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Cuellar CJ, Ismail EA, Haimon MLJ, Hoorn QA, Yu F, Rabaglino MB, Hansen PJ. Interactions between type of culture medium and addition of serum on development and gene expression of bovine blastocysts produced in vitro. Physiol Genomics 2025; 57:256-265. [PMID: 39998448 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00142.2024] [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: 09/19/2024] [Revised: 12/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2025] [Indexed: 02/26/2025] Open
Abstract
Serum is commonly added to culture medium to improve the production of bovine embryos in vitro. The main goals were to verify the actions of serum to increase blastocyst yield and test the hypothesis that fetal bovine serum alters blastocyst gene expression in a manner that could affect competence to establish pregnancy and dysregulate fetal development. Media used were synthetic oviduct fluid medium bovine embryo 2 (SOF-BE2) and a commercial medium from IVF Biosciences termed here as IVFB. Three experiments were conducted in which either adult or fetal bovine serum (10%, vol/vol) was added at day 1 or 5 of development. Overall, serum increased blastocyst production. Gene expression in blastocysts was measured in the experiment in which fetal bovine serum was added at day 5. Serum resulted in 215 differentially expressed genes for embryos cultured in SOF-BE2 and 194 genes for embryos cultured in IVFB (adjusted P value of <0.05 and a |log2| fold change >1). Only 24 genes were regulated by serum similarly for both media, including several transcription factors, imprinted genes, PSAT1 implicated in fetal growth in mice, and genes dysregulated in cloned embryos. Serum largely eliminated differences in gene expression between media. Expression data on eight biomarker genes were also used to calculate an embryo competence index previously related to embryo survival. Serum lowered the embryo competence index for both media. In conclusion, actions of fetal bovine serum on the preimplantation embryo include changes in gene expression indicative of reduced embryo competence and possible alterations in fetal development.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Serum is commonly added to the culture medium to improve the production of bovine embryos in vitro, but its molecular consequences for the resultant embryo are unclear. Here, we showed that blastocysts produced in serum experienced changes in gene expression, including transcription factors and imprinted genes. An embryo competence index that predicts embryo's ability to establish pregnancy based on gene expression was reduced by serum, suggesting serum can reduce embryo survivability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila J Cuellar
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
| | - Esraa A Ismail
- Department of Animal Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
| | - McKenzie L J Haimon
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
| | - Quinn A Hoorn
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
| | - Fahong Yu
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
| | - Maria Belen Rabaglino
- Department of Population Health Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Peter James Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
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Li Y, Xiao P, Boadu F, Goldkamp AK, Nirgude S, Cheng J, Hagen DE, Kalish JM, Rivera RM. Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and large offspring syndrome involve alterations in methylome, transcriptome, and chromatin configuration. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2025:2023.12.14.23299981. [PMID: 38168424 PMCID: PMC10760283 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.14.23299981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome (BWS) is the most common epigenetic overgrowth syndrome, caused by epigenetic alterations on chromosome 11p15. In ∼50% of patients with BWS, the imprinted region KvDMR1 (IC2) is hypomethylated. Nearly all children with BWS develop organ overgrowth and up to 28% develop cancer during childhood. The global epigenetic alterations beyond the 11p15 region in BWS are not currently known. Uncovering these alterations at the methylome, transcriptome, and chromatin architecture levels are necessary steps to improve the diagnosis and understanding of patients with BWS. Here we characterized the complete epigenetic profiles of BWS IC2 individuals together with the animal model of BWS, bovine large offspring syndrome (LOS). A novel finding of this research is the identification of two molecular subgroups of BWS IC2 individuals. Genome-wide alternations were detected for DNA methylation, transcript abundance, alternative splicing events of RNA, chromosome compartments, and topologically associating domains (TADs) in BWS and LOS, with shared alterations identified between species. Altered chromosome compartments and TADs were correlated with differentially expressed genes in BWS and LOS. Together, we highlight genes and genomic regions that have the potential to serve as targets for biomarker development to improve current molecular diagnostic methodologies for BWS.
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Akhatova A, Jones C, Coward K, Yeste M. How do lifestyle and environmental factors influence the sperm epigenome? Effects on sperm fertilising ability, embryo development, and offspring health. Clin Epigenetics 2025; 17:7. [PMID: 39819375 PMCID: PMC11740528 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-025-01815-1] [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: 09/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2025] [Indexed: 01/19/2025] Open
Abstract
Recent studies support the influence of paternal lifestyle and diet before conception on the health of the offspring via epigenetic inheritance through sperm DNA methylation, histone modification, and small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) expression and regulation. Smoking may induce DNA hypermethylation in genes related to anti-oxidation and insulin resistance. Paternal diet and obesity are associated with greater risks of metabolic dysfunction in offspring via epigenetic alterations in the sperm. Metabolic changes, such as high blood glucose levels and increased body weight, are commonly observed in the offspring of fathers subjected to chronic stress, in addition to an enhanced risk of depressive-like behaviour and increased sensitivity to stress in both the F0 and F1 generations. DNA methylation is correlated with alterations in sperm quality and the ability to fertilise oocytes, possibly via a differentially regulated MAKP81IP3 signalling pathway. Paternal exposure to toxic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is also linked to the transgenerational transmission of increased predisposition to disease, infertility, testicular disorders, obesity, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in females through epigenetic changes during gametogenesis. As the success of assisted reproductive technology (ART) is also affected by paternal diet, BMI, and alcohol consumption, its outcomes could be improved by modifying factors that are dependent on male lifestyle choices and environmental factors. This review discusses the importance of epigenetic signatures in sperm-including DNA methylation, histone retention, and sncRNA-for sperm functionality, early embryo development, and offspring health. We also discuss the mechanisms by which paternal lifestyle and environmental factors (obesity, smoking, EDCs, and stress) may impact the sperm epigenome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayazhan Akhatova
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, Level 3, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Zhanybek-Kerey Khan Street 5/1, 010000, Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Celine Jones
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, Level 3, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Kevin Coward
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, Level 3, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Marc Yeste
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, 17003, Girona, Spain.
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, 17003, Girona, Spain.
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), 08010, Barcelona, Spain.
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Sati L, Varela L, Horvath TL, McGrath J. Creation of true interspecies hybrids: Rescue of hybrid class with hybrid cytoplasm affecting growth and metabolism. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadq4339. [PMID: 39441922 PMCID: PMC11498210 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adq4339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 09/18/2024] [Indexed: 10/25/2024]
Abstract
Interspecies hybrids have nuclear contributions from two species but oocyte cytoplasm from only one. Species discordance may lead to altered nuclear reprogramming of the foreign paternal genome. We reasoned that initial reprogramming in same species cytoplasm plus creation of hybrids with zygote cytoplasm from both species, which we describe here, might enhance nuclear reprogramming and promote hybrid development. We report in Mus species that (i) mammalian nuclear/cytoplasmic hybrids can be created, (ii) they allow development and viability of a previously missing and uncharacterized hybrid class, (iii) different oocyte cytoplasm environments lead to different phenotypes of same nuclear hybrid genotype, and (iv) the novel hybrids exhibit sex ratio distortion with the absence of female progeny and represent a mammalian exception to Haldane's rule. Our results emphasize that interspecies hybrid phenotypes are not only the result of nuclear gene epistatic interactions but also cytonuclear interactions and that the latter have major impacts on fetal and placental growth and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyla Sati
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, 07070 Antalya, Turkey
| | - Luis Varela
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Laboratory of Glia-Neuron Interactions in the Control of Hunger, Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, 48940 Leioa, Vizcaya, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Vizcaya, Spain
| | - Tamas L. Horvath
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Laboratory of Glia-Neuron Interactions in the Control of Hunger, Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, 48940 Leioa, Vizcaya, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Vizcaya, Spain
| | - James McGrath
- Departments of Comparative Medicine and Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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Montgomery T, Uh K, Lee K. TET enzyme driven epigenetic reprogramming in early embryos and its implication on long-term health. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1358649. [PMID: 39149518 PMCID: PMC11324557 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1358649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Mammalian embryo development is initiated by the union of paternal and maternal gametes. Upon fertilization, their epigenome landscape is transformed through a series of finely orchestrated mechanisms that are crucial for survival and successful embryogenesis. Specifically, maternal or oocyte-specific reprogramming factors modulate germ cell specific epigenetic marks into their embryonic states. Rapid and dynamic changes in epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation and histone modifications are observed during early embryo development. These changes govern the structure of embryonic genome prior to zygotic genome activation. Differential changes in epigenetic marks are observed between paternal and maternal genomes because the structure of the parental genomes allows interaction with specific oocyte reprogramming factors. For instance, the paternal genome is targeted by the TET family of enzymes which oxidize the 5-methylcytosine (5mC) epigenetic mark into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) to lower the level of DNA methylation. The maternal genome is mainly protected from TET3-mediated oxidation by the maternal factor, STELLA. The TET3-mediated DNA demethylation occurs at the global level and is clearly observed in many mammalian species. Other epigenetic modulating enzymes, such as DNA methyltransferases, provide fine tuning of the DNA methylation level by initiating de novo methylation. The mechanisms which initiate the epigenetic reprogramming of gametes are critical for proper activation of embryonic genome and subsequent establishment of pluripotency and normal development. Clinical cases or diseases linked to mutations in reprogramming modulators exist, emphasizing the need to understand mechanistic actions of these modulators. In addition, embryos generated via in vitro embryo production system often present epigenetic abnormalities. Understanding mechanistic actions of the epigenetic modulators will potentially improve the well-being of individuals suffering from these epigenetic disorders and correct epigenetic abnormalities in embryos produced in vitro. This review will summarize the current understanding of epigenetic reprogramming by TET enzymes during early embryogenesis and highlight its clinical relevance and potential implication for assisted reproductive technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ty Montgomery
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Kyungjun Uh
- Futuristic Animal Resource and Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongju-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Kiho Lee
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
