1
|
Alfattah MA, Correia CN, Browne JA, McGettigan PA, Pluta K, Carrington SD, MacHugh DE, Irwin JA. Transcriptomics analysis of the bovine endometrium during the perioestrus period. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301005. [PMID: 38547106 PMCID: PMC10977793 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
During the oestrous cycle, the bovine endometrium undergoes morphological and functional changes, which are regulated by alterations in the levels of oestrogen and progesterone and consequent changes in gene expression. To clarify these changes before and after oestrus, RNA-seq was used to profile the transcriptome of oestrus-synchronized beef heifers. Endometrial samples were collected from 29 animals, which were slaughtered in six groups beginning 12 h after the withdrawal of intravaginal progesterone releasing devices until seven days post-oestrus onset (luteal phase). The groups represented proestrus, early oestrus, metoestrus and early dioestrus (luteal phase). Changes in gene expression were estimated relative to gene expression at oestrus. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was used to identify canonical pathways and functional processes of biological importance. A total of 5,845 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. The lowest number of DEGs was observed at the 12 h post-oestrus time point, whereas the greatest number was observed at Day 7 post-oestrus onset (luteal phase). A total of 2,748 DEGs at this time point did not overlap with any other time points. Prior to oestrus, Neurological disease and Organismal injury and abnormalities appeared among the top IPA diseases and functions categories, with upregulation of genes involved in neurogenesis. Lipid metabolism was upregulated before oestrus and downregulated at 48h post-oestrus, at which point an upregulation of immune-related pathways was observed. In contrast, in the luteal phase the Lipid metabolism and Small molecule biochemistry pathways were upregulated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed A. Alfattah
- UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
- King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Carolina N. Correia
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John A. Browne
- UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Paul A. McGettigan
- UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Katarzyna Pluta
- UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Stephen D. Carrington
- UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David E. MacHugh
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
- UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jane A. Irwin
- UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tinning H, Edge JC, DeBem THC, Deligianni F, Giovanardi G, Pensabene V, Meirelles FV, Forde N. Review: Endometrial function in pregnancy establishment in cattle. Animal 2023; 17 Suppl 1:100751. [PMID: 37567655 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The endometrium is fundamentally required for successful pregnancy in ruminants and species where the posthatching conceptus undergoes a protracted elongation and peri-implantation phase of pregnancy. Moreover, there are substantial waves of pregnancy loss during this pre- and peri-implantation period of pregnancy the precise source of which has not been clearly defined i.e., the maternal uterine contribution to this loss. Understanding the molecular interactions required for successful pregnancy in cattle will allow us to intervene to support pregnancy success during this vulnerable window. The endometrium contributes to most key developmental milestones of pregnancy establishment, including (1) contributing to the regulation of the oestrus cycle, (2) nourishing the preimplantation conceptus, (3) responding to the conceptus to create a more receptive microenvironment, (4) providing essential biophysical support, and (5) signalling and producing factors which affect the mother systemically. This review will summarise what we currently know about conceptus-maternal interactions as well as identify the gaps in our knowledge that could be filled with newer in vitro model approaches. These include the use of microfluidics, organ-on-a-chip devices, and bioinformatic approaches. This will help maximise food production efficiency (both meat and dairy) and decrease the environmental burden, while enhancing our understanding of the fundamental processes required for successful implantation in cattle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H Tinning
- Discovery and Translational Sciences Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - J C Edge
- Discovery and Translational Sciences Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - T H C DeBem
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - F Deligianni
- Discovery and Translational Sciences Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - G Giovanardi
- Discovery and Translational Sciences Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom; School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - V Pensabene
- School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - F V Meirelles
- School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - N Forde
