Dysregulation in Multiple Transcriptomic Endometrial Pathways Is Associated with Recurrent Implantation Failure and Recurrent Early Pregnancy Loss.

Overlapping disease aetiologies associated with multiple altered biological processes have been identified that change the endometrial function leading to recurrent implantation failure (RIF) and recurrent early pregnancy loss (REPL). We aimed to provide a detailed insight into the nature of the biological malfunction and related pathways of differentially expressed genes in RIF and REPL. Endometrial biopsies were obtained from 9 women experiencing RIF, REPL and control groups. Affymetrix microarray analysis was performed to measure the gene expression level of the endometrial biopsies. Unsupervised clustering of endometrial samples shows scattered distribution of gene expression between the RIF, REPL and control groups. 2556 and 1174 genes (p value < 0.05, Fold change > 1.2) were significantly altered in the endometria of RIF and REPL patients' group, respectively compared to the control group. Downregulation in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in RIF and REPL including ribosome and oxidative phosphorylation pathways. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed ribosomes and mitochondria inner membrane as the most significantly downregulated cellular component (CC) affected in RIF and REPL. Determination of the dysregulated genes and related biological pathways in RIF and REPL will be key in understanding their molecular pathology and of major importance in addressing diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment issues

The battle of the sexes starts in the oviduct: modulation of oviductal transcriptome by X and Y-bearing spermatozoa.

BACKGROUND: Sex allocation of offspring in mammals is usually considered as a matter of chance, being dependent on whether an X- or a Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoon reaches the oocyte first. Here we investigated the alternative possibility, namely that the oviducts can recognise X- and Y- spermatozoa, and may thus be able to bias the offspring sex ratio. RESULTS: By introducing X- or Y-sperm populations into the two separate oviducts of single female pigs using bilateral laparoscopic insemination we found that the spermatozoa did indeed elicit sex-specific transcriptomic responses. Microarray analysis revealed that 501 were consistently altered (P-value < 0.05) in the oviduct in the presence of Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa compared to the presence of X-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa. From these 501 transcripts, 271 transcripts (54.1%) were down-regulated and 230 transcripts (45.9%) were up-regulated when the Y- chromosome-bearing spermatozoa was present in the oviduct. Our data showed that local immune responses specific to each sperm type were elicited within the oviduct. In addition, either type of spermatozoa elicits sex-specific signal transduction signalling by oviductal cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the oviduct functions as a biological sensor that screens the spermatozoon, and then responds by modifying the oviductal environment. We hypothesize that there might exist a gender biasing mechanism controlled by the female.

Analysis of the cytosolic proteome in a cell culture model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis reveals alterations to the proteasome, antioxidant defenses, and nitric oxide synthetic pathways.

Injury to motor neurons associated with mutant Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1)-related familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) results from a toxic gain-of-function of the enzyme. The mechanisms by which alterations to SOD1 elicit neuronal death remain uncertain despite intensive research effort. Analysis of the cellular proteins that are differentially expressed in the presence of mutant SOD1 represents a novel approach to investigate further this toxic gain-of-function. By using the motor neuron-like cell line NSC34 stably transfected with wild-type, G93A, or G37R mutant human SOD1, we investigated the effects of mutant human SOD1 on protein expression using proteomic approaches. Seven up-regulated proteins were identified as argininosuccinate synthase, argininosuccinate lyase, neuronal nitric-oxide synthase, RNA-binding motif protein 3, peroxiredoxin I, proteasome subunit beta 5 (X), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) Alpha 2. Seven down-regulated proteins were identified as GST Mu 1, GST Mu 2, GST Mu 5, a hypothetical GST Mu, GST Pi B, leukotriene B(4) 12-hydroxydehydrogenase, and proteasome subunit beta5i (LMP7). GST assays demonstrated a significant reduction in the total GST activity of cells expressing mutant human SOD1. Proteasome assays demonstrated significant reductions in chymotrypsin-like, trypsin-like, and post-glutamylhydrolase proteasome activities. Laser capture microdissection of spinal cord motor neurons from human FALS cases, in conjunction with reverse transcriptase-PCR, demonstrated decreased levels of mRNA encoding GST Mu 1, leukotriene B(4) 12-hydroxydehydrogenase, and LMP7. These combined approaches provide further evidence for involvement of alterations in antioxidant defenses, proteasome function, and nitric oxide metabolism in the pathophysiology of FALS.