Global transcriptomic changes occur in uterine fluid-derived extracellular vesicles during the endometrial window for embryo implantation.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Giacomini E
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8289330 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Global transcriptomic changes occur in uterine fluid-derived extracellular vesicles during the endometrial window for embryo implantation.
Giacomini E E Scotti G M GM Vanni V S VS Lazarevic D D Makieva S S Privitera L L Signorelli S S Cantone L L Bollati V V Murdica V V Tonon G G Papaleo E E Candiani M M Viganò P P
Human reproduction (Oxford, England) 20210701 8
<h4>Study question</h4>Are uterine fluid-derived extracellular vesicles (UF-EVs) a 'liquid biopsy' reservoir of biomarkers for real-time monitoring of endometrial status?<h4>Summary answer</h4>The transcriptomic cargo of UF-EVs reflects the RNA profile of the endometrial tissue as well as changes between the non-receptive and the receptive phase, possibly supporting its use for a novel endometrial receptivity test.<h4>What is known already</h4>EVs have been previously isolated from uterine fluid ...[more]
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Project description:Purpose: Extracellular vescicles (EVs) of uterine origin have recently been identified, but they are not comprised by current diagnostics on endometrial receptivity. In order to test the possibility to use EVs as biomarker reservoirs for non-invasive monitoring of the endometrial status, we defined two experimental designs: in step a) we aimed at assessing the concordance between the transcriptome of endometrial tissue and uterine fluid-derived EVs (UF-EVs); in step b) we aimed at unraveling the transcriptomic profile of UF-EVs released during the receptive phase and associated with successful implantation Methods: RNAseq analysis was performed on total RNA isolated from a) endometrial biopsies and UF-EVs concomitantly collected from regularly cycling women; b) UF-EVs collected in the pre-receptive (LH+2) versus the receptive (LH+7) phase of provenly fertile women and in the receptive phase (LH+7) of women undergoing assisted reproduction and transfer of an euploid blastocyst. In the latter group, the outcomes of the following embryo transfer attempt were recorded, in order to compare the transcriptomic profile of women with successful versus failed implantation. Differential Gene Expression (DGE) and Gene Set Enrichment (GSEA) analyses were performed. Results: In the first experimental design, a highly significant correlation was found between the transcriptional profiles of endometrial tissue biopsies and corresponding UF-EVs (r=0.71 p<0.001; ρ=0.65 p<0.001). In the second experimental design, using a large group of 73 samples, 16,777 genes were overall found to be expressed in UF-EVs. Of these, DGE analysis showed that 942 were up-regulated and 1,305 down-regulated during the receptive phase in women with proven fertility and 97 were up-regulated and 64 down-regulated during the receptive phase of women achieving successful implantation versus women failing to achieve pregnancy in the subsequent cycle. 41 genes had a statistically significant different expression in both comparisons. We additionally tested wether transcripts used by current endometrial receptivity tests based on endometrial biopsies (Endometrial Receptivity Assay, ERA test) could also be detected in UF-EVs: out of 238 ERA test gene data-set, GSEA highlighted 219 genes with similar transcriptional profile in UF-EVs. We then performed another comparison adding the list of genes consisting of the ‘metasignature’ transcriptome derived from the published meta-analysis of endometrial receptivity associated transcripts, comprising 57 genes. This last intersection identified 38 genes expressed in UF-EVs that i) show differential expression with the same transcriptional profile (same trends) in both EVs and ERA test assay; ii) belong to the leading edge of genes with the most significant enrichment score in our analysis; iii) are identified as receptivity-associated genes by the current meta-analysis on endometrial transcriptome. Conclusions: This is the first study showing the capacity of UF-EVs to reflect the endometrial tissue transcriptional status and to establish a signature of genes expressed in UF-EVs that might serve as putative biomarkers for non-invasive endometrial receptivity tests.
2021-07-01 | GSE158958 | GEO
Project description:Global transcriptomic changes occur in uterine fluid-derived extracellular vesicles (UF-EVs) during the endometrial window for embryo implantation
| PRJNA667091 | ENA
Project description:Most pregnancy losses worldwide are caused by implantation failure for which there is a lack of effective therapeutics. Extracellular vesicles are considered potential endogenous nanomedicines because of their unique biological functions. However, the limited supply of ULF-EVs prevents their development and application in infertility diseases such as implantation failure. In this study, pigs were used as a human biomedical model, and ULF-EVs were isolated from the uterine luminal. We comprehensively characterized the proteins enriched in ULF-EVs and revealed their biological functions in promoting embryo implantation. By exogenously supplying ULF-EVs, we demonstrated that ULF-EVs improve embryo implantation, suggesting that ULF-EVs are a potential nanomaterial to treat implantation failure. Furthermore, we identified that MEP1B is important in improving embryo implantation by promoting trophoblast cell proliferation and migration. These results indicated that ULF-EVs can be a potential nanomaterial to improve embryo implantation.
