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Enninga EAL, Quach HQ, Jang JS, de Araujo Correia MCM, Fedyshyn Y, Fedyshyn B, Lemens M, Littlefield D, Behl S, Sintim-Aboagye E, Mejia Plazas MC, Cardenas MC, Chakraborty S, Yamaoka S, Ebihara H, Pandey A, Li H, Badley AD, Johnson EL, Sun J, Norgan AP, Theiler RN, Chakraborty R. Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy disrupts gene expression in Hofbauer cells with limited impact on cytotrophoblasts. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011990. [PMID: 38324589 PMCID: PMC10878512 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hofbauer cells (HBCs) and cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) are major cell populations in placenta. The indirect impact of maternal SARS-CoV-2 disease on these cells that are not directly infected has not been extensively studied. Herein, we profiled gene expression in HBCs and CTBs isolated from placentae of recovered pregnant subjects infected with SARS-CoV-2 during all trimesters of pregnancy, placentae from subjects with active infection, SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated subjects, and those who were unexposed to the virus. METHODS Placentae were collected within 4 h post-delivery and membrane-free tissues were enzymatically digested for the isolation of HBCs and CTBs. RNA extracted from HBCs and CTBs were sequenced using 150bp paired-end reads. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by DESeq2 package in R and enriched in GO Biological Processes, KEGG Pathway, Reactome Gene Sets, Hallmark Gene Sets, and Canonical Pathways. Protein-protein interactions among the DEGs were modelled using STRING and BioGrid. RESULTS Pregnant subjects (n = 30) were recruited and categorized into six groups: infected with SARS-CoV-2 in i) the first (1T, n = 4), ii) second (2T, n = 5), iii) third (3T, n = 5) trimester, iv) tested positive at delivery (Delivery, n = 5), v) never infected (Control, n = 6), and vi) fully mRNA-vaccinated by delivery (Vaccinated, n = 5). Compared to the Control group, gene expression analysis showed that HBCs from infected subjects had significantly altered gene expression profiles, with the 2T group having the highest number of DEGs (1,696), followed by 3T and 1T groups (1,656 and 958 DEGs, respectively). These DEGs were enriched for pathways involved in immune regulation for host defense, including production of cytokines, chemokines, antimicrobial proteins, ribosomal assembly, neutrophil degranulation inflammation, morphogenesis, and cell migration/adhesion. Protein-protein interaction analysis mapped these DEGs with oxidative phosphorylation, translation, extracellular matrix organization, and type I interferon signaling. Only 95, 23, and 8 DEGs were identified in CTBs of 1T, 2T, and 3T groups, respectively. Similarly, 11 and 3 DEGs were identified in CTBs and HBCs of vaccinated subjects, respectively. Reassuringly, mRNA vaccination did not induce an inflammatory response in placental cells. CONCLUSIONS Our studies demonstrate a significant impact of indirect SARS-CoV-2 infection on gene expression of inner mesenchymal HBCs, with limited effect on lining CTB cells isolated from pregnant subjects infected and recovered from SARS-CoV-2. The pathways associated with these DEGs identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Ann L. Enninga
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Huy Quang Quach
- Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Jin Sung Jang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | | | - Yaroslav Fedyshyn
- Children Research Center, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Bohdana Fedyshyn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Maureen Lemens
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Dawn Littlefield
- Children Research Center, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Supriya Behl
- Children Research Center, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Elise Sintim-Aboagye
- Children Research Center, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Maria C. Mejia Plazas
- Children Research Center, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Maria C. Cardenas
- Children Research Center, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Shree Chakraborty
- Children Research Center, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Satoko Yamaoka
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Hideki Ebihara
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Akhilesh Pandey
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Division of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Center for Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Hu Li
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Andrew D. Badley
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Erica L. Johnson
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jie Sun
- Thoracic Diseases Research Unit, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Carter Immunology Center University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Andrew P. Norgan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Regan N. Theiler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Rana Chakraborty
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Children Research Center, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
