1
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Parameshwar PK, Li C, Arnauts K, Jiang J, Rostami S, Campbell BE, Lu H, Rosenzweig DH, Vaillancourt C, Moraes C. Directed biomechanical compressive forces enhance fusion efficiency in model placental trophoblast cultures. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11312. [PMID: 38760496 PMCID: PMC11101427 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61747-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The syncytiotrophoblast is a multinucleated structure that arises from fusion of mononucleated cytotrophoblasts, to sheath the placental villi and regulate transport across the maternal-fetal interface. Here, we ask whether the dynamic mechanical forces that must arise during villous development might influence fusion, and explore this question using in vitro choriocarcinoma trophoblast models. We demonstrate that mechanical stress patterns arise around sites of localized fusion in cell monolayers, in patterns that match computational predictions of villous morphogenesis. We then externally apply these mechanical stress patterns to cell monolayers and demonstrate that equibiaxial compressive stresses (but not uniaxial or equibiaxial tensile stresses) enhance expression of the syndecan-1 and loss of E-cadherin as markers of fusion. These findings suggest that the mechanical stresses that contribute towards sculpting the placental villi may also impact fusion in the developing tissue. We then extend this concept towards 3D cultures and demonstrate that fusion can be enhanced by applying low isometric compressive stresses to spheroid models, even in the absence of an inducing agent. These results indicate that mechanical stimulation is a potent activator of cellular fusion, suggesting novel avenues to improve experimental reproductive modelling, placental tissue engineering, and understanding disorders of pregnancy development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chen Li
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Kaline Arnauts
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Junqing Jiang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Sabra Rostami
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Benjamin E Campbell
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Hongyan Lu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Derek Hadar Rosenzweig
- Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Injury, Repair and Recovery Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Cathy Vaillancourt
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, Québec, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Montréal, and Research Center Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) du Nord-de-L'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Christopher Moraes
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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2
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Zhao X, Cai X, Zhu H, Dang Q, Yang Q, Zhu Y, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Jiang X, Hu Z, Wei Y, Xiao R, Yu H. 27-Hydroxycholesterol inhibits trophoblast fusion during placenta development by activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:849-863. [PMID: 38180513 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03664-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Trophoblast cell syncytialization is essential for placental and fetal development. Abnormal trophoblast cell fusion leads to pregnancy pathologies, such as preeclampsia (PE), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and miscarriage. 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC) is the most abundant oxysterol in human peripheral blood synthesized by sterol 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) and is considered a critical mediator between hypercholesterolemia and a variety of related disorders. Gestational hypercholesterolemia was associated with spontaneous preterm delivery and low birth weight (LBW) in term infants, yet the mechanism is unclear. In this study, two trophoblast cell models and CD-1 mice were used to evaluate the effects of 27-OHC on trophoblast fusion during placenta development. Two different kinds of trophoblast cells received a dosage of 2.5, 5, or 10 uM 27-OHC. Three groups of pregnant mice were randomly assigned: control, full treatment (E0.5-E17.5), or late treatment (E13.5-E17.5). All mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of saline (control group) and 27-OHC (treatment group; 5.5 mg/kg). In vitro experiments, we found that 27-OHC inhibited trophoblast cell fusion in primary human trophoblasts (PHT) and forskolin (FSK)-induced BeWo cells. 27-OHC up-regulated the expression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins. Moreover, the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 rescued the inhibitory effect of 27-OHC. Inhibition of trophoblast cell fusion by 27-OHC was also observed in CD-1 mice. Furthermore, fetal weight and placental efficiency decreased and fetal blood vessel development was inhibited in pregnant mice treated with 27-OHC. This study was the first to prove that 27-OHC inhibits trophoblast cell fusion by Activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. This study reveals a novel mechanism by which dyslipidemia during pregnancy results in adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Zhao
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaxia Cai
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiyan Zhu
- FuXing Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinyu Dang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Yang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Yandi Zhu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Yadi Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengling Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyin Jiang
- Departments of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, New York, NY, 11210, USA
| | - Zhuo Hu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuchen Wei
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Rong Xiao
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Huanling Yu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China.
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3
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Zhang Y, Yang H. Quantification of Trophoblast Syncytialization by Fluorescent Membrane Labeling. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2728:99-104. [PMID: 38019394 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3495-0_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Trophoblast fusion or syncytialization is a fundamental yet poorly understood process during placental development. Primary cultured cytotrophoblasts and human choriocarcinoma cell lines are commonly used to study trophoblast fusion mechanisms in vitro. Quantification of trophoblast fusion index is a key for the in vitro studies. In this chapter, we describe a new method to quantify fusion index, which is based on fluorescent labeling of the plasma membrane using Di-8-ANEPPS, a membrane potential dye. This method directly works on live cells, thereby is simple, economic, and reliable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Huanghe Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
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4
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Zhou Z, Luo D, Li M, Lao G, Zhou Z, Dinnyés A, Xu W, Sun Q. A Novel Multicellular Placental Barrier Model to Investigate the Effect of Maternal Aflatoxin B 1 Exposure on Fetal-Side Neural Stem Cells. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15050312. [PMID: 37235346 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15050312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Ingestion of food toxins such as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) during pregnancy may impair fetal neurodevelopment. However, animal model results may not be accurate due to the species' differences, and testing on humans is ethically impermissible. Here, we developed an in vitro human maternal-fetal multicellular model composed of a human hepatic compartment, a bilayer placental barrier, and a human fetal central nervous system compartment using neural stem cells (NSCs) to investigate the effect of AFB1 on fetal-side NSCs. AFB1 passed through the HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells to mimic the maternal metabolic effects. Importantly, even at the limited concentration (0.0641 ± 0.0046 μM) of AFB1, close to the national safety level standard of China (GB-2761-2011), the mixture of AFB1 crossing the placental barrier induced NSC apoptosis. The level of reactive oxygen species in NSCs was significantly elevated and the cell membrane was damaged, causing the release of intracellular lactate dehydrogenase (p < 0.05). The comet experiment and γ-H2AX immunofluorescence assay showed that AFB1 caused significant DNA damage to NSCs (p < 0.05). This study provided a new model for the toxicological evaluation of the effect of food mycotoxin exposure during pregnancy on fetal neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment Ministry of the Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Dongmei Luo
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment Ministry of the Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Mengxue Li
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment Ministry of the Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Guangjie Lao
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment Ministry of the Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Zhiqiang Zhou
- Department of Food Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - András Dinnyés
