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Cheng L, Yuan J, Fang L, Gao C, Cong L. The placental blood perfusion and LINC00473-mediated promotion of trophoblast apoptosis in fetal growth restriction. Gene 2024; 927:148727. [PMID: 38942180 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148727] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate placental microblood flow perfusion in fetal growth restriction (FGR) both pre- and post-delivery, and explore the influence of LINC00473 and its downstream targets on FGR progression in trophoblast cells. Placental vascular distribution, placental vascular index (VIMV), CD34 expression, and histological changes were compared between control and FGR groups. FGR-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed and validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in placentae. In vitro experiments examined the regulatory relationships among LINC00473, miR-5189-5p, and StAR, followed by investigations into their impacts on cell proliferation and apoptosis. FGR placentae exhibited irregular shapes, uneven parenchymal echo, stromal dysplasia, ischemic infarction, and variable degrees of thickening in some cases. FGR samples showed less prominent mother vessel lakes, significantly lower VIMV, and decreased CD34 expression. Hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining revealed placental fibrosis, fibrin adhesion, infarction, and interstitial dysplasia in FGR. LINC00473, miR-5189-5p, and StAR were identified as DEG, with qPCR demonstrating a significant increase in LINC00473 and a decrease in miR-5189-5p in FGR, while both qPCR and IHC indicated a significant increase in StAR expression. LINC00473 served as an endogenous sponge against miR-5189-5p in human HTR-8/SV neo cells, and StAR expression was regulated by both LINC00473 and miR-5189-5p. Dysregulation of these genes affected cell proliferation and apoptosis. Pathological changes in the placenta are significant contributors to FGR, with placental microblood flow potentially serving as an indicator for monitoring its progression. LINC00473 and its downstream targets may modulate trophoblasts proliferation and apoptosis, thus influencing the onset of FGR, suggesting novel avenues for diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longfeng Cheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui 230022, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Anhui 230022, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui 230022, China
| | - Jing Yuan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui 230022, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Anhui 230022, China; Anhui Province Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Anhui 230022, China
| | - Lutong Fang
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui 230022, China
| | - Chuanfen Gao
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui 230022, China
| | - Lin Cong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui 230022, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Anhui 230022, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui 230022, China.
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Snelgrove JW, Lee R, Jeyakumar Y, Greenblatt EM, Kingdom JC, Zwingerman R, McLaughlin K. Maternal Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) levels, sonographic placental parameters, and outcomes of IVF pregnancies with and without embryo trophectoderm biopsy. J Assist Reprod Genet 2024:10.1007/s10815-024-03193-8. [PMID: 39042339 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-024-03193-8] [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: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE In vitro fertilization (IVF) is associated with abnormal trophoblast invasion and resultant decreased levels of circulating placental biomarkers such as placental growth factor (PlGF). Our objective was to evaluate maternal serum levels of second/third trimester PlGF, sonographic placental parameters, and clinical outcomes among IVF frozen embryo transfer (FET) pregnancies with and without embryo trophectoderm biopsy. METHODS This was a retrospective study of pregnant patients who conceived using a single frozen embryo transfer (FET) and gave birth between 30 January 2018 and 31 May 2021. We compared PlGF levels, sonographic placental parameters, and clinical outcomes between FET with biopsy and FET without biopsy groups. RESULTS The median PlGF level was 614.5 pg/mL (IQR 406-1020) for FET pregnancies with biopsy, and 717.0 pg/mL (IQR 552-1215) for FET pregnancies without biopsy. The adjusted mean difference was 190.9 pg/mL lower in the FET biopsy group (95% CI, -410.6, 28.8; p = 0.088). There were no statistically significant differences in placental parameters or clinical pregnancy outcomes. CONCLUSION This exploratory study demonstrated a possible trend toward lower maternal serum PlGF in the pregnancies conceived with FET using a biopsied embryo. Further investigation is warranted into the potential placental health effects of trophectoderm biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Snelgrove
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Rachel Lee
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Yaanu Jeyakumar
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ellen M Greenblatt
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - John C Kingdom
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Kelsey McLaughlin
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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3
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Liu J, Sun Q, Liu D, Liang H, Chen Y, Ye F, Zhang Q. Epigenome-850K-wide profiling reveals peripheral blood differential methylation in term low birth weight. Epigenomics 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38957889 DOI: 10.1080/17501911.2024.2358744] [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: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim: We investigate the genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns of term low birth weight (TLBW) neonates. Methods: In the discovery phase, we assayed 32 samples (TLBW/control:16/16) using the EPIC 850k BeadChip Array. Targeted pyrosequencing of in 60 samples (TLBW/control:28/32) using targeted pyrosequencing during the replication phase. Results: The 850K array identified TLBW-associated 144 differentially methylated positions (DMPs) and 149 DMRs. Nearly 77% DMPs exhibited hypomethylation, located in the opensea and gene body regions. The most significantly enriched pathway in KEGG is sphingolipid metabolism (hsa00600), and the genes GALC and SGMS1 related to this pathway both show hypomethylation. Conclusion: Our analysis provides evidence of genome-wide DNAm alterations in TLBW. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the functional significance of these DNAm changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Sun
- Department of Pediatrics, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Die Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Haixiao Liang
- Department of Pediatrics, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanmei Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fang Ye
- Department of Pediatrics, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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Rodriguez-Sibaja MJ, Lopez-Diaz AJ, Valdespino-Vazquez MY, Acevedo-Gallegos S, Amaya-Guel Y, Camarena-Cabrera DM, Lumbreras-Marquez MI. Placental pathology lesions: International Society for Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology vs Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine fetal growth restriction definitions. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2024; 6:101422. [PMID: 38969177 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2024.101422] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research on the definition of fetal growth restriction (FGR) has focused on predicting adverse perinatal outcomes. A significant limitation of this approach is that the individual outcomes of interest could be related to the condition and the treatment. Evaluation of outcomes that reflect the pathophysiology of FGR may overcome this limitation. OBJECTIVE To compare the diagnostic performance of the FGR definitions established by the International Society for Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) to predict placental histopathological findings associated with placental insufficiency and a composite adverse neonatal outcome (ANeO). STUDY DESIGN In this retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies, the ISUOG and the SMFM guidelines were used to identify pregnancies with FGR and a corresponding control group. The primary outcome was the prediction of placental histopathological findings associated with placental insufficiency, defined as lesions associated with maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM). A composite ANeO (ie, umbilical artery pH≤7.1, Apgar score at 5 minutes ≤4, neonatal intensive care unit admission, hypoglycemia, respiratory distress syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation, intrapartum fetal distress requiring expedited delivery, and perinatal death) was investigated as a secondary outcome. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and the areas under the receiver-operating-characteristics curves were determined for each FGR definition. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between each definition and the studied outcomes. A subgroup analysis of the diagnostic performance of both definitions stratifying the population in early and late FGR was also performed. RESULTS Both societies' definitions showed a similar diagnostic performance as well as a significant association with the primary (ISUOG adjusted odds ratio 3.01 [95% confidence interval 2.42, 3.75]; SMFM adjusted odds ratio 2.85 [95% confidence interval 2.31, 3.51]) and secondary outcomes (ISUOG adjusted odds ratio 1.95 [95% confidence interval 1.56, 2.43]; SMFM adjusted odds ratio 2.12 [95% confidence interval 1.70, 2.65]). Furthermore, both FGR definitions had a limited discriminatory capacity for placental histopathological findings of MVM and the composite ANeO (area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve ISUOG 0.63 [95% confidence interval 0.61, 0.65], 0.59 [95% confidence interval 0.56, 0.61]; area under the receiver-operating-characteristics SMFM 0.63 [95% confidence interval 0.61, 0.66], 0.60 [95% confidence interval 0.57, 0.62]). CONCLUSION The ISUOG and the SMFM FGR definitions have limited discriminatory capacity for placental histopathological findings associated with placental insufficiency and a composite ANeO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria J Rodriguez-Sibaja
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia, Mexico City, Mexico (Rodriguez-Sibaja, Lopez-Diaz, Acevedo-Gallegos, Amaya-Guel, Camarena-Cabrera, and Lumbreras-Marquez)
| | - Ana J Lopez-Diaz
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia, Mexico City, Mexico (Rodriguez-Sibaja, Lopez-Diaz, Acevedo-Gallegos, Amaya-Guel, Camarena-Cabrera, and Lumbreras-Marquez)
| | | | - Sandra Acevedo-Gallegos
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia, Mexico City, Mexico (Rodriguez-Sibaja, Lopez-Diaz, Acevedo-Gallegos, Amaya-Guel, Camarena-Cabrera, and Lumbreras-Marquez)
| | - Yubia Amaya-Guel
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia, Mexico City, Mexico (Rodriguez-Sibaja, Lopez-Diaz, Acevedo-Gallegos, Amaya-Guel, Camarena-Cabrera, and Lumbreras-Marquez)
| | - Dulce M Camarena-Cabrera
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia, Mexico City, Mexico (Rodriguez-Sibaja, Lopez-Diaz, Acevedo-Gallegos, Amaya-Guel, Camarena-Cabrera, and Lumbreras-Marquez)
| | - Mario I Lumbreras-Marquez
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia, Mexico City, Mexico (Rodriguez-Sibaja, Lopez-Diaz, Acevedo-Gallegos, Amaya-Guel, Camarena-Cabrera, and Lumbreras-Marquez); Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Universidad Panamericana School of Medicine, Mexico City, Mexico (Lumbreras-Marquez).
