Plasma extracellular vesicle miRNAs as potential biomarkers of superstimulatory response in cattle

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 19130
• Main Authors: Gad, Ahmed, Sánchez, José María, Browne, John A, Nemcova, Lucie, Laurincik, Jozef, Prochazka, Radek, Lonergan, Pat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 05.11.2020; Nature Publishing Group UK
• Subjects: Animals; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Cattle; Circadian Rhythm - physiology; Circadian rhythms; Divergence; Estrus; Estrus - physiology; Estrus Synchronization - metabolism; Extracellular vesicles; Extracellular Vesicles - metabolism; Female; MicroRNAs; MicroRNAs - blood; miRNA; Ovarian Follicle - physiology; Ovulation Induction; Signal Transduction - physiology
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76152-9

The ability to predict superstimulatory response would be a beneficial tool in assisted reproduction. Using small RNAseq technology, we profiled extracellular vesicle microRNA (EV-miRNA) abundance in the blood plasma of heifers exhibiting variable responses to superstimulation. Estrous synchronized crossbred beef heifers (n = 25) were superstimulated and blood samples were collected from each heifer on Day 7 of consecutive unstimulated (U) and superstimulated (S) cycles. A subset of high (H) and low (L) responders was selected depending on their response to superstimulation and EV-miRNA profiles were analysed at both time-points in each heifer. Approximately 200 known miRNAs were detected in each sample with 144 commonly detected in all samples. A total of 12 and 14 miRNAs were dysregulated in UH vs. UL and in SH vs. SL heifers, respectively. Interestingly, miR-206 and miR-6517 exhibited the same differential expression pattern in H compared to L heifers both before and after superstimulation. Pathway analysis indicated that circadian rhythm and signaling pathways were among the top pathways enriched with genes targeted by dysregulated miRNAs in H vs. L responding heifers. In conclusion, heifers with divergent ovarian responses exhibited differential expression of plasma EV-miRNAs which may be used as a potential biomarker to predict superstimulation response.