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Newman T, Ishihara T, Shaw G, Renfree MB. The structure of the TH/INS locus and the parental allele expressed are not conserved between mammals. Heredity (Edinb) 2024; 133:21-32. [PMID: 38834866 PMCID: PMC11222543 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-024-00689-y] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Parent-of-origin-specific expression of imprinted genes is critical for successful mammalian growth and development. Insulin, coded by the INS gene, is an important growth factor expressed from the paternal allele in the yolk sac placenta of therian mammals. The tyrosine hydroxylase gene TH encodes an enzyme involved in dopamine synthesis. TH and INS are closely associated in most vertebrates, but the mouse orthologues, Th and Ins2, are separated by repeated DNA. In mice, Th is expressed from the maternal allele, but the parental origin of expression is not known for any other mammal so it is unclear whether the maternal expression observed in the mouse represents an evolutionary divergence or an ancestral condition. We compared the length of the DNA segment between TH and INS across species and show that separation of these genes occurred in the rodent lineage with an accumulation of repeated DNA. We found that the region containing TH and INS in the tammar wallaby produces at least five distinct RNA transcripts: TH, TH-INS1, TH-INS2, lncINS and INS. Using allele-specific expression analysis, we show that the TH/INS locus is expressed from the paternal allele in pre- and postnatal tammar wallaby tissues. Determining the imprinting pattern of TH/INS in other mammals might clarify if paternal expression is the ancestral condition which has been flipped to maternal expression in rodents by the accumulation of repeat sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trent Newman
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Teruhito Ishihara
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Geoff Shaw
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Marilyn B Renfree
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Zhang Y, Zhang C, Chen W, Huo H, Li S, Yu W, Jin L, Wang K, Li S. The landscape of allelic expression and DNA methylation at the bovine SGCE/PEG10 locus. Anim Genet 2024; 55:452-456. [PMID: 38594908 DOI: 10.1111/age.13429] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic regulation in mammals in which a small subset of genes is monoallelically expressed dependent on their parental origin. A large imprinted domain, SGCE/PEG10 locus, is located on human chromosome 7q21s and mouse proximal chromosome 6. However, genomic imprinting of bovine SGCE/PEG10 cluster has not been systematically studied. In this study, we investigated allele expression of 14 genes of the SGCE/PEG10 locus in bovine somatic tissues and term placenta using a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based sequencing method. In addition to SGCE and PEG10, two conserved paternally expressed genes in human and mice, five other genes (TFPI2, GNG11, ASB4, PON1, and PON3) were paternally expressed. Three genes, BET1, COL1A2, and CASD1, exhibited tissue-specific monoallelic expression. CALCR showed monoallelic expression in tissues but biallelic expression in the placenta. Three genes, GNGT1, PPP1R9A, and PON2, showed biallelic expression in cattle. Five differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were found to be associated with the allelic expression of TFPI2, COL1A2, SGCE/PEG10, PON3, and ASB4 genes, respectively. The SGCE/PEG10 DMR is a maternally hypermethylated germline DMR, but TFPI2, COL1A2, PON3, and ASB4 DMRs are secondary DMRs. In summary, we identified five novel bovine imprinted genes (GNG11, BET1, COL1A2, CASD1, and PON1) and four secondary DMRs at the SGCE/PEG10 locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinjiao Zhang
- College of Life Science, Agricultural University of Hebei, Hebei Baoding, China
| | - Cui Zhang
- College of Life Science, Agricultural University of Hebei, Hebei Baoding, China
| | - Weina Chen
- College of Medical Science, Hebei University, Hebei Baoding, China
| | - Haonan Huo
- College of Life Science, Agricultural University of Hebei, Hebei Baoding, China
| | - Shujing Li
- Shijiazhuang Tianquan Elite Dairy Ltd, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Wenli Yu
- Shijiazhuang Tianquan Elite Dairy Ltd, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Lanjie Jin
- College of Life Science, Agricultural University of Hebei, Hebei Baoding, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Institute of Cereal and Oil Crops, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Shijiazhuang, China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation Physiology and Green Production in Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Shijie Li
- College of Life Science, Agricultural University of Hebei, Hebei Baoding, China
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Saucedo-Cuevas L, Ma MPQ, Le AH, Akin N, Pham TD, Ho TM, Pita G, Gonzalez-Neira A, De Vos M, Smitz J, Anckaert E, Vuong LN. Epigenetic variation in neonatal tissues in infants conceived using capacitation-in vitro maturation vs. in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril 2024; 121:506-518. [PMID: 38052376 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.11.040] [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: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate alterations of the global DNA methylation profile in placenta, cord blood, and neonatal buccal smears in infants conceived using in vitro maturation (IVM) with a prematuration step (capacitation-IVM [CAPA-IVM]) vs. in vitro fertilization (IVF). DESIGN Analysis of data from the offspring of participants in a randomized controlled trial. SETTING Private clinic. PATIENTS Forty-six women with polycystic ovary syndrome and/or high antral follicle count and their offspring (58 newborns). INTERVENTION(S) Women with polycystic ovary syndrome and/or a high antral follicle count participating in the clinical trial were randomized to undergo CAPA-IVM or conventional IVF. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) At delivery, biological samples including cord blood, placental tissue, and a neonatal buccal smear were collected. Genome-wide DNA methylation was determined using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip. Variability in methylation was also considered, and mean variances for the two treatment categories were compared. RESULTS In neonatal buccal smears, there were no significant differences between the CAPA-IVM and conventional IVF groups on the basis of the CpG probe after linear regression analysis using a significant cut-off of false-discovery rate <0.05 and |Δβ|≥0.05. In cord blood, only one CpG site showed a significant gain of methylation in the CAPA-IVM group. In the placenta, CAPA-IVM was significantly associated with changes in methylation at five CpG sites. Significantly more variable DNA methylation was found in five probes in the placenta, 54 in cord blood, and two in buccal smears after IVM of oocytes. In cord blood samples, 20 CpG sites had more variable methylation in the conventional IVF vs. IVM group. Isolated CpG sites showing differences in methylation in cord blood were not associated with changes in gene expression of the overlapping genes. CONCLUSION(S) Capacitation-IVM appeared to be associated with only a small amount of epigenetic variation in cord blood, placental tissue, and neonate buccal smears. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT03405701 (www. CLINICALTRIALS gov).
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Saucedo-Cuevas
- Follicle Biology Laboratory, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Mai P Q Ma
- IVFMD, My Duc Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; HOPE Research Center, My Duc Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Anh H Le
- IVFMD, My Duc Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; HOPE Research Center, My Duc Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Nazli Akin
- Follicle Biology Laboratory, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Toan D Pham
- IVFMD, My Duc Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; HOPE Research Center, My Duc Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Tuong M Ho
- IVFMD, My Duc Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; HOPE Research Center, My Duc Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Guillermo Pita
- Human Genotyping Unit-CeGen, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Anna Gonzalez-Neira
- Human Genotyping Unit-CeGen, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Michel De Vos
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Perinatology, and Reproductology, Institute of Professional Education, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Johan Smitz
- Follicle Biology Laboratory, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Ellen Anckaert
- Follicle Biology Laboratory, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Lan N Vuong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
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Ortega MS, Lockhart KN, Spencer TE. Impact of Sire on Embryo Development and Pregnancy. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 2024; 40:131-140. [PMID: 37704462 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2023.08.007] [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] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of in vitro embryo production (IVP) has increased globally, particularly in the United States. Although maternal factors influencing embryo development have been extensively studied, the influence of the sire is not well understood. Sperm plays a crucial role in embryo development providing DNA, triggering oocyte maturation, and aiding in mitosis. Current sire fertility measurements do not consistently align with embryo production outcomes. Low-fertility sires may perform well in IVP systems but produce fewer pregnancies. Testing sires in vitro could identify characteristics affecting embryo development and pregnancy loss risk in IVP and embryo transfer programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Sofia Ortega
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1675 Observatory Drive.
| | - Kelsey N Lockhart
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Thomas E Spencer
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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Verruma CG, Santos RS, Marchesi JAP, Sales SLA, Vila RA, Rios ÁFL, Furtado CLM, Ramos ES. Dynamic methylation pattern of H19DMR and KvDMR1 in bovine oocytes and preimplantation embryos. J Assist Reprod Genet 2024; 41:333-345. [PMID: 38231285 PMCID: PMC10894807 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-023-03011-7] [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: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to evaluate the epigenetic reprogramming of ICR1 (KvDMR1) and ICR2 (H19DMR) and expression of genes controlled by them as well as those involved in methylation, demethylation, and pluripotency. METHODS We collected germinal vesicle (GV) and metaphase II (MII) oocytes, and preimplantation embryos at five stages [zygote, 4-8 cells, 8-16 cells, morula, and expanded blastocysts (ExB)]. DNA methylation was assessed by BiSeq, and the gene expression was evaluated using qPCR. RESULTS H19DMR showed an increased DNA methylation from GV to MII oocytes (68.04% and 98.05%, respectively), decreasing in zygotes (85.83%) until morula (61.65%), and ExB (63.63%). H19 and IGF2 showed increased expression in zygotes, which decreased in further stages. KvDMR1 was hypermethylated in both GV (71.82%) and MII (69.43%) and in zygotes (73.70%) up to morula (77.84%), with a loss of methylation at the ExB (36.64%). The zygote had higher expression of most genes, except for CDKN1C and PHLDA2, which were highly expressed in MII and GV oocytes, respectively. DNMTs showed increased expression in oocytes, followed by a reduction in the earliest stages of embryo development. TET1 was downregulated until 4-8-cell and upregulated in 8-16-cell embryos. TET2 and TET3 showed higher expression in oocytes, and a downregulation in MII oocytes and 4-8-cell embryo. CONCLUSION We highlighted the heterogeneity in the DNA methylation of H19DMR and KvDMR1 and a dynamic expression pattern of genes controlled by them. The expression of DNMTs and TETs genes was also dynamic owing to epigenetic reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina G Verruma
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Renan S Santos
- Postgraduate Program in Physiology and Pharmacology, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceara (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | - Jorge A P Marchesi
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Sarah L A Sales
- Postgraduate Program in Physiology and Pharmacology, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceara (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | - Reginaldo A Vila
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Álvaro F L Rios
- Biotechnology Laboratory, Center of Bioscience and Biotechnology, State University of North Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Goitacazes Campus, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cristiana L M Furtado
- Experimental Biology Center, Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, University of Fortaleza - UNIFOR, Fortaleza, CE, 60811-905, Brazil
- Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Postgraduate Program in Translational Medicine, Federal University of Ceara (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | - Ester S Ramos
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil.