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Nzuza S, Hadebe SI, Katz AA, Matjila M. Effects of individual drug and combination antiretroviral therapy on trophoblast proliferation. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2024; 298:66-73. [PMID: 38733775 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.04.035] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has been reported to reduce perinatal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and improve maternal survival outcomes. Recent studies have associated in-utero exposure to cART drugs with adverse outcomes such as pre-eclampsia, preterm delivery, low birth weight and small-for-gestational-age births. However, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying cART-induced adverse pregnancy outcomes remain poorly defined. OBJECTIVES To investigate the effects of cART drugs on trophoblast proliferation in the HTR-8/SVneo cell line. STUDY DESIGN HTR-8/SVneo cells were exposed to tenofovir (0.983-9.83 µM), emtricitabine (0.809-8.09 µM) and efavirenz (0.19-1.09 µM), the individual drugs of the first-line single tablet cART regimen termed 'Atripla', and zidovudine (1.12-1.12 µM), lamivudine (0.65-6.5 µM), lopinavir (0.32-3.2 µM) and ritonavir (0.69-6.9 µM), the individual drugs of the second-line single tablet cART regimen termed 'Aluvia'. The cells were treated for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, and trophoblast proliferation was assessed using a colorimetric 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltretrazolium bromide assay. RESULTS Two-way analysis of variance showed a significant dose-dependent decrease (p < 0.05) in trophoblast proliferation in response to individual and combined drug components of first- and second-line antiretroviral therapy. CONCLUSIONS First- and second-line cART drugs inhibit trophoblast proliferation, and may contribute to placenta-mediated adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanelisiwe Nzuza
- Nelson Mandela University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
| | - Silindile I Hadebe
- Nelson Mandela University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | - Arieh A Katz
- Division of Medical Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, SAMRC/UCT Gynaecological Cancer Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mushi Matjila
- Division of Medical Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, SAMRC/UCT Gynaecological Cancer Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
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Souka AP, Antsaklis P, Tassias K, Chatziioannou MA, Papamihail M, Daskalakis G. The role of the PLGF in the prediction of the outcome in pregnancies with a small for gestational age fetus. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2024; 310:237-243. [PMID: 37837546 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-023-07214-2] [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: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To explore the value of measuring maternal serum PLGF in the prediction of the outcome of small for gestational age fetuses (SGA). METHODS Singleton pregnancies referred with suspicion of SGA in the third trimester were included if they had: no indication for nor signs of imminent delivery, fetal abdominal circumference (AC) at or below the 10th centile and/or estimated fetal weight (EFW) at or below the 10th centile and/or umbilical artery pulsatility index (Umb-PI) at or above the 90th centile for gestation. Women with pre-eclampsia at presentation were excluded. Maternal blood was drawn at the first (index) visit and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS Fifty-one fetuses were examined. Multiple regression analysis showed that family history of microsomia, index EFW and PLGF were significant predictors of the birthweight centile; index femur length centile and PLGF were significant predictors of pre-eclampsia; PLGF and index systolic blood pressure were significant predictors of iatrogenic preterm delivery < 37 weeks, whereas PLGF and index EFW were significant predictors of birthweight ≤ 5th centile and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. For all outcomes, the addition of maternal-fetal parameters did not improve the prediction compared to PLGF alone. Using a cutoff of 0.3 MoM for PLGF would identify 94.1% of the pregnancies with iatrogenic preterm delivery and/or intra-uterine death and all of the cases that developed pre-eclampsia, for a screen positive rate of 54.9%. Women with PLGF ≤ 0.3 MoM had a poor fetal/maternal outcome (iatrogenic preterm delivery, pre-eclampsia, intra-uterine death) in 61.5% of cases. CONCLUSION In pregnancies complicated by SGA, PLGF identifies a very high-risk group that may benefit from intense surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athena P Souka
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens-Faculty of Medicine, 41, D. Soutsou Str, 11521, Athens, Greece.
| | - Panagiotis Antsaklis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens-Faculty of Medicine, 41, D. Soutsou Str, 11521, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Tassias
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens-Faculty of Medicine, 41, D. Soutsou Str, 11521, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Anna Chatziioannou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens-Faculty of Medicine, 41, D. Soutsou Str, 11521, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Papamihail
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens-Faculty of Medicine, 41, D. Soutsou Str, 11521, Athens, Greece
| | - George Daskalakis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens-Faculty of Medicine, 41, D. Soutsou Str, 11521, Athens, Greece
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Khoshkerdar A, Eid N, Batra V, Baker N, Holmes N, Henson S, Sang F, Wright V, McLaren J, Shakesheff K, Woad KJ, Morgan HL, Watkins AJ. Sub-Optimal Paternal Diet at the Time of Mating Disrupts Maternal Adaptations to Pregnancy in the Late Gestation Mouse. Nutrients 2024; 16:1879. [PMID: 38931234 PMCID: PMC11206308 DOI: 10.3390/nu16121879] [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: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy represents a stage during which maternal physiology and homeostatic regulation undergo dramatic change and adaptation. The fundamental purpose of these adaptations is to ensure the survival of her offspring through adequate nutrient provision and an environment that is tolerant to the semi-allogenic foetus. While poor maternal diet during pregnancy is associated with perturbed maternal adaptations during pregnancy, the influence of paternal diet on maternal well-being is less clearly defined. We fed C57BL/6 male mice either a control (CD), low protein diet (LPD), a high fat/sugar Western diet (WD) or the LPD or WD supplemented with methyl donors (MD-LPD and MD-WD, respectively) for a minimum of 8 weeks prior to mating with C57BL/6 females. Mated females were culled at day 17 of gestation for the analysis of maternal metabolic, gut, cardiac and bone health. Paternal diet had minimal influences on maternal serum and hepatic metabolite levels or gut microbiota diversity. However, analysis of the maternal hepatic transcriptome revealed distinct profiles of differential gene expression in response to the diet of the father. Paternal LPD and MD-LPD resulted in differential expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism, transcription, ubiquitin conjugation and immunity in dams, while paternal WD and MD-WD modified the expression of genes associated with ubiquitin conjugation and cardiac morphology. Finally, we observed changes in maternal femur length, volume of trabecular bone, trabecular connectivity, volume of the cortical medullar cavity and thickness of the cortical bone in response to the father's diets. Our current study demonstrates that poor paternal diet at the time of mating can influence the patterns of maternal metabolism and gestation-associated adaptations to her physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afsaneh Khoshkerdar
- Lifespan and Population Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (A.K.); (N.E.); (V.B.); (N.B.); (H.L.M.)
