101
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Aykroyd BRL, Tunster SJ, Sferruzzi-Perri AN. Loss of imprinting of the Igf2-H19 ICR1 enhances placental endocrine capacity via sex-specific alterations in signalling pathways in the mouse. Development 2022; 149:dev199811. [PMID: 34982814 PMCID: PMC8783045 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Imprinting control region (ICR1) controls the expression of the Igf2 and H19 genes in a parent-of-origin specific manner. Appropriate expression of the Igf2-H19 locus is fundamental for normal fetal development, yet the importance of ICR1 in the placental production of hormones that promote maternal nutrient allocation to the fetus is unknown. To address this, we used a novel mouse model to selectively delete ICR1 in the endocrine junctional zone (Jz) of the mouse placenta (Jz-ΔICR1). The Jz-ΔICR1 mice exhibit increased Igf2 and decreased H19 expression specifically in the Jz. This was accompanied by an expansion of Jz endocrine cell types due to enhanced rates of proliferation and increased expression of pregnancy-specific glycoprotein 23 in the placenta of both fetal sexes. However, changes in the endocrine phenotype of the placenta were related to sexually-dimorphic alterations to the abundance of Igf2 receptors and downstream signalling pathways (Pi3k-Akt and Mapk). There was no effect of Jz-ΔICR1 on the expression of targets of the H19-embedded miR-675 or on fetal weight. Our results demonstrate that ICR1 controls placental endocrine capacity via sex-dependent changes in signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amanda N. Sferruzzi-Perri
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
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102
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Chang G, Favara M, Novella R. The origins of cognitive skills and non-cognitive skills: The long-term effect of in-utero rainfall shocks in India. ECONOMICS AND HUMAN BIOLOGY 2022; 44:101089. [PMID: 34891011 DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2021.101089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Skills are an important predictor of labour, education, and wellbeing outcomes. Understanding the origins of skills formation is important for reducing future inequalities. This paper analyses the effect of shocks in-utero on human capital outcomes in childhood and adolescence in India. Combining historical rainfall data and longitudinal data from Young Lives, we estimate the effect of rainfall shocks in-utero on cognitive and non-cognitive skills development over the first 15 years of life. We find negative effects of rainfall shocks on receptive vocabulary at age 5, and on mathematics and non-cognitive skills at age 15. The negative effects on cognitive skills are driven by boys, while the effect for both cognitive and non-cognitive skills are driven by children of parents with lower education, suggesting that prenatal shocks might exacerbate pre-existing inequalities. Our findings support the implementation of policies aiming at reducing inequalities at very early stages in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Chang
- London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton St, Holborn, London WC2A 2AE, UK.
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103
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Monaco-Brown M, Lawrence DA. Obesity and Maternal-Placental-Fetal Immunology and Health. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:859885. [PMID: 35573953 PMCID: PMC9100592 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.859885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity rates in women of childbearing age is now at 29%, according to recent CDC reports. It is known that obesity is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, including disruptions in cellular function and cytokine levels. In pregnant women who are obese, associated placental dysfunction can lead to small for gestational age (SGA) infants. More frequently, however, maternal obesity is associated with large for gestational age (LGA) newborns, who also have higher incidence of metabolic disease and asthma due to elevated levels of inflammation. In addition, anthropogenic environmental exposures to "endocrine disrupting" and "forever" chemicals affect obesity, as well as maternal physiology, the placenta, and fetal development. Placental function is intimately associated with the control of inflammation during pregnancy. There is a large amount of literature examining the relationship of placental immunology, both cellular and humoral, with pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Cells such as placental macrophages and NK cells have been implicated in spontaneous miscarriage, preeclampsia, preterm birth, perinatal neuroinflammation, and other post-natal conditions. Differing levels of placental cytokines and molecular inflammatory mediators also have known associations with preeclampsia and developmental outcomes. In this review, we will specifically examine the literature regarding maternal, placental, and fetal immunology and how it is altered by maternal obesity and environmental chemicals. We will additionally describe the relationship between placental immune function and clinical outcomes, including neonatal conditions, autoimmune disease, allergies, immunodeficiency, metabolic and endocrine conditions, neurodevelopment, and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith Monaco-Brown
- Department of Pediatrics, Bernard and Millie Duker Children's Hospital at Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, United States
| | - David A Lawrence
- New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY, United States.,Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY, United States
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104
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Early Pregnancy Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution among Late-Onset Preeclamptic Cases Is Associated with Placental DNA Hypomethylation of Specific Genes and Slower Placental Maturation. TOXICS 2021; 9:toxics9120338. [PMID: 34941772 PMCID: PMC8708250 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9120338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to ambient air pollution during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia (PE). Some suggested mechanisms behind this association are changes in placental DNA methylation and gene expression. The objective of this study was to identify how early pregnancy exposure to ambient nitrogen oxides (NOx) among PE cases and normotensive controls influence DNA methylation (EPIC array) and gene expression (RNA-seq). The study included placentas from 111 women (29 PE cases/82 controls) in Scania, Sweden. First-trimester NOx exposure was assessed at the participants’ residence using a dispersion model and categorized via median split into high or low NOx. Placental gestational epigenetic age was derived from the DNA methylation data. We identified six differentially methylated positions (DMPs, q < 0.05) comparing controls with low NOx vs. cases with high NOx and 14 DMPs comparing cases and controls with high NOx. Placentas with female fetuses showed more DMPs (N = 309) than male-derived placentas (N = 1). Placentas from PE cases with high NOx demonstrated gestational age deceleration compared to controls with low NOx (p = 0.034). No differentially expressed genes (DEGs, q < 0.05) were found. In conclusion, early pregnancy exposure to NOx affected placental DNA methylation in PE, resulting in placental immaturity and showing sexual dimorphism.
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105
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Yong HEJ, Chan SY, Chakraborty A, Rajaraman G, Ricardo S, Benharouga M, Alfaidy N, Staud F, Murthi P. Significance of the placental barrier in antenatal viral infections. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2021; 1867:166244. [PMID: 34411716 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The placenta provides a significant physical and physiological barrier to prevent fetal infection during pregnancy. Nevertheless, it is at times breached by pathogens and leads to vertical transmission of infection from mother to fetus. This review will focus specifically on the Zika flavivirus, the HIV retrovirus and the emerging SARS-CoV2 coronavirus, which have affected pregnant women and their offspring in recent epidemics. In particular, we will address how viral infections affect the immune response at the maternal-fetal interface and how the placental barrier is physically breached and discuss the consequences of infection on various aspects of placental function to support fetal growth and development. Improved understanding of how the placenta responds to viral infections will lay the foundation for developing therapeutics to these and emergent viruses, to minimise the harms of infection to the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah E J Yong
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shiao-Yng Chan
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Amlan Chakraborty
- Department of Pharmacology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Sharon Ricardo
- Department of Pharmacology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mohamed Benharouga
- Unité 1292, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Grenoble, France; Department of Biology, University of Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France; Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Biosciences and Biotechnology Institute of Grenoble, Grenoble, France
| | - Nadia Alfaidy
- Unité 1292, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Grenoble, France; Department of Biology, University of Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France; Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Biosciences and Biotechnology Institute of Grenoble, Grenoble, France
| | - Frantisek Staud
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Padma Murthi
- Department of Pharmacology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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106
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Wang W, Liu G, Jiang X, Wu G. Resveratrol ameliorates toxic effects of cadmium on placental development in mouse placenta and human trophoblast cells. Birth Defects Res 2021; 113:1470-1483. [PMID: 34668346 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cadmium (Cd) is a common heavy metal pollutant. Prenatal exposure to Cd results in adverse effects on fetal development. Placental apoptosis, inflammation, and epigenetic disruption have been implicated in Cd-induced placental toxicity. Resveratrol (Res) is a naturally occurring polyphenol with anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and epigenetic regulatory activities. In present study, the effects of Res on placental toxicity induced by Cd were evaluated. METHODS Pregnant CD-1 mice were fed with base diet containing 0.2% Res started on gestational day 0 (GD0), and intraperitoneally injected with 4.5 mg/kg CdCl2 or saline once on GD9. JEG-3 cells were treated with 20 μM Res for 24 hr in the absence or presence of 20 μM CdCl2 for the second 12 hr. The fetal outcomes, the apoptosis in placenta and JEG-3 cells, the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (KC), and expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers were evaluated. The expression and activities of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT), and the activation of Akt signaling pathway were detected. RESULTS Cd exposure resulted in decreased fetal weight and crown-rump length while Res ameliorated these outcomes. Res suppressed Cd-induced apoptosis in placenta and JEG-3 cells, and decreased Cd-induced expression of TNF-α, IFN-γ, MCP-1, MIP-2, and KC in placenta. Cd greatly increased ER stress in placenta in mice, which was partially ameliorated by Res treatment. Res decreased Cd-induced upregulation of DNMT activity and suppressed Cd-induced expression of DNMT3B. Res restored estradiol secretion, enhances activity and protein levels of SIRT1 and inhibited Cd-induced activation of Akt signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Res ameliorated Cd-induced placental toxicity and regulated DNMT3 expression and PI3K/Akt pathway activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Wang
- Department of Obstetrics, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei, China
| | - Guiying Liu
- Department of Obstetrics, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei, China
| | - Xuelian Jiang
- Department of Nursing, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei, China
| | - Guimei Wu
- Department of Obstetrics, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei, China
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107
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Mao J, Kinkade JA, Bivens NJ, Rosenfeld CS. miRNA changes in the mouse placenta due to bisphenol A exposure. Epigenomics 2021; 13:1909-1919. [PMID: 34841895 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2021-0339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: To determine small RNA expression changes in mouse placenta induced by bisphenol A (BPA) exposure. Methods: Exposing female mice to BPA two weeks prior to conception through gestational day 12.5; whereupon fetal placentas were collected, frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80°C. Small RNAs were isolated and used for small RNA-sequencing. Results: 43 small RNAs were differentially expressed. Target mRNAs were closely aligned to those expressed by thymus and brain, and pathway enrichment analyses indicated that such target mRNAs regulate neurogenesis and associated neurodevelopment processes. Conclusions: BPA induces several small RNAs in mouse placenta that might provide biomarkers for BPA exposure. Further, the placenta might affect fetal brain development through the secretion of miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiude Mao
- Christopher S Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.,Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Jessica A Kinkade
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Nathan J Bivens
- Genomics Technology Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Cheryl S Rosenfeld
