Galectin-1 induces gene and protein expression related to maternal-conceptus immune tolerance in bovine endometrium

Abstract

Conceptus secretory factors include galectins, a family of carbohydrate binding proteins that elicit cell adhesion and immune suppression by interacting with intracellular and extracellular glycans. In rodents, galectin-1 (LGALS1) promotes maternal-fetal immune tolerance in the decidua through expansion of tolerogenic CD11c+ dendritic cells, increased anti-inflammatory IL-10, and activation of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg). This study characterized galectin expression in early ruminant conceptuses and endometrium. We also tested the effect of recombinant bovine LGALS1 (rbLGALS1) and progesterone (P4) on endometrial expression of genes and protein related to maternal-fetal immune tolerance in cattle. Elongating bovine and ovine conceptuses expressed several galectins, particularly, LGALS1, LGALS3 and LGALS8. Within bovine endometrium, expression of LGALS3, LGALS7 and LGALS9 was greater on Day 16 of pregnancy compared to the estrous cycle. Within ovine endometrium, LGALS7 was greater during pregnancy compared to the estrous cycle and endometrium of pregnant sheep tended to have greater LGALS9 and LGALS15. Expression of endometrial LGALS4 was less during pregnancy in sheep. Treating bovine endometrium with rbLGALS1 increased endometrial expression of CD11c, IL-10 and FOXP3, within 24 h. Specifically, within caruncular endometrium, both rbLGALS1 and P4 increased FOXP3, suggesting that both ligands may promote Treg expansion. Using IHC, FOXP3+ cells with a leukocyte phenotype were localized to the bovine uterine stratum compactum near the uterine surface and increased in response to rbLGALS1. We hypothesize that galectins have important functions during establishment of pregnancy in ruminants and bovine conceptus LGALS1 and luteal P4 confer mechanisms of maternal-conceptus immune tolerance in cattle.

Dynamic regulation of the transcriptome and proteome of the equine embryo during maternal recognition of pregnancy

“…Wilsher and others proposed a protective role of LGALS1 expressed in the equine trophoblast from the maternal immune system 93 . This is also supported by a recent study in cattle where conceptus LGALS1 has been suggested to confer maternal‐conceptus immune tolerance 94 …”

“… 93 This is also supported by a recent study in cattle where conceptus LGALS1 has been suggested to confer maternal‐conceptus immune tolerance. 94 …”

“…93 This is also supported by a recent study in cattle where conceptus LGALS1 has been suggested to confer maternal-conceptus immune tolerance. 94 The integration of the expression patterns of potential upstream regulators for DEGs identified in the endometrial LE during days 10-13 of pregnancy (EGF, IFNG, IGF1, IL1B, IL6, TGFB, TNF, VEGF) 23 in embryo, endometrium, and uEVs indicated an effect of endometrialderived EGF on the embryo and endometrial LE. The observed expression of IGF1 did not support its role as important conceptus-derived factor.…”

Biosensor capability of the endometrium is mediated in part, by altered miRNA cargo from conceptus-derived extracellular vesicles

“…In order to reduce this possibility, we have accurately characterized EVs according to current ISEV guidance (26). Moreover, previous work has sown that conceptus-derived proteins do have a functional effect on the endometrium (4, 11, 27), demonstrating that there are functional roles for these proteins identified in conceptus-conditioned medium (CCM). The differences observed are therefore due to differences in composition of the EVs themselves as no changes in size, concentration, or indeed markers were observed in EVs from different source conceptuses.…”

Reference gene selection in bovine caruncular epithelial cells under pregnancy-associated hormones exposure

“…While studying maternal-conceptus immune tolerance in bovine endometrium Chaney et al assayed a set of eight potential reference genes in terms of their expression stability 22 . For caruncular tissues treated with either progesterone (P4), recombinant bovine galectin-1 (rbLGALS1) or their combination, ring finger protein 11 gene ( RNF11 ) and H3 histone family member 3A gene ( H3F3A ) were chosen as internal controls.…”