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Ljubić A, Bozanovic T, Piperski V, Đurić E, Begovic A, Sikiraš M, Perovic A, Vukovic J, Abazović D. Biological therapies in the prevention of maternal mortality. J Perinat Med 2023; 51:253-260. [PMID: 36437561 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2022-0403] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Although the maternal mortality rate has decreased and significant improvements have been made in maternal care, maternal death remains one of the substantial problems of our society. The leading causes of maternal death are postpartum hemorrhage, the most important cause of death in developing countries, and preeclampsia and venous thromboembolism, which are more prevalent in developed countries. To treat these conditions, a variety of therapeutic approaches, including pharmacologic agents and surgical techniques, have been adopted. However, a certain number of pregnant women do not respond to any of these options. That is the main reason for developing new therapeutic approaches. Biological medications are isolated from natural sources or produced by biotechnology methods. Heparin is already successfully used in the therapy of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Blood derivatives, used in an autologous or allogenic manner, have proven to be efficacious in achieving hemostasis in postpartum hemorrhage. Mesenchymal stem cells, alpha-1-microglobulin, and antithrombin exhibit promising results in the treatment of preeclampsia in experimental models. However, it is essential to evaluate these novel approaches' efficacy and safety profile throughout clinical trials before they can become a standard part of patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandar Ljubić
- Biocell Hospital, Belgrade, Serbia.,Special Gynecology Hospital with Maternity Ward Jevremova, Belgrade, Serbia.,Libertas International University, Dubrovnik, Croatia
| | - Tatjana Bozanovic
- Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.,School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Emilija Đurić
- Biocell Hospital, Belgrade, Serbia.,School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Medenica S, Abazovic D, Ljubić A, Vukovic J, Begovic A, Cucinella G, Zaami S, Gullo G. The Role of Cell and Gene Therapies in the Treatment of Infertility in Patients with Thyroid Autoimmunity. Int J Endocrinol 2022; 2022:4842316. [PMID: 36081621 PMCID: PMC9448571 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4842316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a rising incidence of infertility worldwide, and many couples experience difficulties conceiving nowadays. Thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) is recognized as one of the major female infertility causes related to a diminished ovarian reserve and potentially impaired oocyte maturation and embryo development, causing adverse pregnancy outcomes. Growing evidence has highlighted its impact on spontaneously achieved pregnancy and pregnancy achieved by in vitro fertilization. Despite the influence of thyroid hormones on the male reproductive system, there is insufficient data on the association between TAI and male infertility. In past years, significant progress has been achieved in cell and gene therapies as emerging treatment options for infertility. Cell therapies utilize living cells to restore healthy tissue microenvironment and homeostasis and usually involve platelet-rich plasma and various stem cells. Using stem cells as therapeutic agents has many advantages, including simple sampling, abundant sources, poor immunogenicity, and elimination of ethical concerns. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) represent a heterogeneous fraction of self-renewal, multipotent non-hematopoietic stem cells that display profound immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive features and promising therapeutic effects. Infertility has a genetic component in about half of all cases, although most of its genetic causes are still unknown. Hence, it is essential to identify genes involved in meiosis, DNA repair, ovarian development, steroidogenesis, and folliculogenesis, as well as those involved in spermatogenesis in order to develop potential gene therapies for infertility. Despite advances in therapy approaches such as biological agents, autoimmune disorders remain impossible to cure. Recent research demonstrates the remarkable therapeutic effectiveness of MSCs in a wide array of autoimmune diseases. TAI is one of many autoimmune disorders that can benefit from the use of MSCs, which can be derived from bone marrow and adipose tissue. Cell and gene therapies hold great potential for treating autoimmune conditions, although further research is still needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanja Medenica
- Department of Endocrinology, Internal Medicine Clinic, Clinical Center of Montenegro, School of Medicine, University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro
| | | | - Aleksandar Ljubić
- Biocell Hospital, Belgrade, Serbia
- Special Gynecology Hospital with Maternity Ward Jevremova, Belgrade, Serbia
- Libertas International University, Dubrovnik, Croatia
| | | | | | - Gaspare Cucinella
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Villa Sofia Cervello Hospital, IVF UNIT, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Simona Zaami
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gullo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Villa Sofia Cervello Hospital, IVF UNIT, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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