title: Altered endometrial immune gene expression in beef heifers with retarded embryos.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to compare endometrial gene expression profiles in a group of beef heifers yielding viable or retarded embryos on Day 7 after oestrus as a means of potentially explaining differences in embryo survival rates. Heifers were classified as either: (1) viable, when the embryo collected on Day 7 after oestrus was at the correct developmental stage (i.e. morula/early blastocyst); or (2) retarded, when the embryo was arrested at the 2-16-cell stage. The focus of the present study was on genes that were associated with either the pro- or anti-inflammatory immune response. Endometrial gene expression was determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Expression of the β-defensin (DEFB1), interferon (IFN)-α (IFNA), IFN-γ (IFNG), interleukin (IL)-6 (IL6), IL-10 (IL10), forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) and natural cytotoxicity triggering receptor 1 (NCR1) genes was lower in endometria from viable than retarded heifers. Expression of the nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells 1 (NKFB1), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β (TGFB), IFN-γ-inducible protein 16 (IFI16) and IL-21 (IL21) genes was higher in viable than retarded heifers. We propose that small disturbances in the expression of immune genes in the endometrium on Day 7 after oestrus can have detrimental effects on embryo survival.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. marijke.beltman@ucd.ie
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Beltman
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Forde
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lonergan
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Crowe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020964:Embryo Loss / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000662:veterinary; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary; D007494:Ireland; D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000662:veterinary; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023083:beta-Defensins