Transcriptomic Analysis of Porcine Endometrium during Implantation after In Vitro Stimulation by Adiponectin

Abstract

Comprehensive understanding of the regulatory mechanism of the implantation process in pigs is crucial for reproductive success. The endometrium plays an important role in regulating the establishment and maintenance of gestation. The goal of the current study was to determine the effect of adiponectin on the global expression pattern of genes and relationships among differentially expressed genes (DE-genes) in the porcine endometrium during implantation using microarrays. Diverse transcriptome analyses including gene ontology (GO), biological pathway, networks, and DE-gene analyses were performed. Adiponectin altered the expression of 1286 genes with fold-change (FC) values greater than 1.2 (p < 0.05). The expression of 560 genes were upregulated and 726 downregulated in the endometrium treated with adiponectin. Thirteen genes were selected for real-time PCR validation of differential expression based on a known role in metabolism, steroid and prostaglandin synthesis, interleukin and growth factor action, and embryo implantation. Functional analysis of the relationship between DE-genes indicated that adiponectin interacts with genes that are involved in the processes of cell proliferation, programmed cell death, steroid and prostaglandin synthesis/metabolism, cytokine production, and cell adhesion that are critical for reproductive success. The presented results suggest that adiponectin signalling may play a key role in the implantation of pig.

Mechanisms of Adiponectin Action

“…Smolinska et al report a research article describing a comparative transcriptomic study performed in control and adiponectin-treated endometrial tissues isolated from 15- to 16-day-pregnant pigs. The findings evidence that adiponectin affects processes important for reproductive success, such as cell proliferation, cell adhesion, and synthesis of steroids, prostaglandins, and cytokines [11]. The anti-atherogenic role of adiponectin has been widely recognized.…”

Identification of Differentially Expressed Gene Transcripts in Porcine Endometrium during Early Stages of Pregnancy

“…Moreover, adiponectin significantly stimulated proliferation and suppressed apoptosis of porcine uterine luminal epithelial cells and would enhance uterine receptivity for embryo implantation. Study of Smolinska et al 2019 [63] confirmed, that adiponectin-stimulated proliferation is related to activation of the PI3 K.…”

Orexin B affects the transcriptome of incubated in vitro porcine endometrial explants from the early‐implantation period

“…Our previous research also demonstrated that adiponectin modulates the expression of genes encoding the secretion of the key steroidogenic enzymes and steroid hormones during early pregnancy. The obtained data suggest that adiponectin may influence the expression of genes that are directly or indirectly implicated in the regulation of uterine function during early gestation (Smolinska et al., 2016; Smolinska et al, 2019). The modulatory effect of OXB on the expression of ADIPOQ could point to the concurrent activity of both hormones in the regulation of maternal metabolism, apoptotic processes and immune system activity during the implantation period.…”