; and Department of Reproductive Biology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Abedelahi
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Kobra Hamdi
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Laya Farzadi
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Sepide Goharitaban
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran; and Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amir Fattahi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran; and Department of Reproductive Biology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; and Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behrooz Niknafs
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran; and Department of Reproductive Biology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; and Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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22
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Saraee F, Shekari F, Moini A, Sadeghi M, Ghaznavi P, Nazari A, Ghaheri A, Totonchi M, Eftekhari-Yazdi P. Isolation and characterization of human uterine fluid lavage-derived extracellular vesicles by different methods: A comparative study for minimally invasive endometrial receptivity assessment. Reprod Biomed Online 2022; 45:457-472. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2022.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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23
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Tomic M, Vrtacnik Bokal E, Stimpfel M. Non-Invasive Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy and the Mystery of Genetic Material: A Review Article. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073568. [PMID: 35408927 PMCID: PMC8998436 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
This review focuses on recent findings in the preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) of embryos. Different preimplantation genetic tests are presented along with different genetic materials and their analysis. Original material concerning preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) was sourced by searching the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases in October and November 2021. The searches comprised keywords such as ‘preimplantation’, ‘cfDNA’; ‘miRNA’, ‘PGT-A’, ‘niPGT-A’, ‘aneuploidy’, ‘mosaicism’, ‘blastocyst biopsy’, ‘blastocentesis’, ‘blastocoel fluid’, ‘NGS’, ‘FISH’, and ‘aCGH’. Non-invasive PGT-A (niPGT-A) is a novel approach to the genetic analysis of embryos. The premise is that the genetic material in the spent embryo culture media (SECM) corresponds to the genetic material in the embryo cells. The limitations of niPGT-A are a lower quantity and lesser quality of the cell-free genetic material, and its unknown origin. The concordance rate varies when compared to invasive PGT-A. Some authors have also hypothesized that mosaicism and aneuploid cells are preferentially excluded from the embryo during early development. Cell-free genetic material is readily available in the spent embryo culture media, which provides an easier, more economic, and safer extraction of genetic material for analysis. The sampling of the SECM and DNA extraction and amplification must be optimized. The origin of the cell-free media, the percentage of apoptotic events, and the levels of DNA contamination are currently unknown; these topics need to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Tomic
- Department of Human Reproduction, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.T.); (E.V.B.)
| | - Eda Vrtacnik Bokal
- Department of Human Reproduction, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.T.); (E.V.B.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Martin Stimpfel
- Department of Human Reproduction, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.T.); (E.V.B.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Correspondence:
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24
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Ono K, Niwa M, Suzuki H, Kobayashi NB, Yoshida T, Sawada M. Signal Sequence-Dependent Orientation of Signal Peptide Fragments to Exosomes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063137. [PMID: 35328557 PMCID: PMC8950404 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Signal peptides (SPs) not only mediate targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) but also play important roles as biomarkers and substances with physiological activity in extracellular fluids including blood. SPs are thought to be degraded intracellularly, making it unclear how they are transported from the ER to the extracellular fluid. In a recent study, we showed that a C-terminal fragment of the SP of a type I membrane protein, amyloid precursor protein (APP), was secreted into the extracellular fluid via exosomes using transformed HEK293 cells expressing APP SP flanking a reporter protein. In the present study, we demonstrate that a N-terminal fragment of the SP from a type II membrane protein, human placental secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP), is contained in exosomes and secreted into the extracellular fluid using HEK-Blue hTLR3 cells, which express both a human toll-like receptor 3 gene and an inducible SEAP reporter gene. When HEK-Blue hTLR3 cells were stimulated with a TLR3 ligand, a N-terminal fragment of SEAP SP in exosomes was increased in parallel with SEAP secretion in a concentration-dependent manner. These results indicated that SP fragments are exosomal components. In addition, migrating SP fragments were determined by characteristics of the signal–anchor sequence of membrane proteins. Furthermore, we found that SP fragments could bind to calmodulin (CALM), which is a cytosolic protein and also a component of exosomes, suggesting its involvement in the transportation of SP fragments from the endoplasmic reticulum to exosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Ono
- Department of Brain Function, Division of Stress Adaptation and Protection, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan; (H.S.); (M.S.)
- Department of Molecular Pharmacokinetics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-52-789-5002; Fax: +81-52-789-3994
| | - Mikio Niwa
- Institute for Advanced Sciences, Toagosei Co., Ltd., Tsukuba 300-2611, Ibaraki, Japan; (M.N.); (N.B.K.); (T.Y.)
| | - Hiromi Suzuki
- Department of Brain Function, Division of Stress Adaptation and Protection, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan; (H.S.); (M.S.)
- Department of Molecular Pharmacokinetics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan
| | - Nahoko Bailey Kobayashi
- Institute for Advanced Sciences, Toagosei Co., Ltd., Tsukuba 300-2611, Ibaraki, Japan; (M.N.); (N.B.K.); (T.Y.)
| | - Tetsuhiko Yoshida
- Institute for Advanced Sciences, Toagosei Co., Ltd., Tsukuba 300-2611, Ibaraki, Japan; (M.N.); (N.B.K.); (T.Y.)
| | - Makoto Sawada
- Department of Brain Function, Division of Stress Adaptation and Protection, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan; (H.S.); (M.S.)
