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Tsompanidis A, Blanken L, Broere-Brown ZA, van Rijn BB, Baron-Cohen S, Tiemeier H. Sex differences in placenta-derived markers and later autistic traits in children. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:256. [PMID: 37443170 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02552-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism is more prevalent in males and males on average score higher on measures of autistic traits. Placental function is affected significantly by the sex of the fetus. It is unclear if sex differences in placental function are associated with sex differences in the occurrence of autistic traits postnatally. To assess this, concentrations of angiogenesis-related markers, placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1) were assessed in maternal plasma of expectant women in the late 1st (mean= 13.5 [SD = 2.0] weeks gestation) and 2nd trimesters (mean=20.6 [SD = 1.2] weeks gestation), as part of the Generation R Study, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Subsequent assessment of autistic traits in the offspring at age 6 was performed with the 18-item version of the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). Associations of placental protein concentrations with autistic traits were tested in sex-stratified and cohort-wide regression models. Cases with pregnancy complications or a later autism diagnosis (n = 64) were also assessed for differences in placenta-derived markers. sFlt-1 levels were significantly lower in males in both trimesters but showed no association with autistic traits. PlGF was significantly lower in male pregnancies in the 1st trimester, and significantly higher in the 2nd trimester, compared to female pregnancies. Higher PlGF levels in the 2nd trimester and the rate of PlGF increase were both associated with the occurrence of higher autistic traits (PlGF-2nd: n = 3469,b = 0.24 [SE = 0.11], p = 0.03) in both unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models that controlled for age, sex, placental weight and maternal characteristics. Mediation analyses showed that higher autistic traits in males compared to females were partly explained by higher PlGF or a faster rate of PlGF increase in the second trimester (PlGF-2nd: n = 3469, ACME: b = 0.005, [SE = 0.002], p = 0.004). In conclusion, higher PlGF levels in the 2nd trimester and a higher rate of PlGF increase are associated with both being male, and with a higher number of autistic traits in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Tsompanidis
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - L Blanken
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Z A Broere-Brown
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - B B van Rijn
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - H Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, USA
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The PI3K/Akt/PTEN/mTOR pathway: a fruitful target for inducing cell death in rheumatoid arthritis? Future Med Chem 2016; 7:1137-47. [PMID: 26132523 DOI: 10.4155/fmc.15.55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling regulates diverse cellular processes. Abnormal PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling is a characteristic feature of cancer. As such inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling using small molecule inhibitors has been a focus of recently developed anticancer drugs. Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are autoimmune-mediated inflammatory diseases. PI3K signaling could now be targeted to determine its contribution to rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis where deregulated proliferation and aberrant survival of activated immune cells, macrophages, monocytes, dendritic cells and synovial fibroblasts significantly overlap with abnormal growth of cancer cells. The results of some recent studies in psoriatic arthritis using PI3K signaling inhibitors suggests that small molecule inhibitor strategies directed at PI3K signaling may be a useful future therapy for immune-mediated arthritis.
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Liu Z, Chen J, Mirando AJ, Wang C, Zuscik MJ, O'Keefe RJ, Hilton MJ. A dual role for NOTCH signaling in joint cartilage maintenance and osteoarthritis. Sci Signal 2015. [PMID: 26198357 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aaa3792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Loss of NOTCH signaling in postnatal murine joints results in osteoarthritis, indicating a requirement for NOTCH during maintenance of joint cartilage. However, NOTCH signaling components are substantially increased in abundance in posttraumatic osteoarthritis in humans and mice, suggesting either a reparative or a pathological role for NOTCH activation in osteoarthritis. We investigated a potential dual role for NOTCH in joint maintenance and osteoarthritis by generating two mouse models overexpressing the NOTCH1 intracellular domain (NICD) within postnatal joint cartilage. The first mouse model exhibited sustained NOTCH activation to resemble pathological NOTCH signaling, whereas the second model had transient NOTCH activation, which more closely reflected physiological NOTCH signaling. Sustained NOTCH signaling in joint cartilage led to an early and progressive osteoarthritic-like pathology, whereas transient NOTCH activation enhanced the synthesis of cartilage matrix and promoted joint maintenance under normal physiological conditions. Through RNA-sequencing, immunohistochemical, and biochemical approaches, we identified several targets that could be responsible for NOTCH-mediated cartilage degradation, fibrosis, and osteoarthritis progression. These targets included components of the interleukin-6 (IL-6)-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways, which may also contribute to the posttraumatic development of osteoarthritis. Together, these data suggest a dual role for the NOTCH pathway in joint cartilage, and they identify downstream effectors of NOTCH signaling as potential targets for disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoyang Liu
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Jianquan Chen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke Orthopaedic Cellular, Developmental, and Genome Laboratories, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Anthony J Mirando
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke Orthopaedic Cellular, Developmental, and Genome Laboratories, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Cuicui Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Michael J Zuscik
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Regis J O'Keefe
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Matthew J Hilton
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke Orthopaedic Cellular, Developmental, and Genome Laboratories, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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de Steenwinkel FDO, Hokken-Koelega ACS, de Ridder MAJ, Hazes JMW, Dolhain RJEM. Rheumatoid Arthritis During Pregnancy and Postnatal Catch-Up Growth in the Offspring. Arthritis Rheumatol 2014; 66:1705-11. [DOI: 10.1002/art.38519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2013] [Accepted: 02/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Zamudio S, Kovalenko O, Echalar L, Torricos T, Al-Khan A, Alvarez M, Illsley NP. Evidence for extraplacental sources of circulating angiogenic growth effectors in human pregnancy. Placenta 2013; 34:1170-6. [PMID: 24161217 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2013.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2013] [Revised: 09/03/2013] [Accepted: 09/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are associated with reduced blood flow, contributing to placental and fetal hypoxia. Placental hypoxia is thought to cause altered production of angiogenic growth effectors (AGEs), reflected in the circulation of mother and fetus. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF) and their soluble binding protein (sFlt-1) are, in turn, postulated as being causally involved in PE via induction of systemic endothelial cell dysfunction. To dissect the role of AGEs, accurate measurement is of great importance. However, the values of AGEs are highly variable, contributing to heterogeneity in their association (or lack thereof) with preeclampsia. To test the hypothesis that variability may be due to peripheral cell release of AGEs we obtained blood samples from normal healthy pregnant women (n = 90) and the cord blood of a subset of their neonates using standard serum separation and compared results obtained in parallel samples collected into reagents designed to inhibit peripheral cell activation (sodium citrate, theophylline, adenosine and dipyridamole-CTAD). AGEs were measured by ELISA. CTAD collection reduced maternal and fetal free VEGF by 83%, and 98%, respectively. Free PlGF was decreased by 29%, maternal sFlt-1 by >20% and fetal sFlt-1 by 59% in the CTAD-treated vs. serum sample (p < 0.0001). In summary blood collection techniques can profoundly alter measured concentrations of AGEs in mother and fetus. This process is highly variable, contributes to variation reported in the literature, and renders questionable the true impact of alteration in AGEs on pregnancy pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Zamudio
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Surgery and the Center for Abnormal Placentation, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, USA.