| S-EPMC9990359 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The yin and yang of female fertility is a complicated issue; large numbers of women/couples desire fertility and seek assisted reproduction intervention to achieve conception, while others seek to prevent pregnancy. Understanding specific molecules which control endometrial-embryo interactions is essential for both facilitating and preventing pregnancy. SOX17 has recently emerged as an important transcription factor involved in endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation. However, studies to date have examined mouse models of pregnancy which do not necessarily translate to the human. Demonstration of a role for 'implantation factors' in a human system is critical to provide a rationale for in depth clinical investigation and targeting of such factors. We demonstrate that SOX17is present within the receptive human endometrium and is up-regulated within human endometrial epithelial cells by combined estrogen & progesterone, the hormonal milieu during the receptive window. SOX17 localizes to the point of adhesive contact between human endometrial epithelial cells and a human 'embryo mimic' model (trophectodermal spheroid). Targeting SOX17 in endometrial epithelial cells using CRISPR/Cas9 knockdown or a SOX-F family inhibitor, MCC177, significantly inhibited adhesion of an trophectodermal spheroids to the epithelial cells thereby preventing 'implantation'. These data confirm the important role of endometrial SOX17 in human endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation.
| S-EPMC6820561 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Decidualizing endometrial stromal cells (EnSC) critically determine the maternal response to an implanting conceptus, triggering either menstruation-like disposal of low-fitness embryos or creating an environment that promotes further development. However, the mechanism that couples maternal recognition of low-quality embryos to tissue breakdown remains poorly understood. Recently, we demonstrated that successful transition of the cycling endometrium to a pregnancy state requires selective elimination of pro-inflammatory senescent decidual cells by activated uterine natural killer (uNK) cells. Here we report that uNK cells express CD44, the canonical hyaluronan (HA) receptor, and demonstrate that high molecular weight HA (HMWHA) inhibits uNK cell-mediated killing of senescent decidual cells. In contrast, low molecular weight HA (LMWHA) did not attenuate uNK cell activity in co-culture experiments. Killing of senescent decidual cells by uNK cells was also inhibited upon exposure to medium conditioned by IVF embryos that failed to implant, but not successful embryos. Embryo-mediated inhibition of uNK cell activity was reversed by recombinant hyaluronidase 2 (HYAL2), which hydrolyses HMWHA. We further report a correlation between the levels of HYAL2 secretion by human blastocysts, morphological scores, and implantation potential. Taken together, the data suggest a pivotal role for uNK cells in embryo biosensing and endometrial fate decisions at implantation.
| S-EPMC8251835 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSuccessful implantation is dependent on coordination between maternal endometrium and embryo, and the role of EVs in the required cross-talk cell-to-cell has been recently established. In this regard, it has been reported that EVs secreted by the maternal endometrium can be internalized by human trophoblastic cells transferring their contents and enhancing their adhesive and invasive capacity. This is the first study to comprehensively evaluate three EV isolation methods on human endometrial epithelial cells in culture and to describe the proteomic content of EVs secreted by pHEECs from fertile women.MethodsIshikawa cells and pHEECs were in vitro cultured and hormonally treated; subsequently, conditioned medium was collected and EVs isolated. Ishikawa cells were used for the comparison of EVs isolation methods ultracentrifugation, ExoQuick-TC and Norgen Cell Culture Media Exosome Purification Kit (n = 3 replicates/isolation method). pHEECs were isolated from endometrial biopsies (n = 8/replicate; 3 replicates) collected from healthy oocyte donors with confirmed fertility, and protein content of EVs isolated by the most efficient methodology was analysed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. EV concentration and size were analyzed by nanoparticle tracking analysis, EV morphology visualized by transmission electron microscopy and protein marker expression was determined by Western blotting.ResultsUltracentrifugation was the most efficient methodology for EV isolation from medium of endometrial epithelial cells. EVs secreted by pHEECs and isolated by ultracentrifugation were heterogeneous in size and expressed EV protein markers HSP70, TSG101, CD9, and CD81. Proteomic analysis identified 218 proteins contained in these EVs enriched in biological processes involved in embryo implantation, including cell adhesion, differentiation, communication, migration, extracellular matrix organization, vasculature development, and reproductive processes. From these proteins, 82 were selected based on their functional relevance in implantation success as possible implantation biomarkers.ConclusionsEV protein cargos are implicated in biological processes related to endometrial receptivity, embryo implantation, and early embryo development, supporting the concept of a communication system between the embryo and the maternal endometrium via EVs. Identified proteins may define new biomarkers of endometrial receptivity and implantation success.
