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Kajdy A, Sys D, Modzelewski J, Bogusławska J, Cymbaluk-Płoska A, Kwiatkowska E, Bednarek-Jędrzejek M, Borowski D, Stefańska K, Rabijewski M, Baran A, Torbe A, Feduniw S, Kwiatkowski S. Evidence of Placental Aging in Late SGA, Fetal Growth Restriction and Stillbirth-A Systematic Review. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1785. [PMID: 37509425 PMCID: PMC10376283 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
During pregnancy, the placenta undergoes a natural aging process, which is considered normal. However, it has been hypothesized that an abnormally accelerated and premature aging of the placenta may contribute to placenta-related health issues. Placental senescence has been linked to several obstetric complications, including abnormal fetal growth, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and stillbirth, with stillbirth being the most challenging. A systematic search was conducted on Pubmed, Embase, and Scopus databases. Twenty-two full-text articles were identified for the final synthesis. Of these, 15 presented original research and 7 presented narrative reviews. There is a paucity of evidence in the literature on the role of placental aging in late small for gestational age (SGA), fetal growth restriction (FGR), and stillbirth. For future research, guidelines for both planning and reporting research must be implemented. The inclusion criteria should include clear differentiation between early and late SGA and FGR. As for stillbirths, only those with no other known cause of stillbirth should be included in the studies. This means excluding stillbirths due to congenital defects, infections, placental abruption, and maternal conditions affecting feto-maternal hemodynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kajdy
- First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-004 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dorota Sys
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-828 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jan Modzelewski
- First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-004 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Bogusławska
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aneta Cymbaluk-Płoska
- Department of Gynecological Surgery and Gynecological Oncology of Adults and Adolescents, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Ewa Kwiatkowska
- Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | | | - Dariusz Borowski
- Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Provincial Combined Hospital in Kielce, 25-736 Kielce, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Stefańska
- Department of Obstetrics, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Michał Rabijewski
- Department of Reproductive Health, Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Żelazna 90 St., 01-004 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Arkadiusz Baran
- First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-004 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Torbe
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Stepan Feduniw
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Kwiatkowski
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
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2
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Zavatta A, Parisi F, Mandò C, Scaccabarozzi C, Savasi VM, Cetin I. Role of Inflammaging on the Reproductive Function and Pregnancy. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2023; 64:145-160. [PMID: 35031955 PMCID: PMC8760119 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-021-08907-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
During female lifetime and pregnancy, inflammation and cellular senescence are implicated in physiological processes, from ovulation and menstruation, to placental homeostasis and delivery. Several lifestyles, nutritional, and environmental insults, as well as long-lasting pregestational inflammatory diseases may lead to detrimental effects in promoting and sustaining a chronic excessive inflammatory response and inflammaging, which finally contribute to the decay of fertility and pregnancy outcome, with a negative effect on placental function, fetal development, and future health risk profile in the offspring. Maladaptation to pregnancy and obstetric disease may in turn increase maternal inflammaging in a feedback loop, speeding up aging processes and outbreak of chronic diseases. Maternal inflammaging may also impact, through transgenerational effects, on future adult health. Hence, efficacious interventions should be implemented by physicians and healthcare professionals involved in prevention activities to reduce the modifiable factors contributing to the inflammaging process in order to improve public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Zavatta
- Department of Woman Mother and Neonate 'V. Buzzi' Children Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20154, Milan, Italy
- Department of Woman Mother and Neonate 'L. Sacco' Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Parisi
- Department of Woman Mother and Neonate 'V. Buzzi' Children Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20154, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Mandò
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, "Luigi Sacco", University of Milan, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Scaccabarozzi
- Department of Woman Mother and Neonate 'L. Sacco' Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria M Savasi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, "Luigi Sacco", University of Milan, 20157, Milan, Italy
- Department of Woman Mother and Neonate 'L. Sacco' Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Irene Cetin
- Department of Woman Mother and Neonate 'V. Buzzi' Children Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20154, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, "Luigi Sacco", University of Milan, 20157, Milan, Italy.
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3
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Farfán-Labonne B, Leff-Gelman P, Pellón-Díaz G, Camacho-Arroyo I. Cellular senescence in normal and adverse pregnancy. Reprod Biol 2023; 23:100734. [PMID: 36773450 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2023.100734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Cellular senescence (CS) is defined as a state of terminal proliferation arrest accompanied by morphological alterations, pro-inflammatory phenotype, and metabolic changes. In recent years, the implications of senescence in numerous physiological and pathological conditions such as development, tissue repair, aging, or cancer have been evident. Some inductors of senescence are tissue repair pathways, telomere shortening, DNA damage, degenerative disorders, and wound healing. Lately, it has been demonstrated that CS plays a decisive role in the development and progression of healthy pregnancy and labor. Premature maternal-fetal tissues senescence (placenta, choriamniotic membranes, and endothelium) is implicated in many adverse pregnancy outcomes, including fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and intrauterine fetal death. Here we discuss cellular senescence and its association with normal pregnancy development and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Current evidence allows us to establish the relevance of CS in processes associated with the appropriate development of placentation, the progression of pregnancy, and the onset of labor; likewise, it allows us to understand the undeniable participation of CS deregulation in pathological processes associated with pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Farfán-Labonne
- Departamento de Fisiología y Desarrollo Celular, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología "Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes", México.
| | - Philippe Leff-Gelman
- Coordinación de Salud Mental, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología "Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes", México
| | - Gabriela Pellón-Díaz
- Coordinación de Salud Mental, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología "Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes", México
| | - Ignacio Camacho-Arroyo
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México.
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4
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Manna S, Mc Elwain CJ, Maher GM, Giralt Martín M, Musumeci A, McCarthy FP, McCarthy C. Heterogenous Differences in Cellular Senescent Phenotypes in Pre-Eclampsia and IUGR following Quantitative Assessment of Multiple Biomarkers of Senescence. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043101. [PMID: 36834513 PMCID: PMC9963163 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Premature ageing of the placenta in pregnancy outcomes is associated with the persistent presence of oxidative stress and placental insufficiency reducing its functional capacity. In this study, we investigated cellular senescence phenotypes of pre-eclampsia and IUGR pregnancies by simultaneously measuring several biomarkers of senescence. Maternal plasma and placental samples were collected at term gestation from nulliparous women undergoing pre-labour elective caesarean section with pre-eclampsia without intrauterine growth restriction (PE; n = 5), pre-eclampsia associated with intrauterine growth restriction (n = 8), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR < 10th centile; n = 6), and age-matched controls (n = 20). Placental absolute telomere length and senescence gene analysis was performed by RTqPCR. The expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (p21 and p16) was determined by Western blot. Senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASPs) were evaluated in maternal plasma by multiplex ELISA assay. Placental expression of senescence-associated genes showed significant increases in CHEK1, PCNA, PTEN, CDKN2A, and CCNB-1 (p < 0.05) in pre-eclampsia, while TBX-2, PCNA, ATM, and CCNB-1 expression were evident (p < 0.05) and were significantly decreased in IUGR compared with controls. Placental p16 protein expression was significantly decreased in pre-eclampsia only compared with controls (p = 0.028). IL-6 was significantly increased in pre-eclampsia (0.54 pg/mL ± 0.271 vs. 0.3 pg/mL ± 0.102; p = 0.017) while IFN-γ was significantly increased in IUGR (4.6 pg/mL ± 2.2 vs. 2.17 pg/mL ± 0.8; p = 0.002) compared with controls. These results provide evidence of premature senescence in IUGR pregnancies, and while cell cycle checkpoint regulators are activated in pre-eclampsia, the cellular phenotype is one of cell repair and subsequent proliferation rather than progression to senescence. The heterogeneity of these cellular phenotypes highlights the complexity of characterising cellular senescence and may equally be indicative of the differing pathophysiological insults unique to each obstetric complication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samprikta Manna
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cork University Maternity Hospital, University College Cork, T12 YE02 Cork, Ireland
- INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, T12 K8AF Cork, Ireland
| | - Colm J. Mc Elwain
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, T12 XF62 Cork, Ireland
| | - Gillian M. Maher
- INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, T12 K8AF Cork, Ireland
- School of Public Health, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, T12 XF62 Cork, Ireland
| | - Marta Giralt Martín
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, T12 XF62 Cork, Ireland
| | - Andrea Musumeci
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, T12 XF62 Cork, Ireland
| | - Fergus P. McCarthy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cork University Maternity Hospital, University College Cork, T12 YE02 Cork, Ireland
- INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, T12 K8AF Cork, Ireland
- Correspondence:
| | - Cathal McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, T12 XF62 Cork, Ireland
