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Abstract
Normal implantation depends on appropriate trophoblast growth and invasion. Inadequate trophoblast invasion results in pregnancy-related disorders, such as early miscarriage and pre-eclampsia, which are dangerous to both the mother and fetus. Msh Homeobox 2 (MSX2), a member of the MSX family of homeobox proteins, plays a significant role in the proliferation and differentiation of various cells and tissues, including ectodermal organs, teeth, and chondrocytes. Recently, MSX2 was found to play important roles in the invasion of cancer cells into adjacent tissues via the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the role of MSX2 in trophoblastic invasion during placental development has yet to be explored. In the present study, we detected MSX2 expression in cytotrophoblast, syncytiotrophoblast, and extravillous cytotrophoblast cells of first or third trimester human placentas via immunohistochemistry analysis. Furthermore, we found that the in vitro invasive ability of HTR8/SVneo cells was enhanced by exogenous overexpression of MSX2, and that this effect was accompanied by increased protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), vimentin, and β-catenin. Conversely, treatment of HTR8/SVneo cells with MSX2-specific siRNAs resulted in decreased protein expression of MMP-2, vimentin, and β-catenin, and reduced invasion levels in a Matrigel invasion test. Notably, however, treatment with the MSX2 overexpression plasmid and the MSX2 siRNAs had no effect on the mRNA expression levels of β-catenin. Meanwhile, overexpression of MSX2 and treatment with the MSX2-specific siRNA resulted in decreased and increased E-cadherin expression, respectively, in JEG-3 cells. Lastly, the protein expression levels of MSX2 were significantly lower in human pre-eclamptic placental villi than in the matched control placentas. Collectively, our results suggest that MSX2 may induce human trophoblast cell invasion, and dysregulation of MSX2 expression may be associated with pre-eclampsia.
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Genbacev O, Larocque N, Ona K, Prakobphol A, Garrido-Gomez T, Kapidzic M, Bárcena A, Gormley M, Fisher SJ. Integrin α4-positive human trophoblast progenitors: functional characterization and transcriptional regulation. Hum Reprod 2016; 31:1300-14. [PMID: 27083540 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dew077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION What are the functional characteristics and transcriptional regulators of human trophoblast progenitor cells (TBPCs)? SUMMARY ANSWER TBPC lines established from the human smooth chorion by cell sorting for integrin α4 expressed markers of stemness and trophoblast (TB) stage-specific antigens, invaded Matrigel substrates and contributed to the cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) layer of smooth chorion explants with high-mobility group protein HMGI-C (HMGA2) and transcription factor GATA-4 (GATA4) controlling their progenitor state and TB identity. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Previously, we reported the derivation of TBPC lines by trypsinization of colonies that formed in cultures of chorionic mesenchyme cells that were treated with an activin nodal inhibitor. Microarray analyses showed that, among integrins, α4 was most highly expressed, and identified HMGA2 and GATA4 as potential transcriptional regulators. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION The aim of this study was to streamline TBPC derivation across gestation. High-cell surface expression of integrin α4 enabled the use of a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) approach for TBPC isolation from the human smooth chorion (n = 6 lines). To confirm their TBPC identity, we profiled their expression of stemness and TB markers, and growth factor receptors. At a functional level, we assayed their invasive capacity (n = 3) and tropism for the CTB layer of the smooth chorion (n = 3). At a molecular level, we studied the roles of HMGA2 and GATA4. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTINGS, METHODS Cells were enzymatically disassociated from the human smooth chorion across gestation. FACS was used to isolate the integrin α4-positive population. In total, we established six TBPC lines, two per trimester. Their identity was determined by immunolocalization of a suite of antigens. Function was assessed via Matrigel invasion and co-culture with explants of the human smooth chorion. An siRNA approach was used to down-regulate HMGA2 and GATA4 expression and the results were confirmed by immunoblotting and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses. The endpoints analyzed included proliferation, as determined by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrDU) incorporation, and the expression of stage-specific antigens and hormones, as determined by qRT-PCR and immunostaining approaches. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE As with the original cell lines, the progenitors expressed a combination of human embryonic stem cell and TB markers. Upon differentiation, they primarily formed CTBs, which were capable of Matrigel invasion. Co-culture of the cells with smooth chorion explants enabled their migration through the mesenchyme after which they intercalated within the chorionic CTB layer. Down-regulation of HMGA2 showed that this DNA-binding protein governed their self-renewal. Both HMGA2 and GATA4 had pleitropic effects on the cells' progenitor state and TB identity. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This study supported our hypothesis that TBPCs from the chorionic mesenchyme can contribute to the subpopulation of CTBs that reside in the smooth chorion. In the absence of in vivo data, which is difficult to obtain in humans, the results have the limitations common to all in vitro studies. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The accepted view is that progenitors reside among the villous CTB subpopulation. Here, we show that TBPCs also reside in the mesenchymal layer of the smooth chorion throughout gestation. We theorize that they can contribute to the CTB layer in this region. This phenomenon may be particularly important in pathological situations when CTBs of the smooth chorion might provide a functional reserve for CTBs of the placenta proper. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS Research reported in this publication was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health under award P50HD055764. O.G., N.L., K.O., A.P., T.G.-G., M.K., A.B., M.G. have nothing to disclose. S.J.F. received licensing fees and royalties from SeraCare Life Sciences for trisomic TBPC lines that were derived according to the methods described in this manuscript. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Genbacev
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - N Larocque
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - K Ona
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - A Prakobphol
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - T Garrido-Gomez
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fundacion IVI, Instituto Universitario IVI, School of Medicine, Universidad de Valencia, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - M Kapidzic
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - A Bárcena
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - M Gormley
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - S J Fisher
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA The Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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153
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Pan T, Zhong L, Wu S, Cao Y, Yang Q, Cai Z, Cai X, Zhao W, Ma N, Zhang W, Zhang H, Zhou J. 17β-Oestradiol enhances the expansion and activation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells via signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3 signalling in human pregnancy. Clin Exp Immunol 2016; 185:86-97. [PMID: 26969967 DOI: 10.1111/cei.12790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
During a successful pregnancy, the maternal immune system plays a critical role in maintaining immunotolerance towards semi-allogeneic fetal antigens. Recent studies have indicated that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are active players in establishing fetal-maternal tolerance; however, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, we observed a significant expansion of monocytic MDSCs (M-MDSCs) in the peripheral blood of pregnant women, which suppressed T cell responses in a reactive oxygen species-dependent manner and required cell-cell contact. The number of M-MDSCs correlated positively with serum oestrogen and progesterone levels. Administration of 17β-oestradiol, but not progesterone, enhanced both the expansion and suppressive activity of M-MDSCs through signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3. Pretreatment with STAT-3 inhibitor JSI-124 almost completely abrogated the effects of 17β-oestradiol on MDSCs. Collectively, these results demonstrate that 17β-oestradiol-induced STAT-3 signalling plays an important role in both the expansion and activation of MDSCs during human pregnancy, which may benefit the development of novel therapeutic strategies for prevention of immune-related miscarriage.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Pan
- Program in Immunology, Affiliated Guangzhou Women and Childrens Medical Center, Zhongshan School of Medicine.,Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou
| | - L Zhong
- Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou
| | - S Wu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangzhou
| | - Y Cao
- Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou
| | - Q Yang
- Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou
| | - Z Cai
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangzhou
| | - X Cai
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangzhou
| | - W Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangzhou
| | - N Ma
- National-regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Clinical Application of Cancer Genomics, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen
| | - W Zhang
- National-regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Clinical Application of Cancer Genomics, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen
| | - H Zhang
- Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou.,Department of Cell Biology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - J Zhou
- Program in Immunology, Affiliated Guangzhou Women and Childrens Medical Center, Zhongshan School of Medicine.,Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou.,Department of Cell Biology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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154
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Mainigi MA, Sapienza C, Butts S, Coutifaris C. A Molecular Perspective on Procedures and Outcomes with Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2016; 6:a023416. [PMID: 26747835 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a023416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The emerging association of assisted reproductive technologies with adverse perinatal outcomes has prompted the in-depth examination of clinical and laboratory protocols and procedures and their possible effects on epigenetic regulatory mechanism(s). The application of various approaches to study epigenetic regulation to problems in reproductive medicine has the potential to identify relative risk indicators for particular conditions, diagnostic biomarkers of disease state, and prognostic indicators of outcome. Moreover, when applied genome-wide, these techniques are likely to find novel pathways of disease pathogenesis and identify new targets for intervention. The analysis of DNA methylation, histone modifications, transcription factors, enhancer binding and other chromatin proteins, DNase-hypersensitivity and, micro- and other noncoding RNAs all provide overlapping and often complementary snapshots of chromatin structure and resultant "gene activity." In terms of clinical application, the predictive power and utility of epigenetic information will depend on the power of individual techniques to discriminate normal levels of interindividual variation from variation linked to a disease state. At present, quantitative analysis of DNA methylation at multiple loci seems likely to hold the greatest promise for achieving the level of precision, reproducibility, and throughput demanded in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica A Mainigi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Carmen Sapienza
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140
| | - Samantha Butts
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Christos Coutifaris
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
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155
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Tian FJ, Cheng YX, Li XC, Wang F, Qin CM, Ma XL, Yang J, Lin Y. The YY1/MMP2 axis promotes trophoblast invasion at the maternal-fetal interface. J Pathol 2016; 239:36-47. [PMID: 27071480 PMCID: PMC5071713 DOI: 10.1002/path.4694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Revised: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
YY1 is a sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factor that has many important biological roles. However, its function in trophoblasts at the maternal-fetal interface remains to be elucidated. In this study, we used an mRNA microarray and reverse transcription qPCR and compared the YY1 mRNA expression level in trophoblasts between patients with recurrent miscarriage (RM) and healthy control subjects. Our results revealed that YY1 mRNA expression was significantly lower in the trophoblasts of the RM group compared with the healthy control group. Furthermore, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical data showed that YY1 was highly expressed in human placental villi during early pregnancy, especially in cytotrophoblast cells and invasive extravillous trophoblasts, and it was expressed at a much lower level in the placental villi of term pregnancy. YY1 overexpression enhanced, and knockdown repressed, the invasion and proliferation of trophoblasts. Antibody array screening revealed that YY1 significantly promoted MMP2 expression in trophoblasts. Bioinformatics analysis identified three YY1-binding sites in the MMP2 promoter region, and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis verified that YY1 binds directly to its promoter region. Importantly, inhibition of YY1 by siRNA clearly decreased trophoblast invasion in an ex vivo explant culture model. Overall, our findings revealed a new regulatory pathway of YY1/MMP2 in trophoblast cell invasion during early pregnancy and indicated that YY1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of RM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Ju Tian