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.,MU Institute for Data Science & Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.,Thompson Center for Autism & Neurobehavioral Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.,Genetics Area Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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108
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Behlen JC, Lau CH, Li Y, Dhagat P, Stanley JA, Rodrigues Hoffman A, Golding MC, Zhang R, Johnson NM. Gestational Exposure to Ultrafine Particles Reveals Sex- and Dose-Specific Changes in Offspring Birth Outcomes, Placental Morphology, and Gene Networks. Toxicol Sci 2021; 184:204-213. [PMID: 34609516 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfab118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Particulate matter (PM) causes adverse developmental outcomes following prenatal exposure, but the underlying biological mechanisms remain uncertain. Here we elucidate the effects of diesel exhaust ultrafine particle (UFP) exposure during pregnancy on placental and fetal development. Time-mated C57Bl/6n mice were gestationally exposed to UFPs at a low dose (LD, 100 µg/m3) or high dose (HD, 500 µg/m3) for 6 h daily. Phenotypic effects on fetuses and placental morphology at gestational day (GD) of 18.5 were evaluated, and RNA sequencing was characterized for transcriptomic changes in placental tissue from male and female offspring. A significant decrease in average placental weights and crown to rump lengths was observed in female offspring in the LD exposure group. Gestational UFP exposure altered placental morphology in a dose- and sex-specific manner. Average female decidua areas were significantly greater in the LD and HD groups. Maternal lacunae mean areas were increased in the female LD group, whereas fetal blood vessel mean areas were significantly greater in the male LD and HD groups. RNA sequencing indicated several disturbed cellular functions related to lipid metabolism, which were most pronounced in the LD group and especially in female placental tissue. Our findings demonstrate the vulnerability of offspring exposed to UFPs during pregnancy, highlighting sex-specific effects and emphasizing the importance of mitigating PM exposure to prevent adverse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yixin Li
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - Prit Dhagat
- Alabama School of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, Alabama 36303, USA
| | - Jone A Stanley
- Covance Laboratories, Inc., Greenfield, Indiana 46140, USA
| | | | | | - Renyi Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA.,Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
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109
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Starks RR, Kaur H, Tuteja G. Mapping cis-regulatory elements in the midgestation mouse placenta. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22331. [PMID: 34785717 PMCID: PMC8595355 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01664-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The placenta is a temporary organ that provides the developing fetus with nutrients, oxygen, and protection in utero. Defects in its development, which may be caused by misregulated gene expression, can lead to devastating outcomes for the mother and fetus. In mouse, placental defects during midgestation commonly lead to embryonic lethality. However, the regulatory mechanisms controlling expression of genes during this period have not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, we generated and analyzed ChIP-seq data for multiple histone modifications known to mark cis-regulatory regions. We annotated active and poised promoters and enhancers, as well as regions generally associated with repressed gene expression. We found that poised promoters were associated with neuronal development genes, while active promoters were largely associated with housekeeping genes. Active and poised enhancers were associated with placental development genes, though only active enhancers were associated with genes that have placenta-specific expression. Motif analysis within active enhancers identified a large network of transcription factors, including those that have not been previously studied in the placenta and are candidates for future studies. The data generated and genomic regions annotated provide researchers with a foundation for future studies, aimed at understanding how specific genes in the midgestation mouse placenta are regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah R Starks
- Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.,Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Haninder Kaur
- Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Geetu Tuteja
- Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA. .,Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
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110
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Gilmore JC, Zhang G, Cameron DW, Serghides L, Bendayan R. Impact of in-utero antiretroviral drug exposure on expression of membrane-associated transporters in mouse placenta and fetal brain. AIDS 2021; 35:2249-2258. [PMID: 34175869 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy is effective in limiting vertical HIV transmission, adverse outcomes persist amongst uninfected children exposed to antiretroviral drugs in utero. Membrane-associated drug transporters, metabolic enzymes, and tight junction proteins play important roles in adult antiretroviral drug disposition and toxicity; however, the fetal expression of these proteins in the context of ART, and their impact on in-utero antiretroviral drug distribution remain poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the role of these proteins in modulating in-utero antiretroviral drug exposure. METHODS Pregnant mice were exposed to an ART regimen consisting of lamivudine, abacavir, atazanavir, and ritonavir, at clinically relevant doses. Fetal brain, liver, placenta amniotic fluid, and maternal plasma were collected on gestational day 18.5 and concentration of antiretroviral drugs in fetal tissues was measured by LC/MS/MS, whereas transporter expression was assessed by qPCR. RESULTS Abacavir and lamivudine were detected in fetal brain and amniotic fluid, whereas atazanavir and ritonavir were detected in amniotic fluid only. Robust mRNA expression of key transporters was observed in adult and fetal tissues, and sex differences were identified in the expression of Abcc1 and Slc29a1 in the placenta. Antiretroviral drug exposure was associated with a reduction in relative placental Abcg2, Abcc1, and Slc29a1 expression. CONCLUSION These findings identify a novel effect of fetal sex and antiretroviral drug treatment on the expression of placental transporters in a mouse model, and characterize the penetration of lamivudine and abacavir into fetal brain, uncovering a potential role of transporters in modulating fetal exposure to antiretroviral drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian C Gilmore
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto
| | - Guijun Zhang
- Clinical Investigation Unit, University of Ottawa at the Ottawa Hospital/Research Institute, Ottawa
| | - D William Cameron
- Clinical Investigation Unit, University of Ottawa at the Ottawa Hospital/Research Institute, Ottawa
| | - Lena Serghides
- Department of Immunology and Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Reina Bendayan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto
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111
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Thomas KN, Zimmel KN, Roach AN, Basel A, Mehta NA, Bedi YS, Golding MC. Maternal background alters the penetrance of growth phenotypes and sex-specific placental adaptation of offspring sired by alcohol-exposed males. FASEB J 2021; 35:e22035. [PMID: 34748230 PMCID: PMC8713293 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101131r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms of paternal inheritance are an emerging area of interest in our efforts to understand fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. In rodent models examining maternal alcohol exposures, different maternal genetic backgrounds protect or sensitize offspring to alcohol‐induced teratogenesis. However, whether maternal background can mitigate sperm‐inherited alterations in developmental programming and modify the penetrance of growth defects induced by preconception paternal alcohol exposures remains unaddressed. In our previous studies examining pure C57Bl/6J crosses, the offspring of alcohol‐exposed sires exhibited fetal growth restriction, enlarged placentas, and decreased placental efficiency. Here, we find that in contrast to our previous studies, the F1 offspring of alcohol‐exposed C57Bl/6J sires and CD‐1 dams do not exhibit fetal growth restriction, with male fetuses developing smaller placentas and increased placental efficiencies. However, in these hybrid offspring, preconception paternal alcohol exposure induces sex‐specific changes in placental morphology. Specifically, the female offspring of alcohol‐exposed sires displayed structural changes in the junctional and labyrinth zones, along with increased placental glycogen content. These changes in placental organization are accompanied by female‐specific alterations in the expression of imprinted genes Cdkn1c and H19. Although male placentae do not display overt changes in placental histology, using RNA‐sequencing, we identified programmed alterations in genes regulating oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial function, and Sirtuin signaling. Collectively, our data reveal that preconception paternal alcohol exposure transmits a stressor to developing offspring, that males and females exhibit distinct patterns of placental adaptation, and that maternal genetic background can modulate the effects of paternal alcohol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara N Thomas
- Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Katherine N Zimmel
- Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Alexis N Roach
- Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Alison Basel
- Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Nicole A Mehta
- Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Yudhishtar S Bedi
- Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Michael C Golding
- Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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112
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Björvang RD, Vinnars MT, Papadogiannakis N, Gidlöf S, Mamsen LS, Mucs D, Kiviranta H, Rantakokko P, Ruokojärvi P, Lindh CH, Andersen CY, Damdimopoulou P. Mixtures of persistent organic pollutants are found in vital organs of late gestation human fetuses. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 283:131125. [PMID: 34467953 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are industrial chemicals with long half-lives. Early life exposure to POPs has been associated with adverse effects. Fetal exposure is typically estimated based on concentrations in maternal serum or placenta and little is known on the actual fetal exposure. We measured the concentrations of nine organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), ten polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners by gas chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry in maternal serum, placenta, and fetal tissues (adipose tissue, liver, heart, lung and brain) in 20 pregnancies that ended in stillbirth (gestational weeks 36-41). The data were combined with our earlier data on perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the same cohort (Mamsen et al. 2019). HCB, p,p'-DDE, PCB 138 and PCB 153 were quantified in all samples of maternal serum, placenta and fetal tissues. All 22 POPs were detected in all fetal adipose tissue samples, even in cases where they could not be detected in maternal serum or placenta. Tissue:serum ratios were significantly higher in later gestations, male fetuses, and pregnancies with normal placental function. OCPs showed the highest tissue:serum ratios and PFAS the lowest. The highest chemical burden was found in adipose tissue and lowest in the brain. Overall, all studied human fetuses were intrinsically exposed to mixtures of POPs. Tissue:serum ratios were significantly modified by gestational age, fetal sex and placental function. Importantly, more chemicals were detected in fetal tissues compared to maternal serum and placenta, implying that these proxy samples may provide a misleading picture of actual fetal exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richelle D Björvang
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 141 86, Stockholm, Sweden; Swetox, Karolinska Institute, Unit of Toxicology Sciences, 151 36, Södertälje, Sweden.
| | - Marie-Therese Vinnars
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 141 86, Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology Örnsköldsviks Hospital, Department of Clinical Sciences, Umeå University, Örnsköldsvik/Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Nikos Papadogiannakis
- Division of Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 141 83, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Sebastian Gidlöf
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 141 86, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Linn Salto Mamsen
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Section 5712, The Juliane Marie Centre for Women, Children and Reproduction, University Hospital of Copenhagen and University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Daniel Mucs
- Swetox, Karolinska Institute, Unit of Toxicology Sciences, 151 36, Södertälje, Sweden.
| | - Hannu Kiviranta
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Panu Rantakokko
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Päivi Ruokojärvi
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Christian H Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 223 61, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Claus Yding Andersen
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Section 5712, The Juliane Marie Centre for Women, Children and Reproduction, University Hospital of Copenhagen and University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Pauliina Damdimopoulou
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 141 86, Stockholm, Sweden; Swetox, Karolinska Institute, Unit of Toxicology Sciences, 151 36, Södertälje, Sweden.
