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Simioni C, Sanz JM, Gafà R, Tagliatti V, Greco P, Passaro A, Neri LM. Effects of SARS-COV-2 on molecules involved in vascularization and autophagy in placenta tissues. J Mol Histol 2024:10.1007/s10735-024-10228-y. [PMID: 39088116 DOI: 10.1007/s10735-024-10228-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection is considered as a multi-organ disease, and several studies highlighted the relevance of the virus infection in the induction of vascular injury and tissue morphological alterations, including placenta. In this study, immunohistochemical analyses were carried out on placenta samples derived from women with COVID-19 infection at delivery (SARS-CoV-2 PCR+) or women healed from a COVID-19 infection (SARS-CoV-2 negative at delivery, SARS-CoV-2 PCR-) or women who gave birth before 2019 (Control). Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, Cluster of differentiation 147 (CD147), endothelial CD34 marker, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and total Microtubule-associated protein 1 Light Chain 3B marker (LC3B) were investigated in parallel with SPIKE protein by standard IHC. Multiplexed Immunohistochemical Consecutive Staining on Single Slide (MICSSS) was used to examine antigen co-expression in the same specimen. SPIKE protein was detected in villi and decidua from women with ongoing infection, with no significant differences in SPIKE staining between both biopsy sites. VEGF was significantly increased in SARS-CoV-2 PCR + biopsies compared to control and SARS-CoV-2 PCR- samples, and MICSSS method showed the co-localization of SPIKE with VEGF and CD34. The induction of autophagy, as suggested by the LC3B increase in SARS-CoV-2 PCR + biopsies and the co-expression of LC3B with SPIKE protein, may explain one of the different mechanisms by which placenta may react to infection. These data could provide important information on the impact that SARS-CoV-2 may have on the placenta and mother-to-fetus transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Simioni
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA)-Electron Microscopy Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - J M Sanz
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - R Gafà
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Oncohematology Department, University Hospital of Ferrara Arcispedale Sant'Anna, Ferrara, Italy
| | - V Tagliatti
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Oncohematology Department, University Hospital of Ferrara Arcispedale Sant'Anna, Ferrara, Italy
| | - P Greco
- Department of Medical Sciences, Obstetric and Gynecological Clinic, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - A Passaro
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - L M Neri
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA)-Electron Microscopy Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
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2
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Zhang Q, Lee CL, Yang T, Li J, Zeng Q, Liu X, Liu Z, Ruan D, Li Z, Kan AS, Cheung KW, Mak AS, Ng VW, Zhao H, Fan X, Duan YG, Zhong L, Chen M, Du M, Li RH, Liu P, Ng EH, Yeung WS, Gao Y, Yao Y, Chiu PC. Adrenomedullin has a pivotal role in trophoblast differentiation: A promising nanotechnology-based therapeutic target for early-onset preeclampsia. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadi4777. [PMID: 37922358 PMCID: PMC10624351 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi4777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/05/2023]
Abstract
Early-onset preeclampsia (EOPE) is a severe pregnancy complication associated with defective trophoblast differentiation and functions at implantation, but manifestation of its phenotypes is in late pregnancy. There is no reliable method for early prediction and treatment of EOPE. Adrenomedullin (ADM) is an abundant placental peptide in early pregnancy. Integrated single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics confirm a high ADM expression in the human villous cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast. The levels of ADM in chorionic villi and serum were lower in first-trimester pregnant women who later developed EOPE than those with normotensive pregnancy. ADM stimulates differentiation of trophoblast stem cells and trophoblast organoids in vitro. In pregnant mice, placenta-specific ADM suppression led to EOPE-like phenotypes. The EOPE-like phenotypes in a mouse PE model were reduced by a placenta-specific nanoparticle-based forced expression of ADM. Our study reveals the roles of trophoblastic ADM in placental development, EOPE pathogenesis, and its potential clinical uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Cheuk-Lun Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tingyu Yang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jianlin Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Qunxiong Zeng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaofeng Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhongzhen Liu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
- Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Birth Defects Screening, Shenzhen, China
| | - Degong Ruan
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Consortium, School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhuoxuan Li
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Consortium, School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Anita S. Y. Kan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ka-Wang Cheung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Annisa S. L. Mak
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Vivian W. Y. Ng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Huashan Zhao
- Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xiujun Fan
- Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yong-Gang Duan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liuying Zhong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meirong Du
- NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Raymond H. W. Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Pengtao Liu
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Consortium, School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ernest H. Y. Ng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - William S. B. Yeung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ya Gao
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
- Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Birth Defects Screening, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuanqing Yao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Philip C. N. Chiu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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Liu Z, Zhai M, Zhang Q, Yang T, Wan Z, Li J, Liu X, Xu B, Du L, Chan RWS, Zhang L, Yeung WSB, Cheung KW, Chiu PCN, Wang WJ, Lee CL, Gao Y. Resolving the gene expression maps of human first-trimester chorionic villi with spatial transcriptome. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1060298. [PMID: 36561369 PMCID: PMC9763897 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1060298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The placenta is important for fetal development in mammals, and spatial transcriptomic profiling of placenta helps to resolve its structure and function. In this study, we described the landscape of spatial transcriptome of human placental villi obtained from two pregnant women at the first trimester using the modified Stereo-seq method applied for paraformaldehyde (PFA) fixation samples. The PFA fixation of human placenta villi was better than fresh villi embedded in optimum cutting temperature (OCT) compound, since it greatly improved tissue morphology and the specificity of RNA signals. The main cell types in chorionic villi such as syncytiotrophoblasts (SCT), villous cytotrophoblasts (VCT), fibroblasts (FB), and extravillous trophoblasts (EVT) were identified with the spatial transcriptome data, whereas the minor cell types of Hofbauer cells (HB) and endothelial cells (Endo) were spatially located by deconvolution of scRNA-seq data. We demonstrated that the Stereo-seq data of human villi could be used for sophisticated analyses such as spatial cell-communication and regulatory activity. We found that the SCT and VCT exhibited the most ligand-receptor pairs that could increase differentiation of the SCT, and that the spatial localization of specific regulons in different cell types was associated with the pathways related to hormones transport and secretion, regulation of mitotic cell cycle, and nutrient transport pathway in SCT. In EVT, regulatory pathways such as the epithelial to mesenchyme transition, epithelial development and differentiation, and extracellular matrix organization were identified. Finally, viral receptors and drug transporters were identified in villi according to the pathway analysis, which could help to explain the vertical transmission of several infectious diseases and drug metabolism efficacy. Our study provides a valuable resource for further investigation of the placenta development, physiology and pathology in a spatial context.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Qingqing Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tingyu Yang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China,Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Birth Defects Screening, Shenzhen, China,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | - Jianlin Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xiaofeng Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bo Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Libei Du
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Rachel W. S. Chan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - William S. B. Yeung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ka Wang Cheung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Philip C. N. Chiu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wen-Jing Wang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China,*Correspondence: Wen-Jing Wang, ; Cheuk-Lun Lee, ; Ya Gao,
| | - Cheuk-Lun Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China,*Correspondence: Wen-Jing Wang, ; Cheuk-Lun Lee, ; Ya Gao,
| | - Ya Gao
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China,Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Birth Defects Screening, Shenzhen, China,*Correspondence: Wen-Jing Wang, ; Cheuk-Lun Lee, ; Ya Gao,
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Ezechukwu HC, Shi J, Fowora MA, Diya CA, Elfaki F, Adegboye OA. Fetoplacental transmission and placental response to SARS-CoV-2: Evidence from the literature. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:962937. [PMID: 36052328 PMCID: PMC9426356 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.962937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a dreadful novel coronavirus with global health concerns among pregnant women. To date, the vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy remains controversial. We briefly report recent findings of placental response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and updates on vertical transmission. We systematically searched PubMed and Google Scholar databases according to PRISMA guidelines for studies reporting the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the placenta and possibility of vertical transmission. We identified 45 studies reporting 1,280 human placentas that were analyzed by molecular pathology methods and 11,112 placenta-derived cells from a publicly available database that was analyzed using bioinformatics tools. The main finding of this study is that the SARS-CoV-2 canonical entry receptors (ACE2 and TMPRSS2) are abundantly expressed on the placenta during the first trimester, and this expression diminishes across gestational age. Out of 45 eligible studies identified, 24 (53.34%) showed no evidence of vertical transmission, 15 (33.33%) supported the hypothesis of very rare, low possibility of vertical transmission and 6 (13.33%) were indecisive and had no comment on vertical transmission. Furthermore, 433 placentas from 12 studies were also identified for placental pathology investigation. There was evidence of at least one form of maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM), 57/433 (13.1%), fetal vascular malperfusion (FVM), 81/433 (18.7%) and placental inflammation with excessive infiltration of CD3+ CD8+ lymphocytes, CD68+ macrophages and CD20+ lymphocytes in most of the eligible studies. Decidual vasculopathy (3.2%), infarction (3.2%), chronic histiocytic intervillositis (6.0%), thrombi vasculopathy (5.1%) were also observed in most of the MVM and FVM reported cases. The results indicated that SARS-CoV-2 induces placenta inflammation, and placenta susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 decreases across the pregnancy window. Thus, SARS-CoV-2 infection in early pregnancy may adversely affect the developing fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry C. Ezechukwu
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, EKO University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Lagos, Nigeria
- School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Jiahua Shi
- School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Muinah A. Fowora
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, EKO University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Lagos, Nigeria
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Cornelius A. Diya
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, EKO University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Faiz Elfaki
- Department of Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Oyelola A. Adegboye
- Public Health and Tropical Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
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