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Shang J, Wang Z, Huang Y, Wu Y, Jin J. Spatial Activation of Autophagy in Human Placenta-Related Tissue During Labor: A Possible Mechanism for Labor Onset. Am J Reprod Immunol 2024; 92:e13903. [PMID: 39177075 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13903] [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] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To explore the mechanisms of labor by investigating the autophagy of placental and fetal membranes tissue in normal pregnant women. METHODS Placenta and fetal membranes were collected from women with singleton pregnancies without any medical complications and from women who delivered vaginally (labor-initiated group; L group) or by caesarean section (labor-noninitiated group; NL group). Autophagosomes were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Immunofluorescence and western blotting (WB) were used to detect protein levels of the autophagy markers LC3A and LC3B. TEM, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and WB were used to compare autophagy in different parts of the placenta and fetal membranes in the L and NL groups. The expression of LC3B/LC3A, ROCK1, and ROCK2 in the placenta of nonpregnant and pregnant rats was detected by WB and IHC. RESULTS TEM and IHC results showed an increase in the number of autophagosomes and autophagic lysosomes in the L group, and WB results indicated an increase in the LC3B/A ratio between the placenta and fetal membranes in the L group. Autophagy was significantly increased on the maternal side of the placenta in the L group, and the level of autophagy became higher near rupture in the fetal membranes and near the point where the umbilical cord joins the placenta in the L group. The LC3B/A ratio increased and ROCK1 and ROCK2 levels decreased in postnatal rats. DISCUSSION Autophagy can occur in the placenta and fetal membranes and its activity is higher at the onset of labor, suggesting a role in labor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Shang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhijian Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yingying Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuyu Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jin Jin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Cetin I, Carlson SE, Burden C, da Fonseca EB, di Renzo GC, Hadjipanayis A, Harris WS, Kumar KR, Olsen SF, Mader S, McAuliffe FM, Muhlhausler B, Oken E, Poon LC, Poston L, Ramakrishnan U, Roehr CC, Savona-Ventura C, Smuts CM, Sotiriadis A, Su KP, Tribe RM, Vannice G, Koletzko B. Omega-3 fatty acid supply in pregnancy for risk reduction of preterm and early preterm birth. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2024; 6:101251. [PMID: 38070679 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.101251] [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] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
This clinical practice guideline on the supply of the omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in pregnant women for risk reduction of preterm birth and early preterm birth was developed with support from several medical-scientific organizations, and is based on a review of the available strong evidence from randomized clinical trials and a formal consensus process. We concluded the following. Women of childbearing age should obtain a supply of at least 250 mg/d of docosahexaenoic+eicosapentaenoic acid from diet or supplements, and in pregnancy an additional intake of ≥100 to 200 mg/d of docosahexaenoic acid. Pregnant women with a low docosahexaenoic acid intake and/or low docosahexaenoic acid blood levels have an increased risk of preterm birth and early preterm birth. Thus, they should receive a supply of approximately 600 to 1000 mg/d of docosahexaenoic+eicosapentaenoic acid, or docosahexaenoic acid alone, given that this dosage showed significant reduction of preterm birth and early preterm birth in randomized controlled trials. This additional supply should preferably begin in the second trimester of pregnancy (not later than approximately 20 weeks' gestation) and continue until approximately 37 weeks' gestation or until childbirth if before 37 weeks' gestation. Identification of women with inadequate omega-3 supply is achievable by a set of standardized questions on intake. Docosahexaenoic acid measurement from blood is another option to identify women with low status, but further standardization of laboratory methods and appropriate cutoff values is needed. Information on how to achieve an appropriate intake of docosahexaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic+eicosapentaenoic acid for women of childbearing age and pregnant women should be provided to women and their partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Cetin
- Fondazione IRCCS, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy (Dr Cetin)
| | - Susan E Carlson
- Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS (Dr Carlson)
| | - Christy Burden
- Academic Women's Health Unit, Bristol Medical School: Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom (Dr Burden)
| | - Eduardo B da Fonseca
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil (Dr da Fonseca)
| | - Gian Carlo di Renzo
- Centre of Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy (Dr di Renzo); PREIS School, Florence, Italy (Dr di Renzo)
| | - Adamos Hadjipanayis
- School of Medicine, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus (Dr Hadjipanayis); European Academy of Paediatrics, Brussels, Belgium (Dr Hadjipanayis)
| | - William S Harris
- Fatty Acid Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD (Dr Harris); Department of Internal Medicine, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD (Dr Harris)
| | - Kishore R Kumar
- Cloudnine Hospitals, Bangalore, India (Dr Kumar); University of Notre Dame Australia, Perth, Australia (Dr Kumar)
| | - Sjurdur Frodi Olsen
- Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark (Dr Olsen); Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (Dr Olsen); Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA (Dr Olsen)
| | - Silke Mader
- European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants, Munich, Germany (Ms Mader)
| | - Fionnuala M McAuliffe
- UCD Perinatal Research Centre, National Maternity Hospital, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland (Dr McAuliffe)
| | - Beverly Muhlhausler
- Health and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, Australia (Dr Muhlhausler); School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia (Dr Muhlhausler); South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia (Dr Muhlhausler)
| | - Emily Oken
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA (Dr Oken)
| | - Liona C Poon
- Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China (Dr Poon); Department of Women and Children's Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom (Dr Poon)
| | - Lucilla Poston
- School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom (Dr Poston); International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (Dr Poston)
| | - Usha Ramakrishnan
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA (Dr Ramakrishnan); Doctoral Program in Nutrition and Health Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA (Dr Ramakrishnan)
| | - Charles C Roehr
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Clinical Trials Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (Dr Roehr); Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom (Dr Roehr); Newborn Care, Women and Children's Division, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, United Kingdom (Dr Roehr); European Society for Paediatric Research, Satigny, Switzerland (Dr Roehr)
| | - Charles Savona-Ventura
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Mater Dei Hospital, University of Malta Medical School, Msida, Malta (Dr Savona-Ventura); Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine & Culture, University of Malta, Msida, Malta (Dr Savona-Ventura)
| | - Cornelius M Smuts
- Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa (Dr Smuts)
| | - Alexandros Sotiriadis
- Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece (Dr Sotiriadis)
| | - Kuan-Pin Su
- Mind-Body Interface Research Center (MBI-Lab), China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan (Dr Su); An-Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan, Taiwan (Dr Su); College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan (Dr Su)
| | - Rachel M Tribe
- Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom (Dr Tribe)
| | | | - Berthold Koletzko
- Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich Hospital, Munich, Germany (Dr Koletzko); Child Health Foundation (Stiftung Kindergesundheit), Munich, Germany (Dr Koletzko); European Academy of Paediatrics, Brussels, Belgium (Dr Koletzko).
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Zaniker EJ, Babayev E, Duncan FE. Common mechanisms of physiological and pathological rupture events in biology: novel insights into mammalian ovulation and beyond. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1648-1667. [PMID: 37157877 PMCID: PMC10524764 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12970] [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: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Ovulation is a cyclical biological rupture event fundamental to fertilisation and endocrine function. During this process, the somatic support cells that surround the germ cell undergo a remodelling process that culminates in breakdown of the follicle wall and release of a mature egg. Ovulation is driven by known proteolytic and inflammatory pathways as well as structural alterations to the follicle vasculature and the fluid-filled antral cavity. Ovulation is one of several types of systematic remodelling that occur in the human body that can be described as rupture. Although ovulation is a physiological form of rupture, other types of rupture occur in the human body which can be pathological, physiological, or both. In this review, we use intracranial aneurysms and chorioamniotic membrane rupture as examples of rupture events that are pathological or both pathological and physiological, respectively, and compare these to the rupture process central to ovulation. Specifically, we compared existing transcriptomic profiles, immune cell functions, vascular modifications, and biomechanical forces to identify common processes that are conserved between rupture events. In our transcriptomic analysis, we found 12 differentially expressed genes in common among two different ovulation data sets and one intracranial aneurysm data set. We also found three genes that were differentially expressed in common for both ovulation data sets and one chorioamniotic membrane rupture data set. Combining analysis of all three data sets identified two genes (Angptl4 and Pfkfb4) that were upregulated across rupture systems. Some of the identified genes, such as Rgs2, Adam8, and Lox, have been characterised in multiple rupture contexts, including ovulation. Others, such as Glul, Baz1a, and Ddx3x, have not yet been characterised in the context of ovulation and warrant further investigation as potential novel regulators. We also identified overlapping functions of mast cells, macrophages, and T cells in the process of rupture. Each of these rupture systems share local vasoconstriction around the rupture site, smooth muscle contractions away from the site of rupture, and fluid shear forces that initially increase and then decrease to predispose one specific region to rupture. Experimental techniques developed to study these structural and biomechanical changes that underlie rupture, such as patient-derived microfluidic models and spatiotemporal transcriptomic analyses, have not yet been comprehensively translated to the study of ovulation. Review of the existing knowledge, transcriptomic data, and experimental techniques from studies of rupture in other biological systems yields a better understanding of the physiology of ovulation and identifies avenues for novel studies of ovulation with techniques and targets from the study of vascular biology and parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J. Zaniker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior Street, Lurie 10-109, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Elnur Babayev
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior Street, Lurie 10-109, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Francesca E. Duncan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior Street, Lurie 10-109, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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Vidal MS, Lintao RCV, Severino MEL, Tantengco OAG, Menon R. Spontaneous preterm birth: Involvement of multiple feto-maternal tissues and organ systems, differing mechanisms, and pathways. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1015622. [PMID: 36313741 PMCID: PMC9606232 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1015622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Survivors of preterm birth struggle with multitudes of disabilities due to improper in utero programming of various tissues and organ systems contributing to adult-onset diseases at a very early stage of their lives. Therefore, the persistent rates of low birth weight (birth weight < 2,500 grams), as well as rates of neonatal and maternal morbidities and mortalities, need to be addressed. Active research throughout the years has provided us with multiple theories regarding the risk factors, initiators, biomarkers, and clinical manifestations of spontaneous preterm birth. Fetal organs, like the placenta and fetal membranes, and maternal tissues and organs, like the decidua, myometrium, and cervix, have all been shown to uniquely respond to specific exogenous or endogenous risk factors. These uniquely contribute to dynamic changes at the molecular and cellular levels to effect preterm labor pathways leading to delivery. Multiple intervention targets in these different tissues and organs have been successfully tested in preclinical trials to reduce the individual impacts on promoting preterm birth. However, these preclinical trial data have not been effectively translated into developing biomarkers of high-risk individuals for an early diagnosis of the disease. This becomes more evident when examining the current global rate of preterm birth, which remains staggeringly high despite years of research. We postulate that studying each tissue and organ in silos, as how the majority of research has been conducted in the past years, is unlikely to address the network interaction between various systems leading to a synchronized activity during either term or preterm labor and delivery. To address current limitations, this review proposes an integrated approach to studying various tissues and organs involved in the maintenance of normal pregnancy, promotion of normal parturition, and more importantly, contributions towards preterm birth. We also stress the need for biological models that allows for concomitant observation and analysis of interactions, rather than focusing on these tissues and organ in silos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel S. Vidal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines
- Division of Basic Science and Translational Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Ryan C. V. Lintao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines
- Division of Basic Science and Translational Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Mary Elise L. Severino
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines
- Division of Basic Science and Translational Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Ourlad Alzeus G. Tantengco
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines
- Division of Basic Science and Translational Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Ramkumar Menon
- Division of Basic Science and Translational Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
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Weiner CP, Weiss ML, Zhou H, Syngelaki A, Nicolaides KH, Dong Y. Detection of Embryonic Trisomy 21 in the First Trimester Using Maternal Plasma Cell-Free RNA. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:1410. [PMID: 35741220 PMCID: PMC9221829 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12061410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal trisomy 21 (T21) screening commonly involves testing a maternal blood sample for fetal DNA aneuploidy. It is reliable but poses a cost barrier to universal screening. We hypothesized maternal plasma RNA screening might provide similar reliability but at a lower cost. Discovery experiments used plasma cell-free RNA from 20 women 11−13 weeks tested by RNA and miRNA microarrays followed by qRT-PCR. Thirty-six mRNAs and 18 small RNAs of the discovery cDNA were identified by qPCR as potential markers of embryonic T21. The second objective was validation of the RNA predictors in 998 independent pregnancies at 11−13 weeks including 50 T21. Initial analyses identified 9−15 differentially expressed RNA with modest predictive power (AUC < 0.70). The 54 RNAs were then subjected to machine learning. Eleven algorithms were trained on one partition and tested on an independent partition. The three best algorithms were identified by Kappa score and the effects of training/testing partition size and dataset class imbalance on prediction were evaluated. Six to ten RNAs predicted T21 with AUCs up to 1.00. The findings suggest that maternal plasma collected at 11−13 weeks, tested by qRT-PCR, and classified by machine learning, may accurately predict T21 for a lower cost than plasma DNA, thus opening the door to universal screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl P. Weiner
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA;
- Rosetta Signaling Laboratory, Phoenix, AZ 85018, USA;
| | - Mark L. Weiss
- Departments of Anatomy and Physiology & Midwest Institute of Comparative Stem Cell Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA;
| | - Helen Zhou
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA;
| | - Argyro Syngelaki
- Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King’s College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, UK; (A.S.); (K.H.N.)