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Franzago M, Pilenzi L, Di Rado S, Vitacolonna E, Stuppia L. The epigenetic aging, obesity, and lifestyle. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:985274. [PMID: 36176280 PMCID: PMC9514048 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.985274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of obesity has dramatically increased worldwide over the past decades. Aging-related chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, are more prevalent in individuals with obesity, thus reducing their lifespan. Epigenetic clocks, the new metrics of biological age based on DNA methylation patterns, could be considered a reflection of the state of one’s health. Several environmental exposures and lifestyle factors can induce epigenetic aging accelerations, including obesity, thus leading to an increased risk of age-related diseases. The insight into the complex link between obesity and aging might have significant implications for the promotion of health and the mitigation of future disease risk. The present narrative review takes into account the interaction between epigenetic aging and obesity, suggesting that epigenome may be an intriguing target for age-related physiological changes and that its modification could influence aging and prolong a healthy lifespan. Therefore, we have focused on DNA methylation age as a clinical biomarker, as well as on the potential reversal of epigenetic age using a personalized diet- and lifestyle-based intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marica Franzago
- Department of Medicine and Aging, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Lucrezia Pilenzi
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
- Department of Psychological Health and Territorial Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Sara Di Rado
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Ester Vitacolonna
- Department of Medicine and Aging, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Liborio Stuppia
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
- Department of Psychological Health and Territorial Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
- *Correspondence: Liborio Stuppia,
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Edelson PK, Sawyer MR, Gray KJ, Cantonwine DE, McElrath TF, Phillippe M. Increase in short telomeres during the third trimester in human placenta. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271415. [PMID: 35830448 PMCID: PMC9278733 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
An increase in telomere shortening in gestational tissues has been proposed as a mechanism involved in the timing for the initiation of parturition. An increase in very short telomeres with increasing gestational age has been observed in mice; this study sought to explore this phenomenon in human pregnancies. Specifically, this study addressed the hypothesis that prior to labor, the quantity of very short telomeres (<3 kilobase (kb) lengths) increases in human placental tissue as term gestation approaches. The primary outcome was the quantity of very short telomeres present in placental tissue. Quantitative measurements of very short telomeres were performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) adaptation of the telomere restriction fragment technique. Placental tissue from 69 pregnant individuals were included. Mean gestational age was 39.1 weeks (term) and 36.2 weeks (preterm). For term versus preterm placentas, the observed increase in very short telomeres were as follows: 500 bp telomeres increased by 1.67-fold (p < 0.03); 1 kb telomeres increased 1.67-fold (p < 0.08); and 3 kb telomeres increased 5.20-fold (p < 0.001). This study confirms a significant increase in very short telomeres in human placental tissue at term; thereby supporting the hypothesis that telomere shortening at term contributes to the mechanism that determine the length of pregnancy thereby leading to onset of parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula K. Edelson
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Michala R. Sawyer
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kathryn J. Gray
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - David E. Cantonwine
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Thomas F. McElrath
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Mark Phillippe
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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7
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Maternal serum telomerase levels increase in pregnancies with mild and severe preeclampsia. Placenta 2022; 123:41-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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8
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Garcia-Martin I, Penketh RJA, Garay SM, Jones RE, Grimstead JW, Baird DM, John RM. Symptoms of Prenatal Depression Associated with Shorter Telomeres in Female Placenta. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7458. [PMID: 34299077 PMCID: PMC8306199 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is a common mood disorder during pregnancy impacting one in every seven women. Children exposed to prenatal depression are more likely to be born at a low birth weight and develop chronic diseases later in life. A proposed hypothesis for this relationship between early exposure to adversity and poor outcomes is accelerated aging. Telomere length has been used as a biomarker of cellular aging. We used high-resolution telomere length analysis to examine the relationship between placental telomere length distributions and maternal mood symptoms in pregnancy. METHODS This study utilised samples from the longitudinal Grown in Wales (GiW) study. Women participating in this study were recruited at their presurgical appointment prior to a term elective caesarean section (ELCS). Women completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and trait subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Telomere length distributions were generated using single telomere length analysis (STELA) in 109 term placenta (37-42 weeks). Multiple linear regression was performed to examine the relationship between maternally reported symptoms of depression and anxiety at term and mean placental telomere length. RESULTS Prenatal depression symptoms were significantly negatively associated with XpYp telomere length in female placenta (B = -0.098, p = 0.026, 95% CI -0.184, -0.012). There was no association between maternal depression symptoms and telomere length in male placenta (B = 0.022, p = 0.586, 95% CI -0.059, 0.103). There was no association with anxiety symptoms and telomere length for either sex. CONCLUSION Maternal prenatal depression is associated with sex-specific differences in term placental telomeres. Telomere shortening in female placenta may indicate accelerated placental aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Garcia-Martin
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, UK; (I.G.-M.); (S.M.G.)
| | - Richard J. A. Penketh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XW, UK;
| | - Samantha M. Garay
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, UK; (I.G.-M.); (S.M.G.)
| | - Rhiannon E. Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XW, UK; (R.E.J.); (J.W.G.); (D.M.B.)
| | - Julia W. Grimstead
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XW, UK; (R.E.J.); (J.W.G.); (D.M.B.)
| | - Duncan M. Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XW, UK; (R.E.J.); (J.W.G.); (D.M.B.)
| | - Rosalind M. John
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, UK; (I.G.-M.); (S.M.G.)
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9
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Telomeres and replicative cellular aging of the human placenta and chorioamniotic membranes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5115. [PMID: 33664422 PMCID: PMC7933277 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84728-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent hypotheses propose that the human placenta and chorioamniotic membranes (CAMs) experience telomere length (TL)-mediated senescence. These hypotheses are based on mean TL (mTL) measurements, but replicative senescence is triggered by short and dysfunctional telomeres, not mTL. We measured short telomeres by a vanguard method, the Telomere shortest length assay, and telomere-dysfunction-induced DNA damage foci (TIF) in placentas and CAMs between 18-week gestation and at full-term. Both the placenta and CAMs showed a buildup of short telomeres and TIFs, but not shortening of mTL from 18-weeks to full-term. In the placenta, TIFs correlated with short telomeres but not mTL. CAMs of preterm birth pregnancies with intra-amniotic infection showed shorter mTL and increased proportions of short telomeres. We conclude that the placenta and probably the CAMs undergo TL-mediated replicative aging. Further research is warranted whether TL-mediated replicative aging plays a role in all preterm births.
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10
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Telomere erosion as a placental clock: From placental pathologies to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Placenta 2020; 97:101-107. [PMID: 32792055 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2020.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The placenta provides nutritional and gas exchange between fetus and mother. Early in pregnancy, placental trophoblasts proliferate rapidly and invade aggressively. As pregnancy progresses, placental cells begin to age. Indeed, pregnancy itself has a tightly regulated duration, determined in large part by placental lifespan. Late in pregnancy, placental cells reach a senescent apoptotic state, activated by a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including oxidative stress (OS), and DNA damage. Pregnancy complications, stillbirths and neonatal deaths have been related to OS and abnormal placental aging. Telomeres, the protective nucleoprotein structures at the ends of linear chromosomes, shorten both from cell replication and from exposure to OS. When telomeres become critically short they trigger cell cycle arrest and eventually cell death. Telomere attrition thus provide an intrinsic mechanism to explain tissue senescence and aging. Mounting evidence suggests that senescence of placental and fetal membrane cells results from telomere attrition. We review the studies that have addressed the role of telomere length (TL) in placentas from normal and complicated pregnancies, including pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, gestational diabetes, and stillbirth. To date studies have uncovered associations between TL and a number of obstetrical complications. Future research is needed to determine whether these associations are causative, i.e. whether these clinical conditions result from telomere dysfunction, and whether particular features of telomeres, e.g. mean or shortest length, etc. could serve as clinically useful biomarkers of placental health.
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11
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Sun C, Groom KM, Oyston C, Chamley LW, Clark AR, James JL. The placenta in fetal growth restriction: What is going wrong? Placenta 2020; 96:10-18. [PMID: 32421528 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2020.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The placenta is essential for the efficient delivery of nutrients and oxygen from mother to fetus to maintain normal fetal growth. Dysfunctional placental development underpins many pregnancy complications, including fetal growth restriction (FGR) a condition in which the fetus does not reach its growth potential. The FGR placenta is smaller than normal placentae throughout gestation and displays maldevelopment of both the placental villi and the fetal vasculature within these villi. Specialized epithelial cells called trophoblasts exhibit abnormal function and development in FGR placentae. This includes an altered balance between proliferation and apoptotic death, premature cellular senescence, and reduced colonisation of the maternal decidual tissue. Thus, the placenta undergoes aberrant changes at the macroscopic to cellular level in FGR, which can limit exchange capacity and downstream fetal growth. This review aims to compile stereological, in vitro, and imaging data to create a holistic overview of the FGR placenta and its pathophysiology, with a focus on the contribution of trophoblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherry Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand.
