Effect of miR-143-3p from Extracellular Vesicles of Porcine Uterine Luminal Fluid on Porcine Trophoblast Cells

SIMPLE SUMMARY: We found that miR-143-3p in extracellular vesicles of porcine uterine luminal fluid could be targeted and taken up by porcine trophoblast cells, with the effect of promoting cell proliferation and migration and affecting embryo implantation. We validated that miR-143-3p directly targets glycerol-3 phosphate dehydrogenase 2 (GDP2). Therefore, miR-143-3p and its target gene, GPD2, affect the function of porcine trophoblast cells and embryo implantation. ABSTRACT: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in uterine luminal fluid (ULF) can reportedly affect the proliferation and migration function of porcine trophoblast cells (PTr2 cells) by mediating the maternal–fetal exchange of information. miR-143-3p is considered a crucial miRNA in early pregnancy in mammals; however, little is currently known about how it regulates the function of PTr2 cells. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ssc-miR-143-3p in ULF-EVs on the function of PTr2 cells during porcine embryo implantation. The uptake of ULF-EVs by PTr2 cells was confirmed, which significantly increased the expression of ssc-miR-143-3p. Ssc-miR-143-3p was found to facilitate the proliferation and migration of PTr2 cells in the CCK-8, EdU and wound-closure assays, while the opposite findings were observed after the knockdown of ssc-miR-143-3p. Bioinformatics analysis and the luciferase reporter assay showed that glycerol-3 phosphate dehydrogenase 2 (GDP2) was directly targeted by miR-143-3p. Inhibition of miR-143-3p was validated in mice to inhibit embryo implantation. In summary, ssc-miR-143-3p in ULF-EVs affects the proliferation and migration of PTr2 cells by mediating GPD2, thereby affecting embryo implantation.