| | - Kypros H. Nicolaides
- Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King’s College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, UK; (A.S.); (K.H.N.)
| | - Yafeng Dong
- Rosetta Signaling Laboratory, Phoenix, AZ 85018, USA;
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Murase H, El-Sheikh Ali H, Ruby RE, Scoggin KE, Ball BA. Transcriptomic analysis of the chorioallantois in equine premature placental separation. Equine Vet J 2022; 55:405-418. [PMID: 35622344 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Equine premature placental separation (PPS) is poorly understood and represents an important risk factor for fetal/neonatal hypoxia. OBJECTIVES To examine transcriptomic changes in the chorioallantois (CA) from mares with clinical PPS compared to the CA from normal foaling mares. Differential gene expression was determined and gene ontology as well as molecular pathways related to PPS were characterised. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case: control study. METHODS CA were collected from Thoroughbred mares with a clinical history of PPS (n=33) and from control Thoroughbred mares (n=4) with normal parturition for examination of transcriptional changes in the placenta associated with PPS. Transcriptomic changes in the villous CA near the cervical star were determined by Illumina® sequencing and subsequent bioinformatic analysis. PPS samples were divided by k-means clustering, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in each PPS cluster were identified by comparing to controls. Shared DEGs between PPS clusters were used for gene ontology analysis and pathway analysis. RESULTS A total of 1204 DEGs were identified between PPS and control. Gene ontology revealed extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell adhesion, and pathway analysis revealed fatty acid, p-53, hypoxia, and inflammation. Eleven key regulator genes of PPS including growth factors (IGF1, TGFB2, TGFB3), transcription factors (HIF1A, JUNB, SMAD3), and transmembrane receptors (FGFR1, TNFRSF1A, TYROBP) were also identified. MAIN LIMITATIONS The use of clinical history of PPS, in the absence of other criteria, may have led to misidentification of some cases as PPS. CONCLUSIONS Transcriptomic analysis indicated that changes in ECM and cell adhesion were important factors in equine PPS. Key predicted upstream events include genes associated with hypoxia, inflammation and growth factors related to the pathogenesis of equine PPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harutaka Murase
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.,Equine Science Division, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Urakawa, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hossam El-Sheikh Ali
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt
| | - Rebecca E Ruby
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Kirsten E Scoggin
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Barry A Ball
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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Weiner CP, Cuckle H, Weiss ML, Buhimschi IA, Dong Y, Zhou H, Ramsey R, Egerman R, Buhimschi CS. Evaluation of a Maternal Plasma RNA Panel Predicting Spontaneous Preterm Birth and Its Expansion to the Prediction of Preeclampsia. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:1327. [PMID: 35741140 PMCID: PMC9221694 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12061327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth is the principal contributor to neonatal death and morbidity worldwide. We previously described a plasma cell-free RNA panel that between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy had potential to predict spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) ≤ 32 weeks caused by preterm labor (PTL) or preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). The present study had three objectives: (1) estimate the RNA panel prognostic accuracy for PTL/PPROM ≤ 32 weeks in a larger series; (2) improve accuracy by adding clinical characteristics to the predictive model; and (3) examine the association of the RNA panel with preeclampsia. We studied 289 women from Memphis TN prospectively sampled 16.0-20.7 weeks and found: (1) PSME2 and Hsa-Let 7g were differentially expressed in cases of PTL/PPROM ≤ 32 weeks and together provided fair predictive accuracy with AUC of 0.76; (2) combining the two RNAs with clinical characteristics improved good predictive accuracy for PTL/PPROM ≤ 32 weeks (AUC 0.83); (3) NAMPT and APOA1 were differentially expressed in women with 'early-onset preeclampsia' (EOP) and together provided good predictive accuracy with AUC of 0.89; and (4) combining the two RNAs with clinical characteristics provided excellent predictive accuracy (AUC 0.96). Our findings suggest an underlying common pathophysiological relationship between PTL/PPROM ≤ 32 weeks and EOP and open inroads for the prognostication of high-risk pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Philip Weiner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA; (Y.D.); (H.Z.)
- Rosetta Signaling Laboratory, Phoenix, AZ 85018, USA
| | - Howard Cuckle
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 6934206, Israel;
| | - Mark Louis Weiss
- Departments of Anatomy and Physiology & Midwest Institute of Comparative Stem Cell Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA;
| | - Irina Alexandra Buhimschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois-Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; (I.A.B.); (C.S.B.)
| | - Yafeng Dong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA; (Y.D.); (H.Z.)
- Rosetta Signaling Laboratory, Phoenix, AZ 85018, USA
| | - Helen Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA; (Y.D.); (H.Z.)
| | - Risa Ramsey
- Office of Clinical Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA;
| | - Robert Egerman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;
| | - Catalin Sorin Buhimschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois-Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; (I.A.B.); (C.S.B.)
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Liu Z, Yang J, Li H, Zhong Z, Huang J, Fu J, Zhao H, Liu X, Jiang S. Identifying Candidate Genes for Short Gestation Length Trait in Chinese Qingping Pigs by Whole-Genome Resequencing and RNA Sequencing. Front Genet 2022; 13:857705. [PMID: 35664295 PMCID: PMC9159352 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.857705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Gestation length is a complex polygenic trait that affects pig fetal development. The Qingping (QP) pig, a Chinese native black pig breed, is characterized by short gestation length. However, the genetic architecture of short gestation length is still not clear. The present study aimed to explore the genetic architecture of short gestation length in QP pigs. In this study, selective sweep analyses were performed to detect selective sweep signatures for short gestation length traits between 100 QP pigs and 219 pigs from 15 other breeds. In addition, differentially expressed genes for the short gestation length between QP pigs and Large White pigs were detected by RNA sequencing. Comparing candidate genes from these methods with known genes for preterm birth in the database, we obtained 111 candidate genes that were known preterm birth genes. Prioritizing other candidate genes, 839 novel prioritized candidate genes were found to have significant functional similarity to preterm birth genes. In particular, we highlighted EGFR, which was the most prioritized novel candidate relative to preterm birth genes. Experimental validations in placental and porcine trophectoderm cells suggest that EGFR is highly expressed in the QP pigs with short gestation length and could regulate the NF-κΒ pathway and downstream expression of PTGS2. These findings comprehensively identified candidate genes for short gestation length trait at the genomic and transcriptomic levels. These candidate genes provide an important new resource for further investigation and genetic improvement of gestation length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zezhang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Agricultural Ministry and Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun Yang
- College of Animal Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Hong Li
- Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuxia Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Agricultural Ministry and Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jian Huang
- Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Agricultural Ministry and Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jie Fu
- Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Agricultural Ministry and Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hucheng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Agricultural Ministry and Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaolei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Agricultural Ministry and Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaolei Liu, ; Siwen Jiang,
| | - Siwen Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Agricultural Ministry and Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaolei Liu, ; Siwen Jiang,
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9
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Sobhani NC, Mernoff R, Abraha M, Okorie CN, Marquez-Magana L, Gaw SL, Robinson JF. Integrated analysis of transcriptomic datasets to identify placental biomarkers of spontaneous preterm birth. Placenta 2022; 122:66-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.03.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Preterm labor is a distinct process from term labor following computational analysis of human myometrium. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022; 226:106.e1-106.e16. [PMID: 34245680 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The onset of the term human parturition involves myometrial gene expression changes to transform the uterus from a quiescent to a contractile phenotype. It is uncertain whether the same changes occur in the uterus during preterm labor. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to compare the myometrial gene expression between term and preterm labor and to determine whether the presence of acute clinical chorioamnionitis or twin gestation affects these signatures. STUDY DESIGN Myometrial specimens were collected during cesarean delivery from the following 7 different groups of patients: term not in labor (n=31), term labor (n=13), preterm not in labor (n=21), preterm labor with acute clinical chorioamnionitis (n=6), preterm labor with no acute clinical chorioamnionitis (n=9), twin preterm not in labor (n=8), and twin preterm labor with no acute clinical chorioamnionitis (n=5). RNA was extracted, reverse transcribed and quantitative polymerase chain reactions were performed on 44 candidate genes (with evidence for differential expression in human term labor) using the Fluidigm platform. Computational analysis was performed using 2-class unpaired Wilcoxon tests and principal component analysis. RESULTS Computational analysis revealed that gene expression in the preterm myometrium, irrespective of whether in labor or not in labor, clustered tightly and is clearly different from the term labor and term not-in-labor groups. This was true for both singleton and twin pregnancies. Principal component analysis showed that 57% of the variation was explained by 3 principal components. These 44 genes interact in themes of prostaglandin activity and inflammatory signaling known to be important during term labor, but are not a full representation of the myometrium transcriptional activity. CONCLUSION The myometrial contractions associated with preterm labor are associated with a pattern of gene expression that is distinct from term labor. Therefore, preterm labor may be initiated by a different myometrial process or processes outside the myometrium.
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11
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Labour classified by cervical dilatation & fetal membrane rupture demonstrates differential impact on RNA-seq data for human myometrium tissues. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260119. [PMID: 34797869 PMCID: PMC8604334 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
High throughput sequencing has previously identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched signalling networks in human myometrium for term (≥37 weeks) gestation labour, when defined as a singular state of activity at comparison to the non-labouring state. However, transcriptome changes that occur during transition from early to established labour (defined as ≤3 and >3 cm cervical dilatation, respectively) and potentially altered by fetal membrane rupture (ROM), when adapting from onset to completion of childbirth, remained to be defined. In the present study, we assessed whether differences for these two clinically observable factors of labour are associated with different myometrial transcriptome profiles. Analysis of our tissue (‘bulk’) RNA-seq data (NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus: GSE80172) with classification of labour into four groups, each compared to the same non-labour group, identified more DEGs for early than established labour; ROM was the strongest up-regulator of DEGs. We propose that lower DEGs frequency for early labour and/or ROM negative myometrium was attributed to bulk RNA-seq limitations associated with tissue heterogeneity, as well as the possibility that processes other than gene transcription are of more importance at labour onset. Integrative analysis with future data from additional samples, which have at least equivalent refined clinical classification for labour status, and alternative omics approaches will help to explain what truly contributes to transcriptomic changes that are critical for labour onset. Lastly, we identified five DEGs common to all labour groupings; two of which (AREG and PER3) were validated by qPCR and not differentially expressed in placenta and choriodecidua.
