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Leon RL, Bitar L, Rajagopalan V, Spong CY. Interdependence of placenta and fetal cardiac development. Prenat Diagn 2024. [PMID: 38676696 DOI: 10.1002/pd.6572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
The placenta and fetal heart undergo development concurrently during early pregnancy, and, while human studies have reported associations between placental abnormalities and congenital heart disease (CHD), the nature of this relationship remains incompletely understood. Evidence from animal studies suggests a plausible cause and effect connection between placental abnormalities and fetal CHD. Biomechanical models demonstrate the influence of mechanical forces on cardiac development, whereas genetic models highlight the role of confined placental mutations that can cause some forms of CHD. Similar definitive studies in humans are lacking; however, placental pathologies such as maternal and fetal vascular malperfusion and chronic deciduitis are frequently observed in pregnancies complicated by CHD. Moreover, maternal conditions such as diabetes and pre-eclampsia, which affect placental function, are associated with increased risk of CHD in offspring. Bridging the gap between animal models and human studies is crucial to understanding how placental abnormalities may contribute to human fetal CHD. The next steps will require new methodologies and multidisciplinary approaches combining innovative imaging modalities, comprehensive genomic testing, and histopathology. These studies may eventually lead to preventative strategies for some forms of CHD by targeting placental influences on fetal heart development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Leon
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Lynn Bitar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Vidya Rajagopalan
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Catherine Y Spong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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2
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Moldenhauer LM, Foyle KL, Wilson JJ, Wong YY, Sharkey DJ, Green ES, Barry SC, Hull ML, Robertson SA. A disrupted FOXP3 transcriptional signature underpins systemic regulatory T cell insufficiency in early pregnancy failure. iScience 2024; 27:108994. [PMID: 38327801 PMCID: PMC10847744 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cell defects are implicated in disorders of embryo implantation and placental development, but the origins of Treg cell dysfunction are unknown. Here, we comprehensively analyzed the phenotypes and transcriptional profile of peripheral blood Treg cells in individuals with early pregnancy failure (EPF). Compared to fertile subjects, EPF subjects had 32% fewer total Treg cells and 54% fewer CD45RA+CCR7+ naive Treg cells among CD4+ T cells, an altered Treg cell phenotype with reduced transcription factor FOXP3 and suppressive marker CTLA4 expression, and lower Treg:Th1 and Treg:Th17 ratios. RNA sequencing demonstrated an aberrant gene expression profile, with upregulation of pro-inflammatory genes including CSF2, IL4, IL17A, IL21, and IFNG in EPF Treg cells. In silico analysis revealed 25% of the Treg cell dysregulated genes are targets of FOXP3. We conclude that EPF is associated with systemic Treg cell defects arising due to disrupted FOXP3 transcriptional control and loss of lineage fidelity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lachlan M. Moldenhauer
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Kerrie L. Foyle
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Jasmine J. Wilson
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Ying Y. Wong
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - David J. Sharkey
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Ella S. Green
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Simon C. Barry
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - M. Louise Hull
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Sarah A. Robertson
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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3
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Contreras-Méndez LA, Medrano JF, Thomas MG, Enns RM, Speidel SE, Luna-Nevárez G, López-Castro PA, Rivera-Acuña F, Luna-Nevárez P. The Anti-Müllerian Hormone as Endocrine and Molecular Marker Associated with Reproductive Performance in Holstein Dairy Cows Exposed to Heat Stress. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:213. [PMID: 38254382 PMCID: PMC10812537 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020213] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is proposed as a biomarker for fertility in cattle, yet this associative relationship appears to be influenced by heat stress (HS). The objective was to test serum AMH and AMH-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as markers potentially predictive of reproductive traits in dairy cows experiencing HS. The study included 300 Holstein cows that were genotyped using BovineSNP50 (54,000 SNP). A genome-wide association study was then executed. Nine intragenic SNPs within the pathways that influence the AMH gene were found important with multiple comparisons adjustment tests (p < 1.09 × 10-6). A further validation study was performed in an independent Holstein cattle population, which was divided into moderate (MH; n = 152) and severe heat-stressed (SH; n = 128) groups and then subjected to a summer reproductive management program. Serum AMH was confirmed as a predictor of fertility measures (p < 0.05) in MH but not in the SH group. Cows were genotyped, which revealed four SNPs as predictive markers for serum AMH (p < 0.01), reproductive traits (p < 0.01), and additional physiological variables (p < 0.05). These SNPs were in the genes AMH, IGFBP1, LGR5, and TLR4. In conclusion, serum AMH concentrations and AMH polymorphisms are proposed as predictive markers that can be used in conjunction with genomic breeding value approaches to improve reproductive performance in Holstein cows exposed to summer HS conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis A. Contreras-Méndez
- Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Veterinarias, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, Ciudad Obregón 85000, Mexico
| | - Juan F. Medrano
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | | | - R. Mark Enns
- Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Scott E. Speidel
- Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Guillermo Luna-Nevárez
- Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Veterinarias, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, Ciudad Obregón 85000, Mexico
| | - Pedro A. López-Castro
- Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Veterinarias, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, Ciudad Obregón 85000, Mexico
| | - Fernando Rivera-Acuña
- Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Veterinarias, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, Ciudad Obregón 85000, Mexico
| | - Pablo Luna-Nevárez
- Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Veterinarias, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, Ciudad Obregón 85000, Mexico
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Manti S, Spoto G, Nicotera AG, Di Rosa G, Piedimonte G. Impact of respiratory viral infections during pregnancy on the neurological outcomes of the newborn: current knowledge. Front Neurosci 2024; 17:1320319. [PMID: 38260010 PMCID: PMC10800711 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1320319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain development is a complex process that begins during pregnancy, and the events occurring during this sensitive period can affect the offspring's neurodevelopmental outcomes. Respiratory viral infections are frequently reported in pregnant women, and, in the last few decades, they have been related to numerous neuropsychiatric sequelae. Respiratory viruses can disrupt brain development by directly invading the fetal circulation through vertical transmission or inducing neuroinflammation through the maternal immune activation and production of inflammatory cytokines. Influenza virus gestational infection has been consistently associated with psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder, while the recent pandemic raised some concerns regarding the effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 on neurodevelopmental outcomes of children born to affected mothers. In addition, emerging evidence supports the possible role of respiratory syncytial virus infection as a risk factor for adverse neuropsychiatric consequences. Understanding the mechanisms underlying developmental dysfunction allows for improving preventive strategies, early diagnosis, and prompt interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Manti
- Pediatric Unit, Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giulia Spoto
- Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and of Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Antonio Gennaro Nicotera
- Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Gabriella Di Rosa
- Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and of Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giovanni Piedimonte
- Department of Pediatrics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
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5
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Zhong J, Li J, Burton GJ, Koistinen H, Cheung KW, Ng EHY, Yao Y, Yeung WSB, Lee CL, Chiu PCN. The functional roles of protein glycosylation in human maternal-fetal crosstalk. Hum Reprod Update 2024; 30:81-108. [PMID: 37699855 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmad024] [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: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The establishment of maternal-fetal crosstalk is vital to a successful pregnancy. Glycosylation is a post-translational modification in which glycans (monosaccharide chains) are attached to an organic molecule. Glycans are involved in many physiological and pathological processes. Human endometrial epithelium, endometrial gland secretions, decidual immune cells, and trophoblasts are highly enriched with glycoconjugates and glycan-binding molecules important for a healthy pregnancy. Aberrant glycosylation in the placenta and uterus has been linked to repeated implantation failure and various pregnancy complications, but there is no recent review summarizing the functional roles of glycosylation at the maternal-fetal interface and their associations with pathological processes. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE This review aims to summarize recent findings on glycosylation, glycosyltransferases, and glycan-binding receptors at the maternal-fetal interface, and their involvement in regulating the biology and pathological conditions associated with endometrial receptivity, placentation and maternal-fetal immunotolerance. Current knowledge limitations and future insights into the study of glycobiology in reproduction are discussed. SEARCH METHODS A comprehensive PubMed search was conducted using the following keywords: glycosylation, glycosyltransferases, glycan-binding proteins, endometrium, trophoblasts, maternal-fetal immunotolerance, siglec, selectin, galectin, repeated implantation failure, early pregnancy loss, recurrent pregnancy loss, preeclampsia, and fetal growth restriction. Relevant reports published between 1980 and 2023 and studies related to these reports were retrieved and reviewed. Only publications written in English were included. OUTCOMES The application of ultrasensitive mass spectrometry tools and lectin-based glycan profiling has enabled characterization of glycans present at the maternal-fetal interface and in maternal serum. The endometrial luminal epithelium is covered with highly glycosylated mucin that regulates blastocyst adhesion during implantation. In the placenta, fucose and sialic acid residues are abundantly presented on the villous membrane and are essential for proper placentation and establishment of maternal-fetal immunotolerance. Glycan-binding receptors, including selectins, sialic-acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (siglecs) and galectins, also modulate implantation, trophoblast functions and maternal-fetal immunotolerance. Aberrant glycosylation is associated with repeated implantation failure, early pregnancy loss and various pregnancy complications. The current limitation in the field is that most glycobiological research relies on association studies, with few studies revealing the specific functions of glycans. Technological advancements in analytic, synthetic and functional glycobiology have laid the groundwork for further exploration of glycans in reproductive biology under both physiological and pathological conditions. WIDER IMPLICATIONS A deep understanding of the functions of glycan structures would provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying their involvement in the physiological and pathological regulation of early pregnancy. Glycans may also potentially serve as novel early predictive markers and therapeutic targets for repeated implantation failure, pregnancy loss, and other pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangming Zhong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., China
- The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianlin Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., China
| | - Graham J Burton
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hannu Koistinen
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ka Wang Cheung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., China
| | - Ernest H Y Ng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., China
- The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuanqing Yao
- The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - William S B Yeung
- The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Cheuk-Lun Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., China
- The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Philip C N Chiu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., China
- The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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Miller D, Romero R, Myers L, Xu Y, Arenas-Hernandez M, Galaz J, Soto C, Done B, Quiroz A, Awonuga AO, Bryant DR, Tarca AL, Gomez-Lopez N. Immunosequencing and Profiling of T Cells at the Maternal-Fetal Interface of Women with Preterm Labor and Chronic Chorioamnionitis. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 211:1082-1098. [PMID: 37647360 PMCID: PMC10528178 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
T cells are implicated in the pathophysiology of preterm labor and birth, the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Specifically, maternal decidual T cells infiltrate the chorioamniotic membranes in chronic chorioamnionitis (CCA), a placental lesion considered to reflect maternal anti-fetal rejection, leading to preterm labor and birth. However, the phenotype and TCR repertoire of decidual T cells in women with preterm labor and CCA have not been investigated. In this study, we used phenotyping, TCR sequencing, and functional assays to elucidate the molecular characteristics and Ag specificity of T cells infiltrating the chorioamniotic membranes in women with CCA who underwent term or preterm labor. Phenotyping indicated distinct enrichment of human decidual effector memory T cell subsets in cases of preterm labor with CCA without altered regulatory T cell proportions. TCR sequencing revealed that the T cell repertoire of CCA is characterized by increased TCR richness and decreased clonal expansion in women with preterm labor. We identified 15 clones associated with CCA and compared these against established TCR databases, reporting that infiltrating T cells may possess specificity for maternal and fetal Ags, but not common viral Ags. Functional assays demonstrated that choriodecidual T cells can respond to maternal and fetal Ags. Collectively, our findings provide, to our knowledge, novel insight into the complex processes underlying chronic placental inflammation and further support a role for effector T cells in the mechanisms of disease for preterm labor and birth. Moreover, this work further strengthens the contribution of adaptive immunity to the syndromic nature of preterm labor and birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Miller