| | - Katie M Groom
- Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand
| | - Charlotte Oyston
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand
| | - Lawrence W Chamley
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand
| | - Alys R Clark
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland Bioengineering, House, Level 6/70 Symonds Street, Grafton, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - Joanna L James
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand
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12
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Padula AM, Monk C, Brennan PA, Borders A, Barrett ES, McEvoy C, Foss S, Desai P, Alshawabkeh A, Wurth R, Salafia C, Fichorova R, Varshavsky J, Kress A, Woodruff TJ, Morello-Frosch R. A review of maternal prenatal exposures to environmental chemicals and psychosocial stressors-implications for research on perinatal outcomes in the ECHO program. J Perinatol 2020; 40:10-24. [PMID: 31616048 PMCID: PMC6957228 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-019-0510-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Exposures to environmental chemicals and psychosocial stressors during pregnancy have been individually associated with adverse perinatal outcomes related to birthweight and gestational age, but are not often considered in combination. We review types of psychosocial stressors and instruments used to assess them and classes of environmental chemical exposures that are known to adversely impact perinatal outcomes, and identify studies relevant studies. We discuss the National Institutes of Health's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program that has combined existing longitudinal cohorts that include more than 50,000 children across the U.S. We describe future opportunities for investigators to use this important new resource for addressing relevant and critical research questions to maternal health. Of the 84 cohorts in ECHO, 38 collected data on environmental chemicals and psychosocial stressors and perinatal outcomes. The diverse ECHO pregnancy cohorts provide capacity to compare regions with distinct place-based environmental and social stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M. Padula
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
USA
| | | | | | - Ann Borders
- North Shore University Health System, Evanston, IL,
USA
| | | | | | - Sophie Foss
- Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Preeya Desai
- Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | - Raina Fichorova
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical
School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Amii Kress
- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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13
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Clemente DBP, Maitre L, Bustamante M, Chatzi L, Roumeliotaki T, Fossati S, Grazuleviciene R, Gützkow KB, Lepeule J, Martens DS, McEachan RRC, Meltzer HM, Petraviciene I, Slama R, Tamayo-Uria I, Urquiza J, Vafeiadi M, Wright J, Nawrot TS, Vrijheid M. Obesity is associated with shorter telomeres in 8 year-old children. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18739. [PMID: 31822763 PMCID: PMC6904465 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55283-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere length is considered a biomarker of biological aging. Shorter telomeres and obesity have both been associated with age-related diseases. To evaluate the association between various indices of obesity with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in childhood, data from 1,396 mother-child pairs of the multi-centre European birth cohort study HELIX were used. Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and 4 adiposity markers in children at age 8 (6–11) years were assessed: BMI, fat mass, waist circumference, and skinfold thickness. Relative LTL was obtained. Associations of LTL with each adiposity marker were calculated using linear mixed models with a random cohort effect. For each 1 kg/m² increment in maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, the child’s LTL was 0.23% shorter (95%CI: 0.01,0.46%). Each unit increase in child BMI z-score was associated with 1.21% (95%CI: 0.30,2.11%) shorter LTL. Inverse associations were observed between waist circumference and LTL (−0.96% per z-score unit; 95%CI: −2.06,0.16%), and skinfold thickness and LTL (−0.10% per z-score unit; 95%CI: −0.23,0.02%). In conclusion, this large multicentric study suggests that higher child adiposity indicators are associated with short telomeres in children, and that associations are stronger for child BMI than for maternal pre-pregnancy BMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana B P Clemente
- ISGlobal, Institute for Global Health Barcelona, C/ Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.,Center for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Plaça de la Mercè, 10, 08002, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lea Maitre
- ISGlobal, Institute for Global Health Barcelona, C/ Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Plaça de la Mercè, 10, 08002, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mariona Bustamante
- ISGlobal, Institute for Global Health Barcelona, C/ Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Plaça de la Mercè, 10, 08002, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Madrid, Spain.,Bioinformatics and Genomics Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), C/ Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Leda Chatzi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, University Park Campus, 90089-0911, Los Angeles, USA.,Department of Social Medicine, University of Crete, Andrea Kalokerinou 13, 715 00, Crete, Greece
| | - Theano Roumeliotaki
- Department of Social Medicine, University of Crete, Andrea Kalokerinou 13, 715 00, Crete, Greece
| | - Serena Fossati
- ISGlobal, Institute for Global Health Barcelona, C/ Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Plaça de la Mercè, 10, 08002, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Madrid, Spain
| | - Regina Grazuleviciene
- Department of Environmental Science, Vytautas Magnus University, Donelaičio 58, 44248, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Kristine B Gützkow
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404, Nydalen, NO-0403, Oslo, Norway
| | - Johanna Lepeule
- Inserm and University Grenoble-Alpes, U1209, IAB, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, 110 Rue de la Chimie, 38400, Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France
| | - Dries S Martens
- Center for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Rosie R C McEachan
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, BD9 6RJ, Bradford, UK
| | - Helle M Meltzer
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404, Nydalen, NO-0403, Oslo, Norway
| | - Inga Petraviciene
- Department of Environmental Science, Vytautas Magnus University, Donelaičio 58, 44248, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Rémy Slama
- Inserm and University Grenoble-Alpes, U1209, IAB, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, 110 Rue de la Chimie, 38400, Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France
| | - Ibon Tamayo-Uria
- ISGlobal, Institute for Global Health Barcelona, C/ Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.,Center for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Plaça de la Mercè, 10, 08002, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Statistics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, 02138, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jose Urquiza
- ISGlobal, Institute for Global Health Barcelona, C/ Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Plaça de la Mercè, 10, 08002, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marina Vafeiadi
- Department of Social Medicine, University of Crete, Andrea Kalokerinou 13, 715 00, Crete, Greece
| | - John Wright
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, BD9 6RJ, Bradford, UK
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Center for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.,Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Unit Environment & Health, Leuven University, Oude Markt 13, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- ISGlobal, Institute for Global Health Barcelona, C/ Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain. .,Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Plaça de la Mercè, 10, 08002, Barcelona, Spain. .,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Madrid, Spain.
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14
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JONES CW, ESTEVES KC, GRAY SA, Clarke TN, CALLERAME K, THEALL KP, DRURY SS. The transgenerational transmission of maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): Insights from placental aging and infant autonomic nervous system reactivity. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 106:20-27. [PMID: 30947082 PMCID: PMC6589123 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test alterations in placental cellular aging as one pathway by which maternal early adversity influences physiologic development in her offspring. METHODS Maternal report of her adverse childhood experiences (ACE) was obtained prenatally along with measures of prenatal stress and demographic information. Placentas (N = 67) were collected at birth and telomere length (TL) was measured in four separate fetally-derived placental tissues: amnion, chorion, villus, and umbilical cord. At four months of age, infants completed the still-face paradigm (SFP) during which respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) data were collected; RSA reactivity and RSA recovery was available from 44 and 41 infants respectively. Multi-level mixed effects models examined the impact of maternal ACE score on placental TL. Generalized linear models tested the relation between composite placental TL and infant RSA, as well as the moderation of maternal ACE score and infant RSA by composite placental TL. RESULTS Higher maternal ACE score significantly predicted shorter placental TL across tissues (β = -0.015; P = 0.036) and infant RSA across the SFP. No direct relation was found between placental TL and RSA, however composite placental TL moderated the relation between ACE score and both infant RSA reactivity (β = 0.025; P = 0.005) and RSA recovery (β = -0.028; P = 0.032). In infants with shorter composite placental TL, higher ACE score predicted greater RSA suppression during the still-face epoch relative to play period 1 and greater RSA augmentation during play period 2 relative to the still-face epoch. CONCLUSIONS These data are the first, to our knowledge, to report that changes in placental TL influence the transgenerational impact of maternal early life adversity on the development of her offspring's autonomic nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W. JONES
- New Orleans, LA; Tulane Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Tulane University
| | - Kyle C. ESTEVES
- New Orleans, LA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine
| | - Sarah A.O. GRAY
- New Orleans, LA; Department of Psychology, Tulane University, School of Science and Engineering
| | - Tegan N. Clarke
- New Orleans, LA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine
| | - Keegan CALLERAME
- New Orleans, LA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine
| | - Katherine P. THEALL
- New Orleans, LA; Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
| | - Stacy S. DRURY
- New Orleans, LA; Tulane Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Tulane University; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine
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15
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Apicella C, Ruano CSM, Méhats C, Miralles F, Vaiman D. The Role of Epigenetics in Placental Development and the Etiology of Preeclampsia. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20112837. [PMID: 31212604 PMCID: PMC6600551 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20112837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review, we comprehensively present the function of epigenetic regulations in normal placental development as well as in a prominent disease of placental origin, preeclampsia (PE). We describe current progress concerning the impact of DNA methylation, non-coding RNA (with a special emphasis on long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and microRNA (miRNA)) and more marginally histone post-translational modifications, in the processes leading to normal and abnormal placental function. We also explore the potential use of epigenetic marks circulating in the maternal blood flow as putative biomarkers able to prognosticate the onset of PE, as well as classifying it according to its severity. The correlation between epigenetic marks and impacts on gene expression is systematically evaluated for the different epigenetic marks analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Apicella
- Institut Cochin, U1016 INSERM, UMR8104 CNRS, Université Paris Descartes, 24 rue du faubourg St Jacques, 75014 Paris, France.
| | - Camino S M Ruano
- Institut Cochin, U1016 INSERM, UMR8104 CNRS, Université Paris Descartes, 24 rue du faubourg St Jacques, 75014 Paris, France.
| | - Céline Méhats
- Institut Cochin, U1016 INSERM, UMR8104 CNRS, Université Paris Descartes, 24 rue du faubourg St Jacques, 75014 Paris, France.
| | - Francisco Miralles
- Institut Cochin, U1016 INSERM, UMR8104 CNRS, Université Paris Descartes, 24 rue du faubourg St Jacques, 75014 Paris, France.
| | - Daniel Vaiman
- Institut Cochin, U1016 INSERM, UMR8104 CNRS, Université Paris Descartes, 24 rue du faubourg St Jacques, 75014 Paris, France.