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12
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Weiner CP, Dong Y, Zhou H, Cuckle H, Ramsey R, Egerman R, Buhimschi I, Buhimschi C. Early pregnancy prediction of spontaneous preterm birth before 32 completed weeks of pregnancy using plasma RNA: transcriptome discovery and initial validation of an RNA panel of markers. BJOG 2021; 128:1870-1880. [PMID: 33969600 PMCID: PMC8455415 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.16736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the second-trimester plasma cell-free (PCF) transcriptome of women who delivered at term with that of women with spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) at or before 32 weeks of gestation and identify/validate PCF RNA markers present by 16 weeks of gestation. DESIGN Prospective case-control study. SETTING Academic tertiary care centre. POPULATION Pregnant women with known outcomes prospectively sampled. METHODS PCF RNAs extracted from women at 22-24 weeks of gestation (five sPTB up to 32 weeks and five at term) were hybridised to gene expression arrays. Differentially regulated RNAs for sPTB up to 32 weeks were initially selected based on P value compared with control (P < 0.01) and fold change (≥1.5×). Potential markers were then reordered by narrowness of distribution. Final marker selection was made by searching the Metacore™ database to determine whether the PCF RNAs interacted with a reported set of myometrial Preterm Initiator genes. RNAs were confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and tested in a second group of 40 women: 20 with sPTB up to 32 weeks (mean gestation 26.5 weeks, standard deviation ±2.6 weeks), 20 with spontaneous term delivery (40.1 ± 0.9 weeks) sampled at 16-19+5 weeks of gestation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Identification of PCF RNAs predictive of sPTB up to 32 weeks. RESULTS Two hundred and ninety-seven PCR RNAs were differentially expressed in sPTB up to 32 weeks of gestation. Further selection retained 99 RNAs (86 mRNAs and 13 microRNAs) and five of these interacted in silica with seven Preterm Initiator genes. Four of five RNAs were confirmed and tested on the validation group. The expression of each confirmed PCF RNA was significantly higher in sPTB up to 32 weeks of gestation. In vitro study of the four mRNAs revealed higher expression in placentas of women with sPTB up to 32 weeks and the potential to interfere with myometrial quiescence. CONCLUSIONS The PCF RNA markers are highly associated with sPTB up to 32 weeks by 16 weeks of gestation. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT Women destined for spontaneous preterm birth can be identified by 16 weeks of gestation with a panel of maternal plasma RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- C P Weiner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA
- Rosetta Signaling Laboratory, Mission Hills, KS, USA
| | - Y Dong
- Rosetta Signaling Laboratory, Mission Hills, KS, USA
| | - H Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - H Cuckle
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel
| | - R Ramsey
- Office of Clinical Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - R Egerman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - I Buhimschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - C Buhimschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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13
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Ding W, Chim SSC, Wang CC, Lau CSL, Leung TY. Molecular Mechanism and Pathways of Normal Human Parturition in Different Gestational Tissues: A Systematic Review of Transcriptome Studies. Front Physiol 2021; 12:730030. [PMID: 34566691 PMCID: PMC8461075 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.730030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Genome-wide transcriptomic studies on gestational tissues in labor provide molecular insights in mechanism of normal parturition. This systematic review aimed to summarize the important genes in various gestational tissues around labor onset, and to dissect the underlying molecular regulations and pathways that trigger the labor in term pregnancies. Data sources: PubMed and Web of Science were searched from inception to January 2021. Study Eligibility Criteria: Untargeted genome-wide transcriptomic studies comparing the gene expression of various gestational tissues in normal term pregnant women with and without labor were included. Methods: Every differentially expressed gene was retrieved. Consistently expressed genes with same direction in different studies were identified, then gene ontology and KEGG analysis were conducted to understand molecular pathways and functions. Gene-gene association analysis was performed to determine the key regulatory gene(s) in labor onset. Results: A total of 15 studies, including 266 subjects, were included. 136, 26, 15, 7, and 3 genes were significantly changed during labor in the myometrium (seven studies, n = 108), uterine cervix (four studies, n = 64), decidua (two studies, n = 42), amnion (two studies, n = 44) and placenta (two studies, n = 41), respectively. These genes were overrepresented in annotation terms related to inflammatory and immune responses. TNF and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways were overrepresented in all mentioned tissues, except the placenta. IL6 was the only gene included in both pathways, the most common reported gene in all included studies, and also the gene in the central hub of molecular regulatory network. Conclusions: This systematic review identified that genes involved in immunological and inflammatory regulations are expressed in specific gestational tissues in labor. We put forward the hypothesis that IL6 might be the key gene triggering specific mechanism in different gestational tissues, eventually leading to labor onset through inducing uterine contraction, wakening fetal membranes and stimulating cervical ripening. Systematic Review Registration: Identifier [CRD42020187975].
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Ding
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Stephen Siu Chung Chim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Chiu Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Caitlyn So Ling Lau
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tak Yeung Leung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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14
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Deyssenroth MA, Rosa MJ, Eliot MN, Kelsey KT, Kloog I, Schwartz JD, Wellenius GA, Peng S, Hao K, Marsit CJ, Chen J. Placental gene networks at the interface between maternal PM 2.5 exposure early in gestation and reduced infant birthweight. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 199:111342. [PMID: 34015297 PMCID: PMC8195860 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A growing body of evidence links maternal exposure to particulate matter <2.5 μM in diameter (PM2.5) and deviations in fetal growth. Several studies suggest that the placenta plays a critical role in conveying the effects of maternal PM2.5 exposure to the developing fetus. These include observed associations between air pollutants and candidate placental features, such as mitochondrial DNA content, DNA methylation and telomere length. However, gaps remain in delineating the pathways linking the placenta to air pollution-related health effects, including a comprehensive profiling of placental processes impacted by maternal PM2.5 exposure. In this study, we examined alterations in a placental transcriptome-wide network in relation to maternal PM2.5 exposure prior to and during pregnancy and infant birthweight. METHODS We evaluated PM2.5 exposure and placental RNA-sequencing data among study participants enrolled in the Rhode Island Child Health Study (RICHS). Daily residential PM2.5 levels were estimated using a hybrid model incorporating land-use regression and satellite remote sensing data. Distributed lag models were implemented to assess the impact on infant birthweight due to PM2.5 weekly averages ranging from 12 weeks prior to gestation until birth. Correlations were assessed between PM2.5 levels averaged across the identified window of susceptibility and a placental transcriptome-wide gene coexpression network previously generated using the WGCNA R package. RESULTS We identified a sensitive window spanning 12 weeks prior to and 13 weeks into gestation during which maternal PM2.5 exposure is significantly associated with reduced infant birthweight. Two placental coexpression modules enriched for genes involved in amino acid transport and cellular respiration were correlated with infant birthweight as well as maternal PM2.5 exposure levels averaged across the identified growth restriction window. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that maternal PM2.5 exposure may alter placental programming of fetal growth, with potential implications for downstream health effects, including susceptibility to cardiometabolic health outcomes and viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya A Deyssenroth
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Maria José Rosa
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Melissa N Eliot
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Karl T Kelsey
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, 02903, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Itai Kloog
- Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ben Gurion University, Beersheba, 8410501, Israel
| | - Joel D Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02215, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Gregory A Wellenius
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Shouneng Peng
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Ke Hao
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Carmen J Marsit
- Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Jia Chen
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
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15
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Chen C, Zhu S, Bai L, Sui M, Chen D. The Role of Formyl Peptide Receptor 1 in Uterine Contraction During Parturition. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:696697. [PMID: 34393780 PMCID: PMC8358927 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.696697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Parturition involves the transformation of the quiescent myometrium into a highly excitable and contractile state, a process that is driven by changes in myometrial gene expression. This study aimed to identify myometrial transcriptomic signatures and potential novel hub genes in parturition, which have great significance for understanding the underlying mechanisms of successful parturition and treating labor-associated pathologies such as preterm birth. In our study, comparative transcriptome analysis was carried out on human myometrial tissues collected from women undergoing caesarean section at term in the presence (TL = 8) and absence of labor (TNL = 8). A total of 582 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between TL and TNL tissues were identified. Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that the DEGs were enriched in signal transduction, regulation of signaling receptor activity, inflammatory response, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, among others. Thus, transcriptome analysis of the myometrium during term labor revealed that labor onset was associated with an inflammatory response. Moreover, protein-protein interactions network analysis identified FPR1, CXCL8, CXCL1, BDKRB2, BDKRB1, and CXCL2 as the hub genes associated with onset of labor. Formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1) was highly expressed in laboring myometrial tissues, with the activation of FPR1 in vitro experiments resulting in increased myometrial contraction. Our findings demonstrate the novel role of FPR1 as a modulator of myometrial contraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaolu Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shuaiying Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Long Bai
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Meihua Sui
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Danqing Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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16
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Ackerman WE, Buhimschi CS, Snedden A, Summerfield TL, Zhao G, Buhimschi IA. Molecular signatures of labor and nonlabor myometrium with parsimonious classification from 2 calcium transporter genes. JCI Insight 2021; 6:148425. [PMID: 33945511 PMCID: PMC8262336 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.148425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical phenotyping of term and preterm labor is imprecise, and disagreement persists on categorization relative to underlying pathobiology, which remains poorly understood. We performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of 31 specimens of human uterine myometrium from 10 term and 21 preterm cesarean deliveries with rich clinical context information. A molecular signature of 4814 transcripts stratified myometrial samples into quiescent (Q) and nonquiescent (NQ) phenotypes, independent of gestational age and incision site. Similar stratifications were achieved using expressed genes in Ca2+ signaling and TGF-β pathways. For maximal parsimony, we evaluated the expression of just 2 Ca2+ transporter genes, ATP2B4 (encoding PMCA4) and ATP2A2 (coding for SERCA2), and we found that their ratio reliably distinguished NQ and Q specimens in the current study, and also in 2 publicly available RNA-seq data sets (GSE50599 and GSE80172), with an overall AUC of 0.94. Cross-validation of the ATP2B4/ATP2A2 ratio by quantitative PCR in an expanded cohort (by 11 additional specimens) achieved complete separation (AUC of 1.00) of NQ versus Q specimens. While providing additional insight into the associations between clinical features of term and preterm labor and myometrial gene expression, our study also offers a practical algorithm for unbiased classification of myometrial biopsies by their overall contractile program.
