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Preston M, Hall M, Shennan A, Story L. The role of placental insufficiency in spontaneous preterm birth: A literature review. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2024; 295:136-142. [PMID: 38359634 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.02.020] [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] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Preterm Birth (delivery before 37 weeks of gestation) is the leading cause of childhood mortality and is also associated with significant morbidity both in the neonatal period and beyond. The aetiology of spontaneous preterm birth is unclear and likely multifactorial incorporating factors such as infection/inflammation and cervical injury. Placental insufficiency is emerging as an additional contributor to spontaneous preterm delivery; however, the mechanisms by which this occurs are not fully understood. Serum biomarkers and imaging techniques have been investigated as potential predictors of placental insufficiency, however none have yet been found to have a sufficient predictive value. This review examines the evidence for the role of the placenta in preterm birth, preterm prelabour rupture of the membranes and abruption as well as highlighting areas where further research is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Preston
- Department of Women and Children's Health, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College, London, UK
| | - Megan Hall
- Department of Women and Children's Health, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College, London, UK; Department of Perinatal Imaging, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College, London, UK
| | - Andrew Shennan
- Department of Women and Children's Health, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College, London, UK
| | - Lisa Story
- Department of Women and Children's Health, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College, London, UK; Department of Perinatal Imaging, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College, London, UK.
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2
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Yang X, He Z, Hu R, Yan J, Zhang Q, Li B, Yuan X, Zhang H, He J, Wu S. Dietary β-Carotene on Postpartum Uterine Recovery in Mice: Crosstalk Between Gut Microbiota and Inflammation. Front Immunol 2021; 12:744425. [PMID: 34899699 PMCID: PMC8652147 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.744425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
As the precursor of vitamin A, β-carotene has a positive effect on reproductive performance. Our previous study has shown that β-carotene can increase antioxidant enzyme activity potentially through regulating gut microbiota in pregnant sows. This study aimed to clarify the effect of β-carotene on reproductive performance and postpartum uterine recovery from the aspect of inflammation and gut microbiota by using a mouse model. Twenty-seven 6 weeks old female Kunming mice were randomly assigned into 3 groups (n=9), and fed with a diet containing 0, 30 or 90 mg/kg β-carotene, respectively. The results showed that dietary supplementation of β-carotene reduced postpartum uterine hyperemia and uterine mass index (P<0.05), improved intestinal villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio, decreased serum TNF-α and IL-4 concentration (P<0.05), while no differences were observed in litter size and litter weight among three treatments. Characterization of gut microbiota revealed that β-carotene up-regulated the relative abundance of genera Akkermansia, Candidatus Stoquefichus and Faecalibaculum, but down-regulated the relative abundance of Alloprevotella and Helicobacter. Correlation analysis revealed that Akkermansia was negatively correlated with the IL-4 concentration, while Candidatus Stoquefichus and Faecalibaculum had a negative linear correlation with both TNF-α and IL-4 concentration. On the other hand, Alloprevotella was positively correlated with the TNF-α, and Helicobacter had a positive correlation with both TNF-α and IL-4 concentration. These data demonstrated that dietary supplementation of β-carotene contributes to postpartum uterine recovery by decreasing postpartum uterine hemorrhage and inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines potentially through modulating gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xizi Yang
- Hunan Collaborative Innovation Center for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Ziyu He
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Ruizhi Hu
- Hunan Collaborative Innovation Center for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiahao Yan
- Hunan Collaborative Innovation Center for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Qianjin Zhang
- Hunan Collaborative Innovation Center for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Baizhen Li
- Hunan Collaborative Innovation Center for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Xupeng Yuan
- Pig Breeding Research Insititute, Hunan Xinguang'an Agricultural Husbandry Co., Ltd., Changsha, China
| | - Hongfu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianhua He
- Hunan Collaborative Innovation Center for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Shusong Wu
- Hunan Collaborative Innovation Center for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
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3
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Maxey AP, McCain ML. Tools, techniques, and future opportunities for characterizing the mechanobiology of uterine myometrium. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:1025-1035. [PMID: 33554648 DOI: 10.1177/1535370221989259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The myometrium is the smooth muscle layer of the uterus that generates the contractions that drive processes such as menstruation and childbirth. Aberrant contractions of the myometrium can result in preterm birth, insufficient progression of labor, or other difficulties that can lead to maternal or fetal complications or even death. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of these conditions, the most common model systems have conventionally been animal models and human tissue strips, which have limitations mostly related to relevance and scalability, respectively. Myometrial smooth muscle cells have also been isolated from patient biopsies and cultured in vitro as a more controlled experimental system. However, in vitro approaches have focused primarily on measuring the effects of biochemical stimuli and neglected biomechanical stimuli, despite the extensive evidence indicating that remodeling of tissue rigidity or excessive strain is associated with uterine disorders. In this review, we first describe the existing approaches for modeling human myometrium with animal models and human tissue strips and compare their advantages and disadvantages. Next, we introduce existing in vitro techniques and assays for assessing contractility and summarize their applications in elucidating the role of biochemical or biomechanical stimuli on human myometrium. Finally, we conclude by proposing the translation of "organ on chip" approaches to myometrial smooth muscle cells as new paradigms for establishing their fundamental mechanobiology and to serve as next-generation platforms for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonina P Maxey
- Laboratory for Living Systems Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, USC Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Megan L McCain
- Laboratory for Living Systems Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, USC Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.,Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
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4
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5
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Beck S, Buhimschi IA, Summerfield TL, Ackerman WE, Guzeloglu-Kayisli O, Kayisli UA, Zhao G, Schatz F, Lockwood CJ, Buhimschi CS. Toll-like receptor 9, maternal cell-free DNA and myometrial cell response to CpG oligodeoxynucleotide stimulation. Am J Reprod Immunol 2019; 81:e13100. [PMID: 30758898 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Among mechanisms triggering onset of parturition, it has been recently postulated that Toll-Like Receptor (TLR)9 engagement by cell-free DNA (cfDNA) triggers inflammation, myometrial contractions, and labor in absence of infection. The current study evaluated whether direct (myometrial) or indirect (decidual) TLR9 engagement enhances human myometrial contractility. METHOD OF STUDY Toll-like receptor 9 expression and cellular localization were surveyed by immunohistochemistry of placenta, fetal membranes, and myometrium in term (gestational age [GA]: >37 weeks) labor (TL, n = 7) or term non-labor (TNL, n = 7) tissues. Non-pregnant myometrium (n = 4) served as reference. TLR9 mRNA expression relative to other TLRs was evaluated through the mining of an RNA-seq dataset and confirmed by RT-PCR. Immortalized human myometrial cells (hTERT-HM) were treated with incremental concentrations of TLR9 agonist ODN2395, TNF-α, or LPS. Secreted cytokines were quantified by multiplex immunoassay, and contractility was assessed by an in-gel cell contraction assay (n = 9). Induction of hTERT-HM contractility was also evaluated indirectly following exposure to conditioned media from primary term decidual cells (n = 4) previously stimulated with ODN2395. RESULTS Toll-like receptor 9 immunostaining in placenta and amniochorion was strongest in decidual cells, but unrelated to labor. TLR9 staining intensity was significantly decreased in TL compared with TNL myometrium (P = 0.002). Although total cfDNA in maternal circulation increased in TL (P = 0.025 vs TNL), difference in cffDNA was non-significant. Myometrial TLR9 mRNA levels were unaffected by contractile status and far less abundant than other pro-inflammatory TLRs. hTERT-HM contractility was enhanced by LPS (P = 0.002) and TNF-α (P = 0.003), but not by ODN2395 (P = 0.345) or supernatant of TLR9-stimulated decidual cells. CONCLUSION Myometrial and decidual TLR9 are unlikely to directly regulate human parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy Beck