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16
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Oktavianthi S, Fauzi M, Trianty L, Trimarsanto H, Bowolaksono A, Noviyanti R, Malik SG. Placental mitochondrial DNA copy number is associated with reduced birth weight in women with placental malaria. Placenta 2019; 80:1-3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2019.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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17
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Oktavianthi S, Fauzi M, Trianty L, Trimarsanto H, Bowolaksono A, Noviyanti R, Malik SG. WITHDRAWN: Placental mitochondrial DNA copy number is associated with reduced birth weight in women with placental malaria. Placenta 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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18
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Weeg N, Hershko Klement A, Haikin E, Amiel A, Shulman A, Biron-Shental T, Wiser A. The effect of maternal body mass index (BMI) and telomere function on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome: a preliminary cohort study. HUM FERTIL 2019; 23:282-288. [PMID: 30773064 DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2019.1575988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are a specific base sequence of DNA, responsible for chromosome stability and DNA protection. We aimed to investigate the association between telomere systems and IVF outcomes according to patients' BMI. For all telomere characteristics, there was a distinct trend towards shorter telomeres and activation of telomere shortening compensatory mechanisms in the BMI group >25 kg/m2, reaching statistical significance for senescence only (r = 0.7, p value <0.01). There was a trend towards a relationship between telomere length and number of oocytes between telomere length and fertilization rate, but these did not reach a statistical significance. For pregnancy outcome, all telomere characteristics were better for the patients who achieved a pregnancy. While there is paucity of data in the literature concerning the association between telomere characteristics and infertility, telomeres might contribute to the association between obesity and sub-optimal IVF results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Weeg
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Meir Medical Centre, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - Anat Hershko Klement
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Meir Medical Centre, Kfar Saba, Israel.,Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,The IVF Unit, Meir Medical Centre, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - Einat Haikin
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Meir Medical Centre, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - Aliza Amiel
- Department of Cytogenetics, Meir Medical Centre, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - Adrian Shulman
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,The IVF Unit, Meir Medical Centre, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - Tal Biron-Shental
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Meir Medical Centre, Kfar Saba, Israel.,Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Amir Wiser
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,The IVF Unit, Meir Medical Centre, Kfar Saba, Israel
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19
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Finken MJJ, van der Steen M, Smeets CCJ, Walenkamp MJE, de Bruin C, Hokken-Koelega ACS, Wit JM. Children Born Small for Gestational Age: Differential Diagnosis, Molecular Genetic Evaluation, and Implications. Endocr Rev 2018; 39:851-894. [PMID: 29982551 DOI: 10.1210/er.2018-00083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Children born small for gestational age (SGA), defined as a birth weight and/or length below -2 SD score (SDS), comprise a heterogeneous group. The causes of SGA are multifactorial and include maternal lifestyle and obstetric factors, placental dysfunction, and numerous fetal (epi)genetic abnormalities. Short-term consequences of SGA include increased risks of hypothermia, polycythemia, and hypoglycemia. Although most SGA infants show catch-up growth by 2 years of age, ∼10% remain short. Short children born SGA are amenable to GH treatment, which increases their adult height by on average 1.25 SD. Add-on treatment with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist may be considered in early pubertal children with an expected adult height below -2.5 SDS. A small birth size increases the risk of later neurodevelopmental problems and cardiometabolic diseases. GH treatment does not pose an additional risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn J J Finken
- Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, MB Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Manouk van der Steen
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center/Sophia Children's Hospital, CN Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Carolina C J Smeets
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center/Sophia Children's Hospital, CN Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marie J E Walenkamp
- Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, MB Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Christiaan de Bruin
- Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, RC Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Anita C S Hokken-Koelega
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center/Sophia Children's Hospital, CN Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jan M Wit
- Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, RC Leiden, Netherlands
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20
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Farladansky-Gershnabel S, Gal H, Kidron D, Krizhanovsky V, Amiel A, Sukenik-Halevy R, Biron-Shental T. Telomere Homeostasis and Senescence Markers Are Differently Expressed in Placentas From Pregnancies With Early- Versus Late-Onset Preeclampsia. Reprod Sci 2018; 26:1203-1209. [PMID: 30474505 DOI: 10.1177/1933719118811644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early-onset preeclampsia (EOPE; <34 weeks' gestation) usually has more severe morbidity for the mother and fetus compared to late-onset preeclampsia (LOPE). Telomere homeostasis is disrupted in preeclampsia (PE) and senescence markers are increased. The pathophysiologic differences between early and LOPE are not fully unraveled yet. METHODS We studied placental biopsies from 7 pregnancies with EOPE, 6 pregnancies with LOPE, and 13 healthy gestational age-matched controls. Telomere length and aggregate formation were assessed using qualitative fluorescence in situ hybridization and electronic quantitative methods. Senescence markers were evaluated including senescence-associated heterochromatin foci, β-galactosidase (SAβ-Gal), and P16 staining, as was the expression of P16 complementary DNA (cDNA) using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). RESULTS There were no differences in maternal age, gravidity, parity, body mass index, and mode of conception between the study and the control groups. The percentage of trophoblasts with short telomeres was higher in placental samples from EOPE (52.61% [12.27%]) versus LOPE (28.72% [10.14%]); both were higher compared to controls (7.53% [5.14%], P = .03). Aggregate formation was enhanced in EOPE (8.72% [2.49%]) compared to LOPE (4.54% [1.45%]); both were higher than in healthy controls (2.72% [1.08%], P = .03). Trophoblasts from EOPE versus LOPE were more likely to stain positive for SAβ-Gal and P16 compared to controls (P < .001). P16 cDNA expression assayed by RT-qPCR was 7.51 times higher in EOPE compared to controls and 5.86 times higher than in LOPE. CONCLUSIONS Impaired telomere homeostasis and senescence markers are more prominent in EOPE versus LOPE. These findings may contribute to our understanding of the pathophysiology and explain their different clinical presentations and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivan Farladansky-Gershnabel
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.,2 Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Hilah Gal
- 3 Department of Molecular Cell Biology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Debora Kidron
- 2 Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,4 Department of Pathology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - Valery Krizhanovsky
- 3 Department of Molecular Cell Biology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Aliza Amiel
- 5 Genetics Institute, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - Rivka Sukenik-Halevy
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.,2 Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,5 Genetics Institute, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - Tal Biron-Shental
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.,2 Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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21
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Arias-Sosa LA. Understanding the Role of Telomere Dynamics in Normal and Dysfunctional Human Reproduction. Reprod Sci 2018; 26:6-17. [DOI: 10.1177/1933719118804409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luis Alejandro Arias-Sosa
- Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia, School of Biological Science, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia
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22
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Stefa A, Lamprokostopoulou A, Briana DD, Kontogeorgou A, Papageorgiou I, Malamitsi-Puchner A, Tsitsilonis O, Gagos S, Charmandari E. The effect of intrauterine growth on leukocyte telomere length at birth. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2018; 32:3948-3953. [PMID: 29779414 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2018.1479392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Telomeres are specialized nucleoprotein structures located at the ends of chromosomes, which play a crucial role in genomic stability. Telomere shortening has been proposed as a biomarker for the onset of age-related diseases. This study aimed to determine whether restricted or increased intrauterine growth affects leukocyte telomere length (LTL) at birth. Materials and methods: One hundred sixty-five (n = 165) full-term neonates participated in the study. Fetuses were classified as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR, n = 21), large-for-gestational-age (LGA, n = 15), or appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA, n = 129), based on customized birth-weight standards. Mixed arteriovenous cord blood samples were collected for isolation of leukocyte DNA. The LTL was measured using multiplex monochrome quantitative real-time PCR and telomeric restriction fragments through Southern blot analysis (terminal restriction fragment [TRF]). Results: Despite differences among groups in birth weight, length and head circumference, LTL did not differ among AGA (6.78 ± 0.58), IUGR (10.54 ± 1.80), and LGA (11.95 ± 2.42) neonates (p = .098). Cord blood IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 concentrations were higher in the LGA group. LTL positively correlated with birth length (r = 0.176, p = .032). Conclusions: Intrauterine growth does not seem to affect LTL at birth. Further studies, comprising a larger sample size of IUGR, LGA, and AGA neonates, are required to determine whether growth at birth influences LTL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alketa Stefa
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Agaristi Lamprokostopoulou
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Despina D Briana
- Department of Neonatology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Aretaieion University Hospital , Athens , Greece
| | - Anna Kontogeorgou
- Department of Neonatology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Aretaieion University Hospital , Athens , Greece
| | - Ifigeneia Papageorgiou
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital , Athens , Greece
| | - Ariadne Malamitsi-Puchner
- Department of Neonatology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Aretaieion University Hospital , Athens , Greece
| | - Ourania Tsitsilonis
- Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Sarantis Gagos
- Division of Genetics, Center of Experimental Medicine and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Evangelia Charmandari
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens , Athens , Greece.,Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital , Athens , Greece
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23
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Marrs C, Chesmore K, Menon R, Williams S. Maternal human telomerase reverse transcriptase variants are associated with preterm labor and preterm premature rupture of membranes. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195963. [PMID: 29771920 PMCID: PMC5957404 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Premature aging and short telomere lengths of fetal tissues are associated with spontaneous preterm labor (PTL) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM). Maintenance of telomere length is performed by the enzyme telomerase. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is a subunit of telomerase, and its dysfunction affects telomere shortening. This study assessed whether maternal or fetal genetic variations in the hTERT gene are associated with PTL or pPROM. Methods A case (PTL or pPROM) control (term birth) genetic association study was conducted in 654 non-Hispanic white mothers (438 term, 162 PTL, 54 pPROM) and 502 non-Hispanic white newborns (346 term, 116 PTB, 40 pPROM). Maternal and fetal DNA samples were genotyped for 23 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the hTERT gene. Allele frequencies were compared between cases and controls, stratified by PTL and pPROM. Maternal and fetal data were analyzed separately. Results Allelic differences in one SNP of hTERT (rs2853690) were significantly associated with both PTL (adjusted OR 2.24, 95%CI 1.64–3.06, p = 2.32e-05) and with pPROM (adjusted OR 7.54, 95%CI 3.96–14.33, p = 2.39e-07) in maternal DNA. There was no significant association between the hTERT SNPs analyzed and PTL or pPROM in the fetal samples. Conclusion hTERT polymorphisms in fetal DNA do not associate with PTL or pPROM risk; however, maternal genetic variations in hTERT may play a contributory role in risk of PTL and PPROM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Marrs
- The University of Texas Medical Branch, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Galveston TX, United States of America
| | - Kevin Chesmore
- Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover NH, United States of America
| | - Ramkumar Menon
- The University of Texas Medical Branch, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Galveston TX, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Scott Williams
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland OH, United States of America
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Cheng SB, Davis S, Sharma S. Maternal-fetal cross talk through cell-free fetal DNA, telomere shortening, microchimerism, and inflammation. Am J Reprod Immunol 2018; 79:e12851. [PMID: 29577468 PMCID: PMC5908740 DOI: 10.1111/aji.12851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There exists a strong correlation between unscheduled inflammation at the maternal-fetal interface and the continuum of pregnancy complications. In normal pregnancy, immunological tolerance is established to protect the semi-allogeneic fetus. There has been extensive research on how the immunity, endovascular trophoblast migration, and hormonal nexus are orchestrated during pregnancy at the maternal-fetal interface to program a normal pregnancy outcome. It is not clear what contributes to the plasticity of uterine immune tolerance, fetal survial, and long-term post-partum health of the mother and the offspring. Old and new concepts have reemerged and emerged that include cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA), telomere shortening, microchimerism involving bidirectional migration of maternal and fetal cells, and pregnancy as a stress factor. The question is how these pathways converge in a gestational age-dependent manner to contribute to the health of the mother and the offspring later in life and respond to an array of inflammatory challenges. In this Review, we provide pertinent discussion on maternal-fetal cross talk through cffDNA, telomere shortening, and microchimerism in the context of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory settings, particularly how these pathways lead to normal and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Bin Cheng
- Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infants’ Hospital of Rhode Island, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Sarah Davis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Infants’ Hospital of Rhode Island, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Surendra Sharma
- Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infants’ Hospital of Rhode Island, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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Entringer S, de Punder K, Buss C, Wadhwa PD. The fetal programming of telomere biology hypothesis: an update. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 373:20170151. [PMID: 29335381 PMCID: PMC5784074 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Research on mechanisms underlying fetal programming of health and disease risk has focused primarily on processes that are specific to cell types, organs or phenotypes of interest. However, the observation that developmental conditions concomitantly influence a diverse set of phenotypes, the majority of which are implicated in age-related disorders, raises the possibility that such developmental conditions may additionally exert effects via a common underlying mechanism that involves cellular/molecular ageing-related processes. In this context, we submit that telomere biology represents a process of particular interest in humans because, firstly, this system represents among the most salient antecedent cellular phenotypes for common age-related disorders; secondly, its initial (newborn) setting appears to be particularly important for its long-term effects; and thirdly, its initial setting appears to be plastic and under developmental regulation. We propose that the effects of suboptimal intrauterine conditions on the initial setting of telomere length and telomerase expression/activity capacity may be mediated by the programming actions of stress-related maternal-placental-fetal oxidative, immune, endocrine and metabolic pathways in a manner that may ultimately accelerate cellular dysfunction, ageing and disease susceptibility over the lifespan. This perspectives paper provides an overview of each of the elements underlying this hypothesis, with an emphasis on recent developments, findings and future directions.This article is part of the theme issue 'Understanding diversity in telomere dynamics'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Entringer
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Karin de Punder
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Buss
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Pathik D Wadhwa
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
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Sultana Z, Maiti K, Dedman L, Smith R. Is there a role for placental senescence in the genesis of obstetric complications and fetal growth restriction? Am J Obstet Gynecol 2018; 218:S762-S773. [PMID: 29275823 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2017.11.567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The placenta ages as pregnancy advances, yet its continued function is required for a successful pregnancy outcome. Placental aging is a physiological phenomenon; however, there are some placentas that show signs of aging earlier than others. Premature placental senescence and aging are implicated in a number of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia, spontaneous preterm birth, and intrauterine fetal death. Here we discuss cellular senescence, a state of terminal proliferation arrest, and how senescence is regulated. We also explore the role of physiological placental senescence and how aberrant placental senescence alters placental function, contributing to the pathophysiology of fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia, spontaneous preterm labor/birth, and unexplained fetal death.
