Molecules and Prostaglandins Related to Embryo Tolerance.

It is generally understood that the entry of semen into the female reproductive tract provokes molecular and cellular changes facilitating conception and pregnancy. We show a broader picture of the participation of prostaglandins in the fertilization, implantation and maintenance of the embryo. A large number of cells and molecules are related to signaling networks, which regulate tolerance to implantation and maintenance of the embryo and fetus. In this work, many of those cells and molecules are analyzed. We focus on platelets, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and group 2 innate lymphoid cells involved in embryo tolerance in order to have a wider view of how prostaglandins participate. The combination of platelets and neutrophil extracellular traps (Nets), uterine innate lymphoid cells (uILC), Treg cells, NK cells, and sex hormones have an important function in immunological tolerance. In both animals and humans, the functions of these cells can be regulated by prostaglandins and soluble factors in seminal plasma to achieve an immunological balance, which maintains fetal-maternal tolerance. Prostaglandins, such as PGI2 and PGE2, play an important role in the suppression of the previously mentioned cells. PGI2 inhibits platelet aggregation, in addition to IL-5 and IL-13 expression in ILC2, and PGE2 inhibits some neutrophil functions, such as chemotaxis and migration processes, leukotriene B4 (LTB4) biosynthesis, ROS production, and the formation of extracellular traps, which could help prevent trophoblast injury and fetal loss. The implications are related to fertility in female when seminal fluid is deposited in the vagina or uterus.

Upregulation of interferon-alpha gene in bovine embryos produced in vitro in response to experimental infection with noncytophatic bovine-viral-diarrhea virus.

In-vitro fertilization is a routine livestock-breeding technique widely used around the world. Several studies have reported the interaction of bovine viral-diarrhea virus (BVDV) with gametes and in-vitro-produced (IVP) bovine embryos. Since, gene expression in BVDV-infected IVP bovine embryos is scarcely addressed. The aim of this work was to evaluate the differential expression of genes involved in immune and inflammatory response. Groups of 20-25 embryos on Day 6 (morula stage) were exposed (infected) or not (control) to an NCP-BVDV strain in SOF medium. After 24 h, embryos that reached expanded blastocyst stage were washed. Total RNA of each embryo group was extracted to determine the transcription levels of 9 specific transcripts related with antiviral and inflammatory response by SYBR Green real time quantitative (RT-qPCR). Culture media and an aliquot of the last embryos wash on Day 7 were analyzed by titration and virus isolation, respectively. A conventional PCR confirmed BVDV presence in IVP embryos. A significantly higher expression of interferon-α was observed in blastocysts exposed to NCP-BVDV compared to the controls (p < 0.05). In this study, the upregulation of INFα and TLR7 genes involved in inflammatory and immune response in BVDV-infected IVP bovine embryos is a new finding in this field. This differential expression suggest that embryonic cells could function in a manner like immune cells by recognizing and responding early to interaction with viral pathogens. These results provide new insights into the action of BVDV on the complex molecular pathways controlling bovine early embryonic development.

New Insights Into the Role of Qa-2 and HLA-G Non-classical MHC-I Complexes in Malignancy.

It is well established that the immune system can identify and destroy neoplastic transformed cells in a process known as immunosurveillance. Most studies have focused on the classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Ia molecules, which are known to play an important role on the presentation of tumor antigens to the immune system in order to activate a response against tumor cells. However, a larger family of non-classical MHC class Ib-related molecules has received less attention. In this mini-review, we discuss the role of class Ib murine Qa-2 and its proposed human HLA-G homolog on immunosurveillance during embryogenesis and cancer. Whereas, both HLA-G and Qa-2 are involved in immune tolerance in pregnancy, the current evidence suggests that they play opposite roles in cancer. HLA-G appears to promote tumor progression while Qa-2 acts as a tumor suppressor awaking the immune system to reject tumor cells, as suggested by studies on different cancer cell models, such as melanoma, lymphoma, lung carcinoma, and our own results in mammary carcinoma.

Regeneración vía embriogénesis somática de una variedad colombiana élite de Theobroma cacao L / Regeneration through somatic embryogenesis of an elite colombian Theobroma cacao L variety

El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar dos protocolos de propagación vía embriogénesis somática a partir de explantes florales en dos clones élite BIOB e ICS95 de Theobroma cacao L. Se obtuvo un 50 y 32% de callo embriogénico en ICS95 y BIOB respectivamente con el protocolo de Fontanel et al. (2002), modificado después de un periodo de cultivo de tres meses. Los embriones pasaron por fases que se correspondieron con medios de cultivo diferenciales: Inducción, Formación, Maduración y Mantenimiento. Para la embriogénesis somática secundaria se obtuvo un 23% de embriones a partir de embriones somáticos primarios en un medio, conteniendo 1mg/L de 2,4,5 T (2,4,5 Triclorofenoxiacético). Se logró, además, desarrollar enraizamiento adventicio aplicando pulsos de IBA (Ácido Indol Butírico) a 0.5mg/L y 0.5g/L durante un minuto. Las plantas enraizadas se llevaron a una mezcla de tierra: arena (1:1) para su adaptación ex vitro, obteniéndose un 66% de plantas aclimatadas. Los estudios histológicos mostraron diferentes características típicas del desarrollo embriogénico. Este es el primer reporte en el que se logra de manera exitosa la conversión hasta plántula (68%) y la adaptación ex vitro de una variedad colombiana de cacao vía embriogénesis somática primaria y secundaria.

