PhD in Veterinary Sciences for Animal Health and Food Safety

Contacts

Supervisor

Mario Baratta

Research activities

PhD Project

ESTABLISHMENT OF AN IN VITRO MODEL TO STUDY AUTOPHAGY DURING PLACENTA   DEVELOPMENT IN SHEEP

Background

In ruminants, during embryo implantation (Day 18 in sheep), trophoblast cells (TCs) invade the endometrium and differentiate to form the syncitiotrophoblast layer, which is the first “bridge-tissue” between foetus and mother. Normal development in mammalians depends on sufficient oxygen, nutrient and waste exchange through the placenta and its correct functionality is monitored by TCs metabolism. Dysfunctions of placenta development lead to many gestational diseases, including early pregnancy loss, intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia, characterized by inadequate nourishment/oxygen supply for developing foetus. Errors on TCs differentiation compromise placentation and impact on the lifelong health of both mother and offspring. However, placental growth adapts to safeguard foetal survival, but how TCs impaired activity may be compensated to allow foetal development is still incompletely characterized. 

Autophagy is a rescue mechanism promoted to bypass the low nutrient uptake by transforming unnecessary or damaged cellular components into simple molecules used as nutrient source for survival. Macroautophagy pathway is highly conserved in eukaryotic cell, as a matter of fact several studies describe the five sequential steps occurring in this cellular process (nucleation, elongation, maturation, fusion and degradation by lysosomes) until the transport back of recycled component in the cytosol. Nowadays it is well-known which autophagy-related markers are involved in the process (i.e. ATG proteins, LC3 I and II, p62/SQSTM1).

This self-eating process plays a fundamental role to safeguard cell homoeostasis in physiological as well as in pathological conditions. Further data confirmed the involvement of the autophagy both in placental invasion development10 and in response to stress environmental conditions (starvation, hypoxia and ROS activity). Defects in autophagy mechanism are associated with pathological complications during pregnancy, in particular in the early stage of placentation. Previous research demonstrated the ability of TCs to activate autophagy in different conditions: in physiological situation, it is essential to maintain a cellular balance between anabolic and catabolic processes during periods of short-term nutrient and oxygen deprivation, allowing appropriate growth both of foetus and placenta, while in compromised pregnancy autophagy is considered as a cytoprotective response to different stress signals. However, in severe environmental conditions it can lead to the activation of death cell pathway that eventually will lead to pregnancy loss16. This implies that TCs may alter their development most likely in an attempt to improve the suboptimal environment although the underlying mechanism is not clear.

Specific objectives of the project, methods and preliminary results

In order to clarify the regulation of early placenta development, the project aims to establish a model in vitro to investigate the main mechanisms regulating TCs differentiation during early placenta development. TCs obtained from early sheep placenta will provide a useful model to study their behaviour in physiological as well as compromised conditions, frequently associated with increased placental autophagy. 

Therefore, the first goal of this project includes the establishment and characterization of primary ovine TCs (oTCs), from placenta collected at the slaughterhouse within 21-28 days of fertilization, by using morphological, molecular and functional approaches. oTCs obtained using different methods of cell isolation and culture conditions will be characterized by cell morphology thanks to cell microscopy and expression of placental markers using immunofluorescence cell staining, qPCR and immunoblotting analysis. oTCs functionality will be tested using biochemical assay for cell proliferation (BrdU incorporation assay), migration (Transwell assay) and hormone secretion (progesterone, placental lactogen) by spectroscopic techniques. 