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Hou Y, Yang J, Deng F, Wang F, Peng H, Guo F, Wang D, Yin A. Association between cell-free DNA fetal fraction and pregnant character: a retrospective cohort study of 27,793 maternal plasmas. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11420. [PMID: 37452067 PMCID: PMC10349099 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38151-4] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
To determine the association between cell-free DNA fetal fraction (cffDNA) and various prenatal characters to better guide the clinical application of noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS), a retrospective cohort study of 27,793 women with singleton pregnancies was conducted. Results indicated that no significant difference on cffDNA between trisomy/sex chromosome aneuploidy (SCA) and non-trisomy groups was found. However, the fetal fraction (FF) in the T18 and T13 subgroups were significantly lower than that in the non-trisomy group, while the FF in the T21 group was significantly higher than the non-trisomy group. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between √FF and gestational week in the T21, SCA, and non-trisomy groups. A negative correlation between maternal age and √FF in T21 and non-trisomy cases was found, but a positive correlation in SCA group. Compared to the decreasing trend in FF in the T21 group, no significant difference was observed in the SCA group. The √FF level was negatively correlated to maternal BMI in T21 and non-trisomy group, while a positive correlation in SCA group. FF was close related to the result of NIPS and related maternal factors. Though NIPS has increased accuracy, the complexity still should be recognized especially in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaping Hou
- Medical Genetic Centre, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 510010, Guangdong, China
- Maternal and Children Metabolic-Genetic Key Laboratory, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 510010, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiexia Yang
- Medical Genetic Centre, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 510010, Guangdong, China
- Maternal and Children Metabolic-Genetic Key Laboratory, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 510010, Guangdong, China
| | - Fuli Deng
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Fanghua Wang
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Haishan Peng
- Medical Genetic Centre, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 510010, Guangdong, China
- Maternal and Children Metabolic-Genetic Key Laboratory, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 510010, Guangdong, China
| | - Fangfang Guo
- Medical Genetic Centre, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 510010, Guangdong, China
- Maternal and Children Metabolic-Genetic Key Laboratory, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 510010, Guangdong, China
| | - Dongmei Wang
- Medical Genetic Centre, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 510010, Guangdong, China
- Maternal and Children Metabolic-Genetic Key Laboratory, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 510010, Guangdong, China
| | - Aihua Yin
- Medical Genetic Centre, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 510010, Guangdong, China.
- Maternal and Children Metabolic-Genetic Key Laboratory, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 510010, Guangdong, China.
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Leon-Martinez D, Lynn T, Abrahams VM. Cell-free fetal DNA impairs trophoblast migration in a TLR9-dependent manner and can be reversed by hydroxychloroquine. J Reprod Immunol 2023; 157:103945. [PMID: 37062109 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2023.103945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests a relationship between elevated circulating placental-derived cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) and preeclampsia. Hypomethylation of CpG motifs, a hallmark of cffDNA, allows it to activate Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9). Using an in vitro human first trimester extravillous trophoblast cell model, we sought to determine if trophoblast-derived cffDNA and ODN 2216, a synthetic unmethylated CpG oligodeoxynucleotide, directly impacted spontaneous trophoblast migration. The role of the DNA sensors TLR9, AIM2, and cGAS was assessed using the inhibitor A151. To test whether any effects could be reversed by therapeutic agents, trophoblasts were treated with or without cffDNA or ODN 2216 with or without aspirin (ASA; a known cGAS inhibitor), aspirin-triggered lipoxin (ATL), or hydroxychloroquine (HCQ; a known TLR9 inhibitor). Trophoblast-derived cffDNA and ODN 2216 reduced trophoblast migration without affecting cell viability. Reduced trophoblast migration in response to cffDNA or ODN 2216 was reversed by A151. cffDNA inhibition of trophoblast migration was reversed by HCQ, while ASA or ATL had no effect. In contrast ODN 2216 inhibition of trophoblast migration was reversed by ASA, ATL and HCQ. Our findings suggest that cffDNA can exert a local effect on placental function by impairing trophoblast migration through activation of innate immune DNA sensors. HCQ, a known TLR9 inhibitor, reversed the effects of cffDNA on trophoblast migration. Greater insights into the molecular underpinnings of how cffDNA impacts placentation can aid in our understanding of the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, and in the development of novel therapeutic approaches for preeclampsia therapy.