In this research we evaluate two protocols of propagation via somatic embryogenesis from floral explants using two elite clones BIOB and ICS95 of Theobroma cacao L. We obtained 50 and 32% of embryogenic callus on ICS95 and BIOB respectively with Fontanel et al., (2002) protocol modified after three months of culture. The embryos went through four phases; Induction, Formation, Maduration and Mantenimiento which corresponded each one with different media culture. For secondary somatic embryogenesis we obtained 23% of embryos from primary somatic embryos in a medium with 1mg/L of 2,4,5 T (2,4,5 Triclorofenoxiacetic). Also we obtained plants that developed new roots applying pulses with IBA (Indol Butiric Acid) 0.5mg/L and 0.5g/L for a minute. The developed plants were moved to a mix of potting soil and sand (1:1) for their ex vitro adaptation, getting 66% of acclimatized plants. The histological analysis showed the typical characteristics of the embryogenic development. This is the first report where it is achieved the successful conversion to plantlets (68%) and ex vitro adaptation of a colombian cocoa variety via primary and secondary embryogenesis.

Efecto de la densidad de inóculo en la multiplicación y diferenciación de suspensiones celulares embriogénicas en el cultivar híbrido de banano FHIA-18 (Musa spp AAAB) / The effect of inoculum density on embryogenic cell suspension proliferation and differentiation in banana hybrid cultivar FHIA-18 (Musa spp AAAB)

La obtención de un sistema de regeneración eficiente por medio de la embriogénesis somática en las Musaceas, es hoy una gran herramienta ante los enormes problemas que presenta este género con el ataque de enfermedades como la sigatoka negra. El objetivo del trabajo es determinar las densidades celulares adecuadas para las etapas de multiplicación de suspensiones celulares embriogénicas y formación de los embriones somáticos en medios de cultivo líquidos. Como material vegetal se usaron brotes inmaduros de la inflorescencia masculina de Musa AAAB, cv. FHIA-18. Los resultados demostraron que es posible el establecimiento de suspensiones celulares homogéneas a partir de embriones somáticos en etapa globular, y obtener los mayores volúmenes de biomasa celular al multiplicar dichas suspensionescon una densidad del 3% del volumen de células sedimentadas. A partir del decimoquinto día en el medio de cultivo de formación de embriones comenzaron a formarse estructuras compuestas por proembriones y embriones somáticos en etapa globular; entre las densidades estudiadas los mejores resultados se obtuvieron con 100 mgMF en la cual se formaron 1 871 ES.l-1 con un peso de 248 mgMF.l-1.

An extremely useful tool for dealing with the enormous problems involved in banana growing (Musaceae) caused by the attack of diseases such as black Sigatoka can be obtained today by ensuring an efficient regeneobration system via somatic embryogenesis. The work was aimed at defining appropriate cell densities for embryogenic cell suspension growth stages and somatic embryo formation in liquid culture medium. Immature male inflorescence buds from Musa AAAB cf FHIA-18 were used as vegetal material. The results showed that it is possible to establish homogeneous cell suspensions from somatic embryos in globular stage andobtain greater cell biomass volume by multiplying the suspension with 3% sedimented cell volume (density).Embryos began to form structures in culture medium consisting of globular stage somatic proembryos and embryos from the fifteenth day onwards. The best results amongst the densities studied were obtained with 100 mgMF, in which 1,871 ES.l -1 were formed weighing 248 mgMF.l-1.

Antiacrosin antibodies and infertility. II. Gene immunization with human proacrosin to assess the effect of immunity toward proacrosin/acrosin upon protein activities and animal fertility.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of antiacrosin antibodies upon proacrosin/acrosin activities and animal fertility. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Basic research laboratory. PATIENT(S): A gene immunization (GI) model was developed; mice were injected with the sequence encoding human proacrosin (h-proacrosin), cloned in an expression vector. INTERVENTION(S): Subcloning of h-proacrosin in a eukaryotic expression vector (promoter, CMV; leader sequence, alpha-1 antitrypsin; pSF2-Acro); GI of female mice with this plasmid. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The following parameters were evaluated: [1] adequate conditions for GI protocols, [2] humoral response to GI with pSF2-Acro, [3] protein regions recognized by the antibodies, and [4] effect of antibodies upon proacrosin/acrosin-ZPA binding and amidase activity, and animal fertility. RESULT(S): Conditions of female mice GI with the proacrosin sequence were established (plasmid purification with anion exchange chromatography and 40 microg of pSF2-Acro per dose) to trigger an immune response, reaching maximum levels at week 9 after the first injection. Antibodies produced by GI recognized human and mouse sperm acrosin systems, inhibited human proacrosin/acrosin interaction with recombinant human ZPA and protease activity, and negatively affected mouse IVF and early embryonic development. In addition, mice immunized with SF2-Acro exhibited a significantly lower size of fetuses. CONCLUSION(S): Antiacrosin antibodies developed by using GI inhibit human proacrosin/acrosin activities and impair mouse fertility.