NMR metabolomics study of chronic low-dose exposure to a cocktail of persistent organic pollutants

Nowadays, exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including persistent organic pollutants (POPs), is one of the most critical threats to public health. EDCs are chemicals that mimic, block, or interfere with hormones in the body's endocrine system and have been associated with a wide range of health issues. This innovative, untargeted metabolomics study investigates chronic low-dose internal exposure to a cocktail of POPs on multiple tissues that are known to accumulate these lipophilic compounds. Interestingly, the metabolic response differs among selected tissues/organs in mice. In the liver, we observed a dynamic effect according to the exposure time and the doses of POPs. In the brain tissue, the situation is the opposite, leading to the conclusion that the presence of POPs immediately gives a saturated effect that is independent of the dose and the duration of exposure studied. By contrast, for the adipose tissues, nearly no effect is observed. This metabolic profiling leads to a holistic and dynamic overview of the main metabolic pathways impacted in lipophilic tissues by a cocktail of POPs.

Serum metabolomic adaptations following a 12-week high-intensity interval training combined to citrulline supplementation in obese older adults

Physical activity and nutrition play important roles in preventing adverse health outcomes that accompany aging. It has been shown that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) combined with citrulline (CIT) supplementation can improve physical and functional capacities. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum metabolites following a 12-week HIIT combined or not with CIT in obese older adults, and to correlate the metabolic changes with clinico-biological parameters changes. Eighty-six obese older adults completed a 12-week HIIT program combined with a 10 g daily supplementation of either CIT or placebo (PLA) during a double-blinded randomized interventional trial. Only participants with blood samples at T0 (before the intervention) and/or T12 (after the intervention) were included in our sub-analysis (HIIT-PLA-T0: n = 44 and HIIT-PLA-T12: n = 28; HIIT-CIT-T0: n = 39 and HIIT-CIT-T12: n = 42). Serum samples were analyzed by different liquid or gas phase chromatography methods coupled to mass spectrometry. Among the identified metabolites, 44 changed significantly following the 12-week intervention (Time effect), and 10 of them were more affected when HIIT was combined with CIT (Time × Supp effect). Arginine increased significantly due to the 12-week intervention. Correlation analyses demonstrated that decreased triglyceride (TG) (16:1/18:1/16:0) and aspartic acid significantly correlated with a reduction of adiposity-related parameters (fat mass, leg lean mass, leptin, total triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein). Arginine, TG (16:1/18:1/16:0) and aspartic acid might constitute biomarkers of cardiometabolic health and adiposity. Further studies are needed to confirm these associations and understand the underlying mechanisms.Highlights A 12-week intervention involving high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with or without citrulline (CIT) supplementation induced adaptations in the serum metabolome of obese older adults through significant changes in 44 metabolites.Changes in 23 metabolites were observed when a CIT supplementation was administered along with a 12-week HIIT intervention.TG (16:1/18:1/16:0) correlated with several adiposity parameters including leptin, triglycerides, legs lean mass.Aspartic acid correlated with several adiposity parameters including leptin, LDL cholesterol as well as android, arms and trunk fat mass.

The effects of pollutant mixture released from grafted adipose tissues on fatty acid and lipid metabolism in the skeletal muscles, kidney, heart, and lungs of male mice

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) accumulated in the adipose tissue can affect the fatty acid and lipid metabolism in the body. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) metabolomics analysis was carried out to study the metabolic changes induced by internal exposure to the POPs in mouse skeletal muscle (soleus, plantaris, and gastrocnemius), kidney, heart, and lungs. Male donor mice were injected with a mixture of 10 POPs at concentrations of 0 × and 5 × lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (LOAEL). Their adipose tissue (AT) containing the POP was then grafted onto the host mice and the metabolic change of the host mice was monitored for 3 or 21 days. The metabolites related to fatty acid and lipid metabolism were studied. For the host mice engrafted with POP-containing fat pad, there was dysregulation of the fatty acids and glycerides observed in all the organs studied 3 days after the graft. However, there was no longer a significant change in the metabolites 21 days after the graft. The difference in significant values and metabolite regulation in each of the skeletal muscles showed that the POP mixture affects different types of skeletal muscle in a heterogeneous manner. Fold change analysis showed that certain metabolites in the kidney of host mice exposed to POPs for 3 days were greatly affected. Using multivariate analysis, apart from the plantaris, most treated groups exposed to POPs for 3 days are well distinguished from the control groups. However, for host mice exposed to POPs for 21 days, apart from the kidney and heart, groups are not well-distinguished from the control group. This study helps bring new insight into the effects of the pollutants mixture released from AT on fatty acid and lipid metabolism at different periods and how the dysregulation of metabolites might result in diseases associated with the organs.