- Department of Molecular Pharmacokinetics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan
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25
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Cellular and Molecular Nature of Fragmentation of Human Embryos. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031349. [PMID: 35163271 PMCID: PMC8836137 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Embryo fragmentation represents a phenomenon generally characterized by the presence of membrane-bound extracellular cytoplasm into the perivitelline space. Recent evidence supports the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of embryo fragments. In this narrative review, we described the different embryo fragment-like cellular structures in their morphology, molecular content, and supposed function and have reported the proposed theories on their origin over the years. We identified articles related to characterization of embryo fragmentation with a specific literature search string. The occurrence of embryo fragmentation has been related to various mechanisms, of which the most studied are apoptotic cell death, membrane compartmentalization of altered DNA, cytoskeletal disorders, and vesicle formation. These phenomena are thought to result in the extrusion of entire blastomeres, release of apoptotic bodies and other vesicles, and micronuclei formation. Different patterns of fragmentation may have different etiologies and effects on embryo competence. Removal of fragments from the embryo before embryo transfer with the aim to improve implantation potential should be reconsidered on the basis of the present observations
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Arsalan M, Haider A, Choi J, Park KR. Detecting Blastocyst Components by Artificial Intelligence for Human Embryological Analysis to Improve Success Rate of In Vitro Fertilization. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12020124. [PMID: 35207617 PMCID: PMC8877842 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12020124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Morphological attributes of human blastocyst components and their characteristics are highly correlated with the success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Blastocyst component analysis aims to choose the most viable embryos to improve the success rate of IVF. The embryologist evaluates blastocyst viability by manual microscopic assessment of its components, such as zona pellucida (ZP), trophectoderm (TE), blastocoel (BL), and inner cell mass (ICM). With the success of deep learning in the medical diagnosis domain, semantic segmentation has the potential to detect crucial components of human blastocysts for computerized analysis. In this study, a sprint semantic segmentation network (SSS-Net) is proposed to accurately detect blastocyst components for embryological analysis. The proposed method is based on a fully convolutional semantic segmentation scheme that provides the pixel-wise classification of important blastocyst components that help to automatically check the morphologies of these elements. The proposed SSS-Net uses the sprint convolutional block (SCB), which uses asymmetric kernel convolutions in combination with depth-wise separable convolutions to reduce the overall cost of the network. SSS-Net is a shallow architecture with dense feature aggregation, which helps in better segmentation. The proposed SSS-Net consumes a smaller number of trainable parameters (4.04 million) compared to state-of-the-art methods. The SSS-Net was evaluated using a publicly available human blastocyst image dataset for component segmentation. The experimental results confirm that our proposal provides promising segmentation performance with a Jaccard Index of 82.88%, 77.40%, 88.39%, 84.94%, and 96.03% for ZP, TE, BL, ICM, and background, with residual connectivity, respectively. It is also provides a Jaccard Index of 84.51%, 78.15%, 88.68%, 84.50%, and 95.82% for ZP, TE, BL, ICM, and background, with dense connectivity, respectively. The proposed SSS-Net is providing a mean Jaccard Index (Mean JI) of 85.93% and 86.34% with residual and dense connectivity, respectively; this shows effective segmentation of blastocyst components for embryological analysis.
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27
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Chen K, Liang J, Qin T, Zhang Y, Chen X, Wang Z. The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Embryo Implantation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:809596. [PMID: 35154016 PMCID: PMC8831238 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.809596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-coating nanoparticles derived from cells. The effect of cell-to-cell communication mediated by EVs has been investigated in different fields of physio-logical as well as pathological process in recent years. Reproduction, regarded as a definitive characteristic of organisms, has been a focus in both animal and medical sciences. It is well agreed that implantation is a critical event during early pregnancy in viviparous animals, and a proper implantation is essential for the establishment and maintenance of normal pregnancy. However, successful implantation requires the synchronized development of both the uterus and the embryo, therefore, in which well communication and opportune regulation are necessary. This review focuses on the progression of studies that reveal the role of EVs in early pregnancy, especially during implantation. Based on current evidence, EVs are produced and exist in the environment for implantation. It has been proved that EVs of different origins such as endometrium and embryo, have positive influences on embryo implantation. With their cargos of proteins and nucleic acids (especially microRNAs), EVs exert their effects including information transportation, immune stimulation and regulation of gene expression.
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28
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Jacky L, Yurk D, Alvarado J, Leatham B, Schwartz J, Annaloro J, MacDonald C, Rajagopal A. Virtual-Partition Digital PCR for High-Precision Chromosomal Counting Applications. Anal Chem 2021; 93:17020-17029. [PMID: 34905685 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c03527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Digital PCR (dPCR) is the gold-standard analytical platform for rapid high-precision quantification of genomic fragments. However, current dPCR assays are generally limited to monitoring 1-2 analytes per sample, thereby limiting the platform's ability to address some clinical applications that require the simultaneous monitoring of 20-50 analytes per sample. Here, we present virtual-partition dPCR (VPdPCR), a novel analysis methodology enabling the detection of 10 or more target regions per color channel using conventional dPCR hardware and workflow. Furthermore, VPdPCR enables dPCR instruments to overcome upper quantitation limits caused by partitioning error. While traditional dPCR analysis establishes a single threshold to separate negative and positive partitions, VPdPCR establishes multiple thresholds to identify the number of unique targets present in each positive droplet based on fluorescence intensity. Each physical partition is then divided into a series of virtual partitions, and the resulting increase in partition count substantially decreases partitioning error. We present both a theoretical analysis of the advantages of VPdPCR and an experimental demonstration in the form of a 20-plex assay for noninvasive fetal aneuploidy testing. This demonstration assay─tested on 432 samples contrived from sheared cell-line DNA at multiple input concentrations and simulated fractions of euploid or trisomy-21 "fetal" DNA─is analyzed using both traditional dPCR thresholding and VPdPCR. VPdPCR analysis significantly lowers the variance of the chromosomal ratio across replicates and increases the accuracy of trisomy identification when compared to traditional dPCR, yielding > 98% single-well sensitivity and specificity. VPdPCR has substantial promise for increasing the utility of dPCR in applications requiring ultrahigh-precision quantitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucien Jacky
- ChromaCode Inc., 2330 Faraday Ave Suite 100, Carlsbad, California 92008, United States
| | - Dominic Yurk
- ChromaCode Inc., 2330 Faraday Ave Suite 100, Carlsbad, California 92008, United States.,Department of Electrical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - John Alvarado
- ChromaCode Inc., 2330 Faraday Ave Suite 100, Carlsbad, California 92008, United States
| | - Bryan Leatham
- ChromaCode Inc., 2330 Faraday Ave Suite 100, Carlsbad, California 92008, United States
| | - Jerrod Schwartz
- ChromaCode Inc., 2330 Faraday Ave Suite 100, Carlsbad, California 92008, United States
| | - John Annaloro
- ChromaCode Inc., 2330 Faraday Ave Suite 100, Carlsbad, California 92008, United States
| | - Chris MacDonald
- ChromaCode Inc., 2330 Faraday Ave Suite 100, Carlsbad, California 92008, United States
| | - Aditya Rajagopal
- ChromaCode Inc., 2330 Faraday Ave Suite 100, Carlsbad, California 92008, United States.,Department of Electrical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
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29
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Hong BS. Regulation of the Effect of Physical Activity Through MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer. Int J Sports Med 2021; 43:455-465. [PMID: 34872116 DOI: 10.1055/a-1678-7147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Physical activity and exercise can induce beneficial molecular and biological regulations that have been associated with an incidence of various diseases, including breast cancer. Recent studies demonstrated that the potential links between physical activity-induced circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) and cancer risk and progression. Here, we investigated whether altered miRNAs by exercise could influence breast cancer progression. After primary searching in PubMed and reviewing the full-text papers, candidate miRNAs altered by exercise in breast cancer were identified. Analysis of expression profiles and clinical outcomes of altered miRNAs using The Cancer Genome Atlas datasets showed altered miRNAs expressions were significantly associated with the patient's prognosis, whereas prognostic values of each miRNA varied in different stages and subtypes. In addition, altered miRNAs profiles regulated various target genes and key signaling pathways in tumorigenesis, including pathways in cancer and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway; however, miRNAs regulated the expression of target genes differently according to tumor stages and subtypes. These results indicate that circulating miRNAs are promising noninvasive stable biomarkers for early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring the response to clinical therapies of breast cancer. Moreover, stages and subtype-stratified approaches for breast cancer progression would be needed to evaluate the prognostic value of miRNAs for biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bok Sil Hong