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D’Occhio MJ, Campanile G, Baruselli PS, Porto Neto LR, Hayes BJ, Snr AC, Fortes MRS. Pleomorphic adenoma gene1 in reproduction and implication for embryonic survival in cattle: a review. J Anim Sci 2024; 102:skae103. [PMID: 38586898 PMCID: PMC11056886 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skae103] [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: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The pleomorphic adenoma gene1 (PLAG1) encodes a DNA-binding, C2H2 zinc-finger protein which acts as a transcription factor that regulates the expression of diverse genes across different organs and tissues; hence, the name pleomorphic. Rearrangements of the PLAG1 gene, and/or overexpression, are associated with benign tumors and cancers in a variety of tissues. This is best described for pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary glands in humans. The most notable expression of PLAG1 occurs during embryonic and fetal development, with lesser expression after birth. Evidence has accumulated of a role for PLAG1 protein in normal early embryonic development and placentation in mammals. PLAG1 protein influences the expression of the ike growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene and production of IGF2 protein. IGF2 is an important mitogen in ovarian follicles/oocytes, embryos, and fetuses. The PLAG1-IGF2 axis, therefore, provides one pathway whereby PLAG1 protein can influence embryonic survival and pregnancy. PLAG1 also influences over 1,000 other genes in embryos including those associated with ribosomal assembly and proteins. Brahman (Bos indicus) heifers homozygous for the PLAG1 variant, rs109815800 (G > T), show greater fertility than contemporary heifers with either one, or no copy, of the variant. Greater fertility in heifers homozygous for rs109815800 could be the result of early puberty and/or greater embryonic survival. The present review first looks at the broader roles of the PLAG1 gene and PLAG1 protein and then focuses on the emerging role of PLAG1/PLAG1 in embryonic development and pregnancy. A deeper understanding of factors which influence embryonic development is required for the next transformational increase in embryonic survival and successful pregnancy for both in vivo and in vitro derived embryos in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J D’Occhio
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Giuseppe Campanile
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Pietro S Baruselli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Department of Animal Reproduction, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Ben J Hayes
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Alf Collins Snr
- CBV Brahman, Marlborough, Central Queensland, QLD, Australia
| | - Marina R S Fortes
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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12
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Hattori K, Hoshino Y, Kachi M, Masuda Y, Yamamoto S, Honda S, Minami N, Ikeda S. Analysis of histone H3K4me3 modifications in bovine placenta derived from different calf-production methods. Reprod Domest Anim 2024; 59:e14527. [PMID: 38268203 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14527] [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: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
In ruminants, the overgrowth of offspring produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF) is a common problem. Abnormal epigenetic modifications caused by environmental factors during the early embryonic period are suspected as an aetiology of overgrowth. In this study, we investigated the genome-wide histone H3K4me3 profiles of bovine placentae that play a pivotal role in foetal development and compared their characteristics between artificial insemination (AI)- and IVF-derived samples. Cotyledons were harvested from the placentae obtained at parturition of 5 AI- and 13 IVF-derived calves, and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing was performed for H3K4me3. We confirmed no significant maternal tissue contamination in the samples we used. The revealed H3K4me3 profiles reflected the general characteristics of the H3K4me3 modification, which is abundantly distributed in the promoter region of active genes. By extracting common modifications from multiple samples, the genes involved in placenta-specific biological processes could be enriched. Comparison with the H3K4me3 modifications of blastocyst samples was also effective for enriching the placenta-specific features. Principal component analysis suggested the presence of differential H3K4me3 modifications in AI- and IVF-derived samples. The genes contributing to the difference were related to the developmental biological processes. Imprinted genes such as BEGAIN, ZNF215 and DLX5 were among the extracted genes. Principal component and discriminant analyses using only male samples categorized the samples into three groups based on foetal weight and calf-production methods. To our knowledge, this is the first study to profile the genome-wide histone modifications of bovine foetal placentae and reveal their differential characteristics between different calf-production methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanoko Hattori
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoichiro Hoshino
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masayuki Kachi
- Dairy Research Department, Gifu Prefectural Livestock Research Institute, Ena, Gifu, Japan
| | - Yasumitsu Masuda
- Department of Animal Science, Tottori Livestock Research Center, Tottori, Japan
| | - Satoshi Yamamoto
- Livestock Technology Research Center, Hiroshima Prefectural Technology Research Institute, Shobara, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Shinnosuke Honda
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Naojiro Minami
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shuntaro Ikeda
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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13
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Agerholm JS, Madsen SE, Krogh AKH, Najafzadeh V, Secher JBM. Health assessment of Holstein calves born after in vitro fertilization, biopsy-based genotyping at the blastocyst stage and subsequent embryo transfer. Theriogenology 2023; 211:76-83. [PMID: 37595376 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.08.005] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Establishing methods for evaluating genomic estimated breeding values of bovine embryos can potentially increase the efficiency of breeding programs by transferring only embryos with a high genomic estimated breeding value. This may be achieved by analyzing DNA from trophectoderm biopsies. However, manipulation of bovine embryos is associated with a risk of impaired conceptus health. More knowledge on the health implications of embryonic handling procedures is required. In this study, we followed pregnancies after transfer of in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos and assessed the health of the offspring during the first 2 weeks of life. Three groups of calves were studied: i) freshly transferred non-biopsied embryos (39 transfers, 17 calves; Group B-/C-); ii) biopsied and freshly transferred IVP embryos (42 transfers, 21 calves; Group B+/C-); iii) biopsied and cryopreserved IVP embryos (17 transfers, 6 calves; Group B+/C+). Blood biochemical and hematologic values were compared between groups and to a control group of 13 calves produced by conventional artificial insemination. The pregnancy rate on day 50 and the calving rate did not differ among the groups, but the average gestation length of the B+/C+ group was significantly shorter and with wider variation than the two other groups. There was a tendency toward a higher average body weight at birth in group B+/C+ (45.1 kg) and the standard deviation in body weight was larger (11.7 kg) compared to the B-/C- (39.5 kg; 3.2 kg) and B+/C- (41.8 kg; 6 kg) groups. Body weight on day 14 was higher in the B+/C+ calves compared to the other groups. There was no difference in the biochemical and hematological values at birth between the groups and these were within the normal range. However, when compared to a group of calves produced by standard artificial insemination, significantly higher concentrations were found for the hepatic-related enzymes ALAT, ASAT, ALP, and GGT in group B-/C-and B+/C-, while only higher ALP concentrations were found in B+/C+ calves. The biochemical findings indicate higher heterogeneity in IVP calves compared to calves produced by artificial insemination. The more manipulated IVP embryos also showed increased heterogeneity in body weight at birth, with a shift toward heavier calves, which calls for closer attendance at parturition to handle dystocia in a timely manner and minimize fetal losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jørgen Steen Agerholm
- Section for Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Højbakkegaard Allé 5A, 2630, Taastrup, Denmark.
| | | | - Anne Kirstine Havnsøe Krogh
- Section for Medicine, Oncology and Veterinary Clinical Pathology, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 16, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
| | - Vahid Najafzadeh
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
| | - Jan Bojsen-Møller Secher
- Section for Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Højbakkegaard Allé 5A, 2630, Taastrup, Denmark.
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14
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Denicol AC, Siqueira LGB. Maternal contributions to pregnancy success: from gamete quality to uterine environment. Anim Reprod 2023; 20:e20230085. [PMID: 37720724 PMCID: PMC10503891 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2023-0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The establishment and maintenance of a pregnancy that goes to term is sine qua non for the long-term sustainability of dairy and beef cattle operations. The oocyte plays a critical role in providing the factors necessary for preimplantation embryonic development. Furthermore, the female, or maternal, environment where oocytes and embryos develop is crucial for the establishment and maintenance of a pregnancy to term. During folliculogenesis, the oocyte must sequentially acquire meiotic and developmental competence, which are the results of a series of molecular events preparing the highly specialized gamete to return to totipotency after fertilization. Given that folliculogenesis is a lengthy process in the cow, the occurrence of disease, metabolic imbalances, heat stress, or other adverse events can make it challenging to maintain oocyte quality. Following fertilization, the newly formed embryo must execute a tightly planned program that includes global DNA remodeling, activation of the embryonic genome, and cell fate decisions to form a blastocyst within a few days and cell divisions. The increasing use of assisted reproductive technologies creates an additional layer of complexity to ensure the highest oocyte and embryo quality given that in vitro systems do not faithfully recreate the physiological maternal environment. In this review, we discuss cellular and molecular factors and events known to be crucial for proper oocyte development and maturation, as well as adverse events that may negatively affect the oocyte; and the importance of the uterine environment, including signaling proteins in the maternal-embryonic interactions that ensure proper embryo development. We also discuss the impact of assisted reproductive technologies in oocyte and embryo quality and developmental potential, and considerations when looking into the prospects for developing systems that allow for in vitro gametogenesis as a tool for assisted reproduction in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Carolina Denicol
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
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15
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Bina M. Defining Candidate Imprinted loci in Bos taurus. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1036. [PMID: 37239396 PMCID: PMC10217866 DOI: 10.3390/genes14051036] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Using a whole-genome assembly of Bos taurus, I applied my bioinformatics strategy to locate candidate imprinting control regions (ICRs) genome-wide. In mammals, genomic imprinting plays essential roles in embryogenesis. In my strategy, peaks in plots mark the locations of known, inferred, and candidate ICRs. Genes in the vicinity of candidate ICRs correspond to potential imprinted genes. By displaying my datasets on the UCSC genome browser, one could view peak positions with respect to genomic landmarks. I give two examples of candidate ICRs in loci that influence spermatogenesis in bulls: CNNM1 and CNR1. I also give examples of candidate ICRs in loci that influence muscle development: SIX1 and BCL6. By examining the ENCODE data reported for mice, I deduced regulatory clues about cattle. I focused on DNase I hypersensitive sites (DHSs). Such sites reveal accessibility of chromatin to regulators of gene expression. For inspection, I chose DHSs in chromatin from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) ES-E14, mesoderm, brain, heart, and skeletal muscle. The ENCODE data revealed that the SIX1 promoter was accessible to the transcription initiation apparatus in mouse ESCs, mesoderm, and skeletal muscles. The data also revealed accessibility of BCL6 locus to regulatory proteins in mouse ESCs and examined tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minou Bina
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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16
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Nava-Trujillo H, Rivera RM. Review: Large offspring syndrome in ruminants: current status and prediction during pregnancy. Animal 2023; 17 Suppl 1:100740. [PMID: 37567678 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Large/abnormal Offspring Syndrome (LOS/AOS) is a congenital overgrowth condition of cattle and sheep, characterized by macrosomia, abdominal wall defects, organomegaly, difficulty to stand and suckle at parturition. The condition was first described as an exclusive consequence of assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro production and somatic cell nuclear transfer (cloning). However, we recently reported the spontaneous occurrence of this syndrome in cattle. The etiology of LOS is unclear, although the syndrome is an epigenetic condition characterized by multi-locus loss-of-imprinting, global dysregulation of small and long RNAs, changes in DNA methylation, and altered chromosomal architecture. These molecular and epigenetic changes affect biological pathways implicated in organ size, cell proliferation, cell survival, resulting in the phenotypes which characterize LOS. The lack of accurate tools for the prediction and diagnosis of LOS and the prevention of dystocia resulting from fetal overgrowth is a major concern for the dairy and beef industries. Furthermore, death of the calf and/or dam during calving adds animal welfare issues and affects the net income of the industry. An early diagnosis of LOS/AOS during gestation is critical to facilitate the decision-making process on whether to allow the pregnancy to continue or not in order to prevent harm to the dam as well as to provide producers with the timely necessary information to prepare for a difficult birth. The present review summarizes the definition, traits, incidence, and molecular characteristics of LOS to provide information and serve as a guide for future investigations regarding the early identification of LOS during pregnancy in cattle.
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17
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In vivo and in vitro matured bovine oocytes present a distinct pattern of single-cell gene expression. ZYGOTE 2023; 31:31-43. [PMID: 36263617 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199422000478] [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: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Oocyte gene expression is a well controlled event that promotes gamete competence to undergo maturation, fertilization, and to support early embryo development, directly affecting reproductive outcomes. Considering that in vivo controlled ovarian stimulation or in vitro maturation (IVM) for the acquisition of mature oocytes has distinct implications for gene expression, we sought to evaluate the effects of these procedures on the expression of competence-related genes in single-cell oocytes. Healthy Nelore cows of reproductive age were synchronized to harvest in vivo matured oocytes; ovaries from slaughtered animals were used to obtain cumulus-oocyte complexes that were in vitro matured. Single-cell gene expression was performed using TaqMan Low-Density Arrays and 42 genes were evaluated. In silico analysis of protein interactions and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was performed. Reduced gene expression was observed for 24 targets in IVM oocytes when compared with those of in vivo matured oocytes (P < 0.05). Differences ranged from 1.5-fold to 4.8-fold higher in in vivo oocytes and the BMP15 (5.28), GDF9 (6.23), NOBOX (7.25), HSPA8 (7.85) and MSX1 (11.00) showed the greatest fold increases. The strongest score of functional interactions was observed between the CDC20 and CKS2, with the differentially expressed gene CDC20 being the main marker behind GO enrichment. IVM negatively affected the expression of important genes related to oocyte competency, and showed higher expression levels in in vivo matured oocytes. In vivo controlled ovarian stimulation may be a better strategy to achieve proper oocyte competence and increase the success of assisted reproductive technologies.