Clinical and Biological Adaptations in Obese Older Adults Following 12-Weeks of High-Intensity Interval Training or Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training

Sarcopenia and obesity are considered a double health burden. Therefore, the implementation of effective strategies is needed to improve the quality of life of older obese individuals. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on functional capacities, muscle function, body composition and blood biomarkers in obese older adults. Adipose tissue gene expression and markers of muscle mitochondrial content and quality control involved in exercise adaptations were also investigated. Sixty-eight participants performed either HIIT (n = 34) on an elliptical trainer or MICT (n = 34) on a treadmill, three times per week for 12 weeks. HIIT produced significantly higher benefits on some physical parameters (six-minute walking test (HIIT: +12.4% vs. MICT: +5.2%); step test (HIIT: +17.02% vs. MICT: +5.9%); ten-repetition chair test (HIIT: −17.04% vs. MICT: −4.7%)). Although both HIIT and MICT led to an improvement in lower limb power (HIIT: +25.2% vs. MICT: +20.4%), only MICT led to higher improvement in lower limb muscle strength (HIIT: +4.3% vs. MICT: +23.2%). HIIT was more beneficial for increasing total lean body mass (HIIT: +1.58% vs. MICT: −0.81%), while MICT was more effective for decreasing relative gynoid fat mass (HIIT: −1.09% vs. MICT: −4.20%). Regarding adipose tissue gene expression, a significant change was observed for cell death-inducing DFFA (DNA fragmentation factor-alpha)-like effector A (CIDEA) in the HIIT group (A.U; HIIT at T0: 32.10 ± 39.37 vs. HIIT at T12: 48.2 ± 59.2). Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) content, a marker of mitochondrial biogenesis, increased significantly following HIIT (+36.2%) and MICT (+57.2%). A significant increase was observed in the HIIT group for Translocase of Outer Membrane 20 (TOM20; +54.1%; marker of mitochondrial content), Mitofusin-2 (MFN2; +71.6%; marker of mitochondrial fusion) and Parkin RBR E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase (PARKIN; +42.3%; marker of mitophagy). Overall, our results indicate that even though MICT (walking on treadmill) and HIIT (on an elliptical) are effective intervention strategies in obese older adults, HIIT appears to have slightly more beneficial effects. More specifically, HIIT led to higher improvements than MICT on functional capacities, lean mass and skeletal muscle markers of mitochondrial content, fusion, and mitophagy. Thus, MICT but also HIIT (time-efficient training) could be recommended as exercise modalities for obese older adults to maintain or improve mobility, health and quality of life.

Impact of high-intensity interval training with or without l-citrulline on physical performance, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue in obese older adults

BACKGROUND

Aging is associated with a progressive decline in skeletal muscle mass and strength as well as an increase in adiposity. These changes may have devastating impact on the quality of life of older adults. Mitochondrial dysfunctions have been implicated in aging-related and obesity-related deterioration of muscle function. Impairments in mitochondrial quality control processes (biogenesis, fusion, fission, and mitophagy) may underlie this accumulation of mitochondrial dysfunction. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) was shown to improve muscle and mitochondrial function in healthy young and old adults and to improve body composition in obese older adults. Recent studies also positioned citrulline (CIT) supplementation as a promising intervention to counter obesity-related and aging-related muscle dysfunction. In the present study, our objectives were to assess whether HIIT, alone or with CIT, improves muscle function, functional capacities, adipose tissue gene expression, and mitochondrial quality control processes in obese older adults.

