title: FOXL2 is regulated during the bovine estrous cycle and its expression in the endometrium is independent of conceptus-derived interferon tau.
abstract: FOXL2, a winged-helix/forkhead domain transcription factor, is a key gene involved in the differentiation and biological functions of the ovary. In a recent transcriptomic analysis, we found that FOXL2 expression in bovine caruncular endometrium was different from that in intercaruncular endometrium. In order to gain new insights into FOXL2 in this tissue, we determined the expression of this transcription factor during the estrous cycle and the establishment of pregnancy in cattle. The endometrial expression of FOXL2 did not vary during maternal recognition of pregnancy (Days 16-20). Using an in vivo bovine model and primary cell cultures, we showed that FOXL2 was not an interferon-tau target gene. Both FOXL2 transcript and protein were expressed from Day 5 to Day 20 of the estrous cycle, and their levels showed a significant increase during the luteolytic phase. A 2-day progesterone supplementation in heifers led to a clear down-regulation of FOXL2 protein levels, suggesting the negative impact of progesterone on FOXL2 expression. Immunohistochemistry data revealed the localization of FOXL2 in endometrial stromal and glandular cells. FOXL2 subcellular distribution was shown to be nuclear in endometrial samples collected during the luteolytic period, while it was not detected in nuclei during the luteal phase and at implantation. Collectively, our findings provide the first evidence that FOXL2 is involved in the regulation of endometrial tissue physiology.
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eozenou
authors.forename: Anaïs
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitorino Carvalho
authors.forename: Anaïs Vitorino
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Niamh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Forde
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giraud-Delville
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gall
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lonergan
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Auguste
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Charpigny
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: Maëlle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pannetier
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sandra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D030762:Estrous Cycle; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C020947:interferon tau; D011374:Progesterone