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Irina A Buhimschi
- Center for Perinatal Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Taryn L Summerfield
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio
| | - William E Ackerman
- Center for Perinatal Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Ozlem Guzeloglu-Kayisli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Umit A Kayisli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Guomao Zhao
- Center for Perinatal Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Frederick Schatz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Charles J Lockwood
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Catalin S Buhimschi
- Center for Perinatal Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio
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6
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Chen MY, Liao GD, Zhou B, Kang LN, He YM, Li SW. Genome-Wide Profiling of Long Noncoding RNA Expression Patterns in Women With Repeated Implantation Failure by RNA Sequencing. Reprod Sci 2018; 26:18-25. [DOI: 10.1177/1933719118756752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Min-Yan Chen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Center of Reproductive Medicine, The West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Guang-Dong Liao
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bin Zhou
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Medicine, West China Institute of Women and Children’s Health, The West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Le-Ni Kang
- National Office for Maternal and Child Health Surveillance of China, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), The West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan-Mei He
- Department of Pathology, The West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shang-Wei Li
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Center of Reproductive Medicine, The West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
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7
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Muttenthaler M, Andersson Å, Vetter I, Menon R, Busnelli M, Ragnarsson L, Bergmayr C, Arrowsmith S, Deuis JR, Chiu HS, Palpant NJ, O'Brien M, Smith TJ, Wray S, Neumann ID, Gruber CW, Lewis RJ, Alewood PF. Subtle modifications to oxytocin produce ligands that retain potency and improved selectivity across species. Sci Signal 2017; 10:10/508/eaan3398. [PMID: 29208680 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aan3398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin and vasopressin mediate various physiological functions that are important for osmoregulation, reproduction, cardiovascular function, social behavior, memory, and learning through four G protein-coupled receptors that are also implicated in high-profile disorders. Targeting these receptors is challenging because of the difficulty in obtaining ligands that retain selectivity across rodents and humans for translational studies. We identified a selective and more stable oxytocin receptor (OTR) agonist by subtly modifying the pharmacophore framework of human oxytocin and vasopressin. [Se-Se]-oxytocin-OH displayed similar potency to oxytocin but improved selectivity for OTR, an effect that was retained in mice. Centrally infused [Se-Se]-oxytocin-OH potently reversed social fear in mice, confirming that this action was mediated by OTR and not by V1a or V1b vasopressin receptors. In addition, [Se-Se]-oxytocin-OH produced a more regular contraction pattern than did oxytocin in a preclinical labor induction and augmentation model using myometrial strips from cesarean sections. [Se-Se]-oxytocin-OH had no activity in human cardiomyocytes, indicating a potentially improved safety profile and therapeutic window compared to those of clinically used oxytocin. In conclusion, [Se-Se]-oxytocin-OH is a novel probe for validating OTR as a therapeutic target in various biological systems and is a promising new lead for therapeutic development. Our medicinal chemistry approach may also be applicable to other peptidergic signaling systems with similar selectivity issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Muttenthaler
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia. .,Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Biological Chemistry, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Åsa Andersson
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Irina Vetter
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.,School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4104, Australia
| | - Rohit Menon
- Department of Behavioral and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Marta Busnelli
- CNR-Institute of Neuroscience, 20129 Milan, Italy.,Department of Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20129 Milan, Italy
| | - Lotten Ragnarsson
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Christian Bergmayr
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sarah Arrowsmith
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Harris-Wellbeing Preterm Birth Centre, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
| | - Jennifer R Deuis
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Han Sheng Chiu
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Nathan J Palpant
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Margaret O'Brien
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland, Galway H91 CF50, Ireland
| | - Terry J Smith
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland, Galway H91 CF50, Ireland
| | - Susan Wray
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Harris-Wellbeing Preterm Birth Centre, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
| | - Inga D Neumann
- Department of Behavioral and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christian W Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Richard J Lewis
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Paul F Alewood
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
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8
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Keating M, Kurup A, Alvarez-Elizondo M, Levine A, Botvinick E. Spatial distributions of pericellular stiffness in natural extracellular matrices are dependent on cell-mediated proteolysis and contractility. Acta Biomater 2017; 57:304-312. [PMID: 28483696 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2017.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Revised: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Bulk tissue stiffness has been correlated with regulation of cellular processes and conversely cells have been shown to remodel their pericellular tissue according to a complex feedback mechanism critical to development, homeostasis, and disease. However, bulk rheological methods mask the dynamics within a heterogeneous fibrous extracellular matrix (ECM) in the region proximal to a cell (pericellular region). Here, we use optical tweezers active microrheology (AMR) to probe the distribution of the complex material response function (α=α'+α″, in units of µm/nN) within a type I collagen ECM, a biomaterial commonly used in tissue engineering. We discovered cells both elastically and plastically deformed the pericellular material. α' is wildly heterogeneous, with 1/α' values spanning three orders of magnitude around a single cell. This was observed in gels having a cell-free 1/α' of approximately 0.5nN/µm. We also found that inhibition of cell contractility instantaneously softens the pericellular space and reduces stiffness heterogeneity, suggesting the system was strain hardened and not only plastically remodeled. The remaining regions of high stiffness suggest cellular remodeling of the surrounding matrix. To test this hypothesis, cells were incubated within the type I collagen gel for 24-h in a media containing a broad-spectrum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor. While pericellular material maintained stiffness asymmetry, stiffness magnitudes were reduced. Dual inhibition demonstrates that the combination of MMP activity and contractility is necessary to establish the pericellular stiffness landscape. This heterogeneity in stiffness suggests the distribution of pericellular stiffness, and not bulk stiffness alone, must be considered in the study of cell-ECM interactions and design of complex biomaterial scaffolds. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Collagen is a fibrous extracellular matrix (ECM) protein widely used to study cell-ECM interactions. Stiffness of ECM has been shown to instruct cells, which can in turn modify their ECM, as has been shown in the study of cancer and regenerative medicine. Here we measure the stiffness of the collagen microenvironment surrounding cells and quantitatively measure the dependence of pericellular stiffness on MMP activity and cytoskeletal contractility. Competent cell-mediated stiffening results in a wildly heterogeneous micromechanical topography, with values spanning orders of magnitude around a single cell. We speculate studies must consider this notable heterogeneity generated by cells when testing theories regarding the role of ECM mechanics in health and disease.
