Dataset Information

The transcriptome signature of the receptive bovine uterus determined at early gestation.

ABSTRACT: Pregnancy success is critical to the profitability of cattle operations. However, the molecular events driving the uterine tissue towards embryo receptivity are poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the uterine transcriptome profiles of pregnant (P) versus non-pregnant (NP) cows during early pregnancy and attempted to define a potential set of marker genes that can be valuable for predicting pregnancy outcome. Therefore, beef cows were synchronized (n=51) and artificially inseminated (n=36) at detected estrus. Six days after AI (D6), jugular blood samples and a biopsy from the uterine horn contralateral to the ovary containing the corpus luteum were collected. Based on pregnancy outcome on D30, samples were retrospectively allocated to the following groups: P (n=6) and NP (n=5). Both groups had similar plasma progesterone concentrations on D6. Uterine biopsies were submitted to RNA-Seq analysis in a Illumina platform. The 272,685,768 million filtered reads were mapped to the Bos Taurus reference genome and 14,654 genes were analyzed for differential expression between groups. Transcriptome data showed that 216 genes are differently expressed when comparing NP versus P uterine tissue (Padj ? 0.1). More specifically, 36 genes were up-regulated in P cows and 180 are up-regulated in NP cows. Functional enrichment and pathway analyses revealed enriched expression of genes associated with extracellular matrix remodeling in the NP cows and nucleotide binding, microsome and vesicular fraction in the P cows. From the 40 top-ranked genes, the transcript levels of nine genes were re-evaluated using qRT-PCR. In conclusion, this study characterized a unique set of genes, expressed in the uterus 6 days after insemination, that indicate a receptive state leading to pregnancy success. Furthermore, expression of such genes can be used as potential markers to efficiently predict pregnancy success.

SUBMITTER: Binelli M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4388694 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The transcriptome signature of the receptive bovine uterus determined at early gestation.

Binelli Mario M Scolari Saara C SC Pugliesi Guilherme G Van Hoeck Veerle V Gonella-Diaza Angela M AM Andrade Sónia C S SC Gasparin Gustavo R GR Coutinho Luiz L LL

PloS one 20150407 4

Pregnancy success is critical to the profitability of cattle operations. However, the molecular events driving the uterine tissue towards embryo receptivity are poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the uterine transcriptome profiles of pregnant (P) versus non-pregnant (NP) cows during early pregnancy and attempted to define a potential set of marker genes that can be valuable for predicting pregnancy outcome. Therefore, beef cows were synchronized (n=51) and artificially inseminat ...[more]

PMID: 25849079

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Project description:The uterus plays a central role among the reproductive tissues in the context of early embryo-maternal communication and a successful pregnancy depends on a complex series of endometrial molecular and cellular events. The factors responsible for the initial interaction between maternal and embryonic tissues, leading to the establishment of pregnancy, remain poorly understood. In this context, Illumina's next-generation sequencing technology has been used to discover the uterine transcriptome signature that is favourable for ongoing pregnancy. More specifically, the present report documents on a retrospective in vivo study in which data on pregnancy outcome were linked to uterine gene expression signatures on day 6 (bovine model). Using the RNA-Seq method, 14.654 reference genes were effectively analysed for differential expression between pregnant and non-pregnant uterine tissue. Transcriptome data revealed that 216 genes were differently expressed when comparing uterine tissue from pregnant and non-pregnant cows. All read sequences were deposited in the Sequence Read Archive (SRA) of the NCBI (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sra). An overview of the gene expression data has been deposited in NCBI's Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and is accessible through GEO Series accession number GSE65117. This allows the research community to enhance reproducibility and allows for new discoveries by comparing datasets of signatures linked to receptivity and/or pregnancy success. The resulting information can serve as tool to identify valuable and urgently needed biomarkers for scoring maternal receptivity and even for accurate detection of early pregnancy, which is a matter of cross-species interest. Beyond gene expression analysis as a marker tool, the RNA-Seq information on pregnant uterine tissue can be used to gain novel mechanistic insights, such as by identifying alternative splicing events, allele-specific expression, and rare and novel transcripts that might be involved in the onset of maternal receptivity. This concept is unique and provides a new approach towards strategies that are highly needed to improve efficiency of fertility treatments.

Project description:BackgroundExtracellular vesicles (EVs) present in oviductal (OF) and uterine fluid (UF) have been shown to enhance bovine embryo quality during in vitro culture by reducing lipid contents and modulating lipid metabolism-related genes (LMGs), while also influencing cell proliferation, suggesting their involvement on the regulation of different biological pathways. The regulation of signaling pathways related to cell differentiation, proliferation, and metabolism is crucial for early embryo development and can determine the success or failure of the pregnancy. Bioactive molecules within EVs in maternal reproductive fluids, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), may contribute to this regulatory process as they modulate gene expression through post-transcriptional mechanisms.ResultsFrom the 20 differentially expressed miRNAs, 19 up-regulated in UF-EVs (bta-miR-134, bta-miR-151-3p, bta-miR-155, bta-miR-188, bta-miR-181b, bta-miR-181d, bta-miR-224, bta-miR-23b-3p, bta-miR-24-3p, bta-miR-27a-3p, bta-miR-29a, bta-miR-324, bta-miR-326, bta-miR-345-3p, bta-miR-410, bta-miR-652, bta-miR-677, bta-miR-873 and bta-miR-708) and one (bta-miR-148b) in OF-EVs. These miRNAs were predicted to modulate several pathways such as Wnt, Hippo, MAPK, and lipid metabolism and degradation. Differences in miRNAs found in OF-EVs from the early luteal phase and UF-EVs from mid-luteal phase may reflect different environments to meet the changing needs of the embryo. Additionally, miRNAs may be involved, particularly in the uterus, in the regulation of embryo lipid metabolism, immune system, and implantation. This study evaluated miRNA cargo in OF-EVs from the early luteal phase and UF-EVs from the mid-luteal phase, coinciding with embryo transit within oviduct and uterus in vivo, and its possible influence on LMGs and signaling pathways crucial for early embryo development. A total of 333 miRNAs were detected, with 11 exclusive to OF, 59 to UF, and 263 were common between both groups.ConclusionsOur study suggests that miRNAs within OF- and UF-EVs could modulate bovine embryo development and quality, providing insights into the intricate maternal-embryonic communication that might be involved in modulating lipid metabolism, immune response, and implantation during early pregnancy.

Dataset Information

The transcriptome signature of the receptive bovine uterus determined at early gestation.

Publications

The transcriptome signature of the receptive bovine uterus determined at early gestation.

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