- Cheju Halla University, Life Science Research Center, Department of Nursing, Jeju, Korea (the Republic of)
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30
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Zhou J, Flores-Bellver M, Pan J, Benito-Martin A, Shi C, Onwumere O, Mighty J, Qian J, Zhong X, Hogue T, Amponsah-Antwi B, Einbond L, Gharbaran R, Wu H, Chen BJ, Zheng Z, Tchaikovskaya T, Zhang X, Peinado H, Canto-Soler MV, Redenti S. Human retinal organoids release extracellular vesicles that regulate gene expression in target human retinal progenitor cells. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21128. [PMID: 34702879 PMCID: PMC8548301 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00542-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying retinal development have not been completely elucidated. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are novel essential mediators of cell-to-cell communication with emerging roles in developmental processes. Nevertheless, the identification of EVs in human retinal tissue, characterization of their cargo, and analysis of their potential role in retina development has not been accomplished. Three-dimensional retinal tissue derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) provide an ideal developmental system to achieve this goal. Here we report that hiPSC-derived retinal organoids release exosomes and microvesicles with small noncoding RNA cargo. EV miRNA cargo-predicted targetome correlates with Gene Ontology (GO) pathways involved in mechanisms of retinogenesis relevant to specific developmental stages corresponding to hallmarks of native human retina development. Furthermore, uptake of EVs by human retinal progenitor cells leads to changes in gene expression correlated with EV miRNA cargo predicted gene targets, and mechanisms involved in retinal development, ganglion cell and photoreceptor differentiation and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhou
- Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA
- Biology Doctoral Program, The Graduate School and University Center, City University of New York, 365 5th Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Miguel Flores-Bellver
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz- Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado, 12800 East 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Jianbo Pan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Alberto Benito-Martin
- Departments of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology Division, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 413 E. 69th St., New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Cui Shi
- Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA
| | | | - Jason Mighty
- Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA
- Biology Doctoral Program, The Graduate School and University Center, City University of New York, 365 5th Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Jiang Qian
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Xiufeng Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Tasmim Hogue
- Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA
| | | | - Linda Einbond
- Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA
| | | | - Hao Wu
- Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA
- Biology Doctoral Program, The Graduate School and University Center, City University of New York, 365 5th Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Bo-Juen Chen
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - Zhiliang Zheng
- Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA
| | - Tatyana Tchaikovskaya
- Department of Medicine, Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Xusheng Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Computational Genomics Core in Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Hector Peinado
- Microenvironment and Metastasis Laboratory, Department of Molecular Oncology, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Valeria Canto-Soler
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz- Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado, 12800 East 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
| | - Stephen Redenti
- Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA.
- Biology Doctoral Program, The Graduate School and University Center, City University of New York, 365 5th Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
- Biochemistry Doctoral Program, The Graduate School, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
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31
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Leonardi AA, Battaglia R, Morganti D, Lo Faro MJ, Fazio B, De Pascali C, Francioso L, Palazzo G, Mallardi A, Purrello M, Priolo F, Musumeci P, Di Pietro C, Irrera A. A Novel Silicon Platform for Selective Isolation, Quantification, and Molecular Analysis of Small Extracellular Vesicles. Int J Nanomedicine 2021; 16:5153-5165. [PMID: 34611399 PMCID: PMC8487288 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s310896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), thanks to their cargo, are involved in cellular communication and play important roles in cell proliferation, growth, differentiation, apoptosis, stemness and embryo development. Their contribution to human pathology has been widely demonstrated and they are emerging as strategic biomarkers of cancer, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, and as potential targets for therapeutic intervention. However, the use of sEVs for medical applications is still limited due to the selectivity and sensitivity limits of the commonly applied approaches. Methods Novel sensing solutions based on nanomaterials are arising as strategic tools able to surpass traditional sensor limits. Among these, Si nanowires (Si NWs), realized with cost-effective industrially compatible metal-assisted chemical etching, are perfect candidates for sEV detection. Results In this paper, the realization of a selective sensor able to isolate, concentrate and quantify specific vesicle populations, from minimal volumes of biofluid, is presented. In particular, this Si NW platform has a detection limit of about 2×105 sEVs/mL and was tested with follicular fluid and blastocoel samples. Moreover, the possibility to detach the selectively isolated sEVs allowing further analyses with other approaches was demonstrated by SEM analysis and several PCRs performed on the RNA content of the detached sEVs. Discussion This platform overcomes the limit of detection of traditional methods and, most importantly, preserves the biological content of sEVs, opening the route toward a reliable liquid biopsy analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Alessio Leonardi
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania, Catania, 95123, Italy.,CNR-IPCF, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, Messina, 98158, Italy.,CNR-IMM UoS Catania, Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi, Catania, 95123, Italy
| | - Rosalia Battaglia
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Dario Morganti
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania, Catania, 95123, Italy.,CNR-IPCF, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, Messina, 98158, Italy
| | - Maria Josè Lo Faro
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania, Catania, 95123, Italy.,CNR-IMM UoS Catania, Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi, Catania, 95123, Italy
| | - Barbara Fazio
- CNR-IPCF, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, Messina, 98158, Italy
| | - Chiara De Pascali
- CNR-IMM, Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems, Via Monteroni, University Campus, Lecce, 73100, Italy
| | - Luca Francioso
- CNR-IMM, Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems, Via Monteroni, University Campus, Lecce, 73100, Italy
| | - Gerardo Palazzo
- Chemistry Department, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Bari, 70125, Italy.,CSGI, Center for Colloid and Surface Science c/o Chemistry Department, Bari, 70125, Italy
| | - Antonia Mallardi
- CNR-IPCF, Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes, c/o Chemistry Department, Bari, 70125, Italy
| | - Michele Purrello
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Francesco Priolo
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania, Catania, 95123, Italy
| | - Paolo Musumeci
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania, Catania, 95123, Italy
| | - Cinzia Di Pietro
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Alessia Irrera
- CNR-IPCF, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, Messina, 98158, Italy
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Jiang H, Li JX. Interaction networks between the Fallopian tubes and the embryo in human tubal pregnancy: Current knowledge and perspectives. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2021; 47:4139-4147. [PMID: 34558156 DOI: 10.1111/jog.15033] [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: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
AIM More than 90% of ectopic pregnancies occur in the Fallopian tubes. As the pathogenesis of tubal pregnancy remains largely unclear, the development of strategies to prevent and treat tubal pregnancy still represents a major clinical challenge. This review thoroughly summarizes the current data, aiming to determine the genes and signaling pathways that are involved in the pathophysiology of human tubal pregnancy. METHODS An electronic search from databases of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Chinese databases was carried out using key words pertaining to the pathogenesis of tubal pregnancy from the perspectives of both the Fallopian tubes and the embryo. A review of the literatures including review articles, experimental, and observational studies and case reports published between 1999 and 2021 was conducted. RESULTS Tubal pregnancy results from the interaction networks between the Fallopian tube and the embryo rather than from simple tubal abnormality. Furthermore, the embryo-maternal communication is supposed to start from the preimplantation period to the implantation period. CONCLUSION A greater understanding of the interaction networks between the Fallopian tubes and the embryo is of great significance for the prevention and medical treatment of tubal pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Jiang
