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Sielhorst J, Koether K, Volkmann N, Blanco M, Vicioso R, Baade S, Kemper N, de Mestre AM, Sieme H. Occurrence of ultrasonographic assessed placental abnormalities, treatments, pregnancy outcome, and subsequent fertility on a large warmblood stud farm: A retrospective field study. J Equine Vet Sci 2024; 137:105076. [PMID: 38697370 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105076] [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: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Little is known about the incidence and outcome of high-risk pregnancies in equine practice and clinical studies on spontaneous occurring placentitis cases and treatments are missing. Therefore, the aims of this retrospective field study were to (1) describe the incidence and severity of ultrasonographic assessed placental abnormalities (UPA) in 4,192 pregnancies on a large commercial warmblood stud farm in 2017 - 2019 and (2) characterize these UPA cases and their pregnancy outcome. UPA severity (Placental abnormality score (PSc) 1-3; low to high), nine treatment regimens (TM1-9) used in UPA cases and treatment duration as well as subsequent fertility were analyzed in the group of UPA mares. The proportion of pregnancies affected by UPA was 4.2 % (n=177/4192). Placental abnormality severity was scored as PSc1 (51.4 %), PSc2 (32.8 %) and PSc3 (15.8 %). The generalized mixed model revealed PSc was affected by mare age and mare status (own pregnancy (OP) or embryo transfer recipient (ER)) (P=0.035) with ER mares having increased PSc compared with mares having their own pregnancy. Abortion occurred in 17/177 (9.6 %) UPA pregnancies. Overall, at the end of the next season, 61.1 % of UPA mares were pregnant, 32.0 % barren, and 6.9 % open (n=175). Pregnancy was established in 62/91(68.1 %) of mares with PSc1, 31/58 (53.4 %) with PSc2 and 14/26 (53.8 %) with PSc3. Most pregnancies were achieved in the first 81/107 (75.7 %) or second 18/107 (16.8 %) inseminated cycle. In conclusion, early detection and treatment of ultrasonographic assessed placental abnormalities can save high-risk pregnancies in > 90 % of cases with a satisfying subsequent fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Sielhorst
- Clinic for Horses - Unit for Reproductive Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 15, Hanover 30559, Germany; ReproTraining, Rolandstrasse 62, Verl 33415, Germany.
| | - K Koether
- Clinic for Horses - Unit for Reproductive Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 15, Hanover 30559, Germany; Lewitz Stud, Lewitzhof, Neustadt-Glewe 19306, Germany
| | - N Volkmann
- Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behavior, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, Hanover 30173, Germany
| | - M Blanco
- Lewitz Stud, Lewitzhof, Neustadt-Glewe 19306, Germany
| | - R Vicioso
- Lewitz Stud, Lewitzhof, Neustadt-Glewe 19306, Germany
| | - S Baade
- Clinic for Horses - Unit for Reproductive Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 15, Hanover 30559, Germany
| | - N Kemper
- Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behavior, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, Hanover 30173, Germany
| | - A M de Mestre
- Cornell Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell Department of Biomedical Sciences, Equine Pregnancy Laboratory, 235 Hungerford Hill Road, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - H Sieme
- Clinic for Horses - Unit for Reproductive Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 15, Hanover 30559, Germany
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Chavatte-Palmer P, Derisoud E, Robles M. Pregnancy and placental development in horses: an update. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2022; 79:106692. [PMID: 34823139 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2021.106692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Horses have been domesticated by man and historical information mostly associates horses with men. Nowadays, however, horse riding is essentially by women. Women are also very much involved in equine sciences, with a large contribution to the understanding of fetoplacental development. While highlighting the work of female scientists, this review describes the recent advances in equine fetoplacental studies, focusing on data obtained by new generation sequencing and progress on the understanding of the role of placental progesterone metabolites throughout gestation. A second emphasis is made on fetal programming, a currently very active field, where the importance of maternal nutrition, mare management or the use of embryo technologies has been shown to induce long term effects in the offspring that might affect progeny's performance. Finally, new perspectives for the study of equine pregnancy are drawn, that will rely on new methodologies applied to molecular explorations and imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Chavatte-Palmer
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Jouy-en-Josas 78350, France; Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort 94700, France.
