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Fischer F, Kretschmer T, Seifert P, Howanski J, Krieger E, Rödiger J, Fink B, Yin Z, Bauer M, Zenclussen ML, Meyer N, Schumacher A, Zenclussen AC. Single and combined exposures to bisphenol A and benzophenone-3 during early mouse pregnancy have differential effects on fetal and placental development. Sci Total Environ 2024; 922:171386. [PMID: 38431166 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171386] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) possess the capability to interfere with the endocrine system by binding to hormone receptors, for example on immune cells. Specific effects have already been described for individual substances, but the impact of exposure to chemical mixtures during pregnancy on maternal immune regulation, placentation and fetal development is not known. In this study, we aimed to investigate the combined effects of two widespread EDCs, bisphenol A (BPA) and benzophenone-3 (BP-3), at allowed concentrations on crucial pregnancy processes such as implantation, placentation, uterine immune cell populations and fetal growth. From gestation day (gd) 0 to gd10, female mice were exposed to 4 μg/kg/d BPA, 50 mg/kg/d BP-3 or a BPA/BP-3 mixture. High frequency ultrasound and Doppler measurements were used to determine intrauterine fetal development and hemodynamic parameters. Furthermore, uterine spiral artery remodeling and placental mRNA expression were studied via histology and CHIP-RT-PCR, respectively. Effects of EDC exposure on multiple uterine immune cell populations were investigated using flow cytometry. We found that exposure to BP-3 caused intrauterine growth restriction in offspring at gd14, while BPA and BPA/BP-3 mixture caused varying effects. Moreover, placental morphology at gd12 and placental efficiency at gd14 were altered upon BP-3 exposure. Placental gene transcription was altered particularly in female offspring after in utero exposure to BP-3. Flow cytometry analyses revealed an increase in uterine T cells and NK cells in BPA and BPA/BP-3-treated dams at gd14. Doppler measurements revealed no effect on uterine hemodynamic parameters and spiral artery remodeling was not affected following EDC exposure. Our results provide evidence that exposure to BPA and BP-3 during early gestation affects fetal development in a sex-dependent manner, placental function and immune cell frequencies at the feto-maternal interface. These results call for inclusion of studies addressing pregnancy in the risk assessment of environmental chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Fischer
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Leipzig, Germany; Saxon Incubator for Clinical Translation, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany; Institute for Clinical Immunology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tobias Kretschmer
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Leipzig, Germany; Saxon Incubator for Clinical Translation, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Paulina Seifert
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Leipzig, Germany; Saxon Incubator for Clinical Translation, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Julia Howanski
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Leipzig, Germany; Saxon Incubator for Clinical Translation, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Krieger
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Leipzig, Germany; Saxon Incubator for Clinical Translation, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jonas Rödiger
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Leipzig, Germany; Saxon Incubator for Clinical Translation, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Beate Fink
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Leipzig, Germany; Saxon Incubator for Clinical Translation, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ziran Yin
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Leipzig, Germany; Saxon Incubator for Clinical Translation, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mario Bauer
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Leipzig, Germany; Saxon Incubator for Clinical Translation, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - María Laura Zenclussen
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (UNL-CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Fisiología Humana (FBCB-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Nicole Meyer
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Leipzig, Germany; Saxon Incubator for Clinical Translation, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anne Schumacher
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Leipzig, Germany; Saxon Incubator for Clinical Translation, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ana Claudia Zenclussen
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Leipzig, Germany; Saxon Incubator for Clinical Translation, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.
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Parrillo S, De Amicis I, Bucci R, Hattab J, Robbe D, Carluccio A. A rare case of adventitious placentation (diffuse semi-placenta) in a Jersey cow. Acta Vet Hung 2024; 72:51-55. [PMID: 38573775 DOI: 10.1556/004.2024.00968] [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: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Placental abnormalities more frequently occur during pregnancy of somatic cell clones and may lead to pregnancy loss or dystocia. Adventitious placentation, or diffuse semi-placenta, is determined by the development of areas of accessory placentation between the cotyledons due to the abnormal growth of placentomes.After a full-term pregnancy, a 3-year-old Jersey heifer was referred for dystocia which resulted in the delivery of a dead calf. The cause of dystocia was found to be foetal malposition, while the placenta was physiologically expelled after dystocia resolution.Grossly, cotyledons appeared reduced in size and number in one placental horn, while the surface of the other horn was covered with microplacentomes. Numerous villous structures without trophoblastic coating were highlighted after histopathology. The dominant sign was an inflammatory reaction. The findings were consistent with inter-cotyledonal placentitis, which led to adventitial placentation.Diffuse semi-placenta compensates for the inadequate development of placentomes and may occur as a congenital or acquired defect. The outcome depends on its severity: in the worst scenario, pregnancy may not proceed beyond midterm and may be complicated by hydrallantois. In the case under examination, the dimensions of the cotyledons (from 2 to 10 cm) allowed for the natural course of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Parrillo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100, Piano d'Accio, Teramo, Italy
| | - Ippolito De Amicis
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100, Piano d'Accio, Teramo, Italy
| | - Roberta Bucci
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100, Piano d'Accio, Teramo, Italy
| | - Jasmine Hattab
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100, Piano d'Accio, Teramo, Italy
| | - Domenico Robbe
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100, Piano d'Accio, Teramo, Italy
| | - Augusto Carluccio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100, Piano d'Accio, Teramo, Italy
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Milosevic Stevanovic J, Krstic M, Vukomanovic P, Kutlesic R, Trajkovic SP, Simic D. Failure of placentation and pregnancy complications: The role of feto-maternal immune balance. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2024; 295:126-135. [PMID: 38354605 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.02.024] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Milosevic Stevanovic
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia; Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Center Nis, Nis, Serbia.
| | - Miljan Krstic
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia; Center for Pathology, Clinical Center Nis, Nis, Serbia
| | - Predrag Vukomanovic
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia; Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Center Nis, Nis, Serbia
| | - Ranko Kutlesic
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia; Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Center Nis, Nis, Serbia
| | - Sonja Pop Trajkovic
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia; Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Center Nis, Nis, Serbia
| | - Dusan Simic
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia
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Motomura K, Morita H, Naruse K, Saito H, Matsumoto K. Implication of viruses in the etiology of preeclampsia. Am J Reprod Immunol 2024; 91:e13844. [PMID: 38627916 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13844] [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: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia is one of the most common disorders that poses threat to both mothers and neonates and a major contributor to perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Viral infection during pregnancy is not typically considered to cause preeclampsia; however, syndromic nature of preeclampsia etiology and the immunomodulatory effects of viral infections suggest that microbes could trigger a subset of preeclampsia. Notably, SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia. Herein, we review the potential role of viral infections in this great obstetrical syndrome. According to in vitro and in vivo experimental studies, viral infections can cause preeclampsia by introducing poor placentation, syncytiotrophoblast stress, and/or maternal systemic inflammation, which are all known to play a critical role in the development of preeclampsia. Moreover, clinical and experimental investigations have suggested a link between several viruses and the onset of preeclampsia via multiple pathways. However, the results of experimental and clinical research are not always consistent. Therefore, future studies should investigate the causal link between viral infections and preeclampsia to elucidate the mechanism behind this relationship and the etiology of preeclampsia itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichiro Motomura
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
- Center for Maternal-Fetal, Neonatal and Reproductive Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideaki Morita
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
- Allergy Center, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Naruse
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Hirohisa Saito
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenji Matsumoto
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
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Dellapiana G, Mok T, Platt LD, Silverman NS, Han CS, Esakoff TF. Sensitivity of antenatal ultrasound in diagnosing posterior placenta accreta spectrum disorders. J Perinat Med 2024; 52:288-293. [PMID: 38243911 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2023-0491] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Optimal management of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) requires antenatal diagnosis. We sought to evaluate the sensitivity of ultrasound findings suggestive of PAS in detecting posterior PAS. METHODS Cohort study of patients with posterior placentation and pathology-confirmed PAS from 2011 to 2020 at a tertiary center. Patients were excluded if ultrasound images were unavailable. Ultrasounds were reviewed for presence of lacunae, hypervascularity, myometrial thinning, loss of the hypoechoic zone, bridging vessels, abnormal uterine serosa-bladder interface, placental bulge, placental extension into/beyond the myometrium, and an exophytic mass. Risk factors, postpartum outcomes, and ultrasound findings were compared by antepartum suspicion for PAS. Sensitivity was calculated for each ultrasound finding. RESULTS Thirty-three patients were included. PAS was not suspected antenatally in 70 % (23/33). Patients with unsuspected PAS were more likely to be non-Hispanic, have in vitro fertilization, no prior Cesarean deliveries, no placenta previa, and delivered later in gestation. Depth of invasion and estimated blood loss were less for unsuspected PAS, but there was no difference in hysterectomy between groups. Ultrasound findings were less frequently seen in those who were not suspected antenatally: lacunae 17.4 vs. 100 % (p<0.001), hypervascularity 8.7 vs. 80 % (p<0.001), myometrial thinning 4.4 vs. 70 % (p<0.001), and placental bridging vessels 0 vs. 60 % (p<0.001). There was poor sensitivity (0-42.4 %) for all findings. CONCLUSIONS Posterior PAS is less likely to be detected antenatally due to a lower sensitivity of typical ultrasound findings in the setting of a posterior placenta. Further studies are needed to better identify reliable markers of posterior PAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Dellapiana
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Thalia Mok
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lawrence D Platt
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Center for Fetal Medicine & Women's Ultrasound, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Neil S Silverman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Center for Fetal Medicine & Women's Ultrasound, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christina S Han
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tania F Esakoff
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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de Vos ES, van der Meeren LE, Koning AHJ, Nikkels PGJ, Steegers EAP, Steegers-Theunissen RPM, Mulders AGMGJ. First-trimester 3D power Doppler imaging markers of utero-placental vascular development are associated with placental weight and diameter at birth: The Rotterdam Periconception Cohort. Placenta 2024; 148:44-52. [PMID: 38367314 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2024.01.019] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Early utero-placental vascular development impacts placental development and function throughout pregnancy. We investigated whether impaired first-trimester utero-placental vascular development is associated with pathologic features of the postpartum placenta. METHODS In this prospective observational study of 65 ongoing pregnancies, we obtained three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasounds of the placenta at 7, 9 and 11 weeks of gestation. We applied VOCAL software to measure placental volume (PV), virtual reality based segmentation to measure utero-placental vascular volume (uPVV) and applied a skeletonization algorithm to generate the utero-placental vascular skeleton (uPVS). Vascular morphology was quantified by assigning a morphologic characteristic to each voxel in the uPVS (i.e. end-, bifurcation-, crossing- or vessel point). Following delivery, placentas were measured and histologically examined according to the Amsterdam criteria to assess maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM). We used linear mixed models to estimate trajectories of PV, uPVV and uPVS development. Multivariable linear regression analysis with adjustments for confounders was used to evaluate associations between PV, uPVV and uPVS development and features of the postpartum placenta. RESULTS We observed no associations between first-trimester PV development and measurements of the postpartum placenta. Increased first-trimester utero-placental vascular development, reflected by uPVV (β = 0.25 [0.01; 0.48]), uPVS end points (β = 0.25 [0.01; 0.48]), bifurcation points (β = 0.22 [0.05; 0.37]), crossing points (β = 0.29 [0.07; 0.52]) and vessel points (β = 0.09 [0.02; 0.17]) was positively associated with the postpartum placental diameter. uPVV was positively associated with postpartum placental weight. No associations were found with MVM. DISCUSSION Development of the first-trimester utero-placental vasculature is associated with postpartum placental size, whereas placental tissue development contributes to a lesser extent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline S de Vos
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lotte E van der Meeren
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Anton H J Koning
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Peter G J Nikkels
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, H04.312, PO Box 85500, 3505 GA, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Eric A P Steegers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Régine P M Steegers-Theunissen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Annemarie G M G J Mulders