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Rahman ML, Oken E, Hivert MF, Rifas-Shiman S, Lin PID, Colicino E, Wright RO, Amarasiriwardena C, Claus Henn BG, Gold DR, Coull BA, Cardenas A. Early pregnancy exposure to metal mixture and birth outcomes - A prospective study in Project Viva. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 156:106714. [PMID: 34147999 PMCID: PMC8842844 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to metals has been individually associated with birth outcomes. However, little is known about the effect of metal mixture, particularly at low exposure levels. OBJECTIVES To estimate individual and joint effects of metal mixture components on birth outcomes. METHODS We used data from 1,391 mother-infant pairs in Project Viva (1999-2002). We measured 11 metals in maternal 1st trimester erythrocyte; abstracted birth weight from medical records; calculated gestational age from last menstrual period or ultrasound; and obtained birth length (n = 729) and head circumference (n = 791) from research measurements. We estimated individual and joint effects of metals using multivariable linear and Bayesian kernel machine regressions. RESULTS In both single metal and metal mixture analyses, exposure to higher concentrations of arsenic was associated with lower birth weight in males, zinc with higher head circumference in females, and manganese with higher birth length in sex-combined analysis. We also observed sex-specific metal interactions with birth outcomes. Arsenic and manganese showed a synergistic association with birth weight in males, in whom an interquartile range (IQR) increase in arsenic was associated with 25.3 g (95% CI: -79.9, 29.3), 47.9 g (95% CI: -98.0, 2.1), and 72.2 g (95% CI: -129.8, -14.7) lower birth weight when manganese concentrations were at 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles, respectively. Lead and zinc showed an antagonistic association with head circumference in males, where an IQR increase in lead was associated with 0.18 cm (95% CI: -0.35, -0.02), 0.10 cm (95% CI: -0.25, 0.04), 0.03 cm (95% CI: -0.2, 0.14) smaller head circumference when zinc concentrations were at 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles, respectively. Exposure to higher concentrations of arsenic was also associated with lower gestational age in males when concentrations of manganese and lead were higher. DISCUSSION Maternal erythrocyte concentrations of arsenic, manganese, lead, and zinc were individually and interactively associated with birth outcomes. The associations varied by infant sex and exposure level of other mixture components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad L Rahman
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emily Oken
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marie-France Hivert
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sheryl Rifas-Shiman
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pi-I D Lin
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elena Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chitra Amarasiriwardena
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Birgit G Claus Henn
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Diane R Gold
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brent A Coull
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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114
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Tao Y, Hu L, Liu L, Yu M, Li Y, Li X, Liu W, Luo D, Covaci A, Xia W, Xu S, Li Y, Mei S. Prenatal exposure to organophosphate esters and neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone levels: A birth cohort study in Wuhan, China. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 156:106640. [PMID: 34015666 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing animal studies have indicated that organophosphate esters (OPEs) have endocrine-disruptive potential. However, human epidemiological evidence is limited, especially in susceptible populations, such as pregnant women and neonates. The purpose of this present study was to examine the trimester-specific relationships of prenatal exposure to OPEs with neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). METHOD A total of 102 mother-newborn pairs were recruited from a birth cohort study between April 2015 and September 2016 in Wuhan, China. Eight OPE metabolites were detectable in urine samples from pregnant women across the different three trimesters. Neonatal TSH levels were measured using time-resolved immunofluorescence assay. The associations between maternal urinary OPE metabolites and neonatal TSH and the critical exposure windows of fetal vulnerability were estimated using multiple informant models. RESULTS Seven OPE metabolites with detection frequency > 50% (52.9%-98.0%) were detected in repeated urine samples from different three trimesters, and the urinary OPE metabolites across pregnancy was of high variability (ICCs: 0.09-0.26). After adjusted for confounders (e.g., maternal age, prepregnancy BMI, passive smoking during pregnancy), some suggestive associations were observed between maternal urinary OPE metabolites and neonatal TSH in different trimesters. A doubling of second trimester di-o-cresyl phosphate & di-p-cresyl phosphate (DoCP & DpCP) was associated with a 7.82% increase in neonatal TSH level (95% CI: -0.70%, 17.06%, p-value = 0.07), a doubling of third trimester diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) was associated with a 4.71% decrease in neonatal TSH level (95% CI: -9.80%, 0.67%, p-value = 0.09), and a doubling of third trimester bis(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (BBOEP) was associated with a 6.38% increase in neonatal TSH level (95% CI: -0.12%, 13.31%, p = 0.05). However, such associations did not differ materially across trimesters. When performing stratified analysis by infant sex, the associations were statistically significant and were sex-dependent.In females, maternal urinary DoCP & DpCP concentrations in each trimester were associated with increased neonatal TSH levels, and urinary DPHP concentration in the third trimester was associated with decreased neonatal TSH level. In males, maternal urinary BBOEP concentration in the first trimester was positively related to neonatal TSH level. CONCLUSION This prospective study demonstrated that prenatal exposure to OPEs can lead to a sex-dependent change in neonatal TSH levels. Although the sex-selective effect was differed among various urinary OPE metabolites, more evidence was supported that OPE exposure was related to increased TSH levels for both males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hospital Management Institute of Wuhan University, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, PR China
| | - Liqin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Ling Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Meng Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Yaping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Xiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Wenyu Liu
- Division of Birth Cohort Study, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dan Luo
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Wei Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Shunqing Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
| | - Surong Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
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115
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Percival MA, Pasco JA, Hosking SM, Williams LJ, Holloway-Kew KL, Wark JD, Hyde NK. Maternal vitamin D and offspring fracture risk: the Vitamin D in Pregnancy study. Arch Osteoporos 2021; 16:159. [PMID: 34705148 DOI: 10.1007/s11657-021-01023-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Vitamin D is important for bone health and strength. Previous studies report 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) exposure during pregnancy may impact offspring bone health later in life. In this study, maternal 25(OH)D at recruitment was associated with a lower fracture risk in boys and an increased fracture risk in girls at 28-32 weeks gestation. PURPOSE Maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in pregnancy has been shown to be associated with offspring bone measures in some studies, but few have examined fracture risk. We aimed to determine associations between maternal vitamin D status and offspring fracture risk. METHODS In total, 475 mother-child pairs participating in the Vitamin D in Pregnancy study in southeastern Australia were recruited. Maternal serum samples were taken at recruitment (< 16 weeks gestation) and/or 28-32 weeks gestation and analysed for 25(OH)D. Incident fractures in children were ascertained from date of birth (2002-2004) until December 31, 2012. Cox proportional hazard models included maternal age at recruitment, offspring sex, birth weight, gestation length and season of vitamin D sample. RESULTS Complete follow-up data were available for 400 children (median age = 9.5 years). There were 68 (17.0%) children who sustained at least one fracture. Higher maternal 25(OH)D (per 10 nmol/L) in early gestation was weakly associated with a decreased fracture risk in boys (HR 0.82; 95% CI 0.68, 0.99; p = 0.048) but not girls (HR 1.10; 95% CI 0.98, 1.25; p = 0.11). At late gestation, higher maternal 25(OH)D was associated with increased fracture risk in girls (HR 1.11; 95% CI 1.01, 1.23; p = 0.038) but not boys (HR 0.94; 95% CI 0.80, 1.10; p = 0.42). No statistically significant relationships were detected in analyses investigating 25(OH)D as a categorical variable. CONCLUSION There is some evidence that higher maternal 25(OH)D at recruitment was associated with lower fracture risk in boys, while higher maternal 25(OH)D at 28-32 weeks gestation was associated with an increased fracture risk in girls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia A Percival
- IMPACT, The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.
| | - Julie A Pasco
- IMPACT, The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.,Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.,Department of Medicine-Western Health, The University of Melbourne, St Albans, VIC, 3021, Australia.,Department of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Prahran, VIC, 3181, Australia
| | - Sarah M Hosking
- IMPACT, The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Lana J Williams
- IMPACT, The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Kara L Holloway-Kew
- IMPACT, The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - John D Wark
- Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia.,Bone and Mineral Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia.,Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia
| | - Natalie K Hyde
- IMPACT, The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
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116
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Christians JK. The Placenta's Role in Sexually Dimorphic Fetal Growth Strategies. Reprod Sci 2021; 29:1895-1907. [PMID: 34699045 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-021-00780-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Fetal sex affects the risk of pregnancy complications and the long-term effects of prenatal environment on health. Some have hypothesized that growth strategies differ between the sexes, whereby males prioritize growth whereas females are more responsive to their environment. This review evaluates the role of the placenta in such strategies, focusing on (1) mechanisms underlying sexual dimorphism in gene expression, (2) the nature and extent of sexual dimorphism in placental gene expression, (3) sexually dimorphic responses to nutrient supply, and (4) sexual dimorphism in morphology and histopathology. The sex chromosomes contribute to sex differences in placental gene expression, and fetal hormones may play a role later in development. Sexually dimorphic placental gene expression may contribute to differences in the prevalence of complications such as preeclampsia, although this link is not clear. Placental responses to nutrient supply frequently show sexual dimorphism, but there is no consistent pattern where one sex is more responsive. There are sex differences in the prevalence of placental histopathologies, and placental changes in pregnancy complications, but also many similarities. Overall, no clear patterns support the hypothesis that females are more responsive to the maternal environment, or that males prioritize growth. While male fetuses are at greater risk of a variety of complications, total prenatal mortality is higher in females, such that males exposed to early insults may be more likely to survive and be observed in studies of adverse outcomes. Going forward, robust statistical approaches to test for sex-dependent effects must be more widely adopted to reduce the incidence of spurious results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian K Christians
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada. .,Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada. .,British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada. .,Women's Health Research Institute, BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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117
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Bozack AK, Colicino E, Just AC, Wright RO, Baccarelli AA, Wright RJ, Lee AG. Associations between infant sex and DNA methylation across umbilical cord blood, artery, and placenta samples. Epigenetics 2021; 17:1080-1097. [PMID: 34569420 PMCID: PMC9542631 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2021.1985300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation (DNAm) is vulnerable to dysregulation by environmental exposures during epigenetic reprogramming that occurs in embryogenesis. Sexual dimorphism in environmentally induced DNAm dysregulation has been identified and therefore it is important to understand sex-specific DNAm patterns. DNAm at several autosomal sites has been consistently associated with sex in cord blood and placental foetal tissues. However, there is limited research comparing sex-specific DNAm across tissues, particularly differentially methylated regions (DMRs). This study leverages DNAm data measured using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip in cord blood (N = 179), placenta (N = 229), and umbilical artery samples (N = 229) in the PRogramming of Intergenerational Stress Mechanisms (PRISM) cohort to identify autosomal DMRs and differentially methylated positions (DMPs). A replication analyses was conducted in an independent cohort (GEO Accession GSE129841). We identified 183, 257, and 419 DMRs and 2119, 2281, and 3405 DMPs (pBonferroni < 0.05) in cord blood, placenta, and artery samples, respectively. Thirty-nine DMRs overlapped in all three tissues, overlapping with genes involved in spermatogenesis (NKAPL, PIWIL2 and AURKC) and X-inactivation (LRIF1). In replication analysis, 85% of DMRs overlapped with those identified in PRISM. Overall, DMRs and DMPs had higher methylation levels among females in cord blood and artery samples, but higher methylation levels among males in placenta samples. Further research is necessary to understand biological mechanisms that contribute to differences in sex-specific DNAm signatures across tissues, as well as to determine if sexual dimorphism in the epigenome impacts response to environmental stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne K Bozack
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elena Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Allan C Just
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- Departments of Environmental Health Sciences and Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rosalind J Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alison G Lee
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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118
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Significance of Sex Differences in ncRNAs Expression and Function in Pregnancy and Related Complications. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9111509. [PMID: 34829737 PMCID: PMC8614665 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the era of personalized medicine, fetal sex-specific research is of utmost importance for comprehending the mechanisms governing pregnancy and pregnancy-related complications. In recent times, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have gained increasing attention as critical players in gene regulation and disease pathogenesis, and as candidate biomarkers in human diseases as well. Different types of ncRNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), participate in every step of pregnancy progression, although studies taking into consideration fetal sex as a central variable are still limited. To date, most of the available data have been obtained investigating sex-specific placental miRNA expression. Several studies revealed that miRNAs regulate the (patho)-physiological processes in a sexually dimorphic manner, ensuring normal fetal development, successful pregnancy, and susceptibility to diseases. Moreover, the observation that ncRNA profiles differ according to cells, tissues, and developmental stages of pregnancy, along with the complex interactions among different types of ncRNAs in regulating gene expression, strongly indicates that more studies are needed to understand the role of sex-specific ncRNA in pregnancy and associated disorders.