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Eidem HR, McGary KL, Capra JA, Abbot P, Rokas A. The transformative potential of an integrative approach to pregnancy. Placenta 2017; 57:204-215. [PMID: 28864013 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Revised: 07/08/2017] [Accepted: 07/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Complex traits typically involve diverse biological pathways and are shaped by numerous genetic and environmental factors. Pregnancy-associated traits and pathologies are further complicated by extensive communication across multiple tissues in two individuals, interactions between two genomes-maternal and fetal-that obscure causal variants and lead to genetic conflict, and rapid evolution of pregnancy-associated traits across mammals and in the human lineage. Given the multi-faceted complexity of human pregnancy, integrative approaches that synthesize diverse data types and analyses harbor tremendous promise to identify the genetic architecture and environmental influences underlying pregnancy-associated traits and pathologies. METHODS We review current research that addresses the extreme complexities of traits and pathologies associated with human pregnancy. RESULTS We find that successful efforts to address the many complexities of pregnancy-associated traits and pathologies often harness the power of many and diverse types of data, including genome-wide association studies, evolutionary analyses, multi-tissue transcriptomic profiles, and environmental conditions. CONCLUSION We propose that understanding of pregnancy and its pathologies will be accelerated by computational platforms that provide easy access to integrated data and analyses. By simplifying the integration of diverse data, such platforms will provide a comprehensive synthesis that transcends many of the inherent challenges present in studies of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley R Eidem
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Kriston L McGary
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - John A Capra
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Patrick Abbot
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
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10
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Lim R, Barker G, Lappas M. TRADD, TRAF2, RIP1 and TAK1 are required for TNF-α-induced pro-labour mediators in human primary myometrial cells. Am J Reprod Immunol 2017; 78. [PMID: 28337828 DOI: 10.1111/aji.12664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM TNF-α plays a central role in the processes of human labour and delivery. This study sought to determine the role of the adaptor proteins TNFR1-associated death domain protein (TRADD), TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), receptor interacting protein 1 (RIP1) and transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) in TNF-α-induced formation of pro-labour mediators. METHOD OF STUDY Human primary myometrial cells were transfected with siRNA against TRADD (siTRADD), TRAF2 (siTRAF2), RIP1 (siRIP1) or TAK1 (siTAK1), treated with TNF-α, and assayed for pro-inflammatory mediators expression. RESULTS siTRADD, siTRAF2, siRIP1 and siTAK1 significantly decreased TNF-α-induced IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1 mRNA expression and release of IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1; and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and release of prostaglandin PGF2α . There was a significant attenuation of TNF-α-induced expression of adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNA with siTRADD, siTRAF2 or siRIP1. siTRADD and siRIP1 significantly attenuated TNF-α-induced MMP-9 mRNA expression and release and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) transcriptional activity. There was a significant increase in TNF-α-induced sVCAM-1 release, MMP-9 mRNA expression and NF-κB activity with siTAK1. CONCLUSION TRADD, TRAF2, RIP1 and TAK1 are involved in TNF-α signalling in human myometrium. Further studies are required to determine whether inhibition of these proteins can prevent preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratana Lim
- Obstetrics, Nutrition and Endocrinology Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Mercy Perinatal Research Centre, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gillian Barker
- Obstetrics, Nutrition and Endocrinology Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Mercy Perinatal Research Centre, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Martha Lappas
- Obstetrics, Nutrition and Endocrinology Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Mercy Perinatal Research Centre, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
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11
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Kunwar RM, Baral K, Paudel P, Acharya RP, Thapa-Magar KB, Cameron M, Bussmann RW. Land-Use and Socioeconomic Change, Medicinal Plant Selection and Biodiversity Resilience in Far Western Nepal. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167812. [PMID: 27936247 PMCID: PMC5147989 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Indigenous plant use-systems have evolved under, and constantly adapted to human and non-human impacts. In the last decades however, increasing socioeconomic and cultural transformations, including land-use change, outmigration, globalized markets, the introduction of new species, and climate change have led to a decreasing availability of indigenous resources, and are ultimately leading to a reduction of local use-knowledge. Participant observations, discussions, walks-in-the-woods, semi-structured interviews and informal meetings were carried out in 12 villages of far western Nepal between 2011 and 2015 to assess how sociocultural changes have affected the sustenance of indigenous systems and local biodiversity, when compared to studies carried out in the previous decades. Our findings show that there were no statistically significant differences in subject variable means, but differences were relatively important to plant parts-use and plant growth-forms (p = 0.183 and 0.088 respectively). Cissampelos pareira, Acorus calamus, Calotropis gigantea were found to have the greatest relative importance, whereas Ageratina adenophora, Melia azedarach, Carum carvi were most important based on use values. Among them, C. pareira and A. adenophora were introduced. The spatial distribution of species collected for medicine showed that all habitats were important for collection however, habitats close to villages were more favored. The use of non-indigenous and easily available species and more accessible habitats is becoming more prevalent as primary forests become increasingly overexploited, indigenous species become limited, and sociocultural cause of land use change expand. The utilization of indigenous and non-indigenous species and nearby habitats, although possibly affecting the quality of medicinal species, nonetheless reveals the dynamism of indigenous medicines as an adaptive asset mitigating human and non-human environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ripu M. Kunwar
- Department of Geosciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Prashant Paudel
- Tropical and International Forestry Program, Georg-August University, Gottingen, Germany
| | | | - Khum B. Thapa-Magar
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Mary Cameron
- Department of Anthropology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, United States of America
| | - Rainer W. Bussmann
- William L. Brown Center, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
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12
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Heidari Kani M, Chan EC, Young RC, Butler T, Smith R, Paul JW. 3D Cell Culturing and Possibilities for Myometrial Tissue Engineering. Ann Biomed Eng 2016; 45:1746-1757. [PMID: 27770218 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-016-1749-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Research insights into uterine function and the mechanisms of labour have been hindered by the lack of suitable animal and cellular models. The use of traditional culturing methods limits the exploration of complex uterine functions, such as cell interactions, connectivity and contractile behaviour, as it fails to mimic the three-dimensional (3D) nature of uterine cell interactions in vivo. Animal models are an option, however, use of these models is constrained by ethical considerations as well as translational limitations to humans. Evidence indicates that these limitations can be overcome by using 3D culture systems, or 3D Bioprinters, to model the in vivo cytological architecture of the tissue in an in vitro environment. 3D cultured or 3D printed cells can be used to form an artificial tissue. This artificial tissue can not only be used as an appropriate model in which to study cellular function and organisation, but could also be used for regenerative medicine purposes including organ or tissue transplantation, organ donation and obstetric care. The current review describes recent developments in cell culture that can facilitate the development of myometrial 3D structures and tissue engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minoo Heidari Kani
- Mothers and Babies Research Centre, School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. .,Hunter Medical Research Institute, 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia. .,Priority Research Centre of Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
| | - Eng-Cheng Chan
- Mothers and Babies Research Centre, School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia.,Priority Research Centre of Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Roger C Young
- Mothers and Babies Research Centre, School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Trent Butler
- Mothers and Babies Research Centre, School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia.,Priority Research Centre of Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Roger Smith
- Mothers and Babies Research Centre, School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia.,Priority Research Centre of Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.,John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Jonathan W Paul
- Mothers and Babies Research Centre, School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia.,Priority Research Centre of Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
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13
