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Shi W, Zhang Z, Li M, Dong H, Li J. Reproductive toxicity of PFOA, PFOS and their substitutes: A review based on epidemiological and toxicological evidence. Environ Res 2024; 250:118485. [PMID: 38373549 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have already drawn a lot of attention for their accumulation and reproductive toxicity in organisms. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanoic sulfonate (PFOS), two representative PFAS, are toxic to humans and animals. Due to their widespread use in environmental media with multiple toxicities, PFOA and PFOS have been banned in numerous countries, and many substitutes have been produced to meet market requirements. Unfortunately, most alternatives to PFOA and PFOS have proven to be cumulative and highly toxic. Of the reported multiple organ toxicities, reproductive toxicity deserves special attention. It has been confirmed through epidemiological studies that PFOS and PFOA are not only associated with reduced testosterone levels in humans, but also with an association with damage to the integrity of the blood testicular barrier. In addition, for women, PFOA and PFOS are correlated with abnormal sex hormone levels, and increase the risk of infertility and abnormal menstrual cycle. Nevertheless, there is controversial evidence on the epidemiological relationship that exists between PFOA and PFOS as well as sperm quality and reproductive hormones, while the evidence from animal studies is relatively consistent. Based on the published papers, the potential toxicity mechanisms for PFOA, PFOS and their substitutes were reviewed. For males, PFOA and PFOS may produce reproductive toxicity in the following five ways: (1) Apoptosis and autophagy in spermatogenic cells; (2) Apoptosis and differentiation disorders of Leydig cells; (3) Oxidative stress in sperm and disturbance of Ca2+ channels in sperm membrane; (4) Degradation of delicate intercellular junctions between Sertoli cells; (5) Activation of brain nuclei and shift of hypothalamic metabolome. For females, PFOA and PFOS may produce reproductive toxicity in the following five ways: (1) Damage to oocytes through oxidative stress; (2) Inhibition of corpus luteum function; (3) Inhibition of steroid hormone synthesis; (4) Damage to follicles by affecting gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC); (5) Inhibition of placental function. Besides, PFAS substitutes show similar reproductive toxicity with PFOA and PFOS, and are even more toxic to the placenta. Finally, based on the existing knowledge, future developments and direction of efforts in this field are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshan Shi
- School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zengli Zhang
- School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Mei Li
- School of Civil Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, 215011, China
| | - Huiyu Dong
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Jiafu Li
- School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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Hong J, Crawford K, Cavanagh E, Clifton V, Kumar S. Prediction of preterm birth in women with fetal growth restriction - Is the weekly change in sFlt-1/PlGF ratio or PlGF levels useful? Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2024; 103:1112-1119. [PMID: 38483020 DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To assess the rate of change in soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor (sFlt-1/PlGF) ratio and PlGF levels per week compared to a single sFlt-1/PlGF ratio or PlGF level to predict preterm birth for pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction. MATERIAL AND METHODS A prospective cohort study of pregnancies complicated by isolated fetal growth restriction. Maternal serum PlGF levels and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio were measured at 4-weekly intervals from recruitment to delivery. We investigated the utility of PlGF levels, sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, change in PlGF levels per week or sFlt-1/PlGF ratio per week. Cox-proportional hazard models and Harrell's C concordance statistic were used to evaluate the effect of biomarkers on time to preterm birth. RESULTS The total study cohort was 158 pregnancies comprising 91 (57.6%) with fetal growth restriction and 67 (42.4%) with appropriate for gestational age controls. In the fetal growth restriction cohort, sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and PlGF levels significantly affected time to preterm birth (Harrell's C: 0.85-0.76). The rate of increase per week of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio (hazard ratio [HR] 3.91, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.39-10.99, p = 0.01, Harrell's C: 0.74) was positively associated with preterm birth but change in PlGF levels per week was not (HR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.25-1.67, p = 0.37, Harrell's C: 0.68). CONCLUSIONS Both a high sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and low PlGF levels are predictive of preterm birth in women with fetal growth restriction. Although the rate of increase of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio predicts preterm birth, it is not superior to either a single elevated sFlt-1/PlGF ratio or low PlGF level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesrine Hong
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kylie Crawford
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Erika Cavanagh
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Vicki Clifton
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sailesh Kumar
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Oddi S, Altamirano GA, Zenclussen ML, Abud JE, Vaira S, Gomez AL, Schierano-Marotti G, Muñoz-de-Toro M, Kass L. Glyphosate modifies the gene expression and migration of trophoblastic cells without altering the process of angiogenesis or the implantation of blastocysts in vitro. Food Chem Toxicol 2024:114748. [PMID: 38763501 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2024.114748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Adverse pregnancy outcomes have been associated with the presence of glyphosate (G) in umbilical cord, serum, and urine samples from pregnant women. Our aim was to study the effect of G on blastocyst implantation using an in vitro mouse model, and the migration and acquisition of endothelial phenotype of the human trophoblastic HTR8/SVneo (H8) cells. In mouse blastocysts, no differences in attachment time and implantation outgrowth area were observed after G exposure. H8 cell migration was stimulated by 0.625 μM G without cytotoxicity. After 6 h, the mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) was upregulated in H8 cells exposed to 1.25 μM G when compared vehicle-treated cells (p ≤0.05). No differences were observed in interleukin 11, VEGF receptor 1, and coagulation factor II thrombin receptor in H8 cells exposed to different concentrations of G for 6 h compared to the vehicle. Interestingly, exposure to G did not alter angiogenesis as measured by a tube formation assay. Taken all together, these results suggest that G exposure may contribute as a risk factor during pregnancy, due to its ability to alter trophoblast migration and gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofía Oddi
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL. UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Gabriela A Altamirano
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL. UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María L Zenclussen
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL. UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Fisiología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Julián E Abud
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL. UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Fisiología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Stella Vaira
- Departamento de Matemática, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Ayelen L Gomez
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL. UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Gonzalo Schierano-Marotti
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL. UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Mónica Muñoz-de-Toro
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL. UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Laura Kass
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL. UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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Alobaid AA, Skoda MWA, Harris LK, Campbell RA. Translational use of homing peptides: Tumor and placental targeting. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 662:1033-1043. [PMID: 38387365 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.02.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Tissue-specific homing peptides have been shown to improve chemotherapeutic efficacy due to their trophism for tumor cells. Other sequences that selectively home to the placenta are providing new and safer therapeutics to treat complications in pregnancy. Our hypothesis is that the placental homing peptide RSGVAKS (RSG) may have binding affinity to cancer cells, and that insight can be gained into the binding mechanisms of RSG and the tumor homing peptide CGKRK to model membranes that mimic the primary lipid compositions of the respective cells. EXPERIMENTS Following cell culture studies on the binding efficacy of the peptides on a breast cancer cell line, a systematic translational characterization is delivered using ellipsometry, Brewster angle microscopy and neutron reflectometry of the extents, structures, and dynamics of the interactions of the peptides with the model membranes on a Langmuir trough. FINDINGS We start by revealing that RSG does indeed have binding affinity to breast cancer cells. The peptide is then shown to exhibit stronger interactions and greater penetration than CGKRK into both model membranes, combined with greater disruption to the lipid component. RSG also forms aggregates bound to the model membranes, yet both peptides bind to a greater extent to the placental than cancer model membranes. The results demonstrate the potential for varying local reservoirs of peptide within cell membranes that may influence receptor binding. The innovative nature of our findings motivates the urgent need for more studies involving multifaceted experimental platforms to explore the use of specific peptide sequences to home to different cellular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulaziz A Alobaid
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait
| | - Maximilian W A Skoda
- ISIS Neutron & Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Lynda K Harris
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom; Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, United Kingdom; St Mary's Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9WL, United Kingdom; Olson Center for Women's Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States.
| | - Richard A Campbell
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
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Gonzalez TL, Wertheimer S, Flowers AE, Wang Y, Santiskulvong C, Clark EL, Jefferies CA, Lawrenson K, Chan JL, Joshi NV, Zhu Y, Tseng HR, Karumanchi SA, Williams III J, Pisarska MD. High-throughput mRNA-seq atlas of human placenta shows vast transcriptome remodeling from first to third trimester†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:936-949. [PMID: 38271627 PMCID: PMC11094392 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioae007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The placenta, composed of chorionic villi, changes dramatically across gestation. Understanding differences in ongoing pregnancies are essential to identify the role of chorionic villi at specific times in gestation and develop biomarkers and prognostic indicators of maternal-fetal health. The normative mRNA profile is established using next-generation sequencing of 124 first trimester and 43 third trimester human placentas from ongoing healthy pregnancies. Stably expressed genes (SEGs) not different between trimesters and with low variability are identified. Differential expression analysis of first versus third trimester adjusted for fetal sex is performed, followed by a subanalysis with 23 matched pregnancies to control for subject variability using the same genetic and environmental background. Placenta expresses 14,979 polyadenylated genes above sequencing noise (transcripts per million > 0.66), with 10.7% SEGs across gestation. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) account for 86.7% of genes in the full cohort [false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05]. Fold changes highly correlate between the full cohort and subanalysis (Pearson = 0.98). At stricter thresholds (FDR < 0.001, fold change > 1.5), there remains 50.1% DEGs (3353 upregulated in first and 4155 upregulated in third trimester). This is the largest mRNA atlas of healthy human placenta across gestation, controlling for genetic and environmental factors, demonstrating substantial changes from first to third trimester in chorionic villi. Specific differences and SEGs may be used to understand the specific role of the chorionic villi throughout gestation and develop first trimester biomarkers of placental health that transpire across gestation, which can be used for future development of biomarkers for maternal-fetal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania L Gonzalez
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sahar Wertheimer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Amy E Flowers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yizhou Wang
- Department of Computational Biomedicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chintda Santiskulvong
- CS Cancer Applied Genomics Shared Resource, CS Cancer, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ekaterina L Clark
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Caroline A Jefferies
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Kao Autoimmune Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kate Lawrenson
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Center for Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Women’s Cancer Research Program, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jessica L Chan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nikhil V Joshi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yazhen Zhu
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hsian-Rong Tseng
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - John Williams III
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Margareta D Pisarska
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Xu C, Zhao W, Peng L, Yin T, Guo J, Li Y, Liu L, Yang J, Xu C, Du M. PRDM14 extinction enables the initiation of trophoblast stem cell formation. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:208. [PMID: 38710919 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05237-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) can be chemically converted from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in vitro. Although several transcription factors (TFs) have been recognized as essential for TSC formation, it remains unclear how differentiation cues link elimination of stemness with the establishment of TSC identity. Here, we show that PRDM14, a critical pluripotent circuitry component, is reduced during the formation of TSCs. The reduction is further shown to be due to the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. The extinction of PRDM14 results in the erasure of H3K27me3 marks and chromatin opening in the gene loci of TSC TFs, including GATA3 and TFAP2C, which enables their expression and thus the initiation of the TSC formation process. Accordingly, PRDM14 reduction is proposed here as a critical event that couples elimination of stemness with the initiation of TSC formation. The present study provides novel insights into how induction signals initiate TSC formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunfang Xu
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Weijie Zhao
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Longgang District Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital of Shenzhen City, Longgang Maternity Child Institute of Shantou University Medical College, Shenzhen, 518172, China
| | - Lijin Peng
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Tingxuan Yin
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jiani Guo
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University Shanghai, Shanghai, 200434, China
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmacy, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, 519020, SAR, China
| | - Lu Liu
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jinying Yang
- Longgang District Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital of Shenzhen City, Longgang Maternity Child Institute of Shantou University Medical College, Shenzhen, 518172, China
| | - Congjian Xu
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Meirong Du
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Shimada H, Powell TL, Jansson T. Regulation of placental amino acid transport in health and disease. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2024:e14157. [PMID: 38711335 DOI: 10.1111/apha.14157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Abnormal fetal growth, i.e., intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) or fetal growth restriction (FGR) and fetal overgrowth, is associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality and is strongly linked to the development of metabolic and cardiovascular disease in childhood and later in life. Emerging evidence suggests that changes in placental amino acid transport may contribute to abnormal fetal growth. This review is focused on amino acid transport in the human placenta, however, relevant animal models will be discussed to add mechanistic insights. At least 25 distinct amino acid transporters with different characteristics and substrate preferences have been identified in the human placenta. Of these, System A, transporting neutral nonessential amino acids, and System L, mediating the transport of essential amino acids, have been studied in some detail. Importantly, decreased placental Systems A and L transporter activity is strongly associated with IUGR and increased placental activity of these two amino acid transporters has been linked to fetal overgrowth in human pregnancy. An array of factors in the maternal circulation, including insulin, IGF-1, and adiponectin, and placental signaling pathways such as mTOR, have been identified as key regulators of placental Systems A and L. Studies using trophoblast-specific gene targeting in mice have provided compelling evidence that changes in placental Systems A and L are mechanistically linked to altered fetal growth. It is possible that targeting specific placental amino acid transporters or their upstream regulators represents a novel intervention to alleviate the short- and long-term consequences of abnormal fetal growth in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Shimada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Theresa L Powell
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Thomas Jansson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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Jiang Y, Geng Y, Gao R, Chen Z, Chen J, Mu X, Zhang Y, Yin X, Chen X, Li F, He J. Maternal exposure to ZIF-8 derails placental function by inducing trophoblast pyroptosis through neutrophils activation in mice. Food Chem Toxicol 2024; 187:114604. [PMID: 38508570 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2024.114604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Adverse environmental factors during maternal gestation pose a threat to pregnancy. Environmental factors, particularly nanoparticles, can impact pregnancy by causing damage to the placenta. Compared to early gestation, foetuses in late gestation are more robustly developed and at lower risk of adverse effects from environmental factors. Delivery systems for targeted therapy during pregnancy is predominantly focused on their application in late gestation. Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) holds great potential for targeted drug therapy. To evaluate the value of ZIF-8 in targeted treatment of disorders associated with late gestation, it is crucial to investigate the biological effects of ZIF-8 exposure during late gestation. Here, a mouse model exposed to ZIF-8 particles at different doses (5, 10, and 15 mg/kg) during late gestation was constructed. We found that ZIF-8 particles were deposited in the uterus of pregnant mice. ZIF-8 could trigger placental neutrophil aggregation and induce inflammation, which led to trophoblast pyroptosis and impair placental function, adversely affecting the foetus. Neutrophil depletion alleviated placental and foetal damage induced by ZIF-8. This study provides a novel mechanistic view of the reproductive toxicity induced by ZIF-8 and may offer clues to reduce the latent harm of adverse environmental factors to pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Jiang