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119
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Redifer CA, Duncan NB, Meyer AM. Factors affecting placental size in beef cattle: Maternal and fetal influences. Theriogenology 2021; 174:149-159. [PMID: 34454320 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Our objectives were to determine the effects of dam body condition score (BCS), age of dam, and calf sex on placental size and the relationships between dam body weight (BW) and calf size with placental size. Expelled placentas and calf size at birth were collected from crossbred beef heifers and cows during four experiments (n = 22 to 39/experiment). Placentas deemed complete by visual inspection were dissected; dry weights were determined for cotyledonary and intercotyledonary tissues. Mixed linear models were used to individually determine main effects of peripartum BCS category [Thin (<5), Moderate (=5), or Fleshy (≥6)], age of dam category [Primiparous (2 yr), Young (3-4 yr), or Mature (≥5 yr)], and calf sex on placental measures. Correlations were determined for placental characteristics with prepartum dam BW, gestation length, and calf size. Thin BCS dams had lower (P ≤ 0.05) cotyledonary, total placental, and average cotyledon weights and greater placental efficiency (calf birth BW/placental weight) than moderate and fleshy dams. Intercotyledonary weight was lower (P < 0.01) in thin BCS dams compared with fleshy dams. Thin and moderate BCS dams had smaller (P ≤ 0.04) calf birth BW than fleshy dams. Primiparous dams had lower (P ≤ 0.05) total placental and average cotyledon weights than young and mature dams, yet calf birth BW was unaffected (P = 0.17). Male calves were heavier (P = 0.01) than females, yet there were no differences (P ≥ 0.59) in placental weights. Calf birth BW and heart girth had moderate positive correlations (P < 0.01) and shoulder to rump length and abdominal girth had weak positive correlations (P < 0.01) with all placental weights. Dam prepartum BW and calf flank girth had moderate positive correlations (P < 0.01) with total placental weights and weak positive correlations (P < 0.01) with cotyledonary and average cotyledon weights. Intercotyledonary weight had moderate positive correlations (P < 0.01) with gestation length and calf flank girth and a weak positive correlation (P < 0.01) with dam prepartum BW. Gestation length had a weak positive correlation (P = 0.02) with total placental weight. Number of cotyledons was not correlated (P ≥ 0.28) with any dam or offspring characteristics. In conclusion, these data suggest that both maternal age and BCS affected placental size. Calf size at birth and placental weight were positively correlated, but it is still unknown which controls and signals for the growth of the other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colby A Redifer
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Natalie B Duncan
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Allison M Meyer
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
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120
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Rosenfeld CS. Transcriptomics and Other Omics Approaches to Investigate Effects of Xenobiotics on the Placenta. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:723656. [PMID: 34631709 PMCID: PMC8497882 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.723656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The conceptus is most vulnerable to developmental perturbation during its early stages when the events that create functional organ systems are being launched. As the placenta is in direct contact with maternal tissues, it readily encounters any xenobiotics in her bloodstream. Besides serving as a conduit for solutes and waste, the placenta possesses a tightly regulated endocrine system that is, of itself, vulnerable to pharmaceutical agents, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and other environmental toxicants. To determine whether extrinsic factors affect placental function, transcriptomics and other omics approaches have become more widely used. In casting a wide net with such approaches, they have provided mechanistic insights into placental physiological and pathological responses and how placental responses may impact the fetus, especially the developing brain through the placenta-brain axis. This review will discuss how such omics technologies have been utilized to understand effects of EDCs, including the widely prevalent plasticizers bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS), and phthalates, other environmental toxicants, pharmaceutical agents, maternal smoking, and air pollution on placental gene expression, DNA methylation, and metabolomic profiles. It is also increasingly becoming clear that miRNA (miR) are important epigenetic regulators of placental function. Thus, the evidence to date that xenobiotics affect placental miR expression patterns will also be explored. Such omics approaches with mouse and human placenta will assuredly provide key biomarkers that may be used as barometers of exposure and can be targeted by early mitigation approaches to prevent later diseases, in particular neurobehavioral disorders, originating due to placental dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl S Rosenfeld
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States.,MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States.,Thompson Center for Autism and Neurobehavioral Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States.,Genetics Area Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
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121
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Fetal Sex Does Not Impact Placental Blood Flow or Placental Amino Acid Transfer in Late Gestation Pregnant Sheep With or Without Placental Insufficiency. Reprod Sci 2021; 29:1776-1789. [PMID: 34611848 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-021-00750-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Pregnant sheep have been used to model complications of human pregnancies including placental insufficiency and intrauterine growth restriction. Some of the hallmarks of placental insufficiency are slower uterine and umbilical blood flow rates, impaired placental transport of oxygen and amino acids, and lower fetal arterial concentrations of anabolic growth factors. An impact of fetal sex on these outcomes has not been identified in either human or sheep pregnancies. This is likely because most studies measuring these outcomes have used small numbers of subjects or animals. We undertook a secondary analysis of previously published data generated by our laboratory in late-gestation (gestational age of 133 ± 0 days gestational age) control sheep (n = 29 male fetuses; n = 26 female fetuses; n = 3 sex not recorded) and sheep exposed to elevated ambient temperatures to cause experimental placental insufficiency (n = 23 male fetuses; n = 17 female fetuses; n = 1 sex not recorded). The primary goal was to determine how fetal sex modifies the effect of the experimental insult on outcomes related to placental blood flow, amino acid and oxygen transport, and fetal hormones. Of the 112 outcomes measured, we only found an interaction between fetal sex and experimental insult for the uterine uptake rates of isoleucine, phenylalanine, and arginine. Additionally, most outcomes measured did not show a difference based on fetal sex when adjusting for the impact of placental insufficiency. Exceptions included fetal norepinephrine and cortisol concentrations, which were higher in female compared to male fetuses. For the parameters measured in the current analysis, the impact of fetal sex was not widespread.
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Bucher M, Montaniel KRC, Myatt L, Weintraub S, Tavori H, Maloyan A. Dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and impairment of placental metabolism in the offspring of obese mothers. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2021; 12:738-747. [PMID: 33185172 PMCID: PMC8606174 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174420001026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Obesity is a chronic condition associated with dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. Here, we show that the offspring of obese mothers are dyslipidemic and insulin resistant from the outset.Maternal and cord blood and placental tissues were collected following C-section at term. Patients were grouped as being normal weight (NW, BMI = 18-24.9) or obese (OB, BMI ≥ 30), and separated by fetal sex. We measured plasma lipids, insulin, and glucose in maternal and cord blood. Insulin resistance was quantified using the HOMA-IR. Placental markers of lipid and energy metabolism and relevant metabolites were measured by western blot and metabolomics, respectively.For OB women, total cholesterol was decreased in both maternal and cord blood, while HDL was decreased only in cord blood, independent of sex. In babies born to OB women, cord blood insulin and insulin resistance were increased. Placental protein expression of the energy and lipid metabolism regulators PGC1α, and SIRT3, ERRα, CPT1α, and CPT2 decreased with maternal obesity in a sex-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Metabolomics showed lower levels of acylcarnitines C16:0, C18:2, and C20:4 in OB women's placentas, suggesting a decrease in β-oxidation. Glutamine, glutamate, alpha-ketoglutarate (αKG), and 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) were increased, and the glutamine-to-glutamate ratio decreased (P < 0.05), in OB placentas, suggesting induction of glutamate into αKG conversion to maintain a normal metabolic flux.Newly-born offspring of obese mothers begin their lives dyslipidemic and insulin resistant. If not inherited genetically, such major metabolic perturbations might be explained by abnormal placental metabolism with potential long-term adverse consequences for the offspring's health and wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Bucher
- Knight Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of OB/GYN, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Kim Ramil C. Montaniel
- Knight Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- The Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (PBMS), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Leslie Myatt
- Department of OB/GYN, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Susan Weintraub
- Department of Biochemistry, The Metabolomics Core Facility, Institutional Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, University of Texas Health, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Hagai Tavori
- Knight Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Alina Maloyan
- Knight Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- The Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (PBMS), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Dhakal P, Strawn M, Samal A, Behura SK. Fetal Brain Elicits Sexually Conflicting Transcriptional Response to the Ablation of Uterine Forkhead Box A2 ( Foxa2) in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189693. [PMID: 34575858 PMCID: PMC8468108 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the effects of ablation of uterine Forkhead Box A2 (Foxa2) on gene expression of fetal brain relative to placenta. Using a conditional knockout mouse model for uterine Foxa2, here we show that the lack of uterine Foxa2 elicits a sexually-conflicting transcriptional response in the fetal brain relative to placenta. The ablation of Foxa2 in the uterus altered expression of genes related to growth, nutrient sensing, aging, longevity and angiogenesis among others. In the wildtype mice, these genes were expressed higher in the fetal brain and placenta of males compared to females. However, in mice lacking uterine Foxa2, the same genes showed the opposite pattern i.e., higher expression in the fetal brain and placenta of females compared to males. Based on the known marker genes of mice placenta and fetal brain cells, we further predicted that the genes exhibiting the sexually conflicting expression were associated with vascular endothelial cells. Overall, our study suggests that uterine Foxa2 plays a role in the regulation of the brain-placental axis by influencing the fetoplacental vascular changes during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramod Dhakal
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (P.D.); (M.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Monica Strawn
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (P.D.); (M.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Ananya Samal
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (P.D.); (M.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Susanta K. Behura
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (P.D.); (M.S.); (A.S.)
- MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-573-882-1722
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Rosenfeld CS. Placental serotonin signaling, pregnancy outcomes, and regulation of fetal brain development†. Biol Reprod 2021; 102:532-538. [PMID: 31711155 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The placenta is a transient organ but essential for the survival of all mammalian species by allowing for the exchanges of gasses, nutrients, and waste between maternal and fetal placenta. In rodents and humans with a hemochorial placenta, fetal placenta cells are susceptible to pharmaceutical agents and other compounds, as they are bathed directly in maternal blood. The placenta of mice and humans produce high concentrations of serotonin (5-HT) that can induce autocrine and paracrine effects within this organ. Placental 5-HT is the primary source of this neurotransmitter for fetal brain development. Increasing number of pregnant women at risk of depression are being treated with selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that bind to serotonin transporters (SERT), which prevents 5-HT binding and cellular internalization, allowing for accumulation of extracellular 5-HT available to bind to 5-HT(2A) receptor (5-HT(2A)R). In vitro and in vivo findings with SSRI or pharmacological blockage of the 5-HT(2A)R reveal disruptions of 5-HT signaling within the placenta can affect cell proliferation, division, and invasion. In SERT knockout mice, numerous apoptotic trophoblast cells are observed, as well as extensive pathological changes within the junctional zone. Collective data suggest a fine equilibrium in 5-HT signaling is essential for maintaining normal placental structure and function. Deficiencies in placental 5-HT may also result in neurobehavioral abnormalities. Evidence supporting 5-HT production and signaling within the placenta will be reviewed. We will consider whether placental hyposerotonemia or hyperserotonemia results in similar pathophysiological changes in the placenta and other organs. Lastly, open ended questions and future directions will be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl S Rosenfeld
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA.,Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA.,MU Informatics Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA.,Thompson Center for Autism and Neurobehavioral Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA.,Genetics Area Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA
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Röllin HB, Channa K, Olutola B, Odland JØ. Selenium Status, Its Interaction with Selected Essential and Toxic Elements, and a Possible Sex-Dependent Response In Utero, in a South African Birth Cohort. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18168344. [PMID: 34444090 PMCID: PMC8392010 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element and its deficiency in utero may affect fetus development and birth outcomes. The current study aimed to assess serum Se status at delivery and examine the possible association between Se levels and birth outcomes. The interaction of Se with selected essential and toxic elements as well as possible sex-dependent responses in utero were also evaluated. The negative association between Se levels and head circumference of neonates was evident in the total cohort (β = −0.164; p < 0.001) as well as in the pre-term and full-term cohorts. Significant positive correlations were found between maternal serum Se concentrations and zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in the total and regional cohorts. In the total cohort, the toxic elements lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) showed a negative correlation with Se levels, while mercury (Hg), aluminum (Al) and cadmium (Cd) showed a positive correlation. The study found a sex-dependent response in utero for Zn, Cu, Pb, Hg, and Al. The findings of the current study may inform reproductive health policy on Se status in South Africa and highlight the need for sensitive methods to measure Se intake during pregnancy and its complex interactions with other micronutrients and environmental pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halina B. Röllin
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; (B.O.); (J.Ø.O.)