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment Ministry of the Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
- BioTalentum Ltd., Aulich Lajos Str. 26, 2100 Godollo, Hungary
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Wenming Xu
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Regulation Laboratory West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Qun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment Ministry of the Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
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5
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Zhang Y, Liang P, Yang L, Shan KZ, Feng L, Chen Y, Liedtke W, Coyne CB, Yang H. Functional coupling between TRPV4 channel and TMEM16F modulates human trophoblast fusion. eLife 2022; 11:e78840. [PMID: 35670667 PMCID: PMC9236608 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
TMEM16F, a Ca2+-activated phospholipid scramblase (CaPLSase), is critical for placental trophoblast syncytialization, HIV infection, and SARS-CoV2-mediated syncytialization, however, how TMEM16F is activated during cell fusion is unclear. Here, using trophoblasts as a model for cell fusion, we demonstrate that Ca2+ influx through the Ca2+ permeable transient receptor potential vanilloid channel TRPV4 is critical for TMEM16F activation and plays a role in subsequent human trophoblast fusion. GSK1016790A, a TRPV4 specific agonist, robustly activates TMEM16F in trophoblasts. We also show that TRPV4 and TMEM16F are functionally coupled within Ca2+ microdomains in a human trophoblast cell line using patch-clamp electrophysiology. Pharmacological inhibition or gene silencing of TRPV4 hinders TMEM16F activation and subsequent trophoblast syncytialization. Our study uncovers the functional expression of TRPV4 and one of the physiological activation mechanisms of TMEM16F in human trophoblasts, thus providing us with novel strategies to regulate CaPLSase activity as a critical checkpoint of physiologically and disease-relevant cell fusion events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
| | - Pengfei Liang
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
| | - Liheng Yang
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
| | - Ke Zoe Shan
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
| | - Liping Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical CentreDurhamUnited States
- MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua HospitalShanghaiChina
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
| | - Wolfgang Liedtke
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
- Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
- College of Dentistry, Department of Molecular Pathobiology, NYUNew YorkUnited States
| | - Carolyn B Coyne
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke UniversityDurhamUnited States
| | - Huanghe Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
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6
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Parameshwar PK, Sagrillo-Fagundes L, Fournier C, Girard S, Vaillancourt C, Moraes C. Disease-specific extracellular matrix composition regulates placental trophoblast fusion efficiency. Biomater Sci 2021; 9:7247-7256. [PMID: 34608901 DOI: 10.1039/d1bm00799h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The placental syncytiotrophoblast is a multinucleated layer that regulates transport between the mother and fetus. Fusion of trophoblasts is essential to form this layer, but this process can be disrupted in pregnancy-related disorders such as preeclampsia. Disease progression is also associated with changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM), but whether disease-specific ECM compositions play any causal role in establishing syncytiotrophoblast disease phenotypes remains unknown. Here, we develop a decellularization-based platform to isolate and characterize the role of human placental ECM composition on cell function, while controlling for the confounding effects of matrix structure and mechanics that can arise in conventional tissue decellularization/recellularization experiments. Using this approach, we demonstrate that ECM compositional changes that occur in preeclampsia have a statistically significant effect on adhesion, spreading, and fusion of placental trophoblasts. Proteomic analysis of ECM content then allowed us to identify and recreate selected differences in matrix composition; indicating that replacement of normally present Type IV Collagen by Type I Collagen in preeclampsia significantly affects fusion efficiency. These results indicate that disease-specific matrix compositions can play an important role in trophoblast fusion, suggesting novel matrix-targeting therapeutic strategies for pregnancy-related disorders. More broadly, this work demonstrates the utility of a decellularization-based approach in understanding the functional contributions of matrix composition in driving cellular disease phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucas Sagrillo-Fagundes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Caroline Fournier
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Sylvie Girard
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Montréal, Ste-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Cathy Vaillancourt
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, Québec, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Montréal, Ste-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Christopher Moraes
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada. .,Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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7
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Wilson RL, Troja W, Sumser EK, Maupin A, Lampe K, Jones HN. Insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling in the placenta requires endothelial nitric oxide synthase to support trophoblast function and normal fetal growth. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2021; 320:R653-R662. [PMID: 33621475 PMCID: PMC8163607 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00250.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Currently, there is no effective treatment for placental dysfunction in utero. In a ligated mouse model of fetal growth restriction (FGR), nanoparticle-mediated human insulin-like 1 growth factor (hIGF1) gene delivery (NP-Plac1-hIGF1) increased hIGF1 expression and maintained fetal growth. However, whether it can restore fetal growth remains to be determined. Using the endothelial nitric oxide synthase knockout (eNOS-/-) mouse model, a genetic model of FGR, we found that despite inducing expression of hIGF1 in the placentas treated with NP-Plac1-hIGF1 (P = 0.0425), FGR did not resolve. This was associated with no change to the number of fetal capillaries in the placental labyrinth; an outcome which was increased with NP-Plac1-hIGF1 treatment in the ligated mouse model, despite increased expression of angiopoietin 1 (P = 0.05), and suggested IGF1 signaling in the placenta requires eNOS to modulate placenta angiogenesis. To further assess this hypothesis, BeWo choriocarcinoma cell line and human placental explant cultures were treated with NP-Plac1-hIGF1, oxidative stress was induced with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and NOS activity was inhibited using the inhibitor NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA). In both BeWo cells and explants, the protective effect of NP-Plac1-hIGF1 treatment against H2O2-induced cell death/lactate dehydrogenase release was prevented by eNOS inhibition (P = 0.003 and P < 0.0001, respectively). This was associated with an increase in mRNA expression of oxidative stress markers hypoxia inducing factor 1α (HIF1α; P < 0.0001) and ADAM10 (P = 0.0002) in the NP-Plac1-hIGF1 + H2O2 + l-NMMA-treated BeWo cells. These findings show for the first time the requirement of eNOS/NOS in IGF1 signaling in placenta cells that may have implications for placental angiogenesis and fetal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Wilson
- Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Weston Troja
- Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Emily K Sumser
- Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Alec Maupin
- Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Kristin Lampe
- Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Helen N Jones
- Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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8
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Cell-cell fusions and cell-in-cell phenomena in healthy cells and cancer: Lessons from protists and invertebrates. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 81:96-105. [PMID: 33713795 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Herein we analyze two special routes of the multinucleated cells' formation - the fusion of mononuclear cells and the formation of cell-in-cell structures - in the healthy tissues and in tumorigenesis. There are many theories of tumorigenesis based on the phenomenon of emergence of the hybrid cancer cells. We consider the phenomena, which are rarely mentioned in those theories: namely, cellularization of syncytium or coenocytes, and the reversible or irreversible somatogamy. The latter includes the short-term and the long-term vegetative (somatic) cells' fusions in the life cycles of unicellular organisms. The somatogamy and multinuclearity have repeatedly and independently emerged in various groups of unicellular eukaryotes. These phenomena are among dominant survival and biodiversity sustaining strategies in protists and we admit that they can likely play an analogous role in cancer cells.