METHODS

Eighty-one-old and obese participants underwent a 12 week HIIT with or without CIT on an elliptical trainer [HIIT-CIT: 20 men/25 women, 67.2 ± 5.0 years; HIIT-placebo (PLA): 18 men/18 women, 68.1 ± 4.1 years]. Handgrip and quadriceps strength, lower limb muscle power, body composition, waist circumference, and functional capacities were assessed pre and post intervention. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were performed in a subset of participants to quantify markers of mitochondrial content (TOM20 and OXPHOS subunits), biogenesis (TFAM), fusion (MFN1&2, OPA1), fission (DRP1), and mitophagy (Parkin). Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue biopsies were also performed to assess the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism.

RESULTS

HIIT-PLA and HIIT-CIT displayed improvements in functional capacities (P < 0.05), total (mean ± SD: HIIT-PLA: +1.27 ± 3.19%, HIIT-CIT: +1.05 ± 2.91%, P < 0.05) and leg lean mass (HIIT-PLA: +1.62 ± 3.85%, HIIT-CIT: +1.28 ± 4.82%, P < 0.05), waist circumference (HIIT-PLA: -2.2 ± 2.9 cm, HIIT-CIT: -2.6 ± 2.5 cm, P < 0.05), and muscle power (HIIT-PLA: +15.81 ± 18.02%, HIIT-CIT: +14.62 ± 20.02%, P < 0.05). Only HIIT-CIT decreased fat mass (-1.04 ± 2.42%, P < 0.05) and increased handgrip and quadriceps strength (+4.28 ± 9.36% and +10.32 ± 14.38%, respectively, P < 0.05). Both groups increased markers of muscle mitochondrial content, mitochondrial fusion, and mitophagy (P < 0.05). Only HIIT-CIT decreased the expression of the lipid droplet-associated protein CIDEA (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

High-intensity interval training is effective in improving functional capacities, lean mass, muscle power, and waist circumference in obese older adults. HIIT also increases markers of mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial fusion, and mitophagy. Importantly, adding CIT to HIIT results in a greater increase in muscle strength and a significant decrease in fat mass. The present study therefore positions HIIT combined with CIT as an effective intervention to improve the health status of obese older adults.

Fetal neurosonography at 31-35 weeks reveals altered cortical development in pre-eclampsia with and without small-for-gestational-age fetus

OBJECTIVE

To explore the pattern of fetal cortical development in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia (PE), with and without a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetus, compared to uncomplicated pregnancies.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational study including singleton pregnancies complicated by normotensive SGA (birth weight < 10^th centile) (n = 77), PE with an appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) fetus (n = 76) or PE with a SGA fetus (n = 67), and 128 uncomplicated pregnancies (normotensive AGA) matched by gestational age at ultrasound. All pregnancies underwent detailed neurosonography, using a transabdominal and transvaginal approach, at 31-35 weeks' gestation to assess the depth of the insula, Sylvian fissure, parieto-occipital sulcus, cingulate sulcus and calcarine sulcus. All measurements were adjusted for biparietal diameter (BPD). In addition, a grading score of cortical development was assigned to each brain structure, ranging from Grade 0 (no development) to Grade 5 (maximum development). Univariate and multiple regression analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

Similar to findings in previous studies, normotensive pregnancies with a SGA fetus showed significant differences in cortical development compared with controls, with reduced Sylvian fissure depth adjusted for BPD (14.5 ± 2.4 vs 16.6 ± 2.3; P < 0.001) and increased insula depth adjusted for BPD (33.2 ± 2.0 vs 31.8 ± 2.0; P < 0.001). Interestingly, a similar cortical development pattern was observed in PE pregnancies with a SGA fetus and in PE pregnancies with an AGA fetus, manifested by reduced Sylvian fissure depth adjusted for BPD (14.2 ± 2.3 and 14.3 ± 2.3 vs 16.6 ± 2.3; P < 0.001 for both) and greater insula depth adjusted for BPD (33.2 ± 2.1 and 32.8 ± 1.7 vs 31.8 ± 2.0; P < 0.001 for both) compared with controls. No significant differences were observed in parieto-occipital, cingulate sulcus or calcarine sulcus depth across the study groups. The Sylvian fissure was scored as Grade 4 in significantly more (93.2% vs 59.5%) and as Grade 5 in significantly fewer (2.7% vs 37.3%) PE pregnancies with an AGA fetus compared with controls (P < 0.05 for both). These differences remained significant even after statistical adjustment for potential confounders, including ethnicity, low socioeconomic status, nulliparity, chronic hypertension, pregestational diabetes, assisted reproductive technologies, smoking and fetal gender, with the application of Benjamini-Hochberg procedure for multiple comparisons.