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18
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Vargas LN, Silveira MM, Franco MM. Epigenetic Reprogramming and Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2647:37-58. [PMID: 37041328 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3064-8_2] [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: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetics is an area of genetics that studies the heritable modifications in gene expression and phenotype that are not controlled by the primary sequence of DNA. The main epigenetic mechanisms are DNA methylation, post-translational covalent modifications in histone tails, and non-coding RNAs. During mammalian development, there are two global waves of epigenetic reprogramming. The first one occurs during gametogenesis and the second one begins immediately after fertilization. Environmental factors such as exposure to pollutants, unbalanced nutrition, behavioral factors, stress, in vitro culture conditions can negatively affect epigenetic reprogramming events. In this review, we describe the main epigenetic mechanisms found during mammalian preimplantation development (e.g., genomic imprinting, X chromosome inactivation). Moreover, we discuss the detrimental effects of cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer on the reprogramming of epigenetic patterns and some molecular alternatives to minimize these negative impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luna N Vargas
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Márcia M Silveira
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Maurício M Franco
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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19
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Lopes JS, Ivanova E, Ruiz S, Andrews S, Kelsey G, Coy P. Effect of Superovulation Treatment on Oocyte's DNA Methylation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:16158. [PMID: 36555801 PMCID: PMC9785075 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232416158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Controlled ovarian stimulation is a necessary step in some assisted reproductive procedures allowing a higher collection of female gametes. However, consequences of this stimulation for the gamete or the offspring have been shown in several mammals. Most studies used comparisons between oocytes from different donors, which may contribute to different responses. In this work, we use the bovine model in which each animal serves as its own control. DNA methylation profiles were obtained by single-cell whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of oocytes from pre-ovulatory unstimulated follicles compared to oocytes from stimulated follicles. Results show that the global percentage of methylation was similar between groups, but the percentage of methylation was lower for non-stimulated oocytes in the imprinted genes APEG3, MEG3, and MEG9 and higher in TSSC4 when compared to stimulated oocytes. Differences were also found in CGI of imprinted genes: higher methylation was found among non-stimulated oocytes in MEST (PEG1), IGF2R, GNAS (SCG6), KvDMR1 ICR UMD, and IGF2. In another region around IGF2, the methylation percentage was lower for non-stimulated oocytes when compared to stimulated oocytes. Data drawn from this study might help to understand the molecular reasons for the appearance of certain syndromes in assisted reproductive technologies-derived offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordana S. Lopes
- Physiology of Reproduction Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Elena Ivanova
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Salvador Ruiz
- Physiology of Reproduction Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Simon Andrews
- Bioinformatics Group, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Gavin Kelsey
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Pilar Coy
- Physiology of Reproduction Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, 30100 Murcia, Spain
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20
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Milazzotto MP, Ispada J, de Lima CB. Metabolism-epigenetic interactions on in vitro produced embryos. Reprod Fertil Dev 2022; 35:84-97. [PMID: 36592974 DOI: 10.1071/rd22203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolism and epigenetics, which reciprocally regulate each other in different cell types, are fundamental aspects of cellular adaptation to the environment. Evidence in cancer and stem cells has shown that the metabolic status modifies the epigenome while epigenetic mechanisms regulate the expression of genes involved in metabolic processes, thereby altering the metabolome. This crosstalk occurs as many metabolites serve as substrates or cofactors of chromatin-modifying enzymes. If we consider the intense metabolic dynamic and the epigenetic remodelling of the embryo, the comprehension of these regulatory networks will be important not only for understanding early embryonic development, but also to determine in vitro culture conditions that support embryo development and may insert positive regulatory marks that may persist until adult life. In this review, we focus on how metabolism may affect epigenetic reprogramming of the early stages of development, in particular acetylation and methylation of histone and DNA. We also present other metabolic modifications in bovine embryos, such as lactylation, highlighting the promising epigenetic and metabolic targets to improve conditions for in vitro embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Pecora Milazzotto
- Laboratory of Embryo Metabolism and Epigenomic, Center of Natural and Human Science, Federal University of ABC, Santo Andre, SP, Brazil
| | - Jessica Ispada
- Laboratory of Embryo Metabolism and Epigenomic, Center of Natural and Human Science, Federal University of ABC, Santo Andre, SP, Brazil
| | - Camila Bruna de Lima
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction, Développement et Santé Intergénérationnelle (CRDSI), Département des Sciences Animales, Faculté des Sciences de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
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21
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Gómez E, Murillo A, Carrocera S, Pérez-Jánez JJ, Benedito JL, Martín-González D, Gimeno I. Fitness of calves born from in vitro-produced fresh and cryopreserved embryos. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:1006995. [PMID: 36504844 PMCID: PMC9730881 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1006995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In cattle, vitrified/warmed (V/W) and frozen/thawed (F/T), in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos, differ in their physiology and survival from fresh embryos. In this study, we analyzed the effects of embryo cryopreservation techniques on the offspring. IVP embryos cultured with albumin and with or without 0.1% serum until Day 6, and thereafter in single culture without protein, were transferred to recipients on Day 7 as F/T, V/W, or fresh, resulting in N = 24, 14, and 13 calves, respectively. Calves were clinically examined at birth, and blood was analyzed before and after colostrum intake (Day 0), and subsequently on Day 15 and Day 30. On Day 0, calves from V/W and F/T embryos showed increased creatinine and capillary refill time (CRT) and reduced heartbeats. Calves from F/T embryos showed lower PCO2, hemoglobin, and packed cell volume than calves from V/W embryos while V/W embryos led to calves with increased Na+ levels. Colostrum effects did not differ between calves from fresh and cryopreserved embryos, indicating similar adaptive ability among calves. However, PCO2 did not decrease in calves from V/W embryos after colostrum intake. Serum in culture led to calves with affected (P < 0.05) temperature, CRT, HCO 3 - , base excess (BE), TCO2, creatinine, urea, and anion gap. On Day 15, the effects of embryo cryopreservation disappeared among calves. In contrast, Day 30 values were influenced by diarrhea appearance, mainly in calves from V/W embryos (i.e., lower values of TCO2, HCO 3 - , and BE; and increased glucose, anion gap, and lactate), although with no more clinical compromise than calves from fresh and F/T embryos. Diarrhea affected PCO2 and Na+ in all groups. Embryo cryopreservation, and/or culture, yield metabolically different calves, including effects on protein and acid-base metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Gómez
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Gijón, Spain,*Correspondence: Enrique Gómez
| | - Antonio Murillo
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Gijón, Spain
| | - Susana Carrocera
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Gijón, Spain
| | | | - Jose Luis Benedito
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary School, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - David Martín-González
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Gijón, Spain
| | - Isabel Gimeno
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Gijón, Spain
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22
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López-Garrido MP, Carrascosa-Romero MC, Montero-Hernández M, Serrano-Martínez CM, Sánchez-Sánchez F. Case Report: Precision genetic diagnosis in a case of Dyggve-Melchior-Clausen syndrome reveals paternal isodisomy and heterodisomy of chromosome 18 with imprinting clinical implications. Front Genet 2022; 13:1005573. [PMID: 36468000 PMCID: PMC9716064 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1005573] [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: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
A twelve-year-old patient with a previous clinical diagnosis of spondylocostal skeletal dysplasia and moderate intellectual disability was genetically analyzed through next generation sequencing of a targeted gene panel of 179 genes associated to skeletal dysplasia and mucopolysaccharidosis in order to stablish a precision diagnosis. A homozygous nonsense [c.62C>G; p.(Ser21Ter)] mutation in DYM gene was identified in the patient. Null mutations in DYM have been associated to Dyggve-Melchior-Clausen syndrome, which is a rare autosomal-recessive disorder characterized by skeletal dysplasia and mental retardation, compatible with the patient´s phenotype. To confirm the pathogenicity of this mutation, a segregation analysis was carried out, revealing that the mutation p(Ser21Ter) was solely inherited from the father, who is a carrier of the mutation, while the mother does not carry the mutation. With the suspicion that a paternal disomy could be causing the disease, a series of microsatellite markers in chromosome 18, where the DYM gene is harbored, was analyzed in all the members of the family. Haplotype analysis provided strong evidence of paternal isodisomy and heterodisomy in that chromosome, confirming the pathological effect of this mutation. Furthermore, the patient may have a compromised expression of the ELOA3 gene due to modifications in the genomic imprinting that may potentially increase the risk of digestive cancer. All these results highlight the importance of obtaining a precision diagnosis in rare diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- María-Pilar López-Garrido
- Laboratorio de Genética Médica, Instituto de Investigación en Discapacidades Neurológicas (IDINE), Facultad de Medicina de Ciudad Real, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Albacete, Spain
| | | | - Minerva Montero-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Genética Médica, Instituto de Investigación en Discapacidades Neurológicas (IDINE), Facultad de Medicina de Albacete, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Spain
| | - Caridad-María Serrano-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Genética Médica, Instituto de Investigación en Discapacidades Neurológicas (IDINE), Facultad de Medicina de Albacete, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Spain
| | - Francisco Sánchez-Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Genética Médica, Instituto de Investigación en Discapacidades Neurológicas (IDINE), Facultad de Medicina de Albacete, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Spain
