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Silvano A, Niccolai E, Baldi S, Seravalli V, Strambi N, Nannini G, Pallecchi M, Bartolucci G, Parenti A, Amedei A, Di Tommaso M. Exploring Plasma-Level Gut Microbiota Mediators and Pro-Inflammatory Markers in Pregnant Women with Short Cervix and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13653. [PMID: 37686463 PMCID: PMC10487736 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The composition of the gut microbiota (GM) undergoes significant changes during pregnancy, influenced by metabolic status, energy homeostasis, fat storage, and hormonal and immunological modifications. Moreover, dysbiosis during pregnancy has been associated with preterm birth, which is influenced by factors such as cervical shortening, infection, inflammation, and oxidative stress. However, dysbiosis also affects the levels of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and free fatty acids (FFA) in other tissues and the bloodstream. In this study, we investigated the plasmatic levels of some pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as matrix metalloproteinases-8 (MMP-8), interleukin-8 (IL-8), heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), and microbial markers in pregnant women with a short cervix (≤25 mm) compared to those with normal cervical length (>25 mm). We examined the differences in the concentration of these markers between the two groups, also assessing the impact of gestational diabetes mellitus. Understanding the relationship between GM dysbiosis, inflammatory mediators, and cervical changes during pregnancy may contribute to the identification of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the prevention and management of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Silvano
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (A.S.); (V.S.); (N.S.)
| | - Elena Niccolai
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (E.N.); (S.B.); (G.N.); (A.A.)
| | - Simone Baldi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (E.N.); (S.B.); (G.N.); (A.A.)
| | - Viola Seravalli
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (A.S.); (V.S.); (N.S.)
| | - Noemi Strambi
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (A.S.); (V.S.); (N.S.)
| | - Giulia Nannini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (E.N.); (S.B.); (G.N.); (A.A.)
| | - Marco Pallecchi
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (M.P.); (G.B.)
| | - Gianluca Bartolucci
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (M.P.); (G.B.)
| | - Astrid Parenti
- Department of Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology Section, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Amedeo Amedei
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (E.N.); (S.B.); (G.N.); (A.A.)
| | - Mariarosaria Di Tommaso
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (A.S.); (V.S.); (N.S.)
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Yamanokuchi E, Kitahara G, Kanemaru K, Hemmi K, Kobayashi I, Yamaguchi R, Osawa T. Inflammatory Changes and Composition of Collagen during Cervical Ripening in Cows. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12192646. [PMID: 36230388 PMCID: PMC9559414 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Dystocia and stillbirths in cows pose a high risk of loss of both dams and fetuses, thereby resulting in high economic losses. One of the causes of these problems is birth canal abnormalities. Thus, to prevent these occurrences, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms underlying cervical ripening. Although physiological inflammatory responses and changes in collagen composition have been reported in humans and mice, related information is scarce for cows. We observed inflammatory changes and changes in the collagen composition in the cervix from late pregnancy to parturition to clarify some of the physiological changes associated with cervical ripening during normal calving in cows. Cervical mucus and tissue samples were collected from 41 Japanese Black cows at 200, 230, and 260 days of gestation and at 7-day intervals thereafter until parturition. The percentage of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN%) in the mucus was calculated, and interleukin (IL)-8 concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein, and leukocyte counts were determined. Picrosirius red-stained cervical tissue specimens were observed under a polarizing microscope, and the percentage of type I and type III collagen areas in the cervical tissue were calculated. The PMN% in cervical mucus was lowest at 200 days gestation (12−13 weeks before delivery), significantly increased 5 weeks before (21.7 ± 0.04), and was highest 1 week before calving (50.9 ± 0.04). IL-8 levels were increased at 295 days compared with those at 200 days of pregnancy (p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the white blood cell counts. The percentage of type I collagen in the cervical tissue reached a maximum (91.4 ± 0.02%) on day 200, significantly decreased after 274 days (3 weeks before calving), and continued to decrease thereafter until the week of parturition. There was no significant change in type III collagen levels. The results suggest that cervical ripening progresses when PMNs begin to infiltrate the cervix at around 260 days of gestation (5−4 weeks before parturition), IL-8, which increases at the end of pregnancy, mobilizes PMNs, and enhances inflammation, and that type I collagen changes are useful as an indicator of cervical ripening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eigo Yamanokuchi
- Laboratory of Theriogenology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan
| | - Go Kitahara
- Laboratory of Theriogenology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Kanemaru
- Laboratory of Theriogenology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan
| | - Koichiro Hemmi
- Sumiyoshi Livestock Science Station, Field Science Center, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 880-0121, Japan
| | - Ikuo Kobayashi
- Sumiyoshi Livestock Science Station, Field Science Center, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 880-0121, Japan
| | - Ryoji Yamaguchi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan
| | - Takeshi Osawa
- Laboratory of Theriogenology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-985-58-7787
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Di Paola M, Seravalli V, Paccosi S, Linari C, Parenti A, De Filippo C, Tanturli M, Vitali F, Torcia MG, Di Tommaso M. Identification of Vaginal Microbial Communities Associated with Extreme Cervical Shortening in Pregnant Women. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9113621. [PMID: 33182750 PMCID: PMC7698214 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9113621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The vaginal microbiota plays a critical role in pregnancy. Bacteria from Lactobacillus spp. are thought to maintain immune homeostasis and modulate the inflammatory responses against pathogens implicated in cervical shortening, one of the risk factors for spontaneous preterm birth. We studied vaginal microbiota in 46 pregnant women of predominantly Caucasian ethnicity diagnosed with short cervix (<25 mm), and identified microbial communities associated with extreme cervical shortening (≤10 mm). Vaginal microbiota was defined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and clustered into community state types (CSTs), based on dominance or depletion of Lactobacillus spp. No correlation between CSTs distribution and maternal age or gestational age was revealed. CST-IV, dominated by aerobic and anaerobic bacteria different than Lactobacilli, was associated with extreme cervical shortening (odds ratio (OR) = 15.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.56–14.21; p = 0.019). CST-III (L. iners-dominated) was also associated with extreme cervical shortening (OR = 6.4, 95% CI = 1.32–31.03; p = 0.02). Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was diagnosed in 10/46 women. Bacterial richness was significantly higher in women experiencing this metabolic disorder, but no association with cervical shortening was revealed by statistical analysis. Our study confirms that Lactobacillus-depleted microbiota is significantly associated with an extremely short cervix in women of predominantly Caucasian ethnicity, and also suggests an association between L. iners-dominated microbiota (CST III) and cervical shortening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Di Paola
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy;
| | - Viola Seravalli
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (V.S.); (C.L.); (M.D.T.); (S.P.); (A.P.)
| | - Sara Paccosi
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (V.S.); (C.L.); (M.D.T.); (S.P.); (A.P.)
| | - Carlotta Linari
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (V.S.); (C.L.); (M.D.T.); (S.P.); (A.P.)
| | - Astrid Parenti
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (V.S.); (C.L.); (M.D.T.); (S.P.); (A.P.)
| | - Carlotta De Filippo
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.D.F.); (F.V.)
| | - Michele Tanturli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy;
| | - Francesco Vitali
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.D.F.); (F.V.)
| | - Maria Gabriella Torcia
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Mariarosaria Di Tommaso
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (V.S.); (C.L.); (M.D.T.); (S.P.); (A.P.)
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