In the present study, RNA-Seq was performed to investigate the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and alternatively spliced (AS) transcripts in the in vitro cultured porcine endometrium exposed to chemerin (CHEM) collected during the implantation period (15 to 16 days of gestation).. Chemerin impact on differentially expressed genes, long non-coding RNAs and alternative splicing events in the endometrium of pigs during periimplantation period.

It is well known that the body's metabolism and reproductive function are closely related. Chemerin is one of many biologically active proteins secreted by the adipose tissue involved in the regulation of the energy homeostasis of the organism. In the present study, RNA-Seq was performed to investigate transcriptome profile in the in vitro cultured porcine endometrial slices collected during implantation (days 15 to 16 of gestation) exposed to CHEM (400 ng/ml). In addition, the effect of CHEM on lncRNAs and AS transcripts was analysed. Transcriptomes high-throughput sequencing was performed on the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform (Illumina, USA). In the current study, among all 130 DEGs, 58 of them were up-regulated and 72 were down-regulated in the CHEM-treated group. DEGs were assigned to 73 functional annotations. Twelve identified lncRNAs indicated a difference in expression profile after CHEM administration in endometrial cells. Additionally, we detected 386 differentially AS events encompassed 274 protein-coding genes and 2 lncRNAs. All AS events were divided into 5 alternative splicing types: alternative 3′ splice site (A3SS), 5′ splice site (A5SS), mutually exclusive exons (MXE), retention intron (RI), and skipping exon (SE). Within all AS events, we identified 42 A3SS, 43 A5SS, 53 MXE, 9 RI, and 239 SE. In summary, CHEM affects the transcriptomic profile of the porcine endometrium, controlling the expression of various genes, including those involved in cell migration and adhesion process, angiogenesis, inflammation, and steroidogenesis. It can be assumed that CHEM may be essential to a proper course of gestation and embryo development.