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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Zhu X, Huang Q, Jiang L, Nguyen VT, Vu T, Devlin G, Shaima J, Wang X, Chen Y, Ma L, Xiang K, Wang E, Rong Q, Zhou Q, Kang Y, Asokan A, Feng L, Hsu SWD, Shen X, Yao J. Longitudinal intravital imaging of mouse placenta. Sci Adv 2024; 10:eadk1278. [PMID: 38507481 PMCID: PMC10954206 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk1278] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Studying placental functions is crucial for understanding pregnancy complications. However, imaging placenta is challenging due to its depth, volume, and motion distortions. In this study, we have developed an implantable placenta window in mice that enables high-resolution photoacoustic and fluorescence imaging of placental development throughout the pregnancy. The placenta window exhibits excellent transparency for light and sound. By combining the placenta window with ultrafast functional photoacoustic microscopy, we were able to investigate the placental development during the entire mouse pregnancy, providing unprecedented spatiotemporal details. Consequently, we examined the acute responses of the placenta to alcohol consumption and cardiac arrest, as well as chronic abnormalities in an inflammation model. We have also observed viral gene delivery at the single-cell level and chemical diffusion through the placenta by using fluorescence imaging. Our results demonstrate that intravital imaging through the placenta window can be a powerful tool for studying placenta functions and understanding the placental origins of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Qiang Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710004, China
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - Laiming Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Van-Tu Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Tri Vu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Garth Devlin
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Jabbar Shaima
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Xiaobei Wang
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Lijun Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Kun Xiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Ergang Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Qiangzhou Rong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Qifa Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Yubin Kang
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Aravind Asokan
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Liping Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Shiao-Wen D. Hsu
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Xiling Shen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - Junjie Yao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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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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Nakashima A, Furuta A, Yoshida-Kawaguchi M, Yamada K, Nunomura H, Morita K, Yasuda I, Yoneda S, Yamaki-Ushijima A, Shima T, Tsuda S. Immunological regulation and the role of autophagy in preeclampsia. Am J Reprod Immunol 2024; 91:e13835. [PMID: 38467995 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13835] [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: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a bulk degradation system that maintains cellular homeostasis by producing energy and/or recycling excess proteins. During early placentation, extravillous trophoblasts invade the decidua and uterine myometrium, facing maternal immune cells, which participate in the immune suppression of paternal and fetal antigens. Regulatory T cells will likely increase in response to a specific antigen before and during early pregnancy. Insufficient expansion of antigen-specific Treg cells, which possess the same T cell receptor, is associated with the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, suggesting sterile systemic inflammation. Autophagy is involved in reducing inflammation through the degradation of inflammasomes and in the differentiation and function of regulatory T cells. Autophagy dysregulation induces protein aggregation in trophoblasts, resulting in placental dysfunction. In this review, we discuss the role of regulatory T cells in normal pregnancies. In addition, we discuss the association between autophagy and regulatory T cells in the development of preeclampsia based on reports on the role of autophagy in autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akitoshi Nakashima
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Atsushi Furuta
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Mihoko Yoshida-Kawaguchi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Kiyotaka Yamada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Haruka Nunomura
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Keiko Morita
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Ippei Yasuda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Satoshi Yoneda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Akemi Yamaki-Ushijima
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Tomoko Shima
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Sayaka Tsuda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
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Arechvo A, Wright A, Nobile Recalde A, Liandro R, Charakida M, Nicolaides KH. Ophthalmic artery Doppler and biomarkers of impaired placentation at 36 weeks' gestation in pregnancies with small fetuses. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2024; 63:358-364. [PMID: 37902727 DOI: 10.1002/uog.27521] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES First, to compare ophthalmic artery peak systolic velocity (PSV) ratio and biomarkers of impaired placentation at 36 weeks' gestation in women who delivered a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) or growth-restricted (FGR) neonate, in the absence of hypertensive disorder, with those of women who developed pre-eclampsia (PE) or gestational hypertension (GH) and of women unaffected by SGA, FGR, PE or GH. Second, to examine the associations of PSV ratio, uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI), placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) with birth-weight Z-score or percentile. METHODS This was a prospective observational study of women with a singleton pregnancy attending for a routine hospital visit at 35 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks' gestation. This visit included recording of maternal demographic characteristics and medical history, ultrasound examination of fetal anatomy and growth, and measurement of maternal ophthalmic artery PSV ratio, UtA-PI, PlGF and sFlt-1. Values of PSV ratio, UtA-PI, PlGF and sFlt-1 were converted to multiples of the median (MoM) or delta values. Median MoM or deltas of these biomarkers in the SGA, FGR, PE and GH groups were compared with those in the unaffected group. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationship of PSV ratio delta, UtA-PI MoM, PlGF MoM and sFlt-1 MoM with birth-weight Z-score, after exclusion of PE and GH cases. RESULTS The study population of 9033 pregnancies included 7696 (85.2%) that were not affected by FGR, SGA, PE or GH, 182 (2.0%) complicated by FGR in the absence of PE or GH, 698 (7.7%) with SGA in the absence of FGR, PE or GH, 236 (2.6%) with PE and 221 (2.4%) with GH. Compared with unaffected pregnancies, in the FGR and SGA groups, the PSV ratio delta and sFlt-1 MoM were increased and PlGF MoM was decreased; UtA-PI MoM was increased in the FGR group but not the SGA group. The magnitude of the changes in biomarker values relative to the unaffected group was smaller in the FGR and SGA groups than that in the PE and GH groups. In non-hypertensive pregnancies, there were significant inverse associations of PSV ratio delta and UtA-PI MoM with birth-weight Z-score, such that the values were increased in small babies and decreased in large babies. There was a quadratic relationship between PlGF MoM and birth-weight Z-score, with low PlGF levels in small babies and high PlGF levels in large babies. There was no significant association between sFlt-1 MoM and birth-weight Z-score. CONCLUSIONS Ophthalmic artery PSV ratio, reflective of peripheral vascular resistance, and UtA-PI, PlGF and sFlt-1, biomarkers of impaired placentation, are altered in pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorder and, to a lesser extent, in non-hypertensive pregnancies delivering a SGA or FGR neonate. The associations between the biomarkers and birth-weight Z-score suggest the presence of a continuous physiological relationship between fetal size and peripheral vascular resistance and placentation, rather than a dichotomous relationship of high peripheral resistance and impaired placentation in small compared to non-small fetuses. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Arechvo
- Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - A Wright
- Institute of Health Research, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - A Nobile Recalde
- Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - R Liandro
- Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - M Charakida
- Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King's College Hospital, London, UK
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - K H Nicolaides
- Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King's College Hospital, London, UK
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Galanti F, Riccio S, Giannini A, D'Oria O, Buzzaccarini G, Scudo M, Muzii L, Battaglia FA. Placentation and complications of ART pregnancy. An update on the different possible etiopathogenic mechanisms involved in the development of obstetric complications. J Reprod Immunol 2024; 162:104191. [PMID: 38219630 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2023.104191] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Infertile couples' percentage is increasing all over the world, especially in Italy, with high number of children born in our country through assisted reproductive techniques (ART). However, pregnancies obtained by ART have increased potential obstetrical risks which could be caused by fetus-placenta unit development, most of all due to placentation's evolution. These can be reassumed into miscarriage, chromosomal abnormalities, preterm delivery, multiple pregnancy, IUGR, placenta previa, abruptio placentae, preeclampsia and hypertensive disorders, postpartum hemorrhage. METHODS The aim of this article is to evaluate hypothetic mechanism involved in placentation process and in the etiopathology of ART pregnancies disorders, giving an updating overview of different etiopathogenetic pathways and features. On this scenario, we create an updated review about the etiopathogenesis of abnormal placentation in ART pregnancies. RESULTS Several features and different etiopathogenetic characteristic might impact differently such as advanced maternal age, poor ovarian reserve, oocyte quality and causes of subfertility themselves, and the ART techniques itself, as hormonal medical treatments and laboratory techniques such as gamete and embryo laboratory culture, cryopreservation versus fresh ET, number of embryos transferred. CONCLUSION To further explore the molecular mechanisms behind placentation in ART pregnancies, further studies are necessary to gain a better understanding of the various aspects involved, particularly those which are not fully comprehended. This could prove beneficial to clinicians in both ART care and obstetric care, as it could help to stratify obstetrical risk and decrease complications in women undergoing ART, as well as perinatal disorders in their children. Correct placentation is essential for a successful pregnancy for both mother and baby.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Galanti
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy.
| | - Serena Riccio
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy.
| | - Andrea Giannini
- Department of Maternal Child Health and Urologic Sciences, Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
| | - Ottavia D'Oria
- Department of Maternal Child Health and Urologic Sciences, Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Buzzaccarini
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
| | - Maria Scudo
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy.
| | - Ludovico Muzii
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy.
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Gomez EN, Ahmed TM, Macura K, Fishman EK, Vaught AJ. CT angiography for characterization of advanced placenta accreta spectrum: indications, risks, and benefits. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2024; 49:842-854. [PMID: 37987857 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-023-04105-7] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Placenta accreta spectrum disorder (PASD) encompasses various types of abnormal placentation in which chorionic villi directly adhere to or invade the myometrium. The incidence of PASD has dramatically risen in the US over the past 3 decades owing to the increased rates of patients undergoing cesarean sections. While PASD remains a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, accurate prenatal identification and characterization of PASD is associated with improved outcomes. Although ultrasound is the first-line imaging modality in the evaluation of PASD, with MRI serving as an adjunct, computed tomography angiography (CTA) may also offer unique diagnostic advantages in cases of advanced PASD by providing superior visualization of placental and abdominopelvic vasculature and enabling the creation of comprehensive vascular maps to roadmap complex surgical interventions. This paper represents the first evaluation of CTA as a diagnostic tool and operative planning aid in this context. Appropriate indications and diagnostic advantages of CTA in this setting are reviewed, and key multimodal imaging features of normal and abnormal placentation are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin N Gomez
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, JHOC 3150, 601 N Caroline St, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
| | - Taha M Ahmed
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, JHOC 3150, 601 N Caroline St, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Katarzyna Macura
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, JHOC 3150, 601 N Caroline St, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Elliot K Fishman
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, JHOC 3150, 601 N Caroline St, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Arthur J Vaught
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
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Yi S, Wang L, Wang M, Hong W, Xu B, He X, Yang M, Wu Z, Wang B, Yang G, Shen S, Cui X, Wang R, Wang K, Wang H, Li X, Gao S, Jiang C, Chen J. Effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection in early pregnancy on placental development. Sci China Life Sci 2024; 67:622-625. [PMID: 37864084 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2437-x] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shanru Yi
- Clinical and Translation Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Frontier Science Center for Stem cell Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of the Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
- Frontier Science Center for Stem cell Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Mengting Wang
- Clinical and Translation Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Frontier Science Center for Stem cell Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Wei Hong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 201204, China
| | - Ben Xu
- Clinical and Translation Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Frontier Science Center for Stem cell Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xiaoying He
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 201204, China
| | - Mengtian Yang
- Clinical and Translation Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Frontier Science Center for Stem cell Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Zhiping Wu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 201204, China
| | - Beiying Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 201204, China
| | - Guang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of the Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
- Frontier Science Center for Stem cell Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Shijun Shen
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of the Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
- Frontier Science Center for Stem cell Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xinyu Cui
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of the Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
- Frontier Science Center for Stem cell Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Ruixue Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 201204, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 201204, China
| | - Hong Wang
- Clinical and Translation Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Frontier Science Center for Stem cell Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xiaocui Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 201204, China.
| | - Shaorong Gao
- Clinical and Translation Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Frontier Science Center for Stem cell Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Cizhong Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of the Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China.