- Discovery and Translational Sciences Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ault-Seay TB, Payton RR, Moorey SE, Pohler KG, Schrick FN, Shepherd EA, Voy BH, Lamour KH, Mathew DJ, Myer PR, McLean KJ. Endometrial gene expression in response to lipopolysaccharide between estrous cycle phases and uterine horns in cattle. Front Anim Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2022.939876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Uterine bacterial community abundances shift throughout the estrous cycle, potentially altering the immunological environment of the uterus and impacting subsequent fertility. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the immunological impact of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as a model for potentially pathogenic bacteria, throughout the uterine endometrium between the luteal and follicular phase of the estrous cycle. Bovine uterine tracts were harvested in mid-luteal (n = 7) or follicular (n = 7) phase. Explants were collected from the contralateral and ipsilateral horn relative to the dominant follicle or corpus luteum, then subjected to one of three treatments: uncultured control, cultured control, or cultured with LPS (1 µg/mL). Explants underwent RNA extraction and targeted RNA sequencing for expression analyses of 40 immune response related genes. Sequencing reads were mapped to Bos taurus genome in CLC Genomics Workbench. Resulting total read counts were normalized by housekeeping gene GAPDH and analyzed for overall expression profile by Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) and Variable Importance in Projection (VIP) analyses in Metaboanalyst. Individual gene expression differences were determined by GLIMMIX procedure in SAS with fixed effects of treatment, estrous phase, uterine horn, and their interaction, with random effect of individual uterus. Expression of 29 genes were affected among treatment groups, with seven genes increased in LPS treatment compared to other groups (P < 0.05). Multiple genes were affected by estrous phase and uterine horn, independent of treatment (P < 0.05). The OPLS-DA analyses indicated overall gene expression differences due to clustering by estrous cycle and treatment (P < 0.001), with no effect of uterine horn (P > 0.10). Similar clustering was observed between luteal and follicular phase explants of controls, but distinct separate clustering between phases with LPS treatment (P = 0.001). According to VIP analyses, mucins were identified as contributing the most to differences observed between phase and treatment. In conclusion, estrous cycle phase resulted in differing overall endometrial gene expression profiles of immune response to LPS treatment. Therefore, altered immunological environment of the uterus in response to bacteria at different estrous cycle stages may lead to differences in reproductive success.
Collapse
|
4
|
Cajas YN, Cañón-Beltrán K, de la Blanca MGM, Sánchez JM, Fernandez-Fuertes B, González EM, Rizos D. Role of reproductive fluids and extracellular vesicles in embryo–maternal interaction during early pregnancy in cattle. Reprod Fertil Dev 2021; 34:117-138. [PMID: 35231231 DOI: 10.1071/rd21275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The coordinated interaction between the developing embryo and the maternal reproductive tract is essential for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in mammals. An early cross-talk is established between the oviduct/uterus and the gametes and embryo. This dialogue will shape the microenvironment in which gamete transport, fertilisation, and early embryonic development occur. Due to the small size of the gametes and the early embryo relative to the volume of the oviductal and uterine lumina, collection of tissue and fluid adjacent to these cells is challenging in cattle. Thus, the combination of in vivo and in vitro models seems to be the most appropriate approach to better understand this fine dialogue. In this respect, the aim of this review is to summarise the recent findings in relation to gamete/embryo-maternal interaction during the pre-elongation period.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yulia N Cajas
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; and Laboratorio de Biotecnología de la Reproducción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de Cuenca (UC), EC010205 Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Karina Cañón-Beltrán
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; and Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Ambientales, Programa de Medicina Veterinaria, Fundación Universitaria Juan de Castellanos (JdC), 150001 Tunja, Colombia
| | - María Gemma Millán de la Blanca
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Sánchez
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Fernandez-Fuertes
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Encina M González
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Dimitrios Rizos
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Campanile G, Baruselli PS, Limone A, D'Occhio MJ. Local action of cytokines and immune cells in communication between the conceptus and uterus during the critical period of early embryo development, attachment and implantation - Implications for embryo survival in cattle: A review. Theriogenology 2021; 167:1-12. [PMID: 33743503 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Early embryo development, implantation and pregnancy involve a complex dialogue between the embryo and mother. In cattle this dialogue starts as early as days 3-4 when the embryo is still in the oviduct, and it continues to implantation. Immunological processes involving cytokines, mast cells and macrophages form an important part of this dialogue. Amongst the cytokines, interleukin-6 (Il-6) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) are secreted by both the embryo and uterine endometrium and form part of an ongoing and reciprocating dialogue. Mast cells and macrophages populate the uterine endometrium during embryo development and are involved in achieving the correct balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory reactions at the uterus that are associated with embryo attachment and implantation. Embryo loss is the major cause of reproductive wastage in cattle, and livestock generally. A deeper understanding of immunological processes during early embryo development will help to achieve the next step change in the efficiency of natural and assisted breeding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Campanile
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - Pietro S Baruselli
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Antonio Limone
- Instituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Del Mezzogiorno, Portici, Naples, Italy
| | - Michael J D'Occhio
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| |
Collapse
|