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, PR China.,Institute of Embryo-Fetal Original Adult Disease Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Yan-Xiang Cheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, PR China
| | - Xiao-Cui Li
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Fa Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Chinese People's Liberation Army 463 Hospital, Shen Yang, Liaoning Province, PR China
| | - Chuan-Mei Qin
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, PR China.,Institute of Embryo-Fetal Original Adult Disease Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Xiao-Ling Ma
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, PR China.,Institute of Embryo-Fetal Original Adult Disease Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Jing Yang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, PR China
| | - Yi Lin
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, PR China.,Institute of Embryo-Fetal Original Adult Disease Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
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156
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Bu P, Alam SMK, Dhakal P, Vivian JL, Soares MJ. A Prolactin Family Paralog Regulates Placental Adaptations to a Physiological Stressor. Biol Reprod 2016; 94:107. [PMID: 26985002 PMCID: PMC4939737 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.115.138032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The prolactin (PRL) family of hormones and cytokines participates in the regulation of optimal reproductive performance in the mouse and rat. Members of the PRL family are expressed in the anterior pituitary, uterus, and/or placenta. In the present study, we investigated the ontogeny of PRL family 7, subfamily b, member 1 (PRL7B1; also called PRL-like protein-N, PLP-N) expression in the developing mouse placenta and established a mouse model for investigating the biological function of PRL7B1. Transcripts for Prl7b1 were first detected on Gestation Day (d) 8.5. From gestation d8.5 through d14.5, Prl7b1 was expressed in trophoblast cells residing at the interface between maternal mesometrial decidua and the developing placenta. On gestation d17.5, the predominant cellular source of Prl7b1 mRNA was migratory trophoblast cells invading into the uterine mesometrial decidua. The Prl7b1 null mutant allele was generated via replacement of the endogenous Prl7b1 coding sequence with beta-galactosidase (LacZ) reporter and neomycin cassettes. The mutant Prl7b1 allele was successfully passed through the germline. Homozygous Prl7b1 mutant mice were viable and fertile. Under standard animal housing conditions, Prl7b1 had undetectable effects on placentation and pregnancy. Hypoxia exposure during pregnancy evoked adaptations in the organization of the wild-type placenta that were not observed in Prl7b1 null placentation sites. In summary, PRL7B1 is viewed as a part of a pathway regulating placental adaptations to physiological stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengli Bu
- Institute for Reproductive Health and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Sheikh M Khorshed Alam
- Institute for Reproductive Health and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Pramod Dhakal
- Institute for Reproductive Health and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Jay L Vivian
- Institute for Reproductive Health and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Michael J Soares
- Institute for Reproductive Health and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
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157
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Hypoxia-inducible miR-210 contributes to preeclampsia via targeting thrombospondin type I domain containing 7A. Sci Rep 2016; 6:19588. [PMID: 26796133 PMCID: PMC4726282 DOI: 10.1038/srep19588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia, a relatively common pregnancy disorder, is a major contributor to maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide. An elevation in microRNA-210 (miR-210) expression in the placenta has been reported to be associated with preeclampsia. Our bioinformatic analysis showed that thrombospondin type I domain containing 7A (THSD7A) is a predicted target for miR-210. The aim of this study was to determine whether miR-210 is involved in preeclampsia through its targeting of THSD7A in human placental trophoblasts. In preeclamptic placental tissues, THSD7A levels were significantly downregulated, and were inversely correlated with the levels of miR-210. THSD7A was validated as a direct target of miR-210 using quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blotting, and dual luciferase assays in HTR8/SVneo cells. Transwell insert invasion assays showed that THSD7A mediated the invasion-inhibitory effect of miR-210 in HTR8/SVneo cells. Interestingly, hypoxia markedly increased miR-210 expression while suppressing THSD7A expression in a time-dependent manner in HTR8/SVneo cells. This study provides novel data on the function of THSD7A in human placental cells, and extends our knowledge of how miR-210 is involved in the development of the preeclampsia.
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158
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Silva JF, Serakides R. Intrauterine trophoblast migration: A comparative view of humans and rodents. Cell Adh Migr 2016; 10:88-110. [PMID: 26743330 DOI: 10.1080/19336918.2015.1120397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Trophoblast migration and invasion through the decidua and maternal uterine spiral arteries are crucial events in placentation. During this process, invasive trophoblast replace vascular endothelial cells as the uterine arteries are remodeled to form more permissive vessels that facilitate adequate blood flow to the growing fetus. Placentation failures resulting from either extensive or shallow trophoblastic invasion can cause pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, placenta creta, gestational trophoblastic disease and even maternal or fetal death. Consequently, the use of experimental animal models such as rats and mice has led to great progress in recent years with regards to the identification of mechanisms and factors that control trophoblast migration kinetics. This review aims to perform a comparative analysis of placentation and the mechanisms and factors that coordinate intrauterine trophoblast migration in humans, rats and mice under physiological and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juneo F Silva
- a Laboratório de Endocrinologia e Metabolismo, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Minas Gerais , Brazil
| | - Rogéria Serakides
- b Laboratório de Patologia, Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Minas Gerais , Brazil
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159
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Bloise E, Ortiga-Carvalho TM, Reis FM, Lye SJ, Gibb W, Matthews SG. ATP-binding cassette transporters in reproduction: a new frontier. Hum Reprod Update 2015; 22:164-81. [PMID: 26545808 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmv049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The transmembrane ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters actively efflux an array of clinically relevant compounds across biological barriers, and modulate biodistribution of many physiological and pharmacological factors. To date, over 48 ABC transporters have been identified and shown to be directly and indirectly involved in peri-implantation events and fetal/placental development. They efflux cholesterol, steroid hormones, vitamins, cytokines, chemokines, prostaglandins, diverse xenobiotics and environmental toxins, playing a critical role in regulating drug disposition, immunological responses and lipid trafficking, as well as preventing fetal accumulation of drugs and environmental toxins. METHODS This review examines ABC transporters as important mediators of placental barrier functions and key reproductive processes. Expression, localization and function of all identified ABC transporters were systematically reviewed using PubMed and Google Scholar websites to identify relevant studies examining ABC transporters in reproductive tissues in physiological and pathophysiological states. Only reports written in English were incorporated with no restriction on year of publication. While a major focus has been placed on the human, extensive evidence from animal studies is utilized to describe current understanding of the regulation and function of ABC transporters relevant to human reproduction. RESULTS ABC transporters are modulators of steroidogenesis, fertilization, implantation, nutrient transport and immunological responses, and function as 'gatekeepers' at various barrier sites (i.e. blood-testes barrier and placenta) against potentially harmful xenobiotic factors, including drugs and environmental toxins. These roles appear to be species dependent and change as a function of gestation and development. The best-described ABC transporters in reproductive tissues (primarily in the placenta) are the multidrug transporters p-glycoprotein and breast cancer-related protein, the multidrug resistance proteins 1 through 5 and the cholesterol transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1. CONCLUSIONS The ABC transporters have various roles across multiple reproductive tissues. Knowledge of efflux direction, tissue distribution, substrate specificity and regulation of the ABC transporters in the placenta and other reproductive tissues is rapidly expanding. This will allow better understanding of the disposition of specific substrates within reproductive tissues, and facilitate development of novel treatments for reproductive disorders as well as improved approaches to protecting the developing fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Bloise
- Laboratory of Translational Endocrinology, Biophysics Institute Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - T M Ortiga-Carvalho
- Laboratory of Translational Endocrinology, Biophysics Institute Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - F M Reis
- Division of Human Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - S J Lye
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 1A8 Department Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - W Gibb
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - S G Matthews
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 1A8 Department Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
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160
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Liu S, Zheng Q, Cui XY, Dai KX, Yang XS, Li FS, Yan Q. Expression of uPAR in human trophoblast and its role in trophoblast invasion. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY 2015; 8:14325-14334. [PMID: 26823748 PMCID: PMC4713534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2015] [Accepted: 10/24/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Placental trophoblast cells differentiate into invasive trophoblasts or syncytiotrophoblasts. Abnormal trophoblast invasion results in pregnancy-associated disease and abortion. uPAR is a cell membrane-bound glycosylated protein, involved in physiological and pathological processes. However, uPAR expression in villi during threatened abortion and its role in trophoblast differentiation are unclear. We determined that, uPAR expression in the villi was reduced in threatened abortion patients than that in normal pregnancy. uPARsiRNA inhibited the potential for trophoblast migration and invasion in explants culture and HTR8/SVneo cells. It also enhanced forskolin-induced fusion of HTR8/SVneo cells. Overall, this study provides a possible reason for abortion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and GlycoengineeringDalian 116044, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qin Zheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and GlycoengineeringDalian 116044, People’s Republic of China
- College of Laboratory Medicine, Dalian Medical UniversityDalian, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin-Yuan Cui
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and GlycoengineeringDalian 116044, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kui-Xing Dai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and GlycoengineeringDalian 116044, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xue-Song Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and GlycoengineeringDalian 116044, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fa-Sheng Li
- College of Laboratory Medicine, Dalian Medical UniversityDalian, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiu Yan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and GlycoengineeringDalian 116044, People’s Republic of China
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161
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Abstract
The placenta sits at the interface between the maternal and fetal vascular beds where it mediates nutrient and waste exchange to enable in utero existence. Placental cells (trophoblasts) accomplish this via invading and remodeling the uterine vasculature. Amazingly, despite being of fetal origin, trophoblasts do not trigger a significant maternal immune response. Additionally, they maintain a highly reliable hemostasis in this extremely vascular interface. Decades of research into how the placenta differentiates itself from embryonic tissues to accomplish these and other feats have revealed a previously unappreciated level of complexity with respect to the placenta's cellular composition. Additionally, novel insights with respect to roles played by the placenta in guiding fetal development and metabolism have sparked a renewed interest in understanding the interrelationship between fetal and placental well-being. Here, we present an overview of emerging research in placental biology that highlights these themes and the importance of the placenta to fetal and adult health.