- Frontier Science Center for Stem cell Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Jiayu Chen
- Clinical and Translation Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Frontier Science Center for Stem cell Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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Moore NP, Bogaards JJP, Buscher BAP, Wolterbeek APM, Cnubben NHP. Disposition of glycolic acid into the embryo following oral administration of ethylene glycol during placentation in the rat and rabbit. Toxicol Sci 2024; 198:31-39. [PMID: 38175793 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad135] [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] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
In order to evaluate the role of the placenta in the etiology of ethylene glycol (EG) developmental toxicity, the distribution of EG and its main metabolites, glycolic acid (GA) and oxalic acid (OX), into the conceptus was determined at the beginning and completion of placentation in the rat and rabbit. Two groups (n = 28) of timed-pregnant Wistar rats were administered EG (1000 mg/kg bw/day, oral gavage) from gestation day (GD) 6 to either GD 11 or GD 16; similarly, two groups (n = 28) of timed-pregnant New Zealand White rabbits were administered EG from GD 6 to either GD 10 or GD 19. Four animals from each group were sacrificed at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, or 24 h after the final administration, and maternal blood, extraembryonic fluid, and embryonic tissue were removed for analysis of EG, GA, and OX. The three analytes were predominantly cleared from all compartments in both species within 24 h. Neither EG nor OX preferentially accumulated into the conceptus compartments, compared with the maternal blood, in either species. Critically, GA was preferentially accumulated from the maternal blood only into the rat embryo at GD 11, but not at GD 16 and not into the rabbit embryo at either GD 10 or GD 19. The accumulation of GA into the rat embryo, and its decline over the course of placentation, is discussed in relation to the expression of monocarboxylate transporter isoforms across the syncytiotrophoblast.
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Kobayashi H, Yoshimoto C, Matsubara S, Shigetomi H, Imanaka S. An integral role of mitochondrial function in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:330. [PMID: 38393449 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09285-z] [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: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is associated with high maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The development of effective treatment strategies remains a major challenge due to the limited understanding of the pathogenesis. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of PE research, focusing on the molecular basis of mitochondrial function in normal and PE placentas, and discuss perspectives on future research directions. Mitochondria integrate numerous physiological processes such as energy production, cellular redox homeostasis, mitochondrial dynamics, and mitophagy, a selective autophagic clearance of damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria. Normal placental mitochondria have evolved innovative survival strategies to cope with uncertain environments (e.g., hypoxia and nutrient starvation). Cytotrophoblasts, extravillous trophoblast cells, and syncytiotrophoblasts all have distinct mitochondrial morphology and function. Recent advances in molecular studies on the spatial and temporal changes in normal mitochondrial function are providing valuable insight into PE pathogenesis. In PE placentas, hypoxia-mediated mitochondrial fission may induce activation of mitophagy machinery, leading to increased mitochondrial fragmentation and placental tissue damage over time. Repair mechanisms in mitochondrial function restore placental function, but disruption of compensatory mechanisms can induce apoptotic death of trophoblast cells. Additionally, molecular markers associated with repair or compensatory mechanisms that may influence the development and progression of PE are beginning to be identified. However, contradictory results have been obtained regarding some of the molecules that control mitochondrial biogenesis, dynamics, and mitophagy in PE placentas. In conclusion, understanding how the mitochondrial morphology and function influence cell fate decisions of trophoblast cells is an important issue in normal as well as pathological placentation biology. Research focusing on mitochondrial function will become increasingly important for elucidating the pathogenesis and effective treatment strategies of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kobayashi
- Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Ms.Clinic MayOne, 871-1 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, 634-0813, Japan.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, 634-8522, Japan.
| | - Chiharu Yoshimoto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, 634-8522, Japan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, 2-897-5 Shichijyonishi-machi, Nara, 630-8581, Japan
| | - Sho Matsubara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, 634-8522, Japan
- Department of Medicine, Kei Oushin Clinic, 5-2-6, Naruo-cho, Nishinomiya, 663-8184, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Shigetomi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, 634-8522, Japan
- Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Aska Ladies Clinic, 3-3-17 Kitatomigaoka-cho, Nara, 634- 0001, Japan
| | - Shogo Imanaka
- Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Ms.Clinic MayOne, 871-1 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, 634-0813, Japan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, 634-8522, Japan
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Lu X, Mao J, Qian C, Lei H, Mu F, Sun H, Yan S, Fang Z, Lu J, Xu Q, Dong J, Su D, Wang J, Jin N, Chen S, Wang X. High estrogen during ovarian stimulation induced loss of maternal imprinted methylation that is essential for placental development via overexpression of TET2 in mouse oocytes. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:135. [PMID: 38374066 PMCID: PMC10875811 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01516-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: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ovarian stimulation (OS) during assisted reproductive technology (ART) appears to be an independent factor influencing the risk of low birth weight (LBW). Previous studies identified the association between LBW and placenta deterioration, potentially resulting from disturbed genomic DNA methylation in oocytes caused by OS. However, the mechanisms by which OS leads to aberrant DNA methylation patterns in oocytes remains unclear. METHODS Mouse oocytes and mouse parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells (pESCs) were used to investigate the roles of OS in oocyte DNA methylation. Global 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) levels were evaluated using immunofluorescence or colorimetry. Genome-wide DNA methylation was quantified using an Agilent SureSelectXT mouse Methyl-Seq. The DNA methylation status of mesoderm-specific transcript homologue (Mest) promoter region was analyzed using bisulfite sequencing polymerase chain reaction (BSP). The regulatory network between estrogen receptor alpha (ERα, ESR1) and DNA methylation status of Mest promoter region was further detected following the knockdown of ERα or ten-eleven translocation 2 (Tet2). RESULTS OS resulted in a significant decrease in global 5mC levels and an increase in global 5hmC levels in oocytes. Further investigation revealed that supraphysiological β-estradiol (E2) during OS induced a notable decrease in DNA 5mC and an increase in 5hmC in both oocytes and pESCs of mice, whereas inhibition of estrogen signaling abolished such induction. Moreover, Tet2 may be a direct transcriptional target gene of ERα, and through the ERα-TET2 axis, supraphysiological E2 resulted in the reduced global levels of DNA 5mC. Furthermore, we identified that MEST, a maternal imprinted gene essential for placental development, lost its imprinted methylation in parthenogenetic placentas originating from OS, and ERα and TET2 combined together to form a protein complex that may promote Mest demethylation. CONCLUSIONS In this study, a possible mechanism of loss of DNA methylation in oocyte caused by OS was revealed, which may help increase safety and reduce epigenetic abnormalities in ART procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyan Lu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No.1, Xinsi Road, Baqiao District, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Jiaqin Mao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No.1, Xinsi Road, Baqiao District, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Chenxi Qian
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No.1, Xinsi Road, Baqiao District, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Hui Lei
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No.1, Xinsi Road, Baqiao District, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Fei Mu
- Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Huijun Sun
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No.1, Xinsi Road, Baqiao District, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Song Yan
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No.1, Xinsi Road, Baqiao District, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Zheng Fang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No.1, Xinsi Road, Baqiao District, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Jie Lu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No.1, Xinsi Road, Baqiao District, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Qian Xu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No.1, Xinsi Road, Baqiao District, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Jie Dong
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No.1, Xinsi Road, Baqiao District, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Danjie Su
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No.1, Xinsi Road, Baqiao District, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Jingjing Wang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No.1, Xinsi Road, Baqiao District, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Ni Jin
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No.1, Xinsi Road, Baqiao District, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Shuqiang Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No.1, Xinsi Road, Baqiao District, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China.
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No.1, Xinsi Road, Baqiao District, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China.
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Luo N, Zhou Y, Chen X, Zhao Y, Hu Y. Screening the optimal housekeeping genes (HKGs) of placenta tissues by RNA-sequence and qRT-PCR throughout gestation in goat (Capra Hircus). Gene 2024; 895:147966. [PMID: 37972698 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147966] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Selection of stable housekeeping genes (HKGs) is very important for accurate calculation of relative expression levels of target genes by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). At present, the appropriate HKGs have not been identified in placental tissues throughout the pregnancy of the goat. In our study, 20 HKGs were tentatively selected from RNA-seq data and previous reports. The cycle threshold (Ct) of HKGs was determined by qRT-PCR in trophoblast membrane and cotyledon villus collected from 38 Dazu Black goats on gestation days of 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and 150 (birth). The expression stability of the HKGs was analyzed by geNorm, Normfinder, Bestkeeper and Delta Ct algorithms, and comprehensively evaluated by ReFinder and ComprFinder. In addition, the optimal HKGs were further verified by placenta-specific genes (SPP1, VEGFA and PAG6). The 16 candidate HKGs (except POP4, TBP, RNF10, UBC) showed a qualified Ct value, less than 28. Among them, YWHAZ, EIF3K and PPIB showed the most stable expression in placental tissues during early, mid-late pregnancy and postpartum, but the least stable expression was B2M at early and mid-late stage, and PPIB at postpartum. After comprehensive analysis, RPLP0, EIF3K and YWHAZ were found to be the most stable placental HKGs throughout pregnancy. The classical HKGs, ACTB, GAPDH and 18S RNA have unstable expressions and even ranked at the bottom of the list from comprehensive index, suggesting an inappropriate for target gene normalization. Taken together, our study confirmed that YWHAZ, EIF3K, HMBS and RPLP0 may be the optimal HKGs in goat placenta at different stage of pregnancy, which provided a valuable reference of HKGs on functional gene expression detection for further research on placenta development and growth in ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanjian Luo
- School of Preclinical Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yumei Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xiaochuan Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yongju Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Herbivore Science, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Yu Hu
- School of Preclinical Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China.
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18
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Adu-Gyamfi EA, Salamah J, Cheeran EA, Lee BK. Bisphenol S moderately decreases the expression of syncytiotrophoblast marker genes and induces apoptosis in human trophoblast lineages. Environ Pollut 2024; 343:123259. [PMID: 38159624 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123259] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Bisphenol S (BPS) is currently used in the manufacturing of several household equipment such as water pipes and food containers. Hence, its entrance into the human body is almost inevitable. The presence of BPS in body fluids has been reported. However, its potential toxicity, especially on human placenta development and pregnancy progression, has not been explored. In this study, we assessed the impacts of BPS on the self-renewal and differentiation potentials of placental stem cells, also known as trophoblast stem cells (TSCs), by exposing them to three different BPS concentrations during their self-renewal and differentiation into syncytiotrophoblast (ST), extravillous trophoblast (EVT), and trophoblast organoids. Interestingly, BPS treatment did not affect the stemness, cell cycle and proliferation of the TSCs but it induced apoptosis in each trophoblast lineage. BPS altered the expression of several fusion-related genes. However, this alteration did not translate into significant morphological defects in the STs and organoids. Moreover, BPS did not impair the differentiation of TSCs into EVTs. These findings suggest that the presence of BPS at the feto-maternal interface may exaggerate trophoblast apoptosis and moderately inhibit the trophoblast fusion pathway to affect placenta development and pregnancy. Our study offers valuable insights into the potential toxicity of BPS on human placenta development, emphasizing the need for epidemiological assessment of the relationship between maternal serum levels of BPS and pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enoch Appiah Adu-Gyamfi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cancer Research Center, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, USA
| | - Joudi Salamah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cancer Research Center, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, USA
| | - Elisha Ann Cheeran
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cancer Research Center, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, USA
| | - Bum-Kyu Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cancer Research Center, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, USA.