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yanqing Geng
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Rufei Gao
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhuxiu Chen
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jun Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinyi Mu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xin Yin
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xuemei Chen
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fangfang Li
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Junlin He
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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9
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Hong J, Crawford K, Cavanagh E, da Silva Costa F, Kumar S. Placental growth factor and fetoplacental Doppler indices in combination predict preterm birth reliably in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2024; 63:635-643. [PMID: 37820083 DOI: 10.1002/uog.27513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the association between placental biomarkers (placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1)/PlGF ratio) and fetoplacental Doppler indices (umbilical artery (UA) pulsatility index (PI) and uterine artery (UtA) PI) in various combinations for predicting preterm birth (PTB) in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR). METHODS This was a prospective observational cohort study, performed at Mater Mother's Hospital in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, from May 2022 to June 2023, of pregnancies complicated by FGR and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) pregnancies. Maternal serum PlGF levels, sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, UA-PI and UtA-PI were measured at 2-4-weekly intervals from recruitment until delivery. Harrell's concordance statistic (Harrell's C) was used to evaluate multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models featuring various combinations of placental biomarkers and fetoplacental Doppler indices to ascertain the best combination to predict PTB (< 37 weeks). Multivariable Cox regression models were used with biomarkers as time-varying covariates. RESULTS The study cohort included 320 singleton pregnancies, comprising 179 (55.9%) affected by FGR, defined according to a Delphi consensus, and 141 (44.1%) with an AGA fetus. In the FGR cohort, both low PlGF levels and elevated sFlt-1/PlGF ratio were associated with significantly shorter time to PTB. Low PlGF was a better predictor of PTB than was either sFlt-1/PlGF ratio or a combination of PlGF and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio (Harrell's C, 0.81, 0.78 and 0.79, respectively). Although both Doppler indices were significantly associated with time to PTB, in combination they were better predictors of PTB than was either UA-PI > 95th centile or UtA-PI > 95th centile alone (Harrell's C, 0.82, 0.75 and 0.76, respectively). Predictive utility for PTB was best when PlGF < 100 ng/L, UA-PI > 95th centile and UtA-PI > 95th centile were combined (Harrell's C, 0.88) (hazard ratio, 32.99; 95% CI, 10.74-101.32). CONCLUSIONS Low maternal serum PlGF level (< 100 ng/L) and abnormal fetoplacental Doppler indices (UA-PI > 95th centile and UtA-PI > 95th centile) in combination have the greatest predictive utility for PTB in pregnancies complicated by FGR. Their assessment may help guide clinical management of these complex pregnancies. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Hong
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - K Crawford
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - E Cavanagh
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - F da Silva Costa
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University and Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - S Kumar
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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10
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Ho SJ, Chaput D, Sinkey RG, Garces AH, New EP, Okuka M, Sang P, Arlier S, Semerci N, Steffensen TS, Rutherford TJ, Alsina AE, Cai J, Anderson ML, Magness RR, Uversky VN, Cummings DAT, Tsibris JCM. Proteomic studies of VEGFR2 in human placentas reveal protein associations with preeclampsia, diabetes, gravidity, and labor. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:221. [PMID: 38594674 PMCID: PMC11003095 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01567-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
VEGFR2 (Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2) is a central regulator of placental angiogenesis. The study of the VEGFR2 proteome of chorionic villi at term revealed its partners MDMX (Double minute 4 protein) and PICALM (Phosphatidylinositol-binding clathrin assembly protein). Subsequently, the oxytocin receptor (OT-R) and vasopressin V1aR receptor were detected in MDMX and PICALM immunoprecipitations. Immunogold electron microscopy showed VEGFR2 on endothelial cell (EC) nuclei, mitochondria, and Hofbauer cells (HC), tissue-resident macrophages of the placenta. MDMX, PICALM, and V1aR were located on EC plasma membranes, nuclei, and HC nuclei. Unexpectedly, PICALM and OT-R were detected on EC projections into the fetal lumen and OT-R on 20-150 nm clusters therein, prompting the hypothesis that placental exosomes transport OT-R to the fetus and across the blood-brain barrier. Insights on gestational complications were gained by univariable and multivariable regression analyses associating preeclampsia with lower MDMX protein levels in membrane extracts of chorionic villi, and lower MDMX, PICALM, OT-R, and V1aR with spontaneous vaginal deliveries compared to cesarean deliveries before the onset of labor. We found select associations between higher MDMX, PICALM, OT-R protein levels and either gravidity, diabetes, BMI, maternal age, or neonatal weight, and correlations only between PICALM-OT-R (p < 2.7 × 10-8), PICALM-V1aR (p < 0.006), and OT-R-V1aR (p < 0.001). These results offer for exploration new partnerships in metabolic networks, tissue-resident immunity, and labor, notably for HC that predominantly express MDMX.
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Grants
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida
- Lisa Muma Weitz Microscopy Laboratory, University of South Florida
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida
- Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, Florida
- Teasley Foundation
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida
- Department of Biology, University of Florida
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon J Ho
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Dale Chaput
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Rachel G Sinkey
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Amanda H Garces
- Lisa Muma Weitz Microscopy Laboratory, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Erika P New
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Maja Okuka
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Peng Sang
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Sefa Arlier
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Nihan Semerci
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | | | - Thomas J Rutherford
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- Cancer Center, Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Angel E Alsina
- Transplant Surgery Center, Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jianfeng Cai
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Matthew L Anderson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- Cancer Center, Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Ronald R Magness
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Derek A T Cummings
- Department of Biology and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - John C M Tsibris
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
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11
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Nunes PR, Oliveira PF, Rebelo I, Sandrim VC, Alves MG. Relevance of real-time analyzers to determine mitochondrial quality in endothelial cells and oxidative stress in preeclampsia. Vascul Pharmacol 2024; 155:107372. [PMID: 38583694 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2024.107372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are important elements for the pathophysiology of preeclampsia (PE), a multisystemic hypertensive syndrome of pregnancy, characterized by endothelial dysfunction and responsible for a large part of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Researchers have dedicated their efforts to unraveling the intricate ways in which certain molecules influence both energy metabolism and oxidative stress. Exploring established methodologies from existing literature, shows that these investigations predominantly focus on the placenta, identified as a pivotal source that drives the changes observed in the disease. In this review, we discuss the role of oxidative stress in pathophysiology of PE, as well as metabolic/endothelial dysfunction. We further discuss the use of seahorse analyzers to study real-time bioenergetics of endothelial cells. Although the benefits are clear, few studies have presented results using this method to assess mitochondrial metabolism in these cells. We performed a search on MEDLINE/PubMed using the terms "Seahorse assay and endothelial dysfunction in HUVEC" as well as "Seahorse assay and preeclampsia". From our research, we selected 16 original peer-review papers for discussion. Notably, the first search retrieved studies involving Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) but none investigating bioenergetics in PE while the second search retrieved studies exploring the technique in PE but none of the studies used HUVECs. Additional studies are required to investigate real-time mitochondrial bioenergetics in PE. Clearly, there is a need for more complete studies to examine the nuances of mitochondrial bioenergetics, focusing on the contributions of HUVECs in the context of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscila R Nunes
- Department of Pharmacology and Biophysics, Institute of Biosciences, Sao Paulo State University (Unesp), 18618-689 Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro F Oliveira
- LAQV-REQUIMTE and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Irene Rebelo
- UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biologic Sciences, Pharmaceutical Faculty, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB- Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biologic Sciences, Pharmaceutical Faculty, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Valeria C Sandrim
- Department of Pharmacology and Biophysics, Institute of Biosciences, Sao Paulo State University (Unesp), 18618-689 Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marco G Alves
- iBiMED - Institute of Biomedicine and Department of Medical Sciences University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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12
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Triggs T, Crawford K, Hong J, Clifton V, Kumar S. The influence of birthweight on mortality and severe neonatal morbidity in late preterm and term infants: an Australian cohort study. Lancet Reg Health West Pac 2024; 45:101054. [PMID: 38590781 PMCID: PMC10999727 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2024.101054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Background The aim of this study was to detail incidence rates and relative risks for severe adverse perinatal outcomes by birthweight centile categories in a large Australian cohort of late preterm and term infants. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of singleton infants (≥34+0 weeks gestation) between 2000 and 2018 in Queensland, Australia. Study outcomes were perinatal mortality, severe neurological morbidity, and other severe morbidity. Categorical outcomes were compared using Chi-squared tests. Continuous outcomes were compared using t-tests. Multinomial logistic regression investigated the effect of birthweight centile on study outcomes. Findings The final cohort comprised 991,042 infants. Perinatal mortality occurred in 1944 infants (0.19%). The incidence and risk of perinatal mortality increased as birthweight decreased, peaking for infants <1st centile (perinatal mortality rate 13.2/1000 births, adjusted Relative Risk Ratio (aRRR) of 12.96 (95% CI 10.14, 16.57) for stillbirth and aRRR 7.55 (95% CI 3.78, 15.08) for neonatal death). Severe neurological morbidity occurred in 7311 infants (0.74%), with the highest rate (19.6/1000 live births) in <1st centile cohort. There were 75,243 cases of severe morbidity (7.59% livebirths), with the peak incidence occurring in the <1st centile category (12.3% livebirths). The majority of adverse outcomes occurred in infants with birthweights between 10 and 90th centile. Almost 2 in 3 stillbirths, and approximately 3 in 4 cases of neonatal death, severe neurological morbidity or other severe morbidity occurred within this birthweight range. Interpretation Although the incidence and risk of perinatal mortality, severe neurological morbidity and severe morbidity increased at the extremes of birthweight centiles, the majority of these outcomes occurred in infants that were apparently "appropriately grown" (i.e., birthweight 10th-90th centile). Funding National Health and Medical Research Council, Mater Foundation, Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Women's Health Foundation - Norman Beischer Clinical Research Scholarship, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, University of Queensland Research Scholarship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tegan Triggs
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Level 3, Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kylie Crawford
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Level 3, Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jesrine Hong
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Level 3, Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Vicki Clifton
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Level 3, Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sailesh Kumar
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Level 3, Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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13
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Yi C, Song H, Liang H, Ran Y, Tang J, Chen E, Li F, Fu L, Wang Y, Chen F, Wang Y, Ding Y, Xie Y. TBX3 reciprocally controls key trophoblast lineage decisions in villi during human placenta development in the first trimester. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 263:130220. [PMID: 38368983 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Human trophoblastic lineage development is intertwined with placental development and pregnancy outcomes, but the regulatory mechanisms underpinning this process remain inadequately understood. In this study, based on single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) analysis of the human early maternal-fetal interface, we compared the gene expression pattern of trophoblast at different developmental stages. Our findings reveal a predominant upregulation of TBX3 during the transition from villous cytotrophoblast (VCT) to syncytiotrophoblast (SCT), but downregulation of TBX3 as VCT progresses into extravillous trophoblast cells (EVT). Immunofluorescence analysis verified the primary expression of TBX3 in SCT, partial expression in MKi67-positive VCT, and absence in HLA-G-positive EVT, consistent with our snRNA-seq results. Using immortalized trophoblastic cell lines (BeWo and HTR8/SVneo) and human primary trophoblast stem cells (hTSCs), we observed that TBX3 knockdown impedes SCT formation through RAS-MAPK signaling, while TBX3 overexpression disrupts the cytoskeleton structure of EVT and hinders EVT differentiation by suppressing FAK signaling. In conclusion, our study suggests that the spatiotemporal expression of TBX3 plays a critical role in regulating trophoblastic lineage development via distinct signaling pathways. This underscores TBX3 as a key determinant during hemochorial placental development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cen Yi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Ministry of Education of China, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Honglan Song
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Ministry of Education of China, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Hongxiu Liang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Ministry of Education of China, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yujie Ran
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Ministry of Education of China, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Jing Tang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Ministry of Education of China, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Enxiang Chen
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Ministry of Education of China, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Fangfang Li
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Ministry of Education of China, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Lijuan Fu
- Department of Gynecology, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, China 400021; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Prevention and Cure of Metabolic Diseases, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Changsha Medical University, Hunan 410219, China
| | - Yaqi Wang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Ministry of Education of China, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Fengming Chen
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Agricultural Biogenomics, Changsha Medical University, 410129, China
| | - Yingxiong Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Ministry of Education of China, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yubin Ding
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Ministry of Education of China, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Youlong Xie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Ministry of Education of China, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
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14
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Kabodmehri R, Ghanami Gashti N, Zahiri Sorouri Z, Sharami SH, Milani F, Hasanpour M, Eslami‐Kenarsari H, Rafiei Sorouri Z. Levels of serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin after embryo transfer and subsequent miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, and intrauterine growth restriction. Health Sci Rep 2024; 7:e2015. [PMID: 38665152 PMCID: PMC11043496 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to examine maternal serum concentration of β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) on Day 16 after embryo transfer and risk of miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Methods In this study, we evaluated 125 pregnancies following in vitro fertilization (IVF). β-hCG concentrations were measured on the morning of Day 16 after embryo transfer. Baseline characteristics of the study participants were also recorded. Results Concentrations of β-hCG on Day 16 after embryo transfer were inversely associated with the higher risk of miscarriage (p < 0.001), but did not with pre-eclampsia and IUGR (p > 0.05). Spearman's correlation coefficient showed a reverse and significant association between β-hCG and higher risk of miscarriage (σ = 0.531 and p < 0.001). There was a significant association between frozen embryo transfer and the risk of IUGR and pre-eclampsia (p = 0.005 and p = 0.023, respectively). Conclusions Maternal serum concentrations of β-hCG on Day 16 after IVF/embryo transfer were associated with the higher risk of miscarriage, but not pre-eclampsia and IUGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roya Kabodmehri
