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Weed S, Armistead B, Coleman M, Liggit HD, Johnson B, Tsai J, Beyer RP, Bammler TK, Kretzer NM, Parker E, Vanderhoeven JP, Bierle CJ, Rajagopal L, Adams Waldorf KM. MicroRNA Signature of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Group B Streptococcal Infection of the Placental Chorioamniotic Membranes. J Infect Dis 2021; 222:1713-1722. [PMID: 32453818 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infection-induced preterm birth is a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity and leads to preterm premature rupture of placental chorioamniotic membranes. The loss of amniotic epithelial cells and tensile strength preceding membrane rupture is poorly understood. We hypothesized that intrauterine bacterial infection induces changes in microRNA (miRNA) expression, leading to amniotic epithelial cell loss and membrane weakening. METHODS Ten pregnant pigtail macaques received choriodecidual inoculation of either group B Streptococcus (GBS) or saline (n = 5/group). Placental chorioamniotic membranes were studied using RNA microarray and immunohistochemistry. Chorioamniotic membranes from women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM) and normal term pregnancies were studied using transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS In our model, an experimental GBS infection was associated with changes in the miRNA profile in the chorioamniotic membranes consistent with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) with loss of epithelial (E-cadherin) and gain of mesenchymal (vimentin) markers. Similarly, loss of desmosomes (intercellular junctions) was seen in placental tissues from women with pPROM. CONCLUSIONS We describe EMT as a novel mechanism for infection-associated chorioamniotic membrane weakening, which may be a common pathway for many etiologies of pPROM. Therapy based on anti-miRNA targeting of EMT may prevent pPROM due to perinatal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Weed
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle Washington, USA
| | - Blair Armistead
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Michelle Coleman
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - H Denny Liggit
- Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Brian Johnson
- Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jesse Tsai
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Richard P Beyer
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Theodor K Bammler
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Nicole M Kretzer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle Washington, USA
| | - Ed Parker
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jeroen P Vanderhoeven
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle Washington, USA
| | - Craig J Bierle
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Lakshmi Rajagopal
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kristina M Adams Waldorf
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle Washington, USA.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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