Genes encoding proteins regulating fatty acid metabolism and cellular response to lipids are differentially expressed in porcine luminal epithelium during long-term culture

Among many factors, the epithelium lining the oviductal lumenis very important for the development of the oocyte and its subsequent fertilization. The oviductal epithelium is characterized by the presence of ciliary cells, supporting the movement of cumulus-oocyte complexes towards the uterus. By interacting with the semen, the epithelium of the fallopian tube makes the sperm acquire the ability to fertilize. So far, the exact molecular mechanisms of these changes have not been known. Hence, understanding the metabolism of oviduct epithelial cells and the level of expression of individual groups of genes seems to be a way to deepen the knowledge about the broadly understood reproduction.

In our research, we decided to culture oviductal epithelial cells (OECs) in vitro for a long period of time. After 24h, 7, 15 and 30 days, the OECs were harvested, with their RNA isolated. Transcriptomic changes were analyzed using microarrays. The “cellular response to lipid” group was represented by the following genes: MUC1, CYP24A1, KLF4, IL24, SNAI2, CXCL10, PPARD, TNC, ABCA10, while the genes belonging to the “cellular lipid metabolic processes” were: LIPG, ARSK, ACADL, FADS3, P2RX7, ACSS2, PPARD, KITLG, SPTLC3, ERBB3, KLF4, CRABP2. Additionally, PPARD and ACADL were members of the “fatty acid beta-oxidation” ontology group. Our study describes genes that are not directly related to fertility processes. However, significant changes in their expression in in vitro cultured OECs may indicate their usefulness as markers of OECs’ physiological processes.

Running title: Fatty acids changes in porcine oviductal epithelial cells in in vitro cultivation