The second task is to study how normal and abnormal development events can impair TCs biology and functions. The main purpose is to set up the suboptimal environment focusing specifically on oxygen or nutrient reduction to investigate modulation of TCs growth and functions under stressed conditions, including the monitoring of the autophagy flux. These experiments will be set up using both oTr cell line (provided by Prof. Fuller Bazer, Texas A&M University) and primary oTCs. Cells will be subjected to stressful conditions to mimic adverse situations occurring in compromised pregnancies, such as starvation, hypoxia or anoxia, low growth factor and amino acids supply.  Direct cellular stress response in terms of change in morphology, gene/protein expression profile and secretory activity will be checked after specific modifications in the cell culture model. Autophagy markers detection and intracellular signs of this survival mechanism will be evaluated through molecular (qPCR) and immuno-based methods (immunoblotting, immunochemistry, immunofluorescence cell staining). The increased autophagy flux will be monitored and characterized using the previously described methods (proliferation, migration, secretory activity, gene and protein expression) to identify the timing and physiological limits where it becomes lethal. 

In the first year, early sheep placenta of 21-25 days old has been collected to obtain oTCs using a selected method after testing different cell isolation procedures. oTCs and oTr have been cultured with different medium conditions (i.e. with or without EGF, FGF, insulin-ferritin-Se) and stored in liquid nitrogen for further experiments. I am able, now, to identify the best culture medium for trophoblastic cell growth and maintenance.  Cells have been monitored by microscope to study their morphology in terms of cell dimension, number of nuclei, lipid droplets in the cytoplasm. RNA and protein extraction have been performed in order to achieve de novo design sheep’ primers efficiency validation and antibody specificity testing. As a result of this screening, we identified E-CAD, CK-7, INF-τ and oPL as trophoblastic markers (ACTB and HPRT used as house-keeping), while ATG-5, ATG-9, ATG-13, BCLN1, LC3-II, P62/SQSTM1 will use for autophagy detection.

Future developments

Firstly, trophoblastic functions (marker expression, cell proliferation, migration assessment and secretory activity) will be evaluated in selected culture condition. As a next step oTr and oTCs will be subjected respectively to rapamycin (Rapa) and 3-methyl-adenine (3-MA) treatment in order to test the effects of autophagy activation and inhibition on trophoblastic functionality using the same parameters. Subsequently, previous assessments will be performed on cells subjected to stressful environments occurring in compromised pregnancy status (i.e. low glucose, amino acids or growth factors, hypoxia/anoxia). Lastly, the results will be useful to identify the timing and adverse conditions when autophagy activation leads to cell death. At the same time, it will be possible to better clarify how the autophagy induction on trophoblast cells in a suboptimal environment could be a benefit for pregnancy maintenance and consequently foetal survival.

References

Igwebuike UM. Trophoblast cells of ruminant placentas-A minireview. Anim Reprod Sci. 2006.

Chu A, Thamotharan S, Ganguly A, Wadehra M, Pellegrini M, Devaskar SU. Gestational food restriction decreases placental interleukin-10 expression and markers of autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress in murine intrauterine growth restriction. Nutr Res. 2016.

Vonnahme KA, Hess BW, Hansen TR, McCormick RJ, Rule DC, Moss GE, Murdoch WJ, Nijland MJ, Skinner DC, Nathanielsz PW, Ford SP. Maternal undernutrition from early to mid-gestation leads to growth retardation, cardiac ventricular hypertrophy, and increased liver weight in the fetal sheep. Biol Reprod. 2003.

Toschi P, Czernik M, Zacchini F, Fidanza A, Loi P, Ptak GE. Evidence of Placental Autophagy during Early Pregnancy after Transfer of In Vitro Produced (IVP) Sheep Embryos. PLoS One. 2016. 

Nakashima A, Aoki A, Kusabiraki T, Shima T, Yoshino O, Cheng SB, Sharma S, Saito S. Role of autophagy in oocytogenesis, embryogenesis, implantation, and pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2017.

Nakashima A, Tsuda S, Kusabiraki T, Aoki A, Ushijima A, Shima T, Cheng SB, Sharma S, Saito S. Current Understanding of Autophagy in Pregnancy. Int J Mol Sci. 2019.

Oh SY, Roh CR. Autophagy in the placenta. Obstet Gynecol Sci. 2017.

