Pig Pregnancies after Transfer of Allogeneic Embryos Show a Dysregulated Endometrial/Placental Cytokine Balance: A Novel Clue for Embryo Death?
Pig embryo transfer (ET) is burdened by high embryo mortality, with cytokines playing a significant role in recruitment of immune cells during embryo attachment and placentation. We hereby tested if their levels in endometrium and placenta from sows carrying hemi-allogeneic (artificially inseminated...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/10/4/554 |
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| author | Cristina A. Martinez Marie Rubér Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez Manuel Alvarez-Rodriguez |
| author_facet | Cristina A. Martinez Marie Rubér Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez Manuel Alvarez-Rodriguez |
| author_sort | Cristina A. Martinez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pig embryo transfer (ET) is burdened by high embryo mortality, with cytokines playing a significant role in recruitment of immune cells during embryo attachment and placentation. We hereby tested if their levels in endometrium and placenta from sows carrying hemi-allogeneic (artificially inseminated sows; C+ positive control) or allogeneic embryos (sows subjected to ET; ET) during peri-implantation (D18) or post-implantation (D24) are suitable mirrors of embryo rejection or tolerance after ET. Non-pregnant sows (C−) were used as negative controls. A set of cytokines was assayed in the tissues through multiplexed microsphere-based flow cytometry (Luminex xMAP, Millipore. USA). Fewer (58.7%. <i>p</i> < 0.003) conceptuses were recovered at D24 after ET compared to C+ (80.9%); with more than 20% of the ET conceptuses being developmentally delayed. Cytokine levels shifted during implantation. Anti-inflammatory IL-10 levels were significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) lower in ET sows compared to C+ at D24 of pregnancy. The C+ controls (carrying hemi-allogeneic embryos) consistently showed higher levels of pro-inflammatory TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-2 cytokines at D18 and IL-1α at D24, compared to the ET group. This clear dysregulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in sows subjected to ET could be associated with an impaired maternal immune tolerance, explaining the high embryonic mortality of ET programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:40:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8481fb8cdf30436a80eb1916c13feb94 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:40:10Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-8481fb8cdf30436a80eb1916c13feb942023-11-19T20:46:30ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2020-04-0110455410.3390/biom10040554Pig Pregnancies after Transfer of Allogeneic Embryos Show a Dysregulated Endometrial/Placental Cytokine Balance: A Novel Clue for Embryo Death?Cristina A. Martinez0Marie Rubér1Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez2Manuel Alvarez-Rodriguez3Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine (IKE), BHK/O&G Linköping University, SE-58185 Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Clinical & Experimental Medicine (IKE), BHK/O&G Linköping University, SE-58185 Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Clinical & Experimental Medicine (IKE), BHK/O&G Linköping University, SE-58185 Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Clinical & Experimental Medicine (IKE), BHK/O&G Linköping University, SE-58185 Linköping, SwedenPig embryo transfer (ET) is burdened by high embryo mortality, with cytokines playing a significant role in recruitment of immune cells during embryo attachment and placentation. We hereby tested if their levels in endometrium and placenta from sows carrying hemi-allogeneic (artificially inseminated sows; C+ positive control) or allogeneic embryos (sows subjected to ET; ET) during peri-implantation (D18) or post-implantation (D24) are suitable mirrors of embryo rejection or tolerance after ET. Non-pregnant sows (C−) were used as negative controls. A set of cytokines was assayed in the tissues through multiplexed microsphere-based flow cytometry (Luminex xMAP, Millipore. USA). Fewer (58.7%. <i>p</i> < 0.003) conceptuses were recovered at D24 after ET compared to C+ (80.9%); with more than 20% of the ET conceptuses being developmentally delayed. Cytokine levels shifted during implantation. Anti-inflammatory IL-10 levels were significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) lower in ET sows compared to C+ at D24 of pregnancy. The C+ controls (carrying hemi-allogeneic embryos) consistently showed higher levels of pro-inflammatory TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-2 cytokines at D18 and IL-1α at D24, compared to the ET group. This clear dysregulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in sows subjected to ET could be associated with an impaired maternal immune tolerance, explaining the high embryonic mortality of ET programs.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/10/4/554cytokinesembryo transfermaternal immune toleranceembryo lossendometriumplacenta |
| spellingShingle | Cristina A. Martinez Marie Rubér Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez Manuel Alvarez-Rodriguez Pig Pregnancies after Transfer of Allogeneic Embryos Show a Dysregulated Endometrial/Placental Cytokine Balance: A Novel Clue for Embryo Death? Biomolecules cytokines embryo transfer maternal immune tolerance embryo loss endometrium placenta |
| title | Pig Pregnancies after Transfer of Allogeneic Embryos Show a Dysregulated Endometrial/Placental Cytokine Balance: A Novel Clue for Embryo Death? |
| title_full | Pig Pregnancies after Transfer of Allogeneic Embryos Show a Dysregulated Endometrial/Placental Cytokine Balance: A Novel Clue for Embryo Death? |
| title_fullStr | Pig Pregnancies after Transfer of Allogeneic Embryos Show a Dysregulated Endometrial/Placental Cytokine Balance: A Novel Clue for Embryo Death? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pig Pregnancies after Transfer of Allogeneic Embryos Show a Dysregulated Endometrial/Placental Cytokine Balance: A Novel Clue for Embryo Death? |
| title_short | Pig Pregnancies after Transfer of Allogeneic Embryos Show a Dysregulated Endometrial/Placental Cytokine Balance: A Novel Clue for Embryo Death? |
| title_sort | pig pregnancies after transfer of allogeneic embryos show a dysregulated endometrial placental cytokine balance a novel clue for embryo death |
| topic | cytokines embryo transfer maternal immune tolerance embryo loss endometrium placenta |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/10/4/554 |
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