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Health Research Center, Al‐Zahra Hospital, School of MedicineGuilan University of Medical SciencesRashtIran
| | - Nasrin Ghanami Gashti
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Health Research Center, Al‐Zahra Hospital, School of MedicineGuilan University of Medical SciencesRashtIran
| | - Ziba Zahiri Sorouri
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Health Research Center, Al‐Zahra Hospital, School of MedicineGuilan University of Medical SciencesRashtIran
- Mehr Fertility Research CenterGuilan University of Medical SciencesRashtIran
| | - Seyedeh Hajar Sharami
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Health Research Center, Al‐Zahra Hospital, School of MedicineGuilan University of Medical SciencesRashtIran
| | - Forozan Milani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Health Research Center, Al‐Zahra Hospital, School of MedicineGuilan University of Medical SciencesRashtIran
| | - Marziyeh Hasanpour
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Health Research Center, Al‐Zahra Hospital, School of MedicineGuilan University of Medical SciencesRashtIran
| | - Habib Eslami‐Kenarsari
- Vice‐Chancellorship of Research and TechnologyGuilan University of Medical ScienceRashtIran
| | - Zahra Rafiei Sorouri
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Health Research Center, Al‐Zahra Hospital, School of MedicineGuilan University of Medical SciencesRashtIran
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15
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Xie N, Wang F, Chen D, Zhou J, Xu J, Qu F. Immune dysfunction mediated by the competitive endogenous RNA network in fetal side placental tissue of polycystic ovary syndrome. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300461. [PMID: 38512862 PMCID: PMC10956758 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrine and metabolic disorder affecting women in their reproductive years. Emerging evidence suggests that the maternal-fetal immune system is crucial for proper pregnancy. However, whether immune function is altered at the end of pregnancy in PCOS women and the underlying molecular mechanisms is currently unexplored. Herein, the basic maternal immune system was investigated (n = 136 in the control group; n = 103 in the PCOS group), and whole-transcriptome sequencing was carried out to quantify the mRNAs, miRNAs, and lncRNAs expression levels in fetal side placental tissue of women with PCOS. GO, KEGG, and GSEA analysis were employed for functional enrichment analysis. The process of identifying hub genes was conducted utilizing the protein-protein interaction network. CIBERSORT and Connectivity Map were deployed to determine immune cell infiltration and predict potential drugs, respectively. A network of mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA was constructed and then validated by qRT-PCR. First, red blood cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, hypersensitive C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin were significantly elevated, while placental growth factor was hindered in PCOS women. We identified 308 DEmRNAs, 77 DEmiRNAs, and 332 DElncRNAs in PCOS samples. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that there were significant changes observed in terms of the immune system, especially the chemokine pathway. Eight genes, including FOS, JUN, EGR1, CXCL10, CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCL11, and CXCL8, were considered as hub genes. Furthermore, the degree of infiltration of neutrophils was dramatically decreased in PCOS tissues. In total, 57 ceRNA events were finally obtained, and immune-related ceRNA networks were validated. Some potential drug candidates, such as enalapril and RS-100329, could have a function in PCOS therapy. This study represents the inaugural attempt to evaluate the immune system at the end of pregnancy and placental ceRNA networks in PCOS, indicating alterations in the chemokine pathway, which may impact fetal and placental growth, and provides new therapy targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningning Xie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fangfang Wang
- Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Danqing Chen
- Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jue Zhou
- College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fan Qu
- Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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16
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Kong X, Li R, Chen M, Zheng R, Wang J, Sun C, Qu Y. Endogenous retrovirus HERVH-derived lncRNA UCA1 controls human trophoblast development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2318176121. [PMID: 38483994 PMCID: PMC10962953 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318176121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are frequently reactivated in mammalian placenta. It has been proposed that ERVs contribute to shaping the gene regulatory network of mammalian trophoblasts, dominantly acting as species- and placental-specific enhancers. However, whether and how ERVs control human trophoblast development through alternative pathways remains poorly understood. Besides the well-recognized function of human endogenous retrovirus-H (HERVH) in maintaining pluripotency of early human epiblast, here we present a unique role of HERVH on trophoblast lineage development. We found that the LTR7C/HERVH subfamily exhibits an accessible chromatin state in the human trophoblast lineage. Particularly, the LTR7C/HERVH-derived Urothelial Cancer Associated 1 (UCA1), a primate-specific long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), is transcribed in human trophoblasts and promotes the proliferation of human trophoblast stem cells (hTSCs), whereas its ectopic expression compromises human trophoblast syncytialization coinciding with increased interferon signaling pathway. Importantly, UCA1 upregulation is detectable in placental samples from early-onset preeclampsia (EO-PE) patients and the transcriptome of EO-PE placenta exhibits considerable similarities to that of the syncytiotrophoblasts differentiated from UCA1-overexpressing hTSCs, supporting up-regulated UCA1 as a potential biomarker of this disease. Altogether, our data shed light on the versatile regulatory role of HERVH in early human development and provide a unique mechanism whereby ERVs exert a function in human placentation and placental syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuhui Kong
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Ruiqi Li
- Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of Kapok, Hainan 571400, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
- The First People's Hospital of Kashgar, Kashgar 844000, China
| | - Manqi Chen
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Rongyan Zheng
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jichang Wang
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Chuanbo Sun
- Laboratory of Medical Systems Biology, Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, China
| | - Yuliang Qu
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China
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17
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Zhao X, Cai X, Zhu H, Dang Q, Yang Q, Zhu Y, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Jiang X, Hu Z, Wei Y, Xiao R, Yu H. 27-Hydroxycholesterol inhibits trophoblast fusion during placenta development by activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:849-863. [PMID: 38180513 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03664-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Trophoblast cell syncytialization is essential for placental and fetal development. Abnormal trophoblast cell fusion leads to pregnancy pathologies, such as preeclampsia (PE), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and miscarriage. 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC) is the most abundant oxysterol in human peripheral blood synthesized by sterol 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) and is considered a critical mediator between hypercholesterolemia and a variety of related disorders. Gestational hypercholesterolemia was associated with spontaneous preterm delivery and low birth weight (LBW) in term infants, yet the mechanism is unclear. In this study, two trophoblast cell models and CD-1 mice were used to evaluate the effects of 27-OHC on trophoblast fusion during placenta development. Two different kinds of trophoblast cells received a dosage of 2.5, 5, or 10 uM 27-OHC. Three groups of pregnant mice were randomly assigned: control, full treatment (E0.5-E17.5), or late treatment (E13.5-E17.5). All mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of saline (control group) and 27-OHC (treatment group; 5.5 mg/kg). In vitro experiments, we found that 27-OHC inhibited trophoblast cell fusion in primary human trophoblasts (PHT) and forskolin (FSK)-induced BeWo cells. 27-OHC up-regulated the expression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins. Moreover, the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 rescued the inhibitory effect of 27-OHC. Inhibition of trophoblast cell fusion by 27-OHC was also observed in CD-1 mice. Furthermore, fetal weight and placental efficiency decreased and fetal blood vessel development was inhibited in pregnant mice treated with 27-OHC. This study was the first to prove that 27-OHC inhibits trophoblast cell fusion by Activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. This study reveals a novel mechanism by which dyslipidemia during pregnancy results in adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Zhao
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaxia Cai
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiyan Zhu
- FuXing Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinyu Dang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Yang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Yandi Zhu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Yadi Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengling Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyin Jiang
- Departments of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, New York, NY, 11210, USA
| | - Zhuo Hu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuchen Wei
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Rong Xiao
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Huanling Yu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China.
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18
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Merech F, Gori S, Calo G, Hauk V, Paparini D, Rios D, Lara B, Doga L, D'Eramo L, Squassi A, Ramhorst R, Argüello RJ, Pérez Leirós C, Vota D. Monocyte immunometabolic reprogramming in human pregnancy: contribution of trophoblast cells. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2024; 326:E215-E225. [PMID: 38117266 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00357.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Immunometabolism research is uncovering the relationship between metabolic features and immune cell functions in physiological and pathological conditions. Normal pregnancy entails a fine immune and metabolic regulation of the maternal-fetal interaction to assist the energetic demands of the fetus with immune homeostasis maintenance. Here, we determined the immunometabolic status of monocytes of pregnant women compared with nonpregnant controls and its impact on monocyte anti-inflammatory functions such as efferocytosis. Monocytes from pregnant women (16-20 wk) and nonpregnant age-matched controls were studied. Single cell-based metabolic assays using freshly isolated monocytes from both groups were carried out in parallel with functional assays ex vivo to evaluate monocyte efferocytic capacity. On the other hand, various in vitro metabolic assays with human monocytes or monocyte-derived macrophages were designed to explore the effect of trophoblast cells in the profiles observed. We found that pregnancy alters monocyte metabolism and function. An increased glucose dependency and enhanced efferocytosis were detected in monocytes from pregnant women at resting states, compared with nonpregnant controls. Furthermore, monocytes display a reduced glycolytic response when stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The metabolic profiling of monocytes at this stage of pregnancy was comparable with the immunometabolic phenotypes of human monocytes treated in vitro with human first trimester trophoblast cell conditioned media. These findings suggest that immunometabolic mechanisms are involved in the functional shaping of monocytes during pregnancy with a contribution of trophoblast cells. Results provide new clues for future hypotheses regarding pregnancies complicated by metabolic disorders.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Immunometabolism stands as a novel perspective to understand the complex regulation of the immune response and to provide small molecule-based therapies. By applying this approach to study monocytes during pregnancy, we found that these cells have a unique activation pattern. They rely more on glycolysis and show increased efferocytosis/IL-10 production, but they do not have the typical proinflammatory responses. We also present evidence that trophoblast cells can shape monocytes into this distinct immunometabolic profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fátima Merech
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Soledad Gori
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guillermina Calo
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vanesa Hauk
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniel Paparini
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daiana Rios
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Brenda Lara
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luciana Doga
- Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Odontología Preventiva y Comunitaria, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luciana D'Eramo
- Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Odontología Preventiva y Comunitaria, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Aldo Squassi
- Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Odontología Preventiva y Comunitaria, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rosanna Ramhorst
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rafael J Argüello
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, Marseille, France
| | - Claudia Pérez Leirós
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daiana Vota
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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19
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Yang P, Lu T, Liang X, Huang T, Wu L, He Z, Xiao X, Fan S. The influence of placenta microbiota of normal term pregnant women on immune regulation during pregnancy. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:171. [PMID: 38424487 PMCID: PMC10905846 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06353-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The concerted regulation of placenta microbiota and the immune responses secures the occurrence and development of pregnancy, while few studies reported this correlation. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the placenta microbiota and immune regulation during pregnancy. METHODS Twenty-six healthy pregnant women scheduled for elective cesarean section in the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University who met the inclusion criteria were recruited. Placenta and peripheral venous blood samples were collected. Microbiota in placental tissue was detected using high-throughput sequencing. Flow cytometry was used to detect immune cells in placental tissue and peripheral venous blood. ELISA and Luminex liquid chip technology were used to detect the content of cytokines in placental tissue and peripheral venous blood, respectively. RESULTS The placental microbiota has stimulating effects on the local immunity of the placenta and mainly stimulates the placental balance ratio CD56 + CD16 + /CD56 + CD16 and the placental macrophages, that is, it plays the role of immune protection and supporting nutrition. The stimulating effect of placental microbiota on maternal systemic immunity mainly induces peripheral Treg cells and B lymphocytes. CONCLUSION The placental microbiota may be an important factor mediating local immune regulation in the placenta, and placental microbiota participates in the regulatory function of the maternal immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Tong Lu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Shenzhen Long Hua District Central Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | | | - Ting Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lulu Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zonglin He
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaomin Xiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Shangrong Fan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
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20
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Sordillo JE, White F, Majid S, Aguet F, Ardlie KG, Karumanchi SA, Florez JC, Powe CE, Edlow AG, Bouchard L, Jacques PE, Hivert MF. Higher Maternal Body Mass Index Is Associated With Lower Placental Expression of EPYC: A Genome-Wide Transcriptomic Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024; 109:e1159-e1166. [PMID: 37864851 PMCID: PMC10876411 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Elevated body mass index (BMI) in pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. The placental transcriptome may elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying these associations. OBJECTIVE We examined the association of first-trimester maternal BMI with the placental transcriptome in the Gen3G prospective cohort. METHODS We enrolled participants at 5 to 16 weeks of gestation and measured height and weight. We collected placenta samples at delivery. We performed whole-genome RNA sequencing using Illumina HiSeq 4000 and aligned RNA sequences based on the GTEx v8 pipeline. We conducted differential gene expression analysis of over 15 000 genes from 450 placental samples and reported the change in normalized gene expression per 1-unit increase in log2 BMI (kg/m2) as a continuous variable using Limma Voom. We adjusted models for maternal age, fetal sex, gestational age at delivery, gravidity, and surrogate variables accounting for technical variability. We compared participants with BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 mg/kg2 (N = 257) vs those with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2, N = 82) in secondary analyses. RESULTS Participants' mean ± SD age was 28.2 ± 4.4 years and BMI was 25.4 ± 5.5 kg/m2 in early pregnancy. Higher maternal BMI was associated with lower placental expression of EPYC (slope = -1.94, false discovery rate [FDR]-adjusted P = 7.3 × 10-6 for continuous BMI; log2 fold change = -1.35, FDR-adjusted P = 3.4 × 10-3 for BMI ≥30 vs BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) and with higher placental expression of IGFBP6, CHRDL1, and CXCL13 after adjustment for covariates and accounting for multiple testing (FDR < 0.05). CONCLUSION Our genome-wide transcriptomic study revealed novel genes potentially implicated in placental biologic response to higher maternal BMI in early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne E Sordillo
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Frédérique White
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Sana Majid
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - François Aguet
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kristin G Ardlie