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Saito Reis CA, Ng PK, Kurashima CK, Padron J, Kendal-Wright CE. Fetal DNA Causes Sex-Specific Inflammation From Human Fetal Membranes. Front Physiol 2022; 13:901726. [PMID: 35812324 PMCID: PMC9257279 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.901726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is central to the mechanisms of parturition, but the lack of understanding of how it is controlled in normal parturition hampers our ability to understand how it may diverge resulting in preterm birth. Cell-free fetal DNA is found in the amniotic fluid, and it is thought to be able to activate inflammation as a danger-associated molecular pattern. Although its levels increases with gestational age, its effect has not been studied on the human fetal membranes. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine if the fetal DNA can trigger inflammation in the human fetal membranes and, thus, potentially contribute to the inflammatory load. Isolated human amniotic epithelial cells and fetal membrane explants were treated apically with fetal DNA causing the translocation of NF-KB into the nucleus of cells and throughout the cells of the explant layers with time. Fetal membrane explants were treated apically with either small or larger fragments of fetal DNA. IL-6, TNFα, and GM-CSF secretion was measured by ELISA, and pro-MMP2 and pro-MMP9 activity was measured by zymography from apical and basal media. Increased apical IL-6 secretion and basal pro-MMP2 activity was seen with small fragments of fetal DNA. When the data were disaggregated based on fetal sex, males had significant increases in IL-6 secretion and basal increased activity in pro-MMP2 and 9, whereas females had significantly increased basal secretion of TNFα. This was caused by the smaller fragments of fetal DNA, whereas the larger fragments did not cause any significant increases. Male fetal DNA had significantly lower percentages of methylation than females. Thus, when the cytokine and pro-MMP activity data were correlated with methylation percentage, IL-6 secretion significantly correlated negatively, whereas GM-CSF secretion positively correlated. These data support the role of fetal DNA as an inflammatory stimulus in the FM, as measured by increased NF-κB translocation, cytokine secretion, and increased pro-MMP activity. However, the data also suggested that the responses are different from FM tissues of male and female fetuses, and both the fragment size and methylation status of the fetal DNA can influence the magnitude and type of molecule secreted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea A. Saito Reis
- Natural Science and Mathematics, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - Po’okela K. Ng
- Natural Science and Mathematics, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | | | - Justin Padron
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - Claire Enid Kendal-Wright
- Natural Science and Mathematics, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Honolulu, HI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, United States
- *Correspondence: Claire Enid Kendal-Wright,
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Yeganeh Kazemi N, Fedyshyn B, Sutor S, Fedyshyn Y, Markovic S, Enninga EAL. Maternal Monocytes Respond to Cell-Free Fetal DNA and Initiate Key Processes of Human Parturition. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2021; 207:2433-2444. [PMID: 34663619 PMCID: PMC8578468 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Throughout gestation, the maternal immune system is tightly modulated to allow growth of a semiallogeneic fetus. During the third trimester, the maternal immune system shifts to a proinflammatory phenotype in preparation for labor. What induces this shift remains unclear. Cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) is shed by the placenta and enters maternal circulation throughout pregnancy. Levels of cffDNA are increased as gestation progresses and peak before labor, coinciding with a shift to proinflammatory maternal immunity. Furthermore, cffDNA is abnormally elevated in plasma from women with complications of pregnancy, including preterm labor. Given the changes in maternal immunity at the end of pregnancy and the role of sterile inflammation in the pathophysiology of spontaneous preterm birth, we hypothesized that cffDNA can act as a damage-associated molecular pattern inducing an inflammatory cytokine response that promotes hallmarks of parturition. To test this hypothesis, we stimulated human maternal leukocytes with cffDNA from primary term cytotrophoblasts or maternal plasma and observed significant IL-1β and CXCL10 secretion, which coincides with phosphorylation of IFN regulatory factor 3 and caspase-1 cleavage. We then show that human maternal monocytes are crucial for the immune response to cffDNA and can activate bystander T cells to secrete proinflammatory IFN-γ and granzyme B. Lastly, we find that the monocyte response to cffDNA leads to vascular endothelium activation, induction of myometrial contractility, and PGE2 release in vitro. Our results suggest that the immune response to cffDNA can promote key features of the parturition cascade, which has physiologic consequences relevant to the timing of labor.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bohdana Fedyshyn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Shari Sutor
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Yaroslav Fedyshyn
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and
| | - Svetomir Markovic
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN;,Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Elizabeth Ann L. Enninga
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN;,Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
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