CONCLUSIONS

PE with or without SGA is associated with a differential fetal cortical development pattern which is similar to that described previously in small fetuses. Future research is warranted to elucidate better the mechanism(s) underlying these changes. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

P–380 Differential concentrations of maternal and fetal hemopexin and α1-microglobulin in preeclampsia from IVF pregnancies depending on the presence of corpus luteum at embryo transfer

Study question

Does the presence of corpus luteum (CL) in in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments affect maternal and fetal concentrations of hemopexin and α1-microglobulin in preeclampsia?

Summary answer

Decreased hemopexin and increased α1-microglobulin levels in maternal and fetal blood in IVF pregnancies with absence of CL particularly in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia.

What is known already:

Pregnancies after frozen embryo transfer (FET) in programmed cycles have higher rates of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, suggesting a link between the absence of CL in programmed cycles and adverse maternal outcomes.Cardiovascular function is impaired early in pregnancy in women conceiving by IVF treatments in the absence of CL.Plasma relaxin–2, a potent vasodilator and stimulus of decidualization, has been reported to be undetectable in a non-CL cohort, but markedly elevated in a multiple-CL cohort through pregnancy.Hemopexin and α1-microglobulin act as scavengers that eliminate free heme-groups responsible for hemoglobin-induced oxidative stress known to contribute to preeclampsia development.

Study design, size, duration

A case-control study of 160 singleton pregnancies recruited from 2016 to 2020, including 54 spontaneous pregnancies from fertile couples, 50 conceived by IVF following fresh embryo transfer (ET) and FET in natural cycle (presence of CL) and 56 IVF after fresh oocyte-donation or FET in programmed cycles (absence of CL). Pregnancies were subclassified according to the presence of preeclampsia in uncomplicated, preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia cases.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

IVF pregnancies were recruited from a single Assisted Reproduction Center, ensuring homogeneity in IVF stimulation protocols, endometrial preparation, laboratory procedures and embryo culture conditions. Spontaneous pregnancies from fertile couples were randomly selected from our general population and matched to IVF by gestational age at birth. Hemopexin and α1-microglobulin concentrations were measured by ELISA in maternal and cord plasma collected at delivery. All comparisons were adjusted for age, ethnicity, prematurity, birthweight centile, oocyte-donation and FET cycles.

Main results and the role of chance

Parental ethnicity, body mass index, exposure to aspirin and corticoids during pregnancy, mean gestational age at birth and birthweight were similar in all study groups. While maternal hemopexin levels were lower in treatments without CL, the IVF group with one or several CL showed significantly increased hemopexin concentrations, both in uncomplicated and preeclampsia cases (uncomplicated: spontaneous conceptions median 1520 ug/ml [interquartile range 1054–1746], IVF with CL 1554 [1315–1778], IVF without CL 1401 [1130–1750]; Preeclampsia: spontaneous conceptions 1362 [1121–1667], IVF with CL 1372 [403–2558], IVF without CL 1215 [971–1498]). Maternal α1-microglobulin was significantly higher in the absence of CL in severe preeclamptic cases as compared to spontaneous pregnancies and IVF with CL (spontaneous conceptions median 23 ug/ml [interquantile range 20–24], IVF with CL 24 [24–26], IVF without CL 26 [25–28]).

The cord blood profiles were identical to the maternal for both biomarkers.

Overall, and in line with previous studies, preeclamptic pregnancies independently of the mode of conception, showed decreased concentrations of hemopexin and increased concentrations of α1-microglobulin both in maternal and fetal plasma, with more pronounced changes in severe preeclampsia cases.

Limitations, reasons for caution

Infertility factors contribution to the outcome cannot be unraveled from the assisted reproductive technologies procedure itself as we have only included spontaneous pregnancies from fertile couples.