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg 2094, South Africa
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +27-12-356-3261
| | - Kalavati Channa
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Lancet Laboratories, Johannesburg 2090, South Africa;
| | - Bukola Olutola
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; (B.O.); (J.Ø.O.)
- School of Engineering, IT, Science and Health, Independent Institute of Education-Monash, Roodepoort 1724, South Africa
| | - Jon Øyvind Odland
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; (B.O.); (J.Ø.O.)
- Department of Community Medicine and Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
- Department of General Hygiene, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119435 Moscow, Russia
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Pre-pregnancy BMI-associated miRNA and mRNA expression signatures in the placenta highlight a sexually-dimorphic response to maternal underweight status. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15743. [PMID: 34344912 PMCID: PMC8333418 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95051-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) is associated with adverse pregnancy and neonatal health outcomes, with differences in risk observed between sexes. Given that the placenta is a sexually dimorphic organ and critical regulator of development, examining differences in placental mRNA and miRNA expression in relation to pre-pregnancy BMI may provide insight into responses to maternal BMI in utero. Here, genome-wide mRNA and miRNA expression levels were assessed in the placentas of infants born extremely preterm. Differences in expression were evaluated according to pre-pregnancy BMI status (1) overall and (2) in male and female placentas separately. Overall, 719 mRNAs were differentially expressed in relation to underweight status. Unexpectedly, no genes were differentially expressed in relation to overweight or obese status. In male placentas, 572 mRNAs were associated with underweight status, with 503 (70%) overlapping genes identified overall. Notably, 43/572 (8%) of the mRNAs associated with underweight status in male placentas were also gene targets of two miRNAs (miR-4057 and miR-128-1-5p) associated with underweight status in male placentas. Pathways regulating placental nutrient metabolism and angiogenesis were among those enriched in mRNAs associated with underweight status in males. This study is among the first to highlight a sexually dimorphic response to low pre-pregnancy BMI in the placenta.
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128
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Ontsouka E, Lüthi M, Zaugg J, Schroeder M, Albrecht C. Establishment and validation of an approach allowing unequivocal fetal sex determination based on placental sex-specific genes. Placenta 2021; 112:132-134. [PMID: 34339973 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.07.295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The use of human placenta as a matrix for the prediction of the baby's sex has been recently documented, but evaluation methods for placental sex-determining genes allowing reliable sex prediction are still lacking. We compared the accuracy of the retrospective prediction of the baby's sex using placental mRNA expression of RPS4Y1, DDX3Y, and XIST analyzed by an already reported method and a newly developed evaluation approach. Full concordance between the predicted and the actual baby sex was only obtained when analyzing placental RPS4Y1 expression with the newly proposed method, which was found to be robust and reliable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Ontsouka
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Michael Lüthi
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jonas Zaugg
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mariana Schroeder
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christiane Albrecht
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
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Bloom MS, Gerona R, Fujimoto VY. Running the Red Queen's race-investigating environmental phenols as potential contributors to preterm birth. Fertil Steril 2021; 116:678-679. [PMID: 34330426 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.06.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Bloom
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
| | - Roy Gerona
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Victor Y Fujimoto
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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130
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Strawn M, Samal A, Sarker MB, Dhakal P, Behura SK. Relevance of microRNAs to the regulation of the brain-placental axis in mice. Placenta 2021; 112:123-131. [PMID: 34332202 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.07.293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The development of fetal brain is intricately dependent upon placental functions. Recently, we showed that the placenta and fetal brain express genes in a coordinated manner in mice. But, how the brain-placental axis is regulated at the molecular level remains poorly understood. The microRNAs (miRNAs) play diverse roles in pregnancy including regulation of placenta function as well as brain development. Thus, we hypothesized that specific miRNAs are expressed in the placenta and fetal brain to coordinate gene regulation in the brain-placental axis. METHODS To test this hypothesis, we performed deep sequencing of small RNAs in mouse placenta and fetal brain of both sexes. RESULTS The findings study show that miRNAs are potent regulators of gene expression in the placenta and fetal brain. Our data provides evidence that fetal sex influences the regulation of miRNAs between the placenta and fetal brain. Functional annotation of known target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs show that they are significantly enriched with specific signaling and transporter pathways. DISCUSSION Together, the results of this study suggest that placental miRNAs are potent regulators of fetal brain development in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Strawn
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Ananya Samal
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | | | - Pramod Dhakal
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Susanta K Behura
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA; MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
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Kumar SN, Bastia B, Borgohain D, Agrawal U, Raisuddin S, Jain AK. Structural changes, increased hypoxia, and oxidative DNA damage in placenta due to maternal smokeless tobacco use. Birth Defects Res 2021; 113:1198-1214. [PMID: 34288583 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Smokeless tobacco (SLT) consumption during pregnancy is a well-recognized health risk that causes placental damage including hypoxia and oxidative damage. Although consumption of SLT by women varies from region to region, majority of tea leave pluckers consume SLT for relieving stress and pain. Still, the effects of SLT consumption have not been evaluated in tea garden workers (TGW). While previous studies have attempted to report effects of cigarette smoke using in vitro model, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α expression in human placentae from pregnant women exposed to SLT has not been previously studied. This study was aimed to explore the effects of SLT consumption on placental structure, expression of HIF-1α and oxidative DNA damage in sample population of TGW. METHODS A total of 51 placentae were collected from SLT users and nonusers (n = 30 and 21, respectively) with full-term normal delivery, who were involved in the plucking of tea leaves during pregnancy in tea plantation. Low birth weight (LBW, i.e., weight <2,500 g) and normal birth weight (NBW) groups among both SLT user and nonuser were compared for the stated parameters. Placental tissues were processed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study and immunohistochemical analysis for the expression of HIF-1α and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). RESULTS Altered ultrastructural characteristics were observed in the tertiary villi of LBW group among SLT users which included endothelial cells protrusion into capillary lumen, degenerated nuclei, significant thickening of trophoblast basement membrane and vasculo-syncytial membrane, abnormalities of the microvilli, swollen or damaged mitochondria, and dilatation in endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. Furthermore, significant reduction in the perimeter, area, and number of the stromal capillary of the tertiary villi of placenta were found in LBW group as compared with NBW group from the SLT users. Enhanced expression for HIF-1α and oxidative DNA damage (8-OHdG) biomarker was observed in SLT users as compared with nonusers. CONCLUSIONS Maternal SLT exposure during pregnancy may be associated with villus hypoxia and consequently oxidative DNA damage. It is presumed that deleterious effect of SLT exposure on placenta could result in impairment of placental barrier, and restrict nutrient and oxygen supply from mother to fetus, and thus could be a cause of fetal growth restriction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashi Nandar Kumar
- Environmental Toxicology and Electron Microscope Laboratory, ICMR-National Institute of Pathology, Safdarjung Hospital Campus, New Delhi, India.,Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi, India
| | - Banajit Bastia
- Environmental Toxicology and Electron Microscope Laboratory, ICMR-National Institute of Pathology, Safdarjung Hospital Campus, New Delhi, India
| | - Deepa Borgohain
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh, Assam, India
| | - Usha Agrawal
- Cancer Research, Imaging and Bio-banking Laboratory, ICMR-National Institute of Pathology, New Delhi, India
| | - Sheikh Raisuddin
- Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi, India
| | - Arun Kumar Jain
- Environmental Toxicology and Electron Microscope Laboratory, ICMR-National Institute of Pathology, Safdarjung Hospital Campus, New Delhi, India
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Marinello WP, Patisaul HB. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and placental function: Impact on fetal brain development. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2021; 92:347-400. [PMID: 34452690 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
Pregnancy is a critical time of vulnerability for the development of the fetal brain. Exposure to environmental pollutants at any point in pregnancy can negatively impact many aspects of fetal development, especially the organization and differentiation of the brain. The placenta performs a variety of functions that can help protect the fetus and sustain brain development. However, disruption of any of these functions can have negative impacts on both the pregnancy outcome and fetal neurodevelopment. This review presents current understanding of how environmental exposures, specifically to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), interfere with placental function and, in turn, neurodevelopment. Some of the key differences in placental development between animal models are presented, as well as how placental functions such as serving as a xenobiotic barrier and exchange organ, immune interface, regulator of growth and fetal oxygenation, and a neuroendocrine organ, could be vulnerable to environmental exposure. This review illustrates the importance of the placenta as a modulator of fetal brain development and suggests critical unexplored areas and possible vulnerabilities to environmental exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- William P Marinello
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Heather B Patisaul
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.
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Ghosh S, Park CH, Lee J, Lee N, Zhang R, Huesing C, Reijnders D, Sones J, Münzberg H, Redman L, Chang JS. Maternal cold exposure induces distinct transcriptome changes in the placenta and fetal brown adipose tissue in mice. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:500. [PMID: 34217204 PMCID: PMC8254942 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07825-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is specialized to dissipate energy in the form of heat. BAT-mediated heat production in rodents and humans is critical for effective temperature adaptation of newborns to the extrauterine environment immediately after birth. However, very little is known about whether and how fetal BAT development is modulated in-utero in response to changes in maternal thermal environment during pregnancy. Using BL6 mice, we evaluated the impact of different maternal environmental temperatures (28 °C and 18 °C) on the transcriptome of the placenta and fetal BAT to test if maternal cold exposure influences fetal BAT development via placental remodeling. Results Maternal weight gain during pregnancy, the average number of fetuses per pregnancy, and placental weight did not differ between the groups at 28 °C and 18 °C. However, the average fetal weight at E18.5 was 6% lower in the 18 °C-group compared to the 28 °C-group. In fetal BATs, cold exposure during pregnancy induced increased expression of genes involved in de novo lipogenesis and lipid metabolism while decreasing the expression of genes associated with muscle cell differentiation, thus suggesting that maternal cold exposure may promote fetal brown adipogenesis by suppressing the myogenic lineage in bidirectional progenitors. In placental tissues, maternal cold exposure was associated with upregulation of genes involved in complement activation and downregulation of genes related to muscle contraction and actin-myosin filament sliding. These changes may coordinate placental adaptation to maternal cold exposure, potentially by protecting against cold stress-induced inflammatory damage and modulating the vascular and extravascular contractile system in the placenta. Conclusions These findings provide evidence that environmental cold temperature sensed by the mother can modulate the transcriptome of placental and fetal BAT tissues. The ramifications of the observed gene expression changes warrant future investigation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07825-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujoy Ghosh
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Core, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, USA.,Centre for Computational Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chul-Hong Park
- Gene Regulation and Metabolism, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70808, USA
| | - Jisu Lee
- Gene Regulation and Metabolism, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70808, USA
| | - Nathan Lee
- Leptin Signaling in The Brain, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Rui Zhang
- Leptin Signaling in The Brain, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Clara Huesing
- Leptin Signaling in The Brain, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Dorien Reijnders
- Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Jennifer Sones
- Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Heike Münzberg
- Leptin Signaling in The Brain, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Leanne Redman
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Women's Health, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Ji Suk Chang
- Gene Regulation and Metabolism, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70808, USA.
