Adrenomedullin and Its Receptor Components in the Porcine Uterus and Peri-implantation Conceptuses

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 26-26
Author(s):  
Bangmin Liu ◽  
Sudikshya Paudel ◽  
Magdalina Cummings ◽  
Xiaoqiu Wang

Abstract Adrenomedullin (ADM) is an evolutionarily conserved peptide hormone that regulates implantation, embryo spacing and placentation in humans and rodents. However, the potential roles of ADM in domestic animals, particularly pigs (as litter-bearing species), are not known. This study investigated expression patterns of ADM and its receptor components that include calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CALCRL), and receptor activity modifying protein (RAMP2) in porcine uteri and conceptuses (embryonic/fetus and its extra-embryonic membranes) during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy when 30–40% of embryonic death loss occurs. Gilts were observed for estrus and/or bred via artificial insemination at 12 and 24 h after onset of estrus (Day 0). On D 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 of the estrous cycle and pregnancy (n=6 gilts per day and status), uteri were flushed with 20 ml sterile PBS (pH 7.2) after gilts were subjected to a midventral laparotomy. Pregnancy was confirmed by the presence of one or more morphologically normal conceptuses. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed that ADM mRNA in the endometrium was elevated for pregnant than for cyclic gilts between D 10 and 16 of pregnancy (day x status, P < 0.05). In cyclic gilts, endometrial ADM mRNA increased 9.0-fold (P < 0.05) between D 10 and 16; whereas it increased 58.1-fold (P < 0.01) in pregnant gilts between D 10 and 16. As ADM receptors, expression of mRNAs for CALCRL and RAMP2 also increased (P < 0.05) 13.4- and 5.5-fold, respectively, in the porcine conceptuses between D 10 and 16 of pregnancy. Further, ELISA analyses showed that total recoverable ADM in the uterine flushings was greater (status, P < 0.0001) for pregnant than for cyclic gilts in which ADM increased 173.8-fold (P < 0.0001) between D 10 and 16 of pregnancy. These results indicate that ADM may play functional roles in survival, growth and development of the porcine conceptus during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy.

Author(s):  
Sudikshya Paudel ◽  
Bangmin Liu ◽  
Magdalina J Cummings ◽  
Kelsey E Quinn ◽  
Fuller W Bazer ◽  
...  

Abstract Adrenomedullin (ADM) is an evolutionarily conserved multi-functional peptide hormone that regulates implantation, embryo spacing and placentation in humans and rodents. However, the potential roles of ADM in implantation and placentation in pigs, as a litter-bearing species, are not known. This study determined abundances of ADM in uterine luminal fluid, and the patterns of expression of ADM and its receptor components (CALCRL, RAMP2, RAMP3, and ACKR3) in uteri from cyclic and pregnant gilts, as well as conceptuses (embryonic/fetus and its extra-embryonic membranes) during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy. Total recoverable ADM was greater in the uterine fluid of pregnant compared with cyclic gilts between Days 10 and 16 post-estrus, and was from uterine luminal epithelial (LE) and conceptus trophectoderm (Tr) cells. Uterine expression of CALCRL, RAMP2, and ACKR3 were affected by day (P < 0.05), pregnant status (P < 0.01) and/or day x status (P < 0.05). Within porcine conceptuses, expression of CALCRL, RAMP2 and ACKR3 increased between Days 10 and 16 of pregnancy. Using an established porcine trophectoderm (pTr1) cell line, it was determined that 10−7 M ADM stimulated proliferation of pTr1 cells (P < 0.05) at 48 h, and increased phosphorylated mechanistic target of rapamycin (p-MTOR) and 4E binding protein 1 (p-4EBP1) by 6.1- and 4.9-fold (P < 0.0001), respectively. These novel results indicate a significant role for ADM in uterine receptivity for implantation and conceptus growth and development in pigs. They also provide a framework for future studies of ADM signaling to affect proliferation and migration of Tr cells, spacing of blastocysts, implantation and placentation in pigs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanfeng Gao ◽  
Ye Liu ◽  
Yuan Fu ◽  
Qianhui Wang ◽  
Zheng Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction The progression of paroxysmal AF (PAF) to persistent AF (PsAF) worsens the prognosis of AF, but its underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Recently, circular RNAs (circRNAs) were reported to be associated with cardiac fibrosis. In case of the vital role of cardiac fibrosis in AF persistency, we hypothesis that circRNAs may be potential regulators in the process of AF progression. Materials and methods 6 persistent and 6 paroxysmal AF patients were enrolled as derivation cohort. Plasma circRNAs expressions were determined by microarray and validated by RT-PCR. Fibrosis level, manifested by serum TGF-β, was determined by ELISA. Pathways and related non-coding RNAs involving in the progression of AF regulated were predicted by in silico analysis. Results PsAF patients showed a distinct circRNAs expression profile with 92 circRNAs significantly dysregulated (fold change ≥ 2, p < 0.05), compared with PAF patients. The validity of the expression patterns was subsequently validated by RT-PCR in another 60 AF patients (30 PsAF and PAF, respectively). In addition, all the 5 up and down regulated circRNAs were clustered in MAPK and TGF-beta signaling pathway by KEGG pathway analysis. Among the 5 circRNAs, hsa_circ_0004104 was consistently downregulated in PsAF group (0.6 ± 0.33 vs 1.46 ± 0.41, p < 0.001) and predicted to target several AF and/or cardiac fibrosis related miRNAs reported by previous studies. In addition, TGF-β1 level was significantly higher in the PsAF group (5560.23 ± 1833.64 vs 2236.66 ± 914.89, p < 0.001), and hsa_circ_0004104 showed a significant negative correlation with TGF-β1 level (r = − 0.797, p < 0.001). Conclusion CircRNAs dysregulation plays vital roles in AF persistency. hsa_circ_0004104 could be a potential regulator and biomarker in AF persistency by promoting cardiac fibrosis via targeting MAPK and TGF-beta pathways.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 6613
Author(s):  
Fernando C. Baltanás ◽  
Rósula García-Navas ◽  
Eugenio Santos