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Longgang District Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital of Shenzhen City, Shenzhen City, China
| | - Jian-Xiong Li
- Department of Gynaecology, Longgang District Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital of Shenzhen City, Shenzhen City, China
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Sarwalia P, Raza M, Soni A, Dubey P, Chandel R, Kumar R, Kumaresan A, Onteru SK, Pal A, Singh K, Iquebal MA, Jaiswal S, Kumar D, Datta TK. Establishment of Repertoire of Placentome-Associated MicroRNAs and Their Appearance in Blood Plasma Could Identify Early Establishment of Pregnancy in Buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis). Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:673765. [PMID: 34513824 PMCID: PMC8427669 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.673765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Precise early pregnancy diagnosis in dairy animals is of utmost importance for an efficient dairy production system. Not detecting a dairy animal pregnant sufficiently early after the breeding results to extending the unproductive time of their milk production cycle and causes substantial economic loss for a dairy producer. At present, the most conventional and authentic pregnancy confirmation practice in cows and buffaloes is rectal palpation of the reproductive organs at Days 35–40 after insemination, which sometime leads to considering an animal as false pregnant. Other alternative methods available for early pregnancy diagnosis lack either accuracy or reproducibility or require elaborate instrumentation and laboratory setup not feasible to practice at farmers’ doorstep. The present study was aimed at establishment of the microRNA (miRNA) repertoire of the placentome in buffaloes, which could capture the event of the cross talk between a growing embryo and a dam, through fetal cotyledons and maternal caruncles, and thus could hint at the early pregnancy establishment event in ruminants. Total RNA was isolated from buffalo placentome tissues during early stages of pregnancy (at Day < 25 and Days 30–35), and global small RNA analysis was performed by using Illumina single-end read chemistry and Bubalus bubalis genome. A total of 2,199 miRNAs comprising 1,620 conserved and 579 non-conserved miRNAs were identified. Stringent functional miRNA selection criteria could predict 20 miRNAs worth evaluating for their abundance in the plasma of pregnant, non-pregnant, cyclic non-bred, and non-cyclic prepubertal animals. Eight of them (viz., miR-195-5p, miR-708-3p, miR-379-5p, miR-XX1, miR-XX2, miR-130a-3p, miR-200a-3p, and miR-27) displayed typical abundance patterns in the plasma samples of the animals on Day 19 as well as Day 25 post-insemination, thus making them ambiguous candidates for early pregnancy detection. Similarly, higher abundance of miR-200a-3p and miR130a-3p in non-pregnant animals was indicative of their utility for detecting the animals as not pregnant. Most interestingly, miR-XX1 and miR-XX2 were very characteristically abundant only in pregnant animals. In silico target prediction analysis confirmed that these two miRNAs are important regulators of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and cell adhesion molecule-2 (CADM-2), both of which play a significant role in the implantation process during feto-maternal cross talk. We interpret that circulatory miR-XX1 and miR-XX2 in blood plasma could be the potential biomarkers for early pregnancy detection in buffaloes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parul Sarwalia
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, Animal Biotechnology Centre, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Mustafa Raza
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Apoorva Soni
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, Animal Biotechnology Centre, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Pratiksha Dubey
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, Animal Biotechnology Centre, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India.,Biological Science Laboratory, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali, India
| | - Rajeev Chandel
- Animal Biochemistry Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, Animal Biotechnology Centre, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - A Kumaresan
- Theriogenology Laboratory, SRS of National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Suneel Kumar Onteru
- Animal Biochemistry Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Ankit Pal
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, Animal Biotechnology Centre, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Kalpana Singh
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Mir Asif Iquebal
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Sarika Jaiswal
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Dinesh Kumar
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - T K Datta
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, Animal Biotechnology Centre, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
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Thakur A, Ke X, Chen YW, Motallebnejad P, Zhang K, Lian Q, Chen HJ. The mini player with diverse functions: extracellular vesicles in cell biology, disease, and therapeutics. Protein Cell 2021; 13:631-654. [PMID: 34374936 PMCID: PMC9233731 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-021-00863-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny biological nanovesicles ranging from approximately 30-1000 nm in diameter that are released into the extracellular matrix of most cell types and in biofluids. The classification of EVs includes exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies, dependent on various factors such as size, markers, and biogenesis pathways. The transition of EV relevance from that of being assumed as a trash bag to be a key player in critical physiological and pathological conditions has been revolutionary in many ways. EVs have been recently revealed to play a crucial role in stem cell biology and cancer progression via intercellular communication, contributing to organ development and the progression of cancer. This review focuses on the significant research progress made so far in the role of the crosstalk between EVs and stem cells and their niche, and cellular communication among different germ layers in developmental biology. In addition, it discusses the role of EVs in cancer progression and their application as therapeutic agents or drug delivery vehicles. All such discoveries have been facilitated by tremendous technological advancements in EV-associated research, especially the microfluidics systems. Their pros and cons in the context of characterization of EVs are also extensively discussed in this review. This review also deliberates the role of EVs in normal cell processes and disease conditions, and their application as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Finally, we propose future perspectives for EV-related research in stem cell and cancer biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhimanyu Thakur
- The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,The Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Xiaoshan Ke
- The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,The Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Ya-Wen Chen
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.,Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Biology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Pedram Motallebnejad
- The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,The Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Kui Zhang
- The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,The Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Qizhou Lian
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong. .,Prenatal Diagnostic Center and Cord Blood Bank, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China. .,HKUMed Laboratory of Cellular Therapeutics, the University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
| | - Huanhuan Joyce Chen
- The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. .,The Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
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35
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Suprunenko EA, Sazonova EA, Vasiliev AV. Extracellular Vesicles of Pluripotent Stem Cells. Russ J Dev Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062360421030073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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Extracellular vesicles as a potential diagnostic tool in assisted reproduction. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2021; 32:179-184. [PMID: 32205524 DOI: 10.1097/gco.0000000000000621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Extracellular vesicles have emerged as a promising field of research for their potential to serve as biomarkers. In the pathophysiology of reproduction, they have attracted significant attention because of their diverse roles in gametogenesis and embryo-endometrial cross-talk. Advances in extracellular vesicle translational potential are herein reviewed with a particular focus in oocyte competence, semen quality diagnostics, embryo selection and detection of endometrial receptivity. RECENT FINDINGS Specific miRNAs present in follicular fluid-derived extracellular vesicles have been associated with follicle development and oocyte maturation. Some proteins known to regulate sperm function and capacitation such as glycodelin, and CRISP1 have been found as overrepresented in semen exosomes isolated from severe asthenozoospermic compared to normozoospermic men. In vitro developed human embryos can secrete extracellular vesicles whose propitiousness for preimplantation genetic testing is being increasingly investigated. Endometrial cell-derived extracellular vesicles recovered from uterine flushings might represent a reservoir of molecular markers potentially exploited for monitoring the endometrial status. SUMMARY Accumulated knowledge on extracellular vesicles deriving from endometrium, follicular fluid, embryos or male reproductive system may be translated to clinical practice to inform diagnostics in assisted reproduction technology (ART). Validation studies and technology developments are required to implement the profiling of extracellular vesicles as diagnostic tests in ART.