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Bonazza C, Andrade SS, Sumikawa JT, Batista FP, Paredes-Gamero EJ, Girão MJBC, Oliva MLV, Castro RA. Primary Human Uterine Leiomyoma Cell Culture Quality Control: Some Properties of Myometrial Cells Cultured under Serum Deprivation Conditions in the Presence of Ovarian Steroids. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0158578. [PMID: 27391384 PMCID: PMC4938619 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell culture is considered the standard media used in research to emulate the in vivo cell environment. Crucial in vivo experiments cannot be conducted in humans and depend on in vitro methodologies such as cell culture systems. However, some procedures involving the quality control of cells in culture have been gradually neglected by failing to acknowledge that primary cells and cell lines change over time in culture. Thus, we report methods based on our experience for monitoring primary cell culture of human myometrial cells derived from uterine leiomyoma. We standardized the best procedure of tissue dissociation required for the study of multiple genetic marker systems that include species-specific antigens, expression of myofibroblast or myoblast markers, growth curve, serum deprivation, starvation by cell cycle synchronization, culture on collagen coated plates, and 17 β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) effects. The results showed that primary myometrial cells from patients with uterine leiomyoma displayed myoblast phenotypes before and after in vitro cultivation, and leiomyoma cells differentiated into mature myocyte cells under the appropriate differentiation-inducing conditions (serum deprivation). These cells grew well on collagen coated plates and responded to E2 and P4, which may drive myometrial and leiomyoma cells to proliferate and adhere into a focal adhesion complex involvement in a paracrine manner. The establishment of these techniques as routine procedures will improve the understanding of the myometrial physiology and pathogenesis of myometrium-derived diseases such as leiomyoma. Mimicking the in vivo environment of fibrotic conditions can prevent false results and enhance results that are based on cell culture integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Bonazza
- Department of Gynecology of Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Joana Tomomi Sumikawa
- Department of Gynecology of Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Manoel J. B. C. Girão
- Department of Gynecology of Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria Luiza V. Oliva
- Department of Biochemistry of Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Aquino Castro
- Department of Gynecology of Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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14
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Herington JL, Swale DR, Brown N, Shelton EL, Choi H, Williams CH, Hong CC, Paria BC, Denton JS, Reese J. High-Throughput Screening of Myometrial Calcium-Mobilization to Identify Modulators of Uterine Contractility. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143243. [PMID: 26600013 PMCID: PMC4658040 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The uterine myometrium (UT-myo) is a therapeutic target for preterm labor, labor induction, and postpartum hemorrhage. Stimulation of intracellular Ca2+-release in UT-myo cells by oxytocin is a final pathway controlling myometrial contractions. The goal of this study was to develop a dual-addition assay for high-throughput screening of small molecular compounds, which could regulate Ca2+-mobilization in UT-myo cells, and hence, myometrial contractions. Primary murine UT-myo cells in 384-well plates were loaded with a Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent probe, and then screened for inducers of Ca2+-mobilization and inhibitors of oxytocin-induced Ca2+-mobilization. The assay exhibited robust screening statistics (Z´ = 0.73), DMSO-tolerance, and was validated for high-throughput screening against 2,727 small molecules from the Spectrum, NIH Clinical I and II collections of well-annotated compounds. The screen revealed a hit-rate of 1.80% for agonist and 1.39% for antagonist compounds. Concentration-dependent responses of hit-compounds demonstrated an EC50 less than 10μM for 21 hit-antagonist compounds, compared to only 7 hit-agonist compounds. Subsequent studies focused on hit-antagonist compounds. Based on the percent inhibition and functional annotation analyses, we selected 4 confirmed hit-antagonist compounds (benzbromarone, dipyridamole, fenoterol hydrobromide and nisoldipine) for further analysis. Using an ex vivo isometric contractility assay, each compound significantly inhibited uterine contractility, at different potencies (IC50). Overall, these results demonstrate for the first time that high-throughput small-molecules screening of myometrial Ca2+-mobilization is an ideal primary approach for discovering modulators of uterine contractility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Herington
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Daniel R. Swale
- Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Naoko Brown
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Elaine L. Shelton
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Hyehun Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Charles H. Williams
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Charles C. Hong
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Bibhash C. Paria
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Jerod S. Denton
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Jeff Reese
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
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15
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Chandran S, Cairns MT, O'Brien M, O'Connell E, Mashayekhi K, Smith TJ. Effects of combined progesterone and 17β-estradiol treatment on the transcriptome of cultured human myometrial smooth muscle cells. Physiol Genomics 2015; 48:50-61. [PMID: 26534934 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00021.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A transcriptomic analysis of cultured human uterine smooth muscle cells (hUtSMCs) was performed to examine gene expression profiles in smooth muscle in an environment containing the two major steroid hormones that regulate the human myometrium in physiological states associated with estrous, pregnancy, labor, and pathophysiological states such as leiomyoma and endometrial cancer. hUtSMCs were treated with progesterone (P4) and 17β-estradiol (E2) individually and in combination, in the presence and absence of RU486 (mifepristone). Transcription of many genes was modulated in the presence of P4 or E2 alone, but almost six times more genes were transcriptionally modulated in the presence of the P4/E2 hormone combination. In total 796 annotated genes were significantly differentially expressed in the presence of both P4 and E2 relative to their expression in untreated cells. Functional withdrawal of P4 by addition of RU486 effectively reversed almost all transcriptional changes caused by P4/E2 treatment. Gene ontology analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed a strong association between P4/E2 treatment and downregulated expression of genes involved in cell communication, signal transduction, channel activity, inflammatory response, and differentiation. Upregulated processes included cell survival, gene transcription, steroid hormone biosynthesis, muscle development, insulin receptor signaling, and cell growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreenath Chandran
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Michael T Cairns
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Margaret O'Brien
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Enda O'Connell
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Kaveh Mashayekhi
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Terry J Smith
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
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16
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Cookson VJ, Waite SL, Heath PR, Hurd PJ, Gandhi SV, Chapman NR. Binding loci of RelA-containing nuclear factor-kappaB dimers in promoter regions of PHM1-31 myometrial smooth muscle cells. Mol Hum Reprod 2015; 21:865-83. [DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gav051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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17
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Rajagopal SP, Hutchinson JL, Dorward DA, Rossi AG, Norman JE. Crosstalk between monocytes and myometrial smooth muscle in culture generates synergistic pro-inflammatory cytokine production and enhances myocyte contraction, with effects opposed by progesterone. Mol Hum Reprod 2015; 21:672-86. [PMID: 26002969 PMCID: PMC4518137 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gav027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Both term and preterm parturition are characterized by an influx of macrophages and neutrophils into the myometrium and cervix, with co-incident increased peripheral blood monocyte activation. Infection and inflammation are strongly implicated in the pathology of preterm labour (PTL), with progesterone considered a promising candidate for its prevention or treatment. In this study, we investigated the effect of monocytes on myometrial smooth muscle cell inflammatory cytokine production both alone and in response to LPS, a TLR4 agonist used to trigger PTL in vivo. We also investigated the effect of monocytes on myocyte contraction. Monocytes, isolated from peripheral blood samples from term pregnant women, were cultured alone, or co-cultured with PHM1-41 myometrial smooth muscle cells, for 24 h. In a third set of experiments, PHM1-41 myocytes were cultured for 24 h in isolation. Cytokine secretion was determined by ELISA or multiplex assays. Co-culture of monocytes and myocytes led to synergistic secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines including IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1, with the secretion being further enhanced by LPS (100 ng/ml). The synergistic secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 from co-cultures was mediated in part by direct cell–cell contact, and by TNF. Conditioned media from co-cultures stimulated contraction of PHM1-41 myocytes, and the effect was inhibited by progesterone. Both progesterone and IL-10 inhibited LPS-stimulated IL-6 and IL-8 secretion from co-cultures, while progesterone also inhibited chemokine secretion. These data suggest that monocytes infiltrating the myometrium at labour participate in crosstalk that potentiates pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, an effect that is enhanced by LPS, and can augment myocyte contraction. These effects are all partially inhibited by progesterone.
