Effects of seminal plasma and the presence of a conceptus on regulation of lymphocyte‐cytokine network in porcine endometrium

Abstract

Infusion of seminal plasma in the uterus is known to elicit an instant inflammatory response in the porcine uterus, but whether or not it prepares a uterine immunological response to the presence of conceptuses is not well understood. Seminal plasma induced long-term modulatory effects and conceptus-induced immune changes in leukocyte populations were measured by flow cytometry and mRNAs for various cytokines by quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR in porcine endometrium collected on Days 6 and 13 from cycling and pregnant animals or from animals given seminal plasma infusions. Seminal plasma infusion induced long-term modulatory effects, resulting in significantly more endometrial FoxP3-positive T-regulatory and T-helper cells 6 days after infusion as compared to cycling and pregnant animals. The number of T-cytotoxic and T-null cells did not change between the studied groups. The early molecular effects of seminal plasma were not observed at 13-days post-infusion, although animals on Day 13 of pregnancy did show significantly more T-cells (of any type investigated). Seminal plasma also showed a delayed effect on cytokine expression, specifically exhibiting a significant increase in interleukin 10 (IL10) and a decrease in granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) gene expression on Day 13 as compared to Day 6 of cycling or pregnant gilts. The results indicate a delayed regulatory effect of seminal plasma on immune responses in the porcine uterus, which are similar to immune changes generated by implanting conceptuses.

Proteomic and network analysis of pregnancy-induced changes in the porcine endometrium on Day 12 of gestation

“…($fourfold dilution) used for artificial insemination in this study most likely would not have any long-term effect on the endometrial proteome on Day 12 of pregnancy (Jalali et al, 2014).…”

“…The aim of the present study was to gain insight into changes in protein abundance in cycling or pregnant Day‐12 porcine endometria to elucidate how presence of conceptuses might influence the endometrial proteome. Both conceptus‐secreted factors and seminal plasma constituents might influence the endometrial proteome (O'Leary et al, ; Chen et al, ), but the diluted seminal plasma (∼fourfold dilution) used for artificial insemination in this study most likely would not have any long‐term effect on the endometrial proteome on Day 12 of pregnancy (Jalali et al, ).…”

The Seminal Plasma of the Boar is Rich in Cytokines, with Significant Individual and Intra-Ejaculate Variation

“…48 However, the current results show that the boar SP contains cytokines with pro-and anti-inflammatory properties, which confirms the dual SP effect above described for in human and mice, would also appear in sows. Such effect was partially demonstrated by Jalali et al (2014) who asserted that the SP produces an increase in Treg-immune cells and a decrease in expression of inflammatory cytokines in the sow endometrium. 49 The current study also provides clear evidence of differences among boars in both presence and concentration of some cytokines.…”

“…Such effect was partially demonstrated by Jalali et al (2014) who asserted that the SP produces an increase in Treg-immune cells and a decrease in expression of inflammatory cytokines in the sow endometrium. 49 The current study also provides clear evidence of differences among boars in both presence and concentration of some cytokines. Differences in concentration were expected because it is well known that SP composition differs quantitatively and qualita-tively among boars, probably genomically driven.…”

MicroRNA regulation of immune events at conception

“…Tolerogenic dendritic cells interact with T cells either locally or within uterine‐draining lymph nodes to expand populations of Treg cells reacting with paternal antigens that, in turn, are recruited via the peripheral circulation into the uterine endometrium (Moldenhauer et al, ; Robertson SA, Guerin LR, Bromfield et al, ) (Figure ). A recent study reported that more Treg cells are present in the endometrium of gilts after seminal fluid infusion, suggesting similar pathways may operate in pigs (Jalali, Kitewska, Wasielak, Bodek, & Bogacki, ). Studies in mice and golden hamsters suggest the effects of seminal fluid ultimately impact the phenotype and health of offspring, as offspring sired by seminal vesicle‐deficient fathers exhibit metabolic dysfunction and elevated anxiety disorder (Bromfield et al, ; Wong et al, ).…”