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37
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Falzone L, Gattuso G, Tsatsakis A, Spandidos DA, Libra M. Current and innovative methods for the diagnosis of COVID‑19 infection (Review). Int J Mol Med 2021; 47:100. [PMID: 33846767 PMCID: PMC8043662 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2021.4933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‑19) pandemic has forced the scientific community to rapidly develop highly reliable diagnostic methods in order to effectively and accurately diagnose this pathology, thus limiting the spread of infection. Although the structural and molecular characteristics of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) were initially unknown, various diagnostic strategies useful for making a correct diagnosis of COVID‑19 have been rapidly developed by private research laboratories and biomedical companies. At present, rapid antigen or antibody tests, immunoenzymatic serological tests and molecular tests based on RT‑PCR are the most widely used and validated techniques worldwide. Apart from these conventional methods, other techniques, including isothermal nucleic acid amplification techniques, clusters of regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas (CRISPR/Cas)‑based approaches or digital PCR methods are currently used in research contexts or are awaiting approval for diagnostic use by competent authorities. In order to provide guidance for the correct use of COVID‑19 diagnostic tests, the present review describes the diagnostic strategies available which may be used for the diagnosis of COVID‑19 infection in both clinical and research settings. In particular, the technical and instrumental characteristics of the diagnostic methods used are described herein. In addition, updated and detailed information about the type of sample, the modality and the timing of use of specific tests are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Falzone
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, National Cancer Institute-IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', I-80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gattuso
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, I-95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Aristidis Tsatsakis
- Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Demetrios A. Spandidos
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Massimo Libra
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, I-95123 Catania, Italy
- Research Center for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Tumors, University of Catania, I-95123 Catania, Italy
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38
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Falzone L, Gattuso G, Tsatsakis A, Spandidos DA, Libra M. Current and innovative methods for the diagnosis of COVID‑19 infection (Review). Int J Mol Med 2021. [PMID: 33846767 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2021.4933/html] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‑19) pandemic has forced the scientific community to rapidly develop highly reliable diagnostic methods in order to effectively and accurately diagnose this pathology, thus limiting the spread of infection. Although the structural and molecular characteristics of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) were initially unknown, various diagnostic strategies useful for making a correct diagnosis of COVID‑19 have been rapidly developed by private research laboratories and biomedical companies. At present, rapid antigen or antibody tests, immunoenzymatic serological tests and molecular tests based on RT‑PCR are the most widely used and validated techniques worldwide. Apart from these conventional methods, other techniques, including isothermal nucleic acid amplification techniques, clusters of regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas (CRISPR/Cas)‑based approaches or digital PCR methods are currently used in research contexts or are awaiting approval for diagnostic use by competent authorities. In order to provide guidance for the correct use of COVID‑19 diagnostic tests, the present review describes the diagnostic strategies available which may be used for the diagnosis of COVID‑19 infection in both clinical and research settings. In particular, the technical and instrumental characteristics of the diagnostic methods used are described herein. In addition, updated and detailed information about the type of sample, the modality and the timing of use of specific tests are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Falzone
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, National Cancer Institute‑IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', I‑80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gattuso
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, I‑95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Aristidis Tsatsakis
- Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Demetrios A Spandidos
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Massimo Libra
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, I‑95123 Catania, Italy
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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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40
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Machtinger R, Baccarelli AA, Wu H. Extracellular vesicles and female reproduction. J Assist Reprod Genet 2021; 38:549-557. [PMID: 33471231 PMCID: PMC7910356 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-020-02048-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized membrane bound complexes that have been identified as a mean for intercellular communication between cells and tissues both in physiological and pathological conditions. These vesicles contain numerous molecules involved in signal transduction including microRNAs, mRNAs, DNA, proteins, lipids, and cytokines and can affect the behavior of recipient cells. Female reproduction is dependent on extremely fine-tuned endocrine regulation, and EVs may represent an added layer that contributes to this regulation. This narrative review article provides an update on the research of the role of EVs in female reproduction including folliculogenesis, fertilization, embryo quality, and implantation. We also highlight potential pitfalls in typical EV studies and discuss gaps in the current literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronit Machtinger
- Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Infertility and IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, 52621, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- Environmental Precision Biosciences Laboratory, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Haotian Wu
- Environmental Precision Biosciences Laboratory, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
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41
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Identification of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic markers in hepatocellular carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:6115-6133. [PMID: 33617479 PMCID: PMC7950227 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The development of high-throughput technologies has yielded a large amount of data from molecular and epigenetic analysis that could be useful for identifying novel biomarkers of cancers. We analyzed Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) DataSet micro–ribonucleic acid (miRNA) profiling datasets to identify miRNAs that could have value as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We adopted several computing methods to identify the functional roles of these miRNAs. Ultimately, via integrated analysis of three GEO DataSets, three differential miRNAs were identified as valuable markers in HCC. Combining the results of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses and Kaplan–Meier Plotter (KM) survival analyses, we identified hsa-let-7e as a novel potential biomarker for HCC diagnosis and prognosis. Then, we found via quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) that let-7e was upregulated in HCC tissues and that such upregulation was significantly associated with poor prognosis in HCC. The results of functional analysis indicated that upregulated let-7e promoted tumor cell growth and proliferation. Additionally, via mechanistic analysis, we found that let-7e could regulate mitochondrial apoptosis and autophagy to adjust and control cancer cell proliferation. Therefore, the integrated results of our bioinformatics analyses of both clinical and experimental data showed that let-7e was a novel biomarker for HCC diagnosis and prognosis and might be a new treatment target.