| | - E Derisoud
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Jouy-en-Josas 78350, France; Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort 94700, France
| | - M Robles
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Jouy-en-Josas 78350, France; Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort 94700, France; INRS Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, Québec H7V1B7, Canada
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Boakari YL, Esteller-Vico A, Loux S, El-Sheikh Ali H, Fernandes CB, Dini P, Scoggin KE, Cray C, Ball BA. Serum amyloid A, Serum Amyloid A1 and Haptoglobin in pregnant mares and their fetuses after experimental induction of placentitis. Anim Reprod Sci 2021; 229:106766. [PMID: 34015726 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106766] [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: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Serum amyloid A (SAA) and Haptoglobin (Hp) are acute phase proteins, produced during inflammation, such as placentitis. In horses, SAA and SAA1 are protein coding genes. Objectives were to analyze SAA and Hp concentrations and relative abundance of SAA, SAA1 and Hp mRNA transcript in maternal and fetal tissues after experimental induction of placentitis or mares of a control group. Serum Amyloid A family proteins were in marked abundance in the stroma of the endometrium and chorioallantois associated with inflammatory cells. Maternal plasma SAA concentrations were greater (P = 0.01) in mares with experimentally induced placentitis compared to those of the control group. Maternal Hp from the groups were not different, but fetal Hp concentrations of mares with experimentally induced placentitis were greater (P = 0.02). Maternal plasma SAA and Hp concentrations were greater than fetal plasma concentrations in mares with experimentally induced placentitis (P < 0.05). Relative abundance of SAA mRNA transcript was greater in the maternal, fetal liver and chorioallantois of mares with experimentally induced placentitis (P < 0.05) compared to those in the control group. Interestingly, relative abundance of SAA1 mRNA transcript was greater in the chorioallantois of mares with experimentally induced placentitis (P < 0.05). The SAA and Hp concentrations, therefore, were greater in mares with induced placentitis. Furthermore, relative abundance of SAA1 mRNA transcript is specifically greater in the chorioallantois of mares with placentitis, which warrants further studies to elucidate the immunological response of SAA1 in the chorioallantois of mares with placentitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Linhares Boakari
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Kentucky, USA; Department of Clinical Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
| | - A Esteller-Vico
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Kentucky, USA; Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, USA
| | - S Loux
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Kentucky, USA
| | - H El-Sheikh Ali
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Kentucky, USA; Theriogenology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mansoura, Egypt
| | - C Barbosa Fernandes
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Kentucky, USA; Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - P Dini
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Kentucky, USA; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - K E Scoggin
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Kentucky, USA
| | - C Cray
- Division of Comparative Pathology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA
| | - B A Ball
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Kentucky, USA.
