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Gene profiling of inflammatory genes in day 18 endometria from pregnant and non‐pregnant mares
Author(s) -
Patterson Amanda L.,
Squires Edward L.,
Hansen Thomas R.,
Bouma Gerrit J.,
Bruemmer Jason E.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.22112
Subject(s) - conceptus , biology , endometrium , ovulation , corpus luteum , microarray , andrology , gene expression profiling , microarray analysis techniques , estrous cycle , embryo , gene , endocrinology , gene expression , pregnancy , medicine , fetus , ovary , hormone , genetics
Maternal recognition of pregnancy is a physiological process that primarily describes endometrial responses to a conceptus. Recognition of a conceptus prevents the release of prostaglandin F 2α , thereby ensuring survival of the corpus luteum and continued progesterone production. Exactly how this occurs in the mare is poorly understood. Because prostaglandin F 2α is a pro‐inflammatory hormone, we hypothesized that differential gene expression in the endometrium at the time of maternal recognition reflects an anti‐inflammatory event leading to decreased prostaglandin F 2α secretion. Mares were inseminated, and endometrial biopsies were recovered from pregnant mares on Day 18 post‐ovulation. In subsequent estrous cycles, mares were not inseminated and Day 18 post‐ovulation endometrial biopsies were collected (non‐pregnant control, matched per individual). Endometrial gene expression profiles were examined by screening an Affymetrix equine GeneChip containing probes specific for genes related to inflammatory processes. Microarray analysis revealed 118 genes that were up‐regulated and 93 genes that were down‐regulated ( P < 0.001) at least 1.5‐fold in the endometrium of pregnant versus non‐pregnant mares. Quantitative, real‐time RT‐PCR confirmed the microarray results for three up‐regulated genes homologous to TSC22D3 , PPAPDC2 , and KLF6 , and three down‐regulated genes homologous to ESR1 , MARCKSL1 , and EPSTI1 ( P < 0.05). It is concluded that the presence of the equine embryo induces differential gene expression in the endometrium of Day 18 pregnant mares, and that these genes are associated with inflammatory processes and pathways involving cellular growth and proliferation. The results from this study provide important new insights into endometrial gene expression in response to early equine pregnancy. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79: 777–784, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.