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Detroit, MI, 48201, and Bethesda, MD, 20892 USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Roberto Romero
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Detroit, MI, 48201, and Bethesda, MD, 20892 USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48201, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Luke Myers
- Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Yi Xu
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Detroit, MI, 48201, and Bethesda, MD, 20892 USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Marcia Arenas-Hernandez
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Detroit, MI, 48201, and Bethesda, MD, 20892 USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Jose Galaz
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Detroit, MI, 48201, and Bethesda, MD, 20892 USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 8330024, Chile
| | - Cinque Soto
- Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Bogdan Done
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Detroit, MI, 48201, and Bethesda, MD, 20892 USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Angelica Quiroz
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Awoniyi O. Awonuga
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - David R. Bryant
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Adi L. Tarca
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Detroit, MI, 48201, and Bethesda, MD, 20892 USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Detroit, MI, 48201, and Bethesda, MD, 20892 USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
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7
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Zenere A, Hellberg S, Papapavlou Lingehed G, Svenvik M, Mellergård J, Dahle C, Vrethem M, Raffetseder J, Khademi M, Olsson T, Blomberg M, Jenmalm MC, Altafini C, Gustafsson M, Ernerudh J. Prominent epigenetic and transcriptomic changes in CD4 + and CD8 + T cells during and after pregnancy in women with multiple sclerosis and controls. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:98. [PMID: 37106402 PMCID: PMC10134602 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02781-2] [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: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory disease in which pregnancy leads to a temporary amelioration in disease activity as indicated by the profound decrease in relapses rate during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are implicated in MS pathogenesis as being key regulators of inflammation and brain lesion formation. Although Tcells are prime candidates for the pregnancy-associated improvement of MS, the precise mechanisms are yet unclear, and in particular, a deep characterization of the epigenetic and transcriptomic events that occur in peripheral T cells during pregnancy in MS is lacking. METHODS Women with MS and healthy controls were longitudinally sampled before, during (1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters) and after pregnancy. DNA methylation array and RNA sequencing were performed on paired CD4+ and CD8+ T cells samples. Differential analysis and network-based approaches were used to analyze the global dynamics of epigenetic and transcriptomic changes. RESULTS Both DNA methylation and RNA sequencing revealed a prominent regulation, mostly peaking in the 3rd trimester and reversing post-partum, thus mirroring the clinical course with improvement followed by a worsening in disease activity. This rebound pattern was found to represent a general adaptation of the maternal immune system, with only minor differences between MS and controls. By using a network-based approach, we highlighted several genes at the core of this pregnancy-induced regulation, which were found to be enriched for genes and pathways previously reported to be involved in MS. Moreover, these pathways were enriched for in vitro stimulated genes and pregnancy hormones targets. CONCLUSION This study represents, to our knowledge, the first in-depth investigation of the methylation and expression changes in peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells during pregnancy in MS. Our findings indicate that pregnancy induces profound changes in peripheral T cells, in both MS and healthy controls, which are associated with the modulation of inflammation and MS activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Zenere
- Division of Automatic Control, Department of Electrical Engineering, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Sandra Hellberg
- Bioinformatics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Georgia Papapavlou Lingehed
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Maria Svenvik
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Region Kalmar County, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Johan Mellergård
- Department of Neurology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Dahle
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Magnus Vrethem
- Department of Neurology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johanna Raffetseder
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mohsen Khademi
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tomas Olsson
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marie Blomberg
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Maria C Jenmalm
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Claudio Altafini
- Division of Automatic Control, Department of Electrical Engineering, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mika Gustafsson
- Bioinformatics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Jan Ernerudh
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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8
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Zhang L, Jiang T, Yang Y, Deng W, Lu H, Wang S, Liu R, Chang M, Wu S, Gao Y, Hao H, Shen G, Xu M, Chen X, Hu L, Yang L, Bi X, Lin Y, Lu Y, Jiang Y, Li M, Xie Y. Postpartum hepatitis and host immunity in pregnant women with chronic HBV infection. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1112234. [PMID: 36685527 PMCID: PMC9846060 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1112234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to develop immune tolerant to the fetal, maternal immune system will have some modification comparing to the time before pregnancy. Immune tolerance starts and develops at the maternal placental interface. In innate immunity, decidual natural killer (dNK) cells, macrophages and dendritic cells play a key role in immue tolerance. In adaptive immunity, a moderate increase of number and immune inhibition function of regulatory T cells (Treg) are essential for immune tolerance. The trophoblast cells and immune cells expressing indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), the trophoblast cells expressing HLA-G, and Th1/Th2 shifting to Th2 dominant and Th17/Treg shifting to Treg domiant are in favor of maternal fetal immune tolerance. Steroids (estrogen and progesterone) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) also participate in immune tolerance by inducing Treg cells or upregulating immunosuppressive cytokines. Most of the patients with chronic HBV infection are in the "HBV immune tolerance period" before pregnancy, and the liver disease is relatively stable during pregnancy. In chronic HBV infection women, after delivery, the relative immunosuppression in vivo is reversed, and Th1 is dominant in Th1/Th2 and Th17 is dominant in Th17/Treg balance. After delivery, the number of Treg decrease and NK cells increase in quantity and cytotoxicity in peripheral blood. Liver NK cells may cause liver inflammation through a non-antigen specific mechanism. After delivery, the number of CD8+ T cells will increase and HBV specific T cell response recovers from the disfunction in pregnancy. Under the background of postpartum inflammation, the rapid decrease of cortisol after delivery, and especially the enhancement of HBV specific T cell response induced by HBV DNA and cytokines, are the main reasons for postpartum hepatitis. HBeAg positive, especially HBeAg<700 S/CO, and HBV DNA>3-5Log10IU/ml are risk factors for postpartum hepatitis. Antiviral treatment in late pregnancy can reduce the incidence of mother to child transmission (MTCT) in chronic HBV infection women. Chronic HBV infection women have hepatitis both during pregnancy and more often in 12 weeks postpartum. It is generally agreed that postpartum hepatitis is mild symptoms and self-limited. Delaying drug withdrawal to 48 weeks can increase the seroconversion rate of HBeAg in delivery women with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Zhang
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tingting Jiang
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Hepatology Department 2, Xingtai Second Hospital, Xingtai, China
| | - Wen Deng
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Huihui Lu
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wuhan Children’s Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shiyu Wang
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ruyu Liu
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Min Chang
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuling Wu
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanjiao Gao
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongxiao Hao
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ge Shen
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Mengjiao Xu
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxue Chen
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Leiping Hu
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Liu Yang
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyue Bi
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanjie Lin
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Peking University Ditan Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yao Lu
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Yao Lu, ; Yuyong Jiang, ; Minghui Li, ; Yao Xie,
| | - Yuyong Jiang
- Center of Integrative Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Yao Lu, ; Yuyong Jiang, ; Minghui Li, ; Yao Xie,
| | - Minghui Li
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China,Department of Hepatology Division 2, Peking University Ditan Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Yao Lu, ; Yuyong Jiang, ; Minghui Li, ; Yao Xie,
| | - Yao Xie
- Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China,Department of Hepatology Division 2, Peking University Ditan Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Yao Lu, ; Yuyong Jiang, ; Minghui Li, ; Yao Xie,
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9
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Gal-Oz ST, Shay T. Genetics of Sex Differences in Immunity. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2023; 441:1-19. [PMID: 37695423 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-35139-6_1] [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: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Women have a stronger immune response and a higher frequency of most autoimmune diseases than men. While much of the difference between men and women is due to the effect of gonadal hormones, genetic differences play a major role in the difference between the immune response and disease frequencies in women and men. Here, we focus on the immune differences between the sexes that are not downstream of the gonadal hormones. These differences include the gene content of the sex chromosomes, the inactivation of chromosome X in women, the consequences of non-random X inactivation and escape from inactivation, and the states that are uniquely met by the immune system of women-pregnancy, birth, and breast feeding. While these female-specific states are temporary and involve gonadal hormonal changes, they may leave a long-lasting footprint on the health of women, for example, by fetal cells that remain in the mother's body for decades. We also briefly discuss the immune phenotype of congenital sex chromosomal aberrations and experimental models that enable hormonal and the non-hormonal effects of the sex chromosomes to be disentangled. The increasing human life expectancy lengthens the period during which gonadal hormones levels are reduced in both sexes. A better understanding of the non-hormonal effects of sex chromosomes thus becomes more important for improving the life quality during that period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shani T Gal-Oz
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tal Shay
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel.
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10
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The Efficacy and Safety of the Zhuyun Formula and Auricular Acupressure for the Infertile Women with Recurrent Implantation Failure: A Randomized Controlled Trial. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:5274638. [PMID: 36267092 PMCID: PMC9578856 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5274638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Recurrent implantation failure (RIF), a clinical disorder characterized by failure to achieve pregnancy after repeated (≥3) embryo transfer, is a challenge for reproductive demands worldwide. In our preliminary work, the Zhuyun formula (ZYF) with auricular acupressure, a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) with a small sample size for RIF, can improve the clinical pregnancy rate (41.2% vs. 26.7%, treatment group vs. control group, p < 0.05). Based on the toxicological and pregnancy-related pharmacological analysis of ZYF for RIF, the T-cell receptor signaling pathway might be involved in the pharmacological activity. This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of the CAM therapy according to pregnancy outcomes and maternal and child health and investigating the changes of T-helper (Th) cells in the peripheral blood of unexplained RIF women. Materials and Methods We conducted a prospective, two-arms, randomized, nonblinded study. All eligible women were randomly assigned to the treatment group (TG) and the control group (CG) according to a computer-generated randomization list in sealed opaque envelopes. Blood samples were collected from the two groups, and serum Th1, Th2, and Treg were detected by flow cytometry. The cytokines were detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The TG was administrated with ZYF and auricular acupressure for three months before ovarian stimulation, while the control group was on a waiting list for the same period. The primary outcome was CPR. The second outcomes were the serum levels of immune parameters. For the safety evaluation, the perinatal outcomes of maternal and child were obtained by follow-up. Post-hoc sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the effect of missing data. Results One hundred and twenty-three women were randomized into the TG (n = 62) and CG (n = 61). The CPR was increased significantly in the TG (45.2%) than CG (26.2%) (p = 0.029). Twenty blood samples were collected, and the Th2/Th1 and Treg expression level was significantly higher in the TG than in the CG. IL-2, IL-10, and Foxp3 were higher significantly in the TG than in the CG. The maternal and child perinatal outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions The ZYF with auricular acupressure was effective and safe in improving the pregnancy outcomes of RIF. It might be related to balancing the level of cytokines related to the immune tolerance of the maternal-fetal interface to protect the embryo from the maternal immune system. Clinical Trial Registration: Clinical Trial Registry; date: 14/Dec/2013; no. NCT03078205.