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Chan CC, Liou CJ, Xu PY, Shen JJ, Kuo ML, Len WB, Chang LE, Huang WC. Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions induced by 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene in mouse. J Dermatol Sci 2013; 72:149-57. [PMID: 23891346 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2013.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2013] [Revised: 05/26/2013] [Accepted: 06/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Th2 cells are overexpressed in the skin and serum of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. Previously, we found that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) decreased eosinophil infiltration in asthmatic mice through the suppression of Th2-associated cytokines. Therefore, we hypothesized that DHEA might improve the symptoms of AD syndrome. OBJECTIVE In this study, we evaluated the symptom improvement and anti-inflammatory response that result from the modulation of immunity by DHEA modulated in AD-like mice. METHODS Female BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. On days 14-29 after sensitization, mice were treated with cutaneous (skin smear) or oral administration of DHEA. In addition, human keratinocyte (HaCat) cells were used to evaluate the effect of DHEA on the in vitro production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. RESULTS Both cutaneous and oral DHEA were able to decrease ear swelling and skin inflammation in AD-like mice. DHEA also attenuated eosinophil and mast cell infiltration into ear and skin tissue. Additionally, Th2-associated cytokines were inhibited in splenocyte culture, and suppressed the levels of IgE and interleukin 4 in serum. Oral and cutaneous administration of DHEA reduced the inflammatory response, as evidenced by AD-like skin lesions, in a similar manner. DHEA significantly reduced inflammatory cytokines and chemokines through the nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases pathways in tumor necrosis factor-α activated HaCat cells. CONCLUSION DHEA ameliorates AD-like mouse skin inflammation and reduces eosinophil and mast cell infiltration by reducing the production of Th2-associated cytokines and chemokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Chi Chan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Science, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hwa 1st Road, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan, ROC
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Takagawa S, Nakamura F, Kumagai K, Nagashima Y, Goshima Y, Saito T. Decreased semaphorin3A expression correlates with disease activity and histological features of rheumatoid arthritis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2013; 14:40. [PMID: 23343469 PMCID: PMC3558329 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2474-14-40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2012] [Accepted: 01/12/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease of which the pathogenetic mechanisms are not fully understood. Semaphorin3A (Sema3A) has an immune regulatory role. Neuropilin1 (NRP1), the primary receptor for Sema3A, is also a receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165). It has been shown that Sema3A competitively antagonizes VEGF165 signaling. This study investigated whether Sema3A is expressed in synovial tissues, and is associated with disease activity and the histological features of synovial tissues from RA patients. Methods Human synovial tissues samples were obtained from RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Disease activity of RA patients was calculated using the 28-joint Disease Activity Score based on C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP). The histological features of RA synovial tissues were evaluated using Rooney’s inflammation scoring system. The localization of Sema3A, VEGF165 and NRP1 positive cells was immunohistochemically determined in synovial tissues. Expression levels of Sema3A, VEGF-A and NRP1 mRNA were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results In OA specimens, Sema3A, VEGF165 and NRP1 proteins were expressed in the synovial lining and inflammatory cells beneath the lining. Immunohistochemistry revealed the protein expression of Sema3A in synovial lining cells was decreased in RA tissues compared with OA samples. qPCR analysis demonstrated a significant reduction of Sema3A mRNA levels in RA synovial tissue samples than in OA and a significant correlation of the ratio of Sema3A/VEGF-A mRNA expression levels with DAS28-CRP (R = −0.449, p = 0.013). Sema3A mRNA levels also correlated with Rooney’s inflammation score, especially in perivascular infiltrates of lymphocytes (R = −0.506, p = 0.004), focal aggregates of lymphocytes (R = −0.501, p = 0.005) and diffuse infiltrates of lymphocytes (R = −0.536, p = 0.002). Conclusions Reduction of Sema3A expression in RA synovial tissues may contribute to pathogenesis of RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Takagawa
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
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