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Wise RL, Brown BP, Haas DM, Sparks C, Sadhasivam S, Zhao Y, Radhakrishnan R. Placental volume in pregnant women with opioid use: prenatal MRI assessment. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2023; 36:2157256. [PMID: 36599439 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2022.2157256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Opioid use in pregnant women is a growing public health concern and is shown to be associated with lower infant birth weights. Placental volume changes in prior studies correlated with various maternal and fetal conditions. We aimed to identify differences between placental volumes in pregnant women with opioid use, and control pregnant women without drug use. METHODS We prospectively recruited 27 healthy pregnant women and 17 pregnant women with opioid use disorder who were on medication-assisted treatment (MAT). All women underwent placenta/fetal MRI at 27-39 weeks gestation on a 3 Tesla MR scanner. Placental volumes were measured in a blinded fashion using a previously validated technique. Multiple linear regression was used to identify associations of placental volume with multiple maternal and fetal clinical factors. The significance threshold was set at p < .05. RESULTS Placental volume was significantly associated with gestational age at MRI (p < .0001), fetal sex (p = .027), MAT with smoking (p = .0008), MAT with polysubstance use (p = .01), and maternal BMI (p = .032). Placental volume was not associated with opioid MAT alone in our cohort. CONCLUSION For pregnant women on medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, there was no significant difference in placental volume compared to healthy pregnant women. However, concomitant smoking and polysubstance use in the setting of medication-assisted treatment may be detrimental to placental health. To our knowledge, this is the first study assessing placental volume in opioid use on prenatal MRI. These results support the benefit of medication-assisted treatment during pregnancy; however additional studies are needed to further elucidate the impact of opioid use on placental and fetal development and postnatal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Wise
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Brandon P Brown
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,The Fetal Center at Riley Children's Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - David M Haas
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Christina Sparks
- Department of Anesthesia, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Senthilkumar Sadhasivam
- Department of Anesthesia, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Anesthesia, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yi Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Rupa Radhakrishnan
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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2
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Sadovsky E, Chu T, Barak O, Sadovsky Y, Ouyang Y. The impact of opioids on the transcriptional landscape of human villous trophoblasts. Placenta 2023; 143:54-61. [PMID: 37832183 PMCID: PMC10841529 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Opioid use disorder (OUD) is implicated in major obstetrical diseases such as fetal growth restriction. Whether or not opioids directly impact placental trophoblast development and function remains unclear. We sought to examine the expression of opioid receptors (OPRs) in villous trophoblasts and the effect of opioids on placental transcriptomics. METHODS Trophoblast stem (TS) cells and primary human trophoblast (PHT) cells from healthy term placentas were used to assess OPR expression in conditions that enhance trophoblast stemness vs differentiation. Placental RNAseq was conducted using our retrospective cohorts of pregnant people with OUD vs controls, both without major obstetrical complications. RT-qPCR was used to determine the effect of fentanyl on the expression of putative opioid targets and stemness or differentiation-associated genes in TS and PHT cells. RESULTS Three main OPRs, including OPRM1, OPRD1, and OPRK1 were expressed in term PHT cells cultured in the stemness medium, whereas only OPRD1 and OPRK1 were expressed in TS cells. Interestingly, upon induction of differentiation, the expressed OPR mRNAs in TS or in PHT cells were downregulated. We found 286 differentially expressed long RNAs in placentas from the OUD participants vs controls. While three putative opioid targets differed their expression in stemness vs differentiation states of trophoblasts, fentanyl had no effect on their expression or the expression of major stemness or differentiation-relevant genes in TS and PHT cells. DISCUSSION Trophoblastic expression of OPRs and opioid RNA targets is impacted by cell differentiation, suggesting differential susceptibility of villous trophoblasts to the effect of opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Sadovsky
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tianjiao Chu
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Oren Barak
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yoel Sadovsky
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yingshi Ouyang
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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3