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Affiliation(s)
- William E Ackerman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Catalin S Buhimschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Ali Snedden
- The High Performance Computing Facility, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Taryn L Summerfield
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Guomao Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Irina A Buhimschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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17
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Carlson SE, Gajewski BJ, Valentine CJ, Kerling EH, Weiner CP, Cackovic M, Buhimschi CS, Rogers LK, Sands SA, Brown AR, Mudaranthakam DP, Crawford SA, DeFranco EA. Higher dose docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during pregnancy and early preterm birth: A randomised, double-blind, adaptive-design superiority trial. EClinicalMedicine 2021; 36:100905. [PMID: 34308309 PMCID: PMC8257993 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several meta analyses have concluded n-3 fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), reduce early preterm birth (EPB, < 34 weeks), however, the amount of DHA required is unclear. We hypothesized that 1000 mg DHA per day would be superior to 200 mg, the amount in most prenatal supplements. METHODS This randomised, multicentre, double-blind, adaptive-design, superiority trial was conducted in three USA medical centres. Women with singleton pregnancies and 12 to 20 weeks gestation were eligible. randomization was generated in SAS® by site in blocks of 4. The planned adaptive design periodically generated allocation ratios favoring the better performing dose. Managing study personnel were blind to treatment until 30 days after the last birth. The primary outcome was EPB by dose and by enrolment DHA status (low/high). Bayesian posterior probabilities (pp) were determined for planned efficacy and safety outcomes using intention-to-treat. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02626299) and closed to enrolment. FINDINGS Eleven hundred participants (1000 mg, n = 576; 200 mg, n = 524) were enrolled between June 8, 2016 and March 13, 2020 with the last birth September 5, 2020. 1032 (n = 540 and n = 492) were included in the primary analyses. The higher dose had a lower EPB rate [1.7% (9/540) vs 2.4% (12/492), pp=0.81] especially if participants had low DHA status at enrolment [2.0% (5/249) vs 4.1%, (9/219), pp=0.93]. Participants with high enrolment DHA status did not realize a dose effect [1000 mg: 1.4% (4/289); 200 mg: 1.1% (3/271), pp = 0.57]. The higher dose was associated with fewer serious adverse events (maternal: chorioamnionitis, premature rupture of membranes and pyelonephritis; neonatal: feeding, genitourinary and neurologic problems, all pp>0.90). INTERPRETATION Clinicians could consider prescribing 1000 mg DHA daily during pregnancy to reduce EPB in women with low DHA status if they are able to screen for DHA. FUNDING The National Institutes of Health Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) funded the study. Life's DHA™-S oil, DSM Nutritional Products LLC, Switzerland provided all capsules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan E Carlson
- Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Byron J Gajewski
- Department of Biostatistics & Data Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Christina J Valentine
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Elizabeth H Kerling
- Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Carl P Weiner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Michael Cackovic
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Catalin S Buhimschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois, Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | | | - Scott A Sands
- Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Alexandra R Brown
- Department of Biostatistics & Data Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Dinesh Pal Mudaranthakam
- Department of Biostatistics & Data Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Sarah A Crawford
- Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Emily A DeFranco
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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18
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Jiang Y, Pin L, Shi W, Huang Q, Wang L, Liu H. SAA1 regulates pro-labour mediators in term labour by activating YAP pathway. Mol Cell Biochem 2021; 476:2791-2801. [PMID: 33719002 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-021-04125-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Term labour is associated with activation of inflammation which results in myometrial contractility, cervical ripening and decidual/membrane rupture. Serum amyloid A1 (SAA1) is an acute response protein, whose role and underlying regulatory mechanisms in human labour remain unknown. In this study, we found that the mRNA and protein expression of SAA1 in human myometrium at term was increased in labouring tissues compared to non-labouring tissues. In addition, the expression of SAA1 was significantly increased in human primary myometrial cells treated with the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) or tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Knockdown of SAA1 using siRNA (siSAA1) resulted in a significant reduction in the expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL8, IL6), chemokines (CXCL5, CCL2), adhesion molecules (ICAM1, ICAM5) and contraction-associated factors (COX2, PGE2). Mechanistically, the effects of SAA1 were mediated through activation of the Yes-associated protein (YAP) pathway. There was a decrease in the protein expression of phosphorylated YAP (pYAP) after treatment of siSAA1-transfected human primary myometrial cells with IL-1β or TNF-α. Moreover, enhanced expression of YAP reversed the effect of siSAA1 on pro-labour mediators. In conclusion, these experiments demonstrated that SAA1 accelerates the inflammatory response associated with parturition by activating YAP pathway, which may be a novel understanding of the molecular mechanism of labour onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmin Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, No.9, Jinsui Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Li Pin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, No.9, Jinsui Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Weiqun Shi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, No.9, Jinsui Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Qian Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, No.9, Jinsui Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Lele Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, No.9, Jinsui Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Huishu Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, No.9, Jinsui Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510623, China.
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19
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Motomura K, Romero R, Tarca AL, Galaz J, Bhatti G, Done B, Arenas-Hernandez M, Levenson D, Slutsky R, Hsu CD, Gomez-Lopez N. Pregnancy-specific transcriptional changes upon endotoxin exposure in mice. J Perinat Med 2020; 48:700-722. [PMID: 32866128 PMCID: PMC8258803 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2020-0159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Pregnant women are more susceptible to certain infections; however, this increased susceptibility is not fully understood. Herein, systems biology approaches were utilized to elucidate how pregnancy modulates tissue-specific host responses to a bacterial product, endotoxin. Methods Pregnant and non-pregnant mice were injected with endotoxin or saline on 16.5 days post coitum (n=8-11 per group). The uterus, cervix, liver, adrenal gland, kidney, lung, and brain were collected 12 h after injection and transcriptomes were measured using microarrays. Heatmaps and principal component analysis were used for visualization. Differentially expressed genes between groups were assessed using linear models that included interaction terms to determine whether the effect of infection differed with pregnancy status. Pathway analysis was conducted to interpret gene expression changes. Results We report herein a multi-organ atlas of the transcript perturbations in pregnant and non-pregnant mice in response to endotoxin. Pregnancy strongly modified the host responses to endotoxin in the uterus, cervix, and liver. In contrast, pregnancy had a milder effect on the host response to endotoxin in the adrenal gland, lung, and kidney. However, pregnancy did not drastically affect the host response to endotoxin in the brain. Conclusions Pregnancy imprints organ-specific host immune responses upon endotoxin exposure. These findings provide insight into the host-response against microbes during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichiro Motomura
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, Maryland, 20892 and Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, Maryland, 20892 and Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA,Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA,Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33199, USA,Address correspondence to: Nardhy Gomez-Lopez, MSc, PhD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, 275 E. Hancock, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA, Tel (313) 577-8904, ; . Roberto Romero, MD, D. Med. Sci., Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Wayne State University/Hutzel Women’s Hospital 3990 John R, Box 4, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA, Telephone: (313) 993-2700, Fax: (313) 993-2694,
| | - Adi L. Tarca
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, Maryland, 20892 and Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA,Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA
| | - Jose Galaz
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, Maryland, 20892 and Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA
| | - Gaurav Bhatti
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, Maryland, 20892 and Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA
| | - Bogdan Done
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, Maryland, 20892 and Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA
| | - Marcia Arenas-Hernandez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, Maryland, 20892 and Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA
| | - Dustyn Levenson
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, Maryland, 20892 and Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA
| | - Rebecca Slutsky
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, Maryland, 20892 and Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA
| | - Chaur-Dong Hsu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, Maryland, 20892 and Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA,Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, Maryland, 20892 and Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA,Address correspondence to: Nardhy Gomez-Lopez, MSc, PhD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, 275 E. Hancock, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA, Tel (313) 577-8904, ; . Roberto Romero, MD, D. Med. Sci., Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Wayne State University/Hutzel Women’s Hospital 3990 John R, Box 4, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA, Telephone: (313) 993-2700, Fax: (313) 993-2694,
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20
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Lim R, Lappas M. Novel anti-inflammatory actions of TIPE2 in human primary amnion and myometrial cells. Reproduction 2020; 158:95-107. [PMID: 31022702 DOI: 10.1530/rep-19-0063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the terminal process of human labor and delivery, including myometrial contractions and membrane rupture. TNF-alpha-induced protein 8-like-2 (TIPE2) is a novel inflammation regulator; however, there are no studies on the role of TIPE2 in human labor. We report that in myometrium, there is decreased TIPE2 mRNA expression during late gestation which was further decreased in labor. In fetal membranes, TIPE2 mRNA expression was decreased with both term and preterm labor compared to no labor samples. Knockdown of TIPE2 by siRNA in primary myometrium and amnion cells was associated with an augmentation of IL1B and TNF-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines; expression of contraction-associated proteins and secretion of the uterotonic prostaglandin PGF2α and expression of extracellular matrix degrading enzymes. In TIPE2-deficient myometrial cells treated with inhibitors of NF-κB or ERK1/2, the secretion of pro-labor mediators was reduced back to control levels. In conclusion, these in vitro experiments indicate that loss of TIPE2 exacerbates the inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratana Lim
- Mercy Perinatal Research Centre, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Obstetrics, Nutrition and Endocrinology Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Martha Lappas
- Mercy Perinatal Research Centre, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Obstetrics, Nutrition and Endocrinology Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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21
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Lim R, Lappas M. Role of IRG1 in Regulating Pro-inflammatory and Pro-labor Mediators in Human Myometrium. Reprod Sci 2020; 27:61-74. [PMID: 32046417 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-019-00133-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Preterm birth is a major contributor to neonatal deaths and associated long-term morbidities for the survivors, yet therapies remain elusive, given our incomplete understanding of the mechanisms driving human labor and delivery. Human labor is an inflammatory process, and we investigated whether IRG1 (immunoresponsive gene-1) plays a role in these processes. We demonstrate that IRG1 mRNA and protein expression is significantly increased in myometrium with human term labor, compared to no labor samples, and with preterm (LPS) labor in a mouse model. Pro-labor mediators such as pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF and IL1B, and TLR ligands fsl-1, flagellin, LPS, and poly(I:C) also increased IRG1 mRNA expression in myometrial explants. IRG1 silencing, using siRNA in primary myometrial cells, displayed a decrease in the expression of inflammation-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL1A, IL6), chemokines (CCL2, CXCL1, CXCL8), adhesion molecules (ICAM1, VCAM1), and contractility (PTGFR mRNA expression, prostaglandin F2α release, and in situ gel contraction assay). Our results suggest that IRG1 is involved when pro-labor mediators activate the inflammatory processes of human labor, warranting further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratana Lim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.,Mercy Perinatal Research Centre, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Martha Lappas
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia. .,Mercy Perinatal Research Centre, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.
