Active kisspeptin DNA vaccines oral immunization disrupt mRNA hormone receptors expression in ram lambs.

To evaluate the efficacy of oral immunization with active kisspeptin DNA vaccine on the expression of hormone receptor mRNA. For this study, ten 56-day-old Hu breed ram lambs were randomly assigned to the treatment and control groups (n = 5). Treatment Experimental group received C500/pKS-asd and the control group received C500/pVAX-asd (aspartate-ß semialdehyde dehydrogenase orally on days 0, 28, and 56, and blood samples were taken at each immunization interval (14-day) and tissues samples were collected at the end of the experimental period (day 98). The collected samples were stored in the refrigerator at -20 °C and liquid nitrogen, respectively, for laboratory examination. Total RNA was extracted from samples using TRIzol reagent and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) was used to quantify the levels of KISS1, G protein-coupled receptor-54 (Kiss1r), and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) mRNA in the hypothalamus. Levels of luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) and luteinizing hormone beta (LHß) mRNA, and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and follicle-stimulating hormone beta (FSHß) mRNA in the testes and pituitary were analyzed, respectively. Further, gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) mRNA expression level in the pituitary was measured. Moreover, the Kiss1r concentration level in the blood was measured using an indirect ELISA. The concentration of Kiss1r in the blood was lower in the treatment group than in the control group (p < 0.05). The levels of testicular FSHR and LHR mRNA were significantly lower in the treatment group (p < 0.05) when compared to the control group. Furthermore, the treatment group's levels of hypothalamic KISS1, Kiss1r, and GnRH mRNA were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than the controls. LH, FSH, and GnRHR mRNA expression in the pituitary were also significantly lower in the treatment group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). These findings imply that oral immunization with active kisspeptin DNA vaccine suppresses hormone receptor mRNA expression in the ram lambs.

Reversibility and safety of KISS1 metastasis suppressor gene vaccine in immunocastration of ram lambs.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the reversibility and safety of KISS1 metastasis suppressor (KISS1) gene vaccine in immunocastration. METHODS: Six eight-week old ram lambs were randomly divided into vaccinated and control groups. The vaccine (1 mg/ram lamb) was injected at weeks 0, 3, and 6 of the study. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein before primary immunization and at weeks 2, 4, 6, 10, 14, 22, and 30 after primary immunization. All ram lambs were slaughtered at 38 weeks of age, and samples were collected. RESULTS: The specific anti-KISS1 antibody titers in vaccinated animals were significantly higher and the serum testosterone level was significantly lower than those in the control groups from week 4 to 14 after primary immunization (p<0.05). No significant difference was observed at weeks 22 and 30 after the primary immunization. Similar results were also found for scrotal circumference, testicular weight, length, breadth, and spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules in week 30 after primary immunization. KS (KISS1-hepatitis B surface antigen S) fusion fragment of KISS1 gene vaccine was not detected in host cell genomic DNA of 9 tissues of the vaccinated ram lambs by polymerase chain reaction. CONCLUSION: The effects of KISS1 gene vaccine in immunocastration were reversible and no integration events were recorded.

Kisspeptin recombinant oral vaccine: A master gene vaccine inhibiting the reproductive physiology and behavior of ram lambs.

The KISS1 gene product, kisspeptin, stimulates gonadotrophic steroid hormone (GNRH) neuronal signaling through the G-protein coupled receptor, kiss1r. Disturbance of this signaling pathway causes hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in mammals. As part of this cutting-edge research project, we analyzed the efficacy of an oral kisspeptin recombinant vaccine on the reproductive physiology and behavior of ram lambs. Ten 56-day old ram lambs were randomly divided into treatment and control groups to receive the experimental recombinant vaccines, C500/pKS-asd or C500/pVAX-asd (aspartate-ß semialdehyde dehydrogenase), respectively. The vaccines were orally administered at day 0, 28 and 56 and blood samples were taken and scrotal circumference data recorded at 14-day intervals (days 0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 84). At the end of the experimental period, day 98, sexual behaviors were assessed, scrotal circumferences were measured, and blood samples were collected. Testicular samples were also collected after the animals were sacrificed. Anti-kisspeptin antibody and testosterone serum levels were measured by indirect ELISA. Results demonstrated that the levels of anti-kisspeptin antibodies were significantly higher in the treatment group compared to controls (P<0.05, P<0.01 and P<0.001). However, serum testosterone levels were lower in the treatment group (P<0.01). Interestingly, vaccine administration contributed to a significant reduction (P<0.01) in sexual behavior propensity. These results suggest that the kisspeptin recombinant oral vaccine regulates and inhibits the reproductive physiology and behavior of ram lambs.