The SOS family of Ras-GEFs encompasses two highly homologous and widely expressed members, SOS1 and SOS2. Despite their similar structures and expression patterns, early studies of constitutive KO mice showing that SOS1-KO mutants were embryonic lethal while SOS2-KO mice were viable led to initially viewing SOS1 as the main Ras-GEF linking external stimuli to downstream RAS signaling, while obviating the functional significance of SOS2. Subsequently, different genetic and/or pharmacological ablation tools defined more precisely the functional specificity/redundancy of the SOS1/2 GEFs. Interestingly, the defective phenotypes observed in concomitantly ablated SOS1/2-DKO contexts are frequently much stronger than in single SOS1-KO scenarios and undetectable in single SOS2-KO cells, demonstrating functional redundancy between them and suggesting an ancillary role of SOS2 in the absence of SOS1. Preferential SOS1 role was also demonstrated in different RASopathies and tumors. Conversely, specific SOS2 functions, including a critical role in regulation of the RAS–PI3K/AKT signaling axis in keratinocytes and KRAS-driven tumor lines or in control of epidermal stem cell homeostasis, were also reported. Specific SOS2 mutations were also identified in some RASopathies and cancer forms. The relevance/specificity of the newly uncovered functional roles suggests that SOS2 should join SOS1 for consideration as a relevant biomarker/therapy target.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 1045-1052
Author(s):  
Yufeng Wang ◽  
Zheng Cao ◽  
Fengjia Liu ◽  
Yuejian Ou

Abstract Wnt/β‐catenin signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway and plays a crucial role in regulating cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. However, the molecular mechanism behind the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling-mediated carcinogenesis and apoptosis resistance in oral squamous cell carcinoma is not well characterized so far. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of β‐catenin depletion of the perversely activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway on apoptosis resistance and tumorigenesis of the human OSCC cell line SCC-55. RT-PCR and western blot analysis demonstrated that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and its downstream targets such as DKK1 and AXIN2 are aberrantly activated in SCC-55 cells. Furthermore, upon silencing (RNA interference) of β‐catenin in SCC-55, cells became more sensitive toward the chemotherapeutic drugs and thus resulted in apoptotic cell death. Meanwhile, flow cytometry analysis confirmed the enhanced apoptosis and activation of caspases in β‐catenin RNAi cells. Besides ensuing β-catenin–siRNA transfection, the cell proliferation and cancer colony generating efficiencies are significantly impeded compared to the non-transfected cells. Furthermore, the tumorigenicity was inhibited by the downregulation of OCT-4 in β‐catenin-silenced SCC-55 cells. Altogether, Wnt/β‐catenin signaling could potentially target anti-cancer drugs to induce apoptosis and achieve a better clinical outcome.