| | - Nader Eid
- Lifespan and Population Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (A.K.); (N.E.); (V.B.); (N.B.); (H.L.M.)
| | - Vipul Batra
- Lifespan and Population Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (A.K.); (N.E.); (V.B.); (N.B.); (H.L.M.)
| | - Nichola Baker
- Lifespan and Population Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (A.K.); (N.E.); (V.B.); (N.B.); (H.L.M.)
| | - Nadine Holmes
- Deep Seq, School of Life Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (N.H.); (S.H.); (F.S.); (V.W.)
| | - Sonal Henson
- Deep Seq, School of Life Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (N.H.); (S.H.); (F.S.); (V.W.)
| | - Fei Sang
- Deep Seq, School of Life Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (N.H.); (S.H.); (F.S.); (V.W.)
| | - Victoria Wright
- Deep Seq, School of Life Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (N.H.); (S.H.); (F.S.); (V.W.)
| | - Jane McLaren
- Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (J.M.)
| | - Kevin Shakesheff
- Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (J.M.)
| | - Kathryn J. Woad
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK;
| | - Hannah L. Morgan
- Lifespan and Population Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (A.K.); (N.E.); (V.B.); (N.B.); (H.L.M.)
| | - Adam J. Watkins
- Lifespan and Population Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (A.K.); (N.E.); (V.B.); (N.B.); (H.L.M.)
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Melbourne A, Schabel MC, David AL, Roberts VHJ. Magnetic resonance imaging of placental intralobule structure and function in a preclinical nonhuman primate model†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:1065-1076. [PMID: 38442734 PMCID: PMC11180614 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioae035] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Although the central role of adequate blood flow and oxygen delivery is known, the lack of optimized imaging modalities to study placental structure has impeded our understanding of its vascular function. Magnetic resonance imaging is increasingly being applied in this field, but gaps in knowledge remain, and further methodological developments are needed. In particular, the ability to distinguish maternal from fetal placental perfusion and the understanding of how individual placental lobules are functioning are lacking. The potential clinical benefits of developing noninvasive tools for the in vivo assessment of blood flow and oxygenation, two key determinants of placental function, are tremendous. Here, we summarize a number of structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques that have been developed and applied in animal models and studies of human pregnancy over the past decade. We discuss the potential applications and limitations of these approaches. Their combination provides a novel source of contrast to allow analysis of placental structure and function at the level of the lobule. We outline the physiological mechanisms of placental T2 and T2* decay and devise a model of how tissue composition affects the observed relaxation properties. We apply this modeling to longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging data obtained from a preclinical pregnant nonhuman primate model to provide initial proof-of-concept data for this methodology, which quantifies oxygen transfer and placental structure across and between lobules. This method has the potential to improve our understanding and clinical management of placental insufficiency once validation in a larger nonhuman primate cohort is complete.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Melbourne
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Matthias C Schabel
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Utah Center for Advanced Imaging Research, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Anna L David
- Department of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Victoria H J Roberts
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Ross C, Deruelle P, Pontvianne M, Lecointre L, Wieder S, Kuhn P, Lodi M. Prediction of adverse neonatal adaptation in fetuses with severe fetal growth restriction after 34 weeks of gestation. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2024; 296:258-264. [PMID: 38490046 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.03.008] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To establish a predictive model for adverse immediate neonatal adaptation (INA) in fetuses with suspected severe fetal growth restriction (FGR) after 34 gestational weeks (GW). METHODS We conducted a retrospective observational study at the University Hospitals of Strasbourg between 2000 and 2020, including 1,220 women with a singleton pregnancy and suspicion of severe FGR who delivered from 34 GW. The primary outcome (composite) was INA defined as Apgar 5-minute score <7, arterial pH <7.10, immediate transfer to pediatrics, or the need for resuscitation at birth. We developed and tested a logistic regression predictive model. RESULTS Adverse INA occurred in 316 deliveries. The model included six features available before labor: parity, gestational age, diabetes, middle cerebral artery Doppler, cerebral-placental inversion, onset of labor. The model could predict individual risk of adverse INA with confidence interval at 95 %. Taking an optimal cutoff threshold of 32 %, performances were: sensitivity 66 %; specificity 83 %; positive and negative predictive values 60 % and 87 % respectively, and area under the curve 78 %. DISCUSSION The predictive model showed good performances and a proof of concept that INA could be predicted with pre-labor characteristics, and needs to be investigated further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célia Ross
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Strasbourg University Hospitals, 1 Avenue Molière, Strasbourg 67200, France
| | - Philippe Deruelle
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Strasbourg University Hospitals, 1 Avenue Molière, Strasbourg 67200, France
| | - Mary Pontvianne
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Strasbourg University Hospitals, 1 Avenue Molière, Strasbourg 67200, France
| | - Lise Lecointre
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Strasbourg University Hospitals, 1 Avenue Molière, Strasbourg 67200, France
| | - Samuel Wieder
- Independent Researcher and Software Architect, France
| | - Pierre Kuhn
- Pediatrics Department, Strasbourg University Hospitals, 1 Avenue Molière, Strasbourg 67200, France
| | - Massimo Lodi
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Strasbourg University Hospitals, 1 Avenue Molière, Strasbourg 67200, France; Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), CNRS, UMR7104 INSERM U964, Strasbourg University, 1 rue Laurent Fries, Illkirch-Graffenstaden 67400, France; Louis Pasteur Hospital, 39 Avenue de la Liberté, Colmar 68024, France.