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19
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Chae SA, Du M, Zhu MJ, Son JS. Exercise enhances placental labyrinth trophoblast development by activation of PGC-1α and FNDC5/irisin†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:355-364. [PMID: 37934783 PMCID: PMC10873274 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad151] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Placental chorion/labyrinth trophoblasts are energy demanding which is met by the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Exercise enhances placental development and mitochondrial biogenesis, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. To address, female C57BL/6 J mice were randomly assigned into two groups: a control group and an exercise (EX) group. All animals were acclimated to treadmill exercise for 1 week before mating, but only the EX group was subjected to daily exercise during pregnancy from embryonic day (E) 1.5 to E16.5. Placenta were collected at E18.5 for biochemical and histochemical analyses, and primary trophoblast cells were isolated from the E18.5 placenta for further analyses. The data showed that exercise during pregnancy promoted the expression of syncytiotrophoblast cell markers, indicating trophoblast cell differentiation, which was closely associated with elevated mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative metabolism in the E18.5 placenta. In addition, exercise during pregnancy activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1 α (PGC-1α), which was associated with upregulated placental α-ketoglutarate and the expression of isocitrate dehydrogenases and ten-eleven translocations, facilitating DNA demethylation of the Pgc1a promoter. Furthermore, exercise upregulated fibronectin type III domain containing 5 expression and the secretion of its cleaved form, irisin, which is known to activate PGC-1α. These data suggest that exercise-induced activation of PGC-1α, via epigenetic modifications, is responsible for promoting mitochondrial energy metabolism and chorion/labyrinth trophoblast development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Ah Chae
- Cell Biology Group, Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Min Du
- Nutrigenomics and Growth Biology Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Mei-Jun Zhu
- School of Food Science, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Jun Seok Son
- Nutrigenomics and Exercise Biology Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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20
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Hori T, Okae H, Shibata S, Kobayashi N, Kobayashi EH, Oike A, Sekiya A, Arima T, Kaji H. Trophoblast stem cell-based organoid models of the human placental barrier. Nat Commun 2024; 15:962. [PMID: 38332125 PMCID: PMC10853531 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45279-y] [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: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Human placental villi have essential roles in producing hormones, mediating nutrient and waste exchange, and protecting the fetus from exposure to xenobiotics. Human trophoblast organoids that recapitulate the structure of villi could provide an important in vitro tool to understand placental development and the transplacental passage of xenobiotics. However, such organoids do not currently exist. Here we describe the generation of trophoblast organoids using human trophoblast stem (TS) cells. Following treatment with three kinds of culture medium, TS cells form spherical organoids with a single outer layer of syncytiotrophoblast (ST) cells that display a barrier function. Furthermore, we develop a column-type ST barrier model based on the culture condition of the trophoblast organoids. The bottom membrane of the column is almost entirely covered with syndecan 1-positive ST cells. The barrier integrity and maturation levels of the model are confirmed by measuring transepithelial/transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin. Further analysis reveals that the model can be used to derive the apparent permeability coefficients of model compounds. In addition to providing a suite of tools for the study of placental development, our trophoblast models allow the evaluation of compound transfer and toxicity, which will facilitate drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Hori
- Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Systems Engineering, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering (IBB), Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 2-3-10 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0062, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Okae
- Department of Informative Genetics, Environment and Genome Research Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
- Department of Trophoblast Research, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 862-0973, Japan
| | - Shun Shibata
- Department of Informative Genetics, Environment and Genome Research Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Norio Kobayashi
- Department of Informative Genetics, Environment and Genome Research Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Eri H Kobayashi
- Department of Informative Genetics, Environment and Genome Research Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Akira Oike
- Department of Informative Genetics, Environment and Genome Research Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
- Department of Trophoblast Research, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 862-0973, Japan
| | - Asato Sekiya
- Department of Trophoblast Research, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 862-0973, Japan
| | - Takahiro Arima
- Department of Informative Genetics, Environment and Genome Research Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Kaji
- Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Systems Engineering, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering (IBB), Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 2-3-10 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0062, Japan.
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21
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Dang Q, Zhu Y, Zhang Y, Hu Z, Wei Y, Chen Z, Jiang X, Cai X, Yu H. Nuclear Binding Protein 2/Nesfatin-1 Affects Trophoblast Cell Fusion during Placental Development via the EGFR-PLCG1-CAMK4 Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1925. [PMID: 38339201 PMCID: PMC10856506 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031925] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that nuclear binding protein 2 (NUCB2) is expressed in the human placenta and increases with an increase in the syncytialization of trophoblast cells. This study aimed to investigate the role of NUCB2 in the differentiation and fusion of trophectoderm cells. In this study, the expression levels of NUCB2 and E-cadherin in the placentas of rats at different gestation stages were investigated. The results showed that there was an opposite trend between the expression of placental NUCB2 and E-cadherin in rat placentas in different trimesters. When primary human trophoblast (PHT) and BeWo cells were treated with high concentrations of Nesfatin-1, the trophoblast cell syncytialization was significantly inhibited. The effects of NUCB2 knockdown in BeWo cells and Forskolin-induced syncytialization were investigated. These cells showed a significantly decreased cell fusion rate. The mechanism underlying NUCB2-regulated trophoblast cell syncytialization was explored using RNA-Seq and the results indicated that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-phospholipase C gamma 1 (PLCG1)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CAMK4) pathway might be involved. The results suggested that the placental expression of NUCB2 plays an important role in the fusion of trophoblasts during differentiation via the EGFR-PLCG1-CAMK4 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinyu Dang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Yandi Zhu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Yadi Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Zhuo Hu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Yuchen Wei
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Zhaoyang Chen
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Xinyin Jiang
- Departments of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, New York, NY 11210, USA;
| | - Xiaxia Cai
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Huanling Yu
- Departments of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, New York, NY 11210, USA;
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22
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Popescu DE, Roșca I, Jura AMC, Cioca A, Pop O, Lungu N, Popa ZL, Rațiu A, Boia M. Prompt Placental Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Assessment after SARS-CoV-2 Infection during Pregnancy-Our Perspective of a Small Group. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1836. [PMID: 38339114 PMCID: PMC10855253 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031836] [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: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Research indicates compelling evidence of SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission as a result of placental pathology. This study offers an approach to histopathological and immunohistochemical placental observations from SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers compared to negative ones. Out of the 44 examined placentas, 24 were collected from patients with a SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and 20 were collected from patients without infection. The disease group showed strong SARS-CoV-2 positivity of the membranes, trophoblasts, and fetal villous macrophages. Most infections occurred during the third trimester of pregnancy (66.6%). Pathology revealed areas consistent with avascular villi (AV) and thrombi in the chorionic vessels and umbilical cord in the positive group, suggesting fetal vascular malperfusion (FVM). This study shows SARS-CoV-2 has an impact on coagulation, demonstrated by fetal thrombotic vasculopathy (p = 0.01) and fibrin deposition (p = 0.01). Other observed features included infarction (17%), perivillous fibrin deposition (29%), intervillous fibrin (25%), delayed placental maturation (8.3%), chorangiosis (13%), chorioamnionitis (8.3%), and meconium (21%). The negative control group revealed only one case of placental infarction (5%), intervillous fibrin (5%), delayed placental maturation (5%), and chorioamnionitis (5%) and two cases of meconium (19%). Our study sheds light on the changes and differences that occurred in placentas from SARS-CoV-2-infected mothers and the control group. Further research is necessary to definitively establish whether SARS-CoV-2 is the primary culprit behind these intricate complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Eugenia Popescu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timişoara, Romania
- Department of Neonatology, Premiere Hospital, Regina Maria Health Network, Calea Aradului, No. 113, 300645 Timişoara, Romania
| | - Ioana Roșca
- Faculty of Midwifery and Nursery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ana Maria Cristina Jura
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timişoara, Romania
| | - Andreea Cioca
- Department of Pathology, Premiere Hospital, Regina Maria Health Network, Calea Aradului, No. 113, 300645 Timişoara, Romania;
| | - Ovidiu Pop
- Department of Morphological Sciences, University of Oradea, Universității Street, No. 1, 410087 Oradea, Romania
| | - Nicoleta Lungu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timişoara, Romania
| | - Zoran-Laurențiu Popa
- Department XII Obstetrics and Gynecology—Obstetrics and Gynecology III, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timişoara, Romania
| | - Adrian Rațiu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timişoara, Romania
| | - Mărioara Boia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timişoara, Romania
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23
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de Ganzo Suárez T, de Paco Matallana C, Plasencia W. Spiral, uterine artery doppler and placental ultrasound in relation to preeclampsia. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2024; 92:102426. [PMID: 38039843 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2023.102426] [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: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a multiorgan disorder that complicates around 2-8% of pregnancies and is a major cause of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. PE is a clinical syndrome characterized by hypertension secondary to systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and syncytiotrophoblast stress leading to hypertension and multiorgan dysfunction. The uterine arteries are the main blood vessels that supply blood to the uterus. They give off branches and plays an important role in maintaining blood supply during pregnancy. The arcuate artery originates from the uterine artery and runs medially through the myometrium. The arcuate arteries divide almost directly into anterior and posterior branches, from which the radial artery leads directly to the uterine cavity during their course. Near the endometrium-myometrium junction, the radial artery generates spiral arteries within the basal layer and functional endometrium. The walls of radial and spiral arteries are rich in smooth muscle, which is lost when trophoblast cells invade and become large-caliber vessels. This physiological transformation of uteroplacental spiral arteries is critical for successful placental implantation and normal placental function. In normal pregnancy, the luminal diameter of the spiral arteries is greatly increased, and the vascular smooth muscle is replaced by trophoblast cells. This process and changes in the spiral arteries are called spiral artery remodeling. In PE, this genetically and immunologically governed process is deficient and therefore there is decreased vascular capacitance and increased resistance in the uteroplacental circulation. Furthermore, this defect in uteroplacental spiral artery remodeling is not only associated with early onset PE, but also with fetal growth restriction, placental abruption, and spontaneous premature rupture of membranes. Doppler ultrasound allows non-invasive assessment of placentation, while the flow impedance decreases as the pregnancy progresses in normal pregnancies, in those destined to develop preeclampsia the impedance is increased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania de Ganzo Suárez
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
| | - Catalina de Paco Matallana
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, El Palmar, Murcia, Spain; Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, El Palmar, Murcia, Spain; Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Walter Plasencia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Canarias, Tenerife. Canary Islands, Spain.