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162
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Zhang R, Pan XH, Xiao L. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) under hypoxia in placenta with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and its clinically pathological significance. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY 2015; 8:11475-11479. [PMID: 26617878 PMCID: PMC4637694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/26/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) under hypoxia in the placenta with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) was observed, and mechanisms of ICP fetal distress were discussed. METHODS Different culturing times were established in hypoxia incubator, and protein expressions of VEGF in placental tissue were observed using immunohistochemical S-P method. RESULTS After 4 h hypoxic culture, VEGF protein expression in ICP group was higher than the normal group with significant difference (P < 0.05). With the extension of hypoxic exposure, VEGF protein expression in both groups was suppressed, but no distinction in-between. Regression analyses indicated a noticeable effect of CG on VEGF expression, the higher the CG was, the lower the VEGF protein expression was (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Short term hypoxia induces up-regulation of VEGF expression in ICP placenta, and this adaptive change is probably a protective mechanism of fetus in ICP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Pan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhou, China
| | - Li Xiao
- Department of Molecular Medicine Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhou, China
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163
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Davila J, Laws MJ, Kannan A, Li Q, Taylor RN, Bagchi MK, Bagchi IC. Rac1 Regulates Endometrial Secretory Function to Control Placental Development. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005458. [PMID: 26305333 PMCID: PMC4549291 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
During placenta development, a succession of complex molecular and cellular interactions between the maternal endometrium and the developing embryo ensures reproductive success. The precise mechanisms regulating this maternal-fetal crosstalk remain unknown. Our study revealed that the expression of Rac1, a member of the Rho family of GTPases, is markedly elevated in mouse decidua on days 7 and 8 of gestation. To investigate its function in the uterus, we created mice bearing a conditional deletion of the Rac1 gene in uterine stromal cells. Ablation of Rac1 did not affect the formation of the decidua but led to fetal loss in mid gestation accompanied by extensive hemorrhage. To gain insights into the molecular pathways affected by the loss of Rac1, we performed gene expression profiling which revealed that Rac1 signaling regulates the expression of Rab27b, another GTPase that plays a key role in targeting vesicular trafficking. Consequently, the Rac1-null decidual cells failed to secrete vascular endothelial growth factor A, which is a critical regulator of decidual angiogenesis, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4, which regulates the bioavailability of insulin-like growth factors that promote proliferation and differentiation of trophoblast cell lineages in the ectoplacental cone. The lack of secretion of these key factors by Rac1-null decidua gave rise to impaired angiogenesis and dysregulated proliferation of trophoblast cells, which in turn results in overexpansion of the trophoblast giant cell lineage and disorganized placenta development. Further experiments revealed that RAC1, the human ortholog of Rac1, regulates the secretory activity of human endometrial stromal cells during decidualization, supporting the concept that this signaling G protein plays a central and conserved role in controlling endometrial secretory function. This study provides unique insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating endometrial secretions that mediate stromal-endothelial and stromal-trophoblast crosstalk critical for placenta development and establishment of pregnancy. During early pregnancy, a succession of molecular interactions between the uterus and the developing embryo ensures reproductive success. Although it is conceivable that signaling cues originating in the uterus impact on the developing embryo at the time of placenta establishment, the precise mechanisms regulating the maternal-fetal crosstalk remain unknown. Impaired uterine functions during early pregnancy are likely to contribute to abnormal embryo development and various diseases of pregnancy, such as recurrent miscarriage, preeclampsia, and intrauterine growth restriction. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms by which Rac1, a signaling molecule expressed in the decidua, controls uterine secretions that mediate maternal-fetal communication critical for placental development and establishment of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanmahel Davila
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Mary J. Laws
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Athilakshmi Kannan
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Quanxi Li
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Robert N. Taylor
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Milan K. Bagchi
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MKB); (ICB)
| | - Indrani C. Bagchi
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MKB); (ICB)
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164
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Molecular and cellular events involved in the completion of blastocyst implantation. Reprod Med Biol 2015; 15:53-58. [PMID: 29259421 DOI: 10.1007/s12522-015-0222-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Blastocyst implantation is an interactive process between the embryo and the uterus. The synchronization of embryonic development with uterine differentiation to a receptive state is essential for a successful pregnancy. The period of uterine receptivity for implantation is limited. Although implantation involves the interaction of numerous signaling molecules, our understanding of the hierarchical mechanisms that coordinate with the embryo-uterine dialogue is not yet sufficient to prevent infertility caused by implantation failure. This review highlights our knowledge on uterine receptivity and hormonal regulation of blastocyst implantation in mice. We also discuss the adhesion molecules, cross-linker proteins, extracellular proteins, and matricellular proteins involved in blastocyst implantation. Furthermore, our recent study reveals that selective proteolysis in an activated blastocyst is associated with the completion of blastocyst implantation after embryo transfer. A better understanding of uterine and blastocyst biology during the peri-implantation period would facilitate further development of reproductive technology.
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165
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Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) impacts 8 million mother-infant pairs worldwide each year. This human pregnancy-specific disease characterized by hypertension and proteinuria accounts for significant maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. The current theory of the pathogenesis of PE as reviewed by Drs. Christopher Redman and Ian Sargent is thought to occur as a 2-stage process with poor placentation in the first half of pregnancy resulting in the maternal response in the second half of pregnancy. Our studies have focused on understanding the placental contribution to this serious disease by examining the gene expression profile of the deciduas basalis or basal plate, the region of the placenta involved in the "poor placentation". In this review we present summaries of our microarray datasets both of normal placentation and those gene expression changes resulting in the context of PE. Additionally, we have taken this opportunity to combine the data sets to provide a more comprehensive view of this region of the placenta. As defects in the basal plate are, in part, at the root of the disease process, we believe that understanding the pathobiology that occurs in this region will increase our ability to alter the development and/or course of PE.
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166
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Malhotra SS, Suman P, Gupta SK. Alpha or beta human chorionic gonadotropin knockdown decrease BeWo cell fusion by down-regulating PKA and CREB activation. Sci Rep 2015; 5:11210. [PMID: 26053549 PMCID: PMC4459146 DOI: 10.1038/srep11210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2014] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study is to delineate the role of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in trophoblast fusion. In this direction, using shRNA lentiviral particles, α- and β-hCG silenced ‘BeWo’ cell lines were generated. Treatment of both α- and β-hCG silenced BeWo cells with either forskolin or exogenous hCG showed a significant reduction in cell fusion as compared with control shRNA treated cells. Studies by qRT-PCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence revealed down-regulation of fusion-associated proteins such as syncytin-1 and syndecan-1 in the α- and β-hCG silenced cells. Delineation of downstream signaling pathways revealed that phosphorylation of PKA and CREB were compromised in the silenced cells whereas, no significant changes in p38MAPK and ERK1/2 phosphorylation were observed. Moreover, β-catenin activation was unaffected by either α- or β-hCG silencing. Further, inhibition of PKA by H89 inhibitor led to a significant decrease in BeWo cell fusion but had no effect on β-catenin activation suggesting the absence of non-canonical β-catenin stabilization via PKA. Interestingly, canonical activation of β-catenin was associated with the up-regulation of Wnt 10b expression. In summary, this study establishes the significance of hCG in the fusion of trophoblastic BeWo cells, but there may be additional factors involved in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudha Saryu Malhotra
- Reproductive Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi-110 067, India
| | - Pankaj Suman
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Sector-125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh-201 301, India
| | - Satish Kumar Gupta
- Reproductive Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi-110 067, India
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167
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Human HLA-G+ extravillous trophoblasts: Immune-activating cells that interact with decidual leukocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:7219-24. [PMID: 26015573 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1507977112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Invading human leukocyte antigen-G+ (HLA-G+) extravillous trophoblasts (EVT) are rare cells that are believed to play a key role in the prevention of a maternal immune attack on foreign fetal tissues. Here highly purified HLA-G+ EVT and HLA-G- villous trophoblasts (VT) were isolated. Culture on fibronectin that EVT encounter on invading the uterus increased HLA-G, EGF-Receptor-2, and LIF-Receptor expression on EVT, presumably representing a further differentiation state. Microarray and functional gene set enrichment analysis revealed a striking immune-activating potential for EVT that was absent in VT. Cocultures of HLA-G+ EVT with sample matched decidual natural killer cells (dNK), macrophages, and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were established. Interaction of EVT with CD4+ T cells resulted in increased numbers of CD4+CD25(HI)FOXP3+CD45RA+ resting regulatory T cells (Treg) and increased the expression level of the Treg-specific transcription factor FOXP3 in these cells. However, EVT did not enhance cytokine secretion in dNK, whereas stimulation of dNK with mitogens or classical natural killer targets confirmed the distinct cytokine secretion profiles of dNK and peripheral blood NK cells (pNK). EVT are specialized cells involved in maternal-fetal tolerance, the properties of which are not imitated by HLA-G-expressing surrogate cell lines.
