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Transcriptomic and histochemical analysis reveal the complex regulatory networks in equine chorioallantois during spontaneous term labor†.
Abstract: The equine chorioallantois (CA) undergoes complex physical and biochemical changes during labor. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling these changes are still unclear. Therefore, the current study aimed to characterize the transcriptome of equine CA during spontaneous labor and compare it with that of normal preterm CA. Placental samples were collected postpartum from mares with normal term labor (TL group, n = 4) and from preterm not in labor mares (330 days GA; PTNL group, n = 4). Our study identified 4137 differentially expressed genes (1820 upregulated and 2317 downregulated) in CA during TL as compared with PTNL. TL was associated with the upregulation of several proinflammatory mediators (MHC-I, MHC-II, NLRP3, CXCL8, and MIF). Also, TL was associated with the upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP1, MMP2, MMP3, and MMP9) with subsequent extracellular matrix degradation and apoptosis, as reflected by upregulation of several apoptosis-related genes (ATF3, ATF4, FAS, FOS, and BIRC3). In addition, TL was associated with downregulation of 21 transcripts coding for collagens. The upregulation of proteases, along with the downregulation of collagens, is believed to be implicated in separation and rupture of the CA during TL. Additionally, TL was associated with downregulation of transcripts coding for proteins essential for progestin synthesis (SRD5A1 and AKR1C1) and angiogenesis (VEGFA and RTL1), as well as upregulation of prostaglandin synthesis-related genes (PTGS2 and PTGES), which could reflect the physiological switch in placental endocrinology and function during TL. In conclusion, our findings revealed the equine CA gene expression signature in spontaneous labor at term, which improves our understanding of the molecular mechanisms triggering labor.
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Society for the Study of Reproduction. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Publication Date: 2022-08-02 PubMed ID: 35913756DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac154Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research helps to understand the diverse genetic and molecular changes that occur in the equine chorioallantois during spontaneous labor term. The study involved a comparison of the transcriptomes (RNA expressions) between normal preterm and term labor conditions, providing insights into medical phenomena like inflammation, cellular degradation, apoptosis, and hormonal changes that occur during labor.
Study Design
- The study was designed to analyze the changes in the chorioallantois (CA) – a part of the equine placenta, during spontaneous labor. This was done by comparing the transcriptomes of the tissue under two conditions – normal term labor (TL) and normal preterm, not in labor (PTNL).
- Placental samples were collected postpartum from 4 horses in each group – TL and PTNL. Transcriptomes were then analyzed to find differentially expressed genes between the two conditions.
Key Findings
- During TL, 4137 genes exhibited differential expression compared to PTNL, out of which 1820 were upregulated and 2317 were downregulated.
- TL condition showed upregulated expression of several genes associated with inflammation, such as MHC-I, MHC-II, NLRP3, CXCL8, and MIF.
- Apart from inflammation, there was increased expression of metalloproteinase genes (MMP1, MMP2, MMP3, and MMP9) which lead to extracellular matrix degradation and cell-death (apoptosis), as indicated by the upregulation of certain apoptosis-related genes.
- Simultaneously, there was a decreased expression of 21 collagen-coding genes, which along with the metalloproteinases, could contribute to the weakening and rupture of the CA during TL.
- TL also showed decreased expression of genes involved in progestin synthesis and angiogenesis but increased expression of genes related to prostaglandin synthesis. This corresponds to the physiological changes that the placenta undergoes during labor.
Conclusion
- The findings of this study help improve the understanding of the complex molecular processes and genetic changes that happen in the horse’s CA during spontaneous labor term.
- This research underlines the significance of various physiological processes such as inflammation, cellular degradation, apoptosis, and hormonal changes during labor and underscores the need for further research in this area to enhance our understanding of related physiological conditions.
Cite This Article
APA
El-Sheikh Ali H, Scoggin K, Murase H, Norris J, Menarim B, Dini P, Ball B.
(2022).
Transcriptomic and histochemical analysis reveal the complex regulatory networks in equine chorioallantois during spontaneous term labor†.
Biol Reprod, 107(5), 1296-1310.
https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioac154 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
- Theriogenology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
- Equine Science Division, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Hokkaido, Japan.
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Humans
- Horses
- Pregnancy
- Animals
- Female
- Transcriptome
- Placenta / metabolism
- Labor, Obstetric
- Postpartum Period
Grant Funding
- Albert G. Clay Endowment of the University of Kentucky
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Satué K, La Fauci D, Medica P, Damiá Gímenez E, Cravana C, Fazio E. Shifts between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory profiles in pregnant mares: a review of physiological functions. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1660759.
- Scoggin KE, Adlan F, Fedorka CE, Rakha SI, Stout TAE, Troedsson MHT, Ali HE. Gestation-Stage Related Changes in the IGF System Components in the Equine Placenta. Biomolecules 2025 Aug 6;15(8).
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