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Yu S, Nair AG, Huang T, Melamed N, Mei Dan E, Aviram A. Bridging the notch: quantification of the end diastolic notch to better predict fetal growth restriction. ULTRASCHALL IN DER MEDIZIN (STUTTGART, GERMANY : 1980) 2024. [PMID: 38295834 DOI: 10.1055/a-2257-8557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE We aimed to evaluate several quantitative methods to describe the diastolic notch (DN) and compare their performance in the prediction of fetal growth restriction. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients who underwent a placental scan at 16-26 weeks of gestation and delivered between Jan 2016 and Dec 2020 were included. The uterine artery pulsatility index was measured for all of the patients. In patients with a DN, it was quantified using the notch index and notch depth index. Odds ratios for small for gestational age neonates (defined as birth weight <10th and <5th percentile) were calculated. Predictive values of uterine artery pulsatility, notch, and notch depth index for fetal growth restriction were calculated. RESULTS Overall, 514 patients were included, with 69 (13.4%) of them delivering a small for gestational age neonate (birth weight<10th percentile). Of these, 20 (20.9%) had a mean uterine artery pulsatility index >95th percentile, 13 (18.8%) had a unilateral notch, and 11 (15.9%) had a bilateral notch. 16 patients (23.2%) had both a high uterine artery pulsatility index (>95th percentile) and a diastolic notch. Comparison of the performance between uterine artery pulsatility, notch, and notch depth index using receiver operating characteristic curves to predict fetal growth restriction <10th percentile found area under the curve values of 0.659, 0.679, and 0.704, respectively, with overlapping confidence intervals. CONCLUSION Quantifying the diastolic notch at 16-26 weeks of gestation did not provide any added benefit in terms of prediction of neonatal birth weight below the 10th or 5th percentile for gestational age, compared with uterine artery pulsatility index.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila Yu
- DAN Women and Babies Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ananya Gopika Nair
- DAN Women and Babies Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Tianhua Huang
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of genetics, North York General Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Nir Melamed
- DAN Women and Babies Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Elad Mei Dan
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, North York General Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Amir Aviram
- DAN Women and Babies Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Arruda Correia ML, Peixoto Filho FM, Gomes Júnior SC, de Jesus GR. Effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment on maternal-fetal hemodynamics in third trimester pregnant women: A prospective study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300514. [PMID: 38507460 PMCID: PMC10954147 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the maternal-fetal hemodynamic effects after osteopathic manipulative treatment by measuring vital signs and Doppler velocimetry in third-trimester pregnant women. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a prospective study with pregnant women undergoing outpatient follow-up and hospitalized in a ward at Instituto Fernandes Figueira/Fiocruz, between August 2021 to August 2022, during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This study was registered in REBEC under Register Number RBR-9q7kvg and approved by the ethics committee under number 32216620.0.0000.5269. The study population was composed of 51 pregnant women between 28 and 40 weeks of gestation, over 18 years of age, allocated in a single group. Pregnancies with multiple fetuses, malformations, premature rupture of the membrane, and active labor were excluded. The procedures evaluated maternal-fetal hemodynamics using three consecutive measures of ultrasound examination with Doppler velocimetry, and three maternal vital signs measured by an electronic blood pressure monitor. RESULTS Most vital signs changed after osteopathic treatment. However, only the systolic blood pressure (109.92 ±14.42 to 110.71±12.8, p = 0.033), diastolic blood pressure (79.8±11.54 to 77.57±9.44, p = 0.018) and heart rate (87.59±11.93 to 81.12±10.26, p = 0.000) in the sitting position, systolic blood pressure (110.75±13.26 to 108.59±13.07; p = 0.034) in the supine, and heart rate (83.22±11.29 to 80.39±11.0; p = 0.013) in left lateral decubitus reached statistical significance. The oximetry measures (98.55±0.64 to 98.67±0.68; p = 0.098) stayed stable during all three positions. All artery values remained stable after treatment, and no statistically significant difference was recorded in the artery results. CONCLUSION Responses to osteopathic treatment in women in the third trimester of pregnancy did not affect uteroplacental and fetoplacental circulation. However, some maternal vital signs had statistically significant results, with a decrease in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, and an increase in systolic blood pressure in the sitting position, a decrease of heart rate in the left lateral decubitus position, and systolic blood pressure in the supine position. All the results observed were maintained in the normal parameters. The study responses attest to the safety of using the osteopathic manipulative treatment for the fetus and for pregnant women with comorbidities.
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Chen L, Wu M, Zhou Y. HSPB8 binding to c-Myc alleviates hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced trophoblast cell dysfunction. Exp Ther Med 2024; 27:114. [PMID: 38361516 PMCID: PMC10867730 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2024.12402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific syndrome with complex pathogenesis. The present study aimed to explore the role of heat shock protein B8 (HSPB8) and c-Myc in trophoblast cell dysfunction using a hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-treated HTR8/SVneo cell model. HSPB8 expression in tissues of patients with PE was analyzed using the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Following detection of HSPB8 expression in H/R-stimulated HTR8/SVneo cells, HSPB8 was overexpressed by transfection of the gene with a HSPB8-specific plasmid. Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing and Transwell assays were used to evaluate the proliferation, migration and invasion of HTR8/SVneo cells exposed to H/R conditions. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined by 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate staining. 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolocarbo-cyanine iodide (JC-1) staining was applied to assess mitochondrial membrane potential. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were detected using the corresponding commercial kits. In addition, the induction of apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Moreover, the Biogrid database predicted that HSPB8 was bound to c-Myc, and a co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay was used to verify this interaction. Subsequently, c-Myc expression was silenced to conduct rescue experiments in HTR8/SVneo cells exposed to H/R conditions and upregulated HSPB8 expression. Notably, reduced HSPB8 expression was noted in PE tissues and H/R-stimulated HTR8/SVneo cells. HSPB8 enforced expression promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of HTR8/SVneo cells. Moreover, H/R caused an increase in ROS and MDA levels as well as in TUNEL staining and a decrease in aggregated JC-1 fluorescence and SOD activity levels, which were restored following HSPB8 overexpression. Co-IP confirmed the interaction between HSPB8 and c-Myc. Moreover, knockdown of c-Myc expression compromised the effects of HSPB8 upregulation on trophoblast cell dysfunction following induction of H/R. Collectively, the data indicated that HSPB8 could improve mitochondrial oxidative stress by binding to c-Myc to alleviate trophoblast cell dysfunction. The findings may provide new insights into the pathogenesis of PE and highlight the role of HSPB8/c-Myc in the prevention and treatment of PE in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Chen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China
| | - Meiting Wu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China
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13
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Dibbon KC, Mercer GV, Maekawa AS, Hanrahan J, Steeves KL, Ringer LCM, Simpson AJ, Simpson MJ, Baschat AA, Kingdom JC, Macgowan CK, Sled JG, Jobst KJ, Cahill LS. Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics cause placental dysfunction in mice†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:211-218. [PMID: 37724921 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics has been shown to result in fetal growth restriction in mice. In this study, we investigated the placental and fetal hemodynamic responses to plastics exposure in mice using high-frequency ultrasound. Healthy, pregnant CD-1 dams were given either 106 ng/L of 5 μm polystyrene microplastics or 106 ng/L of 50 nm polystyrene nanoplastics in drinking water throughout gestation and were compared with controls. Maternal exposure to both microplastics and nanoplastics resulted in evidence of placental dysfunction that was highly dependent on the particle size. The umbilical artery blood flow increased by 48% in the microplastic-exposed group and decreased by 25% in the nanoplastic-exposed group compared to controls (p < 0.05). The microplastic- and nanoplastic-exposed fetuses showed a significant decrease in the middle cerebral artery pulsatility index of 10% and 13%, respectively, compared to controls (p < 0.05), indicating vasodilation of the cerebral circulation, a fetal adaptation that is part of the brain sparing response to preserve oxygen delivery. Hemodynamic markers of placental dysfunction and fetal hypoxia were more pronounced in the group exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics, suggesting nanoplastic exposure during human pregnancy has the potential to disrupt fetal brain development, which in turn may cause suboptimal neurodevelopmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine C Dibbon