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Meakin AS, Cuffe JSM, Darby JRT, Morrison JL, Clifton VL. Let's Talk about Placental Sex, Baby: Understanding Mechanisms That Drive Female- and Male-Specific Fetal Growth and Developmental Outcomes. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126386. [PMID: 34203717 PMCID: PMC8232290 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well understood that sex differences exist between females and males even before they are born. These sex-dependent differences may contribute to altered growth and developmental outcomes for the fetus. Based on our initial observations in the human placenta, we hypothesised that the male prioritises growth pathways in order to maximise growth through to adulthood, thereby ensuring the greatest chance of reproductive success. However, this male-specific “evolutionary advantage” likely contributes to males being less adaptable to shifts in the in-utero environment, which then places them at a greater risk for intrauterine morbidities or mortality. Comparatively, females are more adaptable to changes in the in-utero environment at the cost of growth, which may reduce their risk of poor perinatal outcomes. The mechanisms that drive these sex-specific adaptations to a change in the in-utero environment remain unclear, but an increasing body of evidence within the field of developmental biology would suggest that alterations to placental function, as well as the feto-placental hormonal milieu, is an important contributing factor. Herein, we have addressed the current knowledge regarding sex-specific intrauterine growth differences and have examined how certain pregnancy complications may alter these female- and male-specific adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley S. Meakin
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (A.S.M.); (J.R.T.D.); (J.L.M.)
| | - James S. M. Cuffe
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Jack R. T. Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (A.S.M.); (J.R.T.D.); (J.L.M.)
| | - Janna L. Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (A.S.M.); (J.R.T.D.); (J.L.M.)
| | - Vicki L. Clifton
- Mater Medical Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
- Correspondence:
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Patterson WB, Glasson J, Naik N, Jones RB, Berger PK, Plows JF, Minor HA, Lurmann F, Goran MI, Alderete TL. Prenatal exposure to ambient air pollutants and early infant growth and adiposity in the Southern California Mother's Milk Study. Environ Health 2021; 20:67. [PMID: 34090448 PMCID: PMC8180163 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00753-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior epidemiological and animal work has linked in utero exposure to ambient air pollutants (AAP) with accelerated postnatal weight gain, which is predictive of increased cardiometabolic risk factors in childhood and adolescence. However, few studies have assessed changes in infant body composition or multiple pollutant exposures. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine relationships between prenatal residential AAP exposure with infant growth and adiposity. METHODS Residential exposure to AAP (particulate matter < 2.5 and 10 microns in aerodynamic diameter [PM2.5, PM10]; nitrogen dioxide [NO2]; ozone [O3]; oxidative capacity [Oxwt: redox-weighted oxidative potential of O3 and NO2]) was modeled by spatial interpolation of monitoring stations via an inverse distance-squared weighting (IDW2) algorithm for 123 participants from the longitudinal Mother's Milk Study, an ongoing cohort of Hispanic mother-infant dyads from Southern California. Outcomes included changes in infant growth (weight, length), total subcutaneous fat (TSF; calculated via infant skinfold thickness measures) and fat distribution (umbilical circumference, central to total subcutaneous fat [CTSF]) and were calculated by subtracting 1-month measures from 6-month measures. Multivariable linear regression was performed to examine relationships between prenatal AAP exposure and infant outcomes. Models adjusted for maternal age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, socioeconomic status, infant age, sex, and breastfeeding frequency. Sex interactions were tested, and effects are reported for each standard deviation increase in exposure. RESULTS NO2 was associated with greater infant weight gain (β = 0.14, p = 0.02) and TSF (β = 1.69, p = 0.02). PM10 and PM2.5 were associated with change in umbilical circumference (β = 0.73, p = 0.003) and TSF (β = 1.53, p = 0.04), respectively. Associations of Oxwt (pinteractions < 0.10) with infant length change, umbilical circumference, and CTSF were modified by infant sex. Oxwt was associated with attenuated infant length change among males (β = -0.60, p = 0.01), but not females (β = 0.16, p = 0.49); umbilical circumference among females (β = 0.92, p = 0.009), but not males (β = -0.00, p = 0.99); and CTSF among males (β = 0.01, p = 0.03), but not females (β = 0.00, p = 0.51). CONCLUSION Prenatal AAP exposure was associated with increased weight gain and anthropometric measures from 1-to-6 months of life among Hispanic infants. Sex-specific associations suggest differential consequences of in utero oxidative stress. These results indicate that prenatal AAP exposure may alter infant growth, which has potential to increase childhood obesity risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- William B. Patterson
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO USA
| | - Jessica Glasson
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO USA
| | - Noopur Naik
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO USA
| | - Roshonda B. Jones
- Department of Pediatrics, The Saban Research Institute, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Paige K. Berger
- Department of Pediatrics, The Saban Research Institute, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Jasmine F. Plows
- Department of Pediatrics, The Saban Research Institute, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | | | | | - Michael I. Goran
- Department of Pediatrics, The Saban Research Institute, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Tanya L. Alderete
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO USA
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136
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Inkster AM, Yuan V, Konwar C, Matthews AM, Brown CJ, Robinson WP. A cross-cohort analysis of autosomal DNA methylation sex differences in the term placenta. Biol Sex Differ 2021; 12:38. [PMID: 34044884 PMCID: PMC8162041 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-021-00381-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human placental DNA methylation (DNAme) data is a valuable resource for studying sex differences during gestation, as DNAme profiles after delivery reflect the cumulative effects of gene expression patterns and exposures across gestation. Here, we present an analysis of sex differences in autosomal DNAme in the uncomplicated term placenta (n = 343) using the Illumina 450K array. RESULTS At a false discovery rate < 0.05 and a mean sex difference in DNAme beta value of > 0.10, we identified 162 autosomal CpG sites that were differentially methylated by sex and replicated in an independent cohort of samples (n = 293). Several of these differentially methylated CpG sites were part of larger correlated regions of sex differential DNAme. Although global DNAme levels did not differ by sex, the majority of significantly differentially methylated CpGs were more highly methylated in male placentae, the opposite of what is seen in differential methylation analyses of somatic tissues. Patterns of autosomal DNAme at these 162 CpGs were significantly associated with maternal age (in males) and newborn birthweight standard deviation (in females). CONCLUSIONS Our results provide a comprehensive analysis of sex differences in autosomal DNAme in the term human placenta. We report a list of high-confidence autosomal sex-associated differentially methylated CpGs and identify several key features of these loci that suggest their relevance to sex differences observed in normative and complicated pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M. Inkster
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, 950 W 28th Ave, Vancouver, V6H 3N1 Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, 4500 Oak St, Vancouver, V6H 3N1 Canada
| | - Victor Yuan
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, 950 W 28th Ave, Vancouver, V6H 3N1 Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, 4500 Oak St, Vancouver, V6H 3N1 Canada
| | - Chaini Konwar
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, 950 W 28th Ave, Vancouver, V6H 3N1 Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, 950 W 28th Ave, Vancouver, V6H 3N1 Canada
| | - Allison M. Matthews
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, 950 W 28th Ave, Vancouver, V6H 3N1 Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, 4500 Oak St, Vancouver, V6H 3N1 Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, 950 W 28th Ave, Vancouver, V6H 3N1 Canada
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, V6T 1Z7 Canada
| | - Carolyn J. Brown
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, 4500 Oak St, Vancouver, V6H 3N1 Canada
| | - Wendy P. Robinson
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, 950 W 28th Ave, Vancouver, V6H 3N1 Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, 4500 Oak St, Vancouver, V6H 3N1 Canada
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137
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Andersson-Hall U, Svedin P, Mallard C, Blennow K, Zetterberg H, Holmäng A. Growth differentiation factor 15 increases in both cerebrospinal fluid and serum during pregnancy. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248980. [PMID: 34043633 PMCID: PMC8158880 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) increases in serum during pregnancy to levels not seen in any other physiological state and is suggested to be involved in pregnancy-induced nausea, weight regulation and glucose metabolism. The main action of GDF15 is regulated through a receptor of the brainstem, i.e., through exposure of GDF15 in both blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The aim of the current study was to measure GDF15 in both CSF and serum during pregnancy, and to compare it longitudinally to non-pregnant levels. Methods Women were sampled at elective caesarean section (n = 45, BMI = 28.1±5.0) and were followed up 5 years after pregnancy (n = 25). GDF15, insulin and leptin were measured in CSF and serum. Additional measurements included plasma glucose, and serum adiponectin and Hs-CRP. Results GDF15 levels were higher during pregnancy compared with follow-up in both CSF (385±128 vs. 115±32 ng/l, P<0.001) and serum (73789±29198 vs. 404±102 ng/l, P<0.001). CSF levels correlated with serum levels during pregnancy (P<0.001), but not in the non-pregnant state (P = 0.98). Both CSF and serum GDF15 were highest in women carrying a female fetus (P<0.001). Serum GDF15 correlated with the homeostatic model assessment for beta-cell function and placental weight, and CSF GDF15 correlated inversely with CSF insulin levels. Conclusion This, the first study to measure CSF GDF15 during pregnancy, demonstrated increased GDF15 levels in both serum and CSF during pregnancy. The results suggest that effects of GDF15 during pregnancy can be mediated by increases in both CSF and serum levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrika Andersson-Hall
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Pernilla Svedin
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Carina Mallard
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Agneta Holmäng
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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138
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Padmanabhan V, Song W, Puttabyatappa M. Praegnatio Perturbatio-Impact of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals. Endocr Rev 2021; 42:295-353. [PMID: 33388776 PMCID: PMC8152448 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnaa035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The burden of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight is considerable across the world. Several risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes have been identified. One risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes receiving considerable attention in recent years is gestational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Humans are exposed to a multitude of environmental chemicals with known endocrine-disrupting properties, and evidence suggests exposure to these EDCs have the potential to disrupt the maternal-fetal environment culminating in adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. This review addresses the impact of maternal and fetal exposure to environmental EDCs of natural and man-made chemicals in disrupting the maternal-fetal milieu in human leading to adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes-a risk factor for adult-onset noncommunicable diseases, the role lifestyle and environmental factors play in mitigating or amplifying the effects of EDCs, the underlying mechanisms and mediators involved, and the research directions on which to focus future investigations to help alleviate the adverse effects of EDC exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wenhui Song
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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139
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Saghian R, Cahill L, Rahman A, Steinman J, Stortz G, Kingdom J, Macgowan C, Sled J. Interpretation of wave reflections in the umbilical arterial segment of the feto-placental circulation: computational modeling of the feto-placental arterial tree. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2021; 68:3647-3658. [PMID: 34010124 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2021.3082064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Placental vascular abnormalities are associated with a host of pregnancy complications including placenta mediated fetal growth restriction (FGR). Umbilical arterial (UA) Doppler ultrasound velocity waveforms are widely used in the diagnosis of underlying placental vascular abnormalities in pregnancies with suspected FGR, which greatly help prevent stillbirth via ongoing fetal monitoring and timely delivery. However, the sensitivity of UA Doppler diagnosis diminishes late in gestation. Our goal was to present a generalized wave decomposition method to compute forward and reflected components from UA waveforms. A detailed anatomical based model was also developed to explain observed UA flow waveform and to explore how vascular properties affect the shape of flow wave components. Using pregnant mice and high frequency ultrasound microscopy, we obtained in utero Doppler and M- mode ultrasound measurements in 15 fetuses UA. Following ultrasound, the placentas were collected and perfused with contrast agent to obtain high-resolution 3D images of the feto-placental arteries. Model results indicate the significant role of terminal load impedance (capillary and/or veins) in creating positive or negative reflected waveforms. A negative reflected waveform is obtained when terminal impedance increases. This is consistent with the elongated and non-branching terminal villi that are proposed cause the highly abnormal UA waveforms found in early-onset FGR. The significance of these findings for the diagnostic utility of UA Doppler in human pregnancy is that the identification and measurement of wave reflections may aid in discriminating between healthy and abnormal placental vasculature in pregnancies with suspected late-onset FGR.