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168
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Xu Y, Plazyo O, Romero R, Hassan SS, Gomez-Lopez N. Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface. J Vis Exp 2015:e52863. [PMID: 26067211 DOI: 10.3791/52863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is characterized by the infiltration of leukocytes in the reproductive tissues and at the maternal-fetal interface (decidua basalis and decidua parietalis). This interface is the anatomical site of contact between maternal and fetal tissues; therefore, it is an immunological site of action during pregnancy. Infiltrating leukocytes at the maternal-fetal interface play a central role in implantation, pregnancy maintenance, and timing of delivery. Therefore, phenotypic and functional characterizations of these leukocytes will provide insight into the mechanisms that lead to pregnancy disorders. Several protocols have been described in order to isolate infiltrating leukocytes from the decidua basalis and decidua parietalis; however, the lack of consistency in the reagents, enzymes, and times of incubation makes it difficult to compare these results. Described herein is a novel approach that combines the use of gentle mechanical and enzymatic dissociation techniques to preserve the viability and integrity of extracellular and intracellular markers in leukocytes isolated from the human tissues at the maternal-fetal interface. Aside from immunophenotyping, cell culture, and cell sorting, the future applications of this protocol are numerous and varied. Following this protocol, the isolated leukocytes can be used to determine DNA methylation, expression of target genes, in vitro leukocyte functionality (i.e., phagocytosis, cytotoxicity, T-cell proliferation, and plasticity, etc.), and the production of reactive oxygen species at the maternal-fetal interface. Additionally, using the described protocol, this laboratory has been able to describe new and rare leukocytes at the maternal-fetal interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS
| | | | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University; Department of Molecular Obstetrics and Genetics, Wayne State University
| | - Sonia S Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine;
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169
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Genbačev O, Vićovac L, Larocque N. The role of chorionic cytotrophoblasts in the smooth chorion fusion with parietal decidua. Placenta 2015; 36:716-22. [PMID: 26003500 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2015.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2014] [Revised: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Human placenta and chorion are rapidly growing transient embryonic organs built from diverse cell populations that are of either, ectodermal [placenta and chorion specific trophoblast (TB) cells], or mesodermal origin [villous core and chorionic mesenchyme]. The development of placenta and chorion is synchronized from the earliest phase of implantation. Little is known about the formative stages of the human chorion, in particular the steps between the formation of a smooth chorion and its fusion with the parietal decidua. METHODS We examined the available histological material using immunohistochemistry, and further analyzed in vitro the characteristics of the recently established and reported human self-renewing trophoblast progenitor cells (TBPC) derived from chorionic mesoderm. RESULTS Here, we provided evidence that the mechanism by which smooth chorion fuses with parietal decidua is the invasion of smooth chorionic cytotrophoblasts (schCTBs) into the uterine wall opposite to the implantation side. This process, which partially replicates some of the mechanisms of the blastocyst implantation, leads to the formation of a new zone of contacts between fetal and maternal cells. CONCLUSION We propose the schCTBs invasion of the parietal decidua as a mechanism of 'fusion' of the membranes, and that schCTBs in vivo contribute to the pool of the invasive schCTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Genbačev
- The Ely and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, USA; Center for Reproductive Sciences, USA; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - L Vićovac
- Laboratory for Biology of Reproduction, Institute INEP, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - N Larocque
- The Ely and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, USA; Center for Reproductive Sciences, USA; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA
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170
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Maternal nicotine exposure leads to impaired disulfide bond formation and augmented endoplasmic reticulum stress in the rat placenta. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0122295. [PMID: 25811377 PMCID: PMC4374683 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal nicotine exposure has been associated with many adverse fetal and placental outcomes. Although underlying mechanisms remain elusive, recent studies have identified that augmented endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is linked to placental insufficiency. Moreover, ER function depends on proper disulfide bond formation—a partially oxygen-dependent process mediated by protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and ER oxidoreductases. Given that nicotine compromised placental development in the rat, and placental insufficiency has been associated with poor disulfide bond formation and ER stress, we hypothesized that maternal nicotine exposure leads to both placental ER stress and impaired disulfide bond formation. To test this hypothesis, female Wistar rats received daily subcutaneous injections of either saline (vehicle) or nicotine bitartrate (1 mg/kg) for 14 days prior to mating and during pregnancy. Placentas were harvested on embryonic day 15 for analysis. Protein and mRNA expression of markers involved in ER stress (e.g., phosphorylated eIF2α, Grp78, Atf4, and CHOP), disulfide bond formation (e.g., PDI, QSOX1, VKORC1), hypoxia (Hif1α), and amino acid deprivation (GCN2) were quantified via Western blot and/or Real-time PCR. Maternal nicotine exposure led to increased expression of Grp78, phosphorylated eIF2α, Atf4, and CHOP (p<0.05) in the rat placenta, demonstrating the presence of augmented ER stress. Decreased expression of PDI and QSOX1 (p<0.05) reveal an impaired disulfide bond formation pathway, which may underlie nicotine-induced ER stress. Finally, elevated expression of Hif1α and GCN2 (p<0.05) indicate hypoxia and amino acid deprivation in nicotine-exposed placentas, respectively, which may also cause impaired disulfide bond formation and augmented ER stress. This study is the first to link maternal nicotine exposure with both placental ER stress and disulfide bond impairment in vivo, providing novel insight into the mechanisms underlying nicotine exposure during pregnancy on placental health.
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171
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Filant J, Spencer TE. Uterine glands: biological roles in conceptus implantation, uterine receptivity and decidualization. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2015; 58:107-16. [PMID: 25023676 DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.130344ts] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
All mammalian uteri contain glands in the endometrium that synthesize or transport and secrete substances essential for survival and development of the conceptus (embryo/fetus and associated extraembryonic membranes). This review summarizes information related to the biological roles of uterine glands and their secretions in uterine receptivity, blastocyst/conceptus survival and implantation, and stromal cell decidualization. Studies with the ovine uterine gland knockout (UGKO) model support a primary role for uterine glands and, by inference, their secretions present in uterine luminal fluid histrotroph for conceptus survival and development. In rodents, studies with mutant and progesterone-induced UGKO mice found that uterine glands and their secretions are unequivocally required for establishment of uterine receptivity and blastocyst implantation and also may influence blastocyst trophectoderm activation and stromal cell decidualization in the uterus. Similarly in humans, histotroph from uterine glands appears critical for blastocyst implantation, uterine receptivity, and conceptus nutrition during the first trimester and uterine glands likely have a role in stromal cell decidualization. An increased understanding of uterine gland biology is important for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of fertility problems, particularly infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss, in domestic animals and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Filant
- Department of Animal Sciences and Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
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172
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Quaranta M, Erez O, Mastrolia SA, Koifman A, Leron E, Eshkoli T, Mazor M, Holcberg G. The physiologic and therapeutic role of heparin in implantation and placentation. PeerJ 2015; 3:e691. [PMID: 25653897 PMCID: PMC4304855 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Implantation, trophoblast development and placentation are crucial processes in the establishment and development of normal pregnancy. Abnormalities of these processes can lead to pregnancy complications known as the great obstetrical syndromes: preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, fetal demise, premature prelabor rupture of membranes, preterm labor, and recurrent pregnancy loss. There is mounting evidence regarding the physiological and therapeutic role of heparins in the establishment of normal gestation and as a modality for treatment and prevention of pregnancy complications. In this review, we will summarize the properties and the physiological contributions of heparins to the success of implantation, placentation and normal pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Quaranta
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Università degli Studi di Verona , Verona , Italy
| | - Offer Erez
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel
| | - Salvatore Andrea Mastrolia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Policlinico di Bari, School of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" , Bari , Italy
| | - Arie Koifman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel
| | - Elad Leron
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel
| | - Tamar Eshkoli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel
| | - Moshe Mazor
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel
| | - Gershon Holcberg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel
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173
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The Potential for iPS-Derived Stem Cells as a Therapeutic Strategy for Spinal Cord Injury: Opportunities and Challenges. J Clin Med 2014; 4:37-65. [PMID: 26237017 PMCID: PMC4470238 DOI: 10.3390/jcm4010037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 11/28/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating trauma causing long-lasting disability. Although advances have occurred in the last decade in the medical, surgical and rehabilitative treatments of SCI, the therapeutic approaches are still not ideal. The use of cell transplantation as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of SCI is promising, particularly since it can target cell replacement, neuroprotection and regeneration. Cell therapies for treating SCI are limited due to several translational roadblocks, including ethical and practical concerns regarding cell sources. The use of iPSCs has been particularly attractive, since they avoid the ethical and moral concerns that surround other stem cells. Furthermore, various cell types with potential for application in the treatment of SCI can be created from autologous sources using iPSCs. For applications in SCI, the iPSCs can be differentiated into neural precursor cells, neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, neural crest cells and mesenchymal stromal cells that can act by replacing lost cells or providing environmental support. Some methods, such as direct reprogramming, are being investigated to reduce tumorigenicity and improve reprogramming efficiencies, which have been some of the issues surrounding the use of iPSCs clinically to date. Recently, iPSCs have entered clinical trials for use in age-related macular degeneration, further supporting their promise for translation in other conditions, including SCI.
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174
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GDM-associated insulin deficiency hinders the dissociation of SERT from ERp44 and down-regulates placental 5-HT uptake. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:E5697-705. [PMID: 25512553 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1416675112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT) regulates the level of 5-HT in placenta. Initially, we found that in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), whereas free plasma 5-HT levels were elevated, the 5-HT uptake rates of trophoblast were significantly down-regulated, due to impairment in the translocation of SERT molecules to the cell surface. We sought to determine the factors mediating the down-regulation of SERT in GDM trophoblast. We previously reported that an endoplasmic reticulum chaperone, ERp44, binds to Cys200 and Cys209 residues of SERT to build a disulfide bond. Following this posttranslational modification, before trafficking to the plasma membrane, SERT must be dissociated from ERp44; and this process is facilitated by insulin signaling and reversed by the insulin receptor blocker AGL2263. However, the GDM-associated defect in insulin signaling hampers the dissociation of ERp44 from SERT. Furthermore, whereas ERp44 constitutively occupies Cys200/Cys209 residues, one of the SERT glycosylation sites, Asp208 located between the two Cys residues, cannot undergo proper glycosylation, which plays an important role in the uptake efficiency of SERT. Herein, we show that the decrease in 5-HT uptake rates of GDM trophoblast is the consequence of defective insulin signaling, which entraps SERT with ERp44 and impairs its glycosylation. In this regard, restoring the normal expression of SERT on the trophoblast surface may represent a novel approach to alleviating some GDM-associated complications.
