title: The Equine Embryo Influences Immune-Related Gene Expression in the Oviduct.
abstract: Although the equine oviduct clearly affects early embryo development and the selective transport of equine embryos through the oviduct indicates a reciprocal interaction, the influence of the embryo on gene expression in the oviduct remains to be determined in the horse. The aim of this study was to examine this by means of RNA sequencing. Four days after ovulation, epithelial cells ipsilateral and contralateral to the ovulation side from five cyclic and five pregnant mares were collected from the oviduct. RNA was extracted, samples were sequenced, and data analysis was performed to determine differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (P value ≤0.05 and absolute fold change ≥2) and to provide functional interpretation. A total of 10 743 transcripts were identified and 253 genes were found to be upregulated and 108 to be downregulated in the pregnant ipsilateral oviduct when compared to the cyclic ipsilateral oviduct. Comparison of the ipsilateral and the contralateral oviduct indicated 164 DEGs in pregnant mares and 77 DEGs in cyclic mares. Enriched functional categories were detected only in the comparison of pregnant and cyclic ipsilateral oviducts and showed that the equine embryo affects the expression of immune response-related genes in the oviduct, with marked upregulation of interferon-associated genes. This research represents the foundation for further assessment of the role of specific genes in the early embryo-maternal dialogue of the horse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smits
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dieter I M
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: De Coninck
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van Nieuwerburgh
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Govaere
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Poucke
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peelman
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deforce
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium Ann.Vansoom@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Soom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006736:Horses; D010057:Oviducts / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA
keywords: RNA sequencing; embryo; gene expression; horse; oviduct