Biology subjects

Lo Sterzo, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Lo Sterzo, M..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

TGF-β3 Promotes Trophoblast Development via ACSS2-Dependent Permissive Lipid Metabolism

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-{beta}) supports the in vitro maintenance of embryonic and trophoblast stem cells. Here, we demonstrated that, in a sheep embryo model, the transition from morula to blastocyst is positively regulated by TGF-{beta}3, primarily through its promotion of trophoblast development. Our results indicate that morulae treated with TGF-{beta}3 develop at a higher rate into blastocysts, characterized by an expanded trophoblast layer marked by CDX-2 expression. In blastocysts, TGF-{beta}3 mediates transcriptional activation of genes involved in cell adhesion and lipid metabolism pathways, leading to remarkable in vitro outgrowth expansion and a substantial increase in trophoblast lipid droplet content. Functional analysis reveal that the positive effects of TGF-{beta}3 are mitigated by inhibition of Acetyl-CoA Synthetase Short-Chain Family Member 2 (ACSS2), a key enzyme upregulated by TGF-{beta}3 and a promoter of de novo lipgenensis. These findings suggest that TGF-{beta}3 modulates lipid metabolism during blastocyst formation and may play a potential role in regulating implantation and placental development.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Fertility Preservation of Vacuum-Dried Ram Spermatozoa Stored for Four Years at Room Temperature

Dry storage at room temperature (RT) could simplify spermatozoa banking. Here, we explored DNA stability and in vitro and in vivo development of embryos derived from vacuum-dried encapsulated (VDE) ram spermatozoa stored for four years or after accelerated aging. While some genomic damage was detected at time 0, DNA fragmentation increased from 3.32{+/-}3% (time 0) to 37.64{+/-}4% (4 years). A decrease in blastocyst rate was observed after four years of storage and 6.7 years of simulated storage (10.2% and 9% versus 13.16% at time 0). Embryo quality, assessed based on Cdx2 and Inf-{tau} gene expression, declined over time. Only two of the 23 embryos transferred into synchronized ewes were implanted but were lost by day 40. In conclusion, dry spermatozoa generated blastocysts after four years of RT storage, but their post-implantation development was impaired. Optimization of the water extraction and storage conditions could better preserve the spermatozoas DNA integrity, resulting in improved embryo quality, compatible with development to term.

physiology↗