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Rokeby ACE, Natale BV, Natale DRC. Cannabinoids and the placenta: Receptors, signaling and outcomes. Placenta 2023; 135:51-61. [PMID: 36965349 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis use during pregnancy is increasing. The improvement of pregnancy-related symptoms including morning sickness and management of mood and stress are among the most reported reasons for its use. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the most abundant cannabinoids found within the cannabis flower. The concentration of these components has drastically increased in the past 20 years. Additionally, many edibles contain only one cannabinoid and are marketed to achieve a specific goal, meaning there are an increasing number of pregnancies that are exposed to isolated cannabinoids. Both Δ9-THC and CBD cross the placenta and can impact the fetus directly, but the receptors through which cannabinoids act are also expressed throughout the placenta, suggesting that the effects of in-utero cannabinoid exposure may include indirect effects from the placenta. In-utero cannabis research focuses on short and long-term fetal health and development; however, these studies include little to no placenta analysis. Prenatal cannabinoid exposure is linked to small for gestational age and fetal growth-restricted babies. Compromised placental development is also associated with fetal growth restriction and the few studies (clinical and animal models) that included placental analysis, identify changes in placental vasculature and function in these cannabinoid-exposed pregnancies. In vitro studies further support cannabinoid impact on cell function in the different populations that comprise the placenta. In this article, we aim to summarize how phytocannabinoids can impact placental development and function. Specifically, the cannabinoids and their actions at the different receptors are described, with receptor localization throughout the human and murine placenta discussed. Findings from studies that included placental analysis and how cannabinoid signaling may modulate critical developmental processing including cell proliferation, angiogenesis and migration are described. Considering the current research, prenatal cannabinoid exposure may significantly impact placental development, and, as such, identifying windows of placental vulnerability for each cannabinoid will be critical to elucidate the etiology of fetal outcome studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbey C E Rokeby
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bryony V Natale
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - David R C Natale
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada; Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
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4
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Kravchenko OV, Tiulienieva OA, Yasnikovska SM, Goshovska AV. FEATURES OF THE FUNCTIONAL MORPHOLOGY OF THE FULL-TERM PLACENTA IN WOMEN WITH THREATENED ABORTION WITH BLEEDING IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER OF GESTATION. WIADOMOSCI LEKARSKIE (WARSAW, POLAND : 1960) 2023; 76:1797-1803. [PMID: 37740973 DOI: 10.36740/wlek202308114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim: To examine the morphology regarding the term placentas in pregnancies with threatened abortion with bleeding in the first trimester. PATIENTS AND METHODS Materials and methods: 118 term placentas were selected, of which 40 placentas with the physiological course of pregnancy. 78 placentas were from women with threatened abortion with bleeding in the first trimester, of which 37 patients received hormonal therapy (group I), 41 women were prescribed symptomatic therapy (group II). Placentas were investigatedaccording to the protocol, which includes organometric, macroscopic and microscopic studies. RESULTS Results: In the placentas of group II is a significant increase of the area of terminal villi compared due to the stroma against the background of a deficit of fetal capillaries. In group I have revealed that the specific weight of the vascular bed of the terminal villi was 1.5 times higher compared to the control (Р=0.031) and 2.7 times higher than the group II (Р=0.022) and dominates the share of the stroma. The weight of the epithelium of the terminal villi in all groups is approximately the same (Р=0.042), but the ratio of the epithelium to the stroma is higher in the group I (0.63) than in the control (0.43). CONCLUSION Conclusions: In women with a pathological course of the first trimester of pregnancy the compensatory mechanisms in full-term placentas are morphologically represented by an increase in the number of terminal villi, syncytio-capillary membranes, intensification of angiogenesis. In the placentas of women who received hormonal therapy adaptive reactions are most effective and able to compensate for the gestational immaturity of the chorion.
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5
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Jantzie LL. Placental mediated mechanisms of perinatal brain injury. Exp Neurol 2022; 358:114229. [PMID: 36152499 PMCID: PMC10115519 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren L Jantzie
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America; Neurosciences Intensive Care Nursery, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America; Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America; Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
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Effect of Prenatal Opioid Exposure on the Human Placental Methylome. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10051150. [PMID: 35625888 PMCID: PMC9138340 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to addictive drugs can lead to placental epigenetic modifications, but a methylome-wide evaluation of placental DNA methylation changes after prenatal opioid exposure has not yet been performed. Placental tissue samples were collected at delivery from 19 opioid-exposed and 20 unexposed control full-term pregnancies. Placental DNA methylomes were profiled using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylationEPIC BeadChip. Differentially methylated CpG sites associated with opioid exposure were identified with a linear model using the ‘limma’ R package. To identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs) spanning multiple CpG sites, the ‘DMRcate’ R package was used. The functions of genes mapped by differentially methylated CpG sites and DMRs were further annotated using Enrichr. Differentially methylated CpGs (n = 684, unadjusted p < 0.005 and |∆β| ≥ 0.05) were mapped to 258 genes (including PLD1, MGAM, and ALCS2). Differentially methylated regions (n = 199) were located in 174 genes (including KCNMA1). Enrichment analysis of the top differentially methylated CpG sites and regions indicated disrupted epigenetic regulation of genes involved in synaptic structure, chemical synaptic transmission, and nervous system development. Our findings imply that placental epigenetic changes due to prenatal opioid exposure could result in placental dysfunction, leading to abnormal fetal brain development and the symptoms of opioid withdrawal in neonates.
