Genomic Studies in the Mammalian Reproductive Tract

A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2021) | Viewed by 12432

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Basic and Preclinical Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
Interests: human; animal; reproductive tract; physiology; pathology; aquaporins; connexins; granulosa cells; stem cells
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Guest Editor
1. Department of Anatomy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Swiecickiego St., 60-781 Poznan, Poland
2. Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-701 Poznan, Poland
3. Prestage Department of Poultry Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
4. Department of Veterinary Surgery, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 87-100 Torun, Poland
5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital and Masaryk University, 601 77 Brno, Czech Republic
Interests: biology and biotechnology of stem cells; human and animal ovarian granulosa and cumulus oophorus cells; luminal epithelial endometrial cells; oviductal epithelial cells; HUVECs; Wharton’s jelly; human cytotrophoblast cells; dental pulp cells; gingival cells and human oral mucosa; human vascular endothelium; human cardiac stem cells (cardiomyoblasts)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
1. Department of Basic and Preclinical Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
2. Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: reproductive aging; telomeres; epigenetic clock; human and bovine oocytes; early embryonic development; assisted reproductive technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Genomic analyses have accelerated the identification of relevant biomarkers and extended our understanding of the molecular biology of the mammalian ovary. More specifically, genomic studies have been used to gain new knowledge about the dynamics of ovarian structures like follicles and the corpora lutea, and about pathologies like ovarian cancer or ovarian cysts. Therefore, genomics are currently a useful tool not only for basic research, but are also commonly used in preclinical and clinical studies. It is hoped that high-throughput genomic analyses will enable a more rational and personalized treatment of ovarian disorders. With the help of gene expression profiling, key gene signatures or signaling pathways can be identified to create clinically relevant diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. This Special Issue of Genes on “Genomic Studies in the Mammalian Ovary” will address the expression changes and genomic alterations in the mammalian ovary, including physiological and pathological circumstances of all cell and tissue types. Herein, an overview of recent investigations and critical perspectives on upcoming challenges will be provided.

Dr. Mariusz Skowronski
Dr. Bartosz Kempisty
Dr. Paweł Kordowitzki
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • genomic studies
  • mammalian ovary
  • ovarian follicles
  • corpus luteum
  • ovarian cancer
  • ovarian cysts
  • prognostic biomarkers