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22
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Siricilla S, Iwueke CC, Herington JL. Drug discovery strategies for the identification of novel regulators of uterine contractility. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 13:71-86. [PMID: 32864532 DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2019.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Preterm birth and postpartum hemorrhage are the leading causes of neonatal and maternal morbidities worldwide, respectively. Current clinically utilized tocolytics and uterotonics to manage these obstetric conditions are limited due to their off-target effects and/or lack of efficacy. Thus, an ideal tocolytic or uterotonic would be uterine-selective with rapid onset and long-duration efficacy. Here, we discuss strategies for the discovery of new therapeutic targets and compounds that regulate uterine contractility with the aforementioned properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shajila Siricilla
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Chisom C Iwueke
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jennifer L Herington
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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23
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Ackerman WE, Buhimschi IA, Brubaker D, Maxwell S, Rood KM, Chance MR, Jing H, Mesiano S, Buhimschi CS. Integrated microRNA and mRNA network analysis of the human myometrial transcriptome in the transition from quiescence to labor. Biol Reprod 2019; 98:834-845. [PMID: 29447339 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
We conducted integrated transcriptomics network analyses of miRNA and mRNA interactions in human myometrium to identify novel molecular candidates potentially involved in human parturition. Myometrial biopsies were collected from women undergoing primary Cesarean deliveries in well-characterized clinical scenarios: (1) spontaneous term labor (TL, n = 5); (2) term nonlabor (TNL, n = 5); (3) spontaneous preterm birth (PTB) with histologic chorioamnionitis (PTB-HCA, n = 5); and (4) indicated PTB nonlabor (PTB-NL, n = 5). RNAs were profiled using RNA sequencing, and miRNA-target interaction networks were mined for key discriminatory subnetworks. Forty miRNAs differed between TL and TNL myometrium, while seven miRNAs differed between PTB-HCA vs. PTB-NL specimens; six of these were cross-validated using quantitative PCR. Based on the combined sequencing data, unsupervised clustering revealed two nonoverlapping cohorts that differed primarily by absence or presence of uterine quiescence, rather than gestational age or original clinical cohort. The intersection of differentially expressed miRNAs and their targets predicted 22 subnetworks with enriched representation of miR-146b-5p, miR-223-3p, and miR-150-5p among miRNAs, and of myocyte enhancer factor-2C (MEF2C) among mRNAs. Of four known MEF2 transcription factors, decreased MEF2A and MEF2C expression in women with uterine nonquiescence was observed in the sequencing data, and validated in a second cohort by quantitative PCR. Immunohistochemistry localized MEF2A and MEF2C to myometrial smooth muscle cells and confirmed decreased abundance with labor. Collectively, these results suggest altered MEF2 expression may represent a previously unrecognized process through which miRNAs contribute to the phenotypic switch from quiescence to labor in human myometrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- William E Ackerman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Irina A Buhimschi
- Center for Perinatal Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Douglas Brubaker
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Sean Maxwell
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Kara M Rood
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Mark R Chance
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Hongwu Jing
- Department of Chemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Sam Mesiano
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Catalin S Buhimschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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24
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Urrego D, Liwa AC, Cole WC, Wood SL, Slater DM. Cyclooxygenase inhibitors for treating preterm labour: What is the molecular evidence? 1. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2019; 97:222-231. [PMID: 30661374 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2018-0380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Preterm birth (<37 weeks of gestation) significantly increases the risk of neonatal mortality and morbidity. As many as half of all preterm births occur following spontaneous preterm labour. Since in such cases there are no known reasons for the initiation of labour, treatment of preterm labour (tocolysis) has sought to stop labour contractions and delay delivery. Despite some success, the use of cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors is associated with maternal/fetal side effects, and possibly increased risk of preterm birth. Clinical use of these drugs predates the collection of molecular and biochemical evidence in vitro, examining the expression and activity of COX enzymes in pregnant uterine tissues with and without labour. Such evidence is important to the rationale that COX enzymes are, or are not, appropriate targets for the tocolysis. The current study systematically searched existing scientific evidence to address the hypothesis that COX expression/activity is increased with the onset of human labour, in an effort to determine whether there is a rationale for the use of COX inhibitors as tocolytics. Our review identified 44 studies, but determined that there is insufficient evidence to support or refute a role of COX-1/-2 in the onset of preterm labour that supports COX-targeted tocolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Urrego
- a Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Anthony C Liwa
- a Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.,b Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Weill School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - William C Cole
- a Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Stephen L Wood
- c Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Donna M Slater
- a Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.,c Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
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25
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Lui S, Duval C, Farrokhnia F, Girard S, Harris LK, Tower CL, Stevens A, Jones RL. Delineating differential regulatory signatures of the human transcriptome in the choriodecidua and myometrium at term labor. Biol Reprod 2019; 98:422-436. [PMID: 29329366 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/iox186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm deliveries remain the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Current therapies target only myometrial contractions and are largely ineffective. As labor involves multiple coordinated events across maternal and fetal tissues, identifying fundamental regulatory pathways of normal term labor is vital to understanding successful parturition and consequently labor pathologies. We aimed to identify transcriptomic signatures of human normal term labor of two tissues: in the fetal-facing choriodecidua and the maternal myometrium. Microarray transcriptomic data from choriodecidua and myometrium following term labor were analyzed for functional hierarchical networks, using Cytoscape 2.8.3. Hierarchically high candidates were analyzed for their regulatory casual relationships using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Selected master regulators were then chemically inhibited and effects on downstream targets were assessed using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Unbiased network analysis identified upstream molecular components in choriodecidua including vimentin, TLR4, and TNFSF13B. In the myometrium, candidates included metallothionein 2 (MT2A), TLR2, and RELB. These master regulators had significant differential gene expression during labor, hierarchically high centrality in community cluster networks, interactions amongst the labor gene set, and strong causal relationships with multiple downstream effects. In vitro experiments highlighted MT2A as an effective regulator of labor-associated genes. We have identified unique potential regulators of the term labor transcriptome in uterine tissues using a robust sequence of unbiased mathematical and literature-based in silico analyses. These findings encourage further investigation into the efficacy of predicted master regulators in blocking multiple pathways of labor processes across maternal and fetal tissues, and their potential as therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Lui
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,St Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Cyntia Duval
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Universite de Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Farkhondeh Farrokhnia
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,St Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Sylvie Girard
- Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Universite de Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Lynda K Harris
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,St Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.,School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Clare L Tower
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,St Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Adam Stevens
- St Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Rebecca L Jones
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,St Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
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26
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Stanfield Z, Lai PF, Lei K, Johnson MR, Blanks AM, Romero R, Chance MR, Mesiano S, Koyutürk M. Myometrial Transcriptional Signatures of Human Parturition. Front Genet 2019; 10:185. [PMID: 30988671 PMCID: PMC6452569 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The process of parturition involves the transformation of the quiescent myometrium (uterine smooth muscle) to the highly contractile laboring state. This is thought to be driven by changes in gene expression in myometrial cells. Despite the existence of multiple myometrial gene expression studies, the transcriptional programs that initiate labor are not known. Here, we integrated three transcriptome datasets, one novel (NCBI Gene Expression Ominibus: GSE80172) and two existing, to characterize the gene expression changes in myometrium associated with the onset of labor at term. Computational analyses including classification, singular value decomposition, pathway enrichment, and network inference were applied to individual and combined datasets. Outcomes across studies were integrated with multiple protein and pathway databases to build a myometrial parturition signaling network. A high-confidence (significant across all studies) set of 126 labor genes were identified and machine learning models exhibited high reproducibility between studies. Labor signatures included both known (interleukins, cytokines) and unknown (apoptosis, MYC, cell proliferation/differentiation) pathways while cyclic AMP signaling and muscle relaxation were associated with non-labor. These signatures accurately classified and characterized the stages of labor. The data-derived parturition signaling networks provide new genes/signaling interactions to understand phenotype-specific processes and aid in future studies of parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Stanfield
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Program, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Pei F. Lai
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kaiyu Lei
- BGI Clinical Laboratories (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Mark R. Johnson
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew M. Blanks
- Cell and Developmental Biology, Clinical Sciences Research Laboratory, Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD, NIH, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Mark R. Chance
- Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Sam Mesiano
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Mehmet Koyutürk
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Case School of Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
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27
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He L, Lee GT, Zhou H, Buhimschi IA, Buhimschi CS, Weiner CP, Mason CW. Expression, Regulation, and Function of the Calmodulin Accessory Protein PCP4/PEP-19 in Myometrium. Reprod Sci 2019; 26:1650-1660. [PMID: 30744532 DOI: 10.1177/1933719119828072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Calmodulin (CaM) plays a key role in the orchestration of Ca2+ signaling events, and its regulation is considered an important component of cellular homeostasis. The control of uterine smooth muscle function is largely dependent on the regulation of Ca2+ and CaM signaling. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression, function, and regulation of CaM regulatory proteins in myometrium during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN Myometrium was obtained from nonpregnant women and 4 groups of pregnant women at the time their primary cesarean delivery: (i) preterm not in labor, (ii) preterm in labor with clinical and/or histological diagnosis of chorioamnionitis, (3) term not in labor; and (4) term in labor. The effect of perinatal inflammation on pcp4/pep-19 expression was evaluated in a mouse model of Ureaplasma parvum-induced chorioamnionitis. Human myometrial cells stably expressing wild-type and mutant forms of PCP4/PEP-19 were used in the evaluation of agonist-induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. RESULTS Compared to other CaM regulatory proteins, PCP4/PEP-19 transcripts were more abundant in human myometrium. The expression of PCP4/PEP-19 was lowest in myometrium of women with preterm pregnancy and chorioamnionitis. In the mouse uterus, pcp4/pep-19 expression was lower in late compared to mid-gestation and decreased in mice injected intra-amniotic with Ureaplasma parvum. In myometrial smooth muscle cells, tumor necrosis factor alpha and progesterone decreased and PCP4/PEP-19 promoter activity increased. Finally, the overexpression of PCP4/PEP-19 reduced agonist-induced intracellular Ca2+ levels in myometrial cells. CONCLUSION The decreased expression of PCP4/PEP-19 in myometrium contributes to a loss of quiescence in response to infection-induced inflammation at preterm pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily He
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Research, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Gene T Lee
- Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA.,The Center for Perinatal Research, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Helen Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Research, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Irina A Buhimschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Center for Perinatal Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Catalin S Buhimschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Center for Perinatal Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Carl P Weiner
- Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Clifford W Mason
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Research, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA.,The Center for Perinatal Research, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA
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Lim R, Barker G, Lappas M. PARK7 regulates inflammation-induced pro-labour mediators in myometrial and amnion cells. Reproduction 2018; 155:207-218. [PMID: 29358306 DOI: 10.1530/rep-17-0604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Preterm birth is a prevalent cause of neonatal deaths worldwide. Inflammation has been implicated in spontaneous preterm birth involved in the processes of uterine contractility and membrane rupture. Parkinson protein 7 (PARK7) has been found to play an inflammatory role in non-gestational tissues. The aims of this study were to determine the expression of PARK7 in myometrium and fetal membranes with respect to term labour onset and to elucidate the effect of PARK7 silencing in primary myometrium and amnion cells on pro-inflammatory and pro-labour mediators. PARK7 mRNA expression was higher in term myometrium and fetal membranes from women in labour compared to non-labouring samples and in amnion from preterm deliveries with chorioamnionitis. In human primary myometrial cells transfected with PARK7 siRNA (siPARK7), there was a significant decrease in IL1B, TNF, fsl-1 and poly(I:C)-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL6, chemokines (CXCL8, CCL2), adhesion molecule ICAM1, prostaglandin PGF2α and its receptor PTGFR. Similarly, amnion cells transfected with siPARK7 displayed a decrease in IL1B-induced expression of IL6, CXCL8 and ICAM1. In myometrial cells transfected with siPARK7, there was a significant reduction of NF-κB RELA transcriptional activity when stimulated with fsl-1, flagellin and poly(I:C), but not with IL1B or TNF. Collectively, our novel data describe a role for PARK7 in regulating inflammation-induced pro-inflammatory and pro-labour mediators in human myometrial and amnion cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratana Lim
- Obstetrics, Nutrition and Endocrinology Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of MelbourneMelbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Mercy Perinatal Research CentreMercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gillian Barker
- Obstetrics, Nutrition and Endocrinology Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of MelbourneMelbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Mercy Perinatal Research CentreMercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Martha Lappas
- Obstetrics, Nutrition and Endocrinology Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of MelbourneMelbourne, Victoria, Australia .,Mercy Perinatal Research CentreMercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
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Lim R, Barker G, Lappas M. IRF5 is increased in labouring myometrium and regulates pro-labour mediators. Reproduction 2018; 156:207-218. [PMID: 30006439 DOI: 10.1530/rep-18-0140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Preterm birth continues to be the leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidities that can extend into adult life. Few treatment options stem from our incomplete understanding of the mechanisms of human labour and delivery. Activation of the inflammatory response in gestational tissues by inflammation and/or infection leads to the production of pro-inflammatory and pro-labour mediators, thus preterm birth. Interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) has recently emerged as an important pro-inflammatory transcription factor involved in acute and chronic inflammation. The aims of this study were to determine the expression of IRF5 in human myometrium from labouring and non-labouring women, and whether IRF5 is involved in the genesis of pro-inflammatory and pro-labour mediators induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines or toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands. IRF5 mRNA and protein expression was significantly higher in human myometrium after spontaneous term labour, compared to non-labouring tissues. IRF5 mRNA expression was also significantly higher in primary myometrial cells treated with the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL1B or TNF. In primary myometrial cells, IRF5 knockdown by siRNA (siIRF5) was associated with significantly decreased expression and or secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL1A, IL6), chemokines (CXCL8, CCL2), adhesion molecules (ICAM1, VCAM1) and contraction-associated proteins PTGS2, PGF2α and PTGFR when in the presence of IL1B, TNF, fsl-1 (TLR2/6 ligand) or flagellin (TLR5 ligand). siIRF5-transfected cells also displayed decreased NF-κB RELA transcriptional activity in the presence of these preterm birth mediators. Our study suggests a novel role for IRF5 in the regulation of the inflammatory response in human myometrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratana Lim