Author(s):  
Zsolt Albert ◽  
Cs. Deák ◽  
A. Miskó ◽  
M. Tóth ◽  
I. Papp

Wax production is an important aspect of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) fruit development from both theoretical and practical point of views. The complex molecular mechanism that controls wax biosynthesis is still widely unknown but many studies focused on this topic. We aimed to develop further the experimental framework of these efforts with a description of an improved reference genes expression system. Results in the literature show that similarities exist among the expression of some housekeeping genes of different plant species. Based on these considerations and on gene expression data from Arabidopsis thaliana, some genes in apple were assigned for analysis. EST sequences of apple were used to design specific primers for RT-PCR experiments. Isolation of intact RNA from different apple tissues and performing RT-PCR reaction were also key point in obtaining expression patterns. To monitor DNA contamination of the RNA samples, specific primers were used that amplify intron-containing sequences from the cDNA. We found that actin primers can be used for the detection of intron containing genomic DNA, and tubulin primers are good internal controls in RT-PCR experiments. We were able to make a difference between tissue-specific and tissue-independent gene-expression, furthermore we found tissue specific differences between the expression patterns of candidate genes, that are potentially involved in wax-biosynthesis. Our results show that KCS1 and KCS4 are overexpressed in the skin tissue, this could mean that these genes have skin-specific expression in apple fruit.


Development ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.T. Rogers ◽  
M.D. Peterson ◽  
T.C. Kaufman

The products of the HOM/Hox homeotic genes form a set of evolutionarily conserved transcription factors that control elaborate developmental processes and specify cell fates in many metazoans. We examined the expression of the ortholog of the homeotic gene Sex combs reduced (Scr) of Drosophila melanogaster in insects of three divergent orders: Hemiptera, Orthoptera and Thysanura. Our data reflect how the conservation and variation of Scr expression has affected the morphological evolution of insects. Whereas the anterior epidermal expression of Scr, in a small part of the posterior maxillary and all of the labial segment, is found to be in common among all four insect orders, the posterior (thoracic) expression domains vary. Unlike what is observed in flies, the Scr orthologs of other insects are not expressed broadly over the first thoracic segment, but are restricted to small patches. We show here that Scr is required for suppression of wings on the prothorax of Drosophila. Moreover, Scr expression at the dorsal base of the prothoracic limb in two other winged insects, crickets (Orthoptera) and milkweed bugs (Hemiptera), is consistent with Scr acting as a suppressor of prothoracic wings in these insects. Scr is also expressed in a small patch of cells near the basitarsal-tibial junction of milkweed bugs, precisely where a leg comb develops, suggesting that Scr promotes comb formation, as it does in Drosophila. Surprisingly, the dorsal prothoracic expression of Scr is also present in the primitively wingless firebrat (Thysanura) and the leg patch is seen in crickets, which have no comb. Mapping both gene expression patterns and morphological characters onto the insect phylogenetic tree demonstrates that in the cases of wing suppression and comb formation the appearance of expression of Scr in the prothorax apparently precedes these specific functions.


Zygote ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (02) ◽  
pp. 82-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivek Pandey ◽  
Anima Tripathi ◽  
Pawan K. Dubey

SummaryThe decision by germ cells to differentiate and undergo either oogenesis or spermatogenesis takes place during embryonic development and Nanos plays an important role in this process. The present study was designed to investigate the expression patterns in rat of Nanos2-homologue protein in primordial germ cells (PGCs) over different embryonic developmental days as well as in spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Embryos from three different embryonic days (E8.5, E10.5, E11.5) and SSCs were isolated and used to detect Nanos2-homologue protein using immunocytochemistry, western blotting, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry. Interestingly, Nanos2 expression was detected in PGCs at day E11.5 onwards and up to colonization of PGCs in the genital ridge of fetal gonads. No Nanos2 expression was found in PGCs during early embryonic days (E8.5 and 10.5). Furthermore, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence data revealed that Nanos2 expression was restricted within a subpopulation of undifferentiated spermatogonia (As, single type A SSCs and Apr, paired type A SSCs). The same results were confirmed by our western blot and RT-PCR data, as Nanos2 protein and transcripts were detected only in PGCs from day E11.5 and in undifferentiated spermatogonia (As and Apr). Furthermore, Nanos2-positive cells were also immunodetected and sorted using flow cytometry from the THY1-positive SSCs population, and this strengthened the idea that these cells are stem cells. Our findings suggested that stage-specific expression of Nanos2 occurred on different embryonic developmental days, while during the postnatal period Nanos2 expression is restricted to As and Apr SSCs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Gross ◽  
Maria Giuseppina Strillacci ◽  
Francisco Peñagaricano ◽  
Hasan Khatib