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11
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Moldenhauer LM, Jin M, Wilson JJ, Green ES, Sharkey DJ, Salkeld MD, Bristow TC, Hull ML, Dekker GA, Robertson SA. Regulatory T Cell Proportion and Phenotype Are Altered in Women Using Oral Contraception. Endocrinology 2022; 163:6628694. [PMID: 35786711 PMCID: PMC9354970 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are a specialized CD4+ T cell subpopulation that are essential for immune homeostasis, immune tolerance, and protection against autoimmunity. There is evidence that sex-steroid hormones estrogen and progesterone modulate Treg cell abundance and phenotype in women. Since natural oscillations in these hormones are modified by hormonal contraceptives, we examined whether oral contraception (OC) use impacts Treg cells and related T cell populations. T cells were analyzed by multiparameter flow cytometry in peripheral blood collected across the menstrual cycle from healthy women either using OC or without hormonal contraception and from age-matched men. Compared to naturally cycling women, women using OC had fewer Treg cells and an altered Treg cell phenotype. Notably, Treg cells exhibiting a strongly suppressive phenotype, defined by high FOXP3, CD25, Helios, HLADR, CTLA4, and Ki67, comprised a lower proportion of total Treg cells, particularly in the early- and mid-cycle phases. The changes were moderate compared to more substantial differences in Treg cells between women and men, wherein women had fewer Treg cells-especially of the effector memory Treg cell subset-associated with more T helper type 1 (Th1) cells and CD8+ T cells and lower Treg:Th1 cell and Treg:CD8+ T cell ratios than men. These findings imply that OC can modulate the number and phenotype of peripheral blood Treg cells and raise the possibility that Treg cells contribute to the physiological changes and altered disease susceptibility linked with OC use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jasmine J Wilson
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Ella S Green
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - David J Sharkey
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Mark D Salkeld
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Thomas C Bristow
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - M Louise Hull
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Gustaaf A Dekker
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- Division of Women’s Health, Lyell McEwin Hospital, Elizabeth Vale, Australia
| | - Sarah A Robertson
- Correspondence: Sarah A. Robertson, PhD, Robinson Research Institute and the School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
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12
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Von Woon E, Greer O, Shah N, Nikolaou D, Johnson M, Male V. Number and function of uterine natural killer cells in recurrent miscarriage and implantation failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update 2022; 28:548-582. [PMID: 35265977 PMCID: PMC9247428 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmac006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Uterine natural killer cells (uNK) are the most abundant lymphocytes found in the decidua during implantation and in first trimester pregnancy. They are important for early placental development, especially trophoblast invasion and transformation of the spiral arteries. However, inappropriate uNK function has been implicated in reproductive failure, such as recurrent miscarriage (RM) or recurrent implantation failure (RIF). Previous studies have mainly focussed on peripheral NK cells (pNK), despite the well-documented differences in pNK and uNK phenotype and function. In recent years, there has been an explosion of studies conducted on uNK, providing a more suitable representation of the immune environment at the maternal-foetal interface. Here, we summarize the evidence from studies published on uNK in women with RM/RIF compared with controls. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE The objectives of this systematic review and meta-analysis are to evaluate: differences in uNK level in women with RM/RIF compared with controls; pregnancy outcome in women with RM/RIF stratified by high and normal uNK levels; correlation between uNK and pNK in women with RM/RIF; and differences in uNK activity in women with RM/RIF compared with controls. SEARCH METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Trials Registry were searched from inception up to December 2020 and studies were selected in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Meta-analyses were performed for uNK level, pregnancy outcome and uNK/pNK correlation. Narrative synthesis was conducted for uNK activity. Risk of bias was assessed by ROBINS-I and publication bias by Egger's test. OUTCOMES Our initial search yielded 4636 articles, of which 60 articles were included in our systematic review. Meta-analysis of CD56+ uNK level in women with RM compared with controls showed significantly higher levels in women with RM in subgroup analysis of endometrial samples (standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.49, CI 0.08, 0.90; P = 0.02; I2 88%; 1100 women). Meta-analysis of CD56+ uNK level in endometrium of women with RIF compared with controls showed significantly higher levels in women with RIF (SMD 0.49, CI 0.01, 0.98; P = 0.046; I2 84%; 604 women). There was no difference in pregnancy outcome in women with RM/RIF stratified by uNK level, and no significant correlation between pNK and uNK levels in women with RM/RIF. There was wide variation in studies conducted on uNK activity, which can be broadly divided into regulation and receptors, uNK cytotoxicity, cytokine secretion and effect of uNK on angiogenesis. These studies were largely equivocal in their results on cytokine secretion, but most studies found lower expression of inhibitory receptors and increased expression of angiogenic factors in women with RM. WIDER IMPLICATIONS The observation of significantly increased uNK level in endometrium of women with RM and RIF may point to an underlying disturbance of the immune milieu culminating in implantation and/or placentation failure. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying pathophysiology. The evidence for measuring pNK as an indicator of uNK behaviour is sparse, and of limited clinical use. Measurement of uNK level/activity may be more useful as a diagnostic tool, however, a standardized reference range must be established before this can be of clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ee Von Woon
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Institute of Developmental Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
- The Fertility Centre, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Orene Greer
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Institute of Developmental Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Nishel Shah
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Institute of Developmental Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Mark Johnson
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Institute of Developmental Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Victoria Male
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Institute of Developmental Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
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13
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Understanding the Immune System in Fetal Protection and Maternal Infections during Pregnancy. J Immunol Res 2022; 2022:7567708. [PMID: 35785037 PMCID: PMC9249541 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7567708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The fetal-maternal immune system determines the fate of pregnancy. The trophoblast cells not only give an active response against external stimuli but are also involved in secreting most of the cytokines. These cells have an essential function in fetal acceptance or fetal rejection. Other immune cells also play a pivotal role in carrying out a successful pregnancy. The disruption in this mechanism may lead to harmful effects on pregnancy. The placenta serves as an immune barrier in fetus protection against invading pathogens. Once the infections prevail, they may localize in placental and fetal tissues, and the presence of inflammation due to cytokines may have detrimental effects on pregnancy. Moreover, some pathogens are responsible for congenital fetal anomalies and affect almost all organs of the developing fetus. This review article is designed to address the bacterial and viral infections that threaten pregnancy and their possible outcomes. Moreover, training of the fetal immune system against the exposure of infections and the role of CD49a + NK cells in embryonic development will also be highlighted.
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14
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Severance AL, Kinder JM, Xin L, Burg AR, Shao TY, Pham G, Tilburgs T, Goodman WA, Mesiano S, Way SS. Maternal-fetal conflict averted by progesterone- induced FOXP3+ regulatory T cells. iScience 2022; 25:104400. [PMID: 35637736 PMCID: PMC9142685 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy stimulates an intricately coordinated assortment of physiological changes to accommodate growth of the developing fetus, while simultaneously averting rejection of genetically foreign fetal cells and tissues. Despite increasing evidence that expansion of immune-suppressive maternal regulatory T cells enforces fetal tolerance and protects against pregnancy complications, the pregnancy-associated signals driving this essential adaptation remain poorly understood. Here we show that the female reproductive hormone, progesterone, coordinates immune tolerance by stimulating expansion of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells. Conditional loss of the canonical nuclear progesterone receptor in maternal FOXP3+ regulatory T cells blunts their proliferation and accumulation, which is associated with fetal wastage and decidual infiltration of activated CD8+ T cells. Reciprocally, the synthetic progestin 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC) administered to pregnant mice reinforces fetal tolerance and protects against fetal wastage. These immune modulatory effects of progesterone that promote fetal tolerance establish a molecular link between immunological and other physiological adaptions during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley L. Severance
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jeremy M. Kinder
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Lijun Xin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Ashley R. Burg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Tzu-Yu Shao
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Immunology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Giang Pham
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Tamara Tilburgs
- Division of Immunobiology, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Wendy A. Goodman
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Sam Mesiano
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Sing Sing Way
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Corresponding author
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15
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Placental Syndromes-A New Paradigm in Perinatology. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19127392. [PMID: 35742640 PMCID: PMC9224387 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Placental syndromes include pregnancy loss, fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia, preterm delivery, premature rupture of membranes, placental abruption and intrauterine fetal demise. This paper discusses the common etiopathogenesis of those syndromes and the role of angiogenic biomarkers in their development. Pregnancy implantation, placental development and maternal adaptation are complex processes in which fetal and maternal cells interact. The syncytiotrophoblast, trophoblast, uterine natural killer cells and regulatory T cells interfere and interact in all the above-mentioned processes. The proper angioneogenesis and vasculogenesis of the placenta, as well as maternal circulatory adaptation, are dependent on angiogenic factor expression. Insufficient maternal immunotolerance, dysregulation in uterine natural killer or regulatory T cell function, syncytiotrophoblast and trophoblast ischemia and hypoxia or impaired balance in angiogenic factors are all related to the occurrence of placental syndromes. Differences in the time of impairment onset and its intensity and correlation with other dysfunctions result in the development of a specific syndrome. The clinical manifestations in the form of a combination of specific symptoms determine the diagnosis. However, they are just symptoms of an underlying complex trophoblast disorder.
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16
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Bu C, Wang Z, Ren Y, Chen D, Jiang SW. Syncytin-1 nonfusogenic activities modulate inflammation and contribute to preeclampsia pathogenesis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:290. [PMID: 35536515 PMCID: PMC11073204 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04294-2] [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: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Maternal cellular and humoral immune responses to the allogeneic fetoplacental unit are a normal part of pregnancy adaptation. Overactive or dysregulated immune responses that often manifest as inflammation are considered a key element for the development of preeclampsia. Infiltration and activation of macrophages, nature killer cells, and T lymphocytes are frequently observed in the decidua and placenta associated with preeclampsia. In addition to local inflammation, systemic inflammatory changes including increased levels of TNF-α and interleukins (ILs) are detected in the maternal circulation. Syncytin-1 is an endogenous retroviral envelope protein that mediates the fusion of trophoblasts to form syncytiotrophoblasts, a cellular component carrying out most of placental barrier, exchange, and endocrine functions. In addition to these well-defined fusogenic functions that are known for their close association with preeclampsia, multiple studies indicated that syncytin-1 possesses nonfusogenic activities such as those for cell cycle and apoptosis regulation. Moreover, syncytin-1 expressed by trophoblasts and various types of immune cells may participate in regulation of inflammation in preeclamptic placenta and decidua. This review concentrates on the triangular relationship among inflammation, syncytin-1 nonfusogenic functions, and preeclampsia pathogenesis. Data regarding the reciprocal modulations of inflammation and poor vascularization/hypoxia are summarized. The impacts of syncytin-A (the mouse counterpart of human syncytin-1) gene knockout on placental vascularization and their implications for preeclampsia are discussed. Syncytin-1 expression in immune cells and its significance for inflammation are analyzed in the context of preeclampsia development. Finally, the involvements of syncytin-1 nonfusogenic activities in neuroinflammation and multiple sclerosis are compared to findings from preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaozhi Bu
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute for Reproductive Health and Genetic Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, 214002, China
| | - Zhiwei Wang
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute for Reproductive Health and Genetic Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, 214002, China
- Center of Prenatal Diagnosis, Lianyungang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Lianyungang, 222000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yongwei Ren
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute for Reproductive Health and Genetic Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, 214002, China
| | - Daozhen Chen
- Research Institute for Reproductive Health and Genetic Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, 214002, China.
| | - Shi-Wen Jiang
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute for Reproductive Health and Genetic Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, 214002, China.
