Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Yingying Tian, Xiuhua Yang
Summary: Uterine artery Doppler can predict significant vascular events during pregnancy, and predicting pregnancy complications in advance can reduce harm to mothers and neonates.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Xiaoxiao Gao, Xiaolei Yao, Xiaodan Li, Yaxu Liang, Zifei Liu, Zhibo Wang, Kang Li, Yingqi Li, Guomin Zhang, Feng Wang
Summary: The study demonstrates the crucial role of WNT6 in the development of sheep endometrium, showing its promotion of cell cycle progression in endometrial epithelial cells and enhancement of uterine glands organogenesis.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2021)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Cindy Audiger, Sara Tomei, Shalin H. H. Naik
Summary: There is confusion regarding whether transitional dendritic cells are a distinct subset or simply a transitional state. Recent data have revealed heterogeneity within these cells, further complicating the matter.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Huikai Liu, Liwen He, Qianyu Cheng, Wenping Luo, Tianyu Zhao, Deqin Yang
Summary: The study identified superior reference genes for salivary gland development and functional regeneration. ACTG1 showed the highest stability during the developmental stage, while TUBB5 was recommended as the most stable reference gene for the regenerative stage in the SMG.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mariano Colon-Caraballo, Nicole Lee, Shanmugasundaram Nallasamy, Kristin Myers, David Hudson, Renato Iozzo, Mala Mahendroo
Summary: This study evaluated the relationship between collagen and elastic fiber structure and function in the cervix of mice. The results show that small-leucine rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) play a crucial role in regulating extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in the cervix. Loss of SLRPs leads to structural defects in collagen and elastic fibers and affects the function of the cervix.
Editorial Material
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Darl Edwards, Siddhi Mathur, Homero Flores, Wendy Whittle, Ally Murji
Summary: This study reviewed the literature on uterine cesarean scar defect repair in pregnancy and demonstrated a minimally invasive surgical approach in early pregnancy. The ultrasound-guided laparoscopic repair was successful in restoring myometrial thickness and resulted in a term live birth. However, further research is needed to establish the safety and efficacy of this approach.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2022)
Review
Developmental Biology
Veronica Biga, Tom P. J. Wyatt, Diana Pinheiro
Summary: Across developmental systems, quantitative and imaging-based approaches have provided unprecedented resolution of dynamic changes in gene regulation and cell fate specification, enabling the construction of comprehensive theoretical models. However, gaining a cross-scale understanding of developmental systems requires further collaboration between disciplines. The Company of Biologists workshop 'Fostering quantitative modelling and experimentation in Developmental Biology' highlights exciting multi-disciplinary research in this field.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Railson O. Ferreira, Walessa A. B. Araga, Leonardo O. Bittencourt, Luanna P. M. Fernandes, Karolyny M. Balbinot, Sergio M. Alves-Junior, Joao de Jesus V. Pinheiro, Cristiane do Socorro Ferraz Maia, Maria E. Crespo-Lopez, Rafael Rodrigues Lima
Summary: This study found that alcohol consumption during pregnancy significantly decreased total protein concentration and amylase activity in the saliva of offspring rats, leading to oxidative stress and morphological changes in the parotid and submandibular glands.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Harold M. McNamara, Beatrice Ramm, Jared E. Toettcher
Summary: Technological advances have contributed to recent developments in developmental biology, such as light sheet imaging for studying single-cell dynamics and single-cell genomic methods for cataloguing cell types and gene expression states. Synthetic approaches are also emerging to understand development processes from the bottom up, including synthetic circuits for signaling delivery and recording, and synthetic reconstitution of pattern formation on multicellular scales.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Namid R. Stillman, Roberto Mayor