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Affiliation(s)
- S P Rajagopal
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - J L Hutchinson
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - D A Dorward
- MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - A G Rossi
- MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - J E Norman
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
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18
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Miron-Mendoza M, Graham E, Kivanany P, Quiring J, Petroll WM. The Role of Thrombin and Cell Contractility in Regulating Clustering and Collective Migration of Corneal Fibroblasts in Different ECM Environments. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2015; 56:2079-90. [PMID: 25736789 PMCID: PMC4373543 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.15-16388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We previously reported that extracellular matrix composition (fibrin versus collagen) modulates the pattern of corneal fibroblast spreading and migration in 3-D culture. In this study, we investigate the role of thrombin and cell contractility in mediating these differences in cell behavior. METHODS To assess cell spreading, corneal fibroblasts were plated on top of fibrillar collagen and fibrin matrices. To assess 3-dimensional cell migration, compacted collagen matrices seeded with corneal fibroblasts were embedded inside acellular collagen or fibrin matrices. Constructs were cultured in serum-free media containing platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), with or without thrombin, the Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632, and/or the myosin II inhibitor blebbistatin. We used 3-dimensional and 4-dimensional imaging to assess cell mechanical behavior, connectivity and cytoskeletal organization. RESULTS Thrombin stimulated increased contractility of corneal fibroblasts. Thrombin also induced Rho kinase-dependent clustering of cells plated on top of compliant collagen matrices, but not on rigid substrates. In contrast, cells on fibrin matrices coalesced into clusters even when Rho kinase was inhibited. In nested matrices, cells always migrated independently through collagen, even in the presence of thrombin. In contrast, cells migrating into fibrin formed an interconnected network. Both Y-27632 and blebbistatin reduced the migration rate in fibrin, but cells continued to migrate collectively. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that while thrombin-induced actomyosin contraction can induce clustering of fibroblasts plated on top of compliant collagen matrices, it does not induce collective cell migration inside 3-D collagen constructs. Furthermore, increased contractility is not required for clustering or collective migration of corneal fibroblasts interacting with fibin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Miron-Mendoza
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Eric Graham
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Pouriska Kivanany
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Jonathan Quiring
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - W Matthew Petroll
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
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Malik M, Britten J, Segars J, Catherino WH. Leiomyoma cells in 3-dimensional cultures demonstrate an attenuated response to fasudil, a rho-kinase inhibitor, when compared to 2-dimensional cultures. Reprod Sci 2014; 21:1126-38. [PMID: 25084783 PMCID: PMC4212347 DOI: 10.1177/1933719114545240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Uterine leiomyomata are common benign tumors in women of reproductive age and demonstrate an attenuated response to mechanical signaling that involves Rho and integrins. To further characterize the impairment in Rho signaling, we studied the effect of Rho-kinase inhibitor, fasudil, on extracellular matrix production, in 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) cultures of leiomyoma and myometrial cells. Leiomyoma 2D cultures demonstrated a rapid decrease in gene transcripts and protein for fibronectin, procollagen 1A, and versican. In 3D cultures, fibronectin and procollagen 1A proteins demonstrated increased levels at lower concentrations of fasudil, followed by a concentration-dependent decrease. Versican protein increased up to 3-fold, whereas fibromodulin demonstrated a significant decrease of 1.92-fold. Myometrial 2D or 3D cultures demonstrated a decrease in all proteins after 72 hours of treatment. The 3D leiomyoma cultures demonstrated a significant increase in active RhoA, followed by a concentration-dependent decrease at higher concentrations. A concentration-dependent increase in phospho-extracellular regulated signal kinase and proapoptotic protein Bax was observed in 3D leiomyoma cultures. Fasudil relaxed the contraction of the 3D collagen gels caused by myometrium and leiomyoma cell growth. These findings indicate that the altered state of Rho signaling in leiomyoma was more clearly observed in 3D cultures. The results also suggest that fasudil may have clinical applicability for treatment of uterine leiomyoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minnie Malik
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uniformed Services, University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Joy Britten
- Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James Segars
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uniformed Services, University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - William H Catherino
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uniformed Services, University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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20
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Chandran S, Cairns MT, O'Brien M, Smith TJ. Transcriptomic effects of estradiol treatment on cultured human uterine smooth muscle cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2014; 393:16-23. [PMID: 24942541 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2014.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2014] [Revised: 05/07/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Contractility of the myometrial smooth muscle cells during the estrous cycle and pregnancy is modulated by estrogen but the temporal expression of estrogen (relative to progesterone) and the type of contraction involved are distinctly different in pregnancy and estrous. This in vitro cell culture study investigated the global gene expression profile of human uterine smooth muscle cells (hUtSMCs) following 17β-estradiol (E2) treatment. In response to E2 treatment 540 genes, many of which have not been previously described as estrogen responsive, were identified as significantly differentially expressed. These genes are involved in biological processes that include muscle contraction, cell migration and adhesion, apoptosis and phosphorylation. Evidence from this study suggests that 17β-estradiol may have effects that are contrary to an overall contraction phenotype. The hUtSMC in vitro culture system is a useful model to investigate steroid effects on smooth muscle cells and may provide additional clues as to how smooth muscle cells behave in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreenath Chandran
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Michael T Cairns
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Margaret O'Brien
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Terry J Smith
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland.
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21
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Waite SL, Gandhi SV, Khan RN, Chapman NR. The effect of trichostatin-A and tumor necrosis factor on expression of splice variants of the MaxiK and L-type channels in human myometrium. Front Physiol 2014; 5:261. [PMID: 25076912 PMCID: PMC4097961 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2014] [Accepted: 06/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The onset of human parturition is associated with up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) as well as changes in ion flux, principally Ca2+ and K+, across the myometrial myocytes membrane. Elevation of intra-cellular Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum opens L-type Ca2+ channels (LTCCs); in turn this increased calcium level activates MaxiK channels leading to relaxation. While the nature of how this cross-talk is governed remains unclear, our previous work demonstrated that the pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNF, and the histone deacetylase inhibitor, Trichostatin-A (TSA), exerted opposing effects on the expression of the pro-quiescent Gαs gene in human myometrial cells. Consequently, in this study we demonstrate that the different channel splice variants for both MaxiK and LTCC are expressed in primary myometrial myocytes. MaxiK mRNA expression was sensitive to TSA stimulation, this causing repression of the M1, M3, and M4 splice variants. A small but not statistically significantly increase in MaxiK expression was also seen in response to TNF. In contrast to this, expression of LTCC splice variants was seen to be influenced by both TNF and TSA. TNF induced overall increase in total LTCC expression while TSA stimulated a dual effect: causing induction of LTCC exon 8 expression but repressing expression of other LTCC splice variants including that encoding exons 30, 31, 33, and 34, exons 30–34 and exons 40–43. The significance of these observations is discussed herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Waite
- Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Department of Human Metabolism, University of Sheffield Sheffield, UK
| | - Saurabh V Gandhi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Sheffield, UK
| | - Raheela N Khan
- Division of Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine, School of Medicine, Royal Derby Hospital, University of Nottingham Derby, UK
| | - Neil R Chapman
- Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Department of Human Metabolism, University of Sheffield Sheffield, UK
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Lappas M. Cellular Inhibitors of Apoptosis Proteins cIAP1 and cIAP2 are Increased after Labour in Foetal Membranes and Myometrium and are Essential for TNF-α-Induced Expression of Pro-Labour Mediators. Am J Reprod Immunol 2014; 73:313-29. [DOI: 10.1111/aji.12295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2014] [Accepted: 06/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Martha Lappas
- Mercy Perinatal Research Centre; Mercy Hospital for Women; Heidelberg VIC Australia
- Obstetrics, Nutrition and Endocrinology Group; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; University of Melbourne; Melbourne VIC Australia
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23
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Srikhajon K, Shynlova O, Preechapornprasert A, Chanrachakul B, Lye S. A New Role for Monocytes in Modulating Myometrial Inflammation During Human Labor1. Biol Reprod 2014; 91:10. [DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.114975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
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24
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Tumor necrosis factor α up-regulates endometrial milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 protein production via nuclear factor κB activation, resulting in cell migration of epithelial cells. Fertil Steril 2013; 101:552-9. [PMID: 24262600 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.10.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2013] [Revised: 10/08/2013] [Accepted: 10/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, an early embryonic product, on endometrial epithelial cell migration and endometrial milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 protein (MFG-E8) production. DESIGN In vitro study. SETTING Academic center. INTERVENTION(S) Ishikawa cells, used as surrogates for human epithelial cells, were treated with and without TNF-α. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Effect of TNF-α on intracellular MFG-E8 protein was evaluated with the use of ELISA, Western blot, and subcellular fractionation. Specific inhibitors were used to study TNF-α mechanism of action. Effect of TNF-α on cell migration was studied with the use of a wound healing assay and reorganization of E-cadherin. RESULT(S) TNF-α induced: 1) significant up-regulation of MFG-E8 intracellular protein, which was attenuated by pretreatment with a specific inhibitor of nuclear factor κB; 2) increased transcription of MFG-E8 and other proinflammatory factors, such as interleukins 6 and 8, which were suppressed by cotreatment with hCG; and 3) significant cell migration with E-cadherin remodeling, changes associated with subcellular MFG-E8 relocalization. CONCLUSION(S) TNF-α up-regulates endometrial epithelial cell migration and MFG-E8 production, which are critical steps required for the endometrial changes during menstrual cycle as well as during embryonic attachment and invasion.