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175
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Rhee C, Lee BK, Beck S, Anjum A, Cook KR, Popowski M, Tucker HO, Kim J. Arid3a is essential to execution of the first cell fate decision via direct embryonic and extraembryonic transcriptional regulation. Genes Dev 2014; 28:2219-32. [PMID: 25319825 PMCID: PMC4201284 DOI: 10.1101/gad.247163.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Despite their origin from the inner cell mass, embryonic stem (ES) cells undergo differentiation to the trophectoderm (TE) lineage by repression of the ES cell master regulator Oct4 or activation of the TE master regulator Caudal-type homeobox 2 (Cdx2). In contrast to the in-depth studies of ES cell self-renewal and pluripotency, few TE-specific regulators have been identified, thereby limiting our understanding of mechanisms underlying the first cell fate decision. Here we show that up-regulation and nuclear entry of AT-rich interactive domain 3a (Arid3a) drives TE-like transcriptional programs in ES cells, maintains trophoblast stem (TS) cell self-renewal, and promotes further trophoblastic differentiation both upstream and independent of Cdx2. Accordingly, Arid3a(-/-) mouse post-implantation placental development is severely impaired, resulting in early embryonic death. We provide evidence that Arid3a directly activates TE-specific and trophoblast lineage-specific genes while directly repressing pluripotency genes via differential regulation of epigenetic acetylation or deacetylation. Our results identify Arid3a as a critical regulator of TE and placental development through execution of the commitment and differentiation phases of the first cell fate decision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Rhee
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology
| | - Bum-Kyu Lee
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology
| | - Samuel Beck
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology
| | | | | | - Melissa Popowski
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology
| | - Haley O Tucker
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology,
| | - Jonghwan Kim
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
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Inconformity of CXCL3 plasma level and placenta expression in preeclampsia and its effect on trophoblast viability and invasion. PLoS One 2014; 9:e114408. [PMID: 25485631 PMCID: PMC4259324 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
As a member of the chemokine family, CXCL3 was previously known to participate in many pathophysiological events. However, whether CXCL3 stimulates trophoblast invasion as a key process of preeclampsia pathogenesis remains largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate this hypothesis and determine the effect of CXCL3 on the first trimester trophoblast. Seventy gravidas were included in this study. ELISA was used to detect CXCL3 plasma levels on preeclampsia and normal pregnant groups. CXCL3 protein and mRNA levels were detected via Western blot and real-time quantitative PCR analysis after immunolocalized in human placenta. Moreover, the CXCL3 function in HTR-8/Svneo was analyzed via WST-1 assay, flow cytometry and invasion test. The plasma CXCL3 level in preeclampsia was significantly higher than that in normal pregnancy. CXCL3 expression was observed in the cytoplasm of placental trophoblasts and vascular endothelium in all groups without significant difference between maternal and fetal sides. In addition, placenta CXCL3 expression in severe preeclampsia was significantly lower than those in normal and mild PE groups. Moreover, exogenous CXCL3 can promote the proliferation and invasion of HTR-8/Svneo; however, its effect on apoptosis remains unclear. In summary, a significant abnormality of plasma CXCL3 level and placental CXCL3 expression was discovered in severe preeclampsia; CXCL3 had a function in trophoblast invasion, which indicated its participation in shallow implantation. Therefore CXCL3 might be involved in severe preeclampsia pathogenesis.
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177
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Xie L, Mouillet JF, Chu T, Parks WT, Sadovsky E, Knöfler M, Sadovsky Y. C19MC microRNAs regulate the migration of human trophoblasts. Endocrinology 2014; 155:4975-85. [PMID: 25211593 PMCID: PMC4239420 DOI: 10.1210/en.2014-1501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Early in pregnancy, trophoblast invasion into the decidua and inner myometrium is essential for establishment of proper implantation, maternal-fetal exchange, and immunological tolerance of the feto-placental allograft. Unlike villous trophoblasts (VTs), extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) are unique in their capacity to invade the maternal decidua and myometrium. The largest human microRNA (miRNA) gene cluster, the chromosome 19 miRNA cluster (C19MC), is expressed almost exclusively in the placenta and, rarely, in certain tumors and undifferentiated cells. In the work reported here, we found that the expression of C19MC miRNAs is higher in VTs than in EVTs. Using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-mediated overexpression of C19MC miRNAs in an EVT-derived cell line, which does not naturally express these miRNAs, we found that C19MC miRNAs selectively attenuate cell migration without affecting cell proliferation or apoptosis. A microarray analysis revealed that C19MC miRNAs regulate target transcripts related to cellular movement. Our data also implicated a specific C19MC member, miR-519d, indirectly regulating the EVT invasive phenotype by targeting CXCL6, NR4A2 and FOXL2 transcripts through a 3'UTR miRNA-responsive element. Together, our data suggest a role for C19MC miRNAs in modulating the migration of EVTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Xie
- Magee-Womens Research Institute (L.X., J.-F.M., T.C., W.T.P., E.S., Y.S.), Department of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213; Medical Systems Biology Research Center (L.X.), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Beijing 100084 China; Department of Obstetrics and Fetal-Maternal Medicine (M.K.), Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, A-1090 Austria; and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (Y.S.), University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
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178
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Ono M, Bulun SE, Maruyama T. Tissue-specific stem cells in the myometrium and tumor-initiating cells in leiomyoma. Biol Reprod 2014; 91:149. [PMID: 25376230 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.114.123794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue-specific (or somatic) stem cells constitute a subset of cells residing in normal adult tissues. By undergoing asymmetric division, they retain their ability to self-renew while producing daughter cells that go on to differentiate and play a role in tissue regeneration and repair. The human uterus consists primarily of endometrium and myometrium (the smooth muscle layer) that rapidly enlarges through its tremendous regenerative and remodeling capacity to accommodate the developing fetus. Such uterine enlargement and remodeling can take place repeatedly and cyclically over the course of a woman's reproductive life. These unique properties of the uterus suggest the existence of endometrial and myometrial stem cell systems. In addition, like somatic cells, tumor stem cells or tumor-initiating cells, a subset of cells within a tumor, retain the ability to reconstitute tumors. Uterine smooth muscle cells are thought to be the origin of leiomyomas that are the most common type of gynecologic tumor. Recent work has identified, isolated, and characterized putative stem/progenitor cells in the myometrium and in leiomyomas. Here, we review current studies of myometrial and leiomyoma stem/progenitor cells and provide a new paradigm for understanding myometrial physiology and pathology and how these cells might contribute to uterine remodeling during pregnancy and the formation of leiomyomas. The role of the WNT/CTNNB1 pathway in the pathogenesis of leiomyoma is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanori Ono
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Serdar E Bulun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Tetsuo Maruyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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179
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Bloise E, Feuer SK, Rinaudo PF. Comparative intrauterine development and placental function of ART concepti: implications for human reproductive medicine and animal breeding. Hum Reprod Update 2014; 20:822-39. [PMID: 24947475 PMCID: PMC4196686 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmu032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2014] [Revised: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The number of children conceived using assisted reproductive technologies (ART) has reached >5 million worldwide and continues to increase. Although the great majority of ART children are healthy, many reports suggest a forthcoming risk of metabolic complications, which is further supported by the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis of suboptimal embryo/fetal conditions predisposing adult cardiometabolic pathologies. Accumulating evidence suggests that fetal and placental growth kinetics are important features predicting post-natal health, but the relationship between ART and intrauterine growth has not been systematically reviewed. METHODS Relevant studies describing fetoplacental intrauterine phenotypes of concepti generated by in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in the mouse, bovine and human were comprehensively researched using PubMed and Google Scholar. Intrauterine growth plots were created from tabular formatted data available in selected reports. RESULTS ART pregnancies display minor but noticeable alterations in fetal and placental growth curves across mammalian species. In all species, there is evidence of fetal growth restriction in the earlier stages of pregnancy, followed by significant increases in placental size and accelerated fetal growth toward the end of gestation. However, there is a species-specific effect of ART on birthweights, that additionally vary in a culture condition-, strain-, and/or stage at transfer-specific manner. We discuss the potential mechanisms that underlie these changes, and how they are affected by specific components of ART procedures. CONCLUSIONS ART may promote measurable alterations to intrauterine growth trajectory and placental function. Key findings include evidence that birthweight is not a reliable marker of fetal stress, and that increases in embryo manipulation result in more deviant fetal growth curves. Because growth kinetics in early life are particularly relevant to adult metabolic physiology, we advise more rigorous assessment of fetal growth and placental function in human ART pregnancies, as well as continued follow-up of ART offspring throughout post-natal life. Finally, strategies to minimize embryo manipulations should be adopted whenever possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrrico Bloise
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Sky K Feuer
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Paolo F Rinaudo
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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180
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Zhou Y, Yuge A, Rajah AM, Unek G, Rinaudo PF, Maltepe E. LIMK1 regulates human trophoblast invasion/differentiation and is down-regulated in preeclampsia. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2014; 184:3321-31. [PMID: 25307528 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2014.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Revised: 07/09/2014] [Accepted: 08/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Successful human pregnancy requires extensive invasion of maternal uterine tissues by the placenta. Invasive extravillous trophoblasts derived from cytotrophoblast progenitors remodel maternal arterioles to promote blood flow to the placenta. In the pregnancy complication preeclampsia, extravillous trophoblasts invasion and vessel remodeling are frequently impaired, likely contributing to fetal underperfusion and maternal hypertension. We recently demonstrated in mouse trophoblast stem cells that hypoxia-inducible factor-2 (HIF-2)-dependent Lim domain kinase 1 (LIMK1) expression regulates invasive trophoblast differentiation by modulating the trophoblast cytoskeleton. Interestingly, in humans, LIMK1 activity promotes tumor cell invasion by modulating actin and microtubule integrity, as well as by modulating matrix metalloprotease processing. Here, we tested whether HIF-2α and LIMK1 expression patterns suggested similar roles in the human placenta. We found that LIMK1 immunoreactivity mirrored HIF-2α in the human placenta in utero and that LIMK1 activity regulated human cytotrophoblast cytoskeletal integrity, matrix metallopeptidase-9 secretion, invasion, and differentiation in vitro. Importantly, we also found that LIMK1 levels are frequently diminished in the preeclampsia setting in vivo. Our results therefore validate the use of mouse trophoblast stem cells as a discovery platform for human placentation disorders and suggest that LIMK1 activity helps promote human placental development in utero.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Akitoshi Yuge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Anthony M Rajah
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California
| | - Gozde Unek
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Paolo F Rinaudo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Emin Maltepe
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
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181