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17
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Chen D, Wang W, Wu L, Liang L, Wang S, Cheng Y, Zhang T, Chai C, Luo Q, Sun C, Zhao W, Lv Z, Gao Y, Wu X, Sun N, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Chen Y, Tong J, Wang X, Bai Y, Sun C, Jin X, Niu J. Single-cell atlas of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from pregnant women. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e821. [PMID: 35522918 PMCID: PMC9076016 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.821] [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: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background During pregnancy, mother–child interactions trigger a variety of subtle changes in the maternal body, which may be reflected in the status of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Although these cells are easy to access and monitor, a PBMC atlas for pregnant women has not yet been constructed. Methods We applied single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) to profile 198,356 PBMCs derived from 136 pregnant women (gestation weeks 6 to 40) and a control cohort. We also used scRNA‐seq data to establish a transcriptomic clock and thereby predicted the gestational age of normal pregnancy. Results We identified reconfiguration of the peripheral immune cell phenotype during pregnancy, including interferon‐stimulated gene upregulation, activation of RNA splicing‐related pathways and immune activity of cell subpopulations. We also developed a cell‐type‐specific model to predict gestational age of normal pregnancy. Conclusions We constructed a single‐cell atlas of PBMCs in pregnant women spanning the entire gestation period, which should help improve our understanding of PBMC composition turnover in pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongsheng Chen
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Linlin Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Langchao Liang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shiyou Wang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yunfeng Cheng
- Jinshan Hospital Centre for Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Chaochao Chai
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | - Chengcheng Sun
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wandong Zhao
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhiyuan Lv
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ya Gao
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Birth Defects Screening, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoxia Wu
- Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ning Sun
- Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yiwei Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yixuan Chen
- Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianing Tong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiangdong Wang
- Jinshan Hospital Centre for Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China.,Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Chaoyang Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Jin
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianmin Niu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
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18
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Upregulated influenza A viral entry factors and enhanced interferon-alpha response in the nasal epithelium of pregnant rats. Heliyon 2022; 8:e09407. [PMID: 35592667 PMCID: PMC9111991 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the increased severity of influenza A infection in pregnancy, knowledge about the expression of cell entry factors for influenza A virus (IAV) and the innate immune response in the nasal epithelium, the primary portal of viral entry, is limited. Here, we compared the expression of IAV cell entry factors and the status of the innate immune response in the nasal epithelium of pregnant vs. non-pregnant female rats. IAV cell entry factors — sialic acid [SA] α-2,3- and α-2,6-linked glycans for avian and human IAV, respectively — were detected and quantified with lectin-based immunoblotting and flow cytometry. Baseline frequencies of innate immune cell phenotypes in single cell suspensions of the nasal epithelium were studied with flow cytometry. Subsequently, the magnitude of interferon and cytokine responses was studied with ELISA and cytokine arrays after intranasal resiquimod, a Toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist that mimics IAV infection. We noted substantially increased expression of cell entry factors for both avian and human IAV in the nasal epithelium during pregnancy. Assessment of the innate immune state of the nasal epithelium during pregnancy revealed two previously unreported features: (i) increased presence of tissue-resident plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and (ii) markedly enhanced release of interferon-α but not of the other interferons or cytokines 2 h after intranasal resiquimod. Collectively, our findings challenge the conventional notion of pregnancy-induced immunosuppression as a cause for severe influenza A disease and suggest the need for focused studies on viral tropism during pregnancy to better understand the proximate cause for the observed immunopathology.
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19
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Gomez-Lopez N, Romero R, Tao L, Gershater M, Leng Y, Zou C, Farias-Jofre M, Galaz J, Miller D, Tarca AL, Arenas-Hernandez M, Bhatti G, Garcia-Flores V, Liu Z, Para R, Kanninen T, Hadaya O, Paredes C, Xu Y. Distinct Cellular Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 in Pregnant Women. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 208:1857-1872. [PMID: 35379748 PMCID: PMC9180665 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2101123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Pregnant women are at increased risk of adverse outcomes, including preeclampsia and preterm birth, that may result from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Pregnancy imprints specific maternal immune responses that can modulate host susceptibility to microbial infection; therefore, recent studies have focused on the humoral response against SARS-CoV-2 in pregnant women. However, the pregnancy-specific cellular immune responses triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection are poorly understood. In this study, we undertook an extensive in vitro investigation to determine the cellular immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 particles and proteins/peptides in pregnant women. First, we show that SARS-CoV-2 particles do not alter the pregnancy-specific oxidative burst of neutrophils and monocytes. Yet, SARS-CoV-2 particles/proteins shift monocyte activation from the classical to intermediate states in pregnant, but not in nonpregnant, women. Furthermore, SARS-CoV-2 proteins, but not particles or peptide pools, mildly enhance T cell activation during pregnancy. As expected, B cell phenotypes are heavily modulated by SARS-CoV-2 particles in all women; yet, pregnancy itself further modified such responses in these adaptive immune cells. Lastly, we report that pregnancy itself governs cytokine responses in the maternal circulation, of which IFN-β and IL-8 were diminished upon SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Collectively, these findings highlight the differential in vitro responses to SARS-CoV-2 in pregnant and nonpregnant women and shed light on the immune mechanisms implicated in coronavirus disease 2019 during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI; .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI; .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.,Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.,Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI; and
| | - Li Tao
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Meyer Gershater
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Yaozhu Leng
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Chengrui Zou
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Marcelo Farias-Jofre
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Jose Galaz
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Derek Miller
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Adi L Tarca
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI.,Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI
| | - Marcia Arenas-Hernandez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Gaurav Bhatti
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Valeria Garcia-Flores
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Zhenjie Liu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Robert Para
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Tomi Kanninen
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Ola Hadaya
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Carmen Paredes
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Yi Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
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20
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Han J, Yoo I, Lee S, Cheon Y, Yun CH, Ka H. Interleukin-10 and Its Receptors at the Maternal-Conceptus Interface: Expression, Regulation, and Implication for Th2 Cytokine Predominance and Maternal Immune Tolerance in the Pig, a True Epitheliochorial Placentation Species†. Biol Reprod 2022; 106:1159-1174. [PMID: 35348632 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The appropriate balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines is important for the maternal immune tolerance during pregnancy in mammals. Among the various cytokines, interleukin (IL)-10 (IL10) plays an essential role in anti-inflammatory responses, while IL12 is involved in pro-inflammatory responses during pregnancy. However, the roles of IL10 and IL12 in the endometrium during pregnancy have not been studied in pigs. Thus, we investigated the expression of IL10, IL12 (IL12A and IL12B) and their receptors (IL10RA, IL10RB, IL12RB1, and IL12RB2) at the maternal-conceptus interface. IL10, IL12, and their receptors were expressed in the endometrium during the estrous cycle and pregnancy in a pregnancy stage-specific manner. During pregnancy, IL10 expression increased on Day 15, whereas the expression of IL12A and IL12B decreased after the implantation period. IL10 protein was localized to luminal epithelial (LE), stromal cells, and macrophages; IL10RA protein to LE, endothelial, stromal, and T cells; and IL10RB mRNA to LE cells in the endometrium. IL10 and IL10RA proteins and IL10RB mRNA were also localized to chorionic epithelial (CE) cells. In endometrial explants, the expression of IL10RA and IL10RB was induced by estradiol-17β, IL-1β, and/or interferon-γ. Heme oxygenase 1, an IL10-inducible factor, was expressed in the endometrium with highest levels on Day 30 of pregnancy and was localized to LE and CE cells. These results in pigs suggest that conceptus-derived signals change the endometrial immune environment by regulating the expression of IL10 and IL10 receptors at the maternal-conceptus interface and that IL10 may provide anti-inflammatory conditions for the maternal immune tolerance. Summary Sentence: IL10 expression increases at the maternal-conceptus interface in pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jisoo Han
- Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea
| | - Inkyu Yoo
- Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea
| | - Soohyung Lee
- Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea
| | - Yugyeong Cheon
- Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheol-Heui Yun
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hakhyun Ka
- Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea
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21
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Ding J, Maxwell A, Adzibolosu N, Hu A, You Y, Liao A, Mor G. Mechanisms of immune regulation by the placenta: Role of type I interferon and interferon‐stimulated genes signaling during pregnancy*. Immunol Rev 2022; 308:9-24. [DOI: 10.1111/imr.13077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Ding
- C.S Mott Center for Human Growth and Development Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Wayne State University Detroit Michigan USA
| | - Anthony Maxwell
- C.S Mott Center for Human Growth and Development Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Wayne State University Detroit Michigan USA
- Department of Physiology Wayne State University Detroit Michigan USA
| | - Nicholas Adzibolosu
- C.S Mott Center for Human Growth and Development Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Wayne State University Detroit Michigan USA
- Department of Physiology Wayne State University Detroit Michigan USA
| | - Anna Hu
- C.S Mott Center for Human Growth and Development Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Wayne State University Detroit Michigan USA
| | - Yuan You
- C.S Mott Center for Human Growth and Development Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Wayne State University Detroit Michigan USA
| | - Aihua Liao
- Institute of Reproductive Health Center for Reproductive Medicine Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
| | - Gil Mor
- C.S Mott Center for Human Growth and Development Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Wayne State University Detroit Michigan USA
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22
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Kwon HK, Choi GB, Huh JR. Maternal inflammation and its ramifications on fetal neurodevelopment. Trends Immunol 2022; 43:230-244. [PMID: 35131181 PMCID: PMC9005201 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2022.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to heightened inflammation in pregnancy caused by infections or other inflammatory insults has been associated with the onset of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders in children. Rodent models have provided unique insights into how this maternal immune activation (MIA) disrupts brain development. Here, we discuss the key immune factors involved, highlight recent advances in determining the molecular and cellular pathways of MIA, and review how the maternal immune system affects fetal development. We also examine the roles of microbiomes in shaping maternal immune function and the development of autism-like phenotypes. A comprehensive understanding of the gut bacteria-immune-neuro interaction in MIA is essential for developing diagnostic and therapeutic measures for high-risk pregnant women and identifying targets for treating inflammation-induced neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho-Keun Kwon
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases and Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Korea.