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42
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Altieri R, Barbagallo D, Certo F, Broggi G, Ragusa M, Di Pietro C, Caltabiano R, Magro G, Peschillo S, Purrello M, Barbagallo G. Peritumoral Microenvironment in High-Grade Gliomas: From FLAIRectomy to Microglia-Glioma Cross-Talk. Brain Sci 2021; 11:200. [PMID: 33561993 PMCID: PMC7915863 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11020200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular composition and molecular signatures of the glioma core compared with infiltrative margins are different, and it is well known that the tumor edge is enriched in microglia. In this review of the literature, we summarize the role of the peritumoral area in high-grade gliomas (HGGs) from surgical and biological points of view. There is evidence on the dual role of microglia in HGGs-a scavenger-tumoricidal role when microglia are activated in an M1 phenotype and a role favoring tumor growth and infiltration/migration when microglia are activated in an M2 phenotype. Microglia polarization is mediated by complex pathways involving cross-talk with glioma cells. In this scenario, extracellular vesicles and their miRNA cargo seem to play a central role. The switch to a specific phenotype correlates with prognosis and the pathological assessment of a specific microglial setting can predict a patient's outcome. Some authors have designed an engineered microglial cell as a biologically active vehicle for the delivery of intraoperative near-infrared fluorescent dye with the aim of helping surgeons detect peritumoral infiltrated areas during resection. Furthermore, the pharmacological modulation of microglia-glioma cross-talk paves the way to more effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Altieri
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Policlinico “G. Rodolico-S. Marco” University Hospital, 95121 Catania, Italy; (F.C.); (S.P.); (G.B.)
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Brain Tumors Diagnosis and Treatment, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (D.B.); (M.R.); (M.P.)
| | - Davide Barbagallo
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Brain Tumors Diagnosis and Treatment, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (D.B.); (M.R.); (M.P.)
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences—Section of Biology and Genetics Giovanni Sichel, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy;
| | - Francesco Certo
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Policlinico “G. Rodolico-S. Marco” University Hospital, 95121 Catania, Italy; (F.C.); (S.P.); (G.B.)
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Brain Tumors Diagnosis and Treatment, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (D.B.); (M.R.); (M.P.)
| | - Giuseppe Broggi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G. F. Ingrassia”, Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (G.B.); (R.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Marco Ragusa
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Brain Tumors Diagnosis and Treatment, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (D.B.); (M.R.); (M.P.)
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences—Section of Biology and Genetics Giovanni Sichel, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy;
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, 94018 Troina, Italy
| | - Cinzia Di Pietro
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences—Section of Biology and Genetics Giovanni Sichel, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy;
| | - Rosario Caltabiano
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G. F. Ingrassia”, Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (G.B.); (R.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Gaetano Magro
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G. F. Ingrassia”, Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (G.B.); (R.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Simone Peschillo
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Policlinico “G. Rodolico-S. Marco” University Hospital, 95121 Catania, Italy; (F.C.); (S.P.); (G.B.)
| | - Michele Purrello
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Brain Tumors Diagnosis and Treatment, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (D.B.); (M.R.); (M.P.)
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences—Section of Biology and Genetics Giovanni Sichel, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Barbagallo
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Policlinico “G. Rodolico-S. Marco” University Hospital, 95121 Catania, Italy; (F.C.); (S.P.); (G.B.)
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Brain Tumors Diagnosis and Treatment, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (D.B.); (M.R.); (M.P.)
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Li Q, Song Y, Wang Q, Chen J, Gao J, Tan H, Li S, Wu Y, Yang H, Huang H, Yu Y, Li Y, Zhang N, Huang Z, Pang Z, Qian J, Ge J. Engineering extracellular vesicles with platelet membranes fusion enhanced targeted therapeutic angiogenesis in a mouse model of myocardial ischemia reperfusion. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:3916-3931. [PMID: 33664870 PMCID: PMC7914364 DOI: 10.7150/thno.52496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic angiogenesis is one promising strategy for the treatment of ischemic heart disease, which is the leading cause of death globally. In recent years, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have quickly gained much attention as a cell-free approach to stimulate angiogenesis. However, clinical applications of EVs are limited by their insufficient targeting capability. Herein, we introduce a method to enhance therapeutic angiogenesis based on platelet membrane-engineered EVs. Methods: Platelet-mimetic EVs (P-EVs) were fabricated by fusing the membranes of EVs with platelet membranes by extrusion. A mouse model of myocardial ischemia reperfusion (MI/R) was established and injected with PBS, EVs, and P-EVs to evaluate their targeting ability and therapeutic angiogenesis efficacy. Results: P-EVs inherited the adhesive proteins and natural targeting ability to injured vasculature of platelets and retained the pro-angiogenic potential of EVs. In the MI/R model, P-EVs preferentially accumulated in the injured endothelium of the ischemic hearts and enhanced the angiogenesis potency of EVs. Conclusions: This engineering strategy to modify pre-isolated EVs with platelet membranes by membrane fusion bestows EVs with the targeting ability of platelets and offers an exciting opportunity to design other targeted EVs fused with cell membranes from different sources for therapeutic angiogenesis.