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Tersigni C, Franceschi F, Todros T, Cardaropoli S, Scambia G, Di Simone N. Insights into the Role of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Preeclampsia: From the Bench to the Bedside. Front Immunol 2014; 5:484. [PMID: 25346732 PMCID: PMC4191300 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Accepted: 09/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is defined as a hypertensive and coagulative disorder affecting about 2–8% of all pregnancies and is one of the main causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Despite the great amount of studies run in this field, little is known about the precise pathogenic mechanisms behind PE. While endothelial and trophoblast dysfunctions, exaggerated inflammatory response, and hypercoagulative state have been shown to play a key role in the occurrence of PE, the primary trigger is still unknown. One of the hypotheses is that some infectious agents may represent a trigger for PE onset. Consistently, higher seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, a Gram-negative bacterium with a specific tropism for human gastric mucosa, has been shown in women with PE. Even tighter association has been found between PE and infection with cytotoxin-associated gene-A (CagA)-positive strains of HP. Recent in vitro studies have shown that anti-CagA antibodies cross-react with human trophoblast cells and determine a functional impairment in terms of cell invasiveness, thus, providing the first pathogenic model of HP infection-mediated placental damage. Since in the early process of implantation and placental development, trophoblast invasion of maternal decidua is a crucial step, the proposed autoimmune mechanism induced by HP infection, negatively interfering with the fetal side of the early developing placenta, may represent a mechanism explaining the higher seropositivity for HP infection among PE women. However, the contribution of HP infection to the pathogenesis of PE or to the worsening of its clinical presentation need to be further investigated as well as the possible impact of pre-pregnancy screening and eradication of HP infection on the incidence of the syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Tersigni
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Policlinico A. Gemelli , Rome , Italy
| | - Francesco Franceschi
- Emergency Department, Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Policlinico A. Gemelli , Rome , Italy
| | - Tullia Todros
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Torino, Ospedale S. Anna , Turin , Italy
| | - Simona Cardaropoli
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Torino, Ospedale S. Anna , Turin , Italy
| | - Giovanni Scambia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Policlinico A. Gemelli , Rome , Italy
| | - Nicoletta Di Simone
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Policlinico A. Gemelli , Rome , Italy
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182
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Weisblum Y, Panet A, Haimov-Kochman R, Wolf DG. Models of vertical cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission and pathogenesis. Semin Immunopathol 2014; 36:615-25. [PMID: 25291972 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-014-0449-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 09/29/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite the considerable clinical impact of congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, the mechanisms of maternal-fetal transmission and the resultant placental and fetal damage are largely unknown. Here, we discuss animal models for the evaluation of CMV vaccines and virus-induced pathology and particularly explore surrogate human models for HCMV transmission and pathogenesis in the maternal-fetal interface. Studies in floating and anchoring placental villi and more recently, ex vivo modeling of HCMV infection in integral human decidual tissues, provide unique insights into patterns of viral tropism, spread, and injury, defining the outcome of congenital infection, and the effect of potential antiviral interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiska Weisblum
- Clinical Virology Unit, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
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183
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Abstract
Corin is a serine protease originally isolated from the heart. Functional studies show that corin is the long-sought enzyme responsible for activating cardiac natriuretic peptides. In mice, lack of corin prevents natriuretic peptide processing, causing salt-sensitive hypertension. In humans, corin variants and mutations that reduce corin activity have been identified in patients with hypertension and heart failure. Decreased plasma levels of corin antigen and activity have been reported in patients with heart failure and coronary artery disease. Low levels of urinary corin also have been found in patients with chronic kidney disease. Most recent studies show that corin also acts in the uterus to promote spiral artery remodeling and prevent pregnancy-induced hypertension. Here, we review the role of corin in natriuretic peptide processing and cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, pre-eclampsia, and chronic kidney disease.
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184
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LIF upregulates poFUT1 expression and promotes trophoblast cell migration and invasion at the fetal-maternal interface. Cell Death Dis 2014; 5:e1396. [PMID: 25165882 PMCID: PMC4454310 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2014.335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2014] [Revised: 07/02/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Trophoblast cell migration and invasion are crucial for the establishment of a successful pregnancy. Protein O-fucosyltransferases, such as poFUT1 and poFUT2, catalyze the O-fucosylation of proteins and have important roles in embryonic development. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a critical cytokine in the regulation of embryonic development and implantation. However, the exact roles of poFUTs in embryo migration and invasion and the effects of LIF on the expression of poFUTs have not been studied in detail. In the current study, we showed that poFUT1 and LIF were highly expressed in human trophoblast cells and in the serum of women during the first trimester of a normal pregnancy. However, in patients with threatened abortion, poFUT1 and LIF levels were found to be reduced. There were no significant differences in the expression levels of poFUT2 between the two groups. The migration and invasion potential of trophoblasts in an explant culture and in an in vitro implantation model was decreased or increased upon altering poFUT1 expression levels by siRNA or cDNA transfection. Our results also revealed that LIF upregulated the expression of poFUT1. The upregulation of poFUT1 by LIF promoted trophoblast cell migration and invasion at the fetal–maternal interface by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Taken together, these study findings suggest that poFUT1 may be used as a marker of embryo implantation.
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185
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Hypoxic treatment of human dual placental perfusion induces a preeclampsia-like inflammatory response. J Transl Med 2014; 94:873-80. [PMID: 24933425 DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.2014.76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 04/15/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia is a human pregnancy-specific disorder characterized by a placental pro-inflammatory response in combination with an imbalance of angiogenic factors and clinical symptoms, including hypertension and proteinuria. Insufficient uteroplacental oxygenation in preeclampsia due to impaired trophoblast invasion during placentation is believed to be responsible for many of the molecular events leading to the clinical manifestations of this disease. We investigated the use of hypoxic treatment of the dual placental perfusion system as a model for preeclampsia. A modified perfusion technique allowed us to achieve a mean soluble oxygen tension within the intervillous space (IVS) of 5-7% for normoxia and <3% for hypoxia (as a model for preeclampsia). We assayed for the levels of different inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress markers, as well as other factors, such as endothelin (ET)-1 that are known to be implicated as part of the inflammatory response in preeclampsia. Our results show a significant increase under hypoxia in the levels of different inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 (P=0.002), IL-8 (P<0.0001), TNF-α (P=0.032) and IFN-γ (P=0.009) at 360 min in maternal venous samples (n=6). There was also a significant increase in ET-1 levels under hypoxia both on the maternal side at 30 min (P=0.003) and fetal side at 360 min (P=0.036) (n=6). Other markers of oxidative stress, including malondialdehyde and 8-iso-protaglandin F2α (P=0.009) also show increased levels. Overall, these findings indicate that exposure of ex vivo dually perfused placental tissue to hypoxia provides a useful model for mimicking the inflammatory response characteristic of preeclampsia. This would therefore provide a powerful tool for studying and further delineating the molecular mechanisms involved in the underlying pathophysiology of preeclampsia.
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186
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Appel S, Ankerne J, Appel J, Oberthuer A, Mallmann P, Dötsch J. CNN3 regulates trophoblast invasion and is upregulated by hypoxia in BeWo cells. PLoS One 2014; 9:e103216. [PMID: 25050546 PMCID: PMC4106885 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2014] [Accepted: 06/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
CNN3 is an ubiquitously expressed F-actin binding protein, shown to regulate trophoblast fusion and hence seems to play a role in the placentation process. In this study we demonstrate that CNN3 levels are upregulated under low oxygen conditions in the trophoblast cell line BeWo. Since hypoxia is discussed to be a pro-migratory stimulus for placental cells, we examined if CNN3 is involved in trophoblast invasion. Indeed, when performing a matrigel invasion assay we were able to show that CNN3 promotes BeWo cell invasion. Moreover, CNN3 activates the MAPKs ERK1/2 and p38 in trophoblast cells and interestingly, both kinases are involved in BeWo invasion. However, when we repeated the experiments under hypoxic conditions, CNN3 did neither promote cell invasion nor MAPK activation. These results indicate that CNN3 promotes invasive processes by the stimulation of ERK1/2 and/or p38 under normoxic conditions in BeWo cells, but seems to have different functions at low oxygen levels. We further speculated that CNN3 expression might be altered in human placentas derived from pregnancies complicated by IUGR and preeclampsia, since these placental disorders have been described to go along with impaired trophoblast invasion. Our studies show that, at least in our set of placenta samples, CNN3 expression is neither deregulated in IUGR nor in preeclampsia. In summary, we identified CNN3 as a new pro-invasive protein in trophoblast cells that is induced under low oxygen conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Appel
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Janina Ankerne
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jan Appel
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Andre Oberthuer
- Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, University of Cologne, Children's Hospital, Cologne, Germany
| | - Peter Mallmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cologne University, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jörg Dötsch
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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187
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Soares MJ. Embryo implantation - coordination of maternal and embryonic adaptations. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2014; 58:71-4. [PMID: 25023671 DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.140086ms] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Soares
- Institute for Reproductive Health and Regenerative Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, USA.
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188
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Jiang YZ, Li Y, Wang K, Dai CF, Huang SA, Chen DB, Zheng J. Distinct roles of HIF1A in endothelial adaptations to physiological and ambient oxygen. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2014; 391:60-7. [PMID: 24796659 PMCID: PMC4079002 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2014.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Revised: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 04/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Fetoplacental endothelial cells reside under physiological normoxic conditions (∼2-8% O2) in vivo. Under such conditions, cells are believed to sense O2 changes primarily via hypoxia inducible factor 1 α (HIF1A). However, little is known regarding the role of HIF1A in fetoplacental endothelial function under physiological normoxia. We recently reported that physiological chronic normoxia (PCN; 20-25 day, 3% O2) enhanced FGF2- and VEGFA-stimulated proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) via the MEK/ERK1/2 and PI3K/AKT1 pathways compared to standard cell culture normoxia (SCN; ambient O2: ∼21% O2). Here, we investigated the action of HIF1A in regulating these cellular responses in HUVECs. HIF1A adenovirus infection in SCN-cells increased HIF1A protein expression, enhanced FGF2- and VEGFA-stimulated cell proliferation by 2.4 and 2.0-fold respectively, and promoted VEGFA-stimulated cell migration by 1.4-fold. HIF1A adenovirus infection in SCN-cells did not affect either basal or FGF2- and VEGFA-induced ERK1/2 activation, but it decreased basal AKT1 phosphorylation. Interestingly, HIF1A knockdown in PCN-cells via specific HIF1A siRNA transfection did not alter FGF2- and VEGFA-stimulated cell proliferation and migration, or ERK1/2 activation; however, it inhibited FGF2-induced AKT1 activation by ∼50%. These data indicate that HIF1A differentially regulates cell proliferation and migration, and ERK1/2 and AKT1 activation in PCN- and SCN-HUVECs. These data also suggest that HIF1A critically regulates cell proliferation and migration in SCN-, but not in PCN-HUVECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Zhou Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53715, United States
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53715, United States
| | - Kai Wang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Cai-Feng Dai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53715, United States
| | - Shi-An Huang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Dong-Bao Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, United States; Department of Pathology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, United States
| | - Jing Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53715, United States; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, Guangdong, PR China.