AbstractEmbryos utilize oocyte-donated RNAs until they become capable of producing RNAs through embryonic genome activation (EGA). The sperm’s influence over pre-EGA RNA content of embryos remains unknown. Recent studies have revealed that sperm donate non-genomic components upon fertilization. Thus, sperm may also contribute to RNA presence in pre-EGA embryos. The first objective of this study was to investigate whether male fertility status is associated with the RNAs present in the bovine embryo prior to EGA. A total of 65 RNAs were found to be differentially expressed between 2–4 cell bovine embryos derived from high and low fertility sires. Expression patterns were confirmed for protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 36 (PPP1R36) and ataxin 2 like (ATXN2L) in three new biological replicates. The knockdown of ATXN2L led to a 22.9% increase in blastocyst development. The second objective of this study was to characterize the parental origin of RNAs present in pre-EGA embryos. Results revealed 472 sperm-derived RNAs, 2575 oocyte-derived RNAs, 2675 RNAs derived from both sperm and oocytes, and 663 embryo-exclusive RNAs. This study uncovers an association of male fertility with developmentally impactful RNAs in 2–4 cell embryos. This study also provides an initial characterization of paternally-contributed RNAs to pre-EGA embryos. Furthermore, a subset of 2–4 cell embryo-specific RNAs was identified.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yehan Fang ◽  
Hui Huang ◽  
Gang Zhou ◽  
Qinghua Wang ◽  
Feng Gao ◽  
...  

AbstractMeniscal degeneration is a very common condition in elderly individuals, but the underlying mechanisms of its occurrence are not completely clear. This study examines the molecular mechanisms of meniscal degeneration. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) of the right rear limbs of seven Wuzhishan mini-pigs were resected (meniscal degeneration group), and the left rear legs were sham-operated (control group). After 6 months, samples were taken for gene chip analysis, including differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis, gene ontology (GO) analysis, clustering analysis, and pathway analysis. The selected 12 DEGs were validated by real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The two groups showed specific and highly clustered DEGs. A total of 893 DEGs were found, in which 537 are upregulated, and 356 are downregulated. The GO analysis showed that the significantly affected biological processes include nitric oxide metabolic process, male sex differentiation, and mesenchymal morphogenesis, the significantly affected cellular components include the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, and the significantly affected molecular functions include transition metal ion binding and iron ion binding. The pathway analysis showed that the significantly affected pathways include type II diabetes mellitus, inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP channels, and AMPK signaling pathway. The results of RT-PCR indicate that the microarray data accurately reflects the gene expression patterns. These findings indicate that several molecular mechanisms are involved in the development of meniscal degeneration, thus improving our understanding of meniscal degeneration and provide molecular therapeutic targets in the future.


2019 ◽  
Vol 317 (1) ◽  
pp. F172-F186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria L. Halperin Kuhns ◽  
Jason Sanchez ◽  
Dylan C. Sarver ◽  
Zoya Khalil ◽  
Premraj Rajkumar ◽  
...  

The kidney uses specialized G protein-coupled receptors, including olfactory receptors (ORs), to act as sensors of molecules and metabolites. In the present study, we cloned and studied seven renal ORs, which we previously found to be expressed in the murine renal cortex. As most ORs are orphan receptors, our goal was to identify ligands for these ORs in the hope that this will guide future research into their functional roles. We identified novel ligands for two ORs: Olfr558 and Olfr90. For Olfr558, we confirmed activation by previously reported ligands and identified 16 additional carboxylic acids that activated this OR. The strongest activation of Olfr558 was produced by butyric, cyclobutanecarboxylic, isovaleric, 2-methylvaleric, 3-methylvaleric, 4-methylvaleric, and valeric acids. The primary in vivo source of both butyric and isovaleric acids is gut microbial metabolism. We also identified 14 novel ligands that activated Olfr90, the strongest of which were 2-methyl-4-propyl-1,3-oxathiane, 1-octen-3-ol, 2-octanol, and 3-octanol. Interestingly, 8 of these 14 ligands are of fungal origin. We also investigated the tissue distribution of these receptors and found that they are each found in a subset of “nonsensory” tissues. Finally, we examined the putative human orthologs of Olfr558 and Olfr90 and found that the human ortholog of Olfr558 (OR51E1) has a similar ligand profile, indicating that the role of this OR is likely evolutionarily conserved. In summary, we examined seven novel renal ORs and identified new ligands for Olfr558 and Olfr90, which imply that both of these receptors serve to detect metabolites produced by microorganisms.


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