- Obstetrics, Nutrition and Endocrinology Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Mercy Perinatal Research Centre, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gillian Barker
- Obstetrics, Nutrition and Endocrinology Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Mercy Perinatal Research Centre, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Martha Lappas
- Obstetrics, Nutrition and Endocrinology Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Mercy Perinatal Research Centre, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
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30
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Rinaldi SF, Makieva S, Saunders PT, Rossi AG, Norman JE. Immune cell and transcriptomic analysis of the human decidua in term and preterm parturition. Mol Hum Reprod 2018; 23:708-724. [PMID: 28962035 PMCID: PMC5909855 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gax038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Is labour, both at term and preterm, associated with alterations in decidual lymphocyte densities and widespread changes to the decidual transcriptome? SUMMARY ANSWER The onset of parturition, both at term and preterm, is associated with widespread gene expression changes in the decidua, many of which are related to inflammatory signalling, but is not associated with changes in the number of any of the decidual lymphocyte populations examined. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Given its location, directly at the maternal–foetal interface, the decidua is likely to play a pivotal role in the onset of parturition, however, the molecular events occurring in the decidua in association with the onset of labour, both at term and preterm, remain relatively poorly defined. Using flow cytometry and microarray analysis, the present study aimed to investigate changes to the immune cell milieu of the decidua in association with the onset of parturition and define the decidual gene signature associated with term and preterm labour (PTL). STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This study used decidual samples collected from 36 women across four clinical groups: term (38–42 weeks of gestation) not in labour, TNL; term in labour, TL; preterm (<35 weeks of gestation)not in labour, PTNL; and preterm in labour, PTL. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Decidual lymphocytes were isolated from fresh decidual tissue collected from women in each of our four patient groups and stained with a panel of antibodies (CD45, CD3, CD19, CD56, CD4, CD8 and TCRVα24-Jα18) to investigate lymphocyte populations present in the decidua (TNL, n = 8; TL, n = 7; PTNL, n = 5; PTL, n = 5). RNA was extracted from decidual tissue and subjected to Illumina HT-12v4.0 BeadChip expression microarrays (TNL, n = 11; TL, n = 8; PTNL, n = 7; PTL, n = 10). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to validate the microarray results. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The relative proportions of decidual lymphocytes (T cells, NK cells, B cells and invariant natural killer (iNKT) cells) were unaffected by either gestation or labour status. However, we found elevated expression of the non-classical MHC-protein, CD1D, in PTL decidua samples (P < 0.05), suggesting the potential for increased activation of decidual invariant NKT (iNKT) cells in PTL. Both term and PTL were associated with widespread gene expression changes, particularly related to inflammatory signalling. Up-regulation of candidate genes in TL (IL-6, PTGS2, ATF3, IER3 and TNFAIP3) and PTL (CXCL8, MARCO, LILRA3 and PLAU) were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis. LARGE SCALE DATA Microarray data are available at www.ebi.ac.uk/arrayexpress under accession number E-MTAB-5353. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION Whilst no changes in lymphocyte number were observed across our patient samples, we did not investigate the activation state of any of the immune cell sub-populations examined, therefore, it is possible that the function of these cells may be altered in association with labour onset. Additionally, the results of our transcriptomic analyses are descriptive and at this stage, we cannot prove direct causal link with the up-regulation of any of the genes examined and the onset of either term or PTL. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our findings demonstrate that the onset of parturition is associated with widespread changes to the decidual transcriptome, and there are distinct gene expression changes associated with term and PTL. We confirmed that an inflammatory signature is present within the decidua, and we also report the up-regulation of several genes involved in regulating the inflammatory response. The identification of genes involved in regulating the inflammatory response may provide novel molecular targets for the development of new, more effective therapies for the prevention of preterm birth (PTB). Such targets are urgently required. STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by Medical Research Council (grant number MR/L002657/1) and Tommy's, the baby charity. Jane Norman has had research grants from the charity Tommy's and from the National Institute for Health Research on PTB during the lifetime of this project. Jane Norman also sits on a data monitoring committee for GSK for a study on PTB prevention and her institution receives financial recompense for this. The other authors do not have any conflicts of interest to declare.
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Affiliation(s)
- S F Rinaldi
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and Tommy's Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - S Makieva
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and Tommy's Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - P T Saunders
- MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - A G Rossi
- MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - J E Norman
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and Tommy's Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
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Edey LF, Georgiou H, O’Dea KP, Mesiano S, Herbert BR, Lei K, Hua R, Markovic D, Waddington SN, MacIntyre D, Bennett P, Takata M, Johnson MR. Progesterone, the maternal immune system and the onset of parturition in the mouse†. Biol Reprod 2017; 98:376-395. [DOI: 10.1093/biolre/iox146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lydia F Edey
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Academic Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Hector Georgiou
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Academic Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Kieran P O’Dea
- Section of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine, and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Sam Mesiano
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals of Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Bronwen R Herbert
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Academic Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Kaiyu Lei
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Academic Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Renyi Hua
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Academic Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals of Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Danijela Markovic
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Academic Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Simon N Waddington
- The International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital of China Welfare Institute (IPMCH), Shanghai, China
| | - David MacIntyre
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Philip Bennett
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Masao Takata
- Section of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine, and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Mark R Johnson
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Academic Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
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Carlson SE, Gajewski BJ, Valentine CJ, Rogers LK, Weiner CP, DeFranco EA, Buhimschi CS. Assessment of DHA on reducing early preterm birth: the ADORE randomized controlled trial protocol. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2017; 17:62. [PMID: 28193189 PMCID: PMC5307851 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-017-1244-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm birth contributes to 0.5 million deliveries in the United States (one of eight pregnancies) and poses a huge burden on public health with costs in the billions. Of particular concern is that the rate of earliest preterm birth (<34 weeks) (ePTB), which has decreased little since 1990 and has the greatest impact on the overall infant mortality, resulting in the greatest cost to society. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation provides a potential high yield, low risk strategy to reduce early preterm delivery in the US by up to 75%. We propose a Phase III Clinical Trial (randomized to low or high dose DHA, double-blinded) to examine the efficacy and safety of high dose DHA supplementation to reduce ePTB. We also plan for a secondary pregnancy efficacy analysis to determine if there is a subset of pregnancies most likely to benefit from DHA supplementation. METHODS Between 900 and 1200 pregnant women who are ≥ 18 years old and between 12 and 20 weeks gestation will be recruited from three trial experienced academic medical institutions. Participants will be randomly assigned to two daily capsules of algal oil (totaling 800 mg DHA) or soybean and corn oil (0 mg DHA). Both groups will receive a commercially available prenatal supplement containing 200 mg DHA. Therefore, the experimental group will receive 1000 mg DHA/d and the control group 200 mg DHA/d. We will then employ a novel Bayesian response adaptive randomization design that assigns more subjects to the "winning" group and potentially allows for substantially smaller sample size while providing a stronger conclusion regarding the most effective group. The study has an overall Type I error rate of 5% and a power of 90%. Participants are followed throughout pregnancy and delivery for safety and delivery outcomes. DISCUSSION We hypothesize that DHA will decrease the frequency of ePTB <34 weeks. Reducing ePTB is clinically important as these earliest preterm deliveries carry the highest risk of neonatal morbidity, as well as contribute significant stress for families and post a large societal burden. TRIAL REGISTRATION This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT02626299 ) on December 8, 2015. Additional summary details may be found in Table 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan E. Carlson
- Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, MS 4013, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66160 USA
| | - Byron J. Gajewski
- Department of Biostatistics, MS 1026, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66160 USA
| | - Christina J. Valentine
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way, PO Box 670526, Cincinnati, OH 45267 USA
| | - Lynette K. Rogers
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Center for Perinatal Research, 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus, OH 43205 USA
| | - Carl P. Weiner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MS 2028, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66160 USA
- Division Maternal Fetal Medicine, Center for the Developmental Origins of Adult Health and Disease, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66160 USA
| | - Emily A. DeFranco
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way, PO Box 670526, Cincinnati, OH 45267 USA
| | - Catalin S. Buhimschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ohio State University, 370 W. 13th Ave., Rm 588, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
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Brubaker D, Liu Y, Wang J, Tan H, Zhang G, Jacobsson B, Muglia L, Mesiano S, Chance MR. Finding lost genes in GWAS via integrative-omics analysis reveals novel sub-networks associated with preterm birth. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:5254-5264. [PMID: 27664809 PMCID: PMC6078636 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2016] [Revised: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal genome influences associate with up to 40% of spontaneous preterm births (PTB). Multiple genome wide association studies (GWAS) have been completed to identify genetic variants associated with PTB. Disappointingly, no highly significant SNPs have replicated in independent cohorts so far. We developed an approach combining protein-protein interaction (PPI) network data with tissue specific gene expression data to "find" SNPs of modest significance to identify candidate genes of functional importance that would otherwise be overlooked. This approach is based on the assumption that "high-ranking" SNPs falling short of genome wide significance may nevertheless indicate genes that have substantial biological value in understanding PTB. We mapped highly-ranked candidate SNPs from a meta-analysis of PTB-GWAS to coding genes and developed a PPI network enriched with PTB-SNP carrying genes. This network was scored with gene expression data from term and preterm myometrium to identify subnetworks of PTB-SNP associated genes coordinately expressed with labour onset in myometrial tissue. Our analysis consistently identified significant sub-networks associated with the interacting transcription factors MEF2C and TWIST1, genes not previously associated with PTB, both of which regulate processes clearly relevant to birth timing. Other genes in the significant sub-networks were also associated with inflammatory pathways, as well as muscle function and ion channels. Gene expression level dysregulation was confirmed for eight of these networks by qRT-PCR in an independent set of term and pre-term subjects. Our method identifies novel genes dysregulated in PTB and provides a generalized framework to identify GWAS SNPs that would otherwise be overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Brubaker
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, and Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine
| | - Yu Liu
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, and Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine
| | - Junye Wang
- Department of Reproductive Biology and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Huiqing Tan
- Department of Reproductive Biology and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ge Zhang
- Division of Human Genetics
- Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Bo Jacobsson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Gothenburg, Sweden; Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Louis Muglia
- Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Sam Mesiano
- Department of Reproductive Biology and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mark R. Chance
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, and Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine
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Ilekis JV, Tsilou E, Fisher S, Abrahams VM, Soares MJ, Cross JC, Zamudio S, Illsley NP, Myatt L, Colvis C, Costantine MM, Haas DM, Sadovsky Y, Weiner C, Rytting E, Bidwell G. Placental origins of adverse pregnancy outcomes: potential molecular targets: an Executive Workshop Summary of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2016; 215:S1-S46. [PMID: 26972897 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Revised: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Although much progress is being made in understanding the molecular pathways in the placenta that are involved in the pathophysiology of pregnancy-related disorders, a significant gap exists in the utilization of this information for the development of new drug therapies to improve pregnancy outcome. On March 5-6, 2015, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health sponsored a 2-day workshop titled Placental Origins of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Potential Molecular Targets to begin to address this gap. Particular emphasis was given to the identification of important molecular pathways that could serve as drug targets and the advantages and disadvantages of targeting these particular pathways. This article is a summary of the proceedings of that workshop. A broad number of topics were covered that ranged from basic placental biology to clinical trials. This included research in the basic biology of placentation, such as trophoblast migration and spiral artery remodeling, and trophoblast sensing and response to infectious and noninfectious agents. Research findings in these areas will be critical for the formulation of the development of future treatments and the development of therapies for the prevention of a number of pregnancy disorders of placental origin that include preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and uterine inflammation. Research was also presented that summarized ongoing clinical efforts in the United States and in Europe that has tested novel interventions for preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction, including agents such as oral arginine supplementation, sildenafil, pravastatin, gene therapy with virally delivered vascular endothelial growth factor, and oxygen supplementation therapy. Strategies were also proposed to improve fetal growth by the enhancement of nutrient transport to the fetus by modulation of their placental transporters and the targeting of placental mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress to improve placental health. The roles of microRNAs and placental-derived exosomes, as well as messenger RNAs, were also discussed in the context of their use for diagnostics and as drug targets. The workshop discussed the aspect of safety and pharmacokinetic profiles of potential existing and new therapeutics that will need to be determined, especially in the context of the unique pharmacokinetic properties of pregnancy and the hurdles and pitfalls of the translation of research findings into practice. The workshop also discussed novel methods of drug delivery and targeting during pregnancy with the use of macromolecular carriers, such as nanoparticles and biopolymers, to minimize placental drug transfer and hence fetal drug exposure. In closing, a major theme that developed from the workshop was that the scientific community must change their thinking of the pregnant woman and her fetus as a vulnerable patient population for which drug development should be avoided, but rather be thought of as a deprived population in need of more effective therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- John V Ilekis
- Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD.
