Project description:Single cell RNA sequencing of cells from cultured human blastocysts has enabled us to define the transcriptomic landscape of placental trophoblast (TB) that surrounds the epiblast and associated embryonic tissues during the enigmatic day (D) 8 to D12 peri-implantation period before the villous placenta forms. We analyzed the transcriptomes of three early placental cell types, cytoTB (CTB), syncytioTB (STB) and migratoryTB (MTB) picked manually from cultured embryos dissociated with trypsin and were able to follow sub-lineages that emerged from proliferating CTB at the periphery of the conceptus. A unique form of CTB with some features of STB was detectable at D8, while mature STB was at its zenith at D10. A form of MTB with a mixed MTB/CTB phenotype arose around D10. By D12, STB generation was in decline, CTB had entered a new phase of proliferation, and mature MTB cells had begun to move from the main body of the conceptus. Notably, the MTB transcriptome at D12 indicated enrichment of transcripts associated with interferon signaling, migration and invasion, and upregulation of HLA-C, HLA-E, and HLA-G. The STB, which is distinct from the STB of later villous STB, had a phenotype consistent with intense protein export and placental hormone production, as well as migration and invasion. The studies show that TB associated with human embryos is in rapid developmental flux during peri-implantation period when it must invade, signal robustly to the mother to ensure that the pregnancy continues, and make first contact with the maternal immune system.
Project description:Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as new players in the fine tuning of embryo development and implantation in mammals via posttranscriptional gene regulation mechanisms. Applying custom made multispecies arrays we aimed to analyze expression profile of microRNAs in peri-implantation porcine conceptuses/trophoblasts to identify their potential role at the maternal-fetal interface during the critical period of maternal recognition of pregnancy and implantation. miRNA expression profiles were analyzed in samples collected from embryos or trophoblast on Days 10, 11, 12, 16 and 20 of pregnancy. Each group was represented by five to nine samples.
Project description:Supporting healthy pregnancy outcomes requires a comprehensive understanding of the cellular hierarchy and underlying molecular mechanisms during peri-implantation development. Here, we presented a single-cell transcriptome-wide view of the bovine peri-implantation embryo development at day 12, 14, 16 and 18, when most of the pregnancy failure occurs. We defined the development and dynamic progression of cellular composition and gene expression of embryonic disc, hypoblast, and trophoblast lineages during bovine peri-implantation development. Notably, the comprehensive transcriptomic mapping of trophoblast development revealed a previous unrecognized primitive trophoblast cell lineage that are responsible for pregnancy maintenance in bovine prior to the time when binucleate cell emerges. We analyzed novel markers for the cell lineage development during bovine early development. We also identified cell-cell communication signaling underling embryonic and extraembryonic cells interact to ensure proper early development in bovine. Collectively, our work provides foundational information to discover essential biological pathways underpinning bovine peri-implantation development and the molecular causes of the early pregnancy failure during this critical period.
Project description:We used single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to analyze gene expression in mouse embryos reaching peri-implantation stages in utero and ex vivo.
Project description:Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as new players in the fine tuning of embryo development and implantation in mammals via posttranscriptional gene regulation mechanisms. Applying custom made multispecies arrays we aimed to analyze expression profile of microRNAs in peri-implantation porcine conceptuses/trophoblasts to identify their potential role at the maternal-fetal interface during the critical period of maternal recognition of pregnancy and implantation.
Project description:Anaylsis differentially expressed genes of mouse peri-implanted uteri comparing pre-implantation uteri (Day2, Day3 and Day4) with post-implantation uteri (Day6, Day7 and Day8) by microassay. This study has built a meaningful basis for future investigation in elucidating the molecular nature of maternal-fetal interactions during pregnancy establishment and maintenance. Pre-implantation uteri VS. Post-implantation uteri. Three biological replicates of each experiments: pre-implantation uteri (Day2, Day3 and Day4): 234, 234①, 234②; 3 mixture of post-implantation uteri (Day6, Day7 and Day8): 678, 678①, 678②. Two hybridizations were performed by using a reverse fluorescence strategy (Cy3, Cy5) for each sample.
Project description:Comprehensive quantitative proteomic study of human pre-implantation embryo stages reveal dynamic proteome landscape from M2, 8-cell and blastocyst stage, and during trophoblast stem cell (TS) differentiation. Identified key factors in early human embryos and lineage-specific trophoblast proteome profiles, correlated with transcriptomic analyses. This direct proteomic analysis provides a comprehensive analysis of the dynamic protein expression in human embryos during pre-implantation development and a powerful resource to enable further mechanistic studies on human trophoblast development and function.
Project description:To determine the effect of Zika virus infection on pre-implantation embryonic development, we performed single blastocyst RNA-Seq on MOCK and ZIKV infected embryos. ZIKV infection results in an increased risk of spontaneous abortion and poor intrauterine growth although the mechanisms underlying fetal loss remain undetermined. Little is known about the impact of ZIKV infection during the earliest stages of pregnancy, or pre- and peri-implantation, because most current studies of ZIKV infection in pregnancy models focus on post-implantation stages. Here, we demonstrate that trophectoderm cells of pre-implantation human and mouse embryos can be efficiently infected with ZIKV, and that trophectoderm can propagate virus causing cell death of neural progenitors. These findings were corroborated by our demonstration that hESC-derived trophectoderm cells are infected by ZIKV in a dose dependent manner. RNAseq of single blastocysts revealed key transcriptional changes in cellular and physiologic functions upon ZIKV infection, including nervous system development and function, prior to commitment to the neural cell lineage. Finally, the pregnancy rate of mice infected pre-implantation was > 50% lower than females infected at E4.5. These results demonstrate that pre-implantation ZIKV infection of trophectoderm leads to miscarriage or spontaneous abortion. Moreover, pre- and peri-implantation ZIKV infects trophectoderm cells that propagate virus over time causing cell death in neural progenitors. Cumulatively, these data demonstrate that vertical pre- and peri-implantation ZIKV infection of trophectoderm impairs fetal development and causes neural progenitor cell death, elucidating a previously unappreciated association of pre- and peri-implantation ZIKV infection and microcephaly.
Project description:Anaylsis differentially expressed genes of mouse peri-implanted uteri comparing pre-implantation uteri (Day2, Day3 and Day4) with post-implantation uteri (Day6, Day7 and Day8) by microassay. This study has built a meaningful basis for future investigation in elucidating the molecular nature of maternal-fetal interactions during pregnancy establishment and maintenance.