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - S Ananth Karumanchi
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Jose C Florez
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Camille E Powe
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Andrea G Edlow
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Luigi Bouchard
- Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
- Department of Medical Biology, CIUSSS of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Saguenay, QC G7H 7K9, Canada
- Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke (CRCHUS), Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N3, Canada
| | - Pierre-Etienne Jacques
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
- Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke (CRCHUS), Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N3, Canada
| | - Marie-France Hivert
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke (CRCHUS), Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N3, Canada
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21
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Huang S, Cai S, Ling L, Zhang W, Xiao H, Yu D, Zhong X, Tao P, Luo Y. Investigating the molecular mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of placental syndromes by influencing inflammatory cytokines using the Mendelian randomization and molecular docking technology. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 14:1290766. [PMID: 38362587 PMCID: PMC10868387 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1290766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Placental syndromes, which include pregnancy loss, preterm birth, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP), have a strong association with disorder inflammatory reactions. Nonetheless, the exact causal relationship has not been established. This study aims to investigate the causal relationship between placental syndromes and inflammatory cytokines utilizing Mendelian randomization (MR). Additionally, we examined the interaction between small molecular compounds derived from traditional Chinese medicine and inflammatory cytokines using molecular docking method. Methods After obtaining the data of inflammatory cytokines and placental syndromes, as well as establishing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we employed the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method to assess the causal relationship. We also accessed the heterogeneity and the horizontal pleiotropy of these data. The "ClusterProfiler" R package was utilized for Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) term analyses. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using STRING database. AutoDock Vina software was used for molecular docking, and Discovery Studio 2019 was used for visualization purposes. Results We found that the growth regulated oncogene A (GROA) and interleukin-9 (IL-9) were associated with the development of pregnancy hypertension, whereas interleukin-10 (IL-10) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were linked to the occurrence of preeclampsia. Moreover, there were correlations observed between interleukin-18 (IL-18), IL-10, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (MCSF), and platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGFbb) in cases of chronic hypertension combined with pregnancy (CHP). Additionally, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) exhibited a connection with GDM, and TNF related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) demonstrated a causal relationship with preterm birth. It is plausible to suggest that interleukin-1β (IL-1β) might contribute to the promotion of pregnancy loss. All of the binding free energy values of small molecular compounds with inflammatory cytokines were below -5.0 kcal/mol. Furthermore, all of the RMSD values were less than 2. Conclusions GROA, IL-1β, IL-9, IL-10, IL-18, MIF, MCSF, HGF, PDGFbb and TRAIL were found to be causally associated with placental syndromes. Molecular docking analysis revealed that small molecular compounds, such as puerarin, magnolol, atractylenolide I, paeoniflorin, tumulosic acid and wogonin, are closely bound to these inflammatory cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Huang
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shuangming Cai
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lin Ling
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenni Zhang
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huanshun Xiao
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Danfeng Yu
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuan Zhong
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Pei Tao
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yiping Luo
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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22
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Vogel JP, Jung J, Lavin T, Simpson G, Kluwgant D, Abalos E, Diaz V, Downe S, Filippi V, Gallos I, Galadanci H, Katageri G, Homer CSE, Hofmeyr GJ, Liabsuetrakul T, Morhason-Bello IO, Osoti A, Souza JP, Thakar R, Thangaratinam S, Oladapo OT. Neglected medium-term and long-term consequences of labour and childbirth: a systematic analysis of the burden, recommended practices, and a way forward. Lancet Glob Health 2024; 12:e317-e330. [PMID: 38070535 PMCID: PMC10805007 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(23)00454-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Over the past three decades, substantial progress has been made in reducing maternal mortality worldwide. However, the historical focus on mortality reduction has been accompanied by comparative neglect of labour and birth complications that can emerge or persist months or years postnatally. This paper addresses these overlooked conditions, arguing that their absence from the global health agenda and national action plans has led to the misconception that they are uncommon or unimportant. The historical limitation of postnatal care services to the 6 weeks after birth is also a contributing factor. We reviewed epidemiological data on medium-term and long-term complications arising from labour and childbirth beyond 6 weeks, along with high-quality clinical guidelines for their prevention, identification, and treatment. We explore the complex interplay of human evolution, maternal physiology, and inherent predispositions that contribute to these complications. We offer actionable recommendations to change the current trajectories of these neglected conditions and help achieve the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 3. This paper is the third in a Series of four papers about maternal health in the perinatal period and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua P Vogel
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Jenny Jung
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Tina Lavin
- UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Grace Simpson
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Dvora Kluwgant
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Edgardo Abalos
- Centro de Estudios de Estado y Sociedad (CEDES), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Virginia Diaz
- Centro Rosarino de Estudios Perinatales (CREP), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Soo Downe
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
| | - Veronique Filippi
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ioannis Gallos
- UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Hadiza Galadanci
- Africa Center of Excellence for Population Health and Policy, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | - Geetanjali Katageri
- S Nijalingappa Medical College and HSK Hospital & Research Centre, Bagalkot, India
| | - Caroline S E Homer
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - G Justus Hofmeyr
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; University of the Witwatersrand and Walter Sisulu University, East London, South Africa
| | - Tippawan Liabsuetrakul
- Department of Epidemiology and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand
| | - Imran O Morhason-Bello
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences and Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Alfred Osoti
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - João Paulo Souza
- Department of Social Medicine, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Shakila Thangaratinam
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Olufemi T Oladapo
- UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Zhou W, Li X, Li X, Liu Y, Song W, Yang Q. The role of circular RNA in preeclampsia: From pathophysiological mechanism to clinical application. Life Sci 2024; 338:122407. [PMID: 38184270 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a common pregnancy-induced hypertension disorder that poses a significant threat to the health of pregnant women and fetuses, and has become a leading cause of maternal, fetal, and neonatal mortality. Currently, the therapy strategy for PE is mainly prevention management and symptomatic treatment, and only delivery can completely terminate PE. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of PE is needed to make treatment and prevention more effective and targeted. With the deepening of molecular etiology research, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been found to be widely involved in various processes of PE pathogenesis. As a kind of RNA with a special "head to tail" loop structure, the characteristics of circRNAs enable them to play diverse roles in the pathophysiology of PE, and can also serve as ideal biomarkers for early prediction and monitoring progression of PE. In this review, we summarized the latest research on PE-related circRNAs, trying to elucidate the unique or shared roles of circRNAs in various pathophysiological mechanisms of PE, aiming to provide a whole picture of current research on PE-related circRNAs, and extend a new perspective for the precise screening and targeted therapy of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Zhou
- Medical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Department of Cancer Epidemiology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiuying Li
- Medical Research Center, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Xin Li
- Medical College, Jilin Engineering Vocational College, Siping, Jilin, China.
| | - Yaojia Liu
- Medical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Wenling Song
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Qiwei Yang
- Medical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
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Wang M, Liu Y, Sun R, Liu F, Li J, Yan L, Zhang J, Xie X, Li D, Wang Y, Li S, Zhu X, Li R, Lu F, Xiao Z, Wang H. Single-nucleus multi-omic profiling of human placental syncytiotrophoblasts identifies cellular trajectories during pregnancy. Nat Genet 2024; 56:294-305. [PMID: 38267607 PMCID: PMC10864176 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01647-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The human placenta has a vital role in ensuring a successful pregnancy. Despite the growing body of knowledge about its cellular compositions and functions, there has been limited research on the heterogeneity of the billions of nuclei within the syncytiotrophoblast (STB), a multinucleated entity primarily responsible for placental function. Here we conducted integrated single-nucleus RNA sequencing and single-nucleus ATAC sequencing analyses of human placentas from early and late pregnancy. Our findings demonstrate the dynamic heterogeneity and developmental trajectories of STB nuclei and their correspondence with human trophoblast stem cell (hTSC)-derived STB. Furthermore, we identified transcription factors associated with diverse STB nuclear lineages through their gene regulatory networks and experimentally confirmed their function in hTSC and trophoblast organoid-derived STBs. Together, our data provide insights into the heterogeneity of human STB and represent a valuable resource for interpreting associated pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meijiao Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yawei Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- Dushu Lake Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Medical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Suzhou Dushu Lake Hospital, Suzhou, China
| | - Run Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fenting Liu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqian Li
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Long Yan
- The Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jixiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinwei Xie
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Dongxu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yiming Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shiwen Li
- The Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xili Zhu
- The Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | - Falong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhenyu Xiao
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China.
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China.
| | - Hongmei Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Hong J, Crawford K, Cavanagh E, da Silva Costa F, Kumar S. Prediction of preterm birth in growth-restricted and appropriate-for-gestational-age infants using maternal PlGF and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio-A prospective study. BJOG 2024. [PMID: 38196326 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the utility of placental growth factor (PlGF) levels and the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor (sFlt-1/PlGF) ratio to predict preterm birth (PTB) for infants with fetal growth restriction (FGR) and those appropriate for gestational age (AGA). DESIGN Prospective, observational cohort study. SETTING Tertiary maternity hospital in Australia. POPULATION There were 320 singleton pregnancies: 141 (44.1%) AGA, 83 (25.9%) early FGR (<32+0 weeks) and 109 (30.0%) late FGR (≥32+0 weeks). METHODS Maternal serum PlGF and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio were measured at 4-weekly intervals from recruitment to delivery. Low maternal PlGF levels and elevated sFlt-1/PlGF ratio were defined as <100 ng/L and >5.78 if <28 weeks and >38 if ≥28 weeks respectively. Cox proportional hazards models were used. The analysis period was defined as the time from the first measurement of PlGF and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio to the time of birth or censoring. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary study outcome was overall PTB. The relative risks (RR) of birth within 1, 2 and 3 weeks and for medically indicated and spontaneous PTB were also ascertained. RESULTS The early FGR cohort had lower median PlGF levels (54 versus 229 ng/L, p < 0.001) and higher median sFlt-1 levels (2774 ng/L versus 2096 ng/L, p < 0.001) and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio higher (35 versus 10, p < 0.001). Both PlGF <100 ng/L and elevated sFlt-1/PlGF ratio were strongly predictive for PTB as well as PTB within 1, 2 and 3 weeks of diagnosis. For both FGR and AGA groups, PlGF <100 ng/L or raised sFlt-1/PlGF ratio were strongly associated with increased risk for medically indicated PTB. The highest RR was seen in the FGR cohort when PlGF was <100 ng/L (RR 35.20, 95% CI 11.48-175.46). CONCLUSIONS Low maternal PlGF levels and elevated sFlt-1/PlGF ratio are potentially useful to predict PTB in both FGR and AGA pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesrine Hong
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kylie Crawford
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Erika Cavanagh
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Fabricio da Silva Costa
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
- Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sailesh Kumar
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Minopoli M, Noël L, Meroni A, Mascherpa M, Frick A, Thilaganathan B. Adverse pregnancy outcomes in women at increased risk of preterm pre-eclampsia on first-trimester combined screening. BJOG 2024; 131:81-87. [PMID: 37271740 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Uteroplacental dysfunction may not only result in pre-eclampsia (PE) but also in preterm birth (PTB), small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth and stillbirth. The aim of this study is to evaluate the positive predictive value (PPV) of first-trimester combined PE screening for all of these placenta-mediated adverse pregnancy outcomes. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Tertiary referral maternity unit. SAMPLE A total of 13 211 singleton pregnancies. METHODS First-trimester combined screening for preterm PE using the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) algorithm. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), PTB, SGA birth and stillbirth were combined to assess composite adverse and severe adverse pregnancy outcomes (CAPO and CAPO-S). The PPVs for CAPO and CAPO-S were calculated for women with a combined risk for preterm PE of ≥1 in 50 and ≥1 in 100. RESULTS First-trimester combined screening identified 2215 women (16.8%) with a risk of ≥1 in 100 for preterm PE. The PPVs for a risk of ≥1 in 100 for CAPO and CAPO-S were 38.8% and 18.2%, respectively. The equivalent PPVs for a risk of ≥1 in 50 were 45.1% and 21.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Women identified at high risk of preterm PE are also at increased risk of other placenta-mediated adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as PTB, SGA birth and stillbirth. Women at high risk for preterm PE after first-trimester screening may benefit from a higher surveillance care pathway, with interventions to mitigate all the adverse outcomes associated with placental dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Minopoli
- Fetal Medicine Unit, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Università degli Study di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Laure Noël
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Anna Meroni
- Fetal Medicine Unit, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Margaret Mascherpa
- Fetal Medicine Unit, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alex Frick
- Fetal Medicine Unit, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Basky Thilaganathan
- Fetal Medicine Unit, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Vascular Biology Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
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Scioscia M, Siwetz M, Robillard PY, Brizzi A, Huppertz B. Placenta and maternal endothelium during preeclampsia: Disruption of the glycocalyx explains increased inositol phosphoglycans and angiogenic factors in maternal blood. J Reprod Immunol 2023; 160:104161. [PMID: 37857160 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2023.104161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
The etiology of the pregnancy syndrome preeclampsia is still unclear, while most hypotheses center on the placenta as the major contributor of the syndrome. Especially changes of the placental metabolism, including the use of glucose to produce energy, are important features. As an example, inositol phosphoglycan P-type molecules, second messengers involved in the glucose metabolism of all cells, can be retrieved from maternal urine of preeclamptic women, even before the onset of clinical symptoms. Alterations in the placental metabolism may subsequently lead to negative effects on the plasma membrane of the placental syncytiotrophoblast. This in turn may have deleterious effects on the glycocalyx of this layer and a disruption of this layer in all types of preeclampsia. The interruption of the glycocalyx in preeclampsia may result in changes of inositol phosphoglycan P-type signaling pathways and the release of these molecules as well as the release of soluble receptors such as sFlt-1 and sEndoglin. The release of placental factors later affects the maternal endothelium and disrupts the endothelial glycocalyx as well. This in turn may pave the way for edema, endothelial dysfunction, coagulation, all typical symptoms of preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Scioscia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mater Dei Hospital, Via SF Hahnemann 10, 70125 Bari, Italy.