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7
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Favara MT, Smith J, Friedman D, Lafferty M, Carola D, Adeniyi-Jones S, Greenspan J, Aghai ZH. Growth failure in infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome in the neonatal intensive care unit. J Perinatol 2022; 42:313-318. [PMID: 34381175 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-021-01183-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess if infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) are smaller at birth and have decreased growth parameters between birth and discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). METHODS Retrospective data analysis of term/late-preterm neonates with NAS at a single-center NICU between September 2006 and May 2018. Growth parameters (weight, length, HC) were measured at birth and discharge. Z scores and percentiles were calculated using WHO standard growth curves. RESULTS A total of 864 infants ≥35 weeks were admitted for NAS. At birth, median percentiles were weight 30%, HC 23%, and length 37%; these decreased significantly (p < 0.001) at discharge to 12%, 6.5%, and 13%, respectively. The percentage of infants <3rd percentile increased significantly (p < 0.001) in all growth parameters from birth to discharge. CONCLUSION Infants with NAS are smaller at birth and have significant growth retardation in all growth parameters at discharge. An ongoing long-term growth follow-up study will discern the impact of growth restriction in NAS infants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jessica Smith
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | - David Carola
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Jay Greenspan
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zubair H Aghai
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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8
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Rosenfeld CS. The placenta as a target of opioid drugs†. Biol Reprod 2022; 106:676-686. [PMID: 35024817 PMCID: PMC9040663 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Opioid drugs are analgesics increasingly being prescribed to control pain associated with a wide range of causes. Usage of pregnant women has dramatically increased in the past decades. Neonates born to these women are at risk for neonatal abstinence syndrome (also referred to as neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome). Negative birth outcomes linked with maternal opioid use disorder include compromised fetal growth, premature birth, reduced birthweight, and congenital defects. Such infants require lengthier hospital stays necessitating rising health care costs, and they are at greater risk for neurobehavioral and other diseases. Thus, it is essential to understand the genesis of such disorders. As the primary communication organ between mother and conceptus, the placenta itself is susceptible to opioid effects but may be key to understanding how these drugs affect long-term offspring health and potential avenue to prevent later diseases. In this review, we will consider the evidence that placental responses are regulated through an endogenous opioid system. However, maternal consumption of opioid drugs can also bind and act through opioid receptors express by trophoblast cells of the placenta. Thus, we will also discuss the current human and rodent studies that have examined the effects of opioids on the placenta. These drugs might affect placental hormones associated with maternal recognition of pregnancy, including placental lactogens and human chorionic gonadotropin in rodents and humans, respectively. A further understanding of how such drugs affect the placenta may open up new avenues for early diagnostic and remediation approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl S Rosenfeld
- Correspondence: Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. E-mail:
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9
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Histological Changes Observed in Placentas Exposed to Medication-Assisted Treatment. J Pregnancy 2021; 2021:2175026. [PMID: 34659831 PMCID: PMC8516570 DOI: 10.1155/2021/2175026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction To compare the effects of medication-assisted treatment on the placenta in pregnant women with opioid use disorder and uncomplicated pregnancies. Methods This is a case-controlled study of pregnant women utilizing medication-assisted treatment, buprenorphine or methadone, which were matched to healthy uncomplicated controls by gestational age. Placental evaluations and neonatal outcomes were evaluated. Data analysis performed standard statistics and relative risk analysis with a p < 0.05 considered significant. Results There were 143 women who met the inclusion criteria: 103 utilizing MAT, 41 buprenorphine and 62 methadone, and 40 uncomplicated matched healthy controls. The incidence of delayed villous maturation was 36% in the medication-assisted group compared with 10% in controls (RR 3.6: 95% CI 1.37-9.43; p < 0.01). The placental weight was greater (541 ± 117 g versus 491 ± 117 g; p = 0.02), and the fetoplacental weight ratio was lower (5.70 ± 1.1 versus 7.13 ± 1.4; p < 0.01) in the medication-exposed pregnancies compared with controls. The mean birth weight of the MAT newborns was significantly lower than that of the healthy controls (3018 ± 536 g versus 3380 ± 492 g; p < 0.01). When evaluating the subgroups of the MAT newborns, the birth weight of the methadone-exposed newborns (2886 ± 514 g) was significantly lower than that of the buprenorphine-exposed newborns (3218 ± 512 g; p < 0.01). Conclusion Medication-exposed pregnancies have a greater incidence of delayed villous maturation, a larger placental size, and a decreased fetoplacental weight ratio compared to the healthy controls. Larger long-term follow-up studies to evaluate outcomes with the presence of delayed villous maturation are needed.