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24
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Huang Z, Yang Y, Ma S, Li J, Ye H, Chen Q, Li Z, Deng J, Tan C. KLF4 down-regulation underlies placental angiogenesis impairment induced by maternal glucose intolerance in late pregnancy. J Nutr Biochem 2024; 124:109509. [PMID: 37907170 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2023.109509] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Maternal glucose intolerance in late pregnancy can easily impair pregnancy outcomes and placental development. The impairment of placental angiogenesis is closely related to the occurrence of glucose intolerance during pregnancy, but the mechanism remains largely unknown. In this study, the pregnant mouse model of maternal high-fat diet and endothelial injury model of porcine vascular endothelial cells (PVECs) was used to investigate the effect of glucose intolerance on pregnancy outcomes and placental development. Feeding pregnant mice, a high-fat diet was shown to induce glucose intolerance in late pregnancy, and significantly increase the incidence of resorbed fetuses. Moreover, a decrease was observed in the proportion of blood sinusoids area and the expression level of CD31 in placenta, indicating that placental vascular development was impaired by high-fat diet. Considering that hyperglycemia is an important symptom of glucose intolerance, we exposed PVECs to high glucose (50 mM), which verified the negative effects of high glucose on endothelial function. Bioinformatics analysis further emphasized that high glucose exposure could significantly affect the angiogenesis-related functions of PVECs and predicted that Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) may be a key mediator of these functional changes. The subsequent regulation of KLF4 expression confirmed that the inhibition of KLF4 expression was an important reason why high glucose impaired the endothelial function and angiogenesis of PVECs. These results indicate that high-fat diet can aggravate maternal glucose intolerance and damage pregnancy outcome and placental angiogenesis, and that regulating the expression of KLF4 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for maintaining normal placental angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihao Huang
- Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunyu Yang
- Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Animal Science, Guangdong Maoming Agriculture & Forestry Technical College, Maoming, China
| | - Shuo Ma
- Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinfeng Li
- Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongxuan Ye
- Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiling Chen
- Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhishan Li
- Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinping Deng
- Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Chengquan Tan
- Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
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25
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Jauniaux E, Zosmer N, D'Antonio F, Hussein AM. Placental lakes vs lacunae: spot the differences. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2024; 63:173-180. [PMID: 37592837 DOI: 10.1002/uog.27453] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Sonographic sonolucencies are anechoic areas surrounded by tissue of normal echogenicity, commonly found in the placental parenchyma during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The ultrasound appearance of lakes and lacunae derives from the low echogenicity of villous-free areas within the placental parenchyma, filled with maternal blood of varying velocities. In normal placentation, lakes usually start appearing as soon as maternal blood begins to flow freely within the intervillous space at the end of the first trimester, whereas, in accreta placentation, lacunae develop progressively during the second trimester. Larger lakes are found mainly in areas of lower villous density under the fetal plate or in the marginal areas, but can also be found in the center of a lobule above the entry of a spiral artery. Lakes of variable size, position and shape are of no clinical significance, except if they transform into echogenic cystic lesions, which have been associated with poor fetal growth and placental malperfusion. Lacunae are formed by the distortion of one or more placental lobules developing inside a uterine scar, resulting from high-volume, high-velocity flows from the radial/arcuate arteries, and are associated with a high probability of placenta accreta spectrum at birth. They often present with ultrasound signs of uterine remodeling following scarring. Lakes and lacunae can coexist within the same placenta and both will change in size and shape as pregnancy advances. Better understanding of the etiopathology of placental sonolucent spaces and associated morphological changes is necessary to identify patients at risk of subsequent complications during pregnancy and/or at delivery. © 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)
- E Jauniaux
- EGA Institute for Women's Health, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London (UCL), London, UK
| | - N Zosmer
- Fetal Medicine Research Institute, Harris Birthright Research Centre, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - F D'Antonio
- Center for Fetal Care and High-Risk Pregnancy, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chieti, Italy
| | - A M Hussein
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
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Onori M, Franco R, Lucchetti D, Tartaglia S, Buongiorno S, Beneduce G, Sannino F, Baroni S, Urbani A, Lanzone A, Scambia G, Di Simone N, Tersigni C. Association between Plasma HLA-DR+ Placental Vesicles and Preeclampsia: A Pilot Longitudinal Cohort Study. Cells 2024; 13:196. [PMID: 38275821 PMCID: PMC10814451 DOI: 10.3390/cells13020196] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Preeclampsia (PE) usually presents with hypertension and proteinuria, related to poor placentation. Reduced maternal-fetal immunological tolerance is a possible trigger of inadequate placentation. Aberrant antigen expression of HLA-DR has been observed in the syncytiotrophoblast of PE patients. In this study, we analyzed plasma levels of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-DR+ syncytiotrophoblast-derived extracellular vesicles (STEVs) during the three trimesters of pregnancy in relation to PE onset. (2) Methods: Pregnant women underwent venous blood sampling during the three trimesters. STEVs were collected from plasma via ultracentrifugation (120,000 g) and characterized by Western blot, nanotracking analysis and flow cytometry for the expression of Placental Alkaline Phosphatase (PLAP), a placental-derived marker, and HLA-DR. (3) Results: Out of 107 women recruited, 10 developed PE. STEVs were detected in all three trimesters of pregnancy with a zenith in the second trimester. A significant difference was found between the non-PE and PE groups in terms of plasma levels of HLA-DR+ STEVs during all three trimesters of pregnancy. (4) Conclusions: More research is needed to investigate HLA-DR+ as a potential early marker of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Onori
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go F.Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.O.); (R.F.); (D.L.); (F.S.); (S.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Rita Franco
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go F.Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.O.); (R.F.); (D.L.); (F.S.); (S.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Donatella Lucchetti
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go F.Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.O.); (R.F.); (D.L.); (F.S.); (S.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Silvio Tartaglia
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, L.go A.Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy; (S.T.); (S.B.); (C.T.)
| | - Silvia Buongiorno
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, L.go A.Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy; (S.T.); (S.B.); (C.T.)
| | - Giuliana Beneduce
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go F.Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.O.); (R.F.); (D.L.); (F.S.); (S.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Fabio Sannino
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go F.Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.O.); (R.F.); (D.L.); (F.S.); (S.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Silvia Baroni
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go F.Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.O.); (R.F.); (D.L.); (F.S.); (S.B.); (A.L.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, L.go A.Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy; (S.T.); (S.B.); (C.T.)
| | - Andrea Urbani
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go F.Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.O.); (R.F.); (D.L.); (F.S.); (S.B.); (A.L.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, L.go A.Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy; (S.T.); (S.B.); (C.T.)
| | - Antonio Lanzone
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go F.Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.O.); (R.F.); (D.L.); (F.S.); (S.B.); (A.L.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, L.go A.Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy; (S.T.); (S.B.); (C.T.)
| | - Giovanni Scambia
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go F.Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.O.); (R.F.); (D.L.); (F.S.); (S.B.); (A.L.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, L.go A.Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy; (S.T.); (S.B.); (C.T.)
| | - Nicoletta Di Simone
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Tersigni
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, L.go A.Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy; (S.T.); (S.B.); (C.T.)
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Davenport KM, O'Neil EV, Ortega MS, Patterson A, Kelleher AM, Warren WC, Spencer TE. Single-cell insights into development of the bovine placenta†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:169-184. [PMID: 37707543 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad123] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A central determinant of pregnancy success is proper development of the conceptus (embryo/fetus and associated extraembryonic membranes including the placenta). Although the gross morphology and histology of the bovine placenta have been well studied, the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating placenta development and trophoblast differentiation and function remain essentially undefined. Here, single-cell transcriptome (scRNA-seq) analysis was performed on the day 17 bovine conceptus and chorion of day 24, 30, and 50 conceptuses (n = 3-4 samples per day) using the 10X Genomics platform. Bioinformatic analyses identified cell types and their ontogeny including trophoblast, mesenchyme, and immune cells. Loss of interferon tau-expressing trophoblast uninucleate cells occurred between days 17 and 30, whereas binucleate cells, identified based on expression of placental lactogen (CSH2) and specific pregnancy-associated glycoprotein genes (PAGs), first appeared on day 24. Several different types of uninucleate cells were present in day 24, 30, and 50 samples, but only one (day 24) or two types of binucleate cells (days 30 and 50). Cell trajectory analyses provided a conceptual framework for uninucleate cell development and binucleate cell differentiation, and bioinformatic analyses identified candidate transcription factors governing differentiation and function of the trophoblasts. The digital atlas of cell types in the developing bovine conceptus reported here serves as a resource to discover key genes and biological pathways regulating its development during the critical periods of implantation and placentation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eleanore V O'Neil
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - M Sofia Ortega
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Amanda Patterson
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Andrew M Kelleher
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Wesley C Warren
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Thomas E Spencer
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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Legault LM, Breton-Larrivée M, Langford-Avelar A, Lemieux A, McGraw S. Sex-based disparities in DNA methylation and gene expression in late-gestation mouse placentas. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:2. [PMID: 38183126 PMCID: PMC10770955 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00577-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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The placenta is vital for fetal development and its contributions to various developmental issues, such as pregnancy complications, fetal growth restriction, and maternal exposure, have been extensively studied in mice. The placenta forms mainly from fetal tissue and therefore has the same biological sex as the fetus it supports. Extensive research has delved into the placenta's involvement in pregnancy complications and future offspring development, with a notable emphasis on exploring sex-specific disparities. However, despite these investigations, sex-based disparities in epigenetic (e.g., DNA methylation) and transcriptomic features of the late-gestation mouse placenta remain largely unknown. METHODS We collected male and female mouse placentas at late gestation (E18.5, n = 3/sex) and performed next-generation sequencing to identify genome-wide sex differences in transcription and DNA methylation. RESULTS Our comparison between male and female revealed 358 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) on autosomes, which were associated with signaling pathways involved in transmembrane transport and the responses to viruses and external stimuli. X chromosome DEGs (n = 39) were associated with different pathways, including those regulating chromatin modification and small GTPase-mediated signal transduction. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were more common on the X chromosomes (n = 3756) than on autosomes (n = 1705). Interestingly, while most X chromosome DMRs had higher DNA methylation levels in female placentas and tended to be included in CpG dinucleotide-rich regions, 73% of autosomal DMRs had higher methylation levels in male placentas and were distant from CpG-rich regions. Several DEGs were correlated with DMRs. A subset of the DMRs present in late-stage placentas were already established in mid-gestation (E10.5) placentas (n = 348 DMRs on X chromosome and 19 DMRs on autosomes), while others were acquired later in placental development. CONCLUSION Our study provides comprehensive lists of DEGs and DMRs between male and female that collectively cause profound differences in the DNA methylation and gene expression profiles of late-gestation mouse placentas. Our results demonstrate the importance of incorporating sex-specific analyses into epigenetic and transcription studies to enhance the accuracy and comprehensiveness of their conclusions and help address the significant knowledge gap regarding how sex differences influence placental function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa-Marie Legault
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Mélanie Breton-Larrivée
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Alexandra Langford-Avelar
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Anthony Lemieux
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Serge McGraw
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada.