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Goldkamp AK, Li Y, Rivera RM, Hagen DE. Differentially expressed tRNA-derived fragments in bovine fetuses with assisted reproduction induced congenital overgrowth syndrome. Front Genet 2022; 13:1055343. [PMID: 36457750 PMCID: PMC9705782 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1055343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: As couples struggle with infertility and livestock producers wish to rapidly improve genetic merit in their herd, assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have become increasingly popular in human medicine as well as the livestock industry. Utilizing ART can cause an increased risk of congenital overgrowth syndromes, such as Large Offspring Syndrome (LOS) in ruminants. A dysregulation of transcripts has been observed in bovine fetuses with LOS, which is suggested to be a cause of the phenotype. Our recent study identified variations in tRNA expression in LOS individuals, leading us to hypothesize that variations in tRNA expression can influence the availability of their processed regulatory products, tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs). Due to their resemblance in size to microRNAs, studies suggest that tRFs target mRNA transcripts and regulate gene expression. Thus, we have sequenced small RNA isolated from skeletal muscle and liver of day 105 bovine fetuses to elucidate the mechanisms contributing to LOS. Moreover, we have utilized our previously generated tRNA sequencing data to analyze the contribution of tRNA availability to tRF abundance. Results: 22,289 and 7,737 unique tRFs were predicted in the liver and muscle tissue respectively. The greatest number of reads originated from 5' tRFs in muscle and 5' halves in liver. In addition, mitochondrial (MT) and nuclear derived tRF expression was tissue-specific with most MT-tRFs and nuclear tRFs derived from LysUUU and iMetCAU in muscle, and AsnGUU and GlyGCC in liver. Despite variation in tRF abundance within treatment groups, we identified differentially expressed (DE) tRFs across Control-AI, ART-Normal, and ART-LOS groups with the most DE tRFs between ART-Normal and ART-LOS groups. Many DE tRFs target transcripts enriched in pathways related to growth and development in the muscle and tumor development in the liver. Finally, we found positive correlation coefficients between tRNA availability and tRF expression in muscle (R = 0.47) and liver (0.6). Conclusion: Our results highlight the dysregulation of tRF expression and its regulatory roles in LOS. These tRFs were found to target both imprinted and non-imprinted genes in muscle as well as genes linked to tumor development in the liver. Furthermore, we found that tRNA transcription is a highly modulated event that plays a part in the biogenesis of tRFs. This study is the first to investigate the relationship between tRNA and tRF expression in combination with ART-induced LOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K. Goldkamp
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Yahan Li
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Rocio M. Rivera
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Darren E. Hagen
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
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Menezo Y, Elder K, Clement P, Clement A, Patrizio P. Biochemical Hazards during Three Phases of Assisted Reproductive Technology: Repercussions Associated with Epigenesis and Imprinting. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23168916. [PMID: 36012172 PMCID: PMC9408922 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Medically assisted reproduction, now considered a routine, successful treatment for infertility worldwide, has produced at least 8 million live births. However, a growing body of evidence is pointing toward an increased incidence of epigenetic/imprinting disorders in the offspring, raising concern that the techniques involved may have an impact on crucial stages of early embryo and fetal development highly vulnerable to epigenetic influence. In this paper, the key role of methylation processes in epigenesis, namely the essential biochemical/metabolic pathways involving folates and one-carbon cycles necessary for correct DNA/histone methylation, is discussed. Furthermore, potential contributors to epigenetics dysregulation during the three phases of assisted reproduction: preparation for and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH); methylation processes during the preimplantation embryo culture stages; the effects of unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA) during embryogenesis on imprinting methyl “tags”, are described. Advances in technology have opened a window into developmental processes that were previously inaccessible to research: it is now clear that ART procedures have the potential to influence DNA methylation in embryonic and fetal life, with an impact on health and disease risk in future generations. Critical re-evaluation of protocols and procedures is now an urgent priority, with a focus on interventions targeted toward improving ART procedures, with special attention to in vitro culture protocols and the effects of excessive folic acid intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yves Menezo
- Laboratoire Clément, 17 Avenue d’Eylau, 75016 Paris, France
- Correspondence:
| | - Kay Elder
- Bourn Hall Clinic, Cambridge CB1 0BE, UK
| | | | - Arthur Clement
- Laboratoire Clément, 17 Avenue d’Eylau, 75016 Paris, France
| | - Pasquale Patrizio
- Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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25
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Dvoran M, Nemcova L, Kalous J. An Interplay between Epigenetics and Translation in Oocyte Maturation and Embryo Development: Assisted Reproduction Perspective. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10071689. [PMID: 35884994 PMCID: PMC9313063 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10071689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Germ cell quality is a key prerequisite for successful fertilization and early embryo development. The quality is determined by the fine regulation of transcriptomic and proteomic profiles, which are prone to alteration by assisted reproduction technology (ART)-introduced in vitro methods. Gaining evidence shows the ART can influence preset epigenetic modifications within cultured oocytes or early embryos and affect their developmental competency. The aim of this review is to describe ART-determined epigenetic changes related to the oogenesis, early embryogenesis, and further in utero development. We confront the latest epigenetic, related epitranscriptomic, and translational regulation findings with the processes of meiotic maturation, fertilization, and early embryogenesis that impact the developmental competency and embryo quality. Post-ART embryo transfer, in utero implantation, and development (placentation, fetal development) are influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors. The review is emphasizing their epigenetic and ART contribution to fetal development. An epigenetic parallel among mouse, porcine, and bovine animal models and human ART is drawn to illustrate possible future mechanisms of infertility management as well as increase the awareness of the underlying mechanisms governing oocyte and embryo developmental complexity under ART conditions.
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26
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Mangiavacchi PM, Caldas-Bussiere MC, Mendonça MDS, Rumpf R, Lemos Júnior PES, Alves CS, Carneiro WDS, Dias AJB, Rios ÁFL. Multi-locus DNA methylation analysis of imprinted genes in cattle from somatic cell nuclear transfer. Theriogenology 2022; 186:95-107. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Rabaglino MB, Secher JBM, Hyttel P, Kadarmideen HN. In vitro and in vivo-produced male dairy calves show molecular differences in the hepatic and muscular energy regulation. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:1113-1124. [PMID: 35766406 PMCID: PMC9562124 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac131] [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: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In cattle, the in vitro production (IVP) of embryos is becoming more relevant than embryos produced in vivo, i.e. after multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET). However, the effects of IVP on the developmental programming of specific organs in the postnatal calves are yet unknown. Previously, we reported an epigenomic and transcriptomic profile of the hypothalamus–pituitary–testicular axis compatible with its earlier activation in IVP calves compared to MOET animals. Here, we studied the hepatic and muscular epigenome and transcriptome of those same male dairy calves (n = 4 per group). Tissue samples from liver and semitendinosus muscle were obtained at 3 months of age, and the extracted gDNA and RNA were sequenced through whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and RNA-sequencing, respectively. Next, bioinformatic analyses determined differentially methylated cytosines or differentially expressed genes [false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05] for each Omic dataset; and nonparametrically combined genes (NPCG) for both integrated omics (P < 0.05). KEGG pathways enrichment analysis showed that NPCG upregulated in the liver and the muscle of the IVP calves were involved in oxidative phosphorylation and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In contrast, ribosome and translation were upregulated in the liver but downregulated in the muscle of the IVP calves compared to the MOET calves (FDR < 0.05). A model considering the effect of the methylation levels and the group on the expression of all the genes involved in these pathways confirmed these findings. In conclusion, the multiomics data integration approach indicated an altered hepatic and muscular energy regulation in phenotypically normal IVP calves compared to MOET calves.
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Affiliation(s)
- María B Rabaglino
- Quantitative Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Group, Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jan Bojsen-Møller Secher
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Groennegaardsvej 7, 1870 Frederiksberg C
| | - Poul Hyttel
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Groennegaardsvej 7, 1870 Frederiksberg C
| | - Haja N Kadarmideen
- Quantitative Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Group, Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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Wyss P, Song C, Bina M. Along the Bos taurus genome, uncover candidate imprinting control regions. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:478. [PMID: 35764919 PMCID: PMC9241299 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08694-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In mammals, Imprinting Control Regions (ICRs) regulate a subset of genes in a parent-of-origin-specific manner. In both human and mouse, previous studies identified a set of CpG-rich motifs occurring as clusters in ICRs and germline Differentially Methylated Regions (gDMRs). These motifs consist of the ZFP57 binding site (ZFBS) overlapping a subset of MLL binding units known as MLL morphemes. MLL or MLL1 (Mixed Lineage Leukemia 1) is a relatively large multidomain protein that plays a central role in the regulation of transcription. The structures of both MLL1 and MLL2 include a domain (MT) that binds CpG-rich DNA and a conserved domain (SET) that methylates lysine 4 in histone H3 producing H3K4me3 marks in chromatin. RESULTS Since genomic imprinting impacts many developmental and key physiological processes, we followed a previous bioinformatics strategy to pinpoint ICR positions in the Bos taurus genome. Initial genome-wide analyses involved finding the positions of ZFP57 binding sites, and the CpG-rich motifs (ZFBS-morph overlaps) along cattle chromosomal DNA. By creating plots displaying the density of ZFBS-morph overlaps, we removed background noise and thus improved signal detection. With the density-plots, we could view the positions of peaks locating known and candidate ICRs in cattle DNA. Our evaluations revealed the correspondence of peaks in plots to reported known and inferred ICRs/DMRs in cattle. Beside peaks pinpointing such ICRs, the density-plots also revealed additional peaks. Since evaluations validated the robustness of our approach, we inferred that the additional peaks may correspond to candidate ICRs for imprinted gene expression. CONCLUSION Our bioinformatics strategy offers the first genome-wide approach for systematically localizing candidate ICRs. Furthermore, we have tailored our datasets for upload onto the UCSC genome browser so that researchers could find known and candidate ICRs with respect to a wide variety of annotations at all scales: from the positions of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), to positions of genes, transcripts, and repeated DNA elements. Furthermore, the UCSC genome browser offers tools to produce enlarged views: to uncover the genes in the vicinity of candidate ICRs and thus discover potential imprinted genes for experimental validations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip Wyss
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Carol Song
- Information Technology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Minou Bina
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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Identification of large offspring syndrome during pregnancy through ultrasonography and maternal blood transcriptome analyses. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10540. [PMID: 35732675 PMCID: PMC9217928 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14597-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro production (IVP) of embryos in cattle can result in large/abnormal offspring syndrome (LOS/AOS) which is characterized by macrosomia. LOS can cause dystocia and lead to the death of dam and calf. Currently, no test exists to identify LOS pregnancies. We hypothesized that fetal ultrasonography and/or maternal blood markers are useful to identify LOS. Bovine fetuses were generated by artificial insemination (control) or IVP. Fetal ultrasonographies were taken on gestation D55 (D55) and fetal collections performed on D56 or D105 (gestation in cattle ≈ D280). IVP fetuses weighing ≥ 97 percentile of the control weight were considered LOS. Ultrasonography results show that the product of six D55 measurements can be used to identify extreme cases of LOS. To determine whether maternal blood can be used to identify LOS, leukocyte mRNA from 23 females was sequenced. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering grouped the transcriptomes of the two females carrying the two largest LOS fetuses. Comparison of the leukocyte transcriptomes of these two females to the transcriptome of all other females identified several misregulated transcripts on gestation D55 and D105 with LOC783838 and PCDH1 being misregulated at both time-points. Together our data suggest that LOS is identifiable during pregnancy in cattle.