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9
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Bazer FW, Seo H, Johnson GA, Wu G. One-Carbon Metabolism and Development of the Conceptus During Pregnancy: Lessons from Studies with Sheep and Pigs. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1285:1-15. [PMID: 33770399 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-54462-1_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The pregnancy recognition signal from the conceptus (embryo/fetus and associated membranes) to the mother is interferon tau (IFNT) in ruminants and estradiol, possibly in concert with interferons gamma and delta in pigs. Those pregnancy recognition signals silence expression of interferon stimulated genes (ISG) in uterine luminal (LE) and superficial glandular (sGE) epithelia while inducing expression of genes for transport of nutrients, including glucose and amino acids, into the uterine lumen to support growth and development of the conceptus. In sheep and pigs, glucose not utilized immediately by the conceptus is converted to fructose. Glucose, fructose, serine and glycine in uterine histotroph can contribute to one carbon (1C) metabolism that provides one-carbon groups for the synthesis of purines and thymidylate, as well as S-adenosylmethionine for epigenetic methylation reactions. Serine and glycine are transported into the mitochondria of cells and metabolized to formate that is transported into the cytoplasm for the synthesis of purines, thymidine and S-adenosylmethionine. The unique aspects of one-carbon metabolism are discussed in the context of the hypoxic uterine environment, aerobic glycolysis, and similarities in metabolism between cancer cells and cells of the rapidly developing fetal-placental tissues during pregnancy. Further, the evolution of anatomical and functional aspects of the placentae of sheep and pigs versus primates is discussed in the context of mechanisms to efficiently obtain, store and utilize nutrients required for rapid fetal growth in the last one-half of gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuller W Bazer
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
| | - Heewon Seo
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Gregory A Johnson
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Guoyao Wu
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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10
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Abstract
Cell-cell fusion is a fundamental process underlying fertilization, development, regeneration and physiology of metazoans. It is a multi-step process involving cell recognition and adhesion, actin cytoskeletal rearrangements, fusogen engagement, lipid mixing and fusion pore formation, ultimately resulting in the integration of two fusion partners. Here, we focus on the asymmetric actin cytoskeletal rearrangements at the site of fusion, known as the fusogenic synapse, which was first discovered during myoblast fusion in Drosophila embryos and later also found in mammalian muscle and non-muscle cells. At the asymmetric fusogenic synapse, actin-propelled invasive membrane protrusions from an attacking fusion partner trigger actomyosin-based mechanosensory responses in the receiving cell. The interplay between the invasive and resisting forces generated by the two fusion partners puts the fusogenic synapse under high mechanical tension and brings the two cell membranes into close proximity, promoting the engagement of fusogens to initiate fusion pore formation. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we highlight the molecular, cellular and biophysical events at the asymmetric fusogenic synapse using Drosophila myoblast fusion as a model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Hoon Kim
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Elizabeth H Chen
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA .,Department of Cell Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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11
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Kemmerling U, Osuna A, Schijman AG, Truyens C. Congenital Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi: A Review About the Interactions Between the Parasite, the Placenta, the Maternal and the Fetal/Neonatal Immune Responses. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1854. [PMID: 31474955 PMCID: PMC6702454 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is considered a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. Congenital transmission of CD is an increasingly relevant public health problem. It progressively becomes the main transmission route over others and can occur in both endemic and non-endemic countries. Though most congenitally infected newborns are asymptomatic at birth, they display higher frequencies of prematurity, low birth weight, and lower Apgar scores compared to uninfected ones, and some suffer from severe symptoms. If not diagnosed and treated, infected newborns are at risk of developing disabling and life-threatening chronic pathologies later in life. The success or failure of congenital transmission depends on interactions between the parasite, the placenta, the mother, and the fetus. We review and discuss here the current knowledge about these parameters, including parasite virulence factors such as exovesicles, placental tropism, potential placental defense mechanisms, the placental transcriptome of infected women, gene polymorphism, and the maternal and fetal/neonatal immune responses, that might modulate the risk of T. cruzi congenital transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Kemmerling
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Antonio Osuna
- Grupo de Bioquímica y Parasitología Molecular, Departamento de Parasitología, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Alejandro Gabriel Schijman
- Molecular Biology of Chagas Disease Laboratory, Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology Research Institute Dr. Héctor Torres (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carine Truyens
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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12
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Hall AE, Rose MD. Cell fusion in yeast is negatively regulated by components of the cell wall integrity pathway. Mol Biol Cell 2018; 30:441-452. [PMID: 30586320 PMCID: PMC6594448 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e18-04-0236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
During mating, Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells must degrade the intervening cell wall to allow fusion of the partners. Because improper timing or location of cell wall degradation would cause lysis, the initiation of cell fusion must be highly regulated. Here, we find that yeast cell fusion is negatively regulated by components of the cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway. Loss of the cell wall sensor, MID2, specifically causes “mating-induced death” after pheromone exposure. Mating-induced death is suppressed by mutations in cell fusion genes (FUS1, FUS2, RVS161, CDC42), implying that mid2Δ cells die from premature fusion without a partner. Consistent with premature fusion, mid2Δ shmoos had thinner cell walls and lysed at the shmoo tip. Normally, Cdc42p colocalizes with Fus2p to form a focus only when mating cells are in contact (prezygotes) and colocalization is required for cell fusion. However, Cdc42p was aberrantly colocalized with Fus2p to form a focus in mid2Δ shmoos. A hyperactive allele of the CWI kinase Pkc1p (PKC1*) caused decreased cell fusion and Cdc42p localization in prezygotes. In shmoos, PKC1* increased Cdc42p localization; however, it was not colocalized with Fus2p or associated with cell death. We conclude that Mid2p and Pkc1p negatively regulate cell fusion via Cdc42p and Fus2p.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison E Hall
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Mark D Rose
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544.,Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057
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13
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Saha S, Chakraborty S, Bhattacharya A, Biswas A, Ain R. MicroRNA regulation of Transthyretin in trophoblast differentiation and Intra-Uterine Growth Restriction. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16548. [PMID: 29185488 PMCID: PMC5707432 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16566-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Placental trophoblast cells produce various cytokines, transporters vital to normal embryogenesis. Transthyretin (TTR) aids trans-placental passage of maternal thyroxin (TH) to fetal circulation. Inadequate TH delivery leads to developmental abnormality. Regulation of TTR biosynthesis in placenta is critical for normal embryo development. We showed here that TTR transcripts were expressed more in fetal placenta. Using bioinformatic analysis and confirmation with dual-luciferase reporter assays, we found that miR-200a-3p and miR-141-3p inhibited TTR expression by directly binding to the 3'UTR of TTR, which is reversed by mutation in the microRNA binding site. Differentiation of human trophoblast BeWo cells was associated with decreased TTR transcript and protein levels with concomitant increase in the levels of both microRNAs. Interestingly, ectopic overexpression of the microRNA mimics abrogated thyroxin uptake by BeWo cells, which was reversed by the corresponding inhibitors. Furthermore, in a rat model of intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR), TTR expression decreased significantly in placenta with reciprocal rise in miR-141-3p but not 200a-3p. In human IUGR placenta, TTR transcript and protein levels were significantly lower associated with high expression of miR-141-3p but not 200a-3p. These data provides new insight into physiological role of miR-141-3p in regulating TTR during trophoblast differentiation and IUGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarbani Saha
- Division of Cell Biology and Physiology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Shreeta Chakraborty
- Division of Cell Biology and Physiology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | | | - Arati Biswas
- Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata, 700014, India
| | - Rupasri Ain
- Division of Cell Biology and Physiology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, 700032, India.
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14
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Liu X, Zuo R, Bao Y, Qu X, Sun K, Ying H. Down-regulation of PDK4 is Critical for the Switch of Carbohydrate Catabolism during Syncytialization of Human Placental Trophoblasts. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8474. [PMID: 28814762 PMCID: PMC5559526 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09163-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) is known as a gatekeeper directing the carbon flux into glycolysis via inhibition of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. During syncytialization of placental trophoblasts, both ATP production and oxygen consumption are increased to meet enhanced energetic demands by syntiotrophoblasts. We hypothesized that down-regulation of PDK expression may play a central role in the switch from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) during syncytialization. By using primary human trophoblasts, we demonstrated that PDK4 was the dominating PDK isoform in human cytotrophoblasts, and its abundance was substantially decreased upon syncytialization, which was accompanied by decreases in lactate production and increases in ATP production. Knock-down of PDK4 expression reduced lactate production and increased ATP production, while over-expression of PDK4 increased lactate production and decreased ATP production, indicating that down-regulation of PDK4 is key to the shift from glycolysis to OXPHOS during syncytialization. Moreover, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)/cAMP/PKA pathway was demonstrated to be involved in the down-regulation of PDK4 expression upon syncytialization. Taken together, our findings disclosed that down-regulation of PDK4 is critical for the metabolic shift from glycolysis to OXPHOS during syncytialization, which may be a prerequisite for the proper implementation of syncytiotrophoblast functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Liu
- Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201204, P. R. China
| | - Rujuan Zuo
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200135, P. R. China. .,Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, 200135, P. R. China.
| | - Yirong Bao
- Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201204, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoxian Qu
- Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201204, P. R. China
| | - Kang Sun
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200135, P. R. China. .,Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, 200135, P. R. China.
| | - Hao Ying
- Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201204, P. R. China.