Adjustments for oocyte-donation and FET modalities were performed due to the higher proportion of these features in the ET in programmed cycles group.

Wider implications of the findings: These findings acknowledge physiological differences between pregnancies following ET in stimulated and natural versus programmed cycles, supporting the hypothesis that the CL activity could influence perinatal results.

This approach to perinatal outcomes in IVF patients could lead to changes in ET protocols in order to develop a CL if possible.

Trial registration number

Not applicable

Fetal neurosonography detects differences in cortical development and corpus callosum in late-onset small fetuses

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether neurosonography can detect differences in cortical development and corpus callosal length in late-onset small fetuses subclassified into small-for-gestational age (SGA) or growth restricted (FGR).

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study in singleton pregnancies, including normally grown fetuses (birth weight between the 10^th and 90^th centiles) and late-onset small fetuses (estimated fetal weight < 10^th centile, diagnosed after 32 weeks of gestation and confirmed by birth weight < 10^th centile). Small fetuses were subclassified into SGA (birth weight between the 3^rd and 9^th centiles and normal fetoplacental Doppler) and FGR (birth weight < 3^rd centile and/or abnormal cerebroplacental ratio and/or abnormal uterine artery Doppler). Neurosonography was performed at 33 ± 1 weeks of gestation to assess the depth of the insula, Sylvian fissure and parieto-occipital sulcus in the axial views and corpus callosal length in the midsagittal plane. Measurements were performed offline using Alma Workstation software and were adjusted by biparietal diameter or cephalic index. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the association between the neurosonographic variables and study group, adjusting for confounding factors such as gender, gestational age at neurosonography, nulliparity and pre-eclampsia.

RESULTS

In total, 318 fetuses were included, of which 97 were normally grown and 221 were late-onset small fetuses that were further subdivided into late-onset SGA (n = 67) or late-onset FGR (n = 154). Compared to controls, both SGA and FGR cases showed significantly increased insular depth adjusted for biparietal diameter (median (interquartile range), controls 0.329 (0.312-0.342) vs SGA 0.339 (0.321-0.347) vs FGR 0.336 (0.325-0.349); P = 0.006). A linear tendency to reduced Sylvian fissure depth adjusted for biparietal diameter was also observed across the study groups (mean ± SD, controls 0.148 ± 0.021 vs SGA 0.142 ± 0.025 vs FGR 0.139 ± 0.022; P = 0.003). However, differences were significant only between the FGR and control groups. Corpus callosal length adjusted for cephalic index was significantly reduced in FGR cases compared with both controls and SGA cases, while there was no difference between SGA cases and controls (median (interquartile range), controls 0.500 (0.478-0.531) vs SGA 0.502 (0.487-0.526) vs FGR 0.475 (0.447-0.508); P = 0.005). No differences were found in parieto-occipital sulcus depth between the three study groups.

CONCLUSION

Neurosonography seems to be a sensitive tool to detect subtle structural differences in brain development in late-onset small fetuses. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Added prognostic value of longitudinal changes of angiogenic factors in early-onset severe pre-eclampsia: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To assess in women with early-onset severe pre-eclampsia whether longitudinal changes in angiogenic factors improve the prediction of adverse outcome.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Maternity units in two Spanish hospitals.

POPULATION

Women with diagnosis of early-onset severe pre-eclampsia.

METHODS

Levels of placental growth factor (PlGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-) and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio were measured at admission and before delivery, and average daily change calculated. The association of longitudinal changes of angiogenic factors with the time interval to delivery and with complications was evaluated by logistic and Cox regression.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Interval to delivery and composite of adverse outcomes.

RESULTS

We included 63 women, of which 26 (41.3%) had a complication. Longitudinal changes of sFlt-1 were more pronounced in complicated pregnancies (median: 1047 versus 342 pg/ml/day; P = 0.04). On the multivariate analysis, the clinical risk score and sFlt-1 at admission explained 6.2% of the uncertainty for complication; the addition of sFlt-1 longitudinal changes improved this to 25.3% (P = 0.002). The median time from admission to delivery was 4 days (95% CI 1.6-6.04) in those in the highest quartile of sFlt-1 longitudinal changes versus 16 days (95% CI 12.4-19.6) in the remaining women (Log-rank test P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Longitudinal changes in sFlt-1 maternal levels from admission for confirmed early-onset severe pre-eclampsia add to baseline characteristics in the prediction of adverse outcome and interval to delivery.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

In early-onset severe pre-eclampsia, longitudinal changes in sFlt-1 levels improve the prediction of complications and interval to delivery.