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140
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Maternal Brown Fat Thermogenesis Programs Glucose Tolerance in the Male Offspring. Cell Rep 2021; 33:108351. [PMID: 33147454 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental temperature is a driving factor in evolution, and it is commonly assumed that metabolic adaptations to cold climates are the result of transgenerational selection. Here, we show in mice that even minor changes in maternal thermogenesis alter the metabolic phenotype already in the next generation. Male offspring of mothers genetically lacking brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis display increased lean mass and improved glucose tolerance as adults, while females are unaffected. The phenotype is replicated in offspring of mothers kept at thermoneutrality; conversely, mothers with higher gestational BAT thermogenesis produce male offspring with reduced lean mass and impaired glucose tolerance. Running-wheel exercise reverses the offspring's metabolic impairments, pointing to the muscle as target of these fetal programming effects. Our data demonstrate that gestational BAT activation negatively affects metabolic health of the male offspring; however, these unfavorable fetal programming effects may be negated by active lifestyle.
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141
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Barrett E, Loverin A, Wang H, Carlson M, Larsen TD, Almeida MM, Whitman J, Baack ML, Joss-Moore LA. Uteroplacental Insufficiency with Hypoxia Upregulates Placental PPARγ-KMT5A Axis in the Rat. Reprod Sci 2021; 28:1476-1488. [PMID: 33398850 PMCID: PMC8215892 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-020-00434-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The placenta represents a critical node in fetal lipid acquisition, yet the mechanisms by which the placenta handles lipids under normal and pathologic conditions are incompletely understood. A key player in placental lipid handling is peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). PPARγ influences global gene expression via its regulation of the epigenetic modifier lysine methyltransferase 5A (KMT5A), which places a methyl group on histone 4 lysine 20 (H4K20me) of target genes. Here we test the hypothesis that KMT5A is present in both the human and rat placentas and is affected by uteroplacental insufficiency (UPI) in the rat in association with increased placental lipid accumulation. We assessed levels and localization of KMT5A, as well as lipid droplet accumulation, in human placental tissue collected from maternal donors after delivery by planned cesarean section. Using a rat model of UPI, we also evaluated the effects of UPI on lipid accumulation, PPARγ, KMT5A, and H4K20me in the rat placenta. In this study, we show for the first time the presence and activity of KMT5A, in human and in rat placentas. We also demonstrate that in the rat placenta, UPI increases hypoxia, KMT5a expression, and activity in association with increased lipid accumulation in placenta supporting male fetuses. Placental PPARγ-KMT5A axis may be an important mediator of placental lipid handling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Barrett
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84109, USA
| | - Amy Loverin
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84109, USA
| | - Haimei Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, 295 Chipeta Way, UT, 84108, Salt Lake City, USA
| | | | - Tricia D Larsen
- Environmental Influences on Health and Disease, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, USA
| | - Mariana M Almeida
- Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Jenna Whitman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, 295 Chipeta Way, UT, 84108, Salt Lake City, USA
| | - Michelle L Baack
- Environmental Influences on Health and Disease, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, USA
| | - Lisa A Joss-Moore
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, 295 Chipeta Way, UT, 84108, Salt Lake City, USA.
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142
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Dieckmann L, Lahti-Pulkkinen M, Kvist T, Lahti J, DeWitt PE, Cruceanu C, Laivuori H, Sammallahti S, Villa PM, Suomalainen-König S, Eriksson JG, Kajantie E, Raikkönen K, Binder EB, Czamara D. Characteristics of epigenetic aging across gestational and perinatal tissues. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:97. [PMID: 33926514 PMCID: PMC8082803 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01080-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Epigenetic clocks have been used to indicate differences in biological states between individuals of same chronological age. However, so far, only few studies have examined epigenetic aging in newborns—especially regarding different gestational or perinatal tissues. In this study, we investigated which birth- and pregnancy-related variables are most important in predicting gestational epigenetic age acceleration or deceleration (i.e., the deviation between gestational epigenetic age estimated from the DNA methylome and chronological gestational age) in chorionic villus, placenta and cord blood tissues from two independent study cohorts (ITU, n = 639 and PREDO, n = 966). We further characterized the correspondence of epigenetic age deviations between these tissues. Results Among the most predictive factors of epigenetic age deviations in single tissues were child sex, birth length, maternal smoking during pregnancy, maternal mental disorders until childbirth, delivery mode and parity. However, the specific factors related to epigenetic age deviation and the direction of association differed across tissues. In individuals with samples available from more than one tissue, relative epigenetic age deviations were not correlated across tissues. Conclusion Gestational epigenetic age acceleration or deceleration was not related to more favorable or unfavorable factors in one direction in the investigated tissues, and the relative epigenetic age differed between tissues of the same person. This indicates that epigenetic age deviations associate with distinct, tissue specific, factors during the gestational and perinatal period. Our findings suggest that the epigenetic age of the newborn should be seen as a characteristic of a specific tissue, and less as a general characteristic of the child itself. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-021-01080-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Dieckmann
- Department of Translational Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, München, Germany.,International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, München, Germany
| | - Marius Lahti-Pulkkinen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.,Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tuomas Kvist
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jari Lahti
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Peter E DeWitt
- Section of Informatics and Data Science, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Cristiana Cruceanu
- Department of Translational Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, München, Germany
| | - Hannele Laivuori
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Human Genetics, Helsinki, Finland.,Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University Hospital and Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Sara Sammallahti
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.,Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pia M Villa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University Hospital and Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Hyvinkää Hospital, Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District, Hyvinkää, Finland
| | - Sanna Suomalainen-König
- Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johan G Eriksson
- Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Human Potential Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Eero Kajantie
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.,Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Faculty of Medicine, PEDEGO Research Unit, MRC Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Katri Raikkönen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Elisabeth B Binder
- Department of Translational Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, München, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Darina Czamara
- Department of Translational Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, München, Germany.
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Oxidative Stress at Birth Is Associated with the Concentration of Iron and Copper in Maternal Serum. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13051491. [PMID: 33924889 PMCID: PMC8145844 DOI: 10.3390/nu13051491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress (OS) in the foetal and neonatal periods leads to many disorders in newborns and in later life. The nutritional status of pregnant women is considered to be one of the key factors that triggers OS. We investigated the relationship between the concentration of selected mineral elements in the blood of pregnant women and the concentration of 3′nitrotyrosine (3′NT) as a marker of OS in the umbilical cord blood of newborns. The study group consisted of 57 pregnant women and their newborn children. The concentrations of magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in maternal serum (MS) were measured by the flame atomic absorption/emission spectrometry (FAAS/FAES) method. The concentration of 3′NT in umbilical cord serum (UCS) of newborns was determined by the ELISA method. A positive correlation between MS Fe and UCS 3′NT in male newborns was shown (rho = 0.392, p = 0.053). Significantly higher UCS 3′NT was demonstrated in newborns, especially males, whose mothers were characterized by MS Fe higher than 400 μg/dL compared to those of mothers with MS Fe up to 300 μg/dL (p < 0.01). Moreover, a negative correlation between the MS Cu and UCS 3′NT in male newborns was observed (rho = −0.509, p = 0.008). Results of the study showed the need to develop strategies to optimize the nutritional status of pregnant women. Implementation of these strategies could contribute to reducing the risk of pre- and neonatal OS and its adverse health effects in the offspring.
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Copping KJ, Hoare A, McMillen IC, Rodgers RJ, Wallace CR, Perry VEA. Maternal periconceptional and first trimester protein restriction in beef heifers: effects on maternal performance and early fetal growth. Reprod Fertil Dev 2021; 32:835-850. [PMID: 32527374 DOI: 10.1071/rd19149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated the effect of protein restriction during the periconception (PERI) and first trimester (POST) periods on maternal performance, physiology and early fetal growth. Yearling nulliparous heifers (n=360) were individually fed a diet high or low in protein (HPeri and LPeri respectively) beginning 60 days before conception. From 24 to 98 days post-conception (dpc), half of each treatment group changed to the alternative post-conception high- or low-protein diet (HPost and LPost respectively), yielding four groups in a 2×2 factorial design with a common diet until parturition. Protein restriction was associated with lower bodyweight subsequent to reduced (but positive) average daily weight gain (ADG) during the PERI and POST periods. During the POST period, ADG was greater in LPeri than HPeri heifers and tended to be greater in LPost than HPost heifers during the second and third trimester. Bodyweight was similar at term. The pregnancy rate did not differ, but embryo loss between 23 and 36 dpc tended to be greater in LPeri than HPeri heifers. Overall, a greater proportion of male fetuses was detected (at 60 dpc 63.3% male vs 36.7% female). Protein restriction altered maternal plasma urea, non-esterified fatty acids, progesterone, leptin and insulin-like growth factor 1 at critical stages of fetal development. However, profiles varied depending on the sex of the conceptus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina J Copping
- University of Adelaide, Robinson Research Institute, School of Medicine, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Andrew Hoare
- South East Vets, 314 Commercial Street, Mount Gambier, SA 5290, Australia
| | | | - Raymond J Rodgers
- University of Adelaide, Robinson Research Institute, School of Medicine, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Charles R Wallace
- Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Viv E A Perry
- University of Adelaide, Robinson Research Institute, School of Medicine, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; and Corresponding author.