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Grace V Mercer
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Alexandre S Maekawa
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Jenna Hanrahan
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Katherine L Steeves
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Lauren C M Ringer
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - André J Simpson
- Environmental NMR Centre and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Myrna J Simpson
- Environmental NMR Centre and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ahmet A Baschat
- Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins Center for Fetal Therapy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - John C Kingdom
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher K Macgowan
- Translational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - John G Sled
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Translational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karl J Jobst
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Lindsay S Cahill
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
- Discipline of Radiology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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Lin RC, Chao YY, Su MT, Tsai HL, Tsai PY, Wang CY. Upregulation of miR-20b-5p inhibits trophoblast invasion by blocking autophagy in recurrent miscarriage. Cell Signal 2024; 113:110934. [PMID: 37871665 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110934] [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: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Recurrent miscarriage is defined as more than three pregnancy failures occurring before 20 weeks of gestation. Poor differentiation of the endometrial stroma or defective trophoblast cell invasion at the maternal-fetal interface leads to recurrent miscarriages. Several miRNAs, including miR-20b-5p, are aberrantly regulated in recurrent miscarriages; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Primary cilia are antenna-like organelles that coordinate signaling during development and differentiation. Defective primary cilia formation leads to complications, such as recurrent miscarriage or preeclampsia. Here, we demonstrated that miR-20b-5p inhibited trophoblast cell invasion by blocking primary cilia formation. Mechanistically, miR-20b-5p targeted and inhibited ATG16L1 and ATG7 expression, thereby blocking autophagy. Defective autophagy reduced primary cilia formation and stopped ERK activation, which is a crucial signaling pathway for trophoblast invasion. Aspirin is used to prevent recurrent miscarriages in clinical settings. Treatment with aspirin inhibited miR-20b-5p levels, thus restoring primary cilia formation and trophoblast invasion. Thus, our findings uncovered the molecular mechanism by which miR-20b-5p suppressed primary cilia formation and trophoblast invasion by reducing the expression of ATG16L1 and ATG7. Moreover, we found that the defective phenotypes could be rescued by aspirin in recurrent miscarriages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruei-Ci Lin
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ying Chao
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Tsz Su
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Ling Tsai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Yin Tsai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
| | - Chia-Yih Wang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
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15
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Lyu C, Ni T, Guo Y, Zhou T, Chen Z, Yan J, Li Y. Insufficient GDF15 expression predisposes women to unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss by impairing extravillous trophoblast invasion. Cell Prolif 2023; 56:e13514. [PMID: 37272232 PMCID: PMC10693185 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Insufficient extravillous trophoblast (EVT) invasion during early placentation has been shown to contribute to recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). However, the regulatory factors involved and their involvement in RPL pathogenesis remain unknown. Here, we found aberrantly decreased growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) levels in both first-trimester villous and serum samples of unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (URPL) patients as compared with normal pregnancies. Moreover, GDF15 knockdown significantly reduced the invasiveness of both HTR-8/SVneo cells and primary human EVT cells and suppressed the Jagged-1 (JAG1)/NOTCH3/HES1 pathway activity, and JAG1 overexpression rescued the invasion phenotype of the GDF15 knockdown cells. Induction of a lipopolysaccharide-induced abortion model in mice resulted in significantly reduced GDF15 level in the placenta and serum, as well as increased rates of embryonic resorption, and these effects were reversed by administration of recombinant GDF15. Our study thus demonstrates that insufficient GDF15 level at the first-trimester maternal-foetal interface contribute to the pathogenesis of URPL by impairing EVT invasion and suppressing JAG1/NOTCH3/HES1 pathway activity, and suggests that supplementation with GDF15 could benefit early pregnancy maintenance and reduce the risk of early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunzi Lyu
- Center for Reproductive MedicineShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of EducationShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Tianxiang Ni
- Center for Reproductive MedicineShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of EducationShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Yaqiu Guo
- Department of AnesthesiologyJinan Maternal and Child Health HospitalJinanShandongChina
| | - Tingting Zhou
- Center for Reproductive MedicineShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of EducationShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Zi‐Jiang Chen
- Center for Reproductive MedicineShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of EducationShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Junhao Yan
- Center for Reproductive MedicineShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of EducationShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Yan Li
- Center for Reproductive MedicineShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of EducationShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Medical Integration and Practice CenterShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Lead Contact
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16
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Kingdom J, Ashwal E, Lausman A, Liauw J, Soliman N, Figueiro-Filho E, Nash C, Bujold E, Melamed N. Directive clinique n o 442 : Retard de croissance intra-utérin : Dépistage, diagnostic et prise en charge en contexte de grossesse monofœtale. JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY CANADA 2023; 45:102155. [PMID: 37730301 DOI: 10.1016/j.jogc.2023.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIF Le retard de croissance intra-utérin est une complication obstétricale fréquente qui touche jusqu'à 10 % des grossesses dans la population générale et qui est le plus souvent due à une pathologie placentaire sous-jacente. L'objectif de la présente directive clinique est de fournir des déclarations sommaires et des recommandations pour appuyer un protocole clinique de dépistage, diagnostic et prise en charge du retard de croissance intra-utérin pour les grossesses à risque ou atteintes. POPULATION CIBLE Toutes les patientes enceintes menant une grossesse monofœtale. BéNéFICES, RISQUES ET COûTS: La mise en application des recommandations de la présente directive devrait améliorer la compétence des cliniciens quant à la détection du retard de croissance intra-utérin et à la réalisation des interventions indiquées. DONNéES PROBANTES: La littérature publiée a été colligée par des recherches effectuées jusqu'en septembre 2022 dans les bases de données PubMed, Medline, CINAHL et Cochrane Library en utilisant un vocabulaire contrôlé au moyen de termes MeSH pertinents (fetal growth retardation and small for gestational age) et de mots-clés (fetal growth, restriction, growth retardation, IUGR, FGR, low birth weight, small for gestational age, Doppler, placenta, pathology). Seuls les résultats de revues systématiques, d'essais cliniques randomisés ou comparatifs et d'études observationnelles ont été retenus. La littérature grise a été obtenue par des recherches menées dans des sites Web d'organismes s'intéressant à l'évaluation des technologies dans le domaine de la santé et d'organismes connexes, dans des collections de directives cliniques, des registres d'essais cliniques et des sites Web de sociétés de spécialité médicale nationales et internationales. MéTHODES DE VALIDATION: Les auteurs ont évalué la qualité des données probantes et la force des recommandations en utilisant le cadre méthodologique GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). Voir l'annexe A en ligne (tableau A1 pour les définitions et tableau A2 pour l'interprétation des recommandations fortes et conditionnelles [faibles]). PROFESSIONNELS CONCERNéS: Obstétriciens, médecins de famille, infirmières, sages-femmes, spécialistes en médecine fœto-maternelle, radiologistes et autres professionnels de la santé qui prodiguent des soins aux patientes enceintes. RéSUMé POUR TWITTER: Mise à jour de la directive sur le dépistage, le diagnostic et la prise en charge du retard de croissance intra-utérin pour les grossesses à risque ou atteintes. DÉCLARATIONS SOMMAIRES: RECOMMANDATIONS: Prédiction du retard de croissance intra-utérin Prévention du retard de croissance intra-utérin Détection du retard de croissance intra-utérin Examens en cas de retard de croissance intra-utérin soupçonné Prise en charge du retard de croissance intra-utérin précoce Prise en charge du retard de croissance intra-utérin tardif Prise en charge du post-partum et consultations préconception.
