Extracellular vesicles as an amplifier of embryonic signals: implications to maternal immune response

• Grant number: 22/01235-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: January 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Juliano Coelho da Silveira
• Grantee: Mariani Farias Fiorenza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/06645-0 - Extracellular vesicles as a platform for diagnostic and manipulation of the in vitro embryo production system: the next generation in animal reproduction, AP.JP2

Abstract

Maternal recognition of pregnancy in ruminants refers to the requirement for the conceptus to secrete Interferon Tau (IFNT) that acts on the uterus and extrauterine tissue as well as immune cells to help pregnancy maintenance. During this period, the compounds secreted by the embryo create an immunotolerant-like environment towards the embryo. One characteristic of the immune response is the secretion of small extracellular vesicles (EVs) to generate cell-to-cell communication. The secretion of EVs is involved in cell survival and maintenance in almost every multicellular system identified. During the maternal recognition of pregnancy, a single embryo must modulate the multicellular maternal system. In this context, the present project aims to test the hypothesis that EVs modify the maternal immune response to create an embryo-tolerant environment. We have two main objectives to test this hypothesis. The first aim of this project is to investigate the polarization and transcriptional patterns created by EVs generated by day 8 (post-fertilization) bovine embryo co culture with endometrial explant on the maternal immune cells in vitro. The second aim is to evaluate polarization and transcriptional patterns 12 h, 24 h, days 15, 18, and 21 after infusion of EVs obtained from in vitro embryo culture in cows. The results obtained with this project will improve our understanding of EVs' modulation of the immune response. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FIORENZA, MARIANI FARIAS; BRIDI, ALESSANDRA; DOS SANTOS, GISLAINE; ROSA, PAOLA MARIA; ALVES, LUANA; FERST, JULIANA GERMANO; FERRAZ, PRISCILA ASSIS; PUGLIESI, GUILHERME; POHLER, KY; PERECIN, FELIPE; et al. Labeled extracellular vesicles can be found in the blood plasma shortly after intrauterine infusion in bovine. ANIMAL REPRODUCTION, v. 21, n. 3, p. 6-pg., 2024-01-01. (22/01505-8, 19/06696-3, 22/01235-0, 22/01433-7, 21/06645-0)