Expression of placenta-specific 8 in human oocytes, embryos, and models of in vitro implantation.
To determine whether placenta-specific 8 (PLAC8) is expressed in human oocytes and embryos, and whether PLAC8 interferes with the implantation process.



Experimental.



Academic medical assisted reproduction center.



Couples undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles.



Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), immunofluorescence on oocytes, embryos, control LoVo cells, and embryo-endometrial stromal cell coculture models, and Western blot on control LoVo cells.



Detection of PLAC8 mRNA in three oocytes, nine cleavaged embryos, three morulae, and three blastocysts, and detection of PLAC8 protein expression pattern in 12 oocytes, 16 cleavaged embryos, 7 morulae, and 18 blastocysts and in 25 hatched blastocyst-endometrial stromal cell coculture models.



Single oocyte/embryo qPCR revealed PLAC8 mRNA expression was only identified in morulae and blastocysts and not in earlier stages. The immunofluorescence assay confirmed the presence of PLAC8 protein in the cytoplasm of all human oocytes and embryos preceding implantation. PLAC8 protein was transported into the nucleolus after blastocyst implantation and invasion into endometrial stromal cells.



Our data have demonstrated for the first time that human oocytes and preimplantation embryos express PLAC8 and that the intracellular distribution of PLAC8 protein is dynamic and regulated in an implantation-dependent manner. These findings indicate that PLAC8 plays a potential role in embryo development and implantation.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chinese PLA General Hospital and Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, People's Republic of China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Navy General Hospital of the Chinese PLA, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Min
M
Li
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Navy General Hospital of the Chinese PLA, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Dong
D
Liu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chinese PLA General Hospital and Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Li
L
Wang
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Navy General Hospital of the Chinese PLA, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Weizhou
W
Wang
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Navy General Hospital of the Chinese PLA, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Aiming
A
Wang
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chinese PLA General Hospital and Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: yqyao_ghpla@163.com.
Yuanqing
Y
Yao
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D016896:Treatment Outcome
C506004:PLAC8 protein, human; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger
Embryo-endometrial stromal cell coculture; human embryos; human oocytes; in vitro implantation model; placenta-specific 8 (PLAC8)