Linoleic acid enhances prostaglandin signaling and IFNT expression in bovine trophoblast cells in vitro.

Maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) in cattle is dependent on embryonic signaling, including decreased synthesis of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and increased synthesis of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and PGE2:PGF2α ratio, and elevated interferon tau (IFNT) expression factors essential for corpus luteum (CL) maintenance. PGE2 and PGF2α are synthesized by the maternal endometrium and embryo trophoblastic cells. Fatty acids (FAs) are known to modulate prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis, however, their effects on bovine trophoblastic cells (CT-1) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of linoleic acid (LA), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), oleic acid (OA), and a combination of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on PG production (PGE2, PGF2α, and PGE2:PGF2α ratio) and on transcripts related to PG synthesis (PTGS2, PTGES1, PTGES2, AKR1B1) and MRP signaling (PTGER4, IFNT, MMP2, and MMP9) in CT-1 cells. CT-1 cultures were treated with each FAs for 5 min, 24, 48, and 72 h. PGE2 and PGF2α concentrations were measured by ELISA, and transcript abundance was assessed by RT-qPCR after 48 h for all groups, with IFNT also evaluated at 24 and 72 h in control and LA groups. LA significantly increased PGE2 at 24 (P < 0.00001), 48 (P < 0.00001), and 72 h (P = 0.0019) compared to other treatments, and elevated the PGE2:PGF2α ratio at 24 (P = 0.0102) and 48 h (P = 0.0032). Compared to the control group, LA upregulated PTGS2 (21.73 ± 1.55 vs. 12.51 ± 1.55; P = 0.0031) and PTGES2 (0.11 ± 0.01 vs. 0.07 ± 0.01; P = 0.0204) after 72 h, and increased IFNT expression at 24 (P = 0.0454) and 72 h (P = 0.0006). In conclusion, LA increases PGE2 synthesis and PGE2:PGF2α ratio, and alters expression of transcripts involved in PG synthesis and IFNT, indicating its potential modulator capable of favoring the MRP in cattle.