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Kingdom J, Ashwal E, Lausman A, Liauw J, Soliman N, Figueiro-Filho E, Nash C, Bujold E, Melamed N. Guideline No. 442: Fetal Growth Restriction: Screening, Diagnosis, and Management in Singleton Pregnancies. JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY CANADA 2023; 45:102154. [PMID: 37730302 DOI: 10.1016/j.jogc.2023.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Fetal growth restriction is a common obstetrical complication that affects up to 10% of pregnancies in the general population and is most commonly due to underlying placental diseases. The purpose of this guideline is to provide summary statements and recommendations to support a clinical framework for effective screening, diagnosis, and management of pregnancies that are either at risk of or affected by fetal growth restriction. TARGET POPULATION All pregnant patients with a singleton pregnancy. BENEFITS, HARMS, AND COSTS Implementation of the recommendations in this guideline should increase clinician competency to detect fetal growth restriction and provide appropriate interventions. EVIDENCE Published literature in English was retrieved through searches of PubMed or MEDLINE, CINAHL, and The Cochrane Library through to September 2022 using appropriate controlled vocabulary via MeSH terms (fetal growth retardation and small for gestational age) and key words (fetal growth, restriction, growth retardation, IUGR, FGR, low birth weight, small for gestational age, Doppler, placenta, pathology). Results were restricted to systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials/controlled clinical trials, and observational studies. Grey literature was identified through searching the websites of health technology assessment and health technology-related agencies, clinical practice guideline collections, clinical trial registries, and national and international medical specialty societies. VALIDATION METHODS The authors rated the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. See online Appendix A (Table A1 for definitions and Table A2 for interpretations of strong and conditional [weak] recommendations). INTENDED AUDIENCE Obstetricians, family physicians, nurses, midwives, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, radiologists, and other health care providers who care for pregnant patients. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT Updated guidelines on screening, diagnosis, and management of pregnancies at risk of or affected by FGR. SUMMARY STATEMENTS RECOMMENDATIONS: Prediction of FGR Prevention of FGR Detection of FGR Investigations in Pregnancies with Suspected Fetal Growth Restriction Management of Early-Onset Fetal Growth Restriction Management of Late-Onset FGR Postpartum management and preconception counselling.
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Capobianco E, Pirrone I. Paternal programming of fetoplacental and offspring metabolic disorders. Placenta 2023; 141:71-77. [PMID: 37355440 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
The alarming increase in the prevalence of metabolic pathologies is of worldwide concern and has been linked not only to genetic factors but also to a large number of non-genetic factors. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the study of the programming of metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity, by paternal exposure, a paradigm termed "Paternal Origins of Health and Disease" (POHaD). This term derives from the better known "Developmental Origins of Health and Disease" (DOHaD), which focuses on the involvement of the maternal intrauterine environment and complications during pregnancy associated with the health and disease of the offspring. Studies on paternal programming have documented environmentally induced epigenetic modifications in the male germline and in seminal plasma, which lead to intergenerational and transgenerational phenotypes, evident already during fetoplacental development. Studies with animal models at both ends of the nutritional spectrum (undernutrition or overnutrition) have been performed to understand the possible mechanisms and signaling pathways leading to the programming of metabolic disorders by exploring epigenetic changes throughout the life of the offspring. The aim of this review was to address the evidence of the programming of fetoplacental developmental alterations and metabolic pathologies in the offspring of males with metabolic disorders and unhealthy exposures, highlighting the mechanisms involved in such programming and looking for paternal interventions to reduce negative health outcomes in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelina Capobianco
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Laboratory of Reproduction and Metabolism, CEFYBO, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Irune Pirrone
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Laboratory of Reproduction and Metabolism, CEFYBO, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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19
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Stapleton D, Darmonkow A, Ravi Chandran A, Milligan N, Saghian R, Shinar S, Whitehead CL, Hobson SR, Serghides L, Macgowan CK, Sled JG, Kingdom JC, Baschat AA, Parks WT, Cahill LS. Peripheral cord insertion is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome only when accompanied by clinically significant placental pathology. ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2023; 62:248-254. [PMID: 36971026 DOI: 10.1002/uog.26206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between umbilical cord insertion site, placental pathology and adverse pregnancy outcome in a cohort of normal and complicated pregnancies. METHODS Sonographic measurement of the cord insertion and detailed placental pathology were performed in 309 participants. Associations between cord insertion site, placental pathology and adverse pregnancy outcome (pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, small-for-gestational age) were examined. RESULTS A total of 93 (30%) participants were identified by pathological examination to have a peripheral cord insertion site. Only 41 of the 93 (44%) peripheral cords were detected by prenatal ultrasound. Peripherally inserted cords were associated significantly (P < 0.0001) with diagnostic placental pathology (most commonly with maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM)); of which 85% had an adverse pregnancy outcome. In cases of isolated peripheral cords, without placental pathology, the incidence of adverse outcome was not statistically different when compared to those with central cord insertion and no placental pathology (31% vs 18%; P = 0.3). A peripheral cord with an abnormal umbilical artery (UA) pulsatility index (PI) corresponded to an adverse outcome in 96% of cases compared to 29% when the UA-PI was normal. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that peripheral cord insertion is often part of the spectrum of findings of MVM disease and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome. However, adverse outcome was uncommon when there was an isolated peripheral cord insertion and no placental pathology. Therefore, additional sonographic and biochemical features of MVM should be sought when a peripheral cord is observed. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Stapleton
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL, Canada
| | - A Darmonkow
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL, Canada
| | - A Ravi Chandran
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - N Milligan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - R Saghian
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - S Shinar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - C L Whitehead
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Pregnancy Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Australia
| | - S R Hobson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - L Serghides
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology and Institutes of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - C K Macgowan
- Translational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - J G Sled
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Translational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - J C Kingdom
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - A A Baschat
- Center for Fetal Therapy, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - W T Parks
- Department of Pathology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - L S Cahill
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL, Canada
- Discipline of Radiology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL, Canada
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20
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Peng L, Zhao W, Yin T, Xu C, Wang G, Du M. The unique expression pattern of human leukocyte antigen in trophoblasts potentially explains the key mechanism of maternal-fetal tolerance and successful pregnancy. J Reprod Immunol 2023; 158:103980. [PMID: 37390630 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2023.103980] [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: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
The success of pregnancy mainly depends on immune tolerance of the mother for the semi-allogeneic fetus. The placenta carrying paternal antigens develops in the maternal uterus without suffering immune attack, making the underlying mechanism of maternal tolerance an enduring mystery. As we all know, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) plays an important role in antigen processing and presentation, thus inducing specific immune responses. Therefore, it is reasonable to speculate that the absence of classical HLA class-I(HLA-I) and HLA class-II (HLA-II) molecules in trophoblasts may account for the maternal-fetal tolerance. Here, we review the HLA-involved interactions between trophoblast cells and decidual immune cells, which contribute to the immunotolerance in the development of normal pregnancy. We also compare the similarity between the maternal-fetal interface and tumor-immune microenvironment because the important role of HLA molecules in tumor immune invasion can provide some references to studies of maternal-fetal immune tolerance. Besides, the abnormal HLA expression is likely to be associated with unexplained miscarriage, making HLA molecules potential therapeutic targets. The advances reported by these studies may exert profound influences on other research areas, including tumor immunity, organ transplantation and autoimmune disease in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijin Peng
- The Lab of Reproduction Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Weijie Zhao
- The Lab of Reproduction Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingxuan Yin
- The Lab of Reproduction Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunfang Xu
- The Lab of Reproduction Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangchuan Wang
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Meirong Du
- The Lab of Reproduction Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China.