Summary: Understanding the mechanisms of cell coordination in differentiation and migration is crucial for comprehending wound healing, disease progression, and developmental biology. Mathematical models have played an essential role in testing and improving our understanding, including the models of cells as soft spherical particles, reaction-diffusion systems linking cell movement to environmental factors, and multi-scale multi-physics simulations combining rule-based models with continuum laws. However, mathematical models often lack strong data relation or have excessive parameters, leading to weakly constrained model behavior. Recent advancements in machine learning provide new approaches for model derivation and deployment. This review explores examples of mathematical models in developmental biology, such as cell migration, and how these models can be integrated with recent machine learning methods.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Jiangming Zhong, Jianlin Li, Graham J. Burton, Hannu Koistinen, Ka Wang Cheung, Ernest H. Y. Ng, Yuanqing Yao, William S. B. Yeung, Cheuk-Lun Lee, Philip C. N. Chiu
Summary: This review summarizes recent findings on glycosylation, glycosyltransferases, and glycan-binding receptors at the maternal-fetal interface, and their roles in regulating endometrial receptivity, placentation, and maternal-fetal immunotolerance. Understanding the functions of glycans could enhance the diagnosis and treatment of implantation failure and pregnancy complications, and potentially serve as early predictive markers and therapeutic targets.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION UPDATE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Youyi Zhang, Chen Xu, Zhengshan Tang, Dewei Guo, Ruojin Yao, Huina Zhao, Zixi Chen, Xin Ni
Summary: The study identified furin as a key player in promoting uterine activation for labor at term. Inhibition of furin activity suppressed contraction in smooth muscle cells and affected the expression of various proteins related to labor. Additionally, TWEAK was found to be a potential substrate for furin regulation of parturition initiation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pramod Dhakal, Harriet C. Fitzgerald, Andrew M. Kelleher, Hongyu Liu, Thomas E. Spencer
Summary: The study demonstrated the crucial roles of uterine glands in embryo survival and stromal cell decidualization. Using a glandless FOXA2-deficient mouse model, researchers found compromised embryo survival and decidualization on gestational day 6.5, leading to abrupt pregnancy loss by day 7.5.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kyongho Choe, Unil Pak, Yu Pang, Wanjun Hao, Xiuqin Yang
Summary: Development from single cells to multicellular tissues and organs involves differentiation, which is not merely the replication of cells. Previous research has focused on differences in gene expression profiles, but has been limited in understanding the molecular mechanisms of differentiation. Advancements in genomics, particularly single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), have enabled a better understanding of differentiation and cell lineage. However, the loss of spatial information during scRNA-seq has led to the emergence of spatial transcriptomics as a discipline and the development of tools to address this limitation.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yukari Nagao, Akira Yokoi, Kosuke Yoshida, Mai Sugiyama, Eri Watanabe, Kae Nakamura, Masami Kitagawa, Eri Asano-Inami, Yoshihiro Koya, Masato Yoshihara, Satoshi Tamauchi, Yusuke Shimizu, Yoshiki Ikeda, Nobuhisa Yoshikawa, Tomoyasu Kato, Yusuke Yamamoto, Hiroaki Kajiyama
Summary: This study aimed to identify novel targets for uterine leiomyosarcoma (ULMS) through a three-step screening process using a chemical library. The candidates proscillaridin A and lanatoside C showed superior antitumor effects in mouse models. The downregulation of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and suppressed ULMS cell growth, making it a potential therapeutic target.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Ru-pin Alicia Chi, Tianyuan Wang, Nyssa Adams, San-pin Wu, Steven L. Young, Thomas E. Spencer, Francesco DeMayo
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eleanore O'Neil, Kelsey Brooks, Gregory W. Burns, Martha S. Ortega, Anna C. Denicol, Luis H. Aguiar, Gabriela H. Pedroza, Joshua Benne, Thomas E. Spencer
MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Susanta K. Behura, Andrew M. Kelleher, Thomas E. Spencer
MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pramod Dhakal, Andrew M. Kelleher, Susanta K. Behura, Thomas E. Spencer
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pramod Dhakal, Thomas E. Spencer
Summary: Prss28 and Prss29 are not essential for female fertility and do not affect endometrial gland development or uterine function in mice.
MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Constantine A. Simintiras, Pramod Dhakal, Chaman Ranjit, Harriet C. Fitzgerald, Ahmed Z. Balboula, Thomas E. Spencer
Summary: The study developed a high-throughput method for isolating intraorganoid fluid (IOF) from human endometrial epithelial organoids, revealing distinct biochemical differences between IOF and extraorganoid fluid (EOF). This has the potential to enhance our understanding of uterine fluid composition and regulation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pramod Dhakal, Harriet C. Fitzgerald, Andrew M. Kelleher, Hongyu Liu, Thomas E. Spencer
Summary: The study demonstrated the crucial roles of uterine glands in embryo survival and stromal cell decidualization. Using a glandless FOXA2-deficient mouse model, researchers found compromised embryo survival and decidualization on gestational day 6.5, leading to abrupt pregnancy loss by day 7.5.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrew M. Kelleher, Rohit Setlem, Francoise Dantzer, Francesco J. DeMayo, John P. Lydon, W. Lee Kraus
Summary: This study found that catalytic inhibition or genetic ablation of PARP-1 and PARP-2 in the uterus led to pregnancy loss in mice, associated with increased p53 signaling and an increased population of senescent decidual cells, with decidualization failure being the cause of pregnancy loss.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biology
Constantine A. Simintiras, Jessica N. Drum, Hongyu Liu, M. Sofia Ortega, Thomas E. Spencer
Summary: Research suggests that the uterine lumen fluid (ULF) has a degree of metabolic autonomy, which enhances our understanding of the mechanisms behind pregnancy establishment. ULF plays a crucial role in successful pregnancy establishment and maintenance, impacting the wellbeing of offspring into adulthood. These findings have significant implications for improving fertility and pregnancy outcomes in both domestic animals and women.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Andrew M. Kelleher, Carolyn C. Allen, Daniel J. Davis, Thomas E. Spencer
Summary: This study describes a new mouse model that is useful for studying uterine gland function during pregnancy. The researchers inserted Cre recombinase into a specific gene using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, allowing for targeted expression of Cre recombinase. Additionally, conditional deletion of a key gene in the uterine glands using this mouse model confirmed the value of Prss29-Cre mice in elucidating and exploring adult uterine gland function.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rodney D. Geisert, Destiny N. Johns, Caroline A. Pfeiffer, Riley M. Sullivan, Caroline G. Lucas, Constantine A. Simintiras, Bethany K. Redel, Kevin D. Wells, Thomas E. Spencer, Randall S. Prather
Summary: CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology allows for the study of specific genes involved in reproductive regulation, particularly in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Research on gene editing of porcine conceptuses provides new insights into the regulation of endometrial function, while in vitro studies using endometrial organoids offer an alternative method for studying specific endometrial genes.
MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
K. M. Davenport, M. S. Ortega, G. A. Johnson, H. Seo, T. E. Spencer
Summary: Ruminants have a unique placental structure that involves the attachment of binucleate cells to the uterine epithelium to form placental cotyledons. This understanding is crucial in analyzing pregnancy loss and improving pregnancy outcomes in ruminant animals.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Kimberly M. Davenport, Eleanore ONeil, M. Sofia Ortega, Amanda Patterson, Andrew M. Kelleher, Wesley C. Warren, Thomas E. Spencer
Summary: This study utilized single-cell transcriptome analysis to identify different cell types and their ontogeny in bovine conceptus and chorion. The research revealed the role of key transcription factors in the development of trophoblasts and differentiation of binucleate cells. The digital atlas of cell types in the developing bovine conceptus serves as a valuable resource for understanding the genes and pathways involved in its development during critical periods.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Harriet C. Fitzgerald, Andrew M. Kelleher, Chaman Ranjit, Danny J. Schust, Thomas E. Spencer
Summary: Uterine glands and their secretions play a crucial role in various reproductive processes, such as uterine receptivity, blastocyst implantation, and placental development. Hormones like estrogen and progesterone, as well as external factors, regulate the function of uterine glands. A study using a human endometrial epithelial organoid system found that different proteins secreted by the organoids were modulated by hormone and prostaglandin E2. Additionally, one of the secreted proteins, cystatin C, was shown to attenuate the stromal decidualization response. These findings highlight the impact of uterine gland-derived factors on stromal cell decidualization and its implications for pregnancy establishment and fertility in women.
MOLECULAR HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2023)