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15
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Zuo R, Liu X, Wang W, Li W, Ying H, Sun K. A repressive role of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 in 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 expression in the human placenta. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:7578-7587. [PMID: 28302719 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.765800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Revised: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2), which acts as a placental glucocorticoid barrier, is silenced in cytotrophoblasts but substantially up-regulated during syncytialization. However, the repressive mechanism of 11β-HSD2 expression before syncytialization and how this repression is lifted during syncytialization remain mostly unresolved. Here we found that enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) accounts for the silence of 11β-HSD2 expression via trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 at the promoter of the 11β-HSD2 gene. Further studies revealed that, upon syncytialization, human chorionic gonadotropin reduced the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRB) via activation of the cAMP/PKA pathway, which sequesters E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1), the transcription factor for EZH2 expression. As a result of inactivation of the pRB-E2F1-EZH2 pathway, the repressive marker trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 at the 11β-HSD2 promoter is removed, which leads to the robust expression of 11β-HSD2 during syncytialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rujuan Zuo
- From the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200135, China.,the Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai 200135, China, and
| | - Xiaohui Liu
- the Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Wangsheng Wang
- From the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200135, China.,the Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai 200135, China, and
| | - Wenjiao Li
- From the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200135, China.,the Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai 200135, China, and
| | - Hao Ying
- the Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Kang Sun
- From the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200135, China, .,the Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai 200135, China, and
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16
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Carrillo I, Droguett D, Castillo C, Liempi A, Muñoz L, Maya JD, Galanti N, Kemmerling U. Caspase-8 activity is part of the BeWo trophoblast cell defense mechanisms against Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Exp Parasitol 2016; 168:9-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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17
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Liempi A, Castillo C, Carrillo I, Muñoz L, Droguett D, Galanti N, Maya JD, Kemmerling U. A local innate immune response against Trypanosoma cruzi in the human placenta: The epithelial turnover of the trophoblast. Microb Pathog 2016; 99:123-129. [PMID: 27554274 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2016.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Revised: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Congenital Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is partially responsible for the progressive globalization of Chagas disease despite of its low transmission rate. The probability of congenital transmission depends on complex interactions between the parasite, the maternal and fetus/newborn immune responses and placental factors, being the latter the least studied one. During transplacental transmission, the parasite must cross the placental barrier where the trophoblast, a continuous renewing epithelium, is the first tissue to have contact with the parasite. Importantly, the epithelial turnover is considered part of the innate immune system since pathogens, prior to cell invasion, must attach to the surface of cells. The trophoblast turnover involves cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptotic cell death, all of them are induced by the parasite. In the present review, we analyze the current evidence about the trophoblast epithelial turnover as a local placental innate immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Liempi
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Christian Castillo
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Ileana Carrillo
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Lorena Muñoz
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Daniel Droguett
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile; Departamento de Estomatología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Talca, Chile
| | - Norbel Galanti
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Juan Diego Maya
- Programa de Farmacología Molecular y Clínica, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile.
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18
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Blundell C, Tess ER, Schanzer ASR, Coutifaris C, Su EJ, Parry S, Huh D. A microphysiological model of the human placental barrier. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:3065-73. [PMID: 27229450 PMCID: PMC4970951 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00259e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
During human pregnancy, the fetal circulation is separated from maternal blood in the placenta by two cell layers - the fetal capillary endothelium and placental trophoblast. This placental barrier plays an essential role in fetal development and health by tightly regulating the exchange of endogenous and exogenous materials between the mother and the fetus. Here we present a microengineered device that provides a novel platform to mimic the structural and functional complexity of this specialized tissue in vitro. Our model is created in a multilayered microfluidic system that enables co-culture of human trophoblast cells and human fetal endothelial cells in a physiologically relevant spatial arrangement to replicate the characteristic architecture of the human placental barrier. We have engineered this co-culture model to induce progressive fusion of trophoblast cells and to form a syncytialized epithelium that resembles the syncytiotrophoblast in vivo. Our system also allows the cultured trophoblasts to form dense microvilli under dynamic flow conditions and to reconstitute expression and physiological localization of membrane transport proteins, such as glucose transporters (GLUTs), critical to the barrier function of the placenta. To provide a proof-of-principle for using this microdevice to recapitulate native function of the placental barrier, we demonstrated physiological transport of glucose across the microengineered maternal-fetal interface. Importantly, the rate of maternal-to-fetal glucose transfer in this system closely approximated that measured in ex vivo perfused human placentas. Our "placenta-on-a-chip" platform represents an important advance in the development of new technologies to model and study the physiological complexity of the human placenta for a wide variety of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassidy Blundell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Emily R Tess
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Ariana S R Schanzer
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Christos Coutifaris
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Emily J Su
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Samuel Parry
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Dongeun Huh
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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19
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Sun Y, Zhu H, Song J, Jiang Y, Ouyang H, Huang R, Zhang G, Fan X, Tao R, Jiang J, Niu H. Upregulation of Leukocytic Syncytin-1 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients. Med Sci Monit 2016; 22:2392-403. [PMID: 27393911 PMCID: PMC4941896 DOI: 10.12659/msm.899303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Syncytin-1, a cell membrane-localizing fusogen, is abnormally expressed in several cancers, including endometrial cancer, breast cancer, and leukemia. Although abnormal syncytin-1 expression has been detected in two-thirds of leukemia blood samples, its expression profile in acute leukemia patients has not yet been analyzed. Material/Methods Bone marrow samples from 50 acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cases and 14 B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (B-cell ALL) patients were subjected to flow cytometry to assess leukocyte type distributions and leukocytic syncytin-1 surface expression. RT-PCR was applied to assess leukocytic syncytin-1 mRNA expression. Statistical analysis was applied to compare syncytin-1 expression between AML and B-cell ALL patients across blasts, granulocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes as well as to determine clinical factors statistically associated with changes in syncytin-1 expression. Results The leukocyte type distributions of the AML and B-cell ALL cohorts highly overlapped, with an observable difference in blast distribution between the 2 cohorts. The AML cohort displayed significantly greater syncytin-1 surface and mRNA expression (p<0.05). Syncytin-1 surface and mRNA expression was significantly increased across all 4 leukocyte types (p<0.05). The percentage of syncytin-1-expressing blasts was significantly greater in AML patients (p<0.05), with blasts showing the largest fold-change in syncytin-1 expression (p<0.05). M5, M5a, and M5b AML patients displayed significantly higher syncytin-1 surface expression relative to all other AML French-American-British (FAB) classifications (p<0.05). Conclusions These findings suggest leukocytic syncytin-1 expression may play a role in the development and/or maintenance of the AML phenotype and the acute monocytic leukemia phenotype in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China (mainland)
| | - Hongyan Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China (mainland)
| | - Jianxin Song
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China (mainland)
| | - Yaxian Jiang
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China (mainland)
| | - Hongmei Ouyang
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China (mainland)
| | - Rongzhong Huang
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China (mainland)
| | - Guiqian Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China (mainland)
| | - Xin Fan
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China (mainland)
| | - Rui Tao
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China (mainland)
| | - Jie Jiang
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China (mainland)
| | - Hua Niu
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China (mainland)
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20