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Macpherson ML, Giguère S, Pozor MA, Burden CA, Berghaus LJ, Berghaus RD, Varner JC, Hayna JT, Benson SM, Randell SA, Lyle SK, Kelleman AA, Hart KA, Mallicote MF, Horohov DW. Evidence for anti-inflammatory effects of firocoxib administered to mares with experimentally induced placentitis. Am J Reprod Immunol 2021; 86:e13396. [PMID: 33569862 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Minimal evidence exists supporting therapeutic selections for equine placentitis. The goal of this study was to characterize the anti-inflammatory effects of firocoxib when administered to mares with placentitis. METHODS Mares (gestation D270-300) were assigned to: INFECT (n = 6; placentitis, no treatment), FIRO (n = 6; placentitis, firocoxib, 0.1 mg/kg, PO, daily), and NORM (n = 6; no infection/treatment). Allantoic fluid (8 hours, 24 hours, birth) and amniotic fluid (birth) were collected from mares after infection. Concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, PGF2α , and PGE2 in fluids were measured by ELISA. mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, IL-10, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) -1, 3, and 9 in fetal membranes/fetuses was quantified using real-time PCR. RESULTS Allantoic TNF-α concentrations were lowest in FIRO at 8 hours and 24 hours post-infection; IL-6 concentrations were lower in FIRO than NORM at 8 hours, lower in FIRO than INFECT at 24 hours post-inoculation, and lower in NORM than FIRO or INFECT at birth. Marginal mean allantoic IL-β and IL-10 concentrations were lower in FIRO and NORM than INFECT. Amniotic fluid cytokines were lowest in NORM with all measurements in that group being below the limit of detection. Allantoic PGF2α concentrations were lower in FIRO and INFECT than NORM at 8 hours post-inoculation, and lower in FIRO than INFECT or NORM at 24 hours post-inoculation. Allantoic PGE2 concentrations were lower in FIRO than INFECT. Amniotic PGF2α and PGE2 concentrations were lower in NORM than INFECT. In fetal membranes, group differences with respect to IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and MMP1 were dependent on tissue type. CONCLUSIONS Data suggest a suppressive effect of firocoxib administration on cytokine and prostaglandin production in mares with placentitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margo L Macpherson
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Steeve Giguère
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Malgorzata A Pozor
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Chelsie A Burden
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Londa J Berghaus
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Roy D Berghaus
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Jennifer C Varner
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Justin T Hayna
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Susanne M Benson
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sarah A Randell
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sara K Lyle
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Audrey A Kelleman
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kelsey A Hart
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Martha F Mallicote
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - David W Horohov
- Department of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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Fedorka CE, Scoggin KE, El-Sheikh Ali H, Loux SC, Dini P, Troedsson MHT, Ball BA. Interleukin-6 pathobiology in equine placental infection. Am J Reprod Immunol 2021; 85:e13363. [PMID: 33098605 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Ascending placentitis is the leading cause of abortion in the horse. Interleukin (IL)-6 is considered predictive of placental infection in other species, but little is understood regarding its role in the pathophysiology of ascending placentitis. METHOD OF STUDY Sub-acute ascending placentitis was induced via trans-cervical inoculation of S zooepidemicus, and various fluids/serum/tissues collected 8 days later. Concentrations of IL-6 were detected within fetal fluids and serum in inoculated (n = 6) and control (n = 6) mares. RNASeq was performed on the placenta (endometrium and chorioallantois) to assess transcripts relating to IL-6 pathways. IHC was performed for immunolocalization of IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) in the placenta. RESULTS IL-6 concentrations increased in allantoic fluid following inoculation, with a trend toward an increase in amniotic fluid. Maternal serum IL-6 was increased in inoculated animals, while no changes were noted in fetal serum. mRNA expression of IL-6-related transcripts within the chorioallantois indicates that IL-6 is activating the classical JAK/STAT pathway, thereby acting as anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and pro-survival. The IL-6R was expressed within the chorioallantois, indicating a paracrine signaling pathway of maternal IL-6 to fetal IL-6R. CONCLUSION IL-6 plays a crucial role in the placental response to induction of sub-acute equine ascending placentitis, and this could be noted in amniotic fluid, allantoic fluid, and maternal serum. Additionally, IL-6 is acting as anti-inflammatory in this disease, potentially altering disease progression, impeding abortion signals, and assisting with the production of a viable neonate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carleigh E Fedorka
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Kirsten E Scoggin