Parzych KR, Klionsky DJ. An overview of autophagy: morphology, mechanism, and regulation. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2014.

Gong J.S, Kim GS. The role of autophagy in the placenta as a regulator of cell death. Clin. Exp. Reprod. Med. 2014.

Oh Sy., Hwang, J.R., Choi M. Autophagy regulates trophoblast invasion by targeting NF-κB activity. Sci Rep 2020.

Ptak GE, Toschi P, Fidanza A, Czernik M, Zacchini F, Modlinski JA, Loi P. Autophagy and apoptosis: parent-of-origin genome-dependent mechanisms of cellular self-destruction Open Biol. 2014. 

Belkacemi L, Nelson DM, Desai M, Ross MG. Maternal undernutrition influences placental-fetal development. Biol Reprod. 2010.

Yin X, Gao R, Geng Y, Chen X, Liu X, Mu X, Ding Y, Wang Y, He J. Autophagy regulates abnormal placentation induced by folate deficiency in mice. Mol Hum Reprod. 2019.

Broad KD, Keverne EB. Placental protection of the fetal brain during short-term food deprivation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011. 

Chakraborty S, Bose R, Islam S, Das S, Ain R. Harnessing Autophagic Network Is Essential for Trophoblast Stem Cell Differentiation. Stem Cells Dev. 2020.

Kalisch-Smith JI, Steane SE, Simmons DG, Pantaleon M, Anderson ST, Akison LK, Wlodek ME, Moritz KM. Periconceptional alcohol exposure causes female-specific perturbations to trophoblast differentiation and placental formation in the rat. Development. 2019.

 

National Congress attendance (as the first author)

1. SISVET Congress 2023, SOFIVET Session - BARI (Italy) - Oral Presentation. Effect of Melatonin Implant on Locomotor Activity, Body Temperature and Growth Performance of post-weaning lambs. Viola Irene, Canto Muñoz Francisco Eduardo, Abecia Martinez Alfonso Jose.

2. SISVET Congress 2023, SOFIVET Session - BARI (Italy) - Poster Presentation. Autophagy effect on trophoblast cell functionality during early placenta development in sheep.Viola Irene, Manenti Isabella, Accornero Paolo, Baratta Mario, Toschi Paola.

3. SISVET Congress 2022, SOFIVET Session - LODI (Italy) - Oral Presentation. Establishment of an in vitro model to study trophoblast adaptive response during placenta development in sheep. Irene Viola, Paolo Accornero, Silvia Miretti, Paola Toschi, Mario Baratta.

 

International Congress attendance (as the first author)

1. European Placenta Group (EPG) 2022 - JOUY-EN-JOSAS, PARIS (France) - Oral Presentation. mTOR signalling pathway as a key-modulator in placenta development: cell functionality and gene expression of trophoblast adaptive response during the early stage of pregnancy in sheep. Viola Irene, Manenti Isabella, Accornero Paolo, Baratta Mario, Toschi Paola.

2. International Congress of Animal Reproduction (ICAR) 2022- BOLOGNA (Italy) - Poster Presentation. Modulatory role of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2 on ovine trophoblast functionality. Viola Irene, Toschi Paola, Accornero Paolo, Baratta Mario.  

 

Awards & Scholarships

1. Premio “BANDO GIOVANI” - SISVET 2023 (Award) for the research article entitled "Modulatory role of mTOR in trophoblast adaptive response in the early stage of placentation in sheep" Viola I., Toschi P., Manenti I., Accornero A. and Baratta M., Jan 2023, Reproduction.

2. Premio SOFIVET 2023 per progetti di collaborazione scientifica nazionali ed internazionali per i giovani ricercatori (Award) for a research project focused on the study of the different genotypes of the MTRN1A gene in Aragonese rams and their effect on reproductive physiology and the improvement of reproductive parameters in ewes. Host Institution: Facultad de Veterinaria, Zaragoza, Spain; supervisor: Prof. Alfonso Abecia.