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Garcia-Martin I, Janssen AB, Jones RE, Grimstead JW, Penketh RJA, Baird DM, John RM. Telomere length heterogeneity in placenta revealed with high-resolution telomere length analysis. Placenta 2017; 59:61-68. [PMID: 29108638 PMCID: PMC5687939 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Revised: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Telomeres, are composed of tandem repeat sequences located at the ends of chromosomes and are required to maintain genomic stability. Telomeres can become shorter due to cell division and specific lifestyle factors. Critically shortened telomeres are linked to cellular dysfunction, senescence and aging. A number of studies have used low resolution techniques to assess telomere length in the placenta. In this study, we applied Single Telomere Length Analysis (STELA) which provides high-resolution chromosome specific telomere length profiles to ask whether we could obtain more detailed information on the length of individual telomeres in the placenta. METHODS Term placentas (37-42 weeks) were collected from women delivering at University Hospital of Wales or Royal Gwent Hospital within 2 h of delivery. Multiple telomere-length distributions were determined using STELA. Intraplacental variation of telomere length was analysed (N = 5). Telomere length distributions were compared between labouring (N = 10) and non-labouring (N = 11) participants. Finally, telomere length was compared between female (N = 17) and male (N = 20) placenta. RESULTS There were no significant influences of sampling site, mode of delivery or foetal sex on the telomere-length distributions obtained. The mean telomere length was 7.7 kb ranging from 5.0 kb to 11.7 kb across all samples (N = 42) and longer compared with other human tissues at birth. STELA also revealed considerable telomere length heterogeneity within samples. CONCLUSIONS We have shown that STELA can be used to study telomere length homeostasis in the placenta regardless of sampling site, mode of delivery and foetal sex. Moreover, as each amplicon is derived from a single telomeric molecule, from a single cell, STELA can reveal the full detail of telomere-length distributions, including telomeres within the length ranges observed in senescent cells. STELA thus provides a new tool to interrogate the relationship between telomere length and pregnancy complications linked to placental dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Garcia-Martin
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, UK
| | - A B Janssen
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, UK
| | - R E Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XN, UK
| | - J W Grimstead
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XN, UK
| | - R J A Penketh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XW, UK
| | - D M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XN, UK
| | - R M John
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, UK.
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Lee SP, Hande P, Yeo GS, Tan EC. Correlation of cord blood telomere length with birth weight. BMC Res Notes 2017; 10:469. [PMID: 28886728 PMCID: PMC5591543 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-017-2791-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Intrauterine growth restriction affects 3% of newborns; and the lightest 10% of whom are classified as small for gestational age (SGA). These low-birth weight newborns are at increased risk of neonatal morbidity such as hypoxia and hypoglycaemia. In later life, they are at higher risk of several age-related diseases such as cardiovascular and metabolic disorders and dementia. As having short telomeres is also associated with these diseases, we tested if these newborns might already start with shorter telomeres at birth. Findings Relative telomere lengths were determined using quantitative real-time PCR in cord blood samples from 195 newborns of Chinese ancestry. Based on the telomere length normalised to a single copy gene and a reference DNA sample as internal control, we found statistically significant correlations between relative telomere length and both unadjusted and gestational age-adjusted birth weight, with the lighter newborns having shorter telomeres. The SGA birth weight group comprising the bottom 10% of the samples also had the shortest telomeres compared to the medium and heaviest birth weight groups. Conclusions Our results indicate that there is reduction of cord blood telomere length for newborns with lower birth weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siew-Peng Lee
- Research Laboratory, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Prakash Hande
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - George Sh Yeo
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ene-Choo Tan
- Research Laboratory, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore, Singapore. .,Paediatrics Academic Clinical Programme, SingHealth Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.
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Zinková A, Marová D, Koperdáková J, Mirchi TP, Korabečná M, Jirkovská M. Relative amount of telomeric sequences in terminal villi does not differ between normal term placentas and placentas from patients with well-controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus. Placenta 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Jones CW, Gambala C, Esteves KC, Wallace M, Schlesinger R, O'Quinn M, Kidd L, Theall KP, Drury SS. Differences in placental telomere length suggest a link between racial disparities in birth outcomes and cellular aging. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2017; 216:294.e1-294.e8. [PMID: 27865975 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2016.11.1027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health disparities begin early in life and persist across the life course. Despite current efforts, black women exhibit greater risk for pregnancy complications and negative perinatal outcomes compared with white women. The placenta, which is a complex multi-tissue organ, serves as the primary transducer of bidirectional information between the mother and fetus. Altered placental function is linked to multiple racially disparate pregnancy complications; however, little is known about racial differences in molecular factors within the placenta. Several pregnancy complications, which include preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction, exhibit racial disparities and are associated with shorter placental telomere length, which is an indicator of cellular stress and aging. Cellular senescence and telomere dynamics are linked to the molecular mechanisms that are associated with the onset of labor and parturition. Further, racial differences in telomere length are found in a range of different peripheral tissues. Together these factors suggest that exploration of racial differences in telomere length of the placenta may provide novel mechanistic insight into racial disparities in birth outcomes. OBJECTIVE This study examined whether telomere length measured in 4 distinct fetally derived tissues were significantly different between black and white women. The study had 2 hypotheses: (1) that telomere length that is measured in different placental tissue types would be correlated and (2) that across all sampled tissues telomere length would differ by race. STUDY DESIGN In a prospective study, placental tissue samples were collected from the amnion, chorion, villus, and umbilical cord from black and white singleton pregnancies (N=46). Telomere length was determined with the use of monochrome multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in each placental tissue. Demographic and pregnancy-related data were also collected. Descriptive statistics characterized the sample overall and among black and white women separately. The overall impact of race was assessed by multilevel mixed-effects linear regression models that included empirically relevant covariates. RESULTS Telomere length was correlated significantly across all placental tissues. Pairwise analyses of placental tissue telomere length revealed significantly longer telomere length in the amnion compared with the chorion (t=-2.06; P=.043). Overall telomere length measured in placenta samples from black mothers were significantly shorter than those from white mothers (β=-0.09; P=.04). Controlling for relevant maternal and infant characteristics strengthened the significance of the observed racial differences (β=-0.12; P=.02). Within tissue analyses revealed that the greatest difference by race was found in chorionic telomere length (t=-2.81; P=.007). CONCLUSION These findings provide the first evidence of racial differences in placental telomere length. Telomere length was significantly shorter in placental samples from black mothers compared with white mothers. Given previous studies that have reported that telomere length, cellular senescence, and telomere dynamics are molecular factors that contribute to the rupture of the amniotic sac, onset of labor, and parturition, our findings of shorter telomere length in placentas from black mothers suggest that accelerated cellular aging across placental tissues may be relevant to the increased risk of preterm delivery in black pregnancies. Our results suggest that racial differences in cellular aging in the placenta contribute to the earliest roots of health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cecilia Gambala
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Kyle C Esteves
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Maeve Wallace
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | | | | | - Laura Kidd
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Katherine P Theall
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Stacy S Drury
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
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Monson T, Wright T, Galan HL, Reynolds PR, Arroyo JA. Caspase dependent and independent mechanisms of apoptosis across gestation in a sheep model of placental insufficiency and intrauterine growth restriction. Apoptosis 2017; 22:710-718. [DOI: 10.1007/s10495-017-1343-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Louis-Jacques AF, Salihu HM, King LM, Paothong A, Sinkey RG, Pradhan A, Riggs BM, Siegel EM, Salemi JL, Whiteman VE. A positive association between umbilical cord RBC folate and fetal TL at birth supports a potential for fetal reprogramming. Nutr Res 2016; 36:703-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2016.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Revised: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Fragkiadaki P, Tsoukalas D, Fragkiadoulaki I, Psycharakis C, Nikitovic D, Spandidos DA, Tsatsakis AM. Telomerase activity in pregnancy complications (Review). Mol Med Rep 2016; 14:16-21. [PMID: 27175856 PMCID: PMC4918539 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are specific DNA regions positioned at the ends of chromosomes and composed of functional non-coding repeats. Upon cell division, the telomeres decrease in length by a preordained amount. When the telomeres become critically short, cells lose the ability to divide and enter a specific functioning mode designated as 'cellular senescence'. However, human tissues express an enzyme that deters the shrinking of the telomeres, the telomerase. Due to its ability to maintain telomere length, the telomerase slows down and possibly suspends the aging of the cells. In regard to this, solid evidence demonstrates that female human fertility decreases with increased maternal age and that various adverse factors, including alterations in telomerase activity, can contribute to age-associated infertility in women. The fact that telomerase activity is regulated in a time- and location-dependent manner in both embryo and placental tissues, highlights it potential importance to the successful completion of pregnancy. Since maternal age is a crucial determining factor for the success of in vitro and in vivo fertilization, numerous studies have focused on telomerase activity and its correlation with mammalian fertilization, as well as the following cleavage and pre-implantation developmental processes. Associations between telomerase activity and pregnancy complications have been previously observed. Our aim in this review was to summarize and critically discuss evidence correlating telomerase activity with pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Persefoni Fragkiadaki
- Center of Toxicology Science and Research, University of Crete, Heraklion 71003, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Tsoukalas
- Center of Toxicology Science and Research, University of Crete, Heraklion 71003, Greece
| | - Irini Fragkiadoulaki
- Center of Toxicology Science and Research, University of Crete, Heraklion 71003, Greece
| | - Christos Psycharakis
- Center of Toxicology Science and Research, University of Crete, Heraklion 71003, Greece
| | - Dragana Nikitovic
- Laboratory of Anatomy‑Histology‑Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion 71003, Greece
| | - Demetrios A Spandidos
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion 71003, Greece
| | - Aristides M Tsatsakis
- Center of Toxicology Science and Research, University of Crete, Heraklion 71003, Greece
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Triana-Martínez F, Pedraza-Vázquez G, Maciel-Barón LA, Königsberg M. Reflections on the role of senescence during development and aging. Arch Biochem Biophys 2016; 598:40-9. [PMID: 27059850 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2016.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Revised: 04/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