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10
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Rosenfeld CS. Transcriptomics and Other Omics Approaches to Investigate Effects of Xenobiotics on the Placenta. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:723656. [PMID: 34631709 PMCID: PMC8497882 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.723656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The conceptus is most vulnerable to developmental perturbation during its early stages when the events that create functional organ systems are being launched. As the placenta is in direct contact with maternal tissues, it readily encounters any xenobiotics in her bloodstream. Besides serving as a conduit for solutes and waste, the placenta possesses a tightly regulated endocrine system that is, of itself, vulnerable to pharmaceutical agents, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and other environmental toxicants. To determine whether extrinsic factors affect placental function, transcriptomics and other omics approaches have become more widely used. In casting a wide net with such approaches, they have provided mechanistic insights into placental physiological and pathological responses and how placental responses may impact the fetus, especially the developing brain through the placenta-brain axis. This review will discuss how such omics technologies have been utilized to understand effects of EDCs, including the widely prevalent plasticizers bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS), and phthalates, other environmental toxicants, pharmaceutical agents, maternal smoking, and air pollution on placental gene expression, DNA methylation, and metabolomic profiles. It is also increasingly becoming clear that miRNA (miR) are important epigenetic regulators of placental function. Thus, the evidence to date that xenobiotics affect placental miR expression patterns will also be explored. Such omics approaches with mouse and human placenta will assuredly provide key biomarkers that may be used as barometers of exposure and can be targeted by early mitigation approaches to prevent later diseases, in particular neurobehavioral disorders, originating due to placental dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl S Rosenfeld
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States.,MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States.,Thompson Center for Autism and Neurobehavioral Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States.,Genetics Area Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
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11
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Mitlid-Mork B, Turowski G, Bowe S, Staff AC, Sugulle M. Circulating angiogenic profiles and histo-morphological placental characteristics of uncomplicated post-date pregnancies. Placenta 2021; 109:55-63. [PMID: 33990027 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The objectives of this study were to describe the histo-morphology of post-date placentas in clinically uncomplicated pregnancies without adverse delivery outcomes and the association with maternal circulating pre-delivery Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), as well as the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. METHODS Post-date placentas (gestational week ≥40+2, n = 87) were macroscopically and histo-morphologically assessed according to the international, standardized Amsterdam Workshop Consensus Group criteria. Inter-rater agreement was evaluated by percentage of agreement. PlGF and sFlt-1 concentrations were available from maternal serum sampled close to delivery, and were compared by Mann-Whitney U test. Linear regression analyses were adjusted for predefined potential confounders. RESULTS The majority of the post-date placentas showed morphological signs of delayed maturation. About half of the placentas showed increased syncytial knotting and fibrin. In placentas with increased presence of intervillous fibrin, median maternal PlGF level was significantly lower (p = 0.004), median sFlt-1 level higher and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio significantly higher (p = 0.002) compared to those with normal fibrin amounts. Increased placental syncytial knotting was associated with lower levels of PlGF, higher sFlt-1 and higher sFlt-1/PlGF ratio compared to those with normal knotting. DISCUSSION Our standardized morphological study of post-date placentas in clinically healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies and delivery outcomes revealed delayed maturation in the majority of placentas. Increased pre-delivery circulating anti-angiogenic profile was associated with increased intervillous fibrin and syncytial knotting. We propose that circulating maternal angiogenic biomarkers may be of future use in clinical post-date pregnancy assessment, as they reflect important aspects of placental health and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgitte Mitlid-Mork
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Obstetrics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; University of Oslo, Faculty of Medicine, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gitta Turowski
- University of Oslo, Faculty of Medicine, Oslo, Norway; Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sophie Bowe
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Obstetrics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; University of Oslo, Faculty of Medicine, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anne Cathrine Staff
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Obstetrics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; University of Oslo, Faculty of Medicine, Oslo, Norway
| | - Meryam Sugulle
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Obstetrics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; University of Oslo, Faculty of Medicine, Oslo, Norway.