| | - Monika Siwetz
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Pierre-Yves Robillard
- Centre d'Études Périnatales Océan Indien, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sud Réunion, Saint-Pierre, La Réunion, France; Service de Néonatologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sud Réunion, Saint-Pierre, La Réunion, France, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sud Réunion, Saint-Pierre, La Réunion, France
| | - Agostino Brizzi
- General and Locoregional Anesthesia Department, Santa Maria Clinic, Via A de Ferrariis, 22, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Berthold Huppertz
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010 Graz, Austria
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Starodubtseva NL, Tokareva AO, Volochaeva MV, Kononikhin AS, Brzhozovskiy AG, Bugrova AE, Timofeeva AV, Kukaev EN, Tyutyunnik VL, Kan NE, Frankevich VE, Nikolaev EN, Sukhikh GT. Quantitative Proteomics of Maternal Blood Plasma in Isolated Intrauterine Growth Restriction. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16832. [PMID: 38069155 PMCID: PMC10706154 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) remains a significant concern in modern obstetrics, linked to high neonatal health problems and even death, as well as childhood disability, affecting adult quality of life. The role of maternal and fetus adaptation during adverse pregnancy is still not completely understood. This study aimed to investigate the disturbance in biological processes associated with isolated IUGR via blood plasma proteomics. The levels of 125 maternal plasma proteins were quantified by liquid chromatography-multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (LC-MRM MS) with corresponding stable isotope-labeled peptide standards (SIS). Thirteen potential markers of IUGR (Gelsolin, Alpha-2-macroglobulin, Apolipoprotein A-IV, Apolipoprotein B-100, Apolipoprotein(a), Adiponectin, Complement C5, Apolipoprotein D, Alpha-1B-glycoprotein, Serum albumin, Fibronectin, Glutathione peroxidase 3, Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein) were found to be inter-connected in a protein-protein network. These proteins are involved in plasma lipoprotein assembly, remodeling, and clearance; lipid metabolism, especially cholesterol and phospholipids; hemostasis, including platelet degranulation; and immune system regulation. Additionally, 18 proteins were specific to a particular type of IUGR (early or late). Distinct patterns in the coagulation and fibrinolysis systems were observed between isolated early- and late-onset IUGR. Our findings highlight the complex interplay of immune and coagulation factors in IUGR and the differences between early- and late-onset IUGR and other placenta-related conditions like PE. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted interventions and improving outcomes for pregnancies affected by IUGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia L. Starodubtseva
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alisa O. Tokareva
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Maria V. Volochaeva
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Alexey S. Kononikhin
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Alexander G. Brzhozovskiy
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Anna E. Bugrova
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Angelika V. Timofeeva
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Evgenii N. Kukaev
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
- V.L. Talrose Institute for Energy Problems of Chemical Physics, N.N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Victor L. Tyutyunnik
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Natalia E. Kan
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Vladimir E. Frankevich
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine, Siberian State Medical University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
| | - Evgeny N. Nikolaev
- V.L. Talrose Institute for Energy Problems of Chemical Physics, N.N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Gennady T. Sukhikh
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
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29
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Fitzgerald E, Shen M, Yong HEJ, Wang Z, Pokhvisneva I, Patel S, O'Toole N, Chan SY, Chong YS, Chen H, Gluckman PD, Chan J, Lee PKM, Meaney MJ. Hofbauer cell function in the term placenta associates with adult cardiovascular and depressive outcomes. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7120. [PMID: 37963865 PMCID: PMC10645763 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42300-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathological placental inflammation increases the risk for several adult disorders, but these mediators are also expressed under homeostatic conditions, where their contribution to adult health outcomes is unknown. Here we define an inflammation-related expression signature, primarily expressed in Hofbauer cells of the term placenta and use expression quantitative trait loci to create a polygenic score (PGS) predictive of its expression. Using this PGS in the UK Biobank we conduct a phenome-wide association study, followed by Mendelian randomization and identify protective, sex-dependent effects of the placental module on cardiovascular and depressive outcomes. Genes differentially regulated by intra-amniotic infection and preterm birth are over-represented within the module. We also identify aspirin as a putative modulator of this inflammation-related signature. Our data support a model where disruption of placental Hofbauer cell function, due to preterm birth or prenatal infection, contributes to the increased risk of depression and cardiovascular disease observed in these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eamon Fitzgerald
- Sackler Program for Epigenetics and Psychobiology, McGill University, Montréal, Canada.
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Montréal, Canada.
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Canada.
| | - Mojun Shen
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology & Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hannah Ee Juen Yong
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology & Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zihan Wang
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Irina Pokhvisneva
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Sachin Patel
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Nicholas O'Toole
- Sackler Program for Epigenetics and Psychobiology, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Shiao-Yng Chan
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology & Research, Singapore, Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yap Seng Chong
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology & Research, Singapore, Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Helen Chen
- KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Peter D Gluckman
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology & Research, Singapore, Singapore
- The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jerry Chan
- KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Patrick Kia Ming Lee
- Brain - Body Initiative, Agency for Science, Technology & Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Michael J Meaney
- Sackler Program for Epigenetics and Psychobiology, McGill University, Montréal, Canada.
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Canada.
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology & Research, Singapore, Singapore.
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Brain - Body Initiative, Agency for Science, Technology & Research, Singapore, Singapore.
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Lv Q, Wang Y, Tian W, Liu Y, Gu M, Jiang X, Cai Y, Huo R, Li Y, Li L, Wang X. Exosomal miR-146a-5p derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells can alleviate antiphospholipid antibody-induced trophoblast injury and placental dysfunction by regulating the TRAF6/NF-κB axis. J Nanobiotechnology 2023; 21:419. [PMID: 37957714 PMCID: PMC10641965 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-02179-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Exosomes originating from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSC-exos) have become a novel strategy for treating various diseases owing to their ability to regulate intercellular signal communication. However, the potential of hucMSC-exos to improve placental injury in obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome and its underlying mechanism remain unclear. Our objective was to explore the potential application of hucMSC-exos in the treatment of obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome and elucidate its underlying mechanism. In our study, hucMSC-exos ameliorated the functional impairment of trophoblasts caused by antiphospholipid antibodies in vitro and attenuated placental dysfunction in mice with obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome by delivering miR-146a-5p. Exosomal miR-146a-5p suppressed the expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and inhibited the activation of NF-κB signaling, leading to the down-regulation of IL-1β and IL-18 to rescue inflammation and modulation of Cleaved-CASP3, BAX, and BCL2 to inhibit apoptosis in HTR8/SVneo cells and mice placenta. This study identified the potential molecular basis of how hucMSC-exos improved antiphospholipid antibody-induced placental injury and highlighted the functional importance of the miR-146a-5p/TRAF6 axis in the progression of obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome. More importantly, this study provided a fresh outlook on the promising use of hucMSC-exos as a novel and effective treatment approach in obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingfeng Lv
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
- The Laboratory of Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center (Institute of Translational Medicine), Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences) of China, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Tian
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Yuqiu Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Mengqi Gu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaotong Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Yanjun Cai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
- The Laboratory of Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center (Institute of Translational Medicine), Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences) of China, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China
| | - Ruiheng Huo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
- The Laboratory of Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center (Institute of Translational Medicine), Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences) of China, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China
| | - Yuchen Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
- The Laboratory of Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center (Institute of Translational Medicine), Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences) of China, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- The Laboratory of Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center (Institute of Translational Medicine), Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences) of China, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China.
| | - Xietong Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- The Laboratory of Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center (Institute of Translational Medicine), Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences) of China, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Birth Regulation and Control Technology of National Health Commission of China, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Jinan, 250014, Shandong, China.
