Proteomic analysis of pregnancy-related proteins from pig uterus endometrium during pregnancy

Abstract

Many important molecular events associated with implantation and development occur within the female reproductive tract, especially within the uterus endometrium, during pregnancy periods. The endometrium includes the mucosal lining of the uterus, which provides a suitable site for implantation and development of a fertilized egg and fetus. To date, the molecular cascades in the uterus endometrium during pregnancy periods in pigs have not been elucidated fully. In this study, we compared the functional regulated proteins in the endometrium during pregnancy periods with those in non-pregnant conditions and investigated changes in expression patterns during pregnancy (days 40, 70, and 93) using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and western blotting. The functional regulated proteins were identified and discovered from differentially expressed proteins in the uterus endometrium during pregnancy. We discovered 820 protein spots in a proteomic analysis of uterus endometrium tissues with 2-DE gels. We identified 63 of the 98 proteins regulated differentially among non-pregnant and pregnant tissues (matched and unmatched spots). Interestingly, 10 of these 63 proteins are development-, cytoskeleton-and chaperon-related proteins such as transferrin, protein DJ-1, transgelin, galectin-1, septin 2, stathmin 1, cofilin 1, fascin 1, heat shock protein (HSP) 90β and HSP 27. The specific expression patterns of these proteins in the endometrium during pregnancy were confirmed by western blotting. Our results suggest that the expressions of these genes involved in endometrium function and endometrium development from early to late gestation are associated with the regulation of endometrium development for maintaining pregnancy.

Alterations in the Vaginal Microbiome by Maternal Stress Are Associated With Metabolic Reprogramming of the Offspring Gut and Brain

“…As would be expected, the overall vaginal proteomic composition dramatically shifted throughout pregnancy. At E7.5, we found an increased abundance of proteins that function as structural constituents of the cytoskeleton involved in the regulation of endometrium development and maintenance of placental implantation during pregnancy (67). Although maternal stress did not broadly disrupt vaginal proteomic composition, the antimicrobial protein lactoferrin was dramatically reduced after stress and remained low throughout pregnancy.…”

Proteomic analysis of porcine endometrial tissue during peri-implantation period reveals altered protein abundance

“…These efforts, along with global gene expression studies, have tremendously advanced our understanding of porcine pregnancy and endometrial biology. In recent years, while many global gene expression studies in the porcine endometrium have been conducted on differential gene expression during pregnancy [11][12][13][14], there are very few reports regarding global changes in porcine endometrial proteome during pregnancy [6,15]. Kayser et al [6] reported changes in uterine fluid proteome during early porcine pregnancy and some proteins reported by them are common to this study.…”

Proteomes of the Female Genital Tract During the Oestrous Cycle

“…Attached to the cervix, the uterus is layered by an endometrial tissue which is capable of physiological remodeling in response to the oestrous cycle and the presence of the embryo (15). Therefore many studies focused on the activation of the uterus genome during pregnancy (16 -19).…”