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Lannagan TRM, Wilson MR, Denison F, Norman JE, Catalano RD, Jabbour HN. Prokineticin 1 induces a pro-inflammatory response in murine fetal membranes but does not induce preterm delivery. Reproduction 2013; 146:581-91. [PMID: 24051059 PMCID: PMC3805954 DOI: 10.1530/rep-13-0295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms that regulate the induction of term or preterm delivery (PTD) are not fully understood. Infection is known to play a role in the induction of pro-inflammatory cascades in uteroplacental tissues associated with preterm pathological parturition. Similar but not identical cascades are evident in term labour. In the current study, we used a mouse model to evaluate the role of prokineticins in term and preterm parturition. Prokineticins are multi-functioning secreted proteins that signal through G-protein-coupled receptors to induce gene expression, including genes important in inflammatory responses. Expression of prokineticins (Prok1 and Prok2) was quantified in murine uteroplacental tissues by QPCR in the days preceding labour (days 16-19). Prok1 mRNA expression increased significantly on D18 in fetal membranes (compared with D16) but not in uterus or placenta. Intrauterine injection of PROK1 on D17 induced fetal membrane mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory mediators Il6, Il1b, Tnf, Cxcl2 and Cxcl5, which are not normally up-regulated until D19 of pregnancy. However, intrauterine injection of PROK1 did not result in PTD. As expected, injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced PTD, but this was not associated with changes in expression of Prok1 or its receptor (Prokr1) in fetal membranes. These results suggest that although Prok1 exhibits dynamic mRNA regulation in fetal membranes preceding labour and induces a pro-inflammatory response when injected into the uterus on D17, it is insufficient to induce PTD. Additionally, prokineticin up-regulation appears not to be part of the LPS-induced inflammatory response in mouse fetal membranes.
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Development of vascular smooth muscle contractility by endothelium-derived transforming growth factor β proteins. Pflugers Arch 2013; 466:369-80. [PMID: 23887380 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-013-1329-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2013] [Revised: 07/12/2013] [Accepted: 07/13/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
It is well established that the release of vasodilators and vasoconstrictors from vascular endothelium regulates vascular smooth muscle contraction. In this report, we investigate the role of the endothelium in the development and maintenance of constitutive vascular contractility. For that purpose, contractile activity of cultured bovine aortic smooth muscle cells (BASMCs) embedded in collagen gels was monitored by changes in gel diameter. After culturing for 5 days, ATP- and high KCl solution-induced contractions were significantly enhanced in the gels that were overlaid with bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) or were cultured with conditioned medium of cultured BAECs. ATP-induced Ca(2+) transients, recorded in BASMCs cultured with conditioned medium of BAECs, were markedly augmented, but high KCl-induced Ca(2+) transients were not affected. BASMCs in control gels were spindle shaped, and those in endothelium-treated gels were more elongated and interconnected. The endothelial conditioned medium also strongly affected the intracellular distribution of actin fibers. Conditioned medium of BAECs contained TGFβ1 and TGFβ2. The TGFβ receptor antagonist SB431542 as well as simultaneous treatment with TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 neutralizing antibodies completely reversed the above effects of endothelial conditioned medium on BASMCs. BAECs medium induced phosphorylation of Smad2 and increased ATP-induced phosphorylation of myosin light chain in BASMCs. The present results indicate that the release of TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 from vascular endothelium affects the contractility of vascular smooth muscle cells by altering their morphology and agonist-induced Ca(2+) mobilization.
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Li B, Chen M, Liu X, Guo SW. Constitutive and tumor necrosis factor-α-induced activation of nuclear factor-κB in adenomyosis and its inhibition by andrographolide. Fertil Steril 2013; 100:568-77. [PMID: 23706331 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Revised: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 04/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the action of nuclear factor (NF)-κB in adenomyosis and evaluate the potential therapeutic effect of andrographolide on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced expression of NF-κB-mediated genes cyclooxygease-2 (COX-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and tissue factor (TF) in adenomyotic stromal cells. DESIGN Laboratory study using human tissues. SETTING Academic hospital. PATIENT(S) Twenty-nine patients (cases) with histologically confirmed adenomyosis and 14 (controls) without adenomyosis or endometriosis. INTERVENTION(S) Endometrial stromal cells derived from tissue samples harvested from both cases and controls were subjected to electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and gene and protein expression analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) The NF-κB DNA-binding activity and protein levels of NF-κB subunits p50 and p65 and the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of NF-κB-mediated genes COX-2, VEGF, and TF in cases and controls, and their changes after stimulation with TNF-α and treatment with andrographolide. RESULT(S) The constitutive NF-κB DNA-binding activity and protein expression levels of p50 and p65, and mRNA and protein levels of COX-2, VEGF, and TF in cases were significantly higher than that of controls. The binding activity level correlated positively with dysmenorrhea severity in cases. The TNF-α stimulation further increased the binding activity, and the mRNA and protein levels of COX-2, VEGF, and TF, but treatment with andrographolide significantly reduced them. CONCLUSION(S) NF-κB may be a pivotal transcription factor involved in the development of adenomyosis. Targeting NF-κB with inhibitors, like andrographolide, may hold promises of treating adenomyosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Li
- Shanghai Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Ramachandran A, Gangopadhyay SS, Krishnan R, Ranpura SA, Rajendran K, Ram-Mohan S, Mulone M, Gong EM, Adam RM. JunB mediates basal- and TGFβ1-induced smooth muscle cell contractility. PLoS One 2013; 8:e53430. [PMID: 23308222 PMCID: PMC3537614 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2012] [Accepted: 11/30/2012] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Smooth muscle contraction is a dynamic process driven by acto-myosin interactions that are controlled by multiple regulatory proteins. Our studies have shown that members of the AP-1 transcription factor family control discrete behaviors of smooth muscle cells (SMC) such as growth, migration and fibrosis. However, the role of AP-1 in regulation of smooth muscle contractility is incompletely understood. In this study we show that the AP-1 family member JunB regulates contractility in visceral SMC by altering actin polymerization and myosin light chain phosphorylation. JunB levels are robustly upregulated downstream of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFβ1), a known inducer of SMC contractility. RNAi-mediated silencing of JunB in primary human bladder SMC (pBSMC) inhibited cell contractility under both basal and TGFβ1-stimulated conditions, as determined using gel contraction and traction force microscopy assays. JunB knockdown did not alter expression of the contractile proteins α-SMA, calponin or SM22α. However, JunB silencing decreased levels of Rho kinase (ROCK) and myosin light chain (MLC20). Moreover, JunB silencing attenuated phosphorylation of the MLC20 regulatory phosphatase subunit MYPT1 and the actin severing protein cofilin. Consistent with these changes, cells in which JunB was knocked down showed a reduction in the F:G actin ratio in response to TGFβ1. Together these findings demonstrate a novel function for JunB in regulating visceral smooth muscle cell contractility through effects on both myosin and the actin cytoskeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aruna Ramachandran
- Urological Diseases Research Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Samudra S. Gangopadhyay
- Urological Diseases Research Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ramaswamy Krishnan
- Center for Vascular Biology Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sandeep A. Ranpura
- Urological Diseases Research Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kavitha Rajendran
- Center for Vascular Biology Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sumati Ram-Mohan
- Center for Vascular Biology Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Michelle Mulone