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Hossam El-Sheikh Ali
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.,Department of Theriogenology, University of Mansoura, Dakahlia, Egypt
| | - Shavahn C Loux
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Pouya Dini
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Mats H T Troedsson
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Barry A Ball
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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6
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El-Sheikh Ali H, Scoggin K, Linhares Boakari Y, Dini P, Loux S, Fedorka C, Esteller-Vico A, Ball B. Kinetics of placenta-specific 8 (PLAC8) in equine placenta during pregnancy and placentitis. Theriogenology 2020; 160:81-89. [PMID: 33189077 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.10.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Placenta-specific 8 (PLAC8) is one of the placenta-regulatory genes which is highly conserved among eutherian mammals. However, little is known about its expression in equine placenta (chorioallantois; CA and endometrium; EN) during normal and abnormal pregnancy. Therefore, the current study was designed to 1) elucidate the expression of PLAC8 in equine embryonic membranes during the preimplantation period, 2) characterize the expression profile of PLAC8 in equine CA (45d, 4mo, 6mo, 10 mo, 11 mo and postpartum) and EN (14d, 4mo, 6mo, 10 mo, and 11 mo) obtained from pregnant mares (n = 4/timepoint), as well as, d14 non-pregnant EN (n = 4), and 3) investigate the expression profile of PLAC8 in ascending placentitis (n = 5) and in nocardioform placentitis (n = 6) in comparison to normal CA. In the preimplantation period, PLAC8 mRNA was not abundant in the trophectoderm of d8 equine embryo and d14 conceptus, while it was abundant later in d 30, 31, 34, and 45 chorion. In normal pregnancy, PLAC8 mRNA expression in CA at 45 d gradually decline to reach nadir at 6mo before gradually increasing to its peak at 11mo and postpartum CA. The mRNA expression of PLAC8 was significantly upregulated in CA from mares with ascending and nocardioform placentitis compared to control mares. Immunohistochemistry revealed that PLAC8 is localized in equine chorionic epithelium and immune cells. Our results revealed that PLAC8 expression in equine chorion is dynamic during pregnancy and is regulated in an implantation-dependent manner. Moreover, PLAC8 is implicated in the immune response in CA during equine ascending placentitis and nocardioform placentitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossam El-Sheikh Ali
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA; Theriogenology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, 35516, Egypt
| | - Kirsten Scoggin
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Yatta Linhares Boakari
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA; Department of Clinical Sciences, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
| | - Pouya Dini
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, B-9820, Belgium
| | - Shavahn Loux
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Carleigh Fedorka
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Alejandro Esteller-Vico
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Barry Ball
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA.
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Canisso IF, Loux SC, Lima FS. Biomarkers for placental disease in mares. Theriogenology 2020; 150:302-307. [PMID: 32088026 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.01.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Placentitis is an important cause of abortion, stillbirth, and neonatal death in horses. The diagnosis of placentitis is based on occurrence of clinical signs (premature mammary gland development and vulvar discharge) and ultrasonography of the caudal placental pole. However, early and subtle cases can be missed. In the last few years, several studies have provided objective means of diagnosing placentitis in mares with single or serial measurements of blood markers. Among the markers evaluated the steroids produced by the fetoplacental unit have been shown to change in association with placentitis. Mares with chronic placentitis have an increase in peripheral progestogens; however, mares acutely infected will display a reduction in peripheral concentrations of progestogens. Estradiol-17β (free- and conjugated form) concentrations are drastically reduced in plasma of mares with placentitis. Acute-phase proteins, particularly serum amyloid A, are increased in plasma of mares suffering from placentitis, and this increase is due to endometrial and chorioallantoic secretions, and minimally from the fetus. Alpha-fetoprotein, a protein expressed in the fetoplacental unit, was shown to be increased in plasma of mares suffering from placentitis. A plephora of microRNA have been identified in plasma and tissues of mares undergoing experimentally induced placentitis, but have not been tested in spontaneous cases. Unique proteomic signatures were found in the fetal fluids of mares undergoing experimentally induced ascending placentitis, making the fetal fluids potentially useful to diagnose placentitis in mares. However, currently the lack of use of transabdominal fetal fluid sampling prevents wide use of the fetal fluids as diagnostic techniques. This manuscript aimed to discuss recent discoveries regarding biomarkers for placentitis in mares.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor F Canisso
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA.