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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: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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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45
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Crimi S, Falzone L, Gattuso G, Grillo CM, Candido S, Bianchi A, Libra M. Droplet Digital PCR Analysis of Liquid Biopsy Samples Unveils the Diagnostic Role of hsa-miR-133a-3p and hsa-miR-375-3p in Oral Cancer. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:biology9110379. [PMID: 33172167 PMCID: PMC7694750 DOI: 10.3390/biology9110379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Despite the availability of screening programs, oral cancer is often diagnosed due to the lack of effective biomarkers. Therefore, the identification of new effective diagnostic and late prognostic biomarkers is of fundamental importance for the management of this tumor type. In our previous computational study, we have identified a set of microRNAs (miRNAs) significantly dysregulated in oral cancer and with a potential diagnostic and prognostic significance for oral cancer patients. Starting from our preliminary bioinformatics results, the aim of the present study was to validate the diagnostic potential of four selected miRNAs, hsa-miR-133a-3p, hsa-miR-375-3p, hsa-miR-503-5p and hsa-miR-196a-5p, in liquid biopsy samples obtained from oral cancer patients and healthy donors. For this purpose, the expression levels of the selected miRNAs were determined in plasma samples by using specific miRNA probes and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). The ddPCR results showed that the hsa-miR-133a-3p and hsa-miR-375-3p were significantly down-regulated in oral cancer and their evaluation in liquid biopsy samples can predict the risk of oral cancer development with high sensitivity and specificity. Finally, the computational analysis of miRNA expression and clinical-pathological features of patients allowed us to establish the functional role and prognostic significance of the two validated miRNAs. Abstract Despite the availability of screening programs, oral cancer deaths are increasing due to the lack of diagnostic biomarkers leading to late diagnosis and a poor prognosis. Therefore, there is an urgent need to discover novel effective biomarkers for this tumor. On these bases, the aim of this study was to validate the diagnostic potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) through the analysis of liquid biopsy samples obtained from ten oral cancer patients and ten healthy controls. The expression of four selected miRNAs was evaluated by using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) in a pilot cohort of ten oral cancer patients and ten healthy donors. Bioinformatics analyses were performed to assess the functional role of these miRNAs. The expression levels of the predicted down-regulated hsa-miR-133a-3p and hsa-miR-375-3p were significantly reduced in oral cancer patients compared to normal individuals while no significant results were obtained for the up-regulated hsa-miR-503-5p and hsa-miR-196a-5p. ROC analysis confirmed the high sensitivity and specificity of hsa-miR-375-3p and hsa-miR-133a-3p. Therefore, both miRNAs are significantly down-regulated in cancer patients and can be used as biomarkers for the early diagnosis of oral cancer. The analysis of circulating miRNAs in a larger series of patients is mandatory to confirm the results obtained in this pilot study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Crimi
- Department of General Surgery, Section of Maxillo Facial Surgery, Policlinico San Marco, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (S.C.); (A.B.)
| | - Luca Falzone
- Epidemiology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-095-478-1271
| | - Giuseppe Gattuso
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (G.G.); (S.C.); (M.L.)
| | - Caterina Maria Grillo
- Otolaryngology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Surgical and Advanced Technologies, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy;
| | - Saverio Candido
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (G.G.); (S.C.); (M.L.)
- Research Center for Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Alberto Bianchi
- Department of General Surgery, Section of Maxillo Facial Surgery, Policlinico San Marco, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (S.C.); (A.B.)
| | - Massimo Libra
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (G.G.); (S.C.); (M.L.)
- Research Center for Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
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46
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The Biological Function of Extracellular Vesicles during Fertilization, Early Embryo-Maternal Crosstalk and Their Involvement in Reproduction: Review and Overview. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10111510. [PMID: 33158009 PMCID: PMC7693816 DOI: 10.3390/biom10111510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Secretory extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed microparticles that mediate cell to cell communication in proximity to, or distant from, the cell of origin. Cells release a heterogeneous spectrum of EVs depending on their physiologic and metabolic state. Extracellular vesicles are generally classified as either exosomes or microvesicles depending on their size and biogenesis. Extracellular vesicles mediate temporal and spatial interaction during many events in sexual reproduction and supporting embryo-maternal dialogue. Although many omic technologies provide detailed understanding of the molecular cargo of EVs, the difficulty in obtaining populations of homogeneous EVs makes difficult to interpret the molecular profile of the molecules derived from a miscellaneous EV population. Notwithstanding, molecular characterization of EVs isolated in physiological and pathological conditions may increase our understanding of reproductive and obstetric diseases and assist the search for potential non-invasive biomarkers. Moreover, a more precise vision of the cocktail of biomolecules inside the EVs mediating communication between the embryo and mother could provide new insights to optimize the therapeutic action and safety of EV use.
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Barbagallo C, Di Martino MT, Grasso M, Salluzzo MG, Scionti F, Cosentino FII, Caruso G, Barbagallo D, Di Pietro C, Ferri R, Caraci F, Purrello M, Ragusa M. Uncharacterized RNAs in Plasma of Alzheimer's Patients Are Associated with Cognitive Impairment and Show a Potential Diagnostic Power. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21207644. [PMID: 33076555 PMCID: PMC7588983 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) diagnosis is actually based on clinical evaluation and brain-imaging tests, and it can often be confirmed only post-mortem. Therefore, new non-invasive molecular biomarkers are necessary to improve AD diagnosis. As circulating microRNA biomarkers have been proposed for many diseases, including AD, we aimed to identify new diagnostic non-small RNAs in AD. Whole transcriptome analysis was performed on plasma samples of five AD and five unaffected individuals (CTRL) using the Clariom D Pico Assay, followed by validation in real-time PCR on 37 AD patients and 37 CTRL. Six differentially expressed (DE) transcripts were identified: GS1-304P7.3 (upregulated), NONHSAT090268, TC0100011037, TC0400008478, TC1400008125, and UBE2V1 (downregulated). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) may influence the expression of circulating RNAs and their analysis has been proposed to improve AD clinical management. Accordingly, DE transcript expression was also evaluated in PBMCs, showing no difference between AD and CTRL. ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of each DE transcript and a signature including all of them. A correlation between cognitive impairment and GS1-304P7.3, NONHSAT090268, TC0100011037, and TC0400008478 was detected, suggesting a potential association between their extracellular abundance and AD clinical phenotype. Finally, this study identified six transcripts showing altered expression in the plasma of AD patients. Given the need for new, accurate blood biomarkers for AD diagnosis, these transcripts may be considered for further analyses in larger cohorts, also in combination with other biomarkers, aiming to identify specific RNA-based biomarkers to be eventually applied to clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Barbagallo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biology and Genetics G. Sichel, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (C.B.); (D.B.); (C.D.P.); (M.P.); (M.R.)
| | - Maria Teresa Di Martino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.T.D.M.); (F.S.)
| | - Margherita Grasso
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, 94018 Troina, Italy; (M.G.); (M.G.S.); (F.I.I.C.); (G.C.); (R.F.)
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Salluzzo
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, 94018 Troina, Italy; (M.G.); (M.G.S.); (F.I.I.C.); (G.C.); (R.F.)
| | - Francesca Scionti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.T.D.M.); (F.S.)
| | | | - Giuseppe Caruso
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, 94018 Troina, Italy; (M.G.); (M.G.S.); (F.I.I.C.); (G.C.); (R.F.)