- Urological Diseases Research Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Edward M. Gong
- Urological Diseases Research Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Rosalyn M. Adam
- Urological Diseases Research Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Kobayashi H. The entry of fetal and amniotic fluid components into the uterine vessel circulation leads to sterile inflammatory processes during parturition. Front Immunol 2012; 3:321. [PMID: 23109934 PMCID: PMC3478564 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2012.00321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2012] [Accepted: 10/03/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Pro-inflammatory cytokines play an important role during the process of human parturition. The focus of this review was to explore the contribution of biological, biochemical, and genetic changes in the onset of term labor. This article reviews the English-language literature on inflammatory, hormonal, and immunological factors in an effort to identify the molecular basis of human parturition. The majority of the genes and proteins up-regulated in parturition at term are related to four functional categories, mechanical stretch-mediated damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) activation, response to immunity, induction of inflammatory signaling, and progressive uterine myometrial contractility and resultant term birth. Mechanical stretch could promote the entry of amniotic fluid components into the uterine vessel circulation that is the common physiologic mechanism at term prior to labor. The fetal or amniotic fluid-derived DAMPs could activate the immune system. The inflammatory mediators are produced by infiltrating activated leukocytes and by the reproductive tissues themselves such as myometrium, and subsequently lead to uterine contractions. This review supports the sterile inflammation hypothesis that there are at least two phases of human parturition: the initial wave of the entry of amniotic fluid components into uterine vasculatures would be followed by the second big wave of subsequent myometrial contraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kobayashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University Kashihara, Nara, Japan
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Alexander HA, Sooranna SR, Myatt L, Johnson MR. Myometrial tumor necrosis factor-α receptors increase with gestation and labor and modulate gene expression through mitogen-activated kinase and nuclear factor-κB. Reprod Sci 2012; 19:43-54. [PMID: 22228740 DOI: 10.1177/1933719111413297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Previously, we found that myometrial tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression did not increase with preterm or term labor. To further investigate the role of TNF-α in human labor, we studied TNF-α receptor (TNFR1A and B) expression, regulation, and associated intracellular signaling pathways in human myometrial samples obtained both before and after the onset of labor and in primary cultures of uterine smooth muscle cells (USMCs). We found that the mRNA expression of both receptors increased with advancing gestation and labor and protein levels of TNFR1B were significantly higher in term laboring myometrial samples than in nonlabor controls. Tumor necrosis factor- treatment of USMCs activated all mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) subtypes and nuclear factor κ-B (NF-κB). The TNF-α induced increases in the expression of TNFR1B and prostaglandin H synthase type 2 were reduced by inhibitors of NF-κB and MAPKs, respectively. The TNF-α induced increase in interleukin 8 (IL-8) appeared to be independent of MAPK and NF-κB pathway. These data suggest that the uterus may become more sensitive to the action of TNF-α with advancing gestation and labor and that TNF-α acts via MAPK and NF-κB to promote labor-associated gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen A Alexander
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Academic Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Imperial College School of Medicine Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
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Williams KC, Renthal NE, Gerard RD, Mendelson CR. The microRNA (miR)-199a/214 cluster mediates opposing effects of progesterone and estrogen on uterine contractility during pregnancy and labor. Mol Endocrinol 2012; 26:1857-67. [PMID: 22973051 DOI: 10.1210/me.2012-1199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Progesterone (P(4)) and estradiol-17β (E(2)) play critical and opposing roles in regulating myometrial quiescence and contractility during pregnancy and labor. Although these contrasting hormonal effects are likely mediated via differential regulation of inflammatory and contractile genes, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Recently we discovered that targets of the microRNA (miR)-200 family, transcription factors zinc finger E-box binding homeobox (ZEB)-1 and ZEB2, serve as P(4)/progesterone receptor-mediated regulators of uterine quiescence during pregnancy. In the present study, we found that levels of the clustered miRNAs, miR-199a-3p and miR-214, were significantly decreased in laboring myometrium of pregnant mice and humans and in an inflammatory mouse model of preterm labor, whereas the miR-199a-3p/miR-214 target, cyclooxygenase-2, a critical enzyme in synthesis of proinflammatory prostaglandins, was coordinately increased. Overexpression of miR-199a-3p and miR-214 in cultured human myometrial cells inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 protein and blocked TNF-α-induced myometrial cell contractility, suggesting their physiological relevance. Notably, E(2) treatment of ovariectomized mice suppressed, whereas P(4) enhanced uterine miR-199a-3p/214 expression. Intriguingly, these opposing hormonal effects were mediated by ZEB1, which is induced by P(4), inhibited by E(2) and activates miR199a/214 transcription. Together, these findings identify miR-199a-3p/miR-214 as important regulators of myometrial contractility and provide new insight into strategies to prevent preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koriand'r C Williams
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
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Attah AF, O'Brien M, Koehbach J, Sonibare MA, Moody JO, Smith TJ, Gruber CW. Uterine contractility of plants used to facilitate childbirth in Nigerian ethnomedicine. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2012; 143:377-82. [PMID: 22766472 PMCID: PMC3430860 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.06.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2012] [Revised: 05/14/2012] [Accepted: 06/24/2012] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Pregnant women in Nigeria use plant preparations to facilitate childbirth and to reduce associated pain. The rationale for this is not known and requires pharmacological validation. AIM OF STUDY Obtain primary information regarding the traditional use of plants and analyze their uterine contractility at cellular level. MATERIALS AND METHODS Semi-structured, open interviews using questionnaires of traditional healthcare professionals and other informants triggered the collection and identification of medicinal plant species. The relative traditional importance of each medicinal plant was determined by its use-mention index. Extracts of these plants were analyzed for their uterotonic properties on an in vitro human uterine cell collagen model. RESULT The plants Calotropis procera, Commelina africana, Duranta repens, Hyptis suaveolens, Ocimum gratissimum, Saba comorensis, Sclerocarya birrea, Sida corymbosa and Vernonia amygdalina were documented and characterized. Aqueous extracts from these nine plants induced significant sustained increases in human myometrial smooth muscle cell contractility, with varying efficiencies, depending upon time and dose of exposure. CONCLUSION The folkloric use of several plant species during childbirth in Nigeria has been validated. Seven plants were for the first time characterized to have contractile properties on uterine myometrial cells. The results serve as ideal starting points in the search for safe, longer lasting, effective and tolerable uterotonic drug leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred F. Attah
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Schwarzspanierstr. 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Margaret O'Brien
- National Centre for Biomedical and Engineering Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Johannes Koehbach
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Schwarzspanierstr. 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mubo A. Sonibare
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Jones O. Moody
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Terry J. Smith
- National Centre for Biomedical and Engineering Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Christian W. Gruber
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Schwarzspanierstr. 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +43 1427762511; fax: +43 142779623.