Distinctive patterns of placental lesions in pre-eclampsia vs small-for-gestational age and their association with fetoplacental Doppler

OBJECTIVES

To describe placental histopathological findings in a large cohort of pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia (PE) and/or small-for-gestational age (SGA), and to investigate their association with fetoplacental Doppler parameters.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational study of normotensive pregnancies with SGA (defined as birth weight < 10^th centile) (n = 184), PE pregnancies with a normally grown fetus (n = 102), pregnancies with both PE and SGA (n = 120) and uncomplicated pregnancies (n = 202). Uterine (UtA), umbilical (UA) and fetal middle cerebral (MCA) artery pulsatility indices (PI) were assessed. The cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) was calculated by dividing MCA-PI by UA-PI. Doppler parameters were considered abnormal when UtA-PI or UA-PI was > 95^th centile or MCA-PI or CPR was < 5^th centile. Placental lesions were categorized as vascular (maternal or fetal side), immunoinflammatory or other, according to the 2014 Amsterdam Placental Workshop Group Consensus Statement. Comparison between the study groups was performed using univariate and multiple regression analysis, and logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between abnormal Doppler parameters and placental lesions.

RESULTS

Maternal-side vascular lesions were significantly more common in PE pregnancies with SGA than in the other groups (PE + SGA, 73% vs PE, 46% vs SGA, 38% vs controls, 31%; P = 0.01) and included mainly two types of lesion: developmental (PE + SGA, 13% vs PE, 5% vs SGA, 3% vs controls, 1.5%; P < 0.001) and malperfusion (PE + SGA, 70% vs PE, 39% vs SGA, 32% vs controls, 25%; P = 0.001). In contrast, the incidence of fetal-side developmental lesions was significantly higher in normotensive SGA pregnancies than in controls and PE pregnancies (PE + SGA, 0% vs PE, 3% vs SGA, 8% vs controls, 2%; P = 0.001). All cases displayed a lower prevalence of infectious lesions than did controls, with the highest prevalence of immune lesions observed in pregnancies with both PE and SGA (PE + SGA, 18% vs PE, 8% vs SGA, 10% vs controls, 9%; P = 0.001). All fetoplacental Doppler parameters evaluated were associated with maternal-side vascular lesions, mainly malperfusion (mean UtA-PI: odds ratio (OR), 2.45 (95% CI, 1.51-3.97); UA-PI: OR, 2.05 (95% CI, 1.02-4.47); MCA-PI: OR, 2.75 (95% CI, 1.40-5.42); CPR: OR, 1.75 (95% CI, 1.04-2.95)). This association was evident mainly in the normotensive SGA group, being non-significant in controls or PE pregnancies without SGA. No significant associations were observed between fetoplacental Doppler parameters and other placental lesions in any of the study groups.

CONCLUSIONS

PE and SGA are associated with different patterns of placental histopathological lesions in accordance with the clinical manifestation of the placental disorder (maternal vs fetal). Fetoplacental Doppler findings show an association with placental malperfusion lesions on the maternal side, supporting the use of abnormal Doppler as a surrogate for placental insufficiency. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Effect of denervation on burn wound healing

The skin is a natural barrier between the interior milieu of the organism and its environment. This barrier has multiple physiological functions and may be affected by an array of pathologies including wounds and burns. The present study aims to determine the effect of the nervous system on wound healing. Specifically, this study tested the effect of denervation by chemical ablation on the burn wound healing process using guanethidine for denervation of the sympathetic postganglionic neurons and resiniferatoxin for denervation of the sensory capsaicin-sensitive fibres. Animals were divided into 8 different groups: (1) control group, (2) sensory denervated and burned, (3) sensory denervated non-burned, (4) sympathetic denervated and burned, (5) sympathetic denervated non-burned, (6) vehicle sensory burned, (7) vehicle sympathetic burned, (8) non-denervated burned. We measured different morphologic and biochemical parameters such as wound surface area, histological alterations and mast cells. In addition, NGF, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 levels were determined using the ELISA technique. The gross observations, the histological data including mast cell modulation, as well as the molecular data, speak in favour of a significant delay in burn wound healing caused by sensory denervation. On the other hand, results support the positive role of sympathetic denervation in speeding up the healing process. The dual effect of the nervous system on burn wound healing is being documented in an animal model for the first time.

