Seminal fluid factors regulate activin A and follistatin synthesis in female cervical epithelial cells

Sharkey, David J.; Schjenken, John E.; Mottershead, David G.; Robertson, Sarah A.

doi:10.1016/j.mce.2015.09.022

Cited by 14 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…Such results reinforce previous findings in cervical cells [48] and uterus [24] where components of the SF play central roles, including peptides, proteins and even microRNAs [49]. Sperm-free SP has been reported as being necessary to increase the expression of genes mainly related to cytokine synthesis in the mouse uterus [24].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Conserved gene expression in sperm reservoirs between birds and mammals in response to mating

et al. 2017

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BackgroundSpermatozoa are stored in the oviductal functional sperm reservoir in animals with internal fertilization, including zoologically distant classes such as pigs or poultry. They are held fertile in the reservoir for times ranging from a couple of days (in pigs), to several weeks (in chickens), before they are gradually released to fertilize the newly ovulated eggs. It is currently unknown whether females from these species share conserved mechanisms to tolerate such a lengthy presence of immunologically-foreign spermatozoa. Therefore, global gene expression was assessed using cDNA microarrays on tissue collected from the avian utero-vaginal junction (UVJ), and the porcine utero-tubal junction (UTJ) to determine expression changes after mating (entire semen deposition) or in vivo cloacal/cervical infusion of sperm-free seminal fluid (SF)/seminal plasma (SP).ResultsIn chickens, mating changed the expression of 303 genes and SF-infusion changed the expression of 931 genes, as compared to controls, with 68 genes being common to both treatments. In pigs, mating or SP-infusion changed the expressions of 1,722 and 1,148 genes, respectively, as compared to controls, while 592 genes were common to both treatments. The differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched for GO categories related to immune system functions (35.72-fold enrichment). The top 200 differentially expressed genes of each treatment in each animal class were analysed for gene ontology. In both pig and chicken, an excess of genes affecting local immune defence were activated, though frequently these were down-regulated. Similar genes were found in both the chicken and pig, either involved in pH-regulation (SLC16A2, SLC4A9, SLC13A1, SLC35F1, ATP8B3, ATP13A3) or immune-modulation (IFIT5, IFI16, MMP27, ADAMTS3, MMP3, MMP12).ConclusionDespite being phylogenetically distant, chicken and pig appear to share some gene functions for the preservation of viable spermatozoa in the female reservoirs.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-3488-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Conserved gene expression in sperm reservoirs between birds and mammals in response to mating

et al. 2017

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“…Despite this, an analysis of the key biological pathways potentially targeted by differentially accumulating miRNAs revealed a majority centred on regulation of cellular growth and proliferation, cellular development, and cell death and survival, as might be expected of molecules involved in the maintenance of epididymal homeostasis. Given that epididymosomes also feature among the constituents of seminal fluid that are delivered to the female tract at the time of ejaculation, it must also be considered that they could exert similar regulatory control within the female reproductive with potential implications for conditioning of the periconceptual environment5051.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterisation of mouse epididymosomes reveals a complex profile of microRNAs and a potential mechanism for modification of the sperm epigenome

Reilly

McLaughlin

Stanger³

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

196

234

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Recent evidence has shown that the sperm epigenome is vulnerable to dynamic modifications arising from a variety of paternal environment exposures and that this legacy can serve as an important determinant of intergenerational inheritance. It has been postulated that such exchange is communicated to maturing spermatozoa via the transfer of small non-protein-coding RNAs (sRNAs) in a mechanism mediated by epididymosomes; small membrane bound vesicles released by the soma of the male reproductive tract (epididymis). Here we confirm that mouse epididymosomes encapsulate an impressive cargo of >350 microRNAs (miRNAs), a developmentally important sRNA class, the majority (~60%) of which are also represented by the miRNA signature of spermatozoa. This includes >50 miRNAs that were found exclusively in epididymal sperm and epididymosomes, but not in the surrounding soma. We also documented substantial changes in the epididymosome miRNA cargo, including significant fold changes in almost half of the miRNAs along the length of the epididymis. Finally, we provide the first direct evidence for the transfer of several prominent miRNA species between mouse epididymosomes and spermatozoa to afford novel insight into a mechanism of intercellular communication by which the sRNA payload of sperm can be selectively modified during their post-testicular maturation.

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“…Its abundance is not related to semen quality or male fertility status, and an immune regulatory role has been proposed (68). The significance of these major seminal fluid signaling agents is confirmed by reverse bioinformatics with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) of microarray data from in vivo cervical biopsies and in vitro experiments (67). These predict that, as in mice ( 7), TGFB and TLR4 signaling pathways control the majority of differentially regulated female genes.…”

Section: Identity Of Key Signaling Agents In Human Seminal Fluidmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…TGFB is also implicated in eliciting similar changes in gene expression in endometrial epithelial cells in vitro (29). Additional TGFB superfamily members including activin A and follistatin are also present in human seminal fluid (61), and these may have a role in resolving the post-coital cervical inflammatory response (67). GDF15 is a divergent TGFB protein present in seminal fluid in microgram concentrations.…”

Section: Identity Of Key Signaling Agents In Human Seminal Fluidmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seminal fluid and fertility in women

Robertson

Sharkey

2016

Fertility and Sterility

Self Cite

179

126

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Seminal fluid factors regulate activin A and follistatin synthesis in female cervical epithelial cells

Cited by 14 publications

References 71 publications

Conserved gene expression in sperm reservoirs between birds and mammals in response to mating

Conserved gene expression in sperm reservoirs between birds and mammals in response to mating

Characterisation of mouse epididymosomes reveals a complex profile of microRNAs and a potential mechanism for modification of the sperm epigenome

Seminal fluid and fertility in women

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