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Ge D, Meng N, Su L, Zhang Y, Zhang SL, Miao JY, Zhao J. Human vascular endothelial cells reduce sphingosylphosphorylcholine-induced smooth muscle cell contraction in co-culture system through integrin β4 and Fyn. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2012; 33:57-65. [PMID: 22139003 DOI: 10.1038/aps.2011.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM In vascular strips, the adjacent endothelial cells modulate the contraction of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induced by sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) through nitric oxide (NO). The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms by which vascular endothelial cells (VECs) reduce the SPC-induced contraction of VSMCs in a co-culture system. METHODS Human umbilical VECs and VSMCs were co-cultured. The VECs were transfected with integrin β4- or Fyn-specific siRNA. The areas of VSMCs that are involved in cell contractility were quantified using the Leica confocal software and collagen contractility assay. The production of NO in VECs was measured in the cell supernatants using NO Detection Kit. The levels of integrin β4 and Fyn in VECs and the levels of Rho kinase (ROCK) in VSMC were detected using immunofluorescence assays or Western blots. RESULTS Co-culture with VECs reduced the contraction of VSMCs induced by SPC (30 μmol/L). The down-regulation of integrin β4 or Fyn in VECs by the specific siRNA (20 nmol/L) was able to counteract the effects of VECs on the SPC-induced VSMC contractions. Furthermore, the integrin β4-specific siRNA (20 and 40 nmol/L) significantly reduced the level of Fyn protein and the production of NO in VECs, while increased the level of ROCK in VSMCs that had been stimulated by SPC. CONCLUSION The VECs reduced the SPC-induced contraction of VSMCs in the co-culture system through integrin β4 and Fyn proteins. In this process, NO may be the factor downstream of integrin β4 in VECs, while ROCK may be the key protein regulating the contraction of VSMCs.
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Abstract
Abnormalities in the process of uterine muscle contractility during pregnancy and birth can have major clinical implications, including preterm labour, which is the single largest cause of maternal and prenatal mortality in the Western world and a major contributor to childhood developmental problems. In contrast, induction of labour may be necessary in certain conditions. Currently used interventional therapies to suppress (tocolytic agents) or to induce (uterotonic agents) uterine contractions lack potency and/or selectivity and can have harmful side effects for mother and baby. Nature's diversity has always been, and still is, one of the biggest resources of therapeutic lead compounds. Many natural products exhibit biological activity against unrelated targets, thus providing researchers with starting points for drug development. In this review we will provide an overview of uterine muscle physiology, describe currently available biological screening procedures for testing of uterotonic plant compounds and will summarise traditionally-used uterotonic plants, their active components and their mechanisms, primarily focusing on uterotonic active circular plant peptides called cyclotides. Finally we will comment on the discovery of novel cyclotide-producing plant species and the possibility for the development of novel plant-derived uterotonic and tocolytic drugs.
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Liu X, Nie J, Guo SW. Elevated immunoreactivity to tissue factor and its association with dysmenorrhea severity and the amount of menses in adenomyosis. Hum Reprod 2010; 26:337-45. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deq311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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miR-200 family and targets, ZEB1 and ZEB2, modulate uterine quiescence and contractility during pregnancy and labor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:20828-33. [PMID: 21079000 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1008301107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout most of pregnancy, uterine quiescence is maintained by increased progesterone receptor (PR) transcriptional activity, whereas spontaneous labor is initiated/facilitated by a concerted series of biochemical events that activate inflammatory pathways and have a negative impact on PR function. In this study, we uncovered a previously undescribed regulatory pathway whereby micro-RNAs (miRNAs) serve as hormonally modulated and conserved mediators of contraction-associated genes in the pregnant uterus in the mouse and human. Using miRNA and gene expression microarray analyses of uterine tissues, we identified a conserved family of miRNAs, the miR-200 family, that is highly induced at term in both mice and humans as well as two coordinately down-regulated targets, zinc finger E-box binding homeobox proteins ZEB1 and ZEB2, which act as transcriptional repressors. We also observed up-regulation of the miR-200 family and down-regulation of ZEB1 and ZEB2 in two different mouse models of preterm labor. We further demonstrated that ZEB1 is directly up-regulated by the action of progesterone (P(4))/PR at the ZEB1 promoter. Excitingly, we observed that ZEB1 and ZEB2 inhibit expression of the contraction-associated genes, oxytocin receptor and connexin-43, and block oxytocin-induced contractility in human myometrial cells. Together, these findings implicate the miR-200 family and their targets, ZEB1 and ZEB2, as unique P(4)/PR-mediated regulators of uterine quiescence and contractility during pregnancy and labor and shed light on the molecular mechanisms involved in preterm birth.
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Menzies FM, Shepherd MC, Nibbs RJ, Nelson SM. The role of mast cells and their mediators in reproduction, pregnancy and labour. Hum Reprod Update 2010; 17:383-96. [DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmq053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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O'Brien M, Earley P, Morrison JJ, Smith TJ. Ghrelin in the human myometrium. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2010; 8:55. [PMID: 20509935 PMCID: PMC2887880 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-8-55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2010] [Accepted: 05/28/2010] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ghrelin is a 28-amino acid octanolyated peptide, synthesised primarily in the stomach. It stimulates growth hormone release, food intake and exhibits many other diverse effects. Our group have previously determined that ghrelin inhibited human contractility in vitro. The aim of this study therefore, was to investigate the expression of ghrelin, its receptor, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1 (GHS-R1), ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) which catalyses ghrelin octanoylation, prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3) responsible for pro-ghrelin processing, in human myometrium, during pregnancy prior to labour, during labour and in the non-pregnant state. Modulation of ghrelin and ghrelin receptor expression in cultured myometrial cells was also investigated. METHODS mRNA and protein were isolated from human myometrium and the myometrial smooth muscle cell line hTERT-HM; and real-time fluorescence RT-PCR, western blotting and fluorescence microscopy performed. The effects of beta-Estradiol and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on hTERT-HM gene expression were evaluated by western blotting. RESULTS We have reported for the first time the expression and processing of ghrelin, GHS-R1, GOAT and PC1/3 expression in human myometrium, and also the down-regulation of ghrelin mRNA and protein expression during labour. Furthermore, GHS-R1 protein expression significantly decreased at labour. Myometrial GOAT expression significantly increased during term non-labouring pregnancy in comparison to both non-pregnant and labouring myometrium. Mature PC1/3 protein expression was significantly decreased at term pregnancy and labour in comparison to non-pregnant myometrium. Ghrelin, GHS-R1, GOAT and PC1/3 mRNA and protein expression was also detected in the hTERT-HM cells. Ghrelin protein expression decreased upon LPS treatment in these cells while beta-Estradiol treatment increased GHS-R1 expression. CONCLUSIONS Ghrelin processing occurred in the human myometrium at term pregnancy and in the non-pregnant state. GOAT expression which increased during term non-labouring pregnancy demonstrating a similar expression pattern to prepro-ghrelin and GHS-R1, decreased at labour, signifying possible myometrial ghrelin acylation. Moreover, the presence of PC1/3 may contribute to pro-ghrelin processing. These results along with the previous in vitro data suggest that myometrially-produced and processed ghrelin plays a significant autocrine or paracrine role in the maintenance of relaxation in this tissue during pregnancy. Furthermore, the significant uterine modulators LPS and beta-Estradiol are involved in the regulation of ghrelin and ghrelin receptor expression respectively, in the human myometrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret O'Brien
- National Centre for Biomedical and Engineering Science, Orbsen Building, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
| | - Padraig Earley
- National Centre for Biomedical and Engineering Science, Orbsen Building, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
| | - John J Morrison
- National Centre for Biomedical and Engineering Science, Orbsen Building, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University of Ireland Galway, Clinical Science Institute, University College Hospital Galway, Newcastle Road, Galway, Ireland
| | - Terry J Smith
- National Centre for Biomedical and Engineering Science, Orbsen Building, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
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