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12
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Guerrero JC, Kim J, Santi M, Ruchelli E, Carreon CK. Thrombosis of the Renal Vein and Inferior Vena Cava Associated With Placental Fetal Vascular Malperfusion in a Neonate Exposed to Methadone Maintenance Therapy In Utero. Pediatr Dev Pathol 2021; 24:56-61. [PMID: 32970505 DOI: 10.1177/1093526620962062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Methadone, an opioid agonist, is the recommended treatment for pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD). Fetal/neonatal autopsy findings as well as placental changes in the setting of maternal OUD or methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) are not well-characterized. Here we present a case of a neonate who had exposure to MMT while in utero and died shortly after birth and was subsequently found to have multifocal calcified renal vein thrombosis, a recent inferior vena cava thrombus, and placental features of fetal vascular malperfusion at autopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Guerrero
- Department of Pathology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Joseph Kim
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Mariarita Santi
- Department of Pathology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Eduardo Ruchelli
- Department of Pathology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Chrystalle Katte Carreon
- Department of Pathology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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13
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Yen E, Maron JL. Aberrant Feeding and Growth in Neonates With Prenatal Opioid Exposure: Evidence of Neuromodulation and Behavioral Changes. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:805763. [PMID: 35127598 PMCID: PMC8814597 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.805763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) among pregnant women over the last decade has led to more than a fivefold increase in the number of neonates born with withdrawal signs known as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) or Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS). The impact of prenatal opioid exposure on these neonates remains a public health and research priority due to both its short and long-term effects on offspring. Among the adverse long-term effects associated with OUD is a metabolic syndrome with accompanying cardiovascular comorbidities. The susceptibility to metabolic diseases may begin as early as conception. Neonates born in a setting of prenatal opioid exposure are known to have aberrant early growth, e.g., lower birth weight and smaller head size, and dysregulated feeding behavior that ranges from feeding difficulty to hyperphagia which may predispose these neonates to metabolic syndrome in adulthood. However, studies on this topic are lacking. In this article, we describe the reported association between OUD and metabolic syndrome in adults, animal data linking opioid receptors with the development of diet-induced obesity, the inflammatory modulation of opioids and finally, neonatal salivary transcriptomic data from our laboratory that highlighted the sex-specific impact of opioids on the hypothalamic and reward receptors that regulate feeding behavior in opioid-exposed neonates. There is a great need for future research linking opioids with epigenetic and gene expression changes, as well as neuromodulatory effects in the developing brain, that may underlie the dysregulated feeding, growth, and long-term metabolic and cardiovascular risks for these neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Yen
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jill L Maron
- Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, United States.,Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
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14
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Green MT, Martin RE, Kinkade JA, Schmidt RR, Bivens NJ, Tuteja G, Mao J, Rosenfeld CS. Maternal oxycodone treatment causes pathophysiological changes in the mouse placenta. Placenta 2020; 100:96-110. [PMID: 32891007 PMCID: PMC8112023 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2020.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pregnant women are increasingly being prescribed and abusing opioid drugs. As the primary communication organ between mother and conceptus, the placenta may be vulnerable to opioid effects but also holds the key to better understanding how these drugs affect long-term offspring health. We hypothesized that maternal treatment with oxycodone (OXY), the primary opioid at the center of the current crisis, deleteriously affects placental structure and gene expression patterns. METHODS Female mice were treated daily with 5 mg OXY/kg or saline solution (Control, CTL) for two weeks prior to breeding and until placenta were collected at embryonic age 12.5. A portion of the placenta was fixed for histology, and the remainder was frozen for RNA isolation followed by RNAseq. RESULTS Maternal OXY treatment