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Davide Barbagallo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biology and Genetics G. Sichel, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (C.B.); (D.B.); (C.D.P.); (M.P.); (M.R.)
| | - Cinzia Di Pietro
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biology and Genetics G. Sichel, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (C.B.); (D.B.); (C.D.P.); (M.P.); (M.R.)
| | - Raffaele Ferri
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, 94018 Troina, Italy; (M.G.); (M.G.S.); (F.I.I.C.); (G.C.); (R.F.)
| | - Filippo Caraci
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, 94018 Troina, Italy; (M.G.); (M.G.S.); (F.I.I.C.); (G.C.); (R.F.)
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Michele Purrello
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biology and Genetics G. Sichel, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (C.B.); (D.B.); (C.D.P.); (M.P.); (M.R.)
| | - Marco Ragusa
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biology and Genetics G. Sichel, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (C.B.); (D.B.); (C.D.P.); (M.P.); (M.R.)
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, 94018 Troina, Italy; (M.G.); (M.G.S.); (F.I.I.C.); (G.C.); (R.F.)
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48
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Tetraspanins, More than Markers of Extracellular Vesicles in Reproduction. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21207568. [PMID: 33066349 PMCID: PMC7589920 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The participation of extracellular vesicles in many cellular processes, including reproduction, is unquestionable. Although currently, the tetraspanin proteins found in extracellular vesicles are mostly applied as markers, increasing evidence points to their role in extracellular vesicle biogenesis, cargo selection, cell targeting, and cell uptake under both physiological and pathological conditions. In this review, we bring other insight into the involvement of tetraspanin proteins in extracellular vesicle physiology in mammalian reproduction. We provide knowledge regarding the involvement of extracellular vesicle tetraspanins in these processes in somatic cells. Furthermore, we discuss the future direction towards an understanding of their functions in the tissues and fluids of the mammalian reproductive system in gamete maturation, fertilization, and embryo development; their involvement in mutual cell contact and communication in their complexity.
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Falzone L, Gattuso G, Lombardo C, Lupo G, Grillo CM, Spandidos DA, Libra M, Salmeri M. Droplet digital PCR for the detection and monitoring of Legionella pneumophila. Int J Mol Med 2020; 46:1777-1782. [PMID: 33000184 PMCID: PMC7521553 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2020.4724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Legionella pneumophila(L. pneumophila is a harmful pathogen often found in water systems. In hospitals, the absence of L. pneumophila in water systems is mandatory by law, therefore, frequent and effective monitoring of water is of fundamental importance. Molecular methods based on reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) have been proposed for the detection of L. pneumophila, however, the sensitivity and accuracy of these methods have not been validated yet. Therefore, it is important to evaluate other strategies able to overcome the limits of culture-based and RT-qPCR methods. On these bases, we compared the sensitivity and accuracy of droplet digital PC (ddPCR) and RT-qPCR in water samples with known concentrations of L. pneumophila and in an in vitro model of water heat treatments. ddPCR showed a higher sensitivity rate and accuracy compared to RT-qPCR in detecting low bacterial load. In addition, ddPCR is not affected by the presence of fragmented DNA and showed higher accuracy than RT-qPC in monitoring the efficacy of heat shock treatments. In conclusion, ddPCR represents an innovative strategy to effectively detect L. pneumophila in water samples. Thanks to its high robustness, ddPCR could be applied also for the detection of L. pneumophila in patients with suspected legionellosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Falzone
- Epidemiology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori 'Fondazione G. Pascale', I‑80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gattuso
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of General Pathology, University of Catania, I‑95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Cinzia Lombardo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Microbiology, University of Catania, I‑95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Gabriella Lupo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Catania, I‑95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Caterina Maria Grillo
- Department of Medical Sciences, Surgical and Advanced Technologies, GF Ingrassia, University of Catania, I‑95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Demetrios A Spandidos
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Massimo Libra
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of General Pathology, University of Catania, I‑95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Mario Salmeri
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Microbiology, University of Catania, I‑95123 Catania, Italy
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50
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Falzone L, Grimaldi M, Celentano E, Augustin LSA, Libra M. Identification of Modulated MicroRNAs Associated with Breast Cancer, Diet, and Physical Activity. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12092555. [PMID: 32911851 PMCID: PMC7564431 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12092555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Healthy diet and physical activity are able to induce beneficial molecular modifications that have been associated with a lower risk of breast cancer (BC) incidence and a better prognosis for BC patients. Although the beneficial effects of healthy lifestyle have been described, the beneficial epigenetic modifications induced by dietary and exercise intervention in BC patients have not been elucidated yet. On these bases, the aim of the present study was to computationally identify microRNAs (miRNAs) strictly associated with BC progression and with dietary and exercise interventions. Through several computational approaches, a set of miRNAs modulated by diet and exercise and useful as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for BC was identified. The results obtained represent the starting point for further validation analyses performed on BC patients undergoing lifestyle interventions to propose the miRNAs here identified as novel biomarkers for BC management. Abstract Background: Several studies have shown that healthy lifestyles prevent the risk of breast cancer (BC) and are associated with better prognosis. It was hypothesized that lifestyle strategies induce microRNA (miRNA) modulation that, in turn, may lead to important epigenetic modifications. The identification of miRNAs associated with BC, diet, and physical activity may give further insights into the role played by lifestyle interventions and their efficacy for BC patients. To predict which miRNAs may be modulated by diet and physical activity in BC patients, the analyses of different miRNA expression datasets were performed. Methods: The GEO DataSets database was used to select miRNA expression datasets related to BC patients, dietary interventions, and physical exercise. Further bioinformatic approaches were used to establish the value of selected miRNAs in BC development and prognosis. Results: The analysis of datasets allowed the selection of modulated miRNAs associated with BC development, diet, and physical exercise. Seven miRNAs were also associated with the overall survival of BC patients. Conclusions: The identified miRNAs may play a role in the development of BC and may have a prognostic value in patients treated with integrative interventions including diet and physical activity. Validation of such modulated miRNAs on BC patients undergoing lifestyle strategies will be mandatory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Falzone
- IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Epidemiology Unit, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.G.); (E.C.); (L.S.A.A.)
- Correspondence: (L.F.); (M.L.); Tel.: +39-095-478-1278 (L.F.); +39-095-478-1271 (M.L.)
| | - Maria Grimaldi
- IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Epidemiology Unit, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.G.); (E.C.); (L.S.A.A.)
| | - Egidio Celentano
- IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Epidemiology Unit, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.G.); (E.C.); (L.S.A.A.)
| | - Livia S. A. Augustin
- IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Epidemiology Unit, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.G.); (E.C.); (L.S.A.A.)
| | - Massimo Libra
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
- Research Centre for Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Cancer, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
- Correspondence: (L.F.); (M.L.); Tel.: +39-095-478-1278 (L.F.); +39-095-478-1271 (M.L.)
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