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21
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Kingdom J, Hutcheon JA, Gordijn SJ, El-Demellawy D, Grynspan D. Placental Pathology and Pregnancy Complications. J Clin Med 2023; 12:5053. [PMID: 37568455 PMCID: PMC10419987 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12155053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Placental pathology assessment following delivery provides an opportunity to identify the presence and type of disease that can mediate major obstetrical complications, especially in cases where the fetus is growth-restricted, born premature, or stillborn, or if the mother suffers from severe hypertensive morbidities [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- John Kingdom
- Placenta Program, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, 600 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada;
| | - Jennifer A. Hutcheon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 2N1, Canada;
| | - Sanne J. Gordijn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Center of Groningen, CB20, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Dina El-Demellawy
- Department of Pathology, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada;
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - David Grynspan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vernon Jubilee Hospital and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V1T 5L2, Canada
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22
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Clark A, Flouri D, Mufti N, James J, Clements E, Aughwane R, Aertsen M, David A, Melbourne A. Developments in functional imaging of the placenta. Br J Radiol 2023; 96:20211010. [PMID: 35234516 PMCID: PMC10321248 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20211010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The placenta is both the literal and metaphorical black box of pregnancy. Measurement of the function of the placenta has the potential to enhance our understanding of this enigmatic organ and serve to support obstetric decision making. Advanced imaging techniques are key to support these measurements. This review summarises emerging imaging technology being used to measure the function of the placenta and new developments in the computational analysis of these data. We address three important examples where functional imaging is supporting our understanding of these conditions: fetal growth restriction, placenta accreta, and twin-twin transfusion syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alys Clark
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Joanna James
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Eleanor Clements
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Rosalind Aughwane
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michael Aertsen
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anna David
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, UK
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23
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Erez O, Gotsch F, Jung E, Chaiworapongsa T, Gudicha DW, Suksai M, Gallo DM, Chaemsaithong P, Bosco M, Al Qasem M, Meyyazhagan A, Than NG, Romero R. Perturbations in kinetics of the thrombin generation assay identify women at risk of preeclampsia in the first trimester and provide the rationale for a preventive approach. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023; 228:580.e1-580.e17. [PMID: 36368431 PMCID: PMC10149548 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.11.1276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Activation of the coagulation system and increased thrombin generation have been implicated in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, and this rationale supports the administration of low-molecular-weight heparin to prevent this syndrome in patients at risk. Yet, randomized trials of this prophylactic measure have yielded contradictory results. A possible explanation is that only a subset of patients with preeclampsia have excessive thrombin generation and would benefit from the administration of low-molecular-weight heparin. Therefore, the key questions are whether and when patients who subsequently develop preeclampsia present evidence of abnormal thrombin generation. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine (1) the kinetics of thrombin generation throughout gestation in women with a normal pregnancy and in those with early and late preeclampsia, and (2) the diagnostic performance of in vivo thrombin generation parameters to predict the development of preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN This retrospective, nested case-control study was based on a prospective longitudinal cohort of singleton gestations. Cases comprised women who developed preeclampsia (n=49), and controls consisted of patients with a normal pregnancy (n=45). Preeclampsia was classified into early-onset (n=24) and late-onset (n=25). Longitudinal changes in the parameters of the thrombin generation assay (lag time, time to peak thrombin concentration, peak thrombin concentration, endogenous thrombin generation, and velocity index) throughout gestation were compared between the study groups, and normal pregnancy percentiles were derived from the control group. We tested whether a single parameter or a combination of parameters, derived from the kinetics of thrombin generation, could identify patients who subsequently developed preeclampsia. Time-related parameters <10th percentile were considered short, and concentration-related parameters >90th percentile were considered high. RESULTS (1) Patients who developed preeclampsia (early- and late-onset) had abnormal thrombin generation kinetics as early as 8 to 16 weeks of pregnancy; (2) patients with a combination of a short lag time and high peak thrombin concentration at 8 to 16 weeks of pregnancy had an odds ratio of 43.87 for the subsequent development of preeclampsia (area under the curve, 0.79; sensitivity, 56.8%; specificity, 92.7%; positive likelihood ratio, 7.76); (3) at 16 to 22 weeks of gestation, patients with a combination of a short lag time and a high velocity index had an odds ratio of 16 for the subsequent development of preeclampsia (area under the curve, 0.78; sensitivity, 62.2%; specificity, 92.5%; positive likelihood ratio, 8.29). CONCLUSION During early pregnancy, the thrombin generation assay can identify the subset of patients at a greater risk for the development of preeclampsia owing to accelerated and enhanced production of thrombin. This observation provides a rationale for testing the efficacy of low-molecular-weight heparin in this subset of patients. We propose that future research on the efficacy of low-molecular-weight heparin and other interventions targeting the coagulation system to prevent preeclampsia should be focused on patients with abnormal kinetics of thrombin generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Offer Erez
- 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, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
| | - Francesca Gotsch
- 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, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Eunjung Jung
- 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, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- 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, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Dereje W Gudicha
- 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, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Manaphat Suksai
- 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, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Dahiana M Gallo
- 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, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Piya Chaemsaithong
- 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, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Mariachiara Bosco
- 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, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Malek Al Qasem
- 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, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Arun Meyyazhagan
- 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, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Nandor Gabor Than
- 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, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Systems Biology of Reproduction Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary; Maternity Private Clinic, Budapest, Hungary; First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - 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, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI; Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI.
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24
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Ashwal E, McLaughlin K, Melamed N, Ravichandran A, Ellul K, Hobson SR, Windrim RC, Kingdom JC. Predictive accuracy of early mid-trimester placental markers for recurrence of placenta-mediated pregnancy complications. ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2023; 61:418-420. [PMID: 36178778 DOI: 10.1002/uog.26082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- E Ashwal
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - K McLaughlin
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - N Melamed
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - A Ravichandran
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - K Ellul
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - S R Hobson
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - R C Windrim
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - J C Kingdom
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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25
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Shang J, Lin L, Huang X, Zhou L, Huang Q. Re-expression of circ_0043610 contributes to trophoblast dysfunction through the miR-558/RYBP pathway in preeclampsia. Endocr J 2022; 69:1373-1385. [PMID: 35908953 DOI: 10.1507/endocrj.ej22-0153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of data have shown the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE) involves circular RNA (circRNA). The study aims to investigate the function and the potential mechanism of circ_0043610 in PE. The study was performed on two human placental trophoblastic cell lines (JEG-3 and HTR-8/SVneo). The expression of circ_0043610, microRNA-558 (miR-558), and RING1 and YY1 binding protein (RYBP) was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The protein levels of N-cadherin, E-cadherin, and RYBP were assessed by Western blotting. Cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration were evaluated by cell counting kit-8, 5-Ethynyl-29-deoxyuridine, flow cytometry analysis, transwell invasion assay, and wound-healing assay, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation assay, and RNA pull-down assay were performed to identify the associations among circ_0043610, miR-558, and RYBP. Compared with normal placental controls, the increased expression of circ_0043610 and RYBP and the decreased miR-558 expression were detected in PE placental tissues. The overexpression of circ_0043610 led to decreased trophoblast cell proliferation, invasion, and migration but increased cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, circ_0043610 acted as a miR-558 sponge, and miR-558 bound to RYBP. Besides, miR-558 introduction remitted circ_0043610-mediated effects in JEG-3 and HTR-8/SVneo cells. Moreover, RYBP participated in the regulation of miR-558 on trophoblast cell behaviors. Further, the ectopic expression of circ_0043610 led to RYBP upregulation through miR-558. Circ_0043610 induced RYBP production to promote trophoblast dysfunction by binding to miR-558 in PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Shang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongshan Hospital Xiamen University, Xiamen City, 361000, Fujian, China