| | - Ekaterini Tsilou
- Obstetric and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD.
| | - Susan Fisher
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Vikki M Abrahams
- Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine; New Haven, CT
| | - Michael J Soares
- Institute of Reproductive Health and Regenerative Medicine and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
| | - James C Cross
- Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary Health Sciences Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Stacy Zamudio
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ
| | - Nicholas P Illsley
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ
| | - Leslie Myatt
- Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX
| | - Christine Colvis
- Therapeutics Discovery Program, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Maged M Costantine
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - David M Haas
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN
| | | | - Carl Weiner
- University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
| | - Erik Rytting
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - Gene Bidwell
- Department of Neurology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS
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Ackerman WE, Buhimschi IA, Eidem HR, Rinker DC, Rokas A, Rood K, Zhao G, Summerfield TL, Landon MB, Buhimschi CS. Comprehensive RNA profiling of villous trophoblast and decidua basalis in pregnancies complicated by preterm birth following intra-amniotic infection. Placenta 2016; 44:23-33. [PMID: 27452435 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2016.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We performed RNA sequencing with the primary goal of discovering key placental villous trophoblast (VT) and decidua basalis (DB) transcripts differentially expressed in intra-amniotic infection (IAI)-induced preterm birth (PTB). METHODS RNA was extracted from 15 paired VT and DB specimens delivered of women with: 1) spontaneous PTB in the setting of amniocentesis-proven IAI and histological chorioamnionitis (n = 5); 2) spontaneous idiopathic PTB (iPTB, n = 5); and 3) physiologic term pregnancy (n = 5). RNA sequencing was performed using the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform, and a spectrum of computational tools was used for gene prioritization and pathway analyses. RESULTS In the VT specimens, 128 unique long transcripts and 7 mature microRNAs differed significantly between pregnancies complicated by IAI relative to iPTB (FDR<0.1). The up-regulated transcripts included many characteristic of myeloblast-derived cells, and bioinformatic analyses revealed enrichment for multiple pathways associated with acute inflammation. In an expanded cohort including additional IAI and iPTB specimens, the expression of three proteins (cathepsin S, lysozyme, and hexokinase 3) and two microRNAs (miR-133a and miR-223) was validated using immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR, respectively. In the DB specimens, only 11 long transcripts and no microRNAs differed significantly between IAI cases and iPTB controls (FDR<0.1). Comparison of the VT and DB specimens in each clinical scenario revealed signatures distinguishing these placental regions. DISCUSSION IAI is associated with a transcriptional signature consistent with acute inflammation in the villous trophoblast. The present findings illuminate novel signaling pathways involved in IAI, and suggest putative therapeutic targets and potential biomarkers associated with this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- William E Ackerman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Irina A Buhimschi
- Center for Perinatal Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Haley R Eidem
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - David C Rinker
- Program in Human Genetics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Program in Human Genetics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Kara Rood
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Guomao Zhao
- Center for Perinatal Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Taryn L Summerfield
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Mark B Landon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Catalin S Buhimschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Sharp GC, Hutchinson JL, Hibbert N, Freeman TC, Saunders PTK, Norman JE. Transcription Analysis of the Myometrium of Labouring and Non-Labouring Women. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0155413. [PMID: 27176052 PMCID: PMC4866706 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
An incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanisms that initiate normal human labour at term seriously hampers the development of effective ways to predict, prevent and treat disorders such as preterm labour. Appropriate analysis of large microarray experiments that compare gene expression in non-labouring and labouring gestational tissues is necessary to help bridge these gaps in our knowledge. In this work, gene expression in 48 (22 labouring, 26 non-labouring) lower-segment myometrial samples collected at Caesarean section were analysed using Illumina HT-12 v4.0 BeadChips. Normalised data were compared between labouring and non-labouring groups using traditional statistical methods and a novel network graph approach. We sought technical validation with quantitative real-time PCR, and biological replication through inverse variance-weighted meta-analysis with published microarray data. We have extended the list of genes suggested to be associated with labour: Compared to non-labouring samples, labouring samples showed apparent higher expression at 960 probes (949 genes) and apparent lower expression at 801 probes (789 genes) (absolute fold change ≥1.2, rank product percentage of false positive value (RP-PFP) <0.05). Although half of the women in the labouring group had received pharmaceutical treatment to induce or augment labour, sensitivity analysis suggested that this did not confound our results. In agreement with previous studies, functional analysis suggested that labour was characterised by an increase in the expression of inflammatory genes and network analysis suggested a strong neutrophil signature. Our analysis also suggested that labour is characterised by a decrease in the expression of muscle-specific processes, which has not been explicitly discussed previously. We validated these findings through the first formal meta-analysis of raw data from previous experiments and we hypothesise that this represents a change in the composition of myometrial tissue at labour. Further work will be necessary to reveal whether these results are solely due to leukocyte infiltration into the myometrium as a mechanism initiating labour, or in addition whether they also represent gene changes in the myocytes themselves. We have made all our data available at www.ebi.ac.uk/arrayexpress/ (accession number E-MTAB-3136) to facilitate progression of this work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma C. Sharp
- Tommy’s Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health and Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - James L. Hutchinson
- Tommy’s Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health and Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Nanette Hibbert
- Tommy’s Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health and Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Tom C. Freeman
- Systems Immunology Group, Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Philippa T. K. Saunders
- Tommy’s Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health and Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jane E. Norman
- Tommy’s Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health and Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Development and validation of a spontaneous preterm delivery predictor in asymptomatic women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2016; 214:633.e1-633.e24. [PMID: 26874297 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2016.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2015] [Revised: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm delivery remains the leading cause of perinatal mortality. Risk factors and biomarkers have traditionally failed to identify the majority of preterm deliveries. OBJECTIVE To develop and validate a mass spectrometry-based serum test to predict spontaneous preterm delivery in asymptomatic pregnant women. STUDY DESIGN A total of 5501 pregnant women were enrolled between 17(0/7) and 28(6/7) weeks gestational age in the prospective Proteomic Assessment of Preterm Risk study at 11 sites in the United States between 2011 and 2013. Maternal blood was collected at enrollment and outcomes collected following delivery. Maternal serum was processed by a proteomic workflow, and proteins were quantified by multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry. The discovery and verification process identified 2 serum proteins, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 4 (IBP4) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), as predictors of spontaneous preterm delivery. We evaluated a predictor using the log ratio of the measures of IBP4 and SHBG (IBP4/SHBG) in a clinical validation study to classify spontaneous preterm delivery cases (<37(0/7) weeks gestational age) in a nested case-control cohort different from subjects used in discovery and verification. Strict blinding and independent statistical analyses were employed. RESULTS The predictor had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value of 0.75 and sensitivity and specificity of 0.75 and 0.74, respectively. The IBP4/SHBG predictor at this sensitivity and specificity had an odds ratio of 5.04 for spontaneous preterm delivery. Accuracy of the IBP4/SHBG predictor increased using earlier case-vs-control gestational age cutoffs (eg, <35(0/7) vs ≥35(0/7) weeks gestational age). Importantly, higher-risk subjects defined by the IBP4/SHBG predictor score generally gave birth earlier than lower-risk subjects. CONCLUSION A serum-based molecular predictor identifies asymptomatic pregnant women at risk of spontaneous preterm delivery, which may provide utility in identifying women at risk at an early stage of pregnancy to allow for clinical intervention. This early detection would guide enhanced levels of care and accelerate development of clinical strategies to prevent preterm delivery.
