Modulation Of The Inflammatory Environment By Spermatozoa Through Regulation Of Transforming Growth Factor Beta In Porcine Uterine Epithelial Cells

This study investigated the changes in the mRNA expression of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), plasminogen activators (PAs), and interleukin (IL) caused by sperm, as well as the regulatory mechanism of PA activity through TGF-beta, in porcine uterine epithelial cells. The cells were isolated from the uterine horn of pig and co-incubated with Percoll-separated boar sperm (45% or 90%), or TGF-beta for 24 h. The mRNA expression of TGF-beta isoforms (TGF-beta 1, 2 and 3) and their receptors (TGF-beta R1 and R2), PAs (urokinase-type, uPA; tissue-type, tPA; uPA receptor, uPAR; type 1 PA inhibitor, PAI-1), IL-6 and IL-8 was analyzed using real-time PCR. Supernatant was used to measure PA activity. Co-incubation with sperm from the 90% Percoll layer increased TGF-beta 1 mRNA, whereas TGF-beta 2 and TGF-beta 3 were decreased (P < 0.05). However, both TGF-beta Rs were not changed by the presence of the spermatozoa. Expression of tPA, PAI-1, IL6, and IL-8 mRNA was down-regulated by 90% Percoll-separated sperm (P < 0.05), and sperm from 45% Percoll increased uPA expression (P < 0.05). TGF-beta decreased tPA and IL-8 mRNA expression, and increased uPAR and PAI-1 mRNA (P < 0.05). The suppressive effect of TGF-beta on PA activity was blocked by Smad2/3 and JNK1/2 signaling inhibitors (P < 0.05). In conclusion, sperm separated in 90% in porcine uterus could suppressed inflammation via modulation of TGF-beta and down-regulation of PAs and ILs. Therefore, the regulatory mechanism of inflammation by sperm in the porcine uterus could be associated with interactions between numerous cytokines including TGF-beta. (C) 2021 Society for Biology of Reproduction & the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.