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29
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Ma S, Li J, Ye H, Huang S, Huang Z, Wu D, Ma K, Xie J, Yin Y, Tan C. Effects of dietary supplementation of different levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid on reproductive performance, glucose intolerance, and placental development of gilts. J Anim Sci 2024; 102:skad405. [PMID: 38133610 PMCID: PMC10781436 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad405] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) supplementation on reproductive performance, glucose intolerance, and placental development of gilts during mid-late gestation. Based on the principle of backfat thickness consistency, 124 gilts at 65 d of gestation were assigned to three dietary groups: CON (basic diet, n = 41), LGABA (basic diet supplemented with 0.03% GABA, n = 42), and HGABA (basic diet supplemented with 0.06% GABA, n = 41). The litter performance, glucose tolerance, placental angiogenesis, and nutrients transporters were assessed. The LGABA group improved piglet vitality and placental efficiency and decreased area under the curve of glucose tolerance test compared to the CON group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the LGABA group enhanced placental vessel density, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 levels and gene expression of fibroblast growth factor 18 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, LGABA showed an uptrend in glucose transporter type 1 mRNA level (P = 0.09). Taken together, this study revealed that the dietary supplementation of 0.03% GABA can improve piglet vitality, glucose intolerance, and placental development of gilts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Ma
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Institute of Subtropical Animal Nutrition and Feed, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Jinfeng Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Institute of Subtropical Animal Nutrition and Feed, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Hongxuan Ye
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Institute of Subtropical Animal Nutrition and Feed, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Shuangbo Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Institute of Subtropical Animal Nutrition and Feed, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Zihao Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Institute of Subtropical Animal Nutrition and Feed, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Deyuan Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Institute of Subtropical Animal Nutrition and Feed, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Kaidi Ma
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Institute of Subtropical Animal Nutrition and Feed, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Junyan Xie
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
- Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Science, Research Center for Healthy Breeding of Livestock and Poultry, Changsha, Hunan 410125, China
| | - Yulong Yin
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
- Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Science, Research Center for Healthy Breeding of Livestock and Poultry, Changsha, Hunan 410125, China
| | - Chengquan Tan
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Institute of Subtropical Animal Nutrition and Feed, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
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Ercolani G, Capuani S, Maiuro A, Celli V, Grimm R, Di Mascio D, Porpora MG, Catalano C, Brunelli R, Giancotti A, Manganaro L. Diffusion-sensitized magnetic resonance imaging highlights placental microstructural damage in patients with previous SARS-CoV-2 pregnancy infection. Placenta 2024; 145:38-44. [PMID: 38052124 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.11.017] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a major global health problem since December 2019. This work aimed to investigate whether pregnant women's mild and moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with microstructural and vascular changes in the placenta observable in vivo by Intravoxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) at different gestational ages (GA). METHODS This was a retrospective, nested case-control of pregnant women during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (COVID-19 group, n = 14) compared to pre-pandemic healthy controls (n = 19). MRI IVIM protocol at 1.5T was constituted of diffusion-weighted (DW) images with TR/TE = 3100/76 ms and 10 b-values (0,10,30,50,75,100,200,400,700,1000s/mm2). Differences between IVIM parameters D (diffusion), and f (fractional perfusion) quantified in the two groups were evaluated using the ANOVA test with Bonferroni correction and linear correlation between IVIM metrics and GA, COVID-19 duration, the delay time between a positive SARS-CoV-2 test and MRI examination (delay-time exam+) was studied by Pearson-test. RESULTS D was significantly higher in the COVID-19 placentas compared to that of the age-matched healthy group (p < 0.04 in fetal and p < 0.007 in maternal site). No significant difference between f values was found in the two groups suggesting no-specific microstructural damage with no perfusion alteration (potentially quantified by f) in mild/moderate SARS-Cov-2 placentas. A significant negative correlation was found between D and GA in the COVID-19 placentas whereas no significant correlation was found in the control placentas reflecting a possible accelerated senescence process due to COVID-19. DISCUSSION We report impaired microstructural placental development during pregnancy and the absence of perfusion-IVIM parameter changes that may indicate no perfusion changing through microvessels and microvilli in the placentas of pregnancies with mild/moderate SARS-Cov-2 after reaching negativity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Ercolani
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | | | - Alessandra Maiuro
- CNR ISC Roma Sapienza, Physics Department Rome, Italy; Sapienza University of Rome, Physics Department, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Celli
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | | | - Daniele Di Mascio
- Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Porpora
- Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Catalano
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Brunelli
- Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Giancotti
- Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Manganaro
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
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Haider S, Knöfler M, Latos PA. Trophoblast Organoids as a Novel Tool to Study Human Placental Development and Function. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2728:195-222. [PMID: 38019403 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3495-0_17] [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] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
The human placenta provides the site of exchange between the maternal and fetal bloodstreams, acts as an endocrine organ, and has immunological functions. The majority of pregnancy disorders including preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction have their roots in pathological placentation. Yet, the underlying molecular causes of these complications remain largely unknown, not least due to the lack of reliable in vitro models. Recent establishment of 2D human trophoblast stem cells and 3D trophoblast organoids has been a major advancement that opened new avenues for trophoblast research. Here we provide a protocol detailing isolation of cytotrophoblast from the first trimester human placenta, establishment of trophoblast organoids, their culture and differentiation conditions. Overall, we describe an in vitro system that offers an excellent model to study the molecular basis of placental development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Haider
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Placental Development Group, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Martin Knöfler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Placental Development Group, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Paulina A Latos
- Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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32
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Adu-Gyamfi EA, Cheeran EA, Salamah J, Lee BK. Long noncoding RNA H19 in ovarian biology and placenta development. Cell Biochem Funct 2024; 42:e3907. [PMID: 38269505 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3907] [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: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
As the first long noncoding RNA to be discovered, H19 has gained substantial attention as a key regulator of several biological processes and its roles in female reproductive biology are gradually getting revealed. Herein, we have summarized the current evidence regarding H19 expression pattern and involvement in the developmental and pathological processes associated with the ovary and the placenta. The findings indicate that within the ovaries, H19 is expressed in the antral and cystic atretic follicles as well as in the corpora lutea but absent in the primordial, primary, and secondary follicles. Its normal expression promotes the maturation of antral follicles and prevents their premature selection for the ovulatory journey while its aberrant induction promotes polycystic ovary syndrome development and ovarian cancer metastasis. In the placenta, H19 is highly expressed in the cytotrophoblasts and extravillous trophoblasts but weakly expressed in the syncytiotrophoblast layer and potentially controls trophoblast cell fate decisions during placenta development. Abnormal expression of H19 is observed in the placental villi of pregnancies affected by pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction. Therefore, dysregulated H19 is a candidate biomarker and therapeutic target for the mitigation of ovarian and placenta-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enoch Appiah Adu-Gyamfi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany-State University of New York, Rensselaer, New York, USA
- Cancer Research Center, University at Albany-State University of New York, Rensselaer, New York, USA
| | - Elisha Ann Cheeran
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany-State University of New York, Rensselaer, New York, USA
- Cancer Research Center, University at Albany-State University of New York, Rensselaer, New York, USA
| | - Joudi Salamah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany-State University of New York, Rensselaer, New York, USA
- Cancer Research Center, University at Albany-State University of New York, Rensselaer, New York, USA
| | - Bum-Kyu Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany-State University of New York, Rensselaer, New York, USA
- Cancer Research Center, University at Albany-State University of New York, Rensselaer, New York, USA
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Li X, Jauniaux E. Antenatal fetal growth patterns in uncomplicated pregnancies according to mode of conception and placental location. Placenta 2024; 145:89-91. [PMID: 38109799 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.11.016] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Newborns resulting from in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) had a significantly (P= 0.002) higher birthweight centile than those resulting from spontaneous conception (SC) but no significant changes were found in ultrasound estimated fetal weight (EFW) centile between 20-22 and 32-34 weeks between the IVF and SC groups. When stratified for the IVF methods used, significant (P = 0.02) fastest in-utero fetal growth (mean increase in centile of 5 between 2nd to 3rd trimester) was observed in the frozen embryo transfer (FET) subgroup compared to SC, and to IVF pregnancies resulting from fresh blastocyst transfer (FBT) or from oocyte donation (OD). Low placentation was significantly (P < 0.001) more common in the IVF group than in the SC group but was not associated with a change in growth pattern suggesting that fetal growth in-utero is independent of placental location but may be influenced by embryo freezing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyan Li
- EGA Institute for Women's Health, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London (UCL), London, UK
| | - Eric Jauniaux
- EGA Institute for Women's Health, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London (UCL), London, UK.
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Toschi P, Viola I, Manenti I, Miretti S, Macchi E, Martignani E, Accornero P, Baratta M. Ovine Trophoblast Cells: Cell Isolation and Culturing from the Placenta at the Early Stage of Pregnancy. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2749:123-133. [PMID: 38133780 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3609-1_12] [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] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Embryo development is dependent upon the exchange of oxygen and nutrients through the placenta, mainly composed of peculiar epithelioid cells, known as trophoblast cells. Normal trophoblast functionality plays a key role during the whole pregnancy, especially in the first stage of placentation. This chapter explains the techniques to obtain sheep primary trophoblast cells from the early placenta. Overall, procedures for cell isolation, culture, characterization, and cryopreservation are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Toschi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy.
| | - Irene Viola
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Isabella Manenti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Silvia Miretti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Macchi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Accornero
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Mario Baratta
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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Seo H, Bazer FW, Johnson GA. Early Syncytialization of the Ovine Placenta Revisited. Results Probl Cell Differ 2024; 71:127-142. [PMID: 37996676 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-37936-9_7] [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] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Placentation is the development of a temporary arrangement between the maternal uterus and blastocyst-derived placental tissues designed to transport nutrients, gases, and other products from the mother to the embryo and fetus. Placentation differs histologically among species, but all types of placentation share the common trait of utilizing highly complex cell-to-cell and tissue-to-tissue morphological and biochemical interactions to remodel the uterine-placental interface. An elegant series of electron microscopy (EM) images supports the classification of ovine placentation as synepitheliochorial, because uterine luminal epithelial (LE) cells are maintained at the uterine-placental interface through incorporation into trophoblast syncytial plaques. In this review, we utilize immunofluorescence microscopy to provide further insights into early syncytialization of the ovine placenta. These observations, based on results using immunofluorescence microscopy, complement and expand, not replace, our understanding of syncytialization in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heewon Seo
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
| | - Fuller W Bazer
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Gregory A Johnson
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Chiorean DM, Cobankent Aytekin E, Mitranovici MI, Turdean SG, Moharer MS, Cotoi OS, Toru HS. Human Placenta and Evolving Insights into Pathological Changes of Preeclampsia: A Comprehensive Review of the Last Decade. Fetal Pediatr Pathol 2024; 43:33-46. [PMID: 37906285 DOI: 10.1080/15513815.2023.2274823] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
The placenta, the foremost and multifaceted organ in fetal and maternal biology, is pivotal in facilitating optimal intrauterine fetal development. Remarkably, despite its paramount significance, the placenta remains enigmatic, meriting greater comprehension given its central influence on the health trajectories of both the fetus and the mother. Preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR), prevailing disorders of pregnancy, stem from compromised placental development. PE, characterized by heightened mortality and morbidity risks, afflicts 5-7% of global pregnancies, its etiology shrouded in ambiguity. Pertinent pathogenic hallmarks of PE encompass inadequate restructuring of uteroplacental spiral arteries, placental ischemia, and elevated levels of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1), also recognized as soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1). During gestation, the placental derivation of sFlt-1 accentuates its role as an inhibitory receptor binding to VEGF-A and placental growth factor (PlGF), curtailing target cell accessibility. This review expounds upon the placenta's defining cellular component of the trophoblast, elucidates the intricacies of PE pathogenesis, underscores the pivotal contribution of sFlt-1 to maternal pathology and fetal safeguarding, and surveys recent therapeutic strides witnessed in the past decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Maria Chiorean
- Department of Pathology, County Clinical Hospital of Targu Mures, Targu Mures, Romania
| | | | | | - Sabin Gligore Turdean
- Department of Pathology, County Clinical Hospital of Targu Mures, Targu Mures, Romania
| | | | - Ovidiu Simion Cotoi
- Department of Pathology, County Clinical Hospital of Targu Mures, Targu Mures, Romania
- Department Pathophysiology, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Targu Mures, Romania, and
| | - Havva Serap Toru
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya Pınarbaşı, Konyaaltı/Antalya, Turkey
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Ashley RL, Trigo EM, Ervin JM. Placental insufficiency and heavier placentas in sheep after suppressing CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling during implantation†. Biol Reprod 2023; 109:982-993. [PMID: 37724932 PMCID: PMC10724462 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad122] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