| | - Gloria B. Choi
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jun R. Huh
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Correspondence: Ho-Keun Kwon () and Jun R. Huh ()
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23
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Rizzuto G, Brooks JF, Tuomivaara ST, McIntyre TI, Ma S, Rideaux D, Zikherman J, Fisher SJ, Erlebacher A. Establishment of fetomaternal tolerance through glycan-mediated B cell suppression. Nature 2022; 603:497-502. [PMID: 35236989 PMCID: PMC9592526 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04471-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Discrimination of self from non-self is fundamental to a wide range of immunological processes1. During pregnancy, the mother does not recognize the placenta as immunologically foreign because antigens expressed by trophoblasts, the placental cells that interface with the maternal immune system, do not activate maternal T cells2. Currently, these activation defects are thought to reflect suppression by regulatory T cells3. By contrast, mechanisms of B cell tolerance to trophoblast antigens have not been identified. Here we provide evidence that glycan-mediated B cell suppression has a key role in establishing fetomaternal tolerance in mice. B cells specific for a model trophoblast antigen are strongly suppressed through CD22-LYN inhibitory signalling, which in turn implicates the sialylated glycans of the antigen as key suppressive determinants. Moreover, B cells mediate the MHC-class-II-restricted presentation of antigens to CD4+ T cells, which leads to T cell suppression, and trophoblast-derived sialoglycoproteins are released into the maternal circulation during pregnancy in mice and humans. How protein glycosylation promotes non-immunogenic placental self-recognition may have relevance to immune-mediated pregnancy complications and to tumour immune evasion. We also anticipate that our findings will bolster efforts to harness glycan biology to control antigen-specific immune responses in autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Rizzuto
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - J F Brooks
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - S T Tuomivaara
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Sandler-Moore Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - T I McIntyre
- Biomedical Sciences Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - S Ma
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - D Rideaux
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - J Zikherman
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Bakar ImmunoX Initiative, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - S J Fisher
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - A Erlebacher
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Biomedical Sciences Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Bakar ImmunoX Initiative, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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24
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Borzova NY, Radjabova NR, Sotnikova NY, Kudryashova AV, Malyshkina AI. New prognostic criterion for the outcome of pregnancy in patients with threatening preterm birth. Klin Lab Diagn 2022; 67:97-100. [PMID: 35192755 DOI: 10.51620/0869-2084-2022-67-2-97-100] [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: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
To identify new criteria for predicting the outcome of pregnancy in women with threatened preterm labor based on the establishment of the characteristics of differentiation and functional activity of memory T-cells in the population of CD8 + T-lymphocytes. The study involved 56 women with threatened preterm labor at 22-34 weeks of pregnancy. Depending on the outcome of pregnancy, patients were divided into 3 groups: Group I included 22 women by premature labor; group II - 34 women whose pregnancy ended by deliver at term. By tricolor flow cytofluorometry method the content of peripheral Tn, Tcm, Tem and Temra cells in CD8+ population was studied. Statistical analysis was carried out using programs «Statistica for Windows 13.0», «Microsoft Excel 2019» and «MedCalc 19.3». Patients with the threat of preterm birth were characterized by a significant increase in the relative content of CD8+ T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood compared to the control group (p=0.001). When comparing this indicator in the subgroups of women with the threat of preterm birth, it was found that preterm birth was associated with significantly higher relative CD8 + lymphocyte counts (p=0.03) compared to the indicators of the subgroup of women who gave birth on time. When evaluating the results obtained, it was found that the percentage of CD8+Temra GranzymeB-producing cells in the group of patients with threatened preterm birth, whose pregnancy ended in preterm birth, was significantly lower than in the group of women who gave birth on time (p=0.003). The content of Tcm, Tem memory cells producing GranzymeB in the subgroups of women with pregnancy outcomes of timely and preterm birth did not have significant differences compared to the control group. Thus, the prediction of preterm birth is possible with a value of GranzymeB-producing CD8 + Tem equal to 8.2% or less (sensitivity-87.9%, specificity-85%, accuracy-87.9%). Thus, the identification of a new criterion will make it possible to predict preterm birth in a timely manner and promote the choice of optimal pregnancy management tactics, reasonable prevention of fetal respiratory distress syndrome and transfer of a woman to an obstetric hospital designed to provide high-tech care to premature newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Yu Borzova
- Ivanovo Scientific Research Institute of Maternity and Childhood by V.N. Gorodkov of the Russian Ministry of health
| | - Naila Rustamovna Radjabova
- Ivanovo Scientific Research Institute of Maternity and Childhood by V.N. Gorodkov of the Russian Ministry of health
| | - N Yu Sotnikova
- Ivanovo Scientific Research Institute of Maternity and Childhood by V.N. Gorodkov of the Russian Ministry of health
| | - A V Kudryashova
- Ivanovo Scientific Research Institute of Maternity and Childhood by V.N. Gorodkov of the Russian Ministry of health
| | - A I Malyshkina
- Ivanovo Scientific Research Institute of Maternity and Childhood by V.N. Gorodkov of the Russian Ministry of health
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25
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The etiology of preeclampsia. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022; 226:S844-S866. [PMID: 35177222 PMCID: PMC8988238 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.11.1356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Preeclampsia is one of the "great obstetrical syndromes" in which multiple and sometimes overlapping pathologic processes activate a common pathway consisting of endothelial cell activation, intravascular inflammation, and syncytiotrophoblast stress. This article reviews the potential etiologies of preeclampsia. The role of uteroplacental ischemia is well-established on the basis of a solid body of clinical and experimental evidence. A causal role for microorganisms has gained recognition through the realization that periodontal disease and maternal gut dysbiosis are linked to atherosclerosis, thus possibly to a subset of patients with preeclampsia. The recent reports indicating that SARS-CoV-2 infection might be causally linked to preeclampsia are reviewed along with the potential mechanisms involved. Particular etiologic factors, such as the breakdown of maternal-fetal immune tolerance (thought to account for the excess of preeclampsia in primipaternity and egg donation), may operate, in part, through uteroplacental ischemia, whereas other factors such as placental aging may operate largely through syncytiotrophoblast stress. This article also examines the association between gestational diabetes mellitus and maternal obesity with preeclampsia. The role of autoimmunity, fetal diseases, and endocrine disorders is discussed. A greater understanding of the etiologic factors of preeclampsia is essential to improve treatment and prevention.
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26
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Dibo M, Ventimiglia MS, Valeff N, Serradell MDLÁ, Jensen F. An overview of the role of probiotics in pregnancy-associated pathologies with a special focus on preterm birth. J Reprod Immunol 2022; 150:103493. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2022.103493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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27
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Granne I, Shen M, Rodriguez-Caro H, Chadha G, O’Donnell E, Brosens JJ, Quenby S, Child T, Southcombe JH. Characterisation of peri-implantation endometrial Treg and identification of an altered phenotype in recurrent pregnancy loss. Mucosal Immunol 2022; 15:120-129. [PMID: 34552206 PMCID: PMC8732268 DOI: 10.1038/s41385-021-00451-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) affects 2-4% of couples, and with increasing numbers of pregnancy losses the risk of miscarrying a euploid pregnancy is increased, suggesting RPL is a pathology distinct from sporadic miscarriage that is due largely to lethal embryonic aneuploidy. There are a number of conditions associated with RPL including unspecified "immune" pathologies; one of the strongest candidates for dysregulation remains T regulatory cells as depletion in the very early stages of pregnancy in mice leads to pregnancy loss. Human endometrial Treg and conventional CD4T cells were isolated during the peri-implantation period of the menstrual cycle in normal women. We identified an endometrial Treg transcriptomic signature and validated an enhanced regulatory phenotype compared to peripheral blood Treg. Parous women had an altered endometrial Treg transcriptome compared to nulliparity, indicating acquired immune memory of pregnancy within the Treg population, by comparison endometrial conventional CD4T cells were not altered. We compared primary and secondary RPL to nulliparous or parous controls respectively. Both RPL subgroups displayed differentially expressed Treg gene transcriptomes compared to controls. We found increased cell surface S1PR1 and decreased TIGIT protein expression by Treg in primary RPL, confirming the presence of altered Treg in the peri-implantation RPL endometrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Granne
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health, L3 Women’s Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Mengni Shen
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health, L3 Women’s Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Helena Rodriguez-Caro
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health, L3 Women’s Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Gurmeher Chadha
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health, L3 Women’s Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Elizabeth O’Donnell
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health, L3 Women’s Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jan J. Brosens
- grid.7372.10000 0000 8809 1613Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV2 2DX UK ,grid.15628.380000 0004 0393 1193Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research, University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX UK
| | - Siobhan Quenby
- grid.7372.10000 0000 8809 1613Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV2 2DX UK ,grid.15628.380000 0004 0393 1193Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research, University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX UK
| | - Tim Child
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health, L3 Women’s Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK ,grid.477692.90000 0004 0379 0597Oxford Fertility, The Fertility Partnership, Oxford, OX4 2HW UK
| | - Jennifer H. Southcombe
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health, L3 Women’s Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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O'Connor TG, Ciesla AA. Maternal Immune Activation Hypotheses for Human Neurodevelopment: Some Outstanding Questions. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2021; 7:471-479. [PMID: 34688920 PMCID: PMC9021321 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2021.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The Maternal Immune Activation (MIA) hypothesis is a leading model for understanding prenatal influences on individual differences in, and clinical syndromes of, neurodevelopment. Experimental animal and human research has proliferated in recent years, and there is now a sizable research base. Several meta-analyses demonstrate general support for an association between prenatal immune activation and neurodevelopment in human research. However, questions remain about the nature of the immune activation, the network of underlying mechanisms involved, and the breadth of impact across behavioral phenotypes. Complementing recent reviews of results, the current review places particular emphasis on how advances in understanding mechanisms may be improved with greater attention to addressing the methodological variation and limitations of existing studies, and identifies areas for further clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G O'Connor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester; Department of Psycholog, University of Rochestery; Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester; Wynne Center for Family Research, University of Rochester.
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Dong S, Shah NK, He J, Han S, Xie M, Wang Y, Cheng T, Liu Z, Shu C. The abnormal expression of Tim-3 is involved in the regulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and its correlation with preeclampsia. Placenta 2021; 114:108-114. [PMID: 34509865 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.08.060] [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: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Maternal immune system tolerance to the semi-allogeneic fetus is critical to a successful pregnancy. We previously reported that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) was associated with maternal immune imbalance. T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-containing protein 3 (Tim-3)/Galectin-9 (Gal-9) pathway modulates function of various immune cells in maternal-fetal interface. However, the regulatory effects of Tim-3/Gal-9 signaling on MDSCs and its role in preeclampsia (PE) remain unclear. METHODS In the current study we investigated the expression of Tim-3 on MDSC in preeclampsia (PE) patients to further explore the pathogenesis of PE. RESULTS The proportion of Tim-3+ M-MDSC (monocytic MDSC) cells was higher in PE patients than in healthy control. Meanwhile, the protein expression of Gal-9, as the ligand of Tim-3, was increased in placenta of PE patients. M-MDSC also expressed a higher level of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and a lower level of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in PE. Furthermore, our study suggested that blocking Tim-3 could attenuate the inhibitory function of MDSC. DISCUSSION The abnormal expression of Tim-3 on MDSC might be involved in the pathogenesis of PE, and could be a marker to evaluate the immune function in PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Dong
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130061, PR China
| | - Neelam Kumari Shah
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130061, PR China
| | - Jin He
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130061, PR China
| | - Shumei Han
- Department of Medical Administration, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, PR China
| | - Min Xie
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130061, PR China
| | - Ying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130061, PR China
| | - Tingting Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130061, PR China
| | - Zitao Liu
- Hope Fertility Center, New York, NY10019, USA
| | - Chang Shu
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130061, PR China.
