To evaluate the effect of conditioned media (CM) and Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) derived from bovine oviduct epithelial cell (BOEC) lines on the developmental capacity of bovine zygotes and the quality of embryos produced in vitro, presumptive zygotes were cultured under specific conditions. In experiment 1, zygotes were cultured either on monolayers from BOEC extended culture (E), together with fresh BOEC suspension cells, or with BOEC-CM from fresh or E-monolayers. In experiment 2, EVs were isolated from BOEC-CM and characterized (150–200 nm) by Nanosight® and electron microscopy. Zygotes were cultured in the presence of 3x105EVs/mL, 1.5x105EVs/mL or 7.5x104EVs/mL of fresh or frozen BOEC-EVs. In experiment 3, zygotes were cultured in absence of FCS but with EVs from BOEC-E that had been cultured in different culture media. In experiment 4, zygotes were cultured in SOF+5% normal-FCS, or EV-depleted-FCS. In all cases, cleavage rate (Day 2) and blastocyst development (Day 7–9) was assessed. Blastocysts on Days 7/8 were used for quality evaluation through differential cell count, cryotolerance and gene expression patterns. No differences were found among all FCS-containing groups in cleavage rate or blastocyst yield. However, embryos derived from BOEC-CM had more trophectoderm cells, while embryos derived from BOEC-EVs, both fresh and frozen, has more trophectoderm and total cells. More embryos survived vitrification in the BOEC-CM and BOEC-EV groups. In contrast, more embryos survived in the EV-depleted-FCS than in normal-FCS group. Gene expression patterns were modified for PAG1 for embryos cultured with EVs in the presence of FCS and for IFN-T, PLAC8, PAG1, CX43, and GAPDH in the absence of FCS. In conclusion, EVs from FCS have a deleterious effect on embryo quality. BOEC-CM and EVs during in vitro culture had a positive effect on the quality of in vitro produced bovine embryos, suggesting that EVs have functional communication between the oviduct and the embryo in the early stages of development.

The study was funded by the Clermont Université and the University of Madrid. P.G. is the Managing Director of CellOxess LLC, which has a commercial interest in the detection and resolution of oxidative stress. A.M. and A.P. are employees of CellOxess, LLC. J.R.D., A.G.-A. and R.J.A. are honorary members of the CellOxess advisory board.

These results suggest that the intermittent hypoxia associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) could induce fertility reduction in male patients with this sleep breathing disorder.

For epigenetic phenotypes to be passed on from one generation to the next, it is required that epigenetic marks between generations are not cleared during the two stages of epigenetic reprogramming: mammalian gametogenesis and preimplantation development. The molecular nature of the chromatin marks involved in these events is unknown. Using the epigenetically inherited allele Axin1(Fu) (the result of a retrotransposon insertion upstream of the Axin1 gene) we sought to establish the heritable mark during early embryonic development that determines transgenerational epigenetic inheritance and to examine a possible shift in the expression of this epiallele in future progeny induced by in vitro culture (IVC). To identify the heritable mark we analyzed 1) the level of DNA methylation shown by the Axin1(Fu) allele in sperm and embryos at blastocysts stage and 2) the histone marks (H3K4 me2, H3K9 me3, H3K9 ac, and H4K20 me3) present at the blastocyst stage at the specific Axin1(Fu) locus. According to our data, histone H3K4 me2 and H3K9 ac mark the differences between the Axin1(Fu) penetrant and the silent locus during the first period of demethylation of the preimplantation development. Moreover, suboptimal IVC (reported to produce epigenetic alterations in embryos) and the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A affect the postnatal expression of this epigenetically sensitive allele through histone modifications during early development. This finding indicates that altered histone modifications during preimplantation can drive altered gene expression later on in development.

BackgroundRecently, the capacity of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) to migrate into damaged tissues has been reported. For MSCs to be a promising tool for tissue engineering and cell and gene therapy, it is essential to know their migration ability according to their tissue of origin. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating porcine MSC chemotaxis. The aim of this study was to examine the migratory properties in an inflammatory environment of porcine MSC lines from different tissue origins: subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCA-MSCs), abdominal adipose tissue (AA-MSCs), dermal skin tissue (DS-MSCs) and peripheral blood (PB-MSCs).MethodsSCA-MSCs, AA-MSCs, DS-MSCs and PB-MSCs were isolated and analyzed in terms of morphological features, alkaline phosphatase activity, expression of cell surface and intracellular markers of pluripotency, proliferation, in vitro chondrogenic, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation capacities, as well as their ability to migrate in response to inflammatory cytokines.ResultsSCA-MSCs, AA-MSCs, DS-MSCs and PB-MSCs were isolated and showed plastic adhesion with a fibroblast-like morphology. All MSC lines were positive for CD44, CD105, CD90 and vimentin, characteristic markers of MSCs. The cytokeratin marker was also detected in DS-MSCs. No expression of MHCII or CD34 was detected in any of the four types of MSC. In terms of pluripotency features, all MSC lines expressed POU5F1 and showed alkaline phosphatase activity. SCA-MSCs had a higher growth rate compared to the rest of the cell lines, while the AA-MSC cell line had a longer population doubling time. All MSC lines cultured under adipogenic, chondrogenic and osteogenic conditions showed differentiation capacity to the previously mentioned mesodermal lineages. All MSC lines showed migration ability in an agarose drop assay. DS-MSCs migrated greater distances than the rest of the cell lines both in nonstimulated conditions and in the presence of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β. SCA-MSCs and DS-MSCs increased their migration capacity in the presence of IL-1β as compared to PBS control.ConclusionsThis study describes the isolation and characterization of porcine cell lines from different tissue origin, with clear MSC properties. We show for the first time a comparative study of the migration capacity induced by inflammatory mediators of porcine MSCs of different tissue origin.

