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Nemec-Bakk AS, Bel J, Niccoli S, Boreham DR, Tai TC, Lees SJ, Khaper N. Effects of prenatal dexamethasone exposure on adult C57BL/6J mouse metabolism and oxidative stress. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2024; 102:180-195. [PMID: 38329060 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2023-0254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal glucocorticoid exposure has been shown to alter hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function resulting in altered fetal development that can persist through adulthood. Fetal exposure to excess dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, has been shown to alter adult behaviour and metabolism. This study investigated the effects prenatal dexamethasone exposure had on adult offspring cardiac and liver metabolism and oxidative stress. Pregnant C57BL/6 mice received a dose of 0.4 mg/kg dexamethasone on gestational days 15-17. Once pups were approximately 7 months old, glucose uptake was determined using positron emission tomography and insulin resistance (IR) was determined by homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) IR calculation. Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring 4-hydroxynonenal protein adduct formation and total reactive oxygen species. Female dexamethasone group had significantly increased glucose uptake when insulin stimulated compared to vehicle-treated mice. HOMA IR revealed no evidence of IR in either male or female offspring. There was also no change in oxidative stress markers in either cardiac or liver tissues of male or female offspring. These data suggest that prenatal dexamethasone exposure in male mice does not alter oxidative stress or metabolism. However, prenatal dexamethasone exposure increased glucocorticoids, cardiac glucose uptake, and pAkt signaling in female heart tissues in adult mice, suggesting there are sex differences in prenatal dexamethasone exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Nemec-Bakk
- Department of Science and Environmental studies, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada
| | - J Bel
- Department of Science and Environmental studies, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada
| | - S Niccoli
- Medical Science Division, NOSM University, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada
| | - D R Boreham
- Medical Science Division, NOSM University, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada
- Biomolecular Sciences, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - T C Tai
- Medical Science Division, NOSM University, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada
- Biomolecular Sciences, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - S J Lees
- Medical Science Division, NOSM University, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada
- Department of Biology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada
| | - N Khaper
- Medical Science Division, NOSM University, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada
- Biomolecular Sciences, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada
- Department of Biology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada
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Creisher PS, Parish MA, Lei J, Liu J, Perry JL, Campbell AD, Sherer ML, Burd I, Klein SL. Suppression of progesterone by influenza A virus mediates adverse maternal and fetal outcomes in mice. mBio 2024; 15:e0306523. [PMID: 38190129 PMCID: PMC10865978 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03065-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Influenza A virus infection during pregnancy can cause adverse maternal and fetal outcomes but the mechanism responsible remains elusive. Infection of outbred mice with 2009 H1N1 at embryonic day (E) 10 resulted in significant maternal morbidity, placental tissue damage and inflammation, fetal growth restriction, and developmental delays that lasted through weaning. Restriction of pulmonary virus replication was not inhibited during pregnancy, but infected dams had suppressed circulating and placental progesterone (P4) concentrations that were caused by H1N1-induced upregulation of pulmonary cyclooxygenase (COX)-1-, but not COX-2-, dependent synthesis and secretion of prostaglandin (PG) F2α. Treatment with 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC), a synthetic progestin that is safe to use in pregnancy, ameliorated the adverse maternal and fetal outcomes from H1N1 infection and prevented placental cell death and inflammation. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of progestin treatments for influenza during pregnancy.IMPORTANCEPregnant individuals are at risk of severe outcomes from both seasonal and pandemic influenza A viruses. Influenza infection during pregnancy is associated with adverse fetal outcomes at birth and adverse consequences for offspring into adulthood. When outbred dams, with semi-allogenic fetuses, were infected with 2009 H1N1, in addition to pulmonary virus replication, lung damage, and inflammation, the placenta showed evidence of transient cell death and inflammation that was mediated by increased activity along the arachidonic acid pathway leading to suppression of circulating progesterone. Placental damage and suppressed progesterone were associated with detrimental effects on perinatal growth and developmental delays in offspring. Treatment of H1N1-infected pregnant mice with 17-OHPC, a synthetic progestin treatment that is safe to use in pregnancy, prevented placental damage and inflammation and adverse fetal outcomes. This novel therapeutic option for the treatment of influenza during pregnancy should be explored clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S. Creisher