New and stimulating results have challenged the concept that cellular senescence might not be synonymous with aging. It is indisputable that during aging, senescent cell accumulation has an impact on organismal health. Nevertheless, senescent cells are now known to display physiological roles during embryonic development, during wound healing repair and as a cellular response to stress. The fact that senescence has been found in cells that did not attain their maximal round of replications, nor have metabolic alterations or DNA damage, also challenges the paradigm that senescence is cellular aging, and it is in favor of the idea that cellular senescence is a phenomenon that has a function by itself. Therefore, in order to understand this phenomenon it is important to analyze the relationship between senescence and other cellular responses that have many features in common, such as apoptosis, cancer and autophagy, particularly highlighting their role during development and adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Triana-Martínez
- Dept. Ciencias de la Salud, DCBS, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Iztapalapa, México D.F. 09340, Mexico
| | - G Pedraza-Vázquez
- Dept. Ciencias de la Salud, DCBS, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Iztapalapa, México D.F. 09340, Mexico
| | - L A Maciel-Barón
- Dept. Ciencias de la Salud, DCBS, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Iztapalapa, México D.F. 09340, Mexico
| | - M Königsberg
- Dept. Ciencias de la Salud, DCBS, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Iztapalapa, México D.F. 09340, Mexico.
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Sukenik-Halevy R, Amiel A, Kidron D, Liberman M, Ganor-Paz Y, Biron-Shental T. Telomere homeostasis in trophoblasts and in cord blood cells from pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2016; 214:283.e1-283.e7. [PMID: 26321036 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.08.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Revised: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/19/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures, essential for chromosome stability and cell survival. Telomeres are progressively shortened with each cell division and by environmental factors. Telomere loss has been linked to age and stress-induced premature senescence. Dysfunctional telomeres tend to form aggregates, which consist of the end-to-end fusion of telomeres. Telomere elongation is carried out by telomerase, which is a specific reverse transcriptase capable of adding telomeric repeats to chromosome termini. The TERC gene encodes the RNA template of the telomerase. Another compensatory mechanism that is enhanced in response to telomere shortening and senescence is the telomere capture (TC). Telomere shortening and elevated aggregate formation have been observed in trophoblasts from pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia (PE). OBJECTIVE We opted to study mechanisms of telomere shortening in trophoblasts from pregnancies complicated with PE and to assess telomere length and homeostasis in fetal cord blood cells from PE pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN Placental specimens and cord blood samples from uncomplicated pregnancies and from pregnancies complicated with PE were collected. Staining with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole was used to assess nuclear fragmentation: senescence-associated heterochromatin foci (SAHF). Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to evaluate TERC gene copy number and TC. Telomere length and aggregate formation were assessed in cord blood using quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization. Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were applied to test the differences between the study groups. RESULTS Nine samples from pregnant patients with PE without intrauterine growth restriction and 14 samples from uncomplicated pregnancies that served as controls were collected. In cord blood cells, no differences were observed in telomere length, aggregate formation, TERC copy number, TC, or SAHF between PE and controls. In PE trophoblasts the percentage of cells with SAHF was higher in PE trophoblasts compared to controls (56.8 SD = 10.5% vs 35.2 SD = 10.7%, P = .028). The percentage of cells with abnormal TERC copy number was increased in PE trophoblasts compared to controls (31 ± 3.6% vs 12.97 SD = 5%, P = .004) as well as the percentage of cells with TC (27.4 SD = 9.4% vs 16 SD = 4.67%, P = .028). CONCLUSION We suggest that telomere shortening in PE trophoblasts is linked to cellular increased senescence. Alterations in telomere homeostasis mechanisms are present in such cases. These findings support the role of telomeres in the pathogenesis of trophoblastic dysfunction in PE. The lack of telomere shortening, modified telomere homeostasis mechanisms, and increased senescence in cord blood from pregnancies complicated with PE suggests that these processes are probably restricted primarily to the placenta.
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Teichroeb JH, Kim J, Betts DH. The role of telomeres and telomerase reverse transcriptase isoforms in pluripotency induction and maintenance. RNA Biol 2016; 13:707-19. [PMID: 26786236 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2015.1134413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are linear guanine-rich DNA structures at the ends of chromosomes. The length of telomeric DNA is actively regulated by a number of mechanisms in highly proliferative cells such as germ cells, cancer cells, and pluripotent stem cells. Telomeric DNA is synthesized by way of the ribonucleoprotein called telomerase containing a reverse transcriptase (TERT) subunit and RNA component (TERC). TERT is highly conserved across species and ubiquitously present in their respective pluripotent cells. Recent studies have uncovered intricate associations between telomeres and the self-renewal and differentiation properties of pluripotent stem cells. Interestingly, the past decade's work indicates that the TERT subunit also has the capacity to modulate mitochondrial function, to remodel chromatin structure, and to participate in key signaling pathways such as the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Many of these non-canonical functions do not require TERT's catalytic activity, which hints at possible functions for the extensive number of alternatively spliced TERT isoforms that are highly expressed in pluripotent stem cells. In this review, some of the established and potential routes of pluripotency induction and maintenance are highlighted from the perspectives of telomere maintenance, known TERT isoform functions and their complex regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan H Teichroeb
- a Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry , The University of Western Ontario , London , Ontario , Canada
| | - Joohwan Kim
- a Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry , The University of Western Ontario , London , Ontario , Canada
| | - Dean H Betts
- a Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry , The University of Western Ontario , London , Ontario , Canada.,b Children's Health Research Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute , London , Ontario , Canada
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Biron-Shental T, Sadeh-Mestechkin D, Amiel A. Telomere homeostasis in IUGR placentas - A review. Placenta 2016; 39:21-3. [PMID: 26992670 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2015.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Revised: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures located at the termini of chromosomes. They are essential for chromosome stability. Telomeres become shorter due to mitotic cycles and environmental factors. When telomeres are shortened and therefore dysfunctional, cellular senescence occurs and organ dysfunction might develop. During pregnancy, fetal growth restriction secondary to placental insufficiency has been linked to impaired telomere homeostasis in which telomeres are shorter, telomerase is decreased, and compensatory mechanisms of telomere capture are enhanced. These characteristics, along with increased signs of senescence, indicate telomere dysfunction in trophoblasts from placentas affected by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This review summarizes the information currently available regarding telomere homeostasis in trophoblasts from human pregnancies affected by IUGR. Improved understanding of placental physiology might help in the development of treatment options for fetuses with IUGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Biron-Shental
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Dana Sadeh-Mestechkin
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Aliza Amiel
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Bijnens E, Zeegers MP, Gielen M, Kicinski M, Hageman GJ, Pachen D, Derom C, Vlietinck R, Nawrot TS. Lower placental telomere length may be attributed to maternal residential traffic exposure; a twin study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2015; 79:1-7. [PMID: 25756235 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2014] [Revised: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High variation in telomere length between individuals is already present before birth and is as wide among newborns as in adults. Environmental exposures likely have an impact on this observation, but remain largely unidentified. We hypothesize that placental telomere length in twins is associated with residential traffic exposure, an important environmental source of free radicals that might accelerate aging. Next, we intend to unravel the nature-nurture contribution to placental telomere length by estimating the heritability of placental telomere length. METHODS We measured the telomere length in placental tissues of 211 twins in the East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey. Maternal traffic exposure was determined using a geographic information system. Additionally, we estimated the relative importance of genetic and environmental sources of variance. RESULTS In this twin study, a variation in telomere length in the placental tissue was mainly determined by the common environment. Maternal residential proximity to a major road was associated with placental telomere length: a doubling in the distance to the nearest major road was associated with a 5.32% (95% CI: 1.90 to 8.86%; p=0.003) longer placental telomere length at birth. In addition, an interquartile increase (22%) in maternal residential surrounding greenness (5 km buffer) was associated with an increase of 3.62% (95% CI: 0.20 to 7.15%; p=0.04) in placental telomere length. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, we showed that maternal residential proximity to traffic and lower residential surrounding greenness is associated with shorter placental telomere length at birth. This may explain a significant proportion of air pollution-related adverse health outcomes starting from early life, since shortened telomeres accelerate the progression of many diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmée Bijnens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Complex Genetics, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Maurice P Zeegers
- Department of Complex Genetics, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Marij Gielen
- Department of Complex Genetics, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Michal Kicinski
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Geja J Hageman
- Department of Toxicology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Daniëlle Pachen
- Department of Toxicology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Catherine Derom
- Centre of Human Genetics, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Robert Vlietinck
- Centre of Human Genetics, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Public Health, Leuven University (KU Leuven), Kapucijnenvoer 35, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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Ferrari F, Facchinetti F, Saade G, Menon R. Placental telomere shortening in stillbirth: a sign of premature senescence? J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2015; 29:1283-8. [PMID: 26004986 DOI: 10.3109/14767058.2015.1046045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to investigate placental telomere shortening in unexplained stillbirths (SBs) as an indication of premature senescence. METHODS Placentas were collected from 42 unexplained SB (>22 weeks), 43 term and 15 preterm live births, at the Policlinico Hospital of Modena (Italy). DNA extracted from placentae was studied for telomere length by real time PCR. Standard curves were generated for telomere lengths from single copy gene amplifications using a reference DNA. The telomere length for each sample was derived based on the ratio of telomere length between the sample and single copy gene standard (T/S ratio). The mean ratio of placental telomere in term live births was 5.181 ± 3.841. RESULTS A twofold decrease in telomere length was seen in SBs (over all 2.455 ± 1.239; p < 0.001). For early SBs (above 34 weeks), the T/S was 2.8884 ± 1.224 and for late SBs, the T/S was 2.207 ± 1.201, both lower than term live births (both p < 0.01). T/S remained lower both in small for gestational age-SB (2.639 ± 1.619) and appropriate for gestational age-SB (2.653 ± 1.335) with no difference between these subgroups (p = ns). T/S was lower in SB compared with spontaneous preterm births (PTBs) (6.382 ± 5.525; p < 0.01), whereas SBs telomere length were similar to those of preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM) (3.296 ± 3.599; p = ns). CONCLUSIONS Substantial reduction in telomere length in SBs is indicative of placental senescence. These data provide mechanistic insights that premature aging may lead to placental dysfunction as an initiator of fetal demise in unexplained SBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Ferrari