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Smith JA, Rose MD. Kel1p Mediates Yeast Cell Fusion Through a Fus2p- and Cdc42p-Dependent Mechanism. Genetics 2016; 202:1421-35. [PMID: 26865368 PMCID: PMC4905532 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.115.185207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell fusion is ubiquitous among eukaryotes. Although little is known about the molecular mechanism, several proteins required for cell fusion in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been identified. Fus2p, a key regulator of cell fusion, localizes to the shmoo tip in a highly regulated manner. C-terminal truncations of Fus2p cause mislocalization and fusion defects, which are suppressed by overexpression of Kel1p, a kelch-domain protein of unknown function previously implicated in cell fusion. We hypothesize that Fus2p mislocalization is caused by auto-inhibition, which is alleviated by Kel1p overexpression. Previous work showed that Fus2p localization is mediated by both Fus1p- and actin-dependent pathways. We show that the C-terminal mutations mainly affect the actin-dependent pathway. Suppression of the Fus2p localization defect by Kel1p is dependent upon Fus1p, showing that suppression does not bypass the normal pathway. Kel1p and a homolog, Kel2p, are required for efficient Fus2p localization, acting through the actin-dependent pathway. Although Kel1p overexpression can weakly suppress the mating defect of a FUS2 deletion, the magnitude of suppression is allele specific. Therefore, Kel1p augments, but does not bypass, Fus2p function. Fus2p mediates cell fusion by binding activated Cdc42p Although Kel1p overexpression suppresses a Cdc42p mutant that is defective for Fus2p binding, cell fusion remains dependent upon Fus2p These data suggest that Fus2p, Cdc42p, and Kel1p form a ternary complex, which is stabilized by Kel1p Supporting this hypothesis, Kel1p interacts with two domains of Fus2p, partially dependent on Cdc42p We conclude that Kel1p enhances the activity of Fus2p/Cdc42p in cell fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean A Smith
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, New Jersey 08544
| | - Mark D Rose
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, New Jersey 08544
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21
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Tang C, Tang L, Wu X, Xiong W, Ruan H, Hussain M, Wu J, Zou C, Wu X. Glioma-associated Oncogene 2 Is Essential for Trophoblastic Fusion by Forming a Transcriptional Complex with Glial Cell Missing-a. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:5611-5622. [PMID: 26769961 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.700336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-cell fusion of human villous trophoblasts, referred to as a process of syncytialization, acts as a prerequisite for the proper development and functional maintenance of the human placenta. Given the fact that the main components of the Hedgehog signaling pathway are expressed predominantly in the syncytial layer of human placental villi, in this study, we investigated the potential roles and underlying mechanisms of Hedgehog signaling in trophoblastic fusion. Activation of Hedgehog signaling by a variety of approaches robustly induced cell fusion and the expression of syncytial markers, whereas suppression of Hedgehog signaling significantly attenuated cell fusion and the expression of syncytial markers in both human primary cytotrophoblasts and trophoblast-like BeWo cells. Moreover, among glioma-associated oncogene (GLI) family transcriptional factors in Hedgehog signaling, knockdown of GLI2 but not GLI1 and GLI3 significantly attenuated Hedgehog-induced cell fusion, whereas overexpression of the GLI2 activator alone was sufficient to induce cell fusion. Finally, GLI2 not only stabilized glial cell missing-a, a pivotal transcriptional factor for trophoblastic syncytialization, but also formed a transcriptional heterodimer with glial cell missing-a to transactivate syncytin-1, a trophoblastic fusogen, and promote trophoblastic syncytialization. Taken together, this study uncovered a so far uncharacterized role of Hedgehog/GLI2 signaling in trophoblastic fusion, implicating that Hedgehog signaling, through GLI2, could be required for human placental development and pregnancy maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Tang
- From the Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China,; the Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 1130033, Japan, and
| | | | - Xiaokai Wu
- From the Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | | | - Hongfeng Ruan
- From the Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Musaddique Hussain
- From the Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Junsong Wu
- First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | | | - Ximei Wu
- From the Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China,.
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22
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Shankar K, Kang P, Zhong Y, Borengasser SJ, Wingfield C, Saben J, Gomez-Acevedo H, Thakali KM. Transcriptomic and epigenomic landscapes during cell fusion in BeWo trophoblast cells. Placenta 2015; 36:1342-51. [PMID: 26515927 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2015.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Revised: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Syncytialization is a process essential to the genesis and vitality of the decisive maternal-fetal interface, the syncytiotrophoblast. While the role of specific genes important in syncytial fusion is appreciated, an integrated global analysis of syncytialization is absent. METHODS We leveraged a variety of approaches (RNA-seq, genome-scale DNA methylation and ChIP-seq) to assemble a genome-wide transcriptomic and epigenomic view of syncytialization in BeWo cells. RESULTS RNA-seq analysis of expression profiles revealed alterations in ∼3000 genes over the 3 day time-course of forskolin, including identification of several previously unrecognized genes to be involved in syncytialization. These genes were enriched for cell differentiation, morphogenesis, blood vessel and placental labyrinth development and steroid hormone response. Genome-scale DNA methylation via reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) showed altered methylation of a number of CpGs associated with cell differentiation and commitment. Finally, genome-wide localization of seven key histone marks encompassing permissive (H3K4me3, H3K9ac, H3K27ac), enhancer (H3K4me1), elongation (H3K36me3) and repressive (H3K27me3, H3K9me3) states was performed via ChiP-seq. These analyses clearly revealed that syncytialization was associated with a gain in transcriptionally permissive/active marks (H3K4me3, K9ac, K27ac and K36me3) among genes that are either constitutive or upregulated in syncytialization. DISCUSSION Overall, these results provide a novel resource to elucidate the underlying epigenetic mechanisms coordinating transcriptional changes associated with syncytialization in BeWo cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kartik Shankar
- Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
| | - Ping Kang
- Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA
| | - Ying Zhong
- Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA
| | | | - Chase Wingfield
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Jessica Saben
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Horacio Gomez-Acevedo
- Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Keshari M Thakali
- Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
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Imakawa K, Bai R, Fujiwara H, Kusama K. Conceptus implantation and placentation: molecules related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition, lymphocyte homing, endogenous retroviruses, and exosomes. Reprod Med Biol 2015; 15:1-11. [PMID: 29259417 DOI: 10.1007/s12522-015-0215-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 07/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Processes of conceptus implantation and placentation, unique to mammalian reproduction, have been extensively studied. It was once thought that processes of these events varied greatly, notably between invasive and noninvasive modes of implantation and/or placentation. Regardless of the mode of implantation, however, physiological and biochemical processes in conceptus implantation to the maternal endometrium including the kinds of gene expression and their products are now considered not to differ so much. Recent progress has identified that in addition to the hormones, cytokines, proteases and cell adhesion molecules classically characterized, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, molecules related to lymphocyte homing, the expression of endogenous retroviruses and possibly exosomes are all required for the progression of conceptus implantation to placentation. In this review, therefore, new findings related to these events are integrated into the context of conceptus implantation to the maternal endometrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiko Imakawa
- Laboratory of Theriogenology and Animal Breeding, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life SciencesThe University of Tokyo1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku 113-8657 Tokyo Japan
| | - Rulan Bai
- Laboratory of Theriogenology and Animal Breeding, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life SciencesThe University of Tokyo1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku 113-8657 Tokyo Japan
| | - Hiroshi Fujiwara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine Science Kanazawa University 920-1192 Kanazawa Japan
| | - Kazuya Kusama
- Laboratory of Theriogenology and Animal Breeding, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life SciencesThe University of Tokyo1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku 113-8657 Tokyo Japan
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Li Y, Zheng R, Wang R, Lu X, Zhu C, Lin HY, Wang H, Yu X, Fu J. Involvement of nephrin in human placental trophoblast syncytialization. Reproduction 2015; 149:339-46. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-14-0424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The placenta has numerous functions, such as transporting oxygen and nutrients and building the immune tolerance of the fetus. Cell fusion is an essential process for placental development and maturation. In human placental development, mononucleated cytotrophoblast (CTB) cells can fuse to form a multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast (STB), which is the outermost layer of the placenta. Nephrin is a transmembrane protein that belongs to the Ig superfamily. Previous studies have shown that nephrin contributes to the fusion of myoblasts into myotubes in zebrafish and mice, presenting a functional conservation with its Drosophila ortholog sticks and stones. However, whether nephrin is involved in trophoblast syncytialization remains unclear. In this study, we report that nephrin was localized predominantly in the CTB cells and STB of human placenta villi from first trimester to term pregnancy. Using a spontaneous fusion model of primary CTB cells, the expression of nephrin was found to be increased during trophoblast cell fusion. Moreover, the spontaneous syncytialization and the expression of syncytin 2, connexin 43, and human chorionic gonadotropin beta were significantly inhibited by nephrin-specific siRNAs. The above results demonstrate that nephrin plays an important role in trophoblast syncytialization.