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Maclaine A. Parish
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jun Lei
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jin Liu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jamie L. Perry
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ariana D. Campbell
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Morgan L. Sherer
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Irina Burd
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sabra L. Klein
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Creisher PS, Parish MA, Lei J, Liu J, Perry JL, Campbell AD, Sherer ML, Burd I, Klein SL. Suppression of progesterone by influenza A virus mediates adverse maternal and fetal outcomes in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.11.557146. [PMID: 37745453 PMCID: PMC10515826 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.11.557146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Influenza A virus infection during pregnancy can cause adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, but the mechanism responsible remains elusive. Infection of outbred mice with 2009 H1N1 at embryonic day (E) 10 resulted in significant maternal morbidity, placental tissue damage and inflammation, fetal growth restriction, and developmental delays that lasted through weaning. Restriction of pulmonary virus replication was not inhibited during pregnancy, but infected dams had suppressed circulating and placental progesterone (P4) concentrations that were caused by H1N1-induced upregulation of pulmonary cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, but not COX-2-, dependent synthesis and secretion of prostaglandin (PG) F2α. Treatment with 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC), a synthetic progestin that is safe to use in pregnancy, ameliorated the adverse maternal and fetal outcomes from H1N1 infection and prevented placental cell death and inflammation. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of progestin treatments for influenza during pregnancy.
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Bartha I, Joumady I, Cuerva M, Bartha JL. The effect of maternal obesity and lipid profile on first-trimester serum progesterone levels. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2023; 5:100959. [PMID: 37030509 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.100959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prepregnancy overweight increases the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. Maternal lipid profile plays a key role in the production of pregnancy hormones. The influence that obesity has on the specific mechanisms that may be involved and the potential associations with abnormal conditions in pregnancy are still poorly understood. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the effect of maternal body mass index and lipid profile on first-trimester serum progesterone levels. STUDY DESIGN This was a prospective cohort study including 734 pregnant people. First-trimester maternal serum progesterone, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides were measured between 9 and 11 weeks' gestation. Free β-hCG, PAPP-A, age, body mass index, smoking status, gestational age at delivery, fetal sex, and birthweight were also recorded. Pregnant people were classified according to their body mass index into underweight (n=21), normal weight (n=395), overweight (n=221), obesity class I (n=64), and obesity class II/III (n=33) groups. RESULTS Gestational age at sampling was 10.0 4±1.12 weeks. Serum progesterone levels decreased as maternal body mass index increased (35.84±12.00 ng/mL, 33.08±11.27 ng/mL, 28.04±8.91 ng/mL, 24.37±8.56 ng/mL, and 19.87±11.00 mL for underweight, normal weight, overweight, obesity class I, and obesity class II/III groups, respectively; P<.000001). There were statistically significant negative correlations between maternal progesterone and body mass index, triglycerides, and cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, and positive correlations with gestational age at sampling, maternal age, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, crown-rump length, free β-hCG, and PAPP-A. Linear regression showed that the only independent predictor variables for progesterone levels were body mass index (P<.0001), PAPP-A (P<.0001), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P<.0001), and free β-hCG (P<.0001) (R2=0.33; P<.0000001). CONCLUSION First-trimester serum progesterone levels were lower in overweight pregnant people and markedly decreased in those with obesity, especially obesity class II/III. Maternal high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was independently related to progesterone levels as a protective factor. Benefits of progesterone supplementation in pregnant people with obesity need further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Bartha
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, University Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Insaf Joumady
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, University Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marcos Cuerva
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, University Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Luis Bartha
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, University Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain
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Long J, Huang Y, Wang G, Tang Z, Shan Y, Shen S, Ni X. Mitochondrial ROS Accumulation Contributes to Maternal Hypertension and Impaired Remodeling of Spiral Artery but Not IUGR in a Rat PE Model Caused by Maternal Glucocorticoid Exposure. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12050987. [PMID: 37237853 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12050987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Increased maternal glucocorticoid levels have been implicated as a risk factor for preeclampsia (PE) development. We found that pregnant rats exposed to dexamethasone (DEX) showed hallmarks of PE features, impaired spiral artery (SA) remodeling, and elevated circulatory levels of sFlt1, sEng IL-1β, and TNFα. Abnormal mitochondrial morphology and mitochondrial dysfunction in placentas occurred in DEX rats. Omics showed that a large spectrum of placental signaling pathways, including oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), energy metabolism, inflammation, and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system were affected in DEX rats. MitoTEMPO, a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, alleviated maternal hypertension and renal damage, and improved SA remodeling, uteroplacental blood flow, and the placental vasculature network. It reversed several pathways, including OXPHOS and glutathione pathways. Moreover, DEX-induced impaired functions of human extravillous trophoblasts were associated with excess ROS caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. However, scavenging excess ROS did not improve intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and elevated circulatory sFlt1, sEng, IL-1β, and TNFα levels in DEX rats. Our data indicate that excess mitochondrial ROS contributes to trophoblast dysfunction, impaired SA remodeling, reduced uteroplacental blood flow, and maternal hypertension in the DEX-induced PE model, while increased sFlt1 and sEng levels and IUGR might be associated with inflammation and an impaired energy metabolism and IGF system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Long
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- National International Joint Research Center for Medical Metabolomics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, General Hospital of Southern Theatre Command, Guangzhou 510010, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Physiology, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zhengshan Tang
- National International Joint Research Center for Medical Metabolomics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Yali Shan
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- National International Joint Research Center for Medical Metabolomics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Shiping Shen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- National International Joint Research Center for Medical Metabolomics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Xin Ni
- National International Joint Research Center for Medical Metabolomics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
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Alawadhi M, Kilarkaje N, Mouihate A, Al-Bader MD. Role of progesterone on dexamethasone-induced alterations in placental vascularization and progesterone receptors in rats†. Biol Reprod 2023; 108:133-149. [PMID: 36322157 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is manifested by lower maternal progesterone levels, smaller placental size, and decreased placental vascularity indicated by lower expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Studies showed that progesterone increases angiogenesis and induces VEGF expression in different tissues. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of progesterone on placental vascular bed and VEGF expression and the modulation of nuclear and membranous progesterone receptors (PR) in dexamethasone-induced rat IUGR model. METHODS Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into four groups and given intraperitoneal injections of either saline, dexamethasone, dexamethasone, and progesterone or progesterone. Injections started on gestation day (DG) 15 and lasted until the days of euthanization (19 and 21 DG). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate plasma progesterone levels. Real-time PCR and western blotting were used to evaluate gene and protein expressions of VEGF, and PR in labyrinth and basal placental zones. Immunohistochemistry was used to locate VEGF and different PRs in placental cells. Immunofluorescence was used to monitor the expression of blood vessel marker (αSMA). RESULTS Dexamethasone decreased the vascular bed fraction and the expression of VEGF in both placental zones. Progesterone co-treatment with dexamethasone prevented this reduction. Nuclear and membrane PRs showed tissue-specific expression in different placental zones and responded differently to both dexamethasone and progesterone. CONCLUSIONS Progesterone treatment improves the outcomes in IUGR pregnancy. Progesterone alleviated DEX-induced IUGR probably by promoting placental VEGF and angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam Alawadhi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Narayana Kilarkaje
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Abdeslam Mouihate
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Maie D Al-Bader
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
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