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Policlinico University Hospital of Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Modena , MO , Italy and
| | - Fabio Facchinetti
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Policlinico University Hospital of Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Modena , MO , Italy and
| | - George Saade
- b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Perinatal Research , The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston , Galveston , TX , USA
| | - Ramkumar Menon
- b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Perinatal Research , The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston , Galveston , TX , USA
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Drury SS, Esteves K, Hatch V, Woodbury M, Borne S, Adamski A, Theall KP. Setting the trajectory: racial disparities in newborn telomere length. J Pediatr 2015; 166:1181-6. [PMID: 25681203 PMCID: PMC4414786 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2014] [Revised: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore racial differences in newborn telomere length (TL) and the effect moderation of the sex of the infant while establishing the methodology for the use of newborn blood spots for TL analyses. STUDY DESIGN Pregnant mothers were recruited from the Greater New Orleans area. TL was determined via monochrome multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction on DNA extracted from infant blood spots. Demographic data and other covariates were obtained via maternal report before the infant's birth. Birth outcome data were obtained from medical records and maternal report. RESULTS Black infants weighed significantly less than white infants at birth and had significantly longer TL than white infants (P=.0134), with the strongest effect observed in black female infants. No significant differences in gestational age were present. CONCLUSIONS Significant racial differences in TL were present at birth in this sample, even after we controlled for a range of birth outcomes and demographic factors. Because longer initial TL is predictive of more rapid TL attrition across the life course, these findings provide evidence that, even at birth, biological vulnerability to early life stress may differ by race and sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy S Drury
- Department of Psychiatry, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
| | - Kyle Esteves
- Department of Psychiatry, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Virginia Hatch
- Department of Psychiatry, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | | | - Sophie Borne
- Department of Psychiatry, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Alys Adamski
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Katherine P Theall
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
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Shalev I, Caspi A, Ambler A, Belsky DW, Chapple S, Cohen HJ, Israel S, Poulton R, Ramrakha S, Rivera CD, Sugden K, Williams B, Wolke D, Moffitt TE. Perinatal complications and aging indicators by midlife. Pediatrics 2014; 134:e1315-23. [PMID: 25349321 PMCID: PMC4210799 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2014-1669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perinatal complications predict increased risk for morbidity and early mortality. Evidence of perinatal programming of adult mortality raises the question of what mechanisms embed this long-term effect. We tested a hypothesis related to the theory of developmental origins of health and disease: that perinatal complications assessed at birth predict indicators of accelerated aging by midlife. METHODS Perinatal complications, including both maternal and neonatal complications, were assessed in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study cohort (N = 1037), a 38-year, prospective longitudinal study of a representative birth cohort. Two aging indicators were assessed at age 38 years, objectively by leukocyte telomere length (TL) and subjectively by perceived facial age. RESULTS Perinatal complications predicted both leukocyte TL (β = -0.101; 95% confidence interval, -0.169 to -0.033; P = .004) and perceived age (β = 0.097; 95% confidence interval, 0.029 to 0.165; P = .005) by midlife. We repeated analyses with controls for measures of family history and social risk that could predispose to perinatal complications and accelerated aging, and for measures of poor health taken in between birth and the age-38 follow-up. These covariates attenuated, but did not fully explain the associations observed between perinatal complications and aging indicators. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide support for early-life developmental programming by linking newborns' perinatal complications to accelerated aging at midlife. We observed indications of accelerated aging "inside," as measured by leukocyte TL, an indicator of cellular aging, and "outside," as measured by perceived age, an indicator of declining tissue integrity. A better understanding of mechanisms underlying perinatal programming of adult aging is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Idan Shalev
- Department of Biobehavioral Health and The Network on Child Protection and Well-Being, Social Science Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania;
| | - Avshalom Caspi
- Departments of Psychology & Neuroscience and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, and Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Antony Ambler
- Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Daniel W Belsky
- Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina; Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Simon Chapple
- Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Harvey Jay Cohen
- Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - Richie Poulton
- Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Sandhya Ramrakha
- Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Christine D Rivera
- Center for Developmental Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and
| | | | | | - Dieter Wolke
- Department of Psychology, Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Group and Division of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Warwick Medical School, The University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Terrie E Moffitt
- Departments of Psychology & Neuroscience and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, and Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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Biron-Shental T, Sukenik-Halevy R, Sharon Y, Laish I, Fejgin MD, Amiel A. Telomere shortening in intra uterine growth restriction placentas. Early Hum Dev 2014; 90:465-9. [PMID: 25010904 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2014.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2014] [Revised: 05/29/2014] [Accepted: 06/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Placentas from pregnancies complicated with IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) express altered telomere homeostasis. In the current study, we examined mechanisms of telomere shortening in these placentas. METHODS Placental biopsies from 15 IUGR and 15 healthy control pregnancies were examined. The percentage of trophoblasts with fragmented nuclei: senescence-associated heterochromatin foci (SAHF), was calculated using DAPI staining. The amount of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA was evaluated using RtPCR levels of telomere capture using FISH in those samples were estimated. RESULTS The percentage of trophoblasts with SAHF was higher in IUGR compared to control samples, (25±13.4% vs. 1.6±1.6%, P<0.0001), hTERT mRNA was decreased (0.5±0.2 vs. 0.9±0.1, P<0.0001) and telomere capture was increased (13.2±9.7% vs.1.3±2.5%, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS We suggest that IUGR placentas express increased signs of senescence as part of the impaired telomere homeostasis. One factor that mediates telomere shortening in these placentas is decreased hTERT mRNA, leading to decreased protein expression and therefore, reduced telomere elongation. Telomere capture, which is a healing process, is increased in IUGR trophoblasts as a compensatory mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Biron-Shental
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Rivka Sukenik-Halevy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Genetic Institute, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - Yudith Sharon
- Genetic Institute, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Faculty of Life Science, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ido Laish
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Moshe D Fejgin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Genetic Institute, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - Aliza Amiel
- Genetic Institute, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Faculty of Life Science, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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Gielen M, Hageman G, Pachen D, Derom C, Vlietinck R, Zeegers MP. Placental telomere length decreases with gestational age and is influenced by parity: a study of third trimester live-born twins. Placenta 2014; 35:791-6. [PMID: 25096951 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2014.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Revised: 05/23/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In contrast to the postnatal period, little is known about telomere length (TL) during prenatal life. The decrease in placental TL remains unknown, although intra uterine growth retardation and preeclampsia are associated with shorter placental TL. The aim of this study is to assess the decrease of placental TL during the third trimester of gestation and to explore the role of potential "growth influencing factors". METHODS The study sample consisted of 329 live-born twins from the East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey. TL was determined using a multiplex quantitative PCR method. Gestational age, sex, birth order, placental characteristics, parity, maternal and paternal age, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, alcohol use, and socio economic status (SES) were considered "growth influencing factors". Bivariable multilevel regression analysis with "growth influencing factors" was performed. RESULTS Placental TL ranged from 4.3 kbp to 84.4 kbp with a median of 10.8 kbp. Ln(TL) decreased in a linear fashion with an estimated TL decreasing from 13.98 kbp at 28 weeks to 10.56 kbp at 42 weeks. The regression coefficient of gestational age became smaller if considered together with SES (b = -0.017; p = 0.08) or diabetes (b = -0.018; p = 0.07) and bigger if considered together with parity (b = -0.022; p = 0.02), indicating that part of the association between gestational age and telomere length is explained by these three confounding factors. CONCLUSION Placental TL decreases during the third trimester of gestation of live-born twins with approximately 25% indicating that telomere shortening may play a role in aging of the placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Gielen
- NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, The Netherlands; Department of Complex Genetics, Cluster of Genetics and Cell Biology, The Netherlands; Centre of Human Genetics, University Hospitals Leuven & Department of Human Genetics, KU, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - G Hageman
- NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, The Netherlands; Department of Toxicology, The Netherlands
| | - D Pachen
- NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, The Netherlands; Department of Toxicology, The Netherlands
| | - C Derom
- Centre of Human Genetics, University Hospitals Leuven & Department of Human Genetics, KU, Leuven, Belgium
| | - R Vlietinck
- Centre of Human Genetics, University Hospitals Leuven & Department of Human Genetics, KU, Leuven, Belgium
| | - M P Zeegers
- NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, The Netherlands; Department of Complex Genetics, Cluster of Genetics and Cell Biology, The Netherlands
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Unexplained antepartum stillbirth: a consequence of placental aging? Placenta 2013; 34:310-3. [PMID: 23452441 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2013.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2012] [Revised: 01/10/2013] [Accepted: 01/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Unexplained antepartum stillbirth is a major obstetric health problem. Data demonstrate a rapid rise in risk per 1000 continuing pregnancies as gestation advances beyond 40 weeks. We review the evidence that such stillbirths are a consequence of aging related changes in the late gestation placenta. We suggest that the relatively small number of continuing pregnancies after 40 completed weeks means that negative effects of genes that produce aging affect so few pregnancies that polymorphisms in genes that produce these effects are retained in the population. Aging related changes likely represent a consequence of the damaging effects of oxidative stress, increased by cigarette smoking counteracted by the mitigating effects of oxidative defence pathways. The aging related changes are likely downstream from nutrient sensing units such as mTOR and include effects on production of telomerase and consequent shortening of telomere length. The late gestation changes occur in the context of increasing fetal growth and nutrient supply demands that can produce the rapid development of a mismatch between placental supply and fetal need resulting in fetal demise. Premature aging may also play an important role in antepartum stillbirth occurring earlier in pregnancy, especially in the context of growth restriction.
