Project description:In this study, the methods to isolate and identify extracellular vesicles (EVs) including exosomes, from the seminal plasma (SP) of 3 fertile (F) and subfertile (S) bucks have been developed. Additionally, we investigated whether specific miRNA abundance differences between F and SF bucks could serve as fertility biomarkers. Ultracentrifugation and size exclusion chromatography analysis have made it possible to isolate different SP-EVs concentrations (8.53x10^11 ± 1.04x10^11 and 1.84x10^12 ± 1.75x10^11 particles/ml of SP; p=0,008), with a similar average size (143.9 ± 11.9 and 115.5 ± 2.4 nm; p=0.7422) in F and S males, respectively. Particle size was not significantly correlated with any kinetic parameter. Also, EVs have been identified by electron microscopy and their marker proteins by Western blot. The concentration of SP-EVs was positively correlated with the percentage of abnormal forms (r=0.94; p<0.05) and with the percentage of immotile spermatozoa (r=0.88; p<0.05). A total of 18 miRNAs were differentialy expressed (FC>2, FDR<0.05) in F vs. S groups. SP from F and S males contains EVs with different miRNA cargo that could be used as biomarkers for male fertility.
Project description:Stenotrophomonas sp. SY1 showed the highly efficient detoxification to cadmium and chromium. Thus, the purpose of this project is to clarify the mechanism of detoxification to cadmium and chromium in strain SY1.
Project description:Gene expression of side population (SP) and major population (MP) of myeloma cell lines (RPMI-8226 and KMS-11) cultured under normoxic or hypoxic conditions for 48 h.
Project description:The seminal plasma (SP) modulates the female reproductive immune environment after mating and microRNAs (miRNAs) could participate in the process. Considering the boar ejaculate is built by fractions differing in SP-composition; this study evaluated whether exposure of mucosal explants of the sow internal genital tract (uterus, utero-tubal junction and isthmus) to different SP-fractions changed the profile of explant-secreted miRNAs. Mucosal explants retrieved from oestrus sows (n=3) were in vitro exposed to: Medium 199 (M199, Control) or M199 supplemented (1:40 v/v) with SP from the sperm-rich fraction (SRF), the post-SRF or the entire recomposed ejaculate, for 16 h. After, the explants were cultured in M199 for 24 h to finally collect the media for miRNA analyses using GeneChip miRNA 4.0 Array (Affymetrix). Fifteen differentially expressed (False‐Discovery-Rate < 0.05 and Fold-change ≥ 2) miRNAs (11 down- vs 4 up-regulated) were identified (the most in the media of uterine explants incubated with SP from post-SRF). Bioinformatics analysis identified that predicted target genes of dysregulated miRNAs, mainly miR-34b, miR-205, miR-4776-3p and miR-574-5p, were involved in functions and pathways related to immune response. In conclusion, SP is able to elicit changes in the miRNAs profile secreted by female genital tract, ultimately depending SP-composition.