3. Call for the award of mobility grants for PhD candidates spending research stays abroad in 2023, UNITO (Scholarship) for a research project focused on the assessment of physiological parameters related to ovine reproductive system functionality through a multi-disciplinary approach. Host Institution; Servicio de Experimentacion Animal (SEA), Zaragoza, Spain; supervisor: Prof. Alfonso Abecia.

 

Period Abroad & Courses

1. Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza (UNIZAR) with supervisor Prof. Alfonso Abecia (4 months).

2. Biotecnologie riproduttive avanzate in medicina veterinaria, University of Bologna (UNIBO),  course coordinator: Prof. Diego Bucci (2 months). 

 

Publications (during the PhD period

1. Toschi, P., Viola, I., Miretti, S., Macchi, E., Martignani, E., Accornero, P., Baratta, M. (2023) Ovine trophoblast cells: cell isolation and culturing from the placenta at the early stage of pregnancy. Epithelial Cell Culture, Second Edition – Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology, Springer (IN PRESS)

2. Viola, I., Canto, F., & Abecia, J. A. (2023). Effects of melatonin implants on locomotor activity, body temperature, and growth of lambs fed a concentrate-based diet. Journal of Veterinary Behavior.

3. Viola, I., Toschi, P., Manenti, I., Accornero, P., & Baratta, M. (2023). Modulatory role of mTOR in trophoblast adaptive response in the early stage of placentation in sheep. Reproduction, 165(3), 313-324.

4. Ogun, S., Viola, I., Obertino, M., Manenti, I., Ala, U., Brugiapaglia, A., Battaglini, L.M.,  Perona, G., & Baratta, M. (2022). Using sensors to detect individual responses of lambs during transport and pre-slaughter handling and their relationship with meat quality. Animal Welfare, 31(4), 505-516.

5. Soglia, D., Viola, I., Nery, J., Maione, S., Sartore, S., Lasagna, E., Perini, F., Gariglio, M., Bongiorno, V., Moretti, R., Chessa, S., Sacchi, P., Bergero, D., BIasato, I., Gasco, L., & Schiavone, A. (2022). Nutrigenomics in Animal Feeding: Digital Gene Expression Analysis in Poultry Fed Tenebrio molitor Larvae Meal. Poultry, 1(1), 14-29.

6. Viola, I., Tizzani, P., Perona, G., Lussiana, C., Mimosi, A., Ponzio, P., & Cornale, P. (2022). Hazelnut skin in ewes’ diet: Effects on colostrum immunoglobulin g and passive transfer of immunity to the lambs. Animals, 12(22), 3220.

7. Ojo, M. O., Viola, I., Baratta, M., & Giordano, S. (2021). Practical experience of a smart livestock location monitoring system leveraging GNSS, LORAWAN and cloud services. Sensors, 22(1), 273.

8. Bodas, R., García-García, J. J., Montañés, M., Benito, A., Peric, T., Baratta, M., Viola, I., Geß, A., Ko, N., Gonzales-Barron, U., Domínguez, E., & Olmedo, S. (2021). On-farm welfare assessment of European fattening lambs. Small Ruminant Research, 204, 106533.

9. Gonzales-Barron, U., Popova, T., Bermúdez, P. R., Tolsdorf, A., Geß, A., Pires, J., Domínguez, E., Chiesa, F., Brugiapaglia, A., Viola, I., Battagliani, L.M., Baratta, M., Lorenzo., J.M., Cadavez., V.A.P. (2021). Fatty acid composition of lamb meat from Italian and German local breeds. Small Ruminant Research, 200, Article.

10. Geß, A., Viola, I., Miretti, S., Macchi, E., Perona, G., Battaglini, L., & Baratta, M. (2020). A new approach to LCA evaluation of lamb meat production in two different breeding systems in Northern Italy. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7, 651.

 

 

Academic bodies

• Teaching Committee