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30
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Allele-specific aberration of imprinted domain chromosome architecture associates with large offspring syndrome. iScience 2022; 25:104269. [PMID: 35542046 PMCID: PMC9079005 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104269] [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: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Large offspring syndrome (LOS) and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome are similar epigenetic congenital overgrowth conditions in ruminants and humans, respectively. We have reported global loss-of-imprinting, methylome epimutations, and gene misregulation in LOS. However, less than 4% of gene misregulation can be explained with short range (<20kb) alterations in DNA methylation. Therefore, we hypothesized that methylome epimutations in LOS affect chromosome architecture which results in misregulation of genes located at distances >20kb in cis and in trans (other chromosomes). Our analyses focused on two imprinted domains that frequently reveal misregulation in these syndromes, namely KvDMR1 and IGF2R. Using bovine fetal fibroblasts, we identified CTCF binding at IGF2R imprinting control region but not KvDMR1, and allele-specific chromosome architecture of these domains in controls. In LOS, analyses identified erroneous long-range contacts and clustering tendency in the direction of expression of misregulated genes. In conclusion, altered chromosome architecture is associated with LOS. IGF2R imprinted domain has allele-specific chromosome architecture in bovines In bovines, CTCF binds at IGF2R imprinting control region but not at KvDMR1 Bovine large offspring syndrome (LOS) shows altered chromosome architecture at IGF2R Misregulated genes in LOS exhibit genomic location-based clustering tendency
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31
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Li Y, Sena Lopes J, Fuster PC, Rivera RM. Spontaneous and ART-induced large offspring syndrome: similarities and differences in DNA methylome. Epigenetics 2022; 17:1477-1496. [PMID: 35466858 PMCID: PMC9586674 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2022.2067938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Large/abnormal offspring syndrome (LOS/AOS) is a congenital overgrowth syndrome reported in ruminants produced by assisted reproduction (ART-LOS) which exhibit global disruption of the epigenome and transcriptome. LOS/AOS shares phenotypes and epigenotypes with the human congenital overgrowth condition Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. We have reported that LOS occurs spontaneously (SLOS); however, to date, no study has been conducted to determine if SLOS has the same methylome epimutations as ART-LOS. In this study, we performed whole-genome bisulphite sequencing to examine global DNA methylation in bovine SLOS and ART-LOS tissues. We observed unique patterns of global distribution of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) over different genomic contexts, such as promoters, CpG Islands, shores and shelves, as well as at repetitive sequences. In addition, we included data from two previous LOS studies to identify shared vulnerable genomic loci in LOS. Overall, we identified 320 genomic loci in LOS that have alterations in DNA methylation when compared to controls. Specifically, there are 25 highly vulnerable loci that could potentially serve as molecular markers for the diagnosis of LOS, including at the promoters of DMRT2 and TBX18, at the imprinted gene bodies of IGF2R, PRDM8, and BLCAP/NNAT, and at multiple CpG Islands. We also observed tissue-specific DNA methylation patterns between muscle and blood, and conservation of ART-induced DNA methylation changes between muscle and blood. We conclude that as ART-LOS, SLOS is an epigenetic condition. In addition, SLOS and ART-LOS share similarities in methylome epimutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahan Li
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Jordana Sena Lopes
- Physiology Department. International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research (Campus Mare Nostrum), Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB), Murcia, Spain.,Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED), University of Évora, Portugal
| | - Pilar Coy Fuster
- Physiology Department. International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research (Campus Mare Nostrum), Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
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Sciorio R, El Hajj N. Epigenetic Risks of Medically Assisted Reproduction. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11082151. [PMID: 35456243 PMCID: PMC9027760 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11082151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the birth of Louise Joy Brown, the first baby conceived via in vitro fertilization, more than 9 million children have been born worldwide using assisted reproductive technologies (ART). In vivo fertilization takes place in the maternal oviduct, where the unique physiological conditions guarantee the healthy development of the embryo. During early embryogenesis, a major wave of epigenetic reprogramming takes place that is crucial for the correct development of the embryo. Epigenetic reprogramming is susceptible to environmental changes and non-physiological conditions such as those applied during in vitro culture, including shift in pH and temperature, oxygen tension, controlled ovarian stimulation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, as well as preimplantation embryo manipulations for genetic testing. In the last decade, concerns were raised of a possible link between ART and increased incidence of imprinting disorders, as well as epigenetic alterations in the germ cells of infertile parents that are transmitted to the offspring following ART. The aim of this review was to present evidence from the literature regarding epigenetic errors linked to assisted reproduction treatments and their consequences on the conceived children. Furthermore, we provide an overview of disease risk associated with epigenetic or imprinting alterations in children born via ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romualdo Sciorio
- Edinburgh Assisted Conception Programme, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Nady El Hajj
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar;
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Sciorio R, Esteves SC. Contemporary Use of ICSI and Epigenetic Risks to Future Generations. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11082135. [PMID: 35456226 PMCID: PMC9031244 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11082135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the birth of Louise Brown in 1978 via IVF, reproductive specialists have acquired enormous knowledge and refined several procedures, which are nowadays applied in assisted reproductive technology (ART). One of the most critical steps in this practice is the fertilization process. In the early days of IVF, a remarkable concern was the unpleasant outcomes of failed fertilization, overtaken by introducing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), delineating a real breakthrough in modern ART. ICSI became standard practice and was soon used as the most common method to fertilize oocytes. It has been used for severe male factor infertility and non-male factors, such as unexplained infertility or advanced maternal age, without robust scientific evidence. However, applying ICSI blindly is not free of potential detrimental consequences since novel studies report possible health consequences to offspring. DNA methylation and epigenetic alterations in sperm cells of infertile men might help explain some of the adverse effects reported in ICSI studies on reproductive health in future generations. Collected data concerning the health of ICSI children over the past thirty years seems to support the notion that there might be an increased risk of epigenetic disorders, congenital malformations, chromosomal alterations, and subfertility in babies born following ICSI compared to naturally conceived children. However, it is still to be elucidated to what level these data are associated with the cause of infertility or the ICSI technique. This review provides an overview of epigenetic mechanisms and possible imprinting alterations following the use of ART, in particular ICSI. It also highlights the sperm contribution to embryo epigenetic regulation and the risks of in vitro culture conditions on epigenetic dysregulation. Lastly, it summarizes the literature concerning the possible epigenetic disorders in children born after ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romualdo Sciorio
- Edinburgh Assisted Conception Programme, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Sandro C. Esteves
- Androfert, Andrology and Human Reproduction Clinic, Campinas 13075-460, Brazil;
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-970, Brazil
- Faculty of Health, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
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Goldkamp AK, Li Y, Rivera RM, Hagen DE. Characterization of tRNA expression profiles in large offspring syndrome. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:273. [PMID: 35392796 PMCID: PMC8988405 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08496-7] [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: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) use can increase the risk of congenital overgrowth syndromes, such as large offspring syndrome (LOS) in ruminants. Epigenetic variations are known to influence gene expression and differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were previously determined to be associated with LOS in cattle. We observed DMRs overlapping tRNA clusters which could affect tRNA abundance and be associated with tissue specificity or overgrowth. Variations in tRNA expression have been identified in several disease pathways suggesting an important role in the regulation of biological processes. Understanding the role of tRNA expression in cattle offers an opportunity to reveal mechanisms of regulation at the translational level. We analyzed tRNA expression in the skeletal muscle and liver tissues of day 105 artificial insemination-conceived, ART-conceived with a normal body weight, and ART-conceived bovine fetuses with a body weight above the 97th percentile compared to Control-AI. Results Despite the centrality of tRNAs to translation, in silico predictions have revealed dramatic differences in the number of tRNA genes between humans and cattle (597 vs 1,659). Consistent with reports in human, only a fraction of predicted tRNA genes are expressed. We detected the expression of 474 and 487 bovine tRNA genes in the muscle and liver with the remainder being unexpressed. 193 and 198 unique tRNA sequences were expressed in all treatment groups within muscle and liver respectively. In addition, an average of 193 tRNA sequences were expressed within the same treatment group in different tissues. Some tRNA isodecoders were differentially expressed between treatment groups. In the skeletal muscle and liver, we categorized 11 tRNA isoacceptors with undetected expression as well as an isodecoder that was unexpressed in the liver (SerGGA). Our results identified variation in the proportion of tRNA gene copies expressed between tissues and differences in the highest contributing tRNA anticodon within an amino acid family due to treatment and tissue type. Out of all amino acid families, roughly half of the most highly expressed tRNA isoacceptors correlated to their most frequent codon in the bovine genome. Conclusion Although the number of bovine tRNA genes is nearly triple of that of the tRNA genes in human, there is a shared occurrence of transcriptionally inactive tRNA genes in both species. We detected differential expression of tRNA genes as well as tissue- and treatment- specific tRNA transcripts with unique sequence variations that could modulate translation during protein homeostasis or cellular stress, and give rise to regulatory products targeting genes related to overgrowth in the skeletal muscle and/or tumor development in the liver of LOS individuals. While the absence of certain isodecoders may be relieved by wobble base pairing, missing tRNA species could increase the likelihood of mistranslation or mRNA degradation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08496-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K Goldkamp
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Yahan Li
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Rocio M Rivera
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Darren E Hagen
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.
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Ochoa E, Lee S, Lan-Leung B, Dias RP, Ong KK, Radley JA, Pérez de Nanclares G, Martinez R, Clark G, Martin E, Castaño L, Bottolo L, Maher ER. ImprintSeq, a novel tool to interrogate DNA methylation at human imprinted regions and diagnose multilocus imprinting disturbance. Genet Med 2022; 24:463-474. [PMID: 34906518 DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2021.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Disruptions of genomic imprinting are associated with congenital imprinting disorders (CIDs) and other disease states, including cancer. CIDs are most often associated with altered methylation at imprinted differentially methylated regions (iDMRs). In some cases, multiple iDMRs are affected causing multilocus imprinting disturbances (MLIDs). The availability of accurate, quantitative, and scalable high-throughput methods to interrogate multiple iDMRs simultaneously would enhance clinical diagnostics and research. METHODS We report the development of a custom targeted methylation sequencing panel that covered most relevant 63 iDMRs for CIDs and the detection of MLIDs. We tested it in 70 healthy controls and 147 individuals with CIDs. We distinguished loss and gain of methylation per differentially methylated region and classified high and moderate methylation alterations. RESULTS Across a range of CIDs with a variety of molecular mechanisms, ImprintSeq performed at 98.4% sensitivity, 99.9% specificity, and 99.9% accuracy (when compared with previous diagnostic testing). ImprintSeq was highly sensitive for detecting MLIDs and enabled diagnostic criteria for MLID to be proposed. In a child with extreme MLID profile a probable genetic cause was identified. CONCLUSION ImprintSeq provides a novel assay for clinical diagnostic and research studies of CIDs, MLIDs, and the role of disordered imprinting in human disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eguzkine Ochoa
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sunwoo Lee
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Benoit Lan-Leung
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Renuka P Dias
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ken K Ong
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Department of Paediatrics, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica A Radley
- West Midlands Regional Clinical Genetics Service and Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom; London North West Regional Genetics Service, St. Mark's and Northwick Park hospitals, Harrow, Middlesex, United Kingdom
| | - Gustavo Pérez de Nanclares
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Hospital Universitario Cruces, CIBERDEM, CIBERER, Endo-ERN, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Rosa Martinez
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Hospital Universitario Cruces, CIBERDEM, CIBERER, Endo-ERN, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Graeme Clark
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Stratified Medicine Core Laboratory NGS Hub, Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ezequiel Martin
- Stratified Medicine Core Laboratory NGS Hub, Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Luis Castaño
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Hospital Universitario Cruces, CIBERDEM, CIBERER, Endo-ERN, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Leonardo Bottolo
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; The Alan Turing Institute, London, United Kingdom; MRC Biostatistics Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Eamonn R Maher
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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Yamazaki S, Ikeda S, Minami N. Comparative analysis of histone H3K27me3 modifications between blastocysts and somatic tissues in cattle. Anim Sci J 2022; 93:e13684. [PMID: 35083819 DOI: 10.1111/asj.13684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications established in the early developmental stages can have long-term consequences throughout life. This concept encompasses the possibility of controlling livestock health and diseases by epigenetic regulation during early development. To explore the candidates of epigenetic modifications in early embryos that might exert long-lasting effects in adulthood, we aimed to obtain genome-wide histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) profiles of bovine blastocysts and compare these data with those from adult somatic tissues in order to extract common and typical features between them. Bovine blastocysts were produced in vitro and subjected to chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing analysis of H3K27me3. Comparative analysis of the blastocyst-derived H3K27me3 profile performed using publicly available data from adult muscle, fat, and liver tissues revealed that (1) blastocyst-specific modifications against somatic tissues were enriched in immune function-related genes, (2) somatic modifications "sieved" by blastocyst modifications were enriched in biological processes in tissue-specific trends, (3) the modifications common in blastocyst and each somatic tissue were largely overlapped and enriched in developmentally important genes, including homeobox and imprinted genes. The results of this study produced a genome-wide H3K27me3 profile of bovine blastocysts and revealed its common and typical features in relation to the profiles of adult somatic tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satomi Yamazaki