reduced parietal trophoblast giant cell (pTGC) area and decreased the maternal blood vessel area within the labyrinth region. OXY exposure affected placental gene expression profiles in a sex dependent manner with female placenta showing up-regulation of many placental enriched genes, including Ceacam11, Ceacam14, Ceacam12, Ceacam13, Prl7b1, Prl2b1, Ctsq, and Tpbpa. In contrast, placenta of OXY exposed males had alteration of many ribosomal proteins. Weighted correlation network analysis revealed that in OXY female vs. CTL female comparison, select modules correlated with OXY-induced placental histological changes. Such associations were lacking in the male OXY vs. CTL male comparison. DISCUSSION Results suggest OXY exposure alters placental histology. In response to OXY exposure, female placenta responds by upregulating placental enriched transcripts that are either unchanged or downregulated in male placenta. Such changes may shield female offspring from developmental origins of health and disease-based diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison T Green
- Christopher S Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA; Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Rachel E Martin
- Christopher S Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA; Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Jessica A Kinkade
- Christopher S Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA; Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Robert R Schmidt
- Christopher S Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA; Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Nathan J Bivens
- DNA Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Geetu Tuteja
- Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Jiude Mao
- Christopher S Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA; Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Cheryl S Rosenfeld
- Christopher S Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA; Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA; Informatics Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA; Thompson Center for Autism and Neurobehavioral Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA; Genetics Area Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
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15
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Ruschkowski B, Lafreniere A, Demellawy DE, Grynspan D. Gastroschisis Is Associated With Placental Delayed Villous Maturation. Pediatr Dev Pathol 2020; 23:197-203. [PMID: 31542993 DOI: 10.1177/1093526619875877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Gastroschisis is a congenital abnormality characterized by visceral herniation through an abdominal wall defect. While the cause of gastroschisis is unknown, it has been linked to risk factors including young maternal age, smoking, and alcohol use during pregnancy. To date, the only established placental correlate is amniocyte vacuolization. Based on our clinical experience, we hypothesized that delayed villous maturation (DVM) is also associated with gastroschisis. We conducted a retrospective slide review of 23 placentas of neonates with gastroschisis. Additionally, we selected 2 control groups of placentas: 1 with a previous diagnosis of DVM and 1 with normal villous morphology. All placentas were randomized and reviewed by 2 perinatal pathologists, who were blinded to the group; DVM and amniocyte vacuolization were assessed. Gastroschisis was associated with increased placental DVM in 65.2% of cases (vs 13.6% of controls; P = .0007) and increased amniocyte vacuolization in 52.2% of cases (vs 9.1% of controls; P = .003) compared to the control group. Based on the normal and DVM groups, kappa agreement between current slide review and initial pathology diagnosis was 0.419, indicating moderate agreement. Our study shows that gastroschisis is associated with placental DVM. This association may be due to (1) a common upstream factor contributing to both gastroschisis and DVM or (2) DVM may be a consequence of the altered placental and amniotic environment in the context of gastroschisis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dina El Demellawy
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Grynspan
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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16
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Placenta and perinatal brain injury: the gateway to individualized therapeutics and precision neonatal medicine. Pediatr Res 2020; 87:807-808. [PMID: 32059230 PMCID: PMC10097459 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-020-0807-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Wu and colleagues analyzed the placental pathology from a subset of the neonates in the NEATO trial who had reports available and correlated the placental pathology findings with outcomes. This study highlights the importance of placental pathology, and its potential to bring precision medicine to critically-ill neonates. Placental pathology will likely aid stratification of neonates for clinical trials and accelerate progress for neurorepair.