Regulation of the very late antigen-4-mediated adhesive activity of normal and nonreleaser basophils: roles for Src, Syk, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Normal human basophils express the integrin, VLA-4, and cross-linking their high-affinity IgE receptor, FcepsilonRI, increases their VLA-4-dependent adhesion to VCAM-1-transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Here we show that the FcepsilonRI-mediated up-regulation of normal basophil VLA-4 adhesion is abolished by the Src inhibitor, PP1, the Syk inhibitor, ER-27319, and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor, wortmannin. PP1, but not ER-27319 or wortmannin, also reduces basal adhesion and adhesion stimulated by chemotactic peptide, by Ca(++) ionophores, and by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Nonreleaser basophils (the consistently Syk-deficient, variably Lyn-deficient, severely degranulation-impaired cells found in about 10% of donors) share the PP1 phenotype of lowered basal adhesion, no FcepsilonRI-mediated adhesion up-regulation, and reduced adhesive responses to chemoattractant ionophores and PMA. These results implicate Src kinases in the control of basal VLA-4 activity and place Syk and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in the pathway linking FcepsilonRI cross-linking to VLA-4 up-regulation. Both Src and Syk-regulated components of adhesion may be impaired in nonreleaser basophils.

Multiple defects in Fc epsilon RI signaling in Syk-deficient nonreleaser basophils and IL-3-induced recovery of Syk expression and secretion

Human basophils respond to Ag-induced cross-linking of their high affinity IgE receptor, FcepsilonRI, by releasing histamine and other mediators from granules, producing IL-4 and other cytokines and, as shown in this study, by forming membrane ruffles and showing increased very late Ag-4 (VLA-4)-mediated adhesion to VCAM-1-expressing target cells. We have identified five blood donors whose basophils lack detectable levels of the FcepsilonRI-associated protein tyrosine kinase, Syk. Despite showing no obvious ultrastructural differences from normal basophils, nonreleaser basophils fail to form membrane ruffles, to show increased VLA-4-mediated adhesive activity, or to produce IL-4 in response to FcepsilonRI cross-linking. Although Syk protein levels are suppressed in basophils from all five donors, Syk mRNA is consistently present. Furthermore, culturing nonreleaser basophils for 4 days with IL-3 restores Syk protein expression and FcepsilonRI-mediated histamine release. Understanding the reversible suppression of Syk protein expression in nonreleaser basophils, and learning to replicate this property in patients with allergic inflammation could be a powerful and specific way to limit symptomatic disease.

Syk deficiency in nonreleaser basophils

BACKGROUND

Peripheral blood basophils from 10% to 20% of donors fail to degranulate in response to cross-linking the high-affinity IgE receptor FcepsilonRI. The molecular mechanisms underlying the nonreleaser phenotype have not been established.

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to compare the expression of FcepsilonRI-associated protein tyrosine kinases between nonreleaser and releaser basophils.

METHODS

With use of Western blotting we investigated Syk and Lyn protein levels in highly purified basophils from 3 anti-IgE nonreleasers and 2 releasers.

RESULTS

We identified 3 healthy nonatopic donors whose nonreleaser basophils express FcepsilonRI normally but fail to express protein for the tyrosine kinase Syk, which is implicated in the initiation of FcepsilonRI-mediated secretion. Protein levels for the tyrosine kinase Lyn are somewhat reduced but not absent in nonreleaser basophils. Levels of Lyn and Syk protein are similar in B cells, eosinophils, and neutrophils from releaser and nonreleaser donors. During these studies one nonreleaser "converted" into a releaser with concomitant basophil Syk expression.

CONCLUSION

The absence of detectable Syk could explain the nonreleaser phenotype of basophils from some donors.