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 2911 KiB  
Article
Progesterone Receptor Coregulators as Factors Supporting the Function of the Corpus Luteum in Cows
by Robert Rekawiecki, Karolina Dobrzyn, Jan Kotwica and Magdalena K. Kowalik
Genes 2020, 11(8), 923; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11080923 - 12 Aug 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2824
Abstract
Progesterone receptor (PGR) for its action required connection of the coregulatory proteins, including coactivators and corepressors. The former group exhibits a histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity, while the latter cooperates with histone deacetylase (HDAC). Regulations of the coregulators mRNA and protein and HAT and [...] Read more.
Progesterone receptor (PGR) for its action required connection of the coregulatory proteins, including coactivators and corepressors. The former group exhibits a histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity, while the latter cooperates with histone deacetylase (HDAC). Regulations of the coregulators mRNA and protein and HAT and HDAC activity can have an indirect effect on the PGR function and thus progesterone (P4) action on target cells. The highest mRNA expression levels for the coactivators—histone acetyltransferase p300 (P300), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1)—and nuclear receptor corepressor-2 (NCOR-2) were found in the corpus luteum (CL) on days 6 to 16 of the estrous cycle. The CREB protein level was higher on days 2–10, whereas SRC-1 and NCOR-2 were higher on days 2–5. The activity of HAT and HDAC was higher on days 6–10 of the estrous cycle. All of the coregulators were localized in the nuclei of small and large luteal cells. The mRNA and protein expression levels of the examined coactivators and corepressor changed with the P4 level. Thus, P4 may regulate CL function via the expression of coregulators, which probably affects the activity of the PGR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genomic Studies in the Mammalian Reproductive Tract)
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27 pages, 8282 KiB  
Article
Cortical Granule Distribution and Expression Pattern of Genes Regulating Cellular Component Size, Morphogenesis, and Potential to Differentiation are Related to Oocyte Developmental Competence and Maturational Capacity In Vivo and In Vitro
by Magdalena Kulus, Wiesława Kranc, Michal Jeseta, Patrycja Sujka-Kordowska, Aneta Konwerska, Sylwia Ciesiółka, Piotr Celichowski, Lisa Moncrieff, Ievgeniia Kocherova, Małgorzata Józkowiak, Jakub Kulus, Maria Wieczorkiewicz, Hanna Piotrowska-Kempisty, Mariusz T. Skowroński, Dorota Bukowska, Marie Machatkova, Sarka Hanulakova, Paul Mozdziak, Jędrzej M. Jaśkowski, Bartosz Kempisty and Paweł Antosikadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Genes 2020, 11(7), 815; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11070815 - 17 Jul 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4612
Abstract
Polyspermia is an adverse phenomenon during mammalian fertilization when more than one sperm fuses with a single oocyte. The egg cell is prepared to prevent polyspermia by, among other ways, producing cortical granules (CGs), which are specialized intracellular structures containing enzymes that aim [...] Read more.
Polyspermia is an adverse phenomenon during mammalian fertilization when more than one sperm fuses with a single oocyte. The egg cell is prepared to prevent polyspermia by, among other ways, producing cortical granules (CGs), which are specialized intracellular structures containing enzymes that aim to harden the zona pellucida and block the fusion of subsequent sperm. This work focused on exploring the expression profile of genes that may be associated with cortical reactions, and evaluated the distribution of CGs in immature oocytes and the peripheral density of CGs in mature oocytes. Oocytes were isolated and then processed for in vitro maturation (IVM). Transcriptomic analysis of genes belonging to five ontological groups has been conducted. Six genes showed increased expression after IVM (ARHGEF2, MAP1B, CXCL12, FN1, DAB2, and SOX9), while the majority of genes decreased expression after IVM. Using CG distribution analysis in immature oocytes, movement towards the cortical zone of the oocyte during meiotic competence acquisition was observed. CGs peripheral density decreased with the rise in meiotic competence during the IVM process. The current results reveal important new insights into the in vitro maturation of oocytes. Our results may serve as a basis for further studies to investigate the cortical reaction of oocytes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genomic Studies in the Mammalian Reproductive Tract)
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18 pages, 3826 KiB  
Article
Transcription Analysis of the Chemerin Impact on Gene Expression Profile in the Luteal Cells of Gilts
by Karol G. Makowczenko, Jan P. Jastrzebski, Karol Szeszko, Nina Smolinska, Lukasz Paukszto, Kamil Dobrzyn, Marta Kiezun, Edyta Rytelewska, Barbara Kaminska and Tadeusz Kaminski
Genes 2020, 11(6), 651; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11060651 - 12 Jun 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4057
Abstract
Chemerin is a recently discovered adipokine that participates in the regulation of many physiological and disorder-related processes in mammals, including metabolism, inflammatory reactions, obesity, and reproduction. We investigated how chemerin affects the transcriptome profile of porcine luteal cells. The luteal cells were acquired [...] Read more.
Chemerin is a recently discovered adipokine that participates in the regulation of many physiological and disorder-related processes in mammals, including metabolism, inflammatory reactions, obesity, and reproduction. We investigated how chemerin affects the transcriptome profile of porcine luteal cells. The luteal cells were acquired from mature gilts. After the in vitro culturing with and without chemerin, the total RNAs were isolated and high-throughput sequencing was performed. Obtained datasets were processed using bioinformatic tools. The study revealed 509 differentially expressed genes under the chemerin influence. Their products take part in many processes, important for the functions of the corpus luteum, such as steroids and prostaglandins synthesis, NF-κB and JAK/STAT signal transducing pathways, and apoptosis. The expression of the CASP3, HSD3B7, IL1B, and PTGS2 genes, due to their important role in the physiology of the corpus luteum, was validated using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method. The qPCR confirmed the changes of gene expression. Chemerin in physiological concentrations significantly affects the expression of many genes in luteal cells of pigs, which is likely to result in modification of physiological processes related to reproduction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genomic Studies in the Mammalian Reproductive Tract)
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