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A model for cell wall dissolution in mating yeast cells: polarized secretion and restricted diffusion of cell wall remodeling enzymes induces local dissolution. PLoS One 2014; 9:e109780. [PMID: 25329559 PMCID: PMC4199604 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Mating of the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, occurs when two haploid cells of opposite mating types signal using reciprocal pheromones and receptors, grow towards each other, and fuse to form a single diploid cell. To fuse, both cells dissolve their cell walls at the point of contact. This event must be carefully controlled because the osmotic pressure differential between the cytoplasm and extracellular environment causes cells with unprotected plasma membranes to lyse. If the cell wall-degrading enzymes diffuse through the cell wall, their concentration would rise when two cells touched each other, such as when two pheromone-stimulated cells adhere to each other via mating agglutinins. At the surfaces that touch, the enzymes must diffuse laterally through the wall before they can escape into the medium, increasing the time the enzymes spend in the cell wall, and thus raising their concentration at the point of attachment and restricting cell wall dissolution to points where cells touch each other. We tested this hypothesis by studying pheromone treated cells confined between two solid, impermeable surfaces. This confinement increases the frequency of pheromone-induced cell death, and this effect is diminished by reducing the osmotic pressure difference across the cell wall or by deleting putative cell wall glucanases and other genes necessary for efficient cell wall fusion. Our results support the model that pheromone-induced cell death is the result of a contact-driven increase in the local concentration of cell wall remodeling enzymes and suggest that this process plays an important role in regulating cell wall dissolution and fusion in mating cells.
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Togher KL, Togher KL, O'Keeffe MM, O'Keeffe MM, Khashan AS, Khashan AS, Gutierrez H, Gutierrez H, Kenny LC, Kenny LC, O'Keeffe GW, O'Keeffe GW. Epigenetic regulation of the placental HSD11B2 barrier and its role as a critical regulator of fetal development. Epigenetics 2014; 9:816-22. [PMID: 24717516 DOI: 10.4161/epi.28703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
"Fetal programming" is a term used to describe how early-life experience influences fetal development and later disease risk. In humans, prenatal stress-induced fetal programming is associated with increased risk of preterm birth, and a heightened risk of metabolic and neurological diseases later in life. A critical determinant of this is the regulation of fetal exposure to glucocorticoids by the placenta. Glucocorticoids are the mediators through which maternal stress influences fetal development. Excessive fetal glucocorticoid exposure during pregnancy results in low birth weight and abnormalities in a number of tissues. The amount of fetal exposure to maternal glucocorticoids depends on the expression of HSD11B2, an enzyme predominantly produced by the syncytiotrophoblast in the placenta. This protects the fetus by converting active glucocorticoids into inactive forms. In this review we examine recent findings regarding placental HSD11B2 that suggest that its epigenetic regulation may mechanistically link maternal stress and long-term health consequences in affected offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie L Togher
- Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT); Cork University Maternity Hospital; Cork, Ireland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Cork University Maternity Hospital; Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience; Biosciences Institute; University College Cork; Cork, Ireland
| | - Katie L Togher
- Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT); Cork University Maternity Hospital; Cork, Ireland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Cork University Maternity Hospital; Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience; Biosciences Institute; University College Cork; Cork, Ireland
| | - Majella M O'Keeffe
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics; School of Medicine; Kings College London; London, UK
| | - Majella M O'Keeffe
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics; School of Medicine; Kings College London; London, UK
| | - Ali S Khashan
- Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT); Cork University Maternity Hospital; Cork, Ireland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Cork University Maternity Hospital; Cork, Ireland
| | - Ali S Khashan
- Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT); Cork University Maternity Hospital; Cork, Ireland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Cork University Maternity Hospital; Cork, Ireland
| | | | | | - Louise C Kenny
- Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT); Cork University Maternity Hospital; Cork, Ireland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Cork University Maternity Hospital; Cork, Ireland
| | - Louise C Kenny
- Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT); Cork University Maternity Hospital; Cork, Ireland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Cork University Maternity Hospital; Cork, Ireland
| | - Gerard W O'Keeffe
- Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT); Cork University Maternity Hospital; Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience; Biosciences Institute; University College Cork; Cork, Ireland
| | - Gerard W O'Keeffe
- Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT); Cork University Maternity Hospital; Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience; Biosciences Institute; University College Cork; Cork, Ireland
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Record M. Intercellular communication by exosomes in placenta: a possible role in cell fusion? Placenta 2014; 35:297-302. [PMID: 24661568 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2014.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2013] [Revised: 02/17/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Exosomes are nanovesicles released from viable cells and have attracted increasing interest due to their role in intercellular communication and biological functions. More recently exosomes have been shown to be released by trophoblasts and to carry molecules involved in placental physiology. This involves proteins such as fibronectin, syncytin, Wnt/βcatenin-related molecules, galectin-3, and HLA-G, but also bioactive lipids such as the immunosuppressive PGE2, the PPARγ ligand 15d-PGJ2, or microRNAs that appear as immunomodulators in pregnancy and are able to confer viral resistance. Exosome trafficking within the placental micro-environment potentially links these nanovesicles to the organization of the placental interface, fetal tolerance, viral protection, and possibly mother-fetus communication. Because of the presence of immunocompetent exosomes in breast-milk, they appear as an essential component in reproduction. Several aspects of the "exosome pathway" are described in the review, from general aspects related to their origin, their characteristics and their ability to vectorize material between cells, to more specific functions involved in placental physiology such as their putative role in triggering cell fusion required for syncytiotrophoblast formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Record
- INSERM-UMR 1037, Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Team« Sterol Metabolism and Therapeutic Innovation in Oncology », BP3028, CHU Purpan, Toulouse F-31300, France; Institut Claudius Regaud, 20-24 Rue du Pont Saint-Pierre, Toulouse Cedex 31052, France; Université Paul Sabatier, 118 Route de Narbonne, Toulouse, France.
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Huang Q, Chen H, Li J, Oliver M, Ma X, Byck D, Gao Y, Jiang SW. Epigenetic and non-epigenetic regulation of syncytin-1 expression in human placenta and cancer tissues. Cell Signal 2014; 26:648-56. [PMID: 24216608 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2013.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Accepted: 11/01/2013] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Syncytin-1 is a human endogenous retroviral envelope gene (HERVW1) product specifically expressed in placental trophoblasts. By mediating the formation of syncytiotrophoblasts through cell-cell fusion, syncytin-1 plays a critical role for the placental barrier, endocrine and exchange functions. During pregnancy, syncytin-1 expression is dynamically regulated by various pathophysiological factors and pathways. This review summarizes and examines published data on epigenetic and non-epigenetic regulation of syncytin-1 gene expression, with a focus on the changes of syncytin-1 DNA methylation and expression in placental trophoblasts under preeclamptic and hypoxic conditions. The functions of syncytiotrophoblasts, the fusogenic and non-fusogenic activities of syncytin-1, and aberrant activation of syncytin-1 expression in cancer cells are also discussed. New findings on the epigenetic regulation of syncytin-1 in placentas from monozygotic/dichorionic discordant twins are analyzed. The close correlation among changes of DNMTs expression, syncytin-1 gene methylation, and syncytin-1 mRNA levels, in placentas associated with discordant fetal growth indicated a dynamic nature of syncytin-1 regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Huang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, China; Department of Biological Science, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, GA 31404, USA
| | - Haibin Chen
- Department of Department of Histology and Embryology, Shantou University Medical College, Guandong, China
| | - Jinping Li
- Department of Biological Science, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, GA 31404, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Medical College, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, 55902, USA
| | - Matthew Oliver
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Memorial Health University Medical Center, Savannah, GA 31404, USA
| | - Xiaoling Ma
- Department of Biological Science, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, GA 31404, USA
| | - David Byck
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Memorial Health University Medical Center, Savannah, GA 31404, USA
| | - Ya Gao
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, China.
| | - Shi-Wen Jiang
- Department of Biological Science, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, GA 31404, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Medical College, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, 55902, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Memorial Health University Medical Center, Savannah, GA 31404, USA.