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45
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Entringer S, Epel ES, Lin J, Buss C, Shahbaba B, Blackburn EH, Simhan HN, Wadhwa PD. Maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy is associated with newborn leukocyte telomere length. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2013. [PMID: 23200710 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2012.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In adults, one of the major determinants of leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a predictor of age-related diseases and mortality, is cumulative psychosocial stress exposure. More recently we reported that exposure to maternal psychosocial stress during intrauterine life is associated with LTL in young adulthood. The objective of the present study was to determine how early in life this effect of stress on LTL is apparent by quantifying the association of maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy with newborn telomere length. STUDY DESIGN In a prospective study of N = 27 mother-newborn dyads maternal pregnancy-specific stress was assessed in early gestation and cord blood peripheral blood mononuclear cells were subsequently collected and analyzed for LTL measurement. RESULTS After accounting for the effects of potential determinants of newborn LTL (gestational age at birth, weight, sex, and exposure to antepartum obstetric complications), there was a significant, independent, linear effect of pregnancy-specific stress on newborn LTL that accounted for 25% of the variance in adjusted LTL (β = -0.099; P = .04). CONCLUSION Our finding provides the first preliminary evidence in human beings that maternal psychological stress during pregnancy may exert a "programming" effect on the developing telomere biology system that is already apparent at birth, as reflected by the setting of newborn LTL.
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Kalmbach KH, Fontes Antunes DM, Dracxler RC, Knier TW, Seth-Smith ML, Wang F, Liu L, Keefe DL. Telomeres and human reproduction. Fertil Steril 2013; 99:23-29. [PMID: 23273986 PMCID: PMC3857638 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.11.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2012] [Revised: 11/20/2012] [Accepted: 11/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres mediate biologic aging in organisms as diverse as plants, yeast, and mammals. We propose a telomere theory of reproductive aging that posits telomere shortening in the female germ line as the primary driver of reproductive aging in women. Experimental shortening of telomeres in mice, which normally do not exhibit appreciable oocyte aging, and which have exceptionally long telomeres, recapitulates the aging phenotype of human oocytes. Telomere shortening in mice reduces synapsis and chiasmata, increases embryo fragmentation, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, spindle dysmorphologies, and chromosome abnormalities. Telomeres are shorter in the oocytes from women undergoing in vitro fertilization, who then produce fragmented, aneuploid embryos that fail to implant. In contrast, the testes are replete with spermatogonia that can rejuvenate telomere reserves throughout the life of the man by expressing telomerase. Differences in telomere dynamics across the life span of men and women may have evolved because of the difference in the inherent risks of aging on reproduction between men and women. Additionally, growing evidence links altered telomere biology to endometriosis and gynecologic cancers, thus future studies should examine the role of telomeres in pathologies of the reproductive tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keri Horan Kalmbach
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University, Langone Medical Center, New York City, New York
| | - Danielle Mota Fontes Antunes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University, Langone Medical Center, New York City, New York; Graduate Program in Pathology, Fluminense Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, and CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Roberta Caetano Dracxler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University, Langone Medical Center, New York City, New York; São Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Taylor Warner Knier
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University, Langone Medical Center, New York City, New York
| | - Michelle Louise Seth-Smith
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University, Langone Medical Center, New York City, New York
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University, Langone Medical Center, New York City, New York
| | - Lin Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - David Lawrence Keefe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University, Langone Medical Center, New York City, New York.
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Puterman E, Epel E. An intricate dance: Life experience, multisystem resiliency, and rate of telomere decline throughout the lifespan. SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY COMPASS 2012; 6:807-825. [PMID: 23162608 PMCID: PMC3496269 DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-9004.2012.00465.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Accumulation of life stressors predicts accelerated development and progression of diseases of aging. Telomere length, the DNA-based biomarker indicating cellular aging, is a mechanism of disease development, and is shortened in a dose response fashion by duration and severity of life stressor exposures. Telomere length captures the interplay between genetics, life experiences and psychosocial and behavioral factors. Over the past several years, psychological stress resilience, healthy lifestyle factors, and social connections have been associated with longer telomere length and it appears that these factors can protect individuals from stress-induced telomere shortening. In the current review, we highlight these findings, and illustrate that combining these `multisystem resiliency' factors may strengthen our understanding of aging, as these powerful factors are often neglected in studies of aging. In naturalistic studies, the effects of chronic stress exposure on biological pathways are rarely main effects, but rather a complex interplay between adversity and resiliency factors. We suggest that chronic stress effects can be best understood by directly testing if the deleterious effects of stress on biological aging processes, in this case the cell allostasis measure of telomere shortening, are mitigated in individuals with high levels of multisystem resiliency. Without attending to such interactions, stress effects are often masked and missed. Taking account of the cluster of positive buffering factors that operate across the lifespan will take us a step further in understanding healthy aging. While these ideas are applied to the telomere length literature for illustration, the concept of multisystem resiliency might apply to aging broadly, from cellular to systemic health.
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Entringer S, Buss C, Wadhwa PD. Prenatal stress, telomere biology, and fetal programming of health and disease risk. Sci Signal 2012; 5:pt12. [PMID: 23112344 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2003580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A substantial body of epidemiological, clinical, cellular, and molecular evidence converges to suggest that conditions during the intrauterine period of life play a critical role in developmental programming to influence subsequent health and susceptibility for common, complex disorders. Elucidation of the biological mechanisms underlying these effects is an area of considerable interest and investigation, and it is important to determine whether these mechanisms are distinct for different health outcomes or whether there are some common underlying pathways that may account for the effects of disparate prenatal and early postnatal conditions on various health and disease risk phenotypes. We propose that telomere biology may represent a common underlying mechanism connecting fetal programming and subsequent health outcomes. It appears that the initial establishment of telomere length and regulation of telomere homeostasis may be plastic and receptive to the influence of intrauterine and other early life conditions. Moreover, telomere homeostasis in various cell types may serve as a fundamental integrator and regulator of processes underlying cell genomic integrity and function, aging, and senescence over the life span. We advance the hypothesis that context- and time-inappropriate exposures to various forms of physiological stress (maternal-placental-fetal endocrine aberrations and immune, inflammatory, and oxidative stresses) during the intrauterine period of development may alter or program the telomere biology system in a manner that accelerates cellular dysfunction, aging, and disease susceptibility over the life span.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Entringer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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Garrels W, Kues WB, Herrmann D, Holler S, Baulain U, Niemann H. Ectopic expression of human telomerase RNA component results in increased telomerase activity and elongated telomeres in bovine blastocysts. Biol Reprod 2012; 87:95. [PMID: 22855562 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.112.100198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres play an important role in aging, and are critical for the regenerative capacity of mammalian cells. The holoenzyme telomerase rebuilds telomeres and is composed of two components, the catalytic protein telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and the telomerase RNA (TERC). TERC is ubiquitously expressed in somatic cells and is thought to have no regulatory effects on telomerase activity. Transgenic expression of human TERT (hTERT) in bovine somatic and embryonic cells extends telomere length and enhances telomerase activity. To obtain further insight into the regulatory capacity of the two telomerase components, we have studied the ability of hTERC and hTERT to increase telomerase activity and telomere length in bovine embryos. Expression plasmids for the human RNA component (hTERC) and/or the catalytic subunit of human telomerase (hTERT), respectively, were injected into the cytoplasm of in vitro-produced bovine zygotes. Ectopic expression of hTERC increased telomerase activity and telomere length in bovine blastocysts. Coexpression of hTERT and hTERC did not result in further telomere elongation when compared to the hTERC group. These data indicate that TERC is one of the limiting factors of telomerase activity in bovine blastocysts, and further establish bovine preimplantation embryos as a useful model to modulate telomere length with impact for basic embryology and derivation of pluripotent cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Garrels
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Mariensee, Neustadt, Germany
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Thilagavathi J, Venkatesh S, Dada R. Telomere length in reproduction. Andrologia 2012; 45:289-304. [DOI: 10.1111/and.12008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- J. Thilagavathi
- Laboratory for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics; Department of Anatomy; All India Institute of Medical Sciences; New Delhi; India
| | - S. Venkatesh
- Laboratory for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics; Department of Anatomy; All India Institute of Medical Sciences; New Delhi; India
| | - R. Dada
- Laboratory for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics; Department of Anatomy; All India Institute of Medical Sciences; New Delhi; India
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