Description du projet
Des exosomes comme nanomessagers dans les technologies de reproduction assistée
Le rôle des exosomes (EX) oviductes en tant que médiateurs de la signalisation maternelle précoce apparaît de plus en plus évident. L’absence de communication avec la signalisation maternelle dans le système de production d’embryons in vitro (PIV) pourrait expliquer la faible qualité de ces embryons par rapport à ceux développés dans des conditions physiologiques (in vivo). Des données récentes ont révélé la signature protéique des EX dérivés de l’oviducte et leur rôle dans les interactions embryon-oviducte. Le projet EXORep, financé par l’UE, s’appuiera sur le modèle bovin pour évaluer si la présence, la qualité et le stade de l’embryon précoce modulent les protéines EX ainsi que la teneur en ARNm et en micro-ARN. Il évaluera également l’effet de la culture in vitro avec des EX sur le développement et la qualité de l’embryon. Les résultats obtenus peuvent s’avérer utiles pour améliorer le système (PIV), notamment les technologies de procréation humaine assistée.
Objectif
The current embryo in vitro culture conditions used in most laboratories of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) allow the embryo to develop to the blastocyst stage and to achieve pregnancy. However, the quality of those embryos is suboptimal compared to the in vivo ones and the obtained pregnancy rates are low. The lack of maternal signals, during the in vitro period has been postulated as a main reason for these suboptimal results. There is increasing evidence of the role of the oviduct exosomes (oEXs) as mediators of the early maternal-cross talk. Recent data revealed the first oviduct-derived EXs protein signature and their important roles in embryo-oviduct interactions. In the present proposal, using bovine model, we aimed to: (i) Evaluate whether the presence of the early embryo in the oviduct could modulate the oEXs proteins, mRNA and miRNA content depending on its stage of development. (ii) Assess whether the embryo quality (good or poor embryo) affect the content of EXs secreted in vitro by the oviduct epithelial cells. (ii) Assess the effect of in vitro culture with oEXs on the embryo development and quality. To accomplish these tasks, an ambitious, realistic, work plan has been designed based on the excellent background of the Fellow, and the training she will receive, the expertise of the supervisor in female reproductive physiology and the infrastructure within the host lab for conducing all the experiments with most appropriate tools. This will ensure that the Fellow completes the scientific objectives of the proposal, communicate and disseminate the results to the scientific and public, while acquiring new set of skills that will have an important impact in her career development. If the beneficial effect of oEXs on embryo development is recapitulated in cattle, it could improve in vitro embryo production largely used in ART in dairy cattle industries. Moreover, the obtained results may be transferred in human species
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MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinateur
8006 Zurich
Suisse