| | - Shavahn C Loux
- The Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40503, USA
| | - Fabio S Lima
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
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Expression Profile of the Chromosome 14 MicroRNA Cluster (C14MC) Ortholog in Equine Maternal Circulation throughout Pregnancy and Its Potential Implications. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20246285. [PMID: 31847075 PMCID: PMC6941126 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20246285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Equine chromosome 24 microRNA cluster (C24MC), the ortholog of human C14MC, is a pregnancy-related miRNA cluster. This cluster is believed to be implicated in embryonic, fetal, and placental development. The current study aimed to characterize the expression profile of this cluster in maternal circulation throughout equine gestation. The expression profile of miRNAs belonging to this cluster was analyzed in the serum of non-pregnant (diestrus), pregnant (25 d, 45 d, 4 mo, 6 mo, 10 mo), and postpartum mares. Among the miRNAs examined, 11 miRNAs were differentially expressed across the analyzed time-points. Four of these miRNAs (eca-miR-1247-3p, eca-miR-134-5p, eca-miR-382-5p, and eca-miR-433-3p) were found to be enriched in the serum of pregnant mares at Day 25 relative to non-pregnant mares. To further assess the accuracy of these miRNAs in differentiating pregnant (25 d) from non-pregnant mares, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed for each of these miRNAs, revealing that eca-miR-1247-3p and eca-miR-134-5p had the highest accuracy (AUCROC = 0.92 and 0.91, respectively; p < 0.05). Moreover, eca-miR-1247-3p, eca-miR-134-5p, eca-miR-409-3p, and eca-miR-379-5p were enriched in the serum of Day 45 pregnant mares. Among those miRNAs, eca-miR-1247-3p and eca-miR-409-3p retained the highest accuracy as shown by ROC analysis. GO analysis revealed that these miRNAs are mainly implicated in nervous system development as well as organ development. Using in situ hybridization, we localized eca-miR-409-3p in the developing embryo (25 d) and extra-embryonic membranes (25 and 45 d). In conclusion, the present study is the first to elucidate the circulating maternal profile of C24MC-associated miRNAs throughout pregnancy and to suggest that serum eca-miR-1247-3p, eca-miR-134-5p, and eca-miR-409-3p could be used as pregnancy-specific markers during early gestation (25 and 45 d). Overall, the high abundance of these embryo-derived miRNAs in the maternal circulation suggests an embryo-maternal communication during the equine early pregnancy.
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Fedorka CE, Ball BA, Scoggin KE, Loux SC, Troedsson MHT, Adams AA. The feto-maternal immune response to equine placentitis. Am J Reprod Immunol 2019; 82:e13179. [PMID: 31373743 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Ascending placentitis is one of the leading causes of abortion in the horse. Minimal work has focused on its effect on fetal fluids or the antenatal immune response of the fetus. METHODOLOGY Placentitis was induced via transcervical inoculation of Streptococcus equi ssp Zooepidemicus, and fluids/serum/tissues were collected 4-6 days later following euthanasia. Cytokine concentrations were detected using a multiplex immunoassay within fetal fluids (amniotic and allantoic) and serum (maternal and fetal) in inoculated and control mares. In addition, tissues from fetal (spleen, liver, lung, umbilicus, amnioallantois) and maternal (spleen, liver, lung, chorioallantois, endometrium) origin were analyzed in inoculated and control mares utilizing qPCR for expression of cytokines. RESULTS No difference in cytokine concentrations in maternal or fetal serum was noted between inoculated and control mares. Concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and GRO were upregulated in the amniotic fluid following inoculation, with a trend toward higher IL-6 concentration in allantoic fluid. The amnioallantoic tissue separating the two fluids had higher expression of IL-1β and IL-6 following inoculation, while chorioallantois and endometrium upregulated IL-1β and IL-8 expression. IL-1β was upregulated in the maternal spleen following inoculation. Fetal spleens were upregulated in expression of IL-1β, GRO, and IL-6, while IL-6 was higher in fetal liver after inoculation than in controls. CONCLUSION The maternal response to placentitis is primarily pro-inflammatory while the fetus appears to play a regulatory role in this inflammation. Additionally, amniotic fluid sampling may be more diagnostic of ascending placentitis than circulating cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carleigh E Fedorka
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Barry A Ball
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Kirsten E Scoggin
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Shavahn C Loux
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Mats H T Troedsson
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Amanda A Adams
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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