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Kanter DJ, O'Brien MB, Shi XH, Chu T, Mishima T, Beriwal S, Epperly MW, Wipf P, Greenberger JS, Sadovsky Y. The impact of ionizing radiation on placental trophoblasts. Placenta 2014; 35:85-91. [PMID: 24418702 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2013.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2013] [Revised: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Exposure to low-dose radiation is widespread and attributable to natural sources. However, occupational, medical, accidental, and terrorist-related exposures remain a significant threat. Information on radiation injury to the feto-placental unit is scant and largely observational. We hypothesized that radiation causes trophoblast injury, and alters the expression of injury-related transcripts in vitro or in vivo, thus affecting fetal growth. METHODS Primary human trophoblasts (PHTs), BeWo or NCCIT cells were irradiated in vitro, and cell number and viability were determined. Pregnant C57Bl/6HNsd mice were externally irradiated on E13.5, and placentas examined on E17.5. RNA expression was analyzed using microarrays and RT-qPCR. The experiments were repeated in the presence of the gramicidin S (GS)-derived nitroxide JP4-039, used to mitigate radiation-induced cell injury. RESULTS We found that survival of in vitro-irradiated PHT cell was better than that of irradiated BeWo trophoblast cell line or the radiosensitive NCCIT mixed germ cell tumor line. Radiation altered the expression of several trophoblast genes, with a most dramatic effect on CDKN1A (p21, CIP1). Mice exposed to radiation at E13.5 exhibited a 25% reduction in mean weight by E17.5, and a 9% reduction in placental weight, which was associated with relatively small changes in placental gene expression. JP4-039 had a minimal effect on feto-placental growth or on gene expression in irradiated PHT cells or mouse placenta. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION While radiation affects placental trophoblasts, the established placenta is fairly resistant to radiation, and changes in this tissue may not fully account for fetal growth restriction induced by ionizing radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Kanter
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - M B O'Brien
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - X-H Shi
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - T Chu
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - T Mishima
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - S Beriwal
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - M W Epperly
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - P Wipf
- Department of Chemistry and the Center for Chemical Methodologies and Library Development, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - J S Greenberger
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Y Sadovsky
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Genbacev O, Lamb JD, Prakobphol A, Donne M, McMaster MT, Fisher SJ. Human trophoblast progenitors: where do they reside? Semin Reprod Med 2013; 31:56-61. [PMID: 23329637 DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1331798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
In humans, very little is known about the factors that regulate trophoblast (TB) specification, expansion of the initial TB population, and formation of the cytotrophoblast (CTB) populations that populate the chorionic villi. The absence of human trophoblast progenitor cell (hTPC) lines that can be propagated in vitro has been a limiting factor. Because attempts to derive TB stem cells from the trophectoderm of the human blastocyst have so far failed, investigators use alternative systems as cell culture models including TBs derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), immortalized CTBs, and cell lines established from TB tumors. Additionally, the characteristics of mature TBs have been extensively studied using primary cultures of CTBs and explants of placental chorionic villi. However, none of these models can be used to study TB progenitor self-renewal and differentiation. Furthermore, the propagation of human TB progenitors from villous CTBs (vCTBs) has not been achieved. The downregulation of key markers of cell cycle progression in vCTBs by the end of the first trimester of pregnancy may indicate that these cells are not a source of human TB progenitors later in pregnancy. In contrast, mesenchymal cells of the villi and chorion continue to proliferate until the end of pregnancy. We recently reported isolation of continuously self-renewing hTPCs from chorionic mesenchyme and showed that they differentiated into the mature TB cell types of the villi, evidence that they can function as TB progenitors. This new cell culture model enables a molecular analysis of the seminal steps in human TB differentiation that have yet to be studied in humans. In turn, this information can be used to trace the origins of pregnancy complications that are associated with faulty TB growth and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Genbacev
- Ely and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California-San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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31
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Sudheer S, Bhushan R, Fauler B, Lehrach H, Adjaye J. FGF inhibition directs BMP4-mediated differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to syncytiotrophoblast. Stem Cells Dev 2012; 21:2987-3000. [PMID: 22724507 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2012.0099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling is known to support differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into mesoderm and extraembryonic lineages, whereas other signaling pathways can largely influence this lineage specification. Here, we set out to reinvestigate the influence of ACTIVIN/NODAL and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) pathways on the lineage choices made by hESCs during BMP4-driven differentiation. We show that BMP activation, coupled with inhibition of both ACTIVIN/NODAL and FGF signaling, induces differentiation of hESCs, specifically to βhCG hormone-secreting multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast and does not support induction of embryonic and extraembryonic lineages, extravillous trophoblast, and primitive endoderm. It has been previously reported that FGF2 can switch BMP4-induced hESC differentiation outcome to mesendoderm. Here, we show that FGF inhibition alone, or in combination with either ACTIVIN/NODAL inhibition or BMP activation, supports hESC differentiation to hCG-secreting syncytiotrophoblast. We show that the inhibition of the FGF pathway acts as a key in directing BMP4-mediated hESC differentiation to syncytiotrophoblast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smita Sudheer
- Department of Vertebrate Genomics, Molecular Embryology and Aging Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
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32
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Avinoam O, Podbilewicz B. Eukaryotic cell-cell fusion families. CURRENT TOPICS IN MEMBRANES 2012; 68:209-34. [PMID: 21771501 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-385891-7.00009-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ori Avinoam
- Department of Biology, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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Inhibition of Akt activity and calcium channel function coordinately drive cell-cell fusion in the BeWO choriocarcinoma placental cell line. PLoS One 2012; 7:e29353. [PMID: 22276109 PMCID: PMC3261872 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2011] [Accepted: 11/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
To establish a simple and quantitative live cell fusion assay for placental syncytialization, we generated stable GFP and dsRed expressing fusogenic BeWo cell lines. Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorting was shown to provide a quantitative determination of forskolin (cAMP-mediated) fusion in a time and concentration dependent manner consistent with the increased secretion of beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-HCG) and appearance of multi-nucleated cells. Analyses of the fusion process demonstrated that in addition to increased cAMP levels, simultaneous reduction of intracellular calcium and inhibition of Type 1 phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling also resulted in cell fusion. Although individual blockade of calcium channel function or PI3K/Akt signaling was without effect, the combination with forskolin resulted in a potentiation of cell fusion. These data demonstrate syncytialization is a complex process that depends upon the regulation of distinct signaling inputs that function in concert with each other.
