Sex-specific epigenetic gene activation profiles are differentially modulated in human placentas affected by intrauterine growth restriction

Epigenetic changes occur in placentas of spontaneous and recurrent miscarriages

BACKGROUND

In contrast to genetic abnormalities which are well known to be responsible for around 50 % of human miscarriages, there is very few data about epigenetic alterations in spontaneous and recurrent miscarriages (SM, RM). The aim of this study was to analyze the histone modification marks H3K9ac and H3K4me3 in SM and RM.

METHODS

The abundance of histone modifications H3K4me3/H3K9ac was analyzed by western blot in frozen abortion material of SM and RM compared to a control group of legal pregnancy terminations. Further, to characterize placental tissue cells expressing H3K4me3/H3K9ac immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence was performed in 20 SM, 19 RM and 26 controls.

RESULTS

The western blot data showed a tendency to an overall reduction of H3K4me3/H3K9ac, in the placental tissue of particularly SM. Further we differentiated between syncytiotrophoblast, cytotrophoblast and decidual cells and found a significant decrease of H3K4me3 in SM in cytotrophoblast cells and syncytial stroma. In RM H3K4me3 was downregulated exclusively in the syncytiotrophoblast. H3K9ac was reduced in SM and RM in all evaluated compartments, except from the syncytiotrophoblast.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed an overall reduced histone modification of H3K4me3 and H3K9ac in the placental tissue of SM. Concerning RM, particularly the reduction of H3K9ac was detected in the placental tissue, indicating that RM group has distinct profile in epigenetic regulation. Whether these histone modifications are part of a possible pathophysiologic cascade during SM and RM or are merely indicating a defective placentation, cannot be concluded from this study.

Epigenetic modification via H3K4me3 and H3K9ac in human placenta is reduced in preeclampsia

BACKROUND

Alterations of DNA accessibility and chromatin structure are associated with diseases. We aimed to investigate epigenetic modifications in preeclampsia (PE), a pregnancy-associated hypertonic disease. Specifically, we addressed histone modification proteins H3K9ac (acetylated lysine 9 of the histone H3) and H3K4me3 (trimethylated lysine 4 of the histone H3) in PE.

METHODS

We analyzed expression of histone proteins H3K4me3 and H3K9ac in 32 PE and 32 control placentas by immunohistochemistry. Further, we carried out confirmatory western blot analysis of respective proteins in 6 representative placentas. We then applied regression models with additional adjustment for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Expression of H3K4me3 and H3K9ac is reduced in PE placentas as demonstrated by immunohistochemical stainings and western blot. There are no differences between female and male fetuses in the presence of these histone modifications. H3K4me3 positively correlated with maternal age (r = 0.444, p = 0.034).

CONCLUSION

Expression of the placental histone proteins H3K4me3 and H3K9ac is reduced in PE, and independent of fetal gender. Our study underlines the involvement of epigenetic changes in the placenta of women suffering from PE.