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Suah AN, Tran DKV, Khiew SH, Andrade MS, Pollard JM, Jain D, Young JS, Yin D, Chalasani G, Alegre ML, Chong AS. Pregnancy-induced humoral sensitization overrides T cell tolerance to fetus-matched allografts in mice. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:140715. [PMID: 33393512 PMCID: PMC7773355 DOI: 10.1172/jci140715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunological tolerance to semiallogeneic fetuses is necessary to achieving successful first pregnancy and permitting subsequent pregnancies with the same father. Paradoxically, pregnancy is an important cause of sensitization, resulting in the accelerated rejection of offspring-matched allografts. The underlying basis for divergent outcomes following reencounter of the same alloantigens on transplanted organs versus fetuses in postpartum females is incompletely understood. Using a mouse model that allows concurrent tracking of endogenous fetus-specific T and B cell responses in a single recipient, we show that semiallogeneic pregnancies simultaneously induce fetus-specific T cell tolerance and humoral sensitization. Pregnancy-induced antibodies, but not B cells, impeded transplantation tolerance elicited by costimulation blockade to offspring-matched cardiac grafts. Remarkably, in B cell-deficient mice, allogeneic pregnancy enabled the spontaneous acceptance of fetus-matched allografts. The presence of pregnancy-sensitized B cells that cannot secrete antibodies at the time of heart transplantation was sufficient to precipitate rejection and override pregnancy-established T cell tolerance. Thus, while induction of memory B cells and alloantibodies by pregnancies establishes formidable barriers to transplant success for multigravid women, our observations raise the possibility that humoral desensitization will not only improve transplantation outcomes, but also reveal an unexpected propensity of multiparous recipients to achieve tolerance to offspring-matched allografts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Suah
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Dong-Kha V Tran
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Stella Hw Khiew
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Michael S Andrade
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jared M Pollard
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Dharmendra Jain
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - James S Young
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Dengping Yin
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Geetha Chalasani
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Anita S Chong
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Yoo I, Kye YC, Han J, Kim M, Lee S, Jung W, Hong M, Park TS, Yun CH, Ka H. Uterine epithelial expression of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily: a strategy for immune privilege during pregnancy in a true epitheliochorial placentation species. Biol Reprod 2021; 102:828-842. [PMID: 31901087 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The maternal immune system tolerates semi-allogeneic placental tissues during pregnancy. Fas ligand (FASLG) and tumor necrosis factor superfamily 10 (TNFSF10) are known to be components of maternal immune tolerance in humans and mice. However, the role of FASLG and TNFSF10 in the tolerance process has not been studied in pigs, which form a true epitheliochorial type placenta. Thus, the present study examined the expression and function of FASLG and TNFSF10 and their receptors at the maternal-conceptus interface in pigs. The endometrium and conceptus tissues expressed FASLG and TNFSF10 and their receptor mRNAs during pregnancy in a stage-specific manner. During pregnancy, FASLG and TNFSF10 proteins were localized predominantly to endometrial luminal epithelial cells with strong signals on Day 30 to term and on Day 15, respectively, and receptors for TNFSF10 were localized to some stromal cells. Interferon-γ (IFNG) increased the expression of TNFSF10 and FAS in endometrial tissues. Co-culture of porcine endometrial epithelial cells over-expressing TNFSF10 with peripheral blood mononuclear cells yielded increased apoptotic cell death of lymphocytes and myeloid cells. In addition, many apoptotic T cells were found in the endometrium on Day 15 of pregnancy. The present study demonstrated that FASLG and TNFSF10 were expressed at the maternal-conceptus interface and conceptus-derived IFNG increased endometrial epithelial TNFSF10, which, in turn, induced apoptotic cell death of immune cells. These results suggest that endometrial epithelial FASLG and TNFSF10 may be critical for the formation of micro-environmental immune privilege at the maternal-conceptus interface for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inkyu Yoo
- Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493
| | - Yoon Chul Kye
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826
| | - Jisoo Han
- Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493
| | - Minjeong Kim
- Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493
| | - Soohyung Lee
- Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493
| | - Wonchul Jung
- Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493
| | - Minsun Hong
- Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493
| | - Tae Sub Park
- Graduate School of International Agricultural Technology and Institute of Green-Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Pyeongchang, 25354, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheol-Heui Yun
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826
| | - Hakhyun Ka
- Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493
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32
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Foyle KL, Sharkey DJ, Moldenhauer LM, Green ES, Wilson JJ, Roccisano CJ, Hull ML, Tremellen KP, Robertson SA. Effect of Intralipid infusion on peripheral blood T cells and plasma cytokines in women undergoing assisted reproduction treatment. Clin Transl Immunology 2021; 10:e1328. [PMID: 34408876 PMCID: PMC8358997 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Intravenous infusion of Intralipid is an adjunct therapy in assisted reproduction treatment (ART) when immune‐associated infertility is suspected. Here, we evaluated the effect of Intralipid infusion on regulatory T cells (Treg cells), effector T cells and plasma cytokines in peripheral blood of women undertaking IVF. Methods This prospective, observational pilot study assessed Intralipid infusion in 14 women exhibiting recurrent implantation failure, a clinical sign of immune‐associated infertility. Peripheral blood was collected immediately prior to and 7 days after intravenous administration of Intralipid. Plasma cytokines were measured by Luminex, and T‐cell subsets were analysed by flow cytometry. Results A small increase in conventional CD8+ T cells occurred after Intralipid infusion, but no change was seen in CD4+ Treg cells, or naïve, memory or effector memory T cells. Proliferation marker Ki67, transcription factors Tbet and RORγt, and markers of suppressive capacity CTLA4 and HLA‐DR were unchanged. Dimensionality‐reduction analysis using the tSNE algorithm confirmed no phenotype shift within Treg cells or other T cells. Intralipid infusion increased plasma CCL2, CCL3, CXCL8, GM‐CSF, G‐CSF, IL‐6, IL‐21, TNF and VEGF. Conclusion Intralipid infusion elicited elevated pro‐inflammatory cytokines, and a minor increase in CD8+ T cells, but no change in pro‐tolerogenic Treg cells. Notwithstanding the limitation of no placebo control, the results do not support Intralipid as a candidate intervention to attenuate the Treg cell response in women undergoing ART. Future placebo‐controlled studies are needed to confirm the potential efficacy and clinical significance of Intralipid in attenuating cytokine induction and circulating CD8+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerrie L Foyle
- Robinson Research Institute Adelaide Medical School University of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
| | - David J Sharkey
- Robinson Research Institute Adelaide Medical School University of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Lachlan M Moldenhauer
- Robinson Research Institute Adelaide Medical School University of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Ella S Green
- Robinson Research Institute Adelaide Medical School University of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Jasmine J Wilson
- Robinson Research Institute Adelaide Medical School University of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Cassandra J Roccisano
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences University of South Australia Adelaide SA Australia
| | - M Louise Hull
- Robinson Research Institute Adelaide Medical School University of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Kelton P Tremellen
- School of Medicine Flinders University Adelaide SA Australia.,Repromed Pty Ltd Dulwich SA Australia
| | - Sarah A Robertson
- Robinson Research Institute Adelaide Medical School University of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
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Toll-like receptor-4 null mutation causes fetal loss and fetal growth restriction associated with impaired maternal immune tolerance in mice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16569. [PMID: 34400677 PMCID: PMC8368181 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95213-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune adaptation to accommodate pregnancy depends on sufficient availability of regulatory T (Treg) cells to enable embryo implantation. Toll-like receptor 4 is implicated as a key upstream driver of a controlled inflammatory response, elicited by signals in male partner seminal fluid, to initiate expansion of the maternal Treg cell pool after mating. Here, we report that mice with null mutation in Tlr4 (Tlr4−/−) exhibit impaired reproductive outcomes after allogeneic mating, with reduced pregnancy rate, elevated mid-gestation fetal loss, and fetal growth restriction, compared to Tlr4+/+ wild-type controls. To investigate the effects of TLR4 deficiency on early events of maternal immune adaptation, TLR4-regulated cytokines and immune regulatory microRNAs were measured in the uterus at 8 h post-mating by qPCR, and Treg cells in uterus-draining lymph nodes were evaluated by flow cytometry on day 3.5 post-coitum. Ptgs2 encoding prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2, cytokines Csf2, Il6, Lif, and Tnf, chemokines Ccl2, Cxcl1, Cxcl2, and Cxcl10, and microRNAs miR-155, miR-146a, and miR-223 were induced by mating in wild-type mice, but not, or to a lesser extent, in Tlr4−/− mice. CD4+ T cells were expanded after mating in Tlr4+/+ but not Tlr4−/− mice, with failure to expand peripheral CD25+FOXP3+ NRP1− or thymic CD25+FOXP3+ NRP1+ Treg cell populations, and fewer Treg cells expressed Ki67 proliferation marker and suppressive function marker CTLA4. We conclude that TLR4 is an essential mediator of the inflammation-like response in the pre-implantation uterus that induces generation of Treg cells to support robust pregnancy tolerance and ensure optimal fetal growth and survival.
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El-Sheikh Ali H, Loux SC, Kennedy L, Scoggin KE, Dini P, Fedorka CE, Kalbfleisch TS, Esteller-Vico A, Horohov DW, Erol E, Carter CN, Smith JL, Ball BA. Transcriptomic analysis of equine chorioallantois reveals immune networks and molecular mechanisms involved in nocardioform placentitis. Vet Res 2021; 52:103. [PMID: 34238364 PMCID: PMC8268225 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-021-00972-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nocardioform placentitis (NP) continues to result in episodic outbreaks of abortion and preterm birth in mares and remains a poorly understood disease. The objective of this study was to characterize the transcriptome of the chorioallantois (CA) of mares with NP. The CA were collected from mares with confirmed NP based upon histopathology, microbiological culture and PCR for Amycolatopsis spp. Samples were collected from the margin of the NP lesion (NPL, n = 4) and grossly normal region (NPN, n = 4). Additionally, CA samples were collected from normal postpartum mares (Control; CRL, n = 4). Transcriptome analysis identified 2892 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in NPL vs. CRL and 2450 DEGs in NPL vs. NPN. Functional genomics analysis elucidated that inflammatory signaling, toll-like receptor signaling, inflammasome activation, chemotaxis, and apoptosis pathways are involved in NP. The increased leukocytic infiltration in NPL was associated with the upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP1, MMP3, and MMP8) and apoptosis-related genes, such as caspases (CASP3 and CASP7), which could explain placental separation associated with NP. Also, NP was associated with downregulation of several placenta-regulatory genes (ABCG2, GCM1, EPAS1, and NR3C1), angiogenesis-related genes (VEGFA, FLT1, KDR, and ANGPT2), and glucose transporter coding genes (GLUT1, GLUT10, and GLUT12), as well as upregulation of hypoxia-related genes (HIF1A and EGLN3), which could elucidate placental insufficiency accompanying NP. In conclusion, our findings revealed for the first time, the key regulators and mechanisms underlying placental inflammation, separation, and insufficiency during NP, which might lead to the development of efficacious therapies or diagnostic aids by targeting the key molecular pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossam El-Sheikh Ali
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA.,Theriogenology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt
| | - Shavahn C Loux
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Laura Kennedy
- UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Kirsten E Scoggin
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Pouya Dini
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Carleigh E Fedorka
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Theodore S Kalbfleisch
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | | | - David W Horohov
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Erdal Erol
- UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Craig N Carter
- UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Jackie L Smith
- UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Barry A Ball
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA.