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Powell GT, Wright GJ. Jamb and jamc are essential for vertebrate myocyte fusion. PLoS Biol 2011; 9:e1001216. [PMID: 22180726 PMCID: PMC3236736 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2011] [Accepted: 10/27/2011] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Jamb and Jamc are an essential cell surface receptor pair that interact to drive fusion between muscle precursor cells during zebrafish development. Cellular fusion is required in the development of several tissues, including skeletal muscle. In vertebrates, this process is poorly understood and lacks an in vivo-validated cell surface heterophilic receptor pair that is necessary for fusion. Identification of essential cell surface interactions between fusing cells is an important step in elucidating the molecular mechanism of cellular fusion. We show here that the zebrafish orthologues of JAM-B and JAM-C receptors are essential for fusion of myocyte precursors to form syncytial muscle fibres. Both jamb and jamc are dynamically co-expressed in developing muscles and encode receptors that physically interact. Heritable mutations in either gene prevent myocyte fusion in vivo, resulting in an overabundance of mononuclear, but otherwise overtly normal, functional fast-twitch muscle fibres. Transplantation experiments show that the Jamb and Jamc receptors must interact between neighbouring cells (in trans) for fusion to occur. We also show that jamc is ectopically expressed in prdm1a mutant slow muscle precursors, which inappropriately fuse with other myocytes, suggesting that control of myocyte fusion through regulation of jamc expression has important implications for the growth and patterning of muscles. Our discovery of a receptor-ligand pair critical for fusion in vivo has important implications for understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for myocyte fusion and its regulation in vertebrate myogenesis. The fusion of precursor cells is a crucial step in many biological processes, one of which is the development of skeletal muscle. The molecular and cell biology of fusion of muscle precursors has been well described in Drosophila melanogaster larvae, leading to insights into the process in vertebrates. However, the identity and mechanism of action of essential cell surface proteins for fusion between vertebrate muscle precursors has previously been lacking. Here, we describe a vertebrate-specific cell surface receptor pair that is essential for fusion in zebrafish: Jamb and Jamc. Loss of function of either receptor causes a near-complete block in fusion, resulting in an overabundance of mononucleate muscle fibres that are otherwise overtly normal. We demonstrate that Jamb and Jamc physically interact and are co-expressed by muscle precursors. Moreover, we show that the interaction between them is essential for fusion between neighbouring precursors in an embryo. We hypothesise that binding of Jamb to Jamc is a necessary recognition and adhesion step permissive for, but not sufficient to cause, myocyte fusion. Knowledge of these molecular components in vertebrates will lead to better understanding of how fusion is controlled to pattern skeletal muscle tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth T. Powell
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin J. Wright
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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35
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Genbacev O, Donne M, Kapidzic M, Gormley M, Lamb J, Gilmore J, Larocque N, Goldfien G, Zdravkovic T, McMaster MT, Fisher SJ. Establishment of human trophoblast progenitor cell lines from the chorion. Stem Cells 2011; 29:1427-36. [PMID: 21755573 PMCID: PMC3345889 DOI: 10.1002/stem.686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Placental trophoblasts are key determinants of in utero development. Mouse trophoblast (TB) stem cells, which were first derived over a decade ago, are a powerful cell culture model for studying their self-renewal or differentiation. Our attempts to isolate an equivalent population from the trophectoderm of human blastocysts generated colonies that quickly differentiated in vitro. This finding suggested that the human placenta has another progenitor niche. Here, we show that the chorion is one such site. Initially, we immunolocalized pluripotency factors and TB fate determinants in the early gestation placenta, amnion, and chorion. Immunoreactive cells were numerous in the chorion. We isolated these cells and plated them in medium containing fibroblast growth factor which is required for human embryonic stem cell self-renewal, and an inhibitor of activin/nodal signaling. Colonies of polarized cells with a limited lifespan emerged. Trypsin dissociation yielded continuously self-replicating monolayers. Colonies and monolayers formed the two major human TB lineages-multinucleate syncytiotrophoblasts and invasive cytotrophoblasts (CTBs). Transcriptional profiling experiments revealed the factors associated with the self-renewal or differentiation of human chorionic TB progenitor cells (TBPCs). They included imprinted genes, NR2F1/2, HMGA2, and adhesion molecules that were required for TBPC differentiation. Together, the results of these experiments suggested that the chorion is one source of epithelial CTB progenitors. These findings explain why CTBs of fully formed chorionic villi have a modest mitotic index and identify the chorionic mesoderm as a niche for TBPCs that support placental growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Genbacev
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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Krüppel-like factor 6 expression changes during trophoblast syncytialization and transactivates ßhCG and PSG placental genes. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22438. [PMID: 21799854 PMCID: PMC3142166 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2010] [Accepted: 06/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Krüppel-like factor-6 (KLF6) is a widely expressed member of the Sp1/KLF family of transcriptional regulators involved in differentiation, cell cycle control and proliferation in several cell systems. Even though the highest expression level of KLF6 has been detected in human and mice placenta, its function in trophoblast physiology is still unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings Herein, we explored KLF6 expression and sub-cellular distribution in human trophoblast cells differentiating into the syncytial pathway, and its role in the regulation of genes associated with placental development and pregnancy maintenance. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that KLF6 is expressed throughout human cytotrophoblast differentiation showing no evident modifications in its nuclear and cytoplasmic localization pattern. KLF6 transcript and protein peaked early during the syncytialization process as determined by qRT-PCR and western blot assays. Overexpression of KLF6 in trophoblast-derived JEG-3 cells showed a preferential nuclear signal correlating with enhanced expression of human β-chorionic gonadotropin (βhCG) and pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (PSG) genes. Moreover, KLF6 transactivated βhCG5, PSG5 and PSG3 gene promoters. Deletion of KLF6 Zn-finger DNA binding domain or mutation of the consensus KLF6 binding site abolished transactivation of the PSG5 promoter. Conclusions/Significance Results are consistent with KLF6 playing a role as transcriptional regulator of relevant genes for placental differentiation and physiology such as βhCG and PSG, in agreement with an early and transient increase of KLF6 expression during trophoblast syncytialization.
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New Insights into the Mechanisms and Roles of Cell–Cell Fusion. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2011; 289:149-209. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-386039-2.00005-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Oren-Suissa M, Podbilewicz B. Evolution of programmed cell fusion: common mechanisms and distinct functions. Dev Dyn 2010; 239:1515-28. [PMID: 20419783 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.22284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic cells have evolved diverged mechanisms to merge cells. Here, we discuss three types of cell fusion: (1) Non-self-fusion, cells with different genetic contents fuse to start a new organism and fusion between enveloped viruses and host cells; (2) Self-fusion, genetically identical cells fuse to form a multinucleated cell; and (3) Auto-fusion, a single cell fuses with itself by bringing specialized cell membrane domains into contact and transforming itself into a ring-shaped cell. This is a new type of selfish fusion discovered in C. elegans. We divide cell fusion into three stages: (1) Specification of the cell-fusion fate; (2) Cell attraction, attachment, and recognition; (3) Execution of plasma membrane fusion, cytoplasmic mixing and cytoskeletal rearrangements. We analyze cell fusion in diverse biological systems in development and disease emphasizing the mechanistic contributions of C. elegans to the understanding of programmed cell fusion, a genetically encoded pathway to merge specific cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meital Oren-Suissa
- Department of Biology, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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Gauster M, Huppertz B. The paradox of caspase 8 in human villous trophoblast fusion. Placenta 2009; 31:82-8. [PMID: 20044137 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2009.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2009] [Revised: 12/02/2009] [Accepted: 12/08/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Differentiation and subsequent fusion of villous cytotrophoblasts with the overlying syncytiotrophoblast is an essential process for growth and maintenance of the villous trophoblast layer in the human placenta. The understanding of intrinsic mechanisms behind this process is in its infancy, while the list of suggested factors, involved in intercellular fusion of trophoblasts, rapidly increased in the recent past and promises progress on this issue. The early stages of the apoptosis cascade, in particular caspase 8, was suggested to trigger differentiation of cytotrophoblasts, priming them for upcoming fusion. This may sound paradoxical, especially for those who still associate caspase activity with apoptosis only. Here, we summarize data on caspase 8 in the villous trophoblast layer, with a specific focus on localization of pro- and active forms, the sites of its activation and deactivation, and its role and regulation during fusion. Moreover, we revisit the knowledge on fusogens in the villous trophoblast, compare in vitro models for trophoblast fusion and discuss methods to quantify fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Gauster
- Institute of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Center for Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
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