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145
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Hypoxia-Induced Alpha-Globin Expression in Syncytiotrophoblasts Mimics the Pattern Observed in Preeclamptic Placentas. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073357. [PMID: 33806017 PMCID: PMC8036899 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy disorder associated with placental dysfunction and elevated fetal hemoglobin (HbF). Early in pregnancy the placenta harbors hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and is an extramedullary source of erythropoiesis. However, globin expression is not unique to erythroid cells and can be triggered by hypoxia. To investigate the role of the placenta in increasing globin levels previously reported in PE, flow cytometry, histological and immunostaining and in situ analyses were used on placenta samples and ex vivo explant cultures. Our results indicated that in PE pregnancies, placental HSPC homing and erythropoiesis were not affected. Non-erythroid alpha-globin mRNA and protein, but not gamma-globin, were detected in syncytiotrophoblasts and stroma of PE placenta samples. Similarly, alpha-globin protein and mRNA were upregulated in normal placenta explants cultured in hypoxia. The upregulation was independent of HIF1 and NRF2, the two main candidates of globin transcription in non-erythroid cells. Our study is the first to demonstrate alpha-globin mRNA expression in syncytiotrophoblasts in PE, induced by hypoxia. However, gamma-globin was only expressed in erythrocytes. We conclude that alpha-globin, but not HbF, is expressed in placental syncytiotrophoblasts in PE and may contribute to the pathology of the disease.
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146
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Roberts VHJ, Streblow AD, Gaffney JE, Rettke SP, Frias AE, Slayden OD. Placental Glucose Uptake in a Nonhuman Primate Model of Western-Style Diet Consumption and Chronic Hyperandrogenemia Exposure. Reprod Sci 2021; 28:2574-2581. [PMID: 33721298 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-021-00526-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
We reported that consumption of a western-style diet (WSD) with and without hyperandrogenemia perturbed placental perfusion and altered levels of glucose transporter proteins in rhesus macaques. Based on that result, we hypothesized that placental glucose uptake would be dysregulated in this model. In this study, female rhesus macaques were assigned at puberty to one of four groups: subcutaneous cholesterol implants + standard chow diet (controls, C); testosterone implants + chow (T); cholesterol implants + a high-fat, WSD; and T+WSD. After ~6 years of treatment, animals were mated, and pregnancies were delivered by cesarean section at gestational day (G) 130 (the term is G168). Placental villous explants were immediately prepared for radiolabeled glucose assay. Linear glucose uptake was observed between 0 and 30 s. At 20 s, glucose uptake in placental villous explants did not differ across the four treatment groups with values as follows: C: 25.5 ± 6.33, T: 22.9 ± 0.404, WSD: 26.9.0 ± 3.71, and T+WSD: 33.0 ± 3.12 (mean ± SD expressed in pmol/mg). Unlike our prior experiment, glucose transporter expression was reduced in WSD placentas, and our in vitro functional assay did not demonstrate a difference in glucose uptake across the transporting epithelium of the placenta. Notably, maternal blood glucose levels were significantly elevated in animals chronically fed a WSD. This disparity may indicate differences in glucose utilization and metabolism by the placenta itself, as glucose transporter expression and circulating fetal glucose concentrations were comparable across all four groups in this pregnancy cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria H J Roberts
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Beaverton, OR, USA.
| | - Aaron D Streblow
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Jessica E Gaffney
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Samantha P Rettke
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Antonio E Frias
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Beaverton, OR, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, OHSU, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Ov D Slayden
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Beaverton, OR, USA
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147
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Cao C, Prado MA, Sun L, Rockowitz S, Sliz P, Paulo JA, Finley D, Fleming MD. Maternal Iron Deficiency Modulates Placental Transcriptome and Proteome in Mid-Gestation of Mouse Pregnancy. J Nutr 2021; 151:1073-1083. [PMID: 33693820 PMCID: PMC8112763 DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxab005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal iron deficiency (ID) is associated with poor pregnancy and fetal outcomes. The effect is thought to be mediated by the placenta but there is no comprehensive assessment of placental responses to maternal ID. Additionally, whether the influence of maternal ID on the placenta differs by fetal sex is unknown. OBJECTIVES To identify gene and protein signatures of ID mouse placentas at mid-gestation. A secondary objective was to profile the expression of iron genes in mouse placentas across gestation. METHODS We used a real-time PCR-based array to determine the mRNA expression of all known iron genes in mouse placentas at embryonic day (E) 12.5, E14.5, E16.5, and E19.5 (n = 3 placentas/time point). To determine the effect of maternal ID, we performed RNA sequencing and proteomics in male and female placentas from ID and iron-adequate mice at E12.5 (n = 8 dams/diet). RESULTS In female placentas, 6 genes, including transferrin receptor (Tfrc) and solute carrier family 11 member 2, were significantly changed by maternal ID. An additional 154 genes were altered in male ID placentas. A proteomic analysis quantified 7662 proteins in the placenta. Proteins translated from iron-responsive element (IRE)-containing mRNA were altered in abundance; ferritin and ferroportin 1 decreased, while TFRC increased in ID placentas. Less than 4% of the significantly altered genes in ID placentas occurred both at the transcriptional and translational levels. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that the impact of maternal ID on placental gene expression in mice is limited in scope and magnitude at mid-gestation. We provide strong evidence for IRE-based transcriptional and translational coordination of iron gene expression in the mouse placenta. Finally, we discover sexually dimorphic effects of maternal ID on placental gene expression, with more genes and pathways altered in male compared with female mouse placentas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Cao
- Address correspondence to CC (e-mail: )
| | - Miguel A Prado
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liang Sun
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA,The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shira Rockowitz
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA,The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Piotr Sliz
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA,The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA,Division of Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joao A Paulo
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel Finley
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark D Fleming
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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148
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Allegra A, Giarratana RM, Scola L, Balistreri CR. The close link between the fetal programming imprinting and neurodegeneration in adulthood: The key role of "hemogenic endothelium" programming. Mech Ageing Dev 2021; 195:111461. [PMID: 33600833 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2021.111461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The research on neurodegenerative diseases (NeuroDegD) has been traditionally focused on later life stages. There is now an increasing evidence, that they may be programmed during early development. Here, we propose that NeuroDegD are the result of the complex process of imprinting on fetal hemogenic endothelium, from which the microglial cells make to origin. The central role of placenta and epigenetic mechanisms (methylation of DNA, histone modifications and regulation by non-coding RNAs) in mediating the short and long-term effects has been also described. Precisely, it reports their role in impacting plasticity and memory of microglial cells. In addition, we also underline the necessity of further studies for clearing all mechanisms involved and developing epigenetic methods for identifying potential targets as biomarkers, and for developing preventive measures. Such biomarkers might be used to identify individuals at risk to NeuroDegD. Finally, the sex dependence of fetal programming process has been discussed. It might justify the sex differences in the epidemiologic, imaging, biomarkers, and pathology studies of these pathologies. The discovery of related mechanisms might have important clinical implications in both the etiology of disorders and the management of pregnant women for encouraging healthy long-term outcomes for their children, and future generations. Impending research on the mechanisms related to transgenerational transmission of prenatal stress might consent the development and application of therapies and/or intervention strategies for these disorders in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rosa Maria Giarratana
- Department of BioMedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Letizia Scola
- Department of BioMedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Carmela Rita Balistreri
- Department of BioMedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
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149
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Monthé-Drèze C, Sen S, Hauguel-de Mouzon S, Catalano PM. Effect of Omega-3 Supplementation in Pregnant Women with Obesity on Newborn Body Composition, Growth and Length of Gestation: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13020578. [PMID: 33572368 PMCID: PMC7916127 DOI: 10.3390/nu13020578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal obesity, a state of chronic low-grade metabolic inflammation, is a growing health burden associated with offspring adiposity, abnormal fetal growth and prematurity, which are all linked to adverse offspring cardiometabolic health. Higher intake of anti-inflammatory omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in pregnancy has been associated with lower adiposity, higher birthweight and longer gestation. However, the effects of n-3 supplementation specifically in pregnant women with overweight and obesity (OWOB) have not been explored. We conducted a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial of 72 pregnant women with first trimester body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2 to explore preliminary efficacy of n-3 supplementation. Participants were randomized to daily DHA plus EPA (2 g/d) or placebo (wheat germ oil) from 10-16 weeks gestation to delivery. Neonatal body composition, fetal growth and length of gestation were assessed. For the 48 dyads with outcome data, median (IQR) maternal BMI was 30.2 (28.2, 35.4) kg/m2. In sex-adjusted analyses, n-3 supplementation was associated with higher neonatal fat-free mass (β: 218 g; 95% CI 49, 387) but not with % body fat or fat mass. Birthweight for gestational age z-score (-0.17 ± 0.67 vs. -0.61 ± 0.61 SD unit, p = 0.02) was higher, and gestation longer (40 (38.5, 40.1) vs. 39 (38, 39.4) weeks, p = 0.02), in the treatment vs. placebo group. Supplementation with n-3 PUFA in women with OWOB led to higher lean mass accrual at birth as well as improved fetal growth and longer gestation. Larger well-powered trials of n-3 PUFA supplementation specifically in pregnant women with OWOB should be conducted to confirm these findings and explore the long-term impact on offspring obesity and cardiometabolic health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Monthé-Drèze
- Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- School of Medicine, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-617-525-4139
| | - Sarbattama Sen
- Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- School of Medicine, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Patrick M. Catalano
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA;
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150
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Paranavitana L, Walker M, Chandran AR, Milligan N, Shinar S, Whitehead CL, Hobson SR, Serghides L, Parks WT, Baschat AA, Macgowan CK, Sled JG, Kingdom JC, Cahill LS. Sex differences in uterine artery Doppler during gestation in pregnancies complicated by placental dysfunction. Biol Sex Differ 2021; 12:19. [PMID: 33531040 PMCID: PMC7852081 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-021-00362-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is growing evidence of sex differences in placental vascular development. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of fetal sex on uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) throughout gestation in a cohort of normal and complicated pregnancies. METHODS A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in 240 pregnant women. Pulsed wave Doppler ultrasound of the proximal uterine arteries was performed at a 4-weekly interval between 14 and 40 weeks of gestation. The patients were classified retrospectively as normal or complicated (one or more of maternal preeclampsia, preterm birth, or small for gestational age). To assess if the change in uterine artery PI during gestation differed between normal and complicated pregnancies and between fetal sexes, the uterine artery PI was modeled using a linear function of gestational age and the rate of change was estimated from the slope. RESULTS While the uterine artery PI did not differ over gestation between females and males for normal pregnancies, the trajectory of this index differed by fetal sex for pregnancies complicated by either preeclampsia, preterm birth, or fetal growth restriction (p < 0.0001). The male fetuses in the complicated pregnancy group had an elevated slope compared to the other groups (p < 0.0001), suggesting a more progressive deterioration in uteroplacental perfusion over gestation. CONCLUSIONS The uterine artery PI is widely used to assess uteroplacental function in clinical settings. The observation that this metric changes more rapidly in complicated pregnancies where the fetus was male highlights the importance of sex when interpreting hemodynamic markers of placental maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Paranavitana
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 283 Prince Philip Drive, St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3X7, Canada
| | - Melissa Walker
- Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Natasha Milligan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Clare L Whitehead
- Pregnancy Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Australia
| | | | - Lena Serghides
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Immunology and Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - W Tony Parks
- Department of Pathology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ahmet A Baschat
- Centre for Fetal Therapy, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher K Macgowan
- Translational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - John G Sled
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Translational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - John C Kingdom
- Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lindsay S Cahill
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 283 Prince Philip Drive, St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3X7, Canada.
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