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189
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Abstract
All mammalian uteri contain glands in the endometrium that synthesize or transport and secrete substances essential for survival and development of the conceptus (embryo/fetus and associated extraembryonic membranes). This review summarizes information related to the biological roles of uterine glands and their secretions in blastocyst/conceptus survival and implantation, uterine receptivity, and stromal cell decidualization in humans and animal models. The infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss observed in the ovine uterine gland knockout (UGKO) model unequivocally supports a primary role for uterine glands and, by inference, their secretions present in uterine luminal fluid in survival and development of the conceptus. Further, studies with mutant and progesterone-induced UGKO mice found that uterine glands and their secretions are required for establishment of uterine receptivity and blastocyst implantation as well as stromal cell decidualization. Similarly in humans, uterine glands and their secretory products are likely critical regulators of blastocyst implantation, uterine receptivity, and conceptus growth and development during the first trimester. Circumstantial evidence suggests that deficient glandular activity may be a causative factor in pregnancy failure and complications in humans. Thus, an increased understanding of uterine gland biology is important for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of fertility and pregnancy problems in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas E Spencer
- Department of Animal Sciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
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190
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Tannetta D, Dragovic R, Alyahyaei Z, Southcombe J. Extracellular vesicles and reproduction-promotion of successful pregnancy. Cell Mol Immunol 2014; 11:548-63. [PMID: 24954226 PMCID: PMC4220835 DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2014.42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2014] [Accepted: 05/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound complexes secreted from cells under both physiological and pathological conditions. They contain proteins, nucleic acids and lipids and act as messengers for cell–cell communication and signalling, particularly between immune cells. EV research is a rapidly evolving and expanding field, and it appears that all biological fluids contain very large numbers of EVs; they are produced from all cells that have been studied to date, and are known to have roles in several reproductive processes. This review analyses the evidence for the role of EVs throughout human reproduction, starting with the paternal and maternal gametes, followed by the establishment and continuation of successful pregnancies, with specific focus, where possible, on the interaction of EVs with the maternal immune system. Importantly, variations within the EV populations are identified in various reproductive disorders, such as pre-term labour and pre-eclampsia.
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191
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Walther-António MRS, Jeraldo P, Berg Miller ME, Yeoman CJ, Nelson KE, Wilson BA, White BA, Chia N, Creedon DJ. Pregnancy's stronghold on the vaginal microbiome. PLoS One 2014; 9:e98514. [PMID: 24896831 PMCID: PMC4045671 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2014] [Accepted: 05/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To assess the vaginal microbiome throughout full-term uncomplicated pregnancy. Methods Vaginal swabs were obtained from twelve pregnant women at 8-week intervals throughout their uncomplicated pregnancies. Patients with symptoms of vaginal infection or with recent antibiotic use were excluded. Swabs were obtained from the posterior fornix and cervix at 8–12, 17–21, 27–31, and 36–38 weeks of gestation. The microbial community was profiled using hypervariable tag sequencing of the V3–V5 region of the 16S rRNA gene, producing approximately 8 million reads on the Illumina MiSeq. Results Samples were dominated by a single genus, Lactobacillus, and exhibited low species diversity. For a majority of the patients (n = 8), the vaginal microbiome was dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus throughout pregnancy. Two patients showed Lactobacillus iners dominance during the course of pregnancy, and two showed a shift between the first and second trimester from L. crispatus to L. iners dominance. In all of the samples only these two species were identified, and were found at an abundance of higher than 1% in this study. Comparative analyses also showed that the vaginal microbiome during pregnancy is characterized by a marked dominance of Lactobacillus species in both Caucasian and African-American subjects. In addition, our Caucasian subject population clustered by trimester and progressed towards a common attractor while African-American women clustered by subject instead and did not progress towards a common attractor. Conclusion Our analyses indicate normal pregnancy is characterized by a microbiome that has low diversity and high stability. While Lactobacillus species strongly dominate the vaginal environment during pregnancy across the two studied ethnicities, observed differences between the longitudinal dynamics of the analyzed populations may contribute to divergent risk for pregnancy complications. This helps establish a baseline for investigating the role of the microbiome in complications of pregnancy such as preterm labor and preterm delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patricio Jeraldo
- Department of Surgical Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Margret E. Berg Miller
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Carl J. Yeoman
- Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, United States of America
| | - Karen E. Nelson
- Genomic Medicine Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Brenda A. Wilson
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Bryan A. White
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
- Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Nicholas Chia
- Department of Surgical Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo College, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Douglas J. Creedon
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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192
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Relationship between maternal immunological response during pregnancy and onset of preeclampsia. J Immunol Res 2014; 2014:210241. [PMID: 24987708 PMCID: PMC4060291 DOI: 10.1155/2014/210241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2014] [Revised: 05/07/2014] [Accepted: 05/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternofetal immune tolerance is essential to maintain pregnancy. The maternal immunological tolerance to the semiallogeneic fetus becomes greater in egg donation pregnancies with unrelated donors as the complete fetal genome is allogeneic to the mother. Instead of being rejected, the allogeneic fetus is tolerated by the pregnant woman in egg donation pregnancies. It has been reported that maternal morbidity during egg donation pregnancies is higher as compared with spontaneous or in vitro fertilization pregnancies. Particularly, egg donation pregnancies are associated with a higher incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension and placental pathology. Preeclampsia, a pregnancy-specific disease characterized by the development of both hypertension and proteinuria, remains the leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. The aim of this review is to characterize and relate the maternofetal immunological tolerance phenomenon during pregnancies with a semiallogenic fetus, which are the spontaneously conceived pregnancies and in vitro fertilization pregnancies, and those with an allogeneic fetus or egg donation pregnancies. Maternofetal immune tolerance in uncomplicated pregnancies and pathological pregnancies, such as those with preeclampsia, has also been assessed. Moreover, whether an inadequate maternal immunological response to the allogenic fetus could lead to a higher prevalence of preeclampsia in egg donation pregnancies has been addressed.
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193
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Dong N, Zhou T, Zhang Y, Liu M, Li H, Huang X, Liu Z, Wu Y, Fukuda K, Qin J, Wu Q. Corin mutations K317E and S472G from preeclamptic patients alter zymogen activation and cell surface targeting. [Corrected]. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:17909-16. [PMID: 24828501 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.551424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Corin is a membrane-bound serine protease that acts as the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) convertase in the heart. Recent studies show that corin also activates ANP in the pregnant uterus to promote spiral artery remodeling and prevent pregnancy-induced hypertension. Two CORIN gene mutations, K317E and S472G, were identified in preeclamptic patients and shown to have reduced activity in vitro. In this study, we carried out molecular modeling and biochemical experiments to understand how these mutations impair corin function. By molecular modeling, the mutation K317E was predicted to alter corin LDL receptor-2 module conformation. Western blot analysis of K317E mutant in HEK293 cells showed that the mutation did not block corin expression on the cell surface but inhibited corin zymogen activation. In contrast, the mutation S472G was predicted to abolish a β-sheet critical for corin frizzled-2 module structure. In Western blot analysis and flow cytometry, S472G mutant was not detected on the cell surface in transfected HEK293 cells. By immunostaining, the S472G mutant was found in the ER, indicating that the mutation S472G disrupted the β-sheet, causing corin misfolding and ER retention. Thus, these results show that mutations in the CORIN gene may impair corin function by entirely different mechanisms. Together, our data provide important insights into the molecular basis underlying corin mutations that may contribute to preeclampsia in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningzheng Dong
- From the Cyrus Tang Hematology Center and MOE Engineering Center of Hematological Disease, MOH Key Lab of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Tiantian Zhou
- From the Cyrus Tang Hematology Center and MOE Engineering Center of Hematological Disease
| | - Yue Zhang
- From the Cyrus Tang Hematology Center and MOE Engineering Center of Hematological Disease
| | - Meng Liu
- From the Cyrus Tang Hematology Center and MOE Engineering Center of Hematological Disease
| | - Hui Li
- From the Cyrus Tang Hematology Center and MOE Engineering Center of Hematological Disease
| | - Xiaoyi Huang
- the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China, and
| | - Zhenzhen Liu
- From the Cyrus Tang Hematology Center and MOE Engineering Center of Hematological Disease
| | - Yi Wu
- From the Cyrus Tang Hematology Center and MOE Engineering Center of Hematological Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Koichi Fukuda
- Molecular Cardiology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195
| | - Jun Qin
- Molecular Cardiology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195
| | - Qingyu Wu
- From the Cyrus Tang Hematology Center and MOE Engineering Center of Hematological Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China, Molecular Cardiology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195
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194
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Quantitative proteomics analysis of altered protein expression in the placental villous tissue of early pregnancy loss using isobaric tandem mass tags. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:647143. [PMID: 24738066 PMCID: PMC3971554 DOI: 10.1155/2014/647143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Revised: 01/28/2014] [Accepted: 01/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Many pregnant women suffer miscarriages during early gestation, but the description of these early pregnancy losses (EPL) can be somewhat confusing because of the complexities of early development. Thus, the identification of proteins with different expression profiles related to early pregnancy loss is essential for understanding the comprehensive pathophysiological mechanism. In this study, we report a gel-free tandem mass tags- (TMT-) labeling based proteomic analysis of five placental villous tissues from patients with early pregnancy loss and five from normal pregnant women. The application of this method resulted in the identification of 3423 proteins and 19647 peptides among the patient group and the matched normal control group. Qualitative and quantitative proteomic analysis revealed 51 proteins to be differentially abundant between the two groups (≥1.2-fold, Student's t-test, P < 0.05). To obtain an overview of the biological functions of the proteins whose expression levels altered significantly in EPL group, gene ontology analysis was performed. We also investigated the twelve proteins with a difference over 1.5-fold using pathways analysis. Our results demonstrate that the gel-free TMT-based proteomic approach allows the quantification of differences in protein expression levels, which is useful for obtaining molecular insights into early pregnancy loss.