During implantation, trophoblast cell invasion and differentiation is predominantly important to achieving proper placental formation and embryonic development. The chemokine, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) working through its receptor C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is implicated in implantation and placentation but precise roles of this axis are unclear. Suppressing CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling at the fetal-maternal interface in sheep reduces trophoblast invasion, disrupts uterine remodeling, and diminishes placental vascularization. We hypothesize these negative impacts during implantation will manifest as compromised fetal and placental growth at midgestation. To test, on day 12 postbreeding, osmotic pumps were surgically installed in 30 ewes and delivered intrauterine CXCR4 inhibitor or saline for 7 or 14 days. On day 90, fetal/maternal tissues were collected, measured, weighed, and maternal (caruncle) and fetal (cotyledon) placenta components separated and analyzed. The objectives were to determine if (i) suppressing CXCL12/CXCR4 during implantation results in reduced fetal and placental growth and development and (ii) if varying the amount of time CXCL12/CXCR4 is suppressed impacts fetal/placental development. Fetal weights were similar; however greater placental weight and placentome numbers occurred when CXCL12/CXCR4 was suppressed for 14 days. In caruncles, greater abundance of fibroblast growth factor 2, vascular endothelial growth factor A, vascular endothelial growth factor A receptor 1 (FLT-1), and placental growth factor were observed after suppressing CXCL12/CXCR4. Similar results occurred in cotyledons except less vascular endothelial growth factor in 7 day group and less fibroblast growth factor in 14 day group. Our data underscore the importance of CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling during placentation and provide strong evidence that altering CXCL12-mediated signaling induces enduring placental effects manifesting later in gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan L Ashley
- Department of Animal and Range Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
| | - Elisa M Trigo
- Department of Animal and Range Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
| | - Jacqueline M Ervin
- Department of Animal and Range Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
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Shanahan MA, Bebbington MW. Monochorionic Twins: TTTS, TAPS, and Selective Fetal Growth Restriction. Clin Obstet Gynecol 2023; 66:825-840. [PMID: 37910135 DOI: 10.1097/grf.0000000000000821] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
With an increasing incidence of twin gestations, understanding the inherent risks associated with these pregnancies is essential in modern obstetrics. The unique differences in placentation in monochorionic twins leads to unique complications, including twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, the twin anemia-polycythemia sequence, and selective fetal growth restriction. Not only does the understanding of the monochorionic placenta lead to an understanding of the pathophysiology of the complications of monochorionic twins, but it also has led to the development of highly effective directed fetal therapy via fetoscopic laser coagulation used in twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Shanahan
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
| | - Michael W Bebbington
- Department of Women's Health, Comprehensive Fetal Care Center, University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School, Austin, Texas
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Burton GJ, Moffett A. Trophoblast remodeling of the uterine veins and maternal placental blood flow. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023; 229:704-705. [PMID: 37506752 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.07.035] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Graham J Burton
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Ashley Moffett
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Lyu C, Ni T, Guo Y, Zhou T, Chen Z, Yan J, Li Y. Insufficient GDF15 expression predisposes women to unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss by impairing extravillous trophoblast invasion. Cell Prolif 2023; 56:e13514. [PMID: 37272232 PMCID: PMC10693185 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13514] [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: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Insufficient extravillous trophoblast (EVT) invasion during early placentation has been shown to contribute to recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). However, the regulatory factors involved and their involvement in RPL pathogenesis remain unknown. Here, we found aberrantly decreased growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) levels in both first-trimester villous and serum samples of unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (URPL) patients as compared with normal pregnancies. Moreover, GDF15 knockdown significantly reduced the invasiveness of both HTR-8/SVneo cells and primary human EVT cells and suppressed the Jagged-1 (JAG1)/NOTCH3/HES1 pathway activity, and JAG1 overexpression rescued the invasion phenotype of the GDF15 knockdown cells. Induction of a lipopolysaccharide-induced abortion model in mice resulted in significantly reduced GDF15 level in the placenta and serum, as well as increased rates of embryonic resorption, and these effects were reversed by administration of recombinant GDF15. Our study thus demonstrates that insufficient GDF15 level at the first-trimester maternal-foetal interface contribute to the pathogenesis of URPL by impairing EVT invasion and suppressing JAG1/NOTCH3/HES1 pathway activity, and suggests that supplementation with GDF15 could benefit early pregnancy maintenance and reduce the risk of early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunzi Lyu
- Center for Reproductive MedicineShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of EducationShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Tianxiang Ni
- Center for Reproductive MedicineShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of EducationShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Yaqiu Guo
- Department of AnesthesiologyJinan Maternal and Child Health HospitalJinanShandongChina
| | - Tingting Zhou
- Center for Reproductive MedicineShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of EducationShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Zi‐Jiang Chen
- Center for Reproductive MedicineShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of EducationShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Junhao Yan
- Center for Reproductive MedicineShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of EducationShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Yan Li
- Center for Reproductive MedicineShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of EducationShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Medical Integration and Practice CenterShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Lead Contact
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41
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Slator PJ, Cromb D, Jackson LH, Ho A, Counsell SJ, Story L, Chappell LC, Rutherford M, Hajnal JV, Hutter J, Alexander DC. Non-invasive mapping of human placenta microenvironments throughout pregnancy with diffusion-relaxation MRI. Placenta 2023; 144:29-37. [PMID: 37952367 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.11.002] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In-vivo measurements of placental structure and function have the potential to improve prediction, diagnosis, and treatment planning for a wide range of pregnancy complications, such as fetal growth restriction and pre-eclampsia, and hence inform clinical decision making, ultimately improving patient outcomes. MRI is emerging as a technique with increased sensitivity to placental structure and function compared to the current clinical standard, ultrasound. METHODS We demonstrate and evaluate a combined diffusion-relaxation MRI acquisition and analysis pipeline on a sizable cohort of 78 normal pregnancies with gestational ages ranging from 15 + 5 to 38 + 4 weeks. Our acquisition comprises a combined T2*-diffusion MRI acquisition sequence - which is simultaneously sensitive to oxygenation, microstructure and microcirculation. We analyse our scans with a data-driven unsupervised machine learning technique, InSpect, that parsimoniously identifies distinct components in the data. RESULTS We identify and map seven potential placental microenvironments and reveal detailed insights into multiple microstructural and microcirculatory features of the placenta, and assess their trends across gestation. DISCUSSION By demonstrating direct observation of micro-scale placental structure and function, and revealing clear trends across pregnancy, our work contributes towards the development of robust imaging biomarkers for pregnancy complications and the ultimate goal of a normative model of placental development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paddy J Slator
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, School of Psychology, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK; School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; Centre for Medical Image Computing and Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Daniel Cromb
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Laurence H Jackson
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK; Biomedical Engineering Department, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Alison Ho
- Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Serena J Counsell
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Lisa Story
- Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Lucy C Chappell
- Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mary Rutherford
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Joseph V Hajnal
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK; Biomedical Engineering Department, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jana Hutter
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK; Biomedical Engineering Department, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Daniel C Alexander
- Centre for Medical Image Computing and Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
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Rakoczy J, Watson ED. Folate-depletion alters mouse trophoblast stem cell regulation in vitro. Placenta 2023; 144:64-68. [PMID: 37995442 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.11.009] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Maternal folate deficiency increases risk of congenital malformations, yet its effect on placenta development is unclear. Here, we investigated how folate-depleted culture medium affects the developmental potential of mouse trophoblast stem cells (TSCs). When cultured in stem cell conditions, TSC viability was unaffected by folate depletion, but ectopic differentiation of trophoblast cell subtypes occurred. When cultured in conditions that promote differentiation, folate-depleted TSCs were driven towards a syncytiotrophoblast cell fate potentially at the expense of other lineages. Additionally, trophoblast giant cell nuclei were small implicating folate in the regulation of endoreduplication. Therefore, dietary folate intake likely promotes trophoblast development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Rakoczy
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Erica D Watson
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK.
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Wen B, Liao H, Lin W, Li Z, Ma X, Xu Q, Yu F. The Role of TGF-β during Pregnancy and Pregnancy Complications. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16882. [PMID: 38069201 PMCID: PMC10706464 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316882] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), a multifunctional cytokine, is one of the most important inflammatory cytokines closely related to pregnancy. It plays significant roles in hormone secretion, placental development, and embryonic growth during pregnancy. TGF-β is implicated in embryo implantation and inhibits the invasion of extraepithelial trophoblast cells. It also moderates the mother-fetus interaction by adjusting the secretion pattern of immunomodulatory factors in the placenta, consequently influencing the mother's immune cells. The TGF-β family regulates the development of the nervous, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems by regulating gene expression. Furthermore, TGF-β has been associated with various pregnancy complications. An increase in TGF-β levels can induce the occurrences of pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus, while a decrease can lead to recurrent miscarriage due to the interference of the immune tolerance environment. This review focuses on the role of TGF-β in embryo implantation and development, providing new insights for the clinical prevention and treatment of pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baohong Wen
- Basic Medical Experiment Teaching Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (B.W.); (H.L.); (W.L.); (Z.L.); (X.M.)
| | - Huixin Liao
- Basic Medical Experiment Teaching Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (B.W.); (H.L.); (W.L.); (Z.L.); (X.M.)
| | - Weilin Lin
- Basic Medical Experiment Teaching Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (B.W.); (H.L.); (W.L.); (Z.L.); (X.M.)
| | - Zhikai Li
- Basic Medical Experiment Teaching Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (B.W.); (H.L.); (W.L.); (Z.L.); (X.M.)
| | - Xiaoqing Ma
- Basic Medical Experiment Teaching Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (B.W.); (H.L.); (W.L.); (Z.L.); (X.M.)
| | - Qian Xu
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Feiyuan Yu
- Basic Medical Experiment Teaching Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (B.W.); (H.L.); (W.L.); (Z.L.); (X.M.)
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
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Zhao H, Wong RJ, Stevenson DK. The placental vasculature is affected by changes in gene expression and glycogen-rich cells in a diet-induced obesity mouse model. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294185. [PMID: 37948457 PMCID: PMC10637699 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294185] [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: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal obesity is a risk factor for pregnancy complications. Obesity caused by a high-fat diet (HFD) may alter maternal glucose/glycogen metabolism. Here, our objective was to investigate whether the placental vasculature is altered via changes in gene expression and glycogen-rich cells using a preclinical mouse model of diet-induced obesity. We subjected female FVB/N mice to one of three feeding regimens: regular chow (RC) given at preconception and during pregnancy (Control); RC given at preconception and then a HFD during pregnancy (HFD-P); or HFD initiated 4 weeks preconception and during pregnancy (HFD-PreCP). Daily food consumption and weekly maternal weights were recorded. Maternal blood glucose levels were measured at preconception and 4 gestational epochs (E6.5-E9.5, E10.5-E12.5, E13.5-E15.5, E16.5-E19.5). At E8.5-E16.5, total RNA in placentas were isolated for gene expression analyses. Placentas were also collected for HE and periodic acid Schiff's (PAS) staining and glycogen content assays. Dams in the HFD-P and HFD-PreCP groups gained significantly more weight than controls. Pre- and antenatal glucose levels were also significantly higher (15%-30%) in HFD-PreCP dams. Expression of several placental genes were also altered in HFD dams compared with controls. Consumption of the HFD also led to phenotypic and morphologic changes in glycogen trophoblasts (GlyTs) and uterine natural killer (uNK) cells. Alterations in vascularity were also observed in the labyrinth of HFD-PreCP placentas, which correlated with decreased placental efficiency. Overall, we observed that a HFD induces gestational obesity in mice, alters expression of placental genes, affects glucose homeostasis, and alters glycogen-positive GlyTs and uNK cells. All these changes may lead to impaired placental vascular development, and thus heighten the risk for pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Ronald J. Wong
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - David K. Stevenson
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