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Beal JR, Ma Q, Bagchi IC, Bagchi MK. Role of Endometrial Extracellular Vesicles in Mediating Cell-to-Cell Communication in the Uterus: A Review. Cells 2023; 12:2584. [PMID: 37998319 PMCID: PMC10670844 DOI: 10.3390/cells12222584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
There are several critical events that occur in the uterus during early pregnancy which are necessary for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. These events include blastocyst implantation, uterine decidualization, uterine neoangiogenesis, differentiation of trophoblast stem cells into different trophoblast cell lineages, and formation of a placenta. These processes involve several different cell types within the pregnant uterus. Communication between these cell types must be intricately coordinated for successful embryo implantation and the formation of a functional maternal-fetal interface in the placenta. Understanding how this intricate coordination transpires has been a focus of researchers in the field for many years. It has long been understood that maternal endometrial tissue plays a key role in intercellular signaling during early pregnancy, sending signals to nearby tissues in a paracrine manner. Recently, insights have been obtained into the mechanisms by which these signaling events occur. Notably, the endometrium has been shown to secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) that contain crucial cargo (proteins, lipids, RNA, miRNA) that are taken up by recipient cells to initiate a response leading to the occurrence of critical events during implantation and placentation. In this review, we aim to summarize the role that endometrium-derived EVs play in mediating cell-to-cell communications within the pregnant uterus to orchestrate the events that must occur to establish and maintain pregnancy. We will also discuss how aberrant endometrial EV signaling may lead to pathophysiological conditions, such as endometriosis and infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob R. Beal
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Qiuyan Ma
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Indrani C. Bagchi
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Milan K. Bagchi
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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Lara B, Loureiro I, Gliosca L, Castagnola L, Merech F, Gallino L, Calo G, Sassot M, Ramhorst R, Vota D, Pérez Leirós C, Hauk V. Porphyromonas gingivalis outer membrane vesicles shape trophoblast cell metabolism impairing functions associated to adverse pregnancy outcome. J Cell Physiol 2023; 238:2679-2691. [PMID: 37842869 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Periodontitis is proposed as a risk factor for preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction, and preeclampsia with severe consequences for maternal and neonatal health, but the biological mechanisms involved are elusive. Porphyromonas gingivalis gain access to the placental bed and impair trophoblast cell function, as assessed in murine and human pregnancy, suggesting a pathogenic role in adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. P. gingivalis releases outer membrane vesicles (P. gingivalis OMV) during growth that spread to distant tissues and are internalized in host cells as described in metabolic, neurological, and vascular systemic diseases. Here we tested the hypothesis that P. gingivalis OMV internalized in trophoblast cells disrupt their metabolism leading to trophoblast and placenta dysfunction and adverse pregnancy outcomes. An in vitro design with human trophoblast cells incubated with P. gingivalis OMV was used together with ex vivo and in vivo approaches in pregnant mice treated with P. gingivalis OMV. P. gingivalis OMV modulated human trophoblast cell metabolism by reducing glycolytic pathways and decreasing total reactive oxygen species with sustained mitochondrial activity. Metabolic changes induced by P. gingivalis OMV did not compromise cell viability; instead, it turned trophoblast cells into a metabolic resting state where central functions such as migration and invasion were reduced. The effects of P. gingivalis OMV on human trophoblast cells were corroborated ex vivo in mouse whole placenta and in vivo in pregnant mice: P. gingivalis OMV reduced glycolytic pathways in the placenta and led to lower placental and fetal weight gain in vivo with reduced placental expression of the glucose transporter GLUT1. The present results point to OMV as a key component of P. gingivalis involved in adverse pregnancy outcomes, and even more, unveil a metabolic cue in the deleterious effect of P. gingivalis OMV on trophoblast cells and mouse pregnancy, providing new clues to understand pathogenic mechanisms in pregnancy complications and other systemic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda Lara
- Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Laboratorio de Inmunofarmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Iñaki Loureiro
- Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Laboratorio de Inmunofarmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Gliosca
- Universidad de Buenos Aires - Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Microbiología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lara Castagnola
- Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Laboratorio de Inmunofarmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fátima Merech
- Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Laboratorio de Inmunofarmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucila Gallino
- Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Laboratorio de Inmunofarmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guillermina Calo
- Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Laboratorio de Inmunofarmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Matías Sassot
- Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Laboratorio de Inmunofarmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rosanna Ramhorst
- Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Laboratorio de Inmunofarmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daiana Vota
- Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Laboratorio de Inmunofarmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudia Pérez Leirós
- Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Laboratorio de Inmunofarmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vanesa Hauk
- Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Laboratorio de Inmunofarmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Contini T, Béranger R, Multigner L, Klánová J, Price EJ, David A. A Critical Review on the Opportunity to Use Placenta and Innovative Biomonitoring Methods to Characterize the Prenatal Chemical Exposome. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:15301-15313. [PMID: 37796725 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Adverse effects associated with chemical exposures during pregnancy include several developmental and reproductive disorders. However, considering the tens of thousands of chemicals present on the market, the effects of chemical mixtures on the developing fetus is still likely underestimated. In this critical review, we discuss the potential to apply innovative biomonitoring methods using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) on placenta to improve the monitoring of chemical exposure during pregnancy. The physiology of the placenta and its relevance as a matrix for monitoring chemical exposures and their effects on fetal health is first outlined. We then identify several key parameters that require further investigations before placenta can be used for large-scale monitoring in a robust manner. Most critical is the need for standardization of placental sampling. Placenta is a highly heterogeneous organ, and knowledge of the intraplacenta variability of chemical composition is required to ensure unbiased and robust interindividual comparisons. Other important variables include the time of collection, the sex of the fetus, and mode of delivery. Finally, we discuss the first applications of HRMS methods on the placenta to decipher the chemical exposome and describe how the use of placenta can complement biofluids collected on the mother or the fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Contini
- Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rémi Béranger
- Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Luc Multigner
- Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Jana Klánová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Elliott J Price
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Arthur David
- Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
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李 墨, 丁 瑛, 崔 红, 姜 丽, 王 子, 来 艳, 李 白, 丁 文. [Characteristics of the left heart structure and function in 86 term neonates with intrauterine growth restriction]. Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi 2023; 25:1016-1021. [PMID: 37905757 PMCID: PMC10621062 DOI: 10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2304045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To study the left heart structure and functional characteristics of term neonates with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). METHODS This study included 86 term neonates with IUGR admitted to the Neonatal Ward of Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2019 to January 2022 as the IUGR group, as well as randomly selected 86 term neonates without IUGR born during the same period as the non-IUGR group. The clinical data and echocardiographic data were compared between the two groups. RESULTS The analysis of left heart structure and function showed that compared with the non-IUGR group, the IUGR group had significantly lower left ventricular mass, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, left atrial diameter, end-diastolic interventricular septal thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, left ventricular end-systolic volume, and stroke volume (P<0.05) and significantly higher ratio of end-diastolic interventricular septal thickness to left ventricular posterior wall thickness, proportion of neonates with a mitral peak E/A ratio of ≥1, and cardiac index (P<0.05). The Spearman correlation analysis suggested that stroke volume was positively correlated with birth weight and body surface area (rs=0.241 and 0.241 respectively; P<0.05) and that the ratio of end-diastolic interventricular septal thickness to left ventricular posterior wall thickness was negatively correlated with birth weight and body surface area (rs=-0.229 and -0.225 respectively; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The left ventricular systolic function of neonates with IUGR is not significantly different from that of neonates without IUGR. However, the ventricular septum is thicker in neonates with IUGR. This change is negatively correlated with birth weight and body surface area. The left ventricular diastolic function may be impaired in neonates with IUGR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - 文虹 丁
- 首都医科大学附属北京安贞医院小儿心脏科北京100029
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Cai S, Huang S, Zhang W, Xiao H, Yu D, Zhong X, Tao P, Luo Y. Integrated bioinformatic analysis reveals NOS2 as a novel ferroptosis-related biomarker for pre-eclampsia. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023; 23:719. [PMID: 37817070 PMCID: PMC10563238 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-06051-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a common condition in pregnancy; however, methods for early diagnosis and effective treatment options are lacking. Ferroptosis is a newly identified iron-dependent cell death pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ferroptosis-related genes in PE, the underlying mechanism, and their potential diagnostic value using a bioinformatics approach. METHODS We downloaded the GSE48424 and GSE98224 datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between PE and healthy pregnancy samples were identified in the GSE48424 dataset and subjected to weighted gene co-expression network analysis; the most relevant modules were intersected with known ferroptosis-related genes to distinctly identify the role of ferroptosis in PE. We further searched transcription factors and microRNAs that are predicted to regulate these ferroptosis-related genes, and patients in the GSE48424 dataset were divided into two groups according to high or low expression of the key ferroptosis-related genes associated with PE. To obtain robust key ferroptosis-related genes in PE, we validated their expression levels in the external dataset GSE98224. Finally, the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay was utilized to access the expression of these genes in the PE and normal blood samples. RESULTS Six ferroptosis-related genes involved in PE were obtained by overlapping 3661 genes most associated with PE, 565 DEGs between PE and normal samples, and 259 known ferroptosis-related genes. Among these genes, patients with PE displaying lower expression levels of NOS2 and higher expression levels of PTGS2 had a higher ferroptosis potential index. The expression pattern of NOS2 was consistent in the GSE48424 and GSE98224 datasets. RT-qPCR data confirmed that NOS2 expression was more significantly elevated in patients with PE than in those with a normal pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS Our study explored the diagnostic value of ferroptosis-related genes in PE, and identified NOS2 as the key gene linking ferroptosis and PE, suggesting a new candidate biomarker for early PE diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangming Cai
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shan Huang
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenni Zhang
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huanshun Xiao
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Danfeng Yu
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuan Zhong
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Pei Tao
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yiping Luo
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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Wang H, Cui X, Wang L, Fan N, Yu M, Qin H, Liu S, Yan Q. α1,3-fucosylation of MEST promotes invasion potential of cytotrophoblast cells by activating translation initiation. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:651. [PMID: 37798282 PMCID: PMC10556033 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06166-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Embryo implantation into the uterus is the gateway for successful pregnancy. Proper migration and invasion of embryonic trophoblast cells are the key for embryo implantation, and dysfunction causes pregnancy failure. Protein glycosylation plays crucial roles in reproduction. However, it remains unclear whether the glycosylation of trophoblasts is involved in trophoblast migration and invasion processes during embryo implantation failure. By Lectin array, we discovered the decreased α1,3-fucosylation, especially difucosylated Lewis Y (LeY) glycan, in the villus tissues of miscarriage patients when compared with normal pregnancy women. Downregulating LeY biosynthesis by silencing the key enzyme fucosyltransferase IV (FUT4) inhibited migration and invasion ability of trophoblast cells. Using proteomics and translatomics, the specific LeY scaffolding glycoprotein of mesoderm-specific transcript (MEST) with glycosylation site at Asn163 was identified, and its expression enhanced migration and invasion ability of trophoblast cells. The results also provided novel evidence showing that decreased LeY modification on MEST hampered the binding of MEST with translation factor eIF4E2, and inhibited implantation-related gene translation initiation, which caused pregnancy failure. The α1,3-fucosylation of MEST by FUT4 may serve as a new biomarker for evaluating the functional state of pregnancy, and a target for infertility treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wang
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Xinyuan Cui
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Luyao Wang
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Ningning Fan
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Ming Yu
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Huamin Qin
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, 116011, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
| | - Qiu Yan
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, Dalian, 116044, China.
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Zhao X, Jiang Y, Ma X, Yang Q, Ding X, Wang H, Yao X, Jin L, Zhang Q. Demystifying the impact of prenatal tobacco exposure on the placental immune microenvironment: Avoiding the tragedy of mending the fold after death. J Cell Mol Med 2023; 27:3026-3052. [PMID: 37700485 PMCID: PMC10568673 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal tobacco exposure (PTE) correlates significantly with a surge in adverse pregnancy outcomes, yet its pathological mechanisms remain partially unexplored. This study aims to meticulously examine the repercussions of PTE on placental immune landscapes, employing a coordinated research methodology encompassing bioinformatics, machine learning and animal studies. Concurrently, it aims to screen biomarkers and potential compounds that could sensitively indicate and mitigate placental immune disorders. In the course of this research, two gene expression omnibus (GEO) microarrays, namely GSE27272 and GSE7434, were included. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and immune enrichment investigations on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) indicated that PTE might perturb numerous innate or adaptive immune-related biological processes. A cohort of 52 immune-associated DEGs was acquired by cross-referencing the DEGs with gene sets derived from the ImmPort database. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was subsequently established, from which 10 hub genes were extracted using the maximal clique centrality (MCC) algorithm (JUN, NPY, SST, FLT4, FGF13, HBEGF, NR0B2, AREG, NR1I2, SEMA5B). Moreover, we substantiated the elevated affinity of tobacco reproductive toxicants, specifically nicotine and nitrosamine, with hub genes through molecular docking (JUN, FGF13 and NR1I2). This suggested that these genes could potentially serve as crucial loci for tobacco's influence on the placental immune microenvironment. To further elucidate the immune microenvironment landscape, consistent clustering analysis was conducted, yielding three subtypes, where the abundance of follicular helper T cells (p < 0.05) in subtype A, M2 macrophages (p < 0.01), neutrophils (p < 0.05) in subtype B and CD8+ T cells (p < 0.05), resting NK cells (p < 0.05), M2 macrophages (p < 0.05) in subtype C were significantly different from the control group. Additionally, three pivotal modules, designated as red, blue and green, were identified, each bearing a close association with differentially infiltrated immunocytes, as discerned by the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Functional enrichment analysis was subsequently conducted on these modules. To further probe into the mechanisms by which immune-associated DEGs are implicated in intercellular communication, 20 genes serving as ligands or receptors and connected to differentially infiltrating immunocytes were isolated. Employing a variety of machine learning techniques, including one-way logistic regression, LASSO regression, random forest and artificial neural networks, we screened 11 signature genes from the intersection of immune-associated DEGs and secretory protein-encoding genes derived from the Human Protein Atlas. Notably, CCL18 and IFNA4 emerged as prospective peripheral blood markers capable of identifying PTE-induced immune disorders. These markers demonstrated impressive predictive power, as indicated by the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.713 (0.548-0.857) and 0.780 (0.618-0.914), respectively. Furthermore, we predicted 34 potential compounds, including cyclosporine, oestrogen and so on, which may engage with hub genes and attenuate immune disorders instigated by PTE. The diagnostic performance of these biomarkers, alongside the interventional effect of cyclosporine, was further corroborated in animal studies via ELISA, Western blot and immunofluorescence assays. In summary, this study identifies a disturbance in the placental immune landscape, a secondary effect of PTE, which may underlie multiple pregnancy complications. Importantly, our research contributes to the noninvasive and timely detection of PTE-induced placental immune disorders, while also offering innovative therapeutic strategies for their treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxuan Zhao
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) GynecologyHangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityHangzhouChina
- Research Institute of Women's Reproductive Health Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityHangzhouChina
| | | | - Xiao Ma
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Qujia Yang
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Xinyi Ding
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Hanzhi Wang
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Xintong Yao
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Linxi Jin
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Qin Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) GynecologyHangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityHangzhouChina
- Research Institute of Women's Reproductive Health Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityHangzhouChina
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Starling S. Fetal orchestration of maternal metabolism via IGF2. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2023; 19:557. [PMID: 37507498 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-023-00884-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
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Lara B, Sassot M, Calo G, Paparini D, Gliosca L, Chaufan G, Loureiro I, Vota D, Ramhorst R, Pérez Leirós C, Hauk V. Extracellular Vesicles of Porphyromonas gingivalis Disrupt Trophoblast Cell Interaction with Vascular and Immune Cells in an In Vitro Model of Early Placentation. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1971. [PMID: 37895353 PMCID: PMC10608595 DOI: 10.3390/life13101971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles released by the primary pathogen of periodontal disease Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), referred to as outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), have been associated with the pathogenesis of systemic diseases like cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease. A pathogenic role for Pg by disrupting placental homeostasis was proposed in the association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. On the basis that trophoblast-derived factors modulate endothelial and immune cell profiles in normal pregnancy and the scarce presence of Pg in placenta, we hypothesized that OMVs from Pg affect trophoblast cell phenotype, impairing trophoblast-endothelium and trophoblast-neutrophil interactions. By means of in vitro designs with first-trimester human trophoblast cells, endothelial cells, and freshly isolated neutrophils, we showed that Pg OMVs are internalized by trophoblast cells and modulate the activity and expression of functional markers. Trophoblast cells primed with Pg OMVs enhanced neutrophil chemoattraction and lost their anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, reduced migration with enhanced adhesion of monocytes was found in endothelial cells upon incubation with the media from trophoblast cells pretreated with Pg OMVs. Taken together, the results support a pathogenic role of Pg OMVs at early stages of pregnancy and placentation through disruption of trophoblast contribution to vascular transformation and immune homeostasis maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda Lara
- Universidad de Buenos Aires—CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina; (B.L.); (M.S.); (G.C.); (D.P.); (L.G.); (G.C.); (I.L.); (D.V.); (R.R.)
| | - Matías Sassot
- Universidad de Buenos Aires—CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina; (B.L.); (M.S.); (G.C.); (D.P.); (L.G.); (G.C.); (I.L.); (D.V.); (R.R.)
| | - Guillermina Calo
- Universidad de Buenos Aires—CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina; (B.L.); (M.S.); (G.C.); (D.P.); (L.G.); (G.C.); (I.L.); (D.V.); (R.R.)
| | - Daniel Paparini
- Universidad de Buenos Aires—CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina; (B.L.); (M.S.); (G.C.); (D.P.); (L.G.); (G.C.); (I.L.); (D.V.); (R.R.)
| | - Laura Gliosca
- Universidad de Buenos Aires—CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina; (B.L.); (M.S.); (G.C.); (D.P.); (L.G.); (G.C.); (I.L.); (D.V.); (R.R.)