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shuntaro Ikeda
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Naojiro Minami
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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Coy P, Romar R, Romero-Aguirregomezcorta J. The embryo culture media in the era of epigenetics: is it time to go back to nature? Anim Reprod 2022; 19:e20210132. [PMID: 35493788 PMCID: PMC9037603 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2021-0132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This review is intended to draw attention to the importance of the culture media composition on the health of the embryos, fetuses, newborns, and adults derived from assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Although current research and industry trends are to use chemically defined media because of their suitability for manufacturing, commercialization, and regulatory purposes, compelling evidence indicates that those media fail to adequately account for the biological demands of early embryogenesis. Here, we list the main undesirable consequences of the ART described in the literature and results we and others have obtained over the past decade exploring an alternative and more natural way to support embryo growth in vitro: inclusion of endogenous reproductive fluids as additives in the ART culture media for pigs, cows, and humans. This review systematically assesses the pros and cons of using reproductive fluid additives, as well as the requirements to implement this approach in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Coy
- Universidad de Murcia, Spain; Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, Spain
| | - Raquel Romar
- Universidad de Murcia, Spain; Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, Spain
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38
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OUP accepted manuscript. Hum Reprod Update 2022; 28:629-655. [DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmac010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Soto-Moreno EJ, Balboula A, Spinka C, Rivera RM. Serum supplementation during bovine embryo culture affects their development and proliferation through macroautophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress regulation. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260123. [PMID: 34882691 PMCID: PMC8659681 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Serum supplementation during bovine embryo culture has been demonstrated to promote cell proliferation and preimplantation embryo development. However, these desirable outcomes, have been associated with gene expression alterations of pathways involved in macroautophagy, growth, and development at the blastocyst stage, as well as with developmental anomalies such as fetal overgrowth and placental malformations. In order to start dissecting the molecular pathways by which serum supplementation of the culture medium during the preimplantation stage promotes developmental abnormalities, we examined blastocyst morphometry, inner cell mass and trophectoderm cell allocations, macroautophagy, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. On day 5 post-insemination, > 16 cells embryos were selected and cultured in medium containing 10% serum or left as controls. Embryo diameter, inner cell mass and trophectoderm cell number, and macroautophagy were measured on day 8 blastocysts (BL) and expanded blastocysts (XBL). On day 5 and day 8, we assessed transcript level of the ER stress markers HSPA5, ATF4, MTHFD2, and SHMT2 as well as XBP1 splicing (a marker of the unfolded protein response). Serum increased diameter and proliferation of embryos when compared to the no-serum group. In addition, serum increased macroautophagy of BL when compared to controls, while the opposite was true for XBL. None of the genes analyzed was differentially expressed at any stage, except that serum decreased HSPA5 in day 5 > 16 cells stage embryos. XBP1 splicing was decreased in BL when compared to XBL, but only in the serum group. Our data suggest that serum rescues delayed embryos by alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress and promotes development of advanced embryos by decreasing macroautophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Joel Soto-Moreno
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States of America
| | - Ahmed Balboula
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States of America
| | - Christine Spinka
- College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States of America
| | - Rocío Melissa Rivera
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States of America
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Chu M, Yao F, Xi G, Yang J, Zhang Z, Yang Q, Tian J, An L. Vitamin C Rescues in vitro Embryonic Development by Correcting Impaired Active DNA Demethylation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:784244. [PMID: 34869387 PMCID: PMC8640463 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.784244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
During preimplantation development, a wave of genome-wide DNA demethylation occurs to acquire a hypomethylated genome of the blastocyst. As an essential epigenomic event, postfertilization DNA demethylation is critical to establish full developmental potential. Despite its importance, this process is prone to be disrupted due to environmental perturbations such as manipulation and culture of embryos during in vitro fertilization (IVF), and thus leading to epigenetic errors. However, since the first case of aberrant DNA demethylation reported in IVF embryos, its underlying mechanism remains unclear and the strategy for correcting this error remains unavailable in the past decade. Thus, understanding the mechanism responsible for DNA demethylation defects, may provide a potential approach for preventing or correcting IVF-associated complications. Herein, using mouse and bovine IVF embryos as the model, we reported that ten-eleven translocation (TET)-mediated active DNA demethylation, an important contributor to the postfertilization epigenome reprogramming, was impaired throughout preimplantation development. Focusing on modulation of TET dioxygenases, we found vitamin C and α-ketoglutarate, the well-established important co-factors for stimulating TET enzymatic activity, were synthesized in both embryos and the oviduct during preimplantation development. Accordingly, impaired active DNA demethylation can be corrected by incubation of IVF embryos with vitamin C, and thus improving their lineage differentiation and developmental potential. Together, our data not only provides a promising approach for preventing or correcting IVF-associated epigenetic errors, but also highlights the critical role of small molecules or metabolites from maternal paracrine in finetuning embryonic epigenomic reprogramming during early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiqiang Chu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Fusheng Yao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Guangyin Xi
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiajun Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenni Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Qianying Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianhui Tian
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei An
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Yang Q, Liu J, Wang Y, Zhao W, Wang W, Cui J, Yang J, Yue Y, Zhang S, Chu M, Lyu Q, Ma L, Tang Y, Hu Y, Miao K, Zhao H, Tian J, An L. A proteomic atlas of ligand-receptor interactions at the ovine maternal-fetal interface reveals the role of histone lactylation in uterine remodeling. J Biol Chem 2021; 298:101456. [PMID: 34861240 PMCID: PMC8733267 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Well-orchestrated maternal–fetal cross talk occurs via secreted ligands, interacting receptors, and coupled intracellular pathways between the conceptus and endometrium and is essential for successful embryo implantation. However, previous studies mostly focus on either the conceptus or the endometrium in isolation. The lack of integrated analysis impedes our understanding of early maternal–fetal cross talk. Herein, focusing on ligand–receptor complexes and coupled pathways at the maternal–fetal interface in sheep, we provide the first comprehensive proteomic map of ligand–receptor pathway cascades essential for embryo implantation. We demonstrate that these cascades are associated with cell adhesion and invasion, redox homeostasis, and the immune response. Candidate interactions and their physiological roles were further validated by functional experiments. We reveal the physical interaction of albumin and claudin 4 and their roles in facilitating embryo attachment to endometrium. We also demonstrate a novel function of enhanced conceptus glycolysis in remodeling uterine receptivity by inducing endometrial histone lactylation, a newly identified histone modification. Results from in vitro and in vivo models supported the essential role of lactate in inducing endometrial H3K18 lactylation and in regulating redox homeostasis and apoptotic balance to ensure successful implantation. By reconstructing a map of potential ligand–receptor pathway cascades at the maternal–fetal interface, our study presents new concepts for understanding molecular and cellular mechanisms that fine-tune conceptus–endometrium cross talk during implantation. This provides more direct and accurate insights for developing potential clinical intervention strategies to improve pregnancy outcomes following both natural and assisted conception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianying Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Cui
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiajun Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Yue
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Meiqiang Chu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Qingji Lyu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Lizhu Ma
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yawen Tang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yupei Hu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Miao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Haichao Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianhui Tian
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei An
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
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Rabaglino MB, Bojsen-Møller Secher J, Sirard MA, Hyttel P, Kadarmideen HN. Epigenomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal early activation of the HPG axis in in vitro-produced male dairy calves. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21882. [PMID: 34460963 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101067r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In cattle, several calves born after IVP ("in vitro" embryo production) present similar birthweight to those generated after MOET (multiple ovulation and embryo transfer). However, the underlying molecular patterns in organs involved in the developmental process are unknown and could indicate physiological programming. The objectives of this study were: (1) to compare epigenomic and transcriptomic modifications in the hypothalamus, pituitary, gonadal and adrenal organs between 3 months old ovum pick-up-IVP and MOET male calves (n = 4 per group) and (2) to use blood epigenomic data to proxy methylation of the inner organs. Extracted gDNA and RNA were sequenced through whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and RNA sequencing, respectively. Next, bioinformatic analyses determined differentially methylated cytosines (DMC) and differentially expressed genes (DEG) (FDR < 0.05) in IVP versus MOET samples and the KEGG pathways that were overrepresented by genes associated with DMC or DEG (FDR < 0.1). Pathways related to hypothalamus, pituitary, gonadal (HPG) axis activation (GnRH secretion in the hypothalamus, GnRH signaling in the pituitary, and steroidogenesis in the testicle) were enriched in IVP calves. Modeling the effect of the methylation levels and the group on the expression of all the genes involved in these pathways confirmed their upregulation in HPG organs in IVP calves. The application of the DIABLO method allowed the identification of 15 epigenetic and five transcriptomic biomarkers, which were able to predict the embryo origin using the epigenomic data from the blood. In conclusion, the use of an integrated epigenomic-transcriptomic approach suggested an early activation of the HPG axis in male IVP calves compared to MOET counterparts, and the identification of potential biomarkers allowed the use of blood samples to proxy methylation levels of the relevant internal organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- María B Rabaglino
- Quantitative Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Group, Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Marc-André Sirard
- Departement des Sciences Animales, Centre de Recherche en Reproduction, Développement et Santé Inter-générationnelle (CRDSI), Université Laval, Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | - Poul Hyttel
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Haja N Kadarmideen
- Quantitative Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Group, Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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Mangiavacchi PM, Caldas-Bussiere MC, Mendonça MDS, Dias AJB, Rios ÁFL. Multi-locus imprinting disturbances of Beckwith-Wiedemann and Large offspring syndrome/Abnormal offspring syndrome: A brief review. Theriogenology 2021; 173:193-201. [PMID: 34399383 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
In vitro fertilization and somatic cell nuclear transfer are assisted reproduction technologies commonly used in humans and cattle, respectively. Despite advances in these technologies, molecular failures can occur, increasing the chance of the onset of imprinting disorders in the offspring. Large offspring syndrome/abnormal offspring syndrome (LOS/AOS) has been described in cattle and has features such as hypergrowth, malformation of organs, and skeletal and placental defects. In humans, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) has phenotypic characteristics similar to those found in LOS/AOS. In both syndromes, disruption of genomic imprinting associated with loss of parental-specific expression and parental-specific epigenetic marks is involved in the molecular etiology. Changes in the imprinting pattern of these genes lead to loss of imprinting (LOI) due to gain or loss of methylation, inducing the emergence of these syndromes. Several studies have reported locus-specific alterations in these syndromes, such as hypomethylation in imprinting control region 2 (KvDMR1) in BWS and LOS/AOS. These LOI events can occur at multiple imprinted loci in the same affected individual, which are called multi-locus methylation defect (MLMD) events. Although the bovine species has been proposed as a developmental model for human imprinting disorders, there is little information on bovine imprinted genes in the literature, even the correlation of epimutation data with clinical characteristics. In this study, we performed a systematic review of all the multi-locus LOI events described in human BWS and LOS/AOS, in order to determine in which imprinted genes the largest changes in the pattern of DNA methylation and expression occur, helping to fill gaps for a better understanding of the etiology of both syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Magnelli Mangiavacchi
- Laboratory of Reproduction and Animal Breeding, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, 28013-602, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | - Maria Clara Caldas-Bussiere
- Laboratory of Reproduction and Animal Breeding, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, 28013-602, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | - Mariana da Silva Mendonça
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, 28013-602, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | - Angelo José Burla Dias
- Laboratory of Reproduction and Animal Breeding, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, 28013-602, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | - Álvaro Fabrício Lopes Rios
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, 28013-602, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil.
