title: Regulating life or death: potential role of microRNA in rescue of the corpus luteum.
abstract: The role of miRNA in tissue biology has added a new level of understanding of gene regulation and function. The corpus luteum (CL) is a transitory endocrine gland; the dynamic nature of the CL makes it a candidate for regulation by miRNA. Rescue of the CL from luteolysis is essential for the maintenance of pregnancy in all eutherian mammals. Using next generation sequencing, we profiled miRNA expression in the bovine CL during maternal recognition of pregnancy. We identified 590 luteal miRNA, of which 544 were known and 46 were novel miRNAs. Fifteen (including 3 novel) miRNAs were differentially expressed between CL of pregnant vs. cyclic animals. Target analysis of the differentially expressed miRNA resulted in genes involved in regulating apoptosis and immune response, providing evidence that miRNAs regulate the intracellular pathways that lead to either luteal regression or survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Center for Reproductive Biology and Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
authors.forename: Samar W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Maalouf
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Center for Reproductive Biology and Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
authors.forename: Wan-Sheng
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
authors.forename: Istvan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Center for Reproductive Biology and Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States. Electronic address: jlp36@psu.edu.
authors.forename: Joy L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pate
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D002417:Cattle; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D011374:Progesterone
keywords: Cattle; Corpus luteum; High-throughput sequencing; Maternal recognition of pregnancy; MicroRNA