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Ellingsen EB, Mangsbo SM, Hovig E, Gaudernack G. Telomerase as a Target for Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines and Considerations for Optimizing Their Clinical Potential. Front Immunol 2021; 12:682492. [PMID: 34290704 PMCID: PMC8288190 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.682492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase-based therapeutic cancer vaccines (TCVs) have been under clinical investigation for the past two decades. Despite past failures, TCVs have gained renewed enthusiasm for their potential to improve the efficacy of checkpoint inhibition. Telomerase stands as an attractive target for TCVs due to its almost universal presence in cancer and its essential function promoting tumor growth. Herein, we review tumor telomerase biology that may affect the efficacy of therapeutic vaccination and provide insights on optimal vaccine design and treatment combinations. Tumor types possessing mechanisms of increased telomerase expression combined with an immune permissive tumor microenvironment are expected to increase the therapeutic potential of telomerase-targeting cancer vaccines. Regardless, rational treatment combinations, such as checkpoint inhibitors, are likely necessary to bring out the true clinical potential of TCVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Espen Basmo Ellingsen
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Research and Development, Ultimovacs ASA, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sara M Mangsbo
- Research and Development, Ultimovacs AB, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Eivind Hovig
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Centre for Bioinformatics, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Graham JJ, Longhi MS, Heneghan MA. T helper cell immunity in pregnancy and influence on autoimmune disease progression. J Autoimmun 2021; 121:102651. [PMID: 34020252 PMCID: PMC8221281 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2021.102651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Pregnancy presents the maternal immune system with a unique immunological challenge since it has to defend against pathogens while tolerating paternal allo-antigens expressed by fetal tissues. T helper (Th) cells play a central role in modulating immune responses and recent advances have defined distinct contributions of various Th cell subsets throughout each phase of human pregnancy, while dysregulation in Th responses show association with multiple obstetrical complications. In addition to localized decidual mechanisms, modulation of Th cell immunity during gestation is mediated largely by oscillations in sex hormone concentrations. Aberrant Th cell responses also underlie several autoimmune disorders while pregnancy-induced changes in the balance of Th cell immunity has been shown to exert favorable outcomes in the progression Th1 and Th17 driven autoimmune conditions only to be followed by post-partal exacerbations in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathon J Graham
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, SE5 9RS, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Serena Longhi
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Michael A Heneghan
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, SE5 9RS, United Kingdom.
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37
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Hellberg S, Raffetseder J, Rundquist O, Magnusson R, Papapavlou G, Jenmalm MC, Ernerudh J, Gustafsson M. Progesterone Dampens Immune Responses in In Vitro Activated CD4 + T Cells and Affects Genes Associated With Autoimmune Diseases That Improve During Pregnancy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:672168. [PMID: 34054852 PMCID: PMC8149943 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.672168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The changes in progesterone (P4) levels during and after pregnancy coincide with the temporary improvement and worsening of several autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Most likely immune-endocrine interactions play a major role in these pregnancy-induced effects. In this study, we used next generation sequencing to investigate the direct effects of P4 on CD4+ T cell activation, key event in pregnancy and disease. We report profound dampening effects of P4 on T cell activation, altering the gene and protein expression profile and reversing many of the changes induced during the activation. The transcriptomic changes induced by P4 were significantly enriched for genes associated with diseases known to be modulated during pregnancy such as MS, RA and psoriasis. STAT1 and STAT3 were significantly downregulated by P4 and their downstream targets were significantly enriched among the disease-associated genes. Several of these genes included well-known and disease-relevant cytokines, such as IL-12β, CXCL10 and OSM, which were further validated also at the protein level using proximity extension assay. Our results extend the previous knowledge of P4 as an immune regulatory hormone and support its importance during pregnancy for regulating potentially detrimental immune responses towards the semi-allogenic fetus. Further, our results also point toward a potential role for P4 in the pregnancy-induced disease immunomodulation and highlight the need for further studies evaluating P4 as a future treatment option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Hellberg
- Bioinformatics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johanna Raffetseder
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Olof Rundquist
- Bioinformatics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Rasmus Magnusson
- Bioinformatics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Georgia Papapavlou
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Maria C Jenmalm
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jan Ernerudh
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mika Gustafsson
- Bioinformatics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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38
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Genebrier S, Tarte K. The flawless immune tolerance of pregnancy. Joint Bone Spine 2021; 88:105205. [PMID: 33962032 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2021.105205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steve Genebrier
- Unité Inserm U1236, Faculté de médecine, Université de Rennes 1, 2, avenue du Pr Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes, France; CHU de Rennes, Pôle Biologie, Rennes, France
| | - Karin Tarte
- Unité Inserm U1236, Faculté de médecine, Université de Rennes 1, 2, avenue du Pr Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes, France; CHU de Rennes, Pôle Biologie, Rennes, France.
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39
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Rodriguez‐Garcia M, Patel MV, Shen Z, Wira CR. The impact of aging on innate and adaptive immunity in the human female genital tract. Aging Cell 2021; 20:e13361. [PMID: 33951269 PMCID: PMC8135005 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucosal tissues in the human female reproductive tract (FRT) are primary sites for both gynecological cancers and infections by a spectrum of sexually transmitted pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), that compromise women's health. While the regulation of innate and adaptive immune protection in the FRT by hormonal cyclic changes across the menstrual cycle and pregnancy are being intensely studied, little to nothing is known about the alterations in mucosal immune protection that occur throughout the FRT as women age following menopause. The immune system in the FRT has two key functions: defense against pathogens and reproduction. After menopause, natural reproductive function ends, and therefore, two overlapping processes contribute to alterations in immune protection in aging women: menopause and immunosenescence. The goal of this review is to summarize the multiple immune changes that occur in the FRT with aging, including the impact on the function of epithelial cells, immune cells, and stromal fibroblasts. These studies indicate that major aspects of innate and adaptive immunity in the FRT are compromised in a site‐specific manner in the FRT as women age. Further, at some FRT sites, immunological compensation occurs. Overall, alterations in mucosal immune protection contribute to the increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STI), urogenital infections, and gynecological cancers. Further studies are essential to provide a foundation for the development of novel therapeutic interventions to restore immune protection and reverse conditions that threaten women's lives as they age.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mickey V. Patel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth Lebanon NH USA
| | - Zheng Shen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth Lebanon NH USA
| | - Charles R. Wira
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth Lebanon NH USA
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40
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Impaired myeloid-derived suppressor cells are associated with recurrent implantation failure: A case-control study. J Reprod Immunol 2021; 145:103316. [PMID: 33866110 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2021.103316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies have reported that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) contribute to maintain pregnancy. The aim of this case-control study was to test whether there is a dysregulation of peripheral MDSCs in recurrent implantation failure (RIF). METHODS 26 RIF patients and 30 controls were recruited. Flow cytometry was applied to characterize polymorphonuclear (PMN)-MDSCs, monocytic-MDSCs (M-MDSCs), effector T cells (Teffs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in blood. ELISA was used to define MDSCs correlative cytokines and chemokines in serum from all patients. RESULTS Compared with controls, RIF patients showed significant reductions of blood PMN-MDSCs, M-MDSCs, Tregs and NO production by PMN-MDSCs, whereas the expression of ζ chain on CD4+T cell receptor (TCR) and CD8+TCR displayed a remarkable upregulation in RIF patients. Moreover, RIF patients presented a lower concentration of serum chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL) 5 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β than those from controls. Furthermore, the level of TCR ζ chain on CD4+ and CD8+ Teffs was negatively correlated not only with the percentage of PMN-MDSCs, but also with the amount of NO produced by PMN-MDSCs. The frequency of PMN-MDSCs had positive correlations with the concentration of CCL5 and TGF-β. CONCLUSIONS This study indicated that the dysregulation of MDSCs might impair maternal-fetal immune balance thus resulting in RIF.
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41
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Iske J, Elkhal A, Tullius SG. The Fetal-Maternal Immune Interface in Uterus Transplantation. Trends Immunol 2021; 41:213-224. [PMID: 32109373 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2020.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Uterus transplants (UTxs) have been performed worldwide. Overall frequencies have been low, but globally initiated UTx programs are expected to increase clinical implementation. The uterus constitutes a unique immunological environment with specific features of tissue renewal and a receptive endometrium. Decidual immune cells facilitate embryo implantation and placenta development. Although UTx adds to the complexity of immunity during pregnancy and transplantation, the procedure provides a unique clinical and experimental model. We posit that understanding the distinct immunological properties at the interface of the transplanted uterus, the fetus and maternal circulation might provide valuable novel insights while improving outcomes for UTx. Here, we discuss immunological challenges and opportunities of UTx affecting mother, pregnancy and healthy livebirths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper Iske
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Institute of Transplant Immunology, Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Abdallah Elkhal
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stefan G Tullius
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Brady CA, Williams C, Sharps MC, Shelleh A, Batra G, Heazell AEP, Crocker IP. Chronic histiocytic intervillositis: A breakdown in immune tolerance comparable to allograft rejection? Am J Reprod Immunol 2021; 85:e13373. [PMID: 33155353 PMCID: PMC7988544 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic histiocytic intervillositis (CHI) is a pregnancy disorder characterized by infiltration of maternal macrophages into the intervillous space of the human placenta, often with accompanying perivillous fibrin deposition. CHI is associated strongly with foetal growth restriction and increased risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. Although rare, affecting 6 in every 10 000 pregnancies beyond 12 weeks' gestation, the rate of recurrence is high at 25%-100%. To date, diagnosis of CHI can only be made post-delivery upon examination of the placenta due to a lack of diagnostic biomarkers, and criteria vary across publications. No treatment options have shown proven efficacy, and CHI remains a serious obstetric conundrum. Although its underlying aetiology is unclear, due to the presence of maternal macrophages and the reported increased incidence in women with autoimmune disease, CHI is hypothesized to be an inappropriate immune response to the semi-allogeneic foetus. Given this lack of understanding, treatment approaches remain experimental with limited rationale. However, there is recent evidence that immunosuppression and antithrombotic therapies may be effective in preventing recurrence of associated adverse pregnancy outcomes. With similarities noted between the pathological features of CHI and acute rejection of solid organ transplants, further investigation of this hypothesis may provide a basis for tackling CHI and other immune-related placental conditions. This review will explore parallels between CHI and allograft rejection and identify areas requiring further confirmation and exploitation of this comparison.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe A. Brady
- Tommy's Maternal and Fetal Health Research CentreSt. Mary’s HospitalThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Charlotte Williams
- Tommy's Maternal and Fetal Health Research CentreSt. Mary’s HospitalThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
- University of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Megan C. Sharps
- Tommy's Maternal and Fetal Health Research CentreSt. Mary’s HospitalThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Amena Shelleh
- St Mary’s HospitalManchester University NHS Foundation TrustManchesterUK
| | - Gauri Batra
- Paediatric HistopathologyCentral Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustManchesterUK
| | - Alexander E. P. Heazell
- Tommy's Maternal and Fetal Health Research CentreSt. Mary’s HospitalThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
- St Mary’s HospitalManchester University NHS Foundation TrustManchesterUK
| | - Ian P. Crocker
- Tommy's Maternal and Fetal Health Research CentreSt. Mary’s HospitalThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
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Preconceptual Priming Overrides Susceptibility to Escherichia coli Systemic Infection during Pregnancy. mBio 2021; 12:mBio.00002-21. [PMID: 33622714 PMCID: PMC8545081 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00002-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. Escherichia coli is a primary cause of bacteremia in women and occurs more frequently during pregnancy. Several key outstanding questions remain regarding how to identify women at highest infection risk and how to boost immunity against E. coli infection during pregnancy. Here, we show that pregnancy-induced susceptibility to E. coli systemic infection extends to rodents as a model of human infection. Mice infected during pregnancy contain >100-fold-more recoverable bacteria in target tissues than nonpregnant controls. Infection leads to near complete fetal wastage that parallels placental plus congenital fetal invasion. Susceptibility in maternal tissues positively correlates with the number of concepti, suggesting important contributions by expanded placental-fetal target tissue. Remarkably, these pregnancy-induced susceptibility phenotypes are also efficiently overturned in mice with resolved sublethal infection prior to pregnancy. Preconceptual infection primes the accumulation of E. coli-specific IgG and IgM antibodies, and adoptive transfer of serum containing these antibodies to naive recipient mice protects against fetal wastage. Together, these results suggest that the lack of E. coli immunity may help discriminate individuals at risk during pregnancy, and that overriding susceptibility to E. coli prenatal infection by preconceptual priming is a potential strategy for boosting immunity in this physiological window of vulnerability.IMPORTANCE Pregnancy makes women especially vulnerable to infection. The most common cause of bloodstream infection during pregnancy is by a bacterium called Escherichia coli This bacterium is a very common cause of bloodstream infection, not just during pregnancy but in all individuals, from newborn babies to the elderly, probably because it is always present in our intestine and can intermittently invade through this mucosal barrier. We first show that pregnancy in animals also makes them more susceptible to E. coli bloodstream infection. This is important because many of the dominant factors likely to control differences in human infection susceptibility can be property controlled for only in animals. Despite this vulnerability induced by pregnancy, we also show that animals with resolved E. coli infection are protected against reinfection during pregnancy, including having resistance to most infection-induced pregnancy complications. Protection against reinfection is mediated by antibodies that can be measured in the blood. This information may help to explain why most women do not develop E. coli infection during pregnancy, enabling new approaches for identifying those at especially high risk of infection and strategies for preventing infection during pregnancy.