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17
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Pacora P, Romero R, Jaiman S, Erez O, Bhatti G, Panaitescu B, Benshalom-Tirosh N, Jung Jung E, Hsu CD, Hassan SS, Yeo L, Kadar N. Mechanisms of death in structurally normal stillbirths. J Perinat Med 2019; 47:222-240. [PMID: 30231013 PMCID: PMC6349478 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2018-0216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Objectives To investigate mechanisms of in utero death in normally formed fetuses by measuring amniotic fluid (AF) biomarkers for hypoxia (erythropoietin [EPO]), myocardial damage (cardiac troponin I [cTnI]) and brain injury (glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP]), correlated with risk factors for fetal death and placental histopathology. Methods This retrospective, observational cohort study included intrauterine deaths with transabdominal amniocentesis prior to induction of labor. Women with a normal pregnancy and an indicated amniocentesis at term were randomly selected as controls. AF was assayed for EPO, cTnI and GFAP using commercial immunoassays. Placental histopathology was reviewed, and CD15-immunohistochemistry was used. Analyte concentrations >90th centile for controls were considered "raised". Raised AF EPO, AF cTnI and AF GFAP concentrations were considered evidence of hypoxia, myocardial and brain injury, respectively. Results There were 60 cases and 60 controls. Hypoxia was present in 88% (53/60), myocardial damage in 70% (42/60) and brain injury in 45% (27/60) of fetal deaths. Hypoxic fetuses had evidence of myocardial injury, brain injury or both in 77% (41/53), 49% (26/53) and 13% (7/53) of cases, respectively. Histopathological evidence for placental dysfunction was found in 74% (43/58) of these cases. Conclusion Hypoxia, secondary to placental dysfunction, was found to be the mechanism of death in the majority of fetal deaths among structurally normal fetuses. Ninety-one percent of hypoxic fetal deaths sustained brain, myocardial or both brain and myocardial injuries in utero. Hypoxic myocardial injury was an attributable mechanism of death in 70% of the cases. Non-hypoxic cases may be caused by cardiac arrhythmia secondary to a cardiac conduction defect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Percy Pacora
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan,Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Sunil Jaiman
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Offer Erez
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Gaurav Bhatti
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Bogdan Panaitescu
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Neta Benshalom-Tirosh
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Eun Jung Jung
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Chaur-Dong Hsu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Sonia S. Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan,Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Lami Yeo
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Nicholas Kadar
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
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Miller CB, Wright T. Investigating Mechanisms of Stillbirth in the Setting of Prenatal Substance Use. Acad Forensic Pathol 2018; 8:865-873. [PMID: 31240077 DOI: 10.1177/1925362118821471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Intrauterine fetal demise affects between 0.4-0.8% of pregnancies worldwide. This significant adverse pregnancy outcome continues to be poorly understood. In utero exposure to substances increases the risk of stillbirth to varying degrees according to the type of substance and degree of exposure. The aim of this qualitative narrative review is to investigate common biologic relationships between stillbirth and maternal substance use. Methods A PubMed literature search was conducted to query the most commonly used substances and biologic mechanisms of stillbirth. Search terms included "stillbirth," "intrauterine fetal demise," "placenta," "cocaine," "tobacco," "alcohol," "methamphetamines," "opioids/ opiates," and "cannabis." Results There are very few studies identifying a direct link between substance use and stillbirth. Several studies demonstrate associations with placental lesions of insufficiency including poor invasion, vasoconstriction, and sequestration of toxic substances that inhibit nutrient transport. Restricted fetal growth is the most common finding in pregnancies complicated by all types of substance use. Discussion More research is needed to understand the biologic mechanisms of stillbirth. Such knowledge will be foundational to understanding how to prevent and treat the adverse effects of substances during pregnancy.
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Maternal and neonatal characteristics of a Canadian urban cohort receiving treatment for opioid use disorder during pregnancy. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2018; 10:132-137. [PMID: 30113278 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174418000478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The epidemic of prescription and non-prescription opioid misuse is of particular importance in pregnancy. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada currently recommends opioid replacement therapy with methadone or buprenorphine for opioid-dependent women during pregnancy. This vulnerable segment of the population has been shown to be at increased risk of blood-borne infectious diseases, nutritional insecurity and stress. The objective of this study was to describe an urban cohort of pregnant women on opioid replacement therapy and to evaluate potential effects on the fetus. A retrospective chart review of all women on opioid replacement therapy and their infants who delivered at The Ottawa Hospital General and Civic campuses between January 1, 2013 and March 24, 2017 was conducted. Data were collected on maternal characteristics, pregnancy outcomes, neonatal outcomes and corresponding placental pathology. Maternal comorbidities identified included high rates of infection, tobacco use and illicit substance use, as well as increased rates of placental abruption compared with national averages. Compared with national baseline averages, the mean neonatal birth weight was low, and the incidence of small for gestational age infants and congenital anomalies was high. The incidence of NAS was comparable with estimates from other studies of similar cohorts. Findings support existing literature that calls for a comprehensive interdisciplinary risk reduction approach including dietary, social, domestic, psychological and other supports to care for opioid-dependent women in pregnancy.
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20
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Montanari E, Bonasoni MP, Licata M, Salomone A, Gerace E, Vivarelli M, Giorgetti R, Tagliabracci A. Toxicological and histological analyses for a stillborn delivered by a mother under methadone maintenance therapy. Forensic Toxicol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s11419-017-0402-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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