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Microbiología, Buenos Aires C1122AAH, Argentina
| | - Gabriela Chaufan
- Universidad de Buenos Aires—CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina; (B.L.); (M.S.); (G.C.); (D.P.); (L.G.); (G.C.); (I.L.); (D.V.); (R.R.)
| | - Iñaki Loureiro
- Universidad de Buenos Aires—CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina; (B.L.); (M.S.); (G.C.); (D.P.); (L.G.); (G.C.); (I.L.); (D.V.); (R.R.)
| | - Daiana Vota
- Universidad de Buenos Aires—CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina; (B.L.); (M.S.); (G.C.); (D.P.); (L.G.); (G.C.); (I.L.); (D.V.); (R.R.)
| | - Rosanna Ramhorst
- Universidad de Buenos Aires—CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina; (B.L.); (M.S.); (G.C.); (D.P.); (L.G.); (G.C.); (I.L.); (D.V.); (R.R.)
| | - Claudia Pérez Leirós
- Universidad de Buenos Aires—CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina; (B.L.); (M.S.); (G.C.); (D.P.); (L.G.); (G.C.); (I.L.); (D.V.); (R.R.)
| | - Vanesa Hauk
- Universidad de Buenos Aires—CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina; (B.L.); (M.S.); (G.C.); (D.P.); (L.G.); (G.C.); (I.L.); (D.V.); (R.R.)
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Huang L, Tu Z, Wei L, Sun W, Wang Y, Bi S, He F, Du L, Chen J, Kzhyshkowska J, Wang H, Chen D, Zhang S. Generating Functional Multicellular Organoids from Human Placenta Villi. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2023; 10:e2301565. [PMID: 37438660 PMCID: PMC10502861 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202301565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The interaction between trophoblasts, stroma cells, and immune cells at the maternal-fetal interface constitutes the functional units of the placenta, which is crucial for successful pregnancy outcomes. However, the investigation of this intricate interplay is restricted due to the absence of efficient experimental models. To address this challenge, a robust, reliable methodology for generating placenta villi organoids (PVOs) from early, late, or diseased pregnancies using air-liquid surface culture is developed. PVOs contain cytotrophoblasts that can self-renew and differentiate directly, along with stromal elements that retain native immune cells. Analysis of scRNA sequencing and WES data reveals that PVOs faithfully recapitulate the cellular components and genetic alterations of the corresponding source tissue. Additionally, PVOs derived from patients with preeclampsia exhibit specific pathological features such as inflammation, antiangiogenic imbalance, and decreased syncytin expression. The PVO-based propagation of primary placenta villi should enable a deeper investigation of placenta development and exploration of the underlying pathogenesis and therapeutics of placenta-originated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhou510150China
| | - Zhaowei Tu
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhou510150China
| | - Liudan Wei
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhou510150China
| | - Wei Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhou510150China
| | - Yifan Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhou510150China
| | - Shilei Bi
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhou510150China
| | - Fang He
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhou510150China
| | - Lili Du
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhou510150China
| | - Jingsi Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhou510150China
| | - Julia Kzhyshkowska
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and ImmunologyMedical Faculty MannheimUniversity of Heidelberg68167MannheimGermany
| | - Haibin Wang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health ResearchDepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen UniversitySchool of MedicineXiamen UniversityXiamen361005China
| | - Dunjin Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhou510150China
- Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong ProvinceGuangzhou510150China
- Guangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macao Greater Bay Area Higher Education Joint Laboratory of Maternal‐Fetal MedicineGuangzhou510150China
- Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center of Maternal‐Fetal MedicineGuangzhou510150China
| | - Shuang Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhou510150China
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Abstract
The placenta is the gatekeeper between the mother and the fetus. Over the first trimester of pregnancy, the fetus is nourished by uterine gland secretions in a process known as histiotrophic nutrition. During the second trimester of pregnancy, placentation has evolved to the point at which nutrients are delivered to the placenta via maternal blood (hemotrophic nutrition). Over gestation, the placenta must adapt to these variable nutrient supplies, to alterations in maternal physiology and blood flow, and to dynamic changes in fetal growth rates. Numerous questions remain about the mechanisms used to transport nutrients to the fetus and the maternal and fetal determinants of this process. Growing data highlight the ability of the placenta to regulate this process. As new technologies and omics approaches are utilized to study this maternofetal interface, greater insight into this unique organ and its impact on fetal development and long-term health has been obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly O'Brien
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA; ,
| | - Yiqin Wang
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA; ,
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Bragança J, Pinto R, Silva B, Marques N, Leitão HS, Fernandes MT. Charting the Path: Navigating Embryonic Development to Potentially Safeguard against Congenital Heart Defects. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1263. [PMID: 37623513 PMCID: PMC10455635 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13081263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are structural or functional defects present at birth due to improper heart development. Current therapeutic approaches to treating severe CHDs are primarily palliative surgical interventions during the peri- or prenatal stages, when the heart has fully developed from faulty embryogenesis. However, earlier interventions during embryonic development have the potential for better outcomes, as demonstrated by fetal cardiac interventions performed in utero, which have shown improved neonatal and prenatal survival rates, as well as reduced lifelong morbidity. Extensive research on heart development has identified key steps, cellular players, and the intricate network of signaling pathways and transcription factors governing cardiogenesis. Additionally, some reports have indicated that certain adverse genetic and environmental conditions leading to heart malformations and embryonic death may be amendable through the activation of alternative mechanisms. This review first highlights key molecular and cellular processes involved in heart development. Subsequently, it explores the potential for future therapeutic strategies, targeting early embryonic stages, to prevent CHDs, through the delivery of biomolecules or exosomes to compensate for faulty cardiogenic mechanisms. Implementing such non-surgical interventions during early gestation may offer a prophylactic approach toward reducing the occurrence and severity of CHDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Bragança
- Algarve Biomedical Center-Research Institute (ABC-RI), University of Algarve Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC), University of Algarve Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMCB), University of Algarve Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- Champalimaud Research Program, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rute Pinto
- Algarve Biomedical Center-Research Institute (ABC-RI), University of Algarve Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC), University of Algarve Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Silva
- Algarve Biomedical Center-Research Institute (ABC-RI), University of Algarve Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC), University of Algarve Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMCB), University of Algarve Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Nuno Marques
- Algarve Biomedical Center-Research Institute (ABC-RI), University of Algarve Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC), University of Algarve Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Helena S. Leitão
- Algarve Biomedical Center-Research Institute (ABC-RI), University of Algarve Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC), University of Algarve Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMCB), University of Algarve Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Mónica T. Fernandes
- Algarve Biomedical Center-Research Institute (ABC-RI), University of Algarve Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC), University of Algarve Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- School of Health, University of Algarve Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
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Peng L, Zhao W, Yin T, Xu C, Wang G, Du M. The unique expression pattern of human leukocyte antigen in trophoblasts potentially explains the key mechanism of maternal-fetal tolerance and successful pregnancy. J Reprod Immunol 2023; 158:103980. [PMID: 37390630 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2023.103980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
The success of pregnancy mainly depends on immune tolerance of the mother for the semi-allogeneic fetus. The placenta carrying paternal antigens develops in the maternal uterus without suffering immune attack, making the underlying mechanism of maternal tolerance an enduring mystery. As we all know, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) plays an important role in antigen processing and presentation, thus inducing specific immune responses. Therefore, it is reasonable to speculate that the absence of classical HLA class-I(HLA-I) and HLA class-II (HLA-II) molecules in trophoblasts may account for the maternal-fetal tolerance. Here, we review the HLA-involved interactions between trophoblast cells and decidual immune cells, which contribute to the immunotolerance in the development of normal pregnancy. We also compare the similarity between the maternal-fetal interface and tumor-immune microenvironment because the important role of HLA molecules in tumor immune invasion can provide some references to studies of maternal-fetal immune tolerance. Besides, the abnormal HLA expression is likely to be associated with unexplained miscarriage, making HLA molecules potential therapeutic targets. The advances reported by these studies may exert profound influences on other research areas, including tumor immunity, organ transplantation and autoimmune disease in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijin Peng
- The Lab of Reproduction Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Weijie Zhao
- The Lab of Reproduction Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingxuan Yin
- The Lab of Reproduction Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunfang Xu
- The Lab of Reproduction Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangchuan Wang
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Meirong Du
- The Lab of Reproduction Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China.