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Eidem HR, Ackerman WE, McGary KL, Abbot P, Rokas A. Gestational tissue transcriptomics in term and preterm human pregnancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Med Genomics 2015; 8:27. [PMID: 26044726 PMCID: PMC4456776 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-015-0099-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm birth (PTB), or birth before 37 weeks of gestation, is the leading cause of newborn death worldwide. PTB is a critical area of scientific study not only due to its worldwide toll on human lives and economies, but also due to our limited understanding of its pathogenesis and, therefore, its prevention. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes the landscape of PTB transcriptomics research to further our understanding of the genes and pathways involved in PTB subtypes. METHODS We evaluated published genome-wide pregnancy studies across gestational tissues and pathologies, including those that focus on PTB, by performing a targeted PubMed MeSH search and systematically reviewing all relevant studies. RESULTS Our search yielded 2,361 studies on gestational tissues including placenta, decidua, myometrium, maternal blood, cervix, fetal membranes (chorion and amnion), umbilical cord, fetal blood, and basal plate. Selecting only those original research studies that measured transcription on a genome-wide scale and reported lists of expressed genetic elements identified 93 gene expression, 21 microRNA, and 20 methylation studies. Although 30 % of all PTB cases are due to medical indications, 76 % of the preterm studies focused on them. In contrast, only 18 % of the preterm studies focused on spontaneous onset of labor, which is responsible for 45 % of all PTB cases. Furthermore, only 23 of the 10,993 unique genetic elements reported to be transcriptionally active were recovered 10 or more times in these 134 studies. Meta-analysis of the 93 gene expression studies across 9 distinct gestational tissues and 29 clinical phenotypes showed limited overlap of genes identified as differentially expressed across studies. CONCLUSIONS Overall, profiles of differentially expressed genes were highly heterogeneous both between as well as within clinical subtypes and tissues as well as between studies of the same clinical subtype and tissue. These results suggest that large gaps still exist in the transcriptomic study of specific clinical subtypes as well in the generation of the transcriptional profile of well-studied clinical subtypes; understanding the complex landscape of prematurity will require large-scale, systematic genome-wide analyses of human gestational tissues on both understudied and well-studied subtypes alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley R Eidem
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B #35-1634, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
| | - William E Ackerman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
| | - Kriston L McGary
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B #35-1634, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
| | - Patrick Abbot
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B #35-1634, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B #35-1634, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
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Stephen GL, Lui S, Hamilton SA, Tower CL, Harris LK, Stevens A, Jones RL. Transcriptomic profiling of human choriodecidua during term labor: inflammation as a key driver of labor. Am J Reprod Immunol 2014; 73:36-55. [PMID: 25283845 DOI: 10.1111/aji.12328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Inflammation is a driver of labor in myometrium and cervix; however, the involvement of decidua is poorly defined. We have reported decidual leukocyte infiltration prior to and during labor; the regulators of these inflammatory processes are unknown. METHOD OF STUDY Choriodecidua RNA obtained after term labor or elective cesarean delivery was applied to Affymetrix GeneChips. Pathway analysis and gene validation were performed. RESULTS Extensive inflammatory activation was identified in choriodecidua following labor, predominantly upregulation of genes regulating leukocyte trafficking and cytokine signalling. Genes governing cell fate, tissue remodelling, and translation were also altered. Upregulation of candidate genes (ICAM1, CXCR4, CD44, TLR4, SOCS3, BCL2A, and IDO) was confirmed. NFκB, STAT1&3, HMGB1, and miRNA-21, miRNA-46, miRNA-141, and miRNA-200 were predicted upstream regulators. CONCLUSION This study confirms inflammatory processes are major players in labor events in choriodecidua, as in other gestational tissues. Suppressing uterine inflammation is likely to be critical for arresting premature labor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian L Stephen
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; St. Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
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Wang Y, Yang X, Zheng Y, Wu ZH, Zhang XA, Li QP, He XY, Wang CZ, Feng ZC. The SEPS1 G-105A polymorphism is associated with risk of spontaneous preterm birth in a Chinese population. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65657. [PMID: 23776519 PMCID: PMC3679159 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2012] [Accepted: 04/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation plays an important role in the etiology and pathophysiology of spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB), and selenoprotein S (SEPS1) is involved in regulating the inflammatory response. Recently the G-105A promoter polymorphism in SEPS1 was shown to increase pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. We examined whether this functional polymorphism was related to the risk of SPTB in a Chinese population. We also examined the impact of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) on susceptibility to SPTB. The SEPS1 G-105A polymorphism was genotyped in 569 preterm singleton neonates and 673 term neonates by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. χ2 tests and logistic regression analyses were used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). We observed that, compared with the GG genotype, –105A positive genotypes (GA + AA genotypes) were associated with significantly increased susceptibility to SPTB (adjusted OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.36–2.57; P<0.001). The –105A positive genotypes were also significantly associated with increased susceptibility to SPTB, both in the patients with PROM (adjusted OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.73–4.03; P<0.001) and in those without PROM (adjusted OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.09–2.24; P = 0.015). The –105A positive genotypes were also significantly associated with increased susceptibility to SPTB between extremely preterm neonates and controls (adjusted OR, 4.46; 95% CI, 1.86–10.73; P = 0.002) and between moderately preterm neonates and controls (adjusted OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.25–2.47; P = 0.001). Our findings suggest that the SEPS1 G-105A polymorphism contributes to the risk of developing SPTB in a Chinese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- BaYi Children’s Hospital, General Military Hospital of Beijing PLA, P. R. China
| | - Xiao Yang
- BaYi Children’s Hospital, General Military Hospital of Beijing PLA, P. R. China
| | - Yong Zheng
- The 309 Hospital of PLA, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Zhi-Hao Wu
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, Beijing Institute of Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Ai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Qiu-Ping Li
- BaYi Children’s Hospital, General Military Hospital of Beijing PLA, P. R. China
| | - Xi-Yu He
- BaYi Children’s Hospital, General Military Hospital of Beijing PLA, P. R. China
| | - Chun-Zhi Wang
- BaYi Children’s Hospital, General Military Hospital of Beijing PLA, P. R. China
- * E-mail: (ZCF); (CZW)
| | - Zhi-Chun Feng
- BaYi Children’s Hospital, General Military Hospital of Beijing PLA, P. R. China
- * E-mail: (ZCF); (CZW)
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Voltolini C, Torricelli M, Conti N, Vellucci FL, Severi FM, Petraglia F. Understanding Spontaneous Preterm Birth. Reprod Sci 2013; 20:1274-92. [DOI: 10.1177/1933719113477496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Voltolini
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Michela Torricelli
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Nathalie Conti
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca L. Vellucci
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Filiberto M. Severi
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Felice Petraglia
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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42
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Pathway-based genetic analysis of preterm birth. Genomics 2013; 101:163-70. [PMID: 23298525 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2012.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2012] [Revised: 12/17/2012] [Accepted: 12/25/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Preterm birth in the United States is now 12%. Multiple genes, gene networks, and variants have been associated with this disease. Using a custom database for preterm birth (dbPTB) with a refined set of genes extensively curated from literature and biological databases, we analyzed GWAS of preterm birth for complete genotype data on nearly 2000 preterm and term mothers. We used both the curated genes and a genome-wide approach to carry out a pathway-based analysis. There were 19 significant pathways, which withstood FDR correction for multiple testing that were identified using both the curated genes and the genome-wide approach. The analysis based on the curated genes was more significant than genome-wide in 15 out of 19 pathways. This approach demonstrates the use of a validated set of genes, in the analysis of otherwise unsuccessful GWAS data, to identify gene-gene interactions in a way that enhances statistical power and discovery.
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Uzun A, Sharma S, Padbury J. A bioinformatics approach to preterm birth. Am J Reprod Immunol 2012; 67:273-7. [PMID: 22385126 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2012.01122.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2011] [Accepted: 02/06/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A vast body of literature has suggested genetic programming of preterm birth. However, there is a complete lack of an organized analysis and stratification of genetic variants that may indeed be involved in the pathogenesis of preterm birth. We developed a novel bioinformatics approach to identify the nominal genetic variants associated with preterm birth. We used semantic data mining to extract all published articles related to preterm birth. Genes identified from public databases and archives of expression arrays were aggregated with genes curated from the literature. Pathway analysis was used to impute genes from pathways identified in the curations. The curated articles and collected genetic information are available in a web-based tool, the database for preterm birth (dbPTB) that forms a unique resource for investigators interested in preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alper Uzun
- Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, USA
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Uzun A, Laliberte A, Parker J, Andrew C, Winterrowd E, Sharma S, Istrail S, Padbury JF. dbPTB: a database for preterm birth. Database (Oxford) 2012; 2012:bar069. [PMID: 22323062 PMCID: PMC3275764 DOI: 10.1093/database/bar069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2011] [Revised: 12/28/2011] [Accepted: 12/29/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) query the entire genome in a hypothesis-free, unbiased manner. Since they have the potential for identifying novel genetic variants, they have become a very popular approach to the investigation of complex diseases. Nonetheless, since the success of the GWAS approach varies widely, the identification of genetic variants for complex diseases remains a difficult problem. We developed a novel bioinformatics approach to identify the nominal genetic variants associated with complex diseases. To test the feasibility of our approach, we developed a web-based aggregation tool to organize the genes, genetic variations and pathways involved in preterm birth. We used semantic data mining to extract all published articles related to preterm birth. All articles were reviewed by a team of curators. Genes identified from public databases and archives of expression arrays were aggregated with genes curated from the literature. Pathway analysis was used to impute genes from pathways identified in the curations. The curated articles and collected genetic information form a unique resource for investigators interested in preterm birth. The Database for Preterm Birth exemplifies an approach that is generalizable to other disorders for which there is evidence of significant genetic contributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alper Uzun
- Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI 02905, USA, Center for Computational Molecular Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA and Brown Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Alyse Laliberte
- Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI 02905, USA, Center for Computational Molecular Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA and Brown Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Jeremy Parker
- Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI 02905, USA, Center for Computational Molecular Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA and Brown Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Caroline Andrew
- Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI 02905, USA, Center for Computational Molecular Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA and Brown Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Emily Winterrowd
- Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI 02905, USA, Center for Computational Molecular Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA and Brown Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Surendra Sharma
- Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI 02905, USA, Center for Computational Molecular Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA and Brown Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Sorin Istrail
- Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI 02905, USA, Center for Computational Molecular Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA and Brown Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - James F. Padbury
- Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI 02905, USA, Center for Computational Molecular Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA and Brown Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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Li R, Ackerman WE, Summerfield TL, Yu L, Gulati P, Zhang J, Huang K, Romero R, Kniss DA. Inflammatory gene regulatory networks in amnion cells following cytokine stimulation: translational systems approach to modeling human parturition. PLoS One 2011; 6:e20560. [PMID: 21655103 PMCID: PMC3107214 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2011] [Accepted: 05/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A majority of the studies examining the molecular regulation of human labor have been conducted using single gene approaches. While the technology to produce multi-dimensional datasets is readily available, the means for facile analysis of such data are limited. The objective of this study was to develop a systems approach to infer regulatory mechanisms governing global gene expression in cytokine-challenged cells in vitro, and to apply these methods to predict gene regulatory networks (GRNs) in intrauterine tissues during term parturition. To this end, microarray analysis was applied to human amnion mesenchymal cells (AMCs) stimulated with interleukin-1β, and differentially expressed transcripts were subjected to hierarchical clustering, temporal expression profiling, and motif enrichment analysis, from which a GRN was constructed. These methods were then applied to fetal membrane specimens collected in the absence or presence of spontaneous term labor. Analysis of cytokine-responsive genes in AMCs revealed a sterile immune response signature, with promoters enriched in response elements for several inflammation-associated transcription factors. In comparison to the fetal membrane dataset, there were 34 genes commonly upregulated, many of which were part of an acute inflammation gene expression signature. Binding motifs for nuclear factor-κB were prominent in the gene interaction and regulatory networks for both datasets; however, we found little evidence to support the utilization of pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) signaling. The tissue specimens were also enriched for transcripts governed by hypoxia-inducible factor. The approach presented here provides an uncomplicated means to infer global relationships among gene clusters involved in cellular responses to labor-associated signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Li
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Laboratory of Perinatal Research,
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus,
Ohio, United States of America
| | - William E. Ackerman
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Laboratory of Perinatal Research,
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus,
Ohio, United States of America
| | - Taryn L. Summerfield
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Laboratory of Perinatal Research,
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus,
Ohio, United States of America
| | - Lianbo Yu
- Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio,
United States of America
| | - Parul Gulati
- Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio,
United States of America
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University,
Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Kun Huang
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University,
Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Intramural Division, Eunice Kennedy Shriver
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of
Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, United
States of America
- Hutzel Women's Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, United States of
America
| | - Douglas A. Kniss
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Laboratory of Perinatal Research,
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus,
Ohio, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University,
Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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46
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Novel insights into molecular mechanisms of abruption-induced preterm birth. Expert Rev Mol Med 2010; 12:e35. [PMID: 21040617 DOI: 10.1017/s1462399410001675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB) complicates more than 12% of all deliveries. Despite significant research, the aetiology of most cases of PTB remains elusive. Two major antecedents of PTB, intra-amniotic infection and decidual haemorrhage (abruption), can exhibit dissimilar demographic and genetic predispositions, despite sharing common molecular and cellular pathways. The use of high-throughput, high-dimensional technologies reveals substantial crosstalk between the coagulation and inflammation pathways. Tissue factor, thrombin and cytokines are key mediators of this crosstalk. Abruptions are associated with excess thrombin generated from decidual-cell-expressed tissue factor. Although thrombin is a primary mediator of the coagulation cascade, it can also promote inflammation-associated PTB by enhancing expression of matrix metalloproteinase and neutrophil-chemoattracting and -activating chemokines. Here, we provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms and pathways leading to PTB in the setting of placental abruption.
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