| S-EPMC8722215 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Exosomes are nanoparticles (∼100 nm diameter) released from cells, which can transfer small RNAs and mRNA via the extracellular environment to cells at distant sites. We hypothesised that exosomes or the slightly larger microvesicles (100-300 nm) are released from the endometrial epithelium into the uterine cavity, and that these contain specific micro (mi)RNA that could be transferred to either the trophectodermal cells of the blastocyst or to endometrial epithelial cells, to promote implantation. The aim of this study was to specifically identify and characterise exosomes/microvesicles (mv) released from endometrial epithelial cells and to determine whether exosomes/mv are present in uterine fluid. Immunostaining demonstrated that the tetraspanins, CD9 and CD63 used as cell surface markers of exosomes are present on the apical surfaces of endometrial epithelial cells in tissue sections taken across the menstrual cycle: CD63 showed cyclical regulation. Exosome/mv pellets were prepared from culture medium of endometrial epithelial cell (ECC1 cells) and from uterine fluid and its associated mucus by sequential ultracentifugation. Exosomes/mv were positively identified in all preparations by FACS and immunofluorescence staining following exosome binding to beads. Size particle analysis confirmed the predominance of particles of 50-150 nm in each of these fluids. MiRNA analysis of the ECC1 cells and their exosomes/mv demonstrated sorting of miRNA into exosomes/mv: 13 of the 227 miRNA were specific to exosomes/mv, while a further 5 were not present in these. The most abundant miRNA in exosomes/mv were hsa-miR-200c, hsa-miR-17 and hsa-miR-106a. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the exosome/mv-specific miRNAs have potential targets in biological pathways highly relevant for embryo implantation. Thus exosomes/mv containing specific miRNA are present in the microenvironment in which embryo implantation occurs and may contribute to the endometrial-embryo cross talk essential for this process.
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Project description:Extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate intercellular communication by transporting various molecules, and endometrial EVs have been postulated to be involved in the molecular regulation of embryo implantation. The objective of this study was to investigate the transcriptomic response of human blastocysts following internalization of endometrial EVs in vitro. Primary human endometrial epithelial cells, derived from endometrial biopsies collected from fertile oocyte donors, were cultured in vitro to isolate secreted EVs. Following EV characterization, day 5 human blastocysts were cultured in the presence or absence of the EVs for 24 hours and evaluated by RNA-sequencing. Among the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in blastocysts co-cultured with EVs, we found 519 were significantly upregulated and 395 were significantly downregulated. These DEGs were significantly enriched in upregulated functions related to embryonic development, cellular invasion and migration, cell cycle, cellular organization and assembly, gene expression and cell viability; and downregulated functions related to cell death and DNA fragmentation. Further, the intracellular signaling pathways regulated by the internalization of endometrial EVs were previously related to early embryo development and implantation potential, for their role in pluripotency, cellular homeostasis, early embryogenesis and implantation-related processes. Finally, integrating data from miRNA cargo of EVs, we found that the miRNAs carried by endometrial EVs targeted nearly 80% of the DEGs in human blastocysts. This study provides novel insights into the functional relevance of EVs secreted by the human endometrium, and particularly the role of EV-miRNA regulation on global transcriptome behavior of human blastocysts during early embryogenesis and embryo implantation.
2025-01-12 | GSE239821 | GEO
Project description:Uterine glands are essential for pregnancy establishment. By employing forkhead box A2 (FOXA2)-deficient mouse models coupled with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) repletion, we reveal definitive roles of uterine glands in embryo implantation and stromal cell decidualization. Here we report that LIF from the uterine glands initiates embryo-uterine communication, leading to embryo attachment and stromal cell decidualization. Detailed histological and molecular analyses discovered that implantation crypt formation does not involve uterine glands, but removal of the luminal epithelium is delayed and subsequent decidualization fails in LIF-replaced glandless but not gland-containing FOXA2-deficient mice. Adverse ripple effects of those dysregulated events in the glandless uterus result in embryo resorption and pregnancy failure. These studies provide evidence that uterine glands synchronize embryo-endometrial interactions, coordinate on-time embryo implantation, and impact stromal cell decidualization, thereby ensuring embryo viability, placental growth, and pregnancy success.
| S-EPMC6015089 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Exosomes have the ability to carry a wide range of chemicals, convey them to target cells or target regions, and act as "messengers." For the purpose of investigating embryo attachment, it is helpful to comprehend the range of exosomal mRNAs and miRNAs derived from the uterine flushing fluid before and after embryo attachment. In this study, we recovered exosomes from goat uterine rinsing fluid at 5, 15, and 18 days of gestation and used RNA-Seq to identify the mRNA and miRNA profiles of exosomes obtained from uterine rinsing fluid before and after embryo implantation. In total, 91 differently expressed miRNAs and 27,487 differentially expressed mRNAs were found. The target genes predicted by the differentially expressed miRNAs and the differentially expressed mRNAs were mainly membrane-related organelles with catalytic activity, binding activity, transcriptional regulation activity, and involved in metabolism, biological regulation, development, and other processes. This was revealed by GO analysis. Furthermore, KEGG analysis revealed that they were abundant in signaling pathways associated with embryo implantation, including the "PI3K-Akt signaling pathway," "Toll-like receptor signaling pathway," "TGF-beta signaling route," "Notch signaling pathway," and others. Moreover, our research has demonstrated, for the first time, that chi-let-7b-5p specifically targets the 3'UTR of CXCL10. Our research offers a fresh viewpoint on the mechanics of embryo attachment.
| S-EPMC9917504 | biostudies-literature