BackgroundThe uterus is a histologically dynamic organ, and the mechanisms coordinating its regeneration during the oestrous cycle and implantation are poorly understood.The aim of this study was to isolate, immortalize and characterize bovine endometrial mesenchymal stem cell (eMSC) lines from different oestrous cycle stages (embryo in the oviduct, embryo in the uterus or absence of embryo) and examine their migratory and immunomodulatory properties in an inflammatory or implantation-like environment, as well as possible changes in cell transdifferentiation.MethodseMSCs were isolated and analysed in terms of morphological features, expression of cell surface and intracellular markers of pluripotency, inmunocytochemical analyses, alkaline phosphatase activity, proliferation and osteogenic or chondrogenic differentiation capacities, as well as their ability to migrate in response to inflammatory (TNF-α or IL-1β) or implantation (IFN-τ) cytokines and their immunomodulatory effect in the proliferation of T cells.ResultsAll eMSCs showed MSC properties such as adherence to plastic, high proliferative capacity, expression of CD44 and vimentin, undetectable expression of CD34 or MHCII, positivity for Pou5F1 and alkaline phosphatase activity. In the absence of an embryo, eMSC showed an apparent mesenchymal to epithelial transition state. eMSC during the entire oestrous cycle differentiated to osteogenic or chondrogenic lineages, showed the ability to suppress T cell proliferation and showed migratory capacity towards pro-inflammatory signal, while responded with a block in their migration to the embryo-derived pregnancy signal.ConclusionThis study describes for the first time the isolation, immortalization and characterization of bovine mesenchymal stem cell lines from different oestrous cycle stages, with a clear mesenchymal pattern and immunomodulatory properties. Our study also reports that the migratory capacity of the eMSC was increased towards an inflammatory niche but was reduced in response to the expression of implantation cytokine by the embryo. The combination of both signals (pro-inflammatory and implantation) would ensure the retention of eMSC in case of pregnancy, to ensure the immunomodulation necessary in the mother for embryo survival. In addition, in the absence of an embryo, eMSC showed an apparent mesenchymal to epithelial transition state.

It has been reported that suboptimal in vitro culture (IVC) of mouse embryos can affect the postnatal expression of epigenetically sensitive alleles, resulting in altered postnatal growth, organ dimensions, health, and behavior in the offspring. Although these detrimental impacts on the offspring are well described, the relative contribution of the IVC-produced fathers is unclear. In this work, we have analyzed if suboptimal IVC (achieved by altering the culture medium by the addition of FCS) can affect male fertility and if organ size and glucose clearance, two of the adverse effects produced by suboptimal IVC conditions, were transmitted to the next two generations. IVC-produced males had lower sperm concentrations (5.8 × 10(6) spermatozoa in IVC vs. 14.5 × 10(6) spermatozoa in control), and these sperm exhibited decreased overall motility (49.6% vs. 72.8% in control) and progressive motility (22.6% vs. 32.2% in control). Fertility tests demonstrated that the percentage of pregnancies was reduced for IVC males (35% for IVC-produced males vs. 86% for in vivo controls). These features were related to a modified gene expression pattern in adult male testes, showing an altered gene expression in genes involved in DNA repair and apoptosis that was confirmed by TUNEL assay. Regarding the IVC related adverse phenotype transmitted to offspring, male glucose intolerance was shown only in F1 and F2 male but not female offspring. The same occurred with male abnormalities in the organ size of the liver, which were transmitted to F1 and F2 males but not to F1 females; moreover, analysis of the F0, F1, and F2 males revealed greater coefficients of variance in body weight and glucose intolerance than the control group. Finally, we analyzed, through gene silencing, the effect of IVC on the mRNA expression at the blastocyst stage for 11 known gene expression modifiers of epigenetic reprogramming. Suboptimal IVC reduced the expression of Kap1, Sox2, Hdac1, Dnmt1, and Dnmt3a, suggesting a molecular epigenetic role for gene expression modifiers in the origin and transmission of these abnormal phenotypes.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have a great potential in regenerative medicine because of their multipotential and immunoregulatory capacities, while in early pregnancy they could participate in the immunotolerance of the mother towards the embryo. Peripheral blood constitutes an accessible source of MSCs. We successfully isolated peripheral blood MSC (pbMSCs) lines, with or without previous bone marrow mobilization. All pbMSCs lines obtained in both conditions presented classical MSC markers and properties, alkaline phosphatase activity and multipotent capacity to differentiate among adipogenic, osteogenic or chondrogenic lineages, and suppressed the proliferation of T cells. pbMSCs showed migratory capacity without cytokine stimulation while increasing their migration rate in the presence of inflammatory or embryo implantation stimuli. Interestingly, in contrast to MSCs derived from endometrial tissue, three pbMSCs lines also showed increased migration towards the IFN-τ implantation cytokine. Moreover, the secretome produced by an early implantation stage embryonic trophectoderm cell line showed a chemoattractant effect in pbMSCs. Our results suggest that circulating MSCs are present in the peripheral blood under healthy conditions. The fact that both the inflammation and implantation signals induced pbMSCs chemotaxis highlights MSC heterogeneity and suggests that their migratory capacity may differ according to their tissue of origin and would suggest the possible active recruitment of MSCs from bone marrow during pregnancy to repress the immune response to prevent the embryo rejection by the maternal organism.