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Li Y, Chau MHK, Zhang YX, Zhao Y, Xue S, Li TC, Cao Y, Dong Z, Choy KW, Chung JPW. A pilot investigation of low-pass genome sequencing identifying site-specific variation in chromosomal mosaicisms by a multiple site sampling approach in first-trimester miscarriages. Hum Reprod 2023; 38:1628-1642. [PMID: 37218343 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Can multiple-site low-pass genome sequencing (GS) of products of conception (POCs) improve the detection of genetic abnormalities, especially heterogeneously distributed mosaicism and homogeneously distributed mosaicism in first-trimester miscarriage? SUMMARY ANSWER Multiple-site sampling combined with low-pass GS significantly increased genetic diagnostic yield (77.0%, 127/165) of first-trimester miscarriages, with mosaicisms accounting for 17.0% (28/165), especially heterogeneously distributed mosaicisms (75%, 21/28) that are currently underappreciated. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Aneuploidies are well known to cause first-trimester miscarriage, which are detectable by conventional karyotyping and next-generation sequencing (NGS) on a single-site sampling basis. However, there are limited studies demonstrating the implications of mosaic genetic abnormalities in first-trimester miscarriages, especially when genetic heterogeneity is present in POCs. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This is a cross-sectional cohort study carried out at a university-affiliated public hospital. One hundred seventy-four patients diagnosed with first-trimester miscarriage from December 2018 to November 2021 were offered ultrasound-guided manual vacuum aspiration (USG-MVA) treatment. Products of conception were subjected to multiple-site low-pass GS for the detection of chromosomal imbalances. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS For each POC, multiple sites of villi (three sites on average) were biopsied for low-pass GS. Samples with maternal cell contamination (MCC) and polyploidy were excluded based on the quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) results. The spectrum of chromosomal abnormalities, including mosaicism (heterogeneously distributed and homogeneously distributed) and constitutional abnormalities was investigated. Chromosomal microarray analysis and additional DNA fingerprinting were used for validation and MCC exclusion. A cross-platform comparison between conventional karyotyping and our multiple-site approach was also performed. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE One hundred sixty-five POCs (corresponding to 490 DNA samples) were subjected to low-pass GS. Genetic abnormalities were detected in 77.0% (127/165) of POCs by our novel approach. Specifically, 17.0% (28/165) of cases had either heterogeneously distributed mosaicism (12.7%, 21/165) or homogeneously distributed mosaicism (6.1%, 10/165) (three cases had both types of mosaicism). The remaining 60.0% (99/165) of cases had constitutional abnormalities. In addition, in the 71 cases with karyotyping performed in parallel, 26.8% (19/71) of the results could be revised by our approach. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Lack of a normal gestational week-matched cohort might hinder the establishment of a causative link between mosaicisms and first-trimester miscarriage. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Low-pass GS with multiple-site sampling increased the detection of chromosomal mosaicisms in first-trimester miscarriage POCs. This innovative multiple-site low-pass GS approach enabled the novel discovery of heterogeneously distributed mosaicism, which was prevalent in first-trimester miscarriage POCs and frequently observed in preimplantation embryos, but is currently unappreciated by conventional single-site cytogenetic investigations. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported partly by Research Grant Council Collaborative Research Fund (C4062-21GF to K.W.C), Science and Technology Projects in Guangzhou (202102010005 to K.W.C), Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme (TCFS), Innovation and Technology Fund (GHP/117/19GD to K.W.C), HKOG Direct Grant (2019.050 to J.P.W.C), and Hong Kong Health and Medical Research Fund (05160406 to J.P.W.C). The authors have no competing interests to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education (Shenzhen Base), Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
- Fertility Preservation Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Matthew Hoi Kin Chau
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education (Shenzhen Base), Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
- Fertility Preservation Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ying Xin Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education (Shenzhen Base), Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Center of Prenatal Diagnosis, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Yilin Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education (Shenzhen Base), Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuwen Xue
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education (Shenzhen Base), Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tin Chiu Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ye Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education (Shenzhen Base), Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
- Fertility Preservation Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zirui Dong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education (Shenzhen Base), Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
- Fertility Preservation Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kwong Wai Choy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education (Shenzhen Base), Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
- Fertility Preservation Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong-Baylor College of Medicine Joint Center for Medical Genetics, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jacqueline Pui Wah Chung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Fertility Preservation Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Wong C, Schreiber V, Crawford K, Kumar S. Male infants are at higher risk of neonatal mortality and severe morbidity. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 2023; 63:550-555. [PMID: 37143308 DOI: 10.1111/ajo.13689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While a male infant is usually born with a higher birthweight than his female counterpart, he is more at risk of variety of adverse perinatal outcomes. Indeed, throughout life, females exhibit a marked survival advantage compared to males. The aetiology for such pertinent sex disparity remains unclear and is likely multifactorial. AIMS The aim of this study was to investigate obstetric and perinatal outcomes by infant sex from 28 weeks in a contemporary, large Australian birth cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS A 14-year retrospective cohort study of 130 133 births over 28 weeks gestation from a single tertiary centre. RESULTS Male infants had overall higher rates of neonatal mortality (0.12% vs 0.06%, P < 0.001) and severe neonatal morbidity (12% vs 9.1%, P < 0.001) (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.41, 95% CI 1.35-1.47). The odds of overall perinatal mortality (stillbirth and neonatal death) were higher for male infants (aOR 1.30, 95% CI 1.08-1.56). The difference in severe neonatal morbidity when stratified by gestational age at birth only remained significant from >35 weeks gestation. Regardless of infant sex, rates of neonatal mortality and morbidity were lowest at 39 weeks gestation. Rates of preterm birth and operative birth were also higher for male infants. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates significant disparities in clinical outcomes by infant sex with males at a disadvantage to female infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Wong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mater Mother's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Veronika Schreiber
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kylie Crawford
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sailesh Kumar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mater Mother's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Mater Mother's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Abstract
Ferroptosis is a recently identified form of programmed cell death which is different from apoptosis, pyroptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. It is uniquely defined by redox-active iron-dependent hydroxy-peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-containing phospholipids and a loss of lipid peroxidation repair capacity. Ferroptosis has recently been implicated in multiple human diseases, such as tumors, ischemia-reperfusion injury, acute kidney injury, neurological diseases, and asthma among others. Intriguingly, ferroptosis is associated with placental physiology and trophoblast injury. Circumstances such as accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to hypoxia-reperfusion and anoxia-reoxygenation of trophoblast during placental development, the abundance of trophoblastic iron and PUFA, physiological uterine contractions, or pathological placental bed perfusion, cause placental trophoblasts' susceptibility to ferroptosis. Ferroptosis of trophoblast can cause placental dysfunction, which may be involved in the occurrence and development of placenta-related diseases such as gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, and abortion. The regulatory mechanisms of trophoblastic ferroptosis still need to be explored further. Here, we summarize the latest progress in trophoblastic ferroptosis research on placental-related diseases, provide references for further understanding of its pathogenesis, and propose new strategies for the prevention and treatment of placental-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Shen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southeast University Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Nathan Obore
- Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yixiao Wang
- Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tianyi Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southeast University Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Hong Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southeast University Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Nanjing, China.
- Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
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Gonzalez TL, Wertheimer S, Flowers AE, Wang Y, Santiskulvong C, Clark EL, Jefferies CA, Lawrenson K, Chan JL, Joshi NV, Zhu Y, Tseng HR, Karumanchi SA, Williams J, Pisarska MD. High-throughput mRNA-seq atlas of human placenta shows vast transcriptome remodeling from first to third trimester. bioRxiv 2023:2023.06.06.543972. [PMID: 37333287 PMCID: PMC10274746 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.06.543972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Background The placenta, composed of chorionic villi, changes dramatically across gestation. Understanding differences in ongoing pregnancies are essential to identify the role of chorionic villi at specific times in gestation and develop biomarkers and prognostic indicators of maternal- fetal health. Methods The normative mRNA profile is established using next-generation sequencing of 124 first trimester and 43 third trimester human placentas from ongoing healthy pregnancies. Stably expressed genes not different between trimesters and with low variability are identified. Differential expression analysis of first versus third trimester adjusted for fetal sex is performed, followed by a subanalysis with 23 matched pregnancies to control for subject variability using the same genetic and environmental background. Results Placenta expresses 14,979 mRNAs above sequencing noise (TPM>0.66), with 1,545 stably expressed genes across gestation. Differentially expressed genes account for 86.7% of genes in the full cohort (FDR<0.05). Fold changes highly correlate between the full cohort and subanalysis (Pearson = 0.98). At stricter thresholds (FDR<0.001, fold change>1.5), there are 6,941 differentially expressed protein coding genes (3,206 upregulated in first and 3,735 upregulated in third trimester). Conclusion This is the largest mRNA atlas of healthy human placenta across gestation, controlling for genetic and environmental factors, demonstrating substantial changes from first to third trimester in chorionic villi. Specific differences and stably expressed genes may be used to understand the specific role of the chorionic villi throughout gestation and develop first trimester biomarkers of placental health that transpire across gestation, which can be used for future development of biomarkers in maternal-fetal disease.
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Barrero JA, Villamil-Camargo LM, Imaz JN, Arciniegas-Villa K, Rubio-Romero JA. Maternal Serum Activin A, Inhibin A and Follistatin-Related Proteins across Preeclampsia: Insights into Their Role in Pathogenesis and Prediction. J Mother Child 2023; 27:119-133. [PMID: 37595293 PMCID: PMC10438925 DOI: 10.34763/jmotherandchild.20232701.d-23-00002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Within the endocrine-paracrine signalling network at the maternal-foetal interface, the activin-inhibin-follistatin system modulates extravillous trophoblast invasion, suggesting a potential role in preeclampsia pathogenesis. This study aimed to compile the evidence published in the last decade regarding the variation in maternal serum activins, inhibin- and follistatin-related proteins in preeclamptic pregnancies compared to healthy pregnancies, and to discuss their role in predicting and understanding the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. MATERIAL AND METHODS A scoping review was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE and LILACS databases to identify studies published within the last ten years (2012-2022). RESULTS Thirty studies were included. None of the studies addressed maternal serum changes of isoforms different from activin A, inhibin A, follistatin, and follistatin-like 3. Sixteen studies evaluated the potential of these isoforms in predicting preeclampsia through the area under the curve from a receiver operating characteristic curve. CONCLUSIONS In preeclampsia, inhibin A is upregulated in all trimesters, whereas activin A increases exclusively in the late second and third trimesters. Serum follistatin levels are reduced in women with preeclampsia during the late second and third trimesters. However, changes in follistatin-like 3 remain inconclusive. Inhibin A and activin A can potentially serve as biomarkers of early-onset preeclampsia based on the outcomes of the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Further investigations are encouraged to explore the feasibility of quantifying maternal serum levels of activin A and inhibin A as a clinical tool in early preeclampsia prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge A. Barrero
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá Campus, Faculty of Medicine, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Jose N. Imaz
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá Campus, Faculty of Medicine, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Jorge A. Rubio-Romero
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá Campus, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bogotá, Colombia
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Kadife E, Harper A, Chien K, Lino TK, Brownfoot FC. Novel genes associated with a placental phenotype in knockout mice also respond to cellular stressors in primary human trophoblasts. Placenta 2023; 139:68-74. [PMID: 37331027 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Placental insufficiency is a leading cause of intrauterine growth restriction, contributing to perinatal morbidity and mortality. The molecular regulation of placental development and what causes placental insufficiency is poorly understood. Recently, a panel of genes were found to cause significant placental dysmorphologies in mice with severely growth restricted off-spring. We aimed to assess whether these genes were also implicated in human intrauterine growth restriction. METHODS We explored the expression of nine genes in primary cytotrophoblast cells in hypoxic (n = 6) and glucose starvation (n = 5) conditions in vitro. We also explored whether the genes were dysregulated in intrauterine growth restricted human placental samples (n = 11), with (n = 20) or without preeclampsia compared to gestationally matched controls (<34 weeks gestation) (n = 17). RESULTS Hypoxic stress significantly upregulated the expressions of BRD2 (p = 0.0313), SMG9 (p = 0.0313) genes. In contrast, glucose starvation significantly suppressed Kif1bp (p = 0.0089) in primary cytotrophoblasts. The FRYL, NEK9, CHTOP, PSPH, ATP11A, HM13 genes did not change under hypoxia or glucose starvation conditions. The expression of these genes was not altered in placenta from patients with intrauterine growth restriction, compared to gestationally matched controls. DISCUSSION We demonstrate that some of the genes that cause a placental phenotype in mice, respond to hypoxic and glucose mediated stress in human cytotrophoblast isolations. Despite this, they are unchanged in placenta from patients with intrauterine growth restriction. Therefore, dysregulation of these genes is less likely to contribute to preterm intrauterine growth restriction in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Kadife
- Obstetric Diagnostics and Therapeutics Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Mercy Hospital for Women, 163 Studley Road, Heidelberg, 3084, Victoria, Australia; Mercy Perinatal, Mercy Hospital for Women Heidelberg, 163 Studley Road, Heidelberg, 3084, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alesia Harper
- Obstetric Diagnostics and Therapeutics Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Mercy Hospital for Women, 163 Studley Road, Heidelberg, 3084, Victoria, Australia; Mercy Perinatal, Mercy Hospital for Women Heidelberg, 163 Studley Road, Heidelberg, 3084, Victoria, Australia
| | - Keegan Chien
- Obstetric Diagnostics and Therapeutics Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Mercy Hospital for Women, 163 Studley Road, Heidelberg, 3084, Victoria, Australia; Mercy Perinatal, Mercy Hospital for Women Heidelberg, 163 Studley Road, Heidelberg, 3084, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tu'uhevaha Kaitu'u Lino
- Diagnostics Discovery and Reverse Translation in Pregnancy, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Mercy Hospital for Women, 163 Studley Road, Heidelberg, 3084, Victoria, Australia
| | - Fiona C Brownfoot
- Obstetric Diagnostics and Therapeutics Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Mercy Hospital for Women, 163 Studley Road, Heidelberg, 3084, Victoria, Australia; Mercy Perinatal, Mercy Hospital for Women Heidelberg, 163 Studley Road, Heidelberg, 3084, Victoria, Australia.
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Wu JX, Shi M, Gong BM, Ji BW, Hu CC, Wang GC, Lei L, Tang C, Sun LV, Wu XH, Wang X. An miRNA-mRNA integrative analysis in human placentas and mice: role of the Smad2/miR-155-5p axis in the development of fetal growth restriction. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1159805. [PMID: 37274158 PMCID: PMC10233019 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1159805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Functional disorder of the placenta is the principal cause of fetal growth restriction (FGR), usually cured with suitable clinical treatment and good nursing. However, some FGR mothers still give birth to small for gestational age (SGA) babies after treatment. The ineffectiveness of treatment in such a group of patients confused physicians of obstetrics and gynecology. Methods: In this study, we performed a microRNA-messenger RNA integrative analysis of gene expression profiles obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus. Differentially expressed genes were screened and checked using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Target genes of significantly changed microRNA were screened and enriched for Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses. Function of the obtained microRNA-messenger RNA was evaluated using HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and heterozygote male mice. Result: MiR-155-5p was upregulated (p = 0.001, fold-change = 2.275) in fetal-side placentals. Among the hub genes identified as key targets for miR-155-5p in fetal reprogramming, Smad2 was downregulated (p = 0.002, fold change = 0.426) and negatively correlated with miR-155-5p expression levels (r = -0.471, p < 1.0 E - 04) in fetal-side placental tissues. The miR-155-5p mimic blocks Smad2 expression and suppresses villous trophoblast cell and endothelial cell function (proliferation, migration, and invasion), indicating a close relationship with placental development. Luciferase assays further confirmed the targeting of miR-155-5p to Smad2. Furthermore, Smad2+/- heterozygote male mice were born small with low body weight (p = 0.0281) and fat composition (p = 0.013) in the fourth week post-natal. Discussion: We provide the first evidence of the role of the Smad2/miR-155-5p axis in the placental pathologies of FGR. Our findings elucidate the pathogenesis of FGR and provide new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Xing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and National Center for International Research of Development and Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- School of Microelectronics, SINO-SWISS Institute of Advanced Technology, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Shi
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Medical Bioactive Molecular Developmental and Translational Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Bao-Ming Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and National Center for International Research of Development and Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bao-Wei Ji
- Department of Nephrology, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng-Chen Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and National Center for International Research of Development and Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Gui-Cheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and National Center for International Research of Development and Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Lei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Tang
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ling V. Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and National Center for International Research of Development and Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and National Center for International Research of Development and Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and National Center for International Research of Development and Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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