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Parisi F, Fenizia C, Introini A, Zavatta A, Scaccabarozzi C, Biasin M, Savasi V. The pathophysiological role of estrogens in the initial stages of pregnancy: molecular mechanisms and clinical implications for pregnancy outcome from the periconceptional period to end of the first trimester. Hum Reprod Update 2023; 29:699-720. [PMID: 37353909 PMCID: PMC10628507 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmad016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Estrogens regulate disparate female physiological processes, thus ensuring reproduction. Altered estrogen levels and signaling have been associated with increased risks of pregnancy failure and complications, including hypertensive disorders and low birthweight babies. However, the role of estrogens in the periconceptional period and early pregnancy is still understudied. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE This review aims to summarize the current evidence on the role of maternal estrogens during the periconceptional period and the first trimester of pregnancies conceived naturally and following ART. Detailed molecular mechanisms and related clinical impacts are extensively described. SEARCH METHODS Data for this narrative review were independently identified by seven researchers on Pubmed and Embase databases. The following keywords were selected: 'estrogens' OR 'estrogen level(s)' OR 'serum estradiol' OR 'estradiol/estrogen concentration', AND 'early pregnancy' OR 'first trimester of pregnancy' OR 'preconceptional period' OR 'ART' OR 'In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)' OR 'Embryo Transfer' OR 'Frozen Embryo Transfer' OR 'oocyte donation' OR 'egg donation' OR 'miscarriage' OR 'pregnancy outcome' OR 'endometrium'. OUTCOMES During the periconceptional period (defined here as the critical time window starting 1 month before conception), estrogens play a crucial role in endometrial receptivity, through the activation of paracrine/autocrine signaling. A derailed estrogenic milieu within this period seems to be detrimental both in natural and ART-conceived pregnancies. Low estrogen levels are associated with non-conception cycles in natural pregnancies. On the other hand, excessive supraphysiologic estrogen concentrations at time of the LH peak correlate with lower live birth rates and higher risks of pregnancy complications. In early pregnancy, estrogen plays a massive role in placentation mainly by modulating angiogenic factor expression-and in the development of an immune-tolerant uterine micro-environment by remodeling the function of uterine natural killer and T-helper cells. Lower estrogen levels are thought to trigger abnormal placentation in naturally conceived pregnancies, whereas an estrogen excess seems to worsen pregnancy development and outcomes. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Most current evidence available endorses a relation between periconceptional and first trimester estrogen levels and pregnancy outcomes, further depicting an optimal concentration range to optimize pregnancy success. However, how estrogens co-operate with other factors in order to maintain a fine balance between local tolerance towards the developing fetus and immune responses to pathogens remains elusive. Further studies are highly warranted, also aiming to identify the determinants of estrogen response and biomarkers for personalized estrogen administration regimens in ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Parisi
- Department of Woman, Mother and Neonate, 'V. Buzzi' Children Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, via L. Castelvetro 32, Milan, Italy
| | - C Fenizia
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, via F. Sforza 35, Milan 20122, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, "L.Sacco" Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, via G.B. Grassi 74, Milan 20157, Italy
| | - A Introini
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Nobels väg 5, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - A Zavatta
- Department of Woman, Mother and Neonate, 'V. Buzzi' Children Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, via L. Castelvetro 32, Milan, Italy
| | - C Scaccabarozzi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, "L.Sacco" Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, via G.B. Grassi 74, Milan 20157, Italy
| | - M Biasin
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, "L.Sacco" Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, via G.B. Grassi 74, Milan 20157, Italy
| | - V Savasi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, "L.Sacco" Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, via G.B. Grassi 74, Milan 20157, Italy
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Violette CJ, Mandelbaum RS, Matsuzaki S, Ouzounian JG, Paulson RJ, Matsuo K. Assessment of abnormal placentation in pregnancies conceived with assisted reproductive technology. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2023; 163:555-562. [PMID: 37183534 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14850] [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: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the association between assisted reproductive technology (ART) and abnormal placentation. METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study querying the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample. The study population included 14, 970, 064 deliveries for national estimates from January 2012 to September 2015. The exposure was 48, 240 pregnancies after ART. The main outcome measure encompassed three abnormal placentation pathologies (placenta previa [PP], placenta accreta spectrum [PAS], and vasa previa [VP]). Propensity score matching was performed to assess the exposure-outcome association. RESULTS Pregnancy after ART was more likely to have a diagnosis of PAS (2.8 vs 1.0 per 1000 deliveries; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.06 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.44-2.93]), PP (24.5 vs 8.6 per 1000; aOR, 2.98 [95% CI, 2.64-3.35]), and VP (2.3 vs <0.3 per 1000; aOR, 11.3 [95% CI, 5.86-21.8]) compared with pregnancy without ART. Similarly, pregnancy after ART was associated with an increased likelihood of having multiple types of abnormal placentation, including VP with PP (aOR, 15.4 [95% CI, 6.15-38.4]) and PAS with PP (aOR, 2.80 [95% CI, 1.32-5.92]) compared with non-ART pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS This national-level analysis suggests that pregnancy after ART is associated with a significantly increased risk of abnormal placentation, including PAS, PP, and VP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline J Violette
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Rachel S Mandelbaum
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Shinya Matsuzaki
- Department of Gynecology, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
| | - Joseph G Ouzounian
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Richard J Paulson
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Koji Matsuo
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Jiang PY, Lin S, Liu JR, Liu Y, Zheng LM, Hong Q, Fan YJ, Xu DX, Chen YH. Paternal lipopolysaccharide exposure induced intrauterine growth restriction via the inactivation of placental MEST/PI3K/AKT pathway in mice. Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:2929-2941. [PMID: 37603095 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03584-3] [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: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Maternal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure during pregnancy has been related to IUGR. Here, we explored whether paternal LPS exposure before mating impaired fetal development. All male mice except controls were intraperitoneally injected with LPS every other day for a total of five injections. The next day after the last LPS, male mice were mated with untreated female mice. Interestingly, fetal weight and crown-rump length were reduced, while the incidence of IUGR was increased in paternal LPS exposure group. Additionally, paternal LPS exposure leaded to poor placental development through causing cell proliferation inhibition and apoptosis. Additional experiment demonstrated that the inactivation of placental PI3K/AKT pathway might be involved in paternal LPS-induced cell proliferation inhibition and apoptosis of trophoblast cells. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein levels of mesoderm specific transcript (MEST), a maternally imprinted gene with paternal expression, were significantly decreased in mouse placentas from paternal LPS exposure. Further analysis showed that paternal LPS exposure caused the inactivation of placental PI3K/AKT pathway and then cell proliferation inhibition and apoptosis might be via down-regulating placental MEST. Overall, our results provide evidence that paternal LPS exposure causes poor placental development and subsequently IUGR may be via down-regulating MEST/PI3K/AKT pathway, and then inducing cell proliferation inhibition and apoptosis in placentas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Ying Jiang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Shuai Lin
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Jie-Ru Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Yan Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Li-Ming Zheng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Qiang Hong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Yi-Jun Fan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - De-Xiang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Yuan-Hua Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
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48
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Zhang Y, Lv J, Fan YJ, Tao L, Xu J, Tang W, Sun N, Zhao LL, Xu DX, Huang Y. Evaluating the Effect of Gestational Exposure to Perfluorohexane Sulfonate on Placental Development in Mice Combining Alternative Splicing and Gene Expression Analyses. Environ Health Perspect 2023; 131:117011. [PMID: 37995155 PMCID: PMC10666825 DOI: 10.1289/ehp13217] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) is a frequently detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance in most populations, including in individuals who are pregnant, a period critical for early life development. Despite epidemiological evidence of exposure, developmental toxicity, particularly at realistic human exposures, remains understudied. OBJECTIVES We evaluated the effect of gestational exposure to human-relevant body burden of PFHxS on fetal and placental development and explored mechanisms of action combining alternative splicing (AS) and gene expression (GE) analyses. METHODS Pregnant ICR mice were exposed to 0, 0.03, and 0.3 μ g / kg / day from gestational day 7 to day 17 via oral gavage. Upon euthanasia, PFHxS distribution was measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Maternal and fetal phenotypes were recorded, and histopathology was examined for placenta impairment. Multiomics was adopted by combining AS and GE analyses to unveil disruptions in mRNA quality and quantity. The key metabolite transporters were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) for quantification and three-dimensional (3D) structural simulation by AlphaFold2. Targeted metabolomics based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect amino acid and amides levels in the placenta. RESULTS Pups developmentally exposed to PFHxS exhibited signs of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), characterized by smaller fetal weight and body length (p < 0.01 ) compared to control mice. PFHxS concentration in maternal plasma was 5.01 ± 0.54 ng / mL . PFHxS trans-placenta distribution suggested dose-dependent transfer through placental barrier. Histopathology of placenta of exposed dams showed placental dysplasia, manifested with an attenuated labyrinthine layer area and deescalated blood sinus counts and placental vascular development index marker CD34. Combined GE and AS analyses pinpointed differences in genes associated with key biological processes of placental development, proliferation, metabolism, and transport in placenta of exposed dams compared to that of control dams. Further detection of placental key transporter gene expression, protein structure simulation, and amino acid and amide metabolites levels suggested that PFHxS exposure during pregnancy led to impairment of placental amino acid transportation. DISCUSSION The findings from this study suggest that exposure to human-relevant very-low-dose PFHxS during pregnancy in mice caused IUGR, likely via downregulating of placental amino acid transporters, thereby impairing placental amino acid transportation, resulting in impairment of placental development. Our findings confirm epidemiological findings and call for future attention on the health risk of this persistent yet ubiquitous chemical in the early developmental stage and provide a new approach for understanding gene expression from both quantitative and qualitative omics approaches in toxicological studies. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13217.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihao Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jia Lv
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yi-Jun Fan
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Second Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Lin Tao
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jingjing Xu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Weitian Tang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Nan Sun
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ling-Li Zhao
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - De-Xiang Xu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the PRC, Hefei, China
| | - Yichao Huang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the PRC, Hefei, China
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Pronovost GN, Yu KB, Coley-O’Rourke EJ, Telang SS, Chen AS, Vuong HE, Williams DW, Chandra A, Rendon TK, Paramo J, Kim RH, Hsiao EY. The maternal microbiome promotes placental development in mice. Sci Adv 2023; 9:eadk1887. [PMID: 37801498 PMCID: PMC10558122 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk1887] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
The maternal microbiome is an important regulator of gestational health, but how it affects the placenta as the interface between mother and fetus remains unexplored. Here, we show that the maternal gut microbiota supports placental development in mice. Depletion of the maternal gut microbiota restricts placental growth and impairs feto-placental vascularization. The maternal gut microbiota modulates metabolites in the maternal and fetal circulation. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) stimulate cultured endothelial cell tube formation and prevent abnormalities in placental vascularization in microbiota-deficient mice. Furthermore, in a model of maternal malnutrition, gestational supplementation with SCFAs prevents placental growth restriction and vascular insufficiency. These findings highlight the importance of host-microbial symbioses during pregnancy and reveal that the maternal gut microbiome promotes placental growth and vascularization in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey N. Pronovost
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kristie B. Yu
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Elena J. L. Coley-O’Rourke
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sahil S. Telang
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Angela S. Chen
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Helen E. Vuong
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Drake W. Williams
- The Shapiro Family Laboratory of Viral Oncology and Aging Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Anisha Chandra
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tomiko K. Rendon
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jorge Paramo
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Reuben H. Kim
- The Shapiro Family Laboratory of Viral Oncology and Aging Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Elaine Y. Hsiao
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- UCLA Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center, Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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50
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Vasquez-Hidalgo MA, Grazul-Bilska AT, Swanson KC, Perry GA, Vonnahme KA. Timing and duration of nutrient restriction and its impacts on placental development and umbilical blood flow in adolescent sheep. Theriogenology 2023; 209:21-30. [PMID: 37354757 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.06.016] [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: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
We hypothesized that nutrient restriction from day 50-90 of gestation decreases umbilical blood flow and that umbilical blood flow would recover to control values upon realimentation during late gestation (d 90 to 130) or remain reduced in ewes that continued to be nutrient restricted. On d 50 of gestation, young nulliparous whiteface ewes (6-8 mo; n = 41) carrying singletons were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments: 100% of NRC recommendations (CON) or 60% of CON (RES). On d 90 of gestation, ewes either remained on CON or RES until d 130, or CON ewes were RES from d 90 to 130, or RES ewes were realimented to CON from d 90 to 130. This resulted in 4 treatment groups on day 130: CON-CON, CON-RES, RES-RES, RES-CON. Umbilical blood flow and fetal and placental measurements were obtained via ultrasonography every 10 days from day 50-110. Non-survival surgeries were performed on days 50, 90, and 130 (n = 6-7 ewes/group) where uterine artery and umbilical blood flows were measured during surgery via ultrasonography. Conceptus weights were recorded and placentomes collected to determine binucleate cell numbers. The study was conducted as a completely randomized design arrangement with repeated measures. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. There was a nutritional treatment by day interaction (P < 0.01) with CON ewes having greater umbilical blood flow compared with RES by d 90. Fetal biparietal distance, abdominal width, and kidney area increased (P < 0.05) in CON-RES with all these measurements increasing during late gestation. We partially accept our hypothesis as nutrient restriction during mid gestation decreased umbilical blood flow. However, blood flow did not return to control levels upon realimentation. By d 130, fetal and placental weights were similar between RES-RES and CON-CON. Binucleate cell numbers in the fetal trophoblast were not influenced by nutritional treatments. Our findings suggest that refeeding previously nutrient restricted pregnant adolescent ewes to control levels does not reestablish umbilical blood flow. Adequate placental development during mid gestation could protect the fetus from a decreased umbilical blood flow later in gestation when nutrients were limited by 40%.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Vasquez-Hidalgo
- Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Dept 7630 PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND, 58108-6050, USA
| | - A T Grazul-Bilska
- Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Dept 7630 PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND, 58108-6050, USA
| | - K C Swanson
- Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Dept 7630 PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND, 58108-6050, USA
| | - G A Perry
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 1710 FM 3053 N, Overton, Tx, 75684, USA
| | - K A Vonnahme
- Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Dept 7630 PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND, 58108-6050, USA.
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