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195
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Castelli EC, Veiga-Castelli LC, Yaghi L, Moreau P, Donadi EA. Transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulations of the HLA-G gene. J Immunol Res 2014; 2014:734068. [PMID: 24741620 PMCID: PMC3987962 DOI: 10.1155/2014/734068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 01/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
HLA-G has a relevant role in immune response regulation. The overall structure of the HLA-G coding region has been maintained during the evolution process, in which most of its variable sites are synonymous mutations or coincide with introns, preserving major functional HLA-G properties. The HLA-G promoter region is different from the classical class I promoters, mainly because (i) it lacks regulatory responsive elements for IFN-γ and NF-κB, (ii) the proximal promoter region (within 200 bases from the first translated ATG) does not mediate transactivation by the principal HLA class I transactivation mechanisms, and (iii) the presence of identified alternative regulatory elements (heat shock, progesterone and hypoxia-responsive elements) and unidentified responsive elements for IL-10, glucocorticoids, and other transcription factors is evident. At least three variable sites in the 3' untranslated region have been studied that may influence HLA-G expression by modifying mRNA stability or microRNA binding sites, including the 14-base pair insertion/deletion, +3142C/G and +3187A/G polymorphisms. Other polymorphic sites have been described, but there are no functional studies on them. The HLA-G coding region polymorphisms might influence isoform production and at least two null alleles with premature stop codons have been described. We reviewed the structure of the HLA-G promoter region and its implication in transcriptional gene control, the structure of the HLA-G 3'UTR and the major actors of the posttranscriptional gene control, and, finally, the presence of regulatory elements in the coding region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick C. Castelli
- Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), 18618-970 Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Luciana C. Veiga-Castelli
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Layale Yaghi
- Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, Institute of Emerging Diseases and Innovative Therapies, Department of Hematology and Immunology Research, Saint-Louis Hospital, 75010 Paris, France
- Paris-Diderot University, Sorbonne Paris-Cité, UMR E5, University Institute of Hematology, Saint-Louis Hospital, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Philippe Moreau
- Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, Institute of Emerging Diseases and Innovative Therapies, Department of Hematology and Immunology Research, Saint-Louis Hospital, 75010 Paris, France
- Paris-Diderot University, Sorbonne Paris-Cité, UMR E5, University Institute of Hematology, Saint-Louis Hospital, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Eduardo A. Donadi
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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196
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Du X, Dong Y, Shi H, Li J, Kong S, Shi D, Sun LV, Xu T, Deng K, Tao W. Mst1 and mst2 are essential regulators of trophoblast differentiation and placenta morphogenesis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e90701. [PMID: 24595170 PMCID: PMC3942462 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2013] [Accepted: 02/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The placenta is essential for survival and growth of the fetus because it promotes the delivery of nutrients and oxygen from the maternal circulation as well as fetal waste disposal. Mst1 and Mst2 (Mst1/2), key components of the mammalian hpo/Mst signaling pathway, encode two highly conserved Ser/Thr kinases and play important roles in the prevention of tumorigenesis and autoimmunity, control of T cell development and trafficking, and embryonic development. However, their functions in placental development are not fully understood, and the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigated the functions of Mst1/2 in mouse placental development using both conventional and conditional (endothelial) Mst1/2 double knockout mice. We found that the number of trophoblast giant cells dramatically increased while spongiotrophoblast cells almost completely disappeared in Mst1/2 deficient placentas. We showed that Mst1/2 deficiency down regulated the expression of Mash2, which is required for suppressing the differentiation of trophoblast giant cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that endothelial-specific deletion of Mst1/2 led to impaired placental labyrinthine vasculature and embryonic lethality at E11.5, but neither affected vasculature in yolk sac and embryo proper nor endocardium development. Collectively, our findings suggest that Mst1/2 regulate placental development by control of trophoblast cell differentiation and labyrinthine vasculature at midgestation and Mst1/2 control labyrinth morphogenesis in trophoblast- and fetal endothelial-dependent manners. Thus, our studies have defined novel roles of Mst1/2 in mouse placental development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingrong Du
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and National Center for International Research of Development and Disease, Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongli Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and National Center for International Research of Development and Disease, Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and National Center for International Research of Development and Disease, Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and National Center for International Research of Development and Disease, Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shanshan Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and National Center for International Research of Development and Disease, Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Donghua Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and National Center for International Research of Development and Disease, Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling V. Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and National Center for International Research of Development and Disease, Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tian Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and National Center for International Research of Development and Disease, Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Kejing Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and National Center for International Research of Development and Disease, Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail: (WT); (KD)
| | - Wufan Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and National Center for International Research of Development and Disease, Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail: (WT); (KD)
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197
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Townley-Tilson WHD, Wu Y, Ferguson JE, Patterson C. The ubiquitin ligase ASB4 promotes trophoblast differentiation through the degradation of ID2. PLoS One 2014; 9:e89451. [PMID: 24586788 PMCID: PMC3931756 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2013] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascularization of the placenta is a critical developmental process that ensures fetal viability. Although the vascular health of the placenta affects both maternal and fetal well being, relatively little is known about the early stages of placental vascular development. The ubiquitin ligase Ankyrin repeat, SOCS box-containing 4 (ASB4) promotes embryonic stem cell differentiation to vascular lineages and is highly expressed early in placental development. The transcriptional regulator Inhibitor of DNA binding 2 (ID2) negatively regulates vascular differentiation during development and is a target of many ubiquitin ligases. Due to their overlapping spatiotemporal expression pattern in the placenta and contrasting effects on vascular differentiation, we investigated whether ASB4 regulates ID2 through its ligase activity in the placenta and whether this activity mediates vascular differentiation. In mouse placentas, ASB4 expression is restricted to a subset of cells that express both stem cell and endothelial markers. Placentas that lack Asb4 display immature vascular patterning and retain expression of placental progenitor markers, including ID2 expression. Using JAR placental cells, we determined that ASB4 ubiquitinates and represses ID2 expression in a proteasome-dependent fashion. Expression of ASB4 in JAR cells and primary isolated trophoblast stem cells promotes the expression of differentiation markers. In functional endothelial co-culture assays, JAR cells ectopically expressing ASB4 increased endothelial cell turnover and stabilized endothelial tube formation, both of which are hallmarks of vascular differentiation within the placenta. Co-transfection of a degradation-resistant Id2 mutant with Asb4 inhibits both differentiation and functional responses. Lastly, deletion of Asb4 in mice induces a pathology that phenocopies human pre-eclampsia, including hypertension and proteinuria in late-stage pregnant females. These results indicate that ASB4 mediates vascular differentiation in the placenta via its degradation of ID2.
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Affiliation(s)
- W. H. Davin Townley-Tilson
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Yaxu Wu
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - James E. Ferguson
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Cam Patterson
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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198
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Hibaoui Y, Feki A. Human pluripotent stem cells as alternative models to study trophoblast development. Front Physiol 2013; 4:374. [PMID: 24381561 PMCID: PMC3865519 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2013.00374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Youssef Hibaoui
- Stem Cell Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geneva University Hospitals Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anis Feki
- Stem Cell Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geneva University Hospitals Geneva, Switzerland ; Service de gynécologie obstétrique, HFR Fribourg - Hôpital cantonal Fribourg, Switzerland
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199
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Doridot L, Miralles F, Barbaux S, Vaiman D. Trophoblasts, invasion, and microRNA. Front Genet 2013; 4:248. [PMID: 24312123 PMCID: PMC3836020 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2013.00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2013] [Accepted: 10/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently become essential actors in various fields of physiology and medicine, especially as easily accessible circulating biomarkers, or as modulators of cell differentiation. To this respect, terminal differentiation of trophoblasts (the characteristic cells of the placenta in Therian mammals) into syncytiotrophoblast, villous trophoblast, or extravillous trophoblast constitutes a good example of such a choice, where miRNAs have recently been shown to play an important role. The aim of this review is to provide a snapshot of what is known today in placentation mechanisms that are mediated by miRNA, under the angles of materno–fetal immune dialog regulation, trophoblast differentiation, and angiogenesis at the materno–fetal interface. Also, two aspects of regulation of these issues will be highlighted: the part played by oxygen concentration and the specific function of imprinted genes in the developing placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludivine Doridot
- Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016-CNRS UMR8104, Université Paris Descartes Paris, France
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200
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Knöfler M, Pollheimer J. Human placental trophoblast invasion and differentiation: a particular focus on Wnt signaling. Front Genet 2013; 4:190. [PMID: 24133501 PMCID: PMC3783976 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2013.00190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2013] [Accepted: 09/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Wingless ligands, a family of secreted proteins, are critically involved in organ development and tissue homeostasis by ensuring balanced rates of stem cell proliferation, cell death and differentiation. Wnt signaling components also play crucial roles in murine placental development controlling trophoblast lineage determination, chorioallantoic fusion and placental branching morphogenesis. However, the role of the pathway in human placentation, trophoblast development and differentiation is only partly understood. Here, we summarize our present knowledge about Wnt signaling in the human placenta and discuss its potential role in physiological and aberrant trophoblast invasion, gestational diseases and choriocarcinoma formation. Differentiation of proliferative first trimester cytotrophoblasts into invasive extravillous trophoblasts is associated with nuclear recruitment of β -catenin and induction of Wnt-dependent T-cell factor 4 suggesting that canonical Wnt signaling could be important for the formation and function of extravillous trophoblasts. Indeed, activation of the pathway was shown to promote trophoblast invasion in different in vitro trophoblast model systems as well as trophoblast cell fusion. Methylation-mediated silencing of inhibitors of Wnt signaling provided evidence for epigenetic activation of the pathway in placental tissues and choriocarcinoma cells. Similarly, abundant nuclear expression of β -catenin in invasive trophoblasts of complete hydatidiform moles suggested a role for hyper-activated Wnt signaling. In contrast, upregulation of Wnt inhibitors was noticed in placentae of women with preeclampsia, a disease characterized by shallow trophoblast invasion and incomplete spiral artery remodeling. Moreover, changes in Wnt signaling have been observed upon cytomegalovirus infection and in recurrent abortions. In summary, the current literature suggests a critical role of Wnt signaling in physiological and abnormal trophoblast function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Knöfler
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal-Maternal Medicine, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna Austria
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