Immunization against Kisspeptin-54 perturb hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular signaling pathway in ram lambs.

Kisspeptin, a peptide product of KISS1 gene, recently identified as essential upstream gatekeeper in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. This study was designed to investigate the effect of immunization against kisspeptin-54 on hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular signaling pathway. A total of ten intact 56-days-old ram lambs were used and randomized into the treatment and control groups, which were, respectively immunized by kisspeptin-54 based vaccine and the empty plasmid via intramuscular route. We employed indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative real-time PCR to characterize the difference in serum kisspeptin, luteinizing hormone, testosterone hormone concentration and mRNA expression of reproductive-related genes in HPG axis across kisspeptin-54 immunized and control ram lambs. Serum kisspeptin, luteinizing hormone and testosterone concentration in the treatment group was lower (p < 0.05) than that of the control group. Compared with the control group, the mRNA expression of the hypothalamic androgen receptor (AR), KISS1, G protein-coupled receptor (GPR54) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was altered in the immunized group (p < 0.05). Moreover, mRNA expression of pituitary luteinizing hormone beta (LHß), follicle stimulating hormone beta (FSHß), and GnRH receptor as well as, testicular LH receptor and FSH receptor, were remarkably lower (P < 0.05) in the treatment group. We concluded that immunization against kisspeptin-54 reduced serum kisspeptin levels thereby, the normal hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular signaling pathway disrupted. This data provides a great insight for the use of kisspeptin to regulate reproduction.

Maximum-likelihood approaches reveal signatures of positive selection in BMP15 and GDF9 genes modulating ovarian function in mammalian female fertility.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and the growth factors (GDFs) play an important role in ovarian folliculogenesis and essential regulator of processes of numerous granulosa cells. BMP15 gene variations linked to various ovarian phenotypic consequences subject to the species, from infertility to improved prolificacy in sheep, primary ovarian insufficiency in women or associated with minor subfertility in mouse. To study the evolving role of BMP15 and GDF9, a phylogenetic analysis was performed. To find out the candidate gene associated with prolificacy in mammals, the nucleotide sequence of BMP15 and GDF9 genes was recognized under positive selection in various mammalian species. Maximum-likelihood approaches used on BMP15 and GDF9 genes exhibited a robust divergence and a prompted evolution as compared to other TGFß family members. Furthermore, among 32 mammalian species, we identified positive selection signals in the hominidae clade resulting to 132D, 147E, 163Y, 191W, and 236P codon sites of BMP15 and 162F, 188K, 206R, 240A, 244L, 246H, 248S, 251D, 253L, 254F and other codon sites of GDF9. The positively selected amino acid sites such as Alanine, Lucien, Arginine, and lysine are important for signaling. In conclusion, this study evidences that GDF9 and BMP15 genes have rapid evolution than other TGFß family members and was subjected to positive selection in the mammalian clade. Selected sites under the positive selection are of remarkable significance for the particular functioning of the protein and consequently for female fertility.

KISS1 can be used as a novel target for developing a DNA immunocastration vaccine in ram lambs.

KISS1 gene-encoding kisspeptins are critical for the onset of puberty and control of adult fertility. This study investigated whether KISS1 can be used as a novel target for immunocastration. Human KISS1 was fused with the HBsAg-S gene for constructing an antibiotic-free recombinant plasmid pKS-asd that coded for 31.168 kDa target fusion protein. Six male Hu sheep lambs were divided into two equal groups, treatment and control. The vaccine (1mg/ram lamb) prepared in saline solution was injected into lambs at weeks 0, 3 and 6 of the experiment, respectively. Vaccine efficacy was evaluated in terms of KISS1-specific IgG antibody response, serum testosterone levels, scrotal circumference, testicular weight, length and breadth, extent of testicular tissue damage, and sexual behaviour changes. The specific anti-KISS1 antibody titre in vaccinated animals was significantly higher than that in controls (p<0.05). In addition, vaccinated animals showed lower serum testosterone level, testicular weight and length and smaller scrotal circumference than those in controls (p<0.05). Spermatogenesis of seminiferous tubules in vaccinated animals was suppressed; sexual behaviours in vaccinated animals were significantly lower (p<0.05) than those in controls. In conclusion, the immunization against KISS1 in this DNA vaccine induced a strong antibody response and resulted in the suppression of gonadal function and sexual behaviour in animals, demonstrating that KISS1 can be used as a novel target for developing a DNA immunocastration vaccine.