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Ealy AD, Speckhart SL, Wooldridge LK. Cytokines That Serve as Embryokines in Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11082313. [PMID: 34438770 PMCID: PMC8388520 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This review will explore how some cytokines also influence early embryonic development. We term these types of molecules as embryokines. Understanding how cytokines serve as embryokines could offer new opportunities to improve embryo development and the overall health of the embryo so that pregnancies will be retained after embryo transfer and so that viable offspring are produced. At least two cytokines may offer these benefits to bovine embryos produced in vitro. Additional cytokines also are identified in this review that may contain beneficial activities on bovine embryos. Abstract The term “embryokine” has been used to denote molecules produced by the endometrium, oviduct, or by embryo itself that will influence embryo development. Several cytokines have been identified as embryokines in cattle and other mammals. This review will describe how these cytokines function as embryokines, with special emphasis being placed on their actions on in vitro produced (IVP) bovine embryos. Embryokines are being explored for their ability to overcome the poor development rates of IVP embryos and to limit post-transfer pregnancy retention efficiencies that exist in IVP embryos. This review will focus on describing two of the best-characterized cytokines, colony-stimulating factor 2 and interleukin 6, for their ability to modify bovine embryo quality and confirmation, promote normal fetal development, and generate healthy calves. Additional cytokines will also be discussed for their potential to serve as embryokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan D. Ealy
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Savannah L. Speckhart
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
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Currin L, Baldassarre H, Bordignon V. In Vitro Production of Embryos from Prepubertal Holstein Cattle and Mediterranean Water Buffalo: Problems, Progress and Potential. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:2275. [PMID: 34438733 PMCID: PMC8388507 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU) coupled with in vitro embryo production (IVEP) in prepubertal cattle and buffalo accelerates genetic gain. This article reviews LOPU-IVEP technology in prepubertal Holstein Cattle and Mediterranean Water Buffalo. The recent expansion of genomic-assisted selection has renewed interest and demand for prepubertal LOPU-IVEP schemes; however, low blastocyst development rates has constrained its widespread implementation. Here, we present an overview of the current state of the technology, limitations that persist and suggest possible solutions to improve its efficiency, with a focus on gonadotropin stimulations strategies to prime oocytes prior to follicular aspiration, and IVEP procedures promoting growth factor metabolism and limiting oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Vilceu Bordignon
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada; (L.C.); (H.B.)
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46
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Canovas S, Ivanova E, Hamdi M, Perez-Sanz F, Rizos D, Kelsey G, Coy P. Culture Medium and Sex Drive Epigenetic Reprogramming in Preimplantation Bovine Embryos. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126426. [PMID: 34204008 PMCID: PMC8232708 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Assisted reproductive technologies impact transcriptome and epigenome of embryos and can result in long-term phenotypic consequences. Whole-genome DNA methylation profiles from individual bovine blastocysts in vivo- and in vitro-derived (using three sources of protein: reproductive fluids, blood serum and bovine serum albumin) were generated. The impact of in vitro culture on DNA methylation was analyzed, and sex-specific methylation differences at blastocyst stage were uncovered. In vivo embryos showed the highest levels of methylation (29.5%), close to those produced in vitro with serum, whilst embryos produced in vitro with reproductive fluids or albumin showed less global methylation (25-25.4%). During repetitive element analysis, the serum group was the most affected. DNA methylation differences between in vivo and in vitro groups were more frequent in the first intron than in CpGi in promoters. Moreover, hierarchical cluster analysis showed that sex produced a stronger bias in the results than embryo origin. For each group, distance between male and female embryos varied, with in vivo blastocyst showing a lesser distance. Between the sexually dimorphic methylated tiles, which were biased to X-chromosome, critical factors for reproduction, developmental process, cell proliferation and DNA methylation machinery were included. These results support the idea that blastocysts show sexually-dimorphic DNA methylation patterns, and the known picture about the blastocyst methylome should be reconsidered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Canovas
- Physiology of Reproduction Group, Physiology Department, Mare Nostrum Campus, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain;
- Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca-UMU, 30120 Murcia, Spain;
| | - Elena Ivanova
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK; (E.I.); (G.K.)
| | - Meriem Hamdi
- Animal Reproduction Department, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology, INIA, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.H.); (D.R.)
| | - Fernando Perez-Sanz
- Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca-UMU, 30120 Murcia, Spain;
| | - Dimitrios Rizos
- Animal Reproduction Department, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology, INIA, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.H.); (D.R.)
| | - Gavin Kelsey
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK; (E.I.); (G.K.)
| | - Pilar Coy
- Physiology of Reproduction Group, Physiology Department, Mare Nostrum Campus, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain;
- Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca-UMU, 30120 Murcia, Spain;
- Correspondence:
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47
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Ishibashi M, Ikeda S, Minami N. Comparative analysis of histone H3K4me3 modifications between blastocysts and somatic tissues in cattle. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8253. [PMID: 33859293 PMCID: PMC8050253 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87683-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic changes induced in the early developmental stages by the surrounding environment can have not only short-term but also long-term consequences throughout life. This concept constitutes the “Developmental Origins of Health and Disease” (DOHaD) hypothesis and encompasses the possibility of controlling livestock health and diseases by epigenetic regulation during early development. As a preliminary step for examining changes of epigenetic modifications in early embryos and their long-lasting effects in fully differentiated somatic tissues, we aimed to obtain high-throughput genome-wide histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) profiles of bovine blastocysts and to compare these data with those from adult somatic tissues in order to extract common and typical features between these tissues in terms of H3K4me3 modifications. Bovine blastocysts were produced in vitro and subjected to chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing analysis of H3K4me3. Comparative analysis of the blastocyst-derived H3K4me3 profile with publicly available data from adult liver and muscle tissues revealed that the blastocyst profile could be used as a “sieve” to extract somatic tissue-specific modifications in genes closely related to tissue-specific functions. Furthermore, principal component analysis of the level of common modifications between blastocysts and somatic tissues in meat production-related and imprinted genes well characterized inter- and intra-tissue differences. The results of this study produced a referential genome-wide H3K4me3 profile of bovine blastocysts within the limits of their in vitro source and revealed its common and typical features in relation to the profiles of adult tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mao Ishibashi
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Shuntaro Ikeda
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.
| | - Naojiro Minami
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
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48
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Clinical and Molecular Diagnosis of Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome with Single- or Multi-Locus Imprinting Disturbance. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073445. [PMID: 33810554 PMCID: PMC8036922 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous overgrowth disease. BWS is caused by (epi)genetic defects at the 11p15 chromosomal region, which harbors two clusters of imprinted genes, IGF2/H19 and CDKN1C/KCNQ1OT1, regulated by differential methylation of imprinting control regions, H19/IGF2:IG DMR and KCNQ1OT1:TSS DMR, respectively. A subset of BWS patients show multi-locus imprinting disturbances (MLID), with methylation defects extended to other imprinted genes in addition to the disease-specific locus. Specific (epi)genotype-phenotype correlations have been defined in order to help clinicians in the classification of patients and referring them to a timely diagnosis and a tailored follow-up. However, specific phenotypic correlations have not been identified among MLID patients, thus causing a debate on the usefulness of multi-locus testing in clinical diagnosis. Finally, the high incidence of BWS monozygotic twins with discordant phenotypes, the high frequency of BWS among babies conceived by assisted reproductive technologies, and the female prevalence among BWS-MLID cases provide new insights into the timing of imprint establishment during embryo development. In this review, we provide an overview on the clinical and molecular diagnosis of single- and multi-locus BWS in pre- and post-natal settings, and a comprehensive analysis of the literature in order to define possible (epi)genotype-phenotype correlations in MLID patients.
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Brekke TD, Moore EC, Campbell-Staton SC, Callahan CM, Cheviron ZA, Good JM. X chromosome-dependent disruption of placental regulatory networks in hybrid dwarf hamsters. Genetics 2021; 218:6168998. [PMID: 33710276 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic development in mammals is highly sensitive to changes in gene expression within the placenta. The placenta is also highly enriched for genes showing parent-of-origin or imprinted expression, which is predicted to evolve rapidly in response to parental conflict. However, little is known about the evolution of placental gene expression, or if divergence of placental gene expression plays an important role in mammalian speciation. We used crosses between two species of dwarf hamsters (Phodopus sungorus and Phodopus campbelli) to examine the genetic and regulatory underpinnings of severe placental overgrowth in their hybrids. Using quantitative genetic mapping and mitochondrial substitution lines, we show that overgrowth of hybrid placentas was primarily caused by genetic differences on the maternally inherited P. sungorus X chromosome. Mitochondrial interactions did not contribute to abnormal hybrid placental development, and there was only weak correspondence between placental disruption and embryonic growth. Genome-wide analyses of placental transcriptomes from the parental species and first- and second-generation hybrids revealed a central group of co-expressed X-linked and autosomal genes that were highly enriched for maternally biased expression. Expression of this gene network was strongly correlated with placental size and showed widespread misexpression dependent on epistatic interactions with X-linked hybrid incompatibilities. Collectively, our results indicate that the X chromosome is likely to play a prominent role in the evolution of placental gene expression and the accumulation of hybrid developmental barriers between mammalian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D Brekke
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.,School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Emily C Moore
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Shane C Campbell-Staton
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Colin M Callahan
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Zachary A Cheviron
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Good
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
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50
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Folic acid supplementation during oocytes maturation influences in vitro production and gene expression of bovine embryos. ZYGOTE 2021; 29:342-349. [PMID: 33685547 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199421000022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Embryos that are produced in vitro frequently present epigenetic modifications. However, maternal supplementation with folic acid (FA) may improve oocyte maturation and embryo development, preventing epigenetic errors in the offspring. We sought to evaluate the influence of FA supplementation during in vitro maturation of grade I (GI) and grade III (GIII) bovine oocytes on embryo production rate and the expression of IGF2 and KCNQ1OT1 genes. The oocytes were matured in vitro with different concentrations of FA (0, 10, 30 and 100 μM), followed by in vitro fertilization and embryo culture. On the seventh day (D7) of culture, embryo production was evaluated and gene expression was measured using real-time qPCR. Supplementation with 10 μM of FA did not affect embryo production for GI and GIII oocytes. Moderate supplementation (30 μM) seemed to be a positive influence, increasing embryo production for GIII (P = 0.012), while the highest dose (100 μM) reduced embryo production (P = 0.010) for GI, and IGF2 expression was not detected. In GIII, only embryos whose oocyte maturation was not supplemented with FA demonstrated detected IGF2 expression. The lowest concentration of FA (10 μM) reduced KCNQ1OT1 expression (P = 0.05) on embryos from GIII oocytes. Different FA concentrations induced different effects on bovine embryo production and gene expression that was related to oocyte quality. Despite the epigenetic effects of FA, supplementation seems to be a promising factor to improve bovine embryo production if used carefully, as concentration is an important factor, especially in oocytes with impaired quality.
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