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Chen L, Li M, Sun F, Qian J, Du M, Wang S, Li D. Eomesodermin regulate decidual CD4 +T cell function during human early pregnancy. J Reprod Immunol 2021; 146:103290. [PMID: 33637323 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2021.103290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Decidual CD4+T (dCD4+T) cells play pivotal roles in inducing and maintaining maternal-fetal tolerance. Dysfunctional dCD4+T cells are associated with miscarriage. In the present study, we demonstrated that the T-box transcription factor protein eomesodermin (Eomes) was involved in the functional regulation of dCD4+T cells during early pregnancy. We concluded the higher Eomes expression dCD4+T cells during normal pregnancy, and the Eomes+dCD4+T cells displayed an active status and produced more Th2- and Treg type cytokines. Decreased number and altered function of Eomes+dCD4+T cells were observed in miscarriage. Progesterone, the traditional treatment for miscarriage, had no effect on Eomes expression by dCD4+T cells from normal pregnancy, but increased Eomes expression by dCD4+T cells from miscarriage. We also found the higher frequency of Eomes+dCD4+T cells from miscarriage in response to cyclosporine, tacrolimus, Trophoblasts, and HTR8/SVneo cell line, might provide new strategy for therapy to promote maternal-fetal tolerance and prevent pregnancy loss. These results indicated that Eomes might be promising early warming targets of miscarriage, though further studies are required to determine that the altered number and function of Eomes+dCD4+T cells are the cause or consequence of miscarriage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanting Chen
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Mengdie Li
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Fengrun Sun
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Jinfeng Qian
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Meirong Du
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Songcun Wang
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, PR China.
| | - Dajin Li
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, PR China.
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Marinić M, Mika K, Chigurupati S, Lynch VJ. Evolutionary transcriptomics implicates HAND2 in the origins of implantation and regulation of gestation length. eLife 2021; 10:61257. [PMID: 33522483 PMCID: PMC7943190 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The developmental origins and evolutionary histories of cell types, tissues, and organs contribute to the ways in which their dysfunction produces disease. In mammals, the nature, development and evolution of maternal-fetal interactions likely influence diseases of pregnancy. Here we show genes that evolved expression at the maternal-fetal interface in Eutherian mammals play essential roles in the evolution of pregnancy and are associated with immunological disorders and preterm birth. Among these genes is HAND2, a transcription factor that suppresses estrogen signaling, a Eutherian innovation allowing blastocyst implantation. We found dynamic HAND2 expression in the decidua throughout the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, gradually decreasing to a low at term. HAND2 regulates a distinct set of genes in endometrial stromal fibroblasts including IL15, a cytokine also exhibiting dynamic expression throughout the menstrual cycle and gestation, promoting migration of natural killer cells and extravillous cytotrophoblasts. We demonstrate that HAND2 promoter loops to an enhancer containing SNPs implicated in birth weight and gestation length regulation. Collectively, these data connect HAND2 expression at the maternal-fetal interface with evolution of implantation and gestational regulation, and preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirna Marinić
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, United States
| | - Katelyn Mika
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, United States
| | | | - Vincent J Lynch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, United States
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46
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Fang X, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Li Y, Kwak-Kim J, Wu L. NLRP3 Inflammasome and Its Critical Role in Gynecological Disorders and Obstetrical Complications. Front Immunol 2021; 11:555826. [PMID: 33584639 PMCID: PMC7876052 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.555826] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammasomes, intracellular, multimeric protein complexes, are assembled when damage signals stimulate nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain receptors (NLRs). Several inflammasomes have been reported, including the NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), NLRP1, NLRP7, ice protease-activating factor (IPAF), absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) and NLR family CARD domain-containing protein 4 (NLRC4). Among these inflammasomes, the NLRP3 inflammasome is the most well-studied in terms of structure and function. Unlike other inflammasomes that can only be activated by a finite number of pathogenic microorganisms, the NLRP3 inflammasome can be activated by the imbalance of the internal environment and a large number of metabolites. The biochemical function of NLRP3 inflammasome is to activate cysteine-requiring aspartate proteinase-1 (caspase-1), which converts pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18 into their active forms, namely, IL-1β and IL-18, which are then released into the extracellular space. The well-established, classic role of NLRP3 inflammasome has been implicated in many disorders. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of NLRP3 inflammasome and its critical role in gynecological disorders and obstetrical complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuhui Fang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Anhui Provincial Hospital affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yanshi Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Anhui Provincial Hospital affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Anhui Provincial Hospital affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yelin Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Anhui Provincial Hospital affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Joanne Kwak-Kim
- Reproductive Medicine and Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Sciences Department, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Vernon Hills, IL, United States.,Center for Cancer Cell Biology, Immunology and Infection Diseases, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Li Wu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Anhui Provincial Hospital affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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47
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Shen Z, Rodriguez-Garcia M, Patel MV, Wira CR. Direct and Indirect endocrine-mediated suppression of human endometrial CD8+T cell cytotoxicity. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1773. [PMID: 33469053 PMCID: PMC7815780 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81380-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulation of endometrial (EM) CD8+T cells is essential for successful reproduction and protection against pathogens. Suppression of CD8+T cells is necessary for a tolerogenic environment that promotes implantation and pregnancy. However, the mechanisms regulating this process remain unclear. Sex hormones are known to control immune responses directly on immune cells and indirectly through the tissue environment. When the actions of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P) and TGFβ on EM CD8+T cells were evaluated, cytotoxic activity, perforin and granzymes were directly suppressed by E2 and TGFβ but not P. Moreover, incubation of polarized EM epithelial cells with P, but not E2, increased TGFβ secretion. These findings suggest that E2 acts directly on CD8+T cell to suppress cytotoxic activity while P acts indirectly through induction of TGFβ production. Understanding the mechanisms involved in regulating endometrial CD8+T cells is essential for optimizing reproductive success and developing protective strategies against genital infections and gynecological cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Shen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA
| | - M Rodriguez-Garcia
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M V Patel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA
| | - C R Wira
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA.
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48
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Cho SI, Yu DA, Kim SI, Lee SM, Kwon O. Pregnancy Outcomes in Female Patients with Alopecia Areata: A Nationwide Population-Based Study. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 141:1844-1847.e4. [PMID: 33422620 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2020.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Soo Ick Cho
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Da-Ae Yu
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Se Ik Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seung Mi Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ohsang Kwon
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Laboratory of Cutaneous Aging and Hair Research, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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49
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Schjenken JE, Green ES, Overduin TS, Mah CY, Russell DL, Robertson SA. Endocrine Disruptor Compounds-A Cause of Impaired Immune Tolerance Driving Inflammatory Disorders of Pregnancy? Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:607539. [PMID: 33912131 PMCID: PMC8072457 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.607539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are prevalent and ubiquitous in our environment and have substantial potential to compromise human and animal health. Amongst the chronic health conditions associated with EDC exposure, dysregulation of reproductive function in both females and males is prominent. Human epidemiological studies demonstrate links between EDC exposure and infertility, as well as gestational disorders including miscarriage, fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia, and preterm birth. Animal experiments show EDCs administered during gestation, or to either parent prior to conception, can interfere with gamete quality, embryo implantation, and placental and fetal development, with consequences for offspring viability and health. It has been presumed that EDCs operate principally through disrupting hormone-regulated events in reproduction and fetal development, but EDC effects on maternal immune receptivity to pregnancy are also implicated. EDCs can modulate both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, to alter inflammatory responses, and interfere with generation of regulatory T (Treg) cells that are critical for pregnancy tolerance. Effects of EDCs on immune cells are complex and likely exerted by both steroid hormone-dependent and hormone-independent pathways. Thus, to better understand how EDCs impact reproduction and pregnancy, it is imperative to consider how immune-mediated mechanisms are affected by EDCs. This review will describe evidence that several EDCs modify elements of the immune response relevant to pregnancy, and will discuss the potential for EDCs to disrupt immune tolerance required for robust placentation and optimal fetal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E. Schjenken
- Adelaide Medical School and The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, Discipline of Biological Sciences, The Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights and the University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Ella S. Green
- Adelaide Medical School and The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Tenuis S. Overduin
- Adelaide Medical School and The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Chui Yan Mah
- Adelaide Medical School and The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Darryl L. Russell
- Adelaide Medical School and The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Sarah A. Robertson
- Adelaide Medical School and The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- *Correspondence: Sarah A. Robertson,
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50
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Ali S, Majid S, Ali MN, Taing S, Rehman MU, Arafah A. Cytokine imbalance at materno-embryonic interface as a potential immune mechanism for recurrent pregnancy loss. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 90:107118. [PMID: 33191177 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.107118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a prominent reproductive disease that distresses about 2%-5% of couples. RPL is the loss of two or more successive spontaneous pregnancies prior to the 20th week of embryo development. The commencement of pregnancy necessitates implantation of the embryo into responsive maternal decidua synchronized with the process of placentation, decidual and myometrial trophoblast incursion as well as refashioning of spiral blood arteries of uterus. The collapse of any of the processes fundamental for pregnancy success may result into an array of pregnancy problems including spontaneous pregnancy loss. Endometrium of human female manufactures an extensive range of cytokines during the proliferative and secretory stage of the menstrual cycle. These endometrial cytokines are thought as major players for making the uterus ready for embryo implantation and placental development during pregnancy. Decidual cytokines regulate the invasion of trophoblast and remodeling of spiral arteries as well as take part in immune suppression to accomplish the pregnancy. Deterrence of maternal rejection of embryo needs a regulated milieu, which takes place essentially at the embryo-maternal interface and the tissues of the uterus. The reasons of RPL remain anonymous in a large number of cases that lead to difficulties in management and severe trauma in couples. Cytokine modulatory therapies have been shown promising for preventing RPL. Further study of novel factors is wanted to establish more effective RPL treatment protocols. The present study aims to review the outcome of cytokine breach at materno-embryonic interface and the efficacy of cytokine modulatory therapies in RPL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shafat Ali
- Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir-190006, Srinagar, J&K, India; Department of Biochemistry, Government Medical College, Srinagar, J&K, India.
| | - Sabhiya Majid
- Department of Biochemistry, Government Medical College, Srinagar, J&K, India
| | - Md Niamat Ali
- Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir-190006, Srinagar, J&K, India.
| | - Shahnaz Taing
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Govt. Medical College Associated Lalla Ded Hospital, Srinagar, J&K, India
| | - Muneeb U Rehman
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Azher Arafah
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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