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Hallman M, Haapalainen A, Huusko JM, Karjalainen MK, Zhang G, Muglia LJ, Rämet M. Spontaneous premature birth as a target of genomic research. Pediatr Res 2019; 85:422-431. [PMID: 30353040 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-018-0180-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Spontaneous preterm birth is a serious and common pregnancy complication associated with hormonal dysregulation, infection, inflammation, immunity, rupture of fetal membranes, stress, bleeding, and uterine distention. Heredity is 25-40% and mostly involves the maternal genome, with contribution of the fetal genome. Significant discoveries of candidate genes by genome-wide studies and confirmation in independent replicate populations serve as signposts for further research. The main task is to define the candidate genes, their roles, localization, regulation, and the associated pathways that influence the onset of human labor. Genomic research has identified some candidate genes that involve growth, differentiation, endocrine function, immunity, and other defense functions. For example, selenocysteine-specific elongation factor (EEFSEC) influences synthesis of selenoproteins. WNT4 regulates decidualization, while a heat-shock protein family A (HSP70) member 1 like, HSPAIL, influences expression of glucocorticoid receptor and WNT4. Programming of pregnancy duration starts before pregnancy and during placentation. Future goals are to understand the interactive regulation of the pathways in order to define the clocks that influence the risk of prematurity and the duration of pregnancy. Premature birth has a great impact on the duration and the quality of life. Intensification of focused research on causes, prediction and prevention of prematurity is justified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikko Hallman
- PEDEGO Research Unit, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, and Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Antti Haapalainen
- PEDEGO Research Unit, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, and Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Johanna M Huusko
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center Ohio Collaborative, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Minna K Karjalainen
- PEDEGO Research Unit, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, and Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ge Zhang
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center Ohio Collaborative, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Louis J Muglia
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center Ohio Collaborative, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Mika Rämet
- PEDEGO Research Unit, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, and Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
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Sheikh IA, Ahmad E, Jamal MS, Rehan M, Assidi M, Tayubi IA, AlBasri SF, Bajouh OS, Turki RF, Abuzenadah AM, Damanhouri GA, Beg MA, Al-Qahtani M. Spontaneous preterm birth and single nucleotide gene polymorphisms: a recent update. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:759. [PMID: 27766960 PMCID: PMC5073925 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3089-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Preterm birth (PTB), birth at <37 weeks of gestation, is a significant global public health problem. World-wide, about 15 million babies are born preterm each year resulting in more than a million deaths of children. Preterm neonates are more prone to problems and need intensive care hospitalization. Health issues may persist through early adulthood and even be carried on to the next generation. Majority (70 %) of PTBs are spontaneous with about a half without any apparent cause and the other half associated with a number of risk factors. Genetic factors are one of the significant risks for PTB. The focus of this review is on single nucleotide gene polymorphisms (SNPs) that are reported to be associated with PTB. Results A comprehensive evaluation of studies on SNPs known to confer potential risk of PTB was done by performing a targeted PubMed search for the years 2007–2015 and systematically reviewing all relevant studies. Evaluation of 92 studies identified 119 candidate genes with SNPs that had potential association with PTB. The genes were associated with functions of a wide spectrum of tissue and cell types such as endocrine, tissue remodeling, vascular, metabolic, and immune and inflammatory systems. Conclusions A number of potential functional candidate gene variants have been reported that predispose women for PTB. Understanding the complex genomic landscape of PTB needs high-throughput genome sequencing methods such as whole-exome sequencing and whole-genome sequencing approaches that will significantly enhance the understanding of PTB. Identification of high risk women, avoidance of possible risk factors, and provision of personalized health care are important to manage PTB. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-3089-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishfaq A Sheikh
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ejaz Ahmad
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad S Jamal
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohd Rehan
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mourad Assidi
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Iftikhar A Tayubi
- Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Samera F AlBasri
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Osama S Bajouh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rola F Turki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,KACST Innovation Center in Personalized Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adel M Abuzenadah
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,KACST Innovation Center in Personalized Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ghazi A Damanhouri
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohd A Beg
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mohammed Al-Qahtani
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Vafopoulou X, Steel CGH. Mitochondria and the insect steroid hormone receptor (EcR): A complex relationship. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2016; 237:68-77. [PMID: 27497706 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Revised: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The actions of the insect steroid molting hormones, ecdysteroids, on the genome of target cells has been well studied, but little is known of their extranuclear actions. We previously showed in Rhodnius prolixus that much of the ecdysteroid receptor (EcR) resides in the cytoplasm of various cell types and undergoes shuttling between nucleus and cytoplasm with circadian periodicity, possibly using microtubules as tracks for translocation to the nucleus. Here we report that cytoplasmic EcR appears to be also involved in extranuclear actions of ecdysteroids by association with the mitochondria. Western blots of subcellular fractions of brain lysates revealed that EcR is localized in the mitochondrial fraction, indicating an intimate association of EcR with mitochondria. Confocal laser microscopy and immunohistochemistry using anti-EcR revealed abundant co-localization of EcR with mitochondria in brain neurons and their axons, especially intense in the subplasmalemmal region, raising the possibility of EcR involvement in mitochondrial functions in subplasmalemmal microdomains. When mitochondria are dispersed by disruption of microtubules with colchicine, EcR remains associated with mitochondria showing strong receptor association with mitochondria. Treatment in vitro with ecdysteroids of brains of developmentally arrested R. prolixus (containing neither ecdysteroids nor EcR) induces EcR and abundant co-localization with mitochondria in neurons, concurrently with a sharp increase of the mitochondrial protein COX 1, suggesting involvement of EcR in mitochondrial function. These findings align EcR with various vertebrate steroid receptors, where actions of steroid receptors on mitochondria are widely known and suggest that steroid receptors across distant phyla share similar functional attributes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Colin G H Steel
- Biology Department, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Abstract
The molecular mechanisms controlling human birth timing at term, or resulting in preterm birth, have been the focus of considerable investigation, but limited insights have been gained over the past 50 years. In part, these processes have remained elusive because of divergence in reproductive strategies and physiology shown by model organisms, making extrapolation to humans uncertain. Here, we summarize the evolution of progesterone signaling and variation in pregnancy maintenance and termination. We use this comparative physiology to support the hypothesis that selective pressure on genomic loci involved in the timing of parturition have shaped human birth timing, and that these loci can be identified with comparative genomic strategies. Previous limitations imposed by divergence of mechanisms provide an important new opportunity to elucidate fundamental pathways of parturition control through increasing availability of sequenced genomes and associated reproductive physiology characteristics across diverse organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayleigh A Swaggart
- Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
| | - Mihaela Pavlicev
- Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229 Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
| | - Louis J Muglia
- Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229 Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
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