| | - Li Lin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongshan Hospital Xiamen University, Xiamen City, 361000, Fujian, China
| | - Xiumin Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongshan Hospital Xiamen University, Xiamen City, 361000, Fujian, China
| | - Lihua Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongshan Hospital Xiamen University, Xiamen City, 361000, Fujian, China
| | - Qi Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongshan Hospital Xiamen University, Xiamen City, 361000, Fujian, China
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26
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Contribution of Second Trimester Sonographic Placental Morphology to Uterine Artery Doppler in the Prediction of Placenta-Mediated Pregnancy Complications. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11226759. [PMID: 36431236 PMCID: PMC9697802 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11226759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Second-trimester uterine artery Doppler is a well-established tool for the prediction of preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. At delivery, placentas from affected pregnancies may have gross pathologic findings. Some of these features are detectable by ultrasound, but the relative importance of placental morphologic assessment and uterine artery Doppler in mid-pregnancy is presently unclear. Objective: To characterize the association of second-trimester sonographic placental morphology markers with placenta-mediated complications and determine whether these markers are predictive of placental dysfunction independent of uterine artery Doppler. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with a singleton pregnancy at high risk of placental complications who underwent a sonographic placental study at mid-gestation (160/7−246/7 weeks’ gestation) in a single tertiary referral center between 2016−2019. The sonographic placental study included assessment of placental dimensions (length, width, and thickness), placental texture appearance, umbilical cord anatomy, and uterine artery Doppler (mean pulsatility index and early diastolic notching). Placental area and volume were calculated based on placental length, width, and thickness. Continuous placental markers were converted to multiples on medians (MoM). The primary outcome was a composite of early-onset preeclampsia and birthweight < 3rd centile. Results: A total of 429 eligible patients were identified during the study period, of whom 45 (10.5%) experienced the primary outcome. The rate of the primary outcome increased progressively with decreasing placental length, width, and area, and increased progressively with increasing mean uterine artery pulsatility index (PI). By contrast, placental thickness followed a U-shaped relationship with the primary outcome. Placental length, width, and area, mean uterine artery PI and bilateral uterine artery notching were all associated with the primary outcome. However, in the adjusted analysis, the association persisted only for placenta area (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.21, 95%-confidence interval [CI] 0.06−0.73) and mean uterine artery PI (aOR 11.71, 95%-CI 3.84−35.72). The area under the ROC curve was highest for mean uterine artery PI (0.80, 95%-CI 0.71−0.89) and was significantly higher than that of placental area (0.67, 95%-CI 0.57−0.76, p = 0.44). A model that included both mean uterine artery PI and placental area did not significantly increase the area under the curve (0.82, 95%-CI 0.74−0.90, p = 0.255), and was associated with a relatively minor increase in specificity for the primary outcome compared with mean uterine artery PI alone (63% [95%-CI 58−68%] vs. 52% [95%-CI 47−57%]). Conclusion: Placental area is independently associated with the risk of placenta-mediated complications yet, when combined with uterine artery Doppler, did not further improve the prediction of such complications compared with uterine artery Doppler alone.
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27
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Assisted reproductive technology causes reduced expression of amino acid transporters in human full-term placentas. Pathol Res Pract 2022; 239:154169. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.154169] [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: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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28
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Romero R, Jung E, Chaiworapongsa T, Erez O, Gudicha DW, Kim YM, Kim JS, Kim B, Kusanovic JP, Gotsch F, Taran AB, Yoon BH, Hassan SS, Hsu CD, Chaemsaithong P, Gomez-Lopez N, Yeo L, Kim CJ, Tarca AL. Toward a new taxonomy of obstetrical disease: improved performance of maternal blood biomarkers for the great obstetrical syndromes when classified according to placental pathology. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022; 227:615.e1-615.e25. [PMID: 36180175 PMCID: PMC9525890 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The major challenge for obstetrics is the prediction and prevention of the great obstetrical syndromes. We propose that defining obstetrical diseases by the combination of clinical presentation and disease mechanisms as inferred by placental pathology will aid in the discovery of biomarkers and add specificity to those already known. OBJECTIVE To describe the longitudinal profile of placental growth factor (PlGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), and the PlGF/sFlt-1 ratio throughout gestation, and to determine whether the association between abnormal biomarker profiles and obstetrical syndromes is strengthened by information derived from placental examination, eg, the presence or absence of placental lesions of maternal vascular malperfusion. STUDY DESIGN This retrospective case cohort study was based on a parent cohort of 4006 pregnant women enrolled prospectively. The case cohort of 1499 pregnant women included 1000 randomly selected patients from the parent cohort and all additional patients with obstetrical syndromes from the parent cohort. Pregnant women were classified into six groups: 1) term delivery without pregnancy complications (n=540; control); 2) preterm labor and delivery (n=203); 3) preterm premature rupture of the membranes (n=112); 4) preeclampsia (n=230); 5) small-for-gestational-age neonate (n=334); and 6) other pregnancy complications (n=182). Maternal plasma concentrations of PlGF and sFlt-1 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in 7560 longitudinal samples. Placental pathologists, masked to clinical outcomes, diagnosed the presence or absence of placental lesions of maternal vascular malperfusion. Comparisons between mean biomarker concentrations in cases and controls were performed by utilizing longitudinal generalized additive models. Comparisons were made between controls and each obstetrical syndrome with and without subclassifying cases according to the presence or absence of placental lesions of maternal vascular malperfusion. RESULTS 1) When obstetrical syndromes are classified based on the presence or absence of placental lesions of maternal vascular malperfusion, significant differences in the mean plasma concentrations of PlGF, sFlt-1, and the PlGF/sFlt-1 ratio between cases and controls emerge earlier in gestation; 2) the strength of association between an abnormal PlGF/sFlt-1 ratio and the occurrence of obstetrical syndromes increases when placental lesions of maternal vascular malperfusion are present (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 13.6 vs 6.7 for preeclampsia; aOR, 8.1 vs 4.4 for small-for-gestational-age neonates; aOR, 5.5 vs 2.1 for preterm premature rupture of the membranes; and aOR, 3.3 vs 2.1 for preterm labor (all P<0.05); and 3) the PlGF/sFlt-1 ratio at 28 to 32 weeks of gestation is abnormal in patients who subsequently delivered due to preterm labor with intact membranes and in those with preterm premature rupture of the membranes if both groups have placental lesions of maternal vascular malperfusion. Such association is not significant in patients with these obstetrical syndromes who do not have placental lesions. CONCLUSION Classification of obstetrical syndromes according to the presence or absence of placental lesions of maternal vascular malperfusion allows biomarkers to be informative earlier in gestation and enhances the strength of association between biomarkers and clinical outcomes. We propose that a new taxonomy of obstetrical disorders informed by placental pathology will facilitate the discovery and implementation of biomarkers as well as the prediction and prevention of such disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI; Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI.
| | - Eunjung Jung
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Offer Erez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternity Department "D," Soroka University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, HaEmek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
| | - Dereje W Gudicha
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Yeon Mee Kim
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Department of Pathology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Sun Kim
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Department of Pathology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bomi Kim
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Department of Pathology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Juan Pedro Kusanovic
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; División de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Centro de Investigación e Innovación en Medicina Materno-Fetal, Unidad de Alto Riesgo Obstétrico, Hospital Sotero Del Rio, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francesca Gotsch
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Andreea B Taran
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Bo Hyun Yoon
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sonia S Hassan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Office of Women's Health, Integrative Biosciences Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI; Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Chaur-Dong Hsu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arizona, College of Medicine - Tucson, Tucson, AZ
| | - Piya Chaemsaithong
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Faculty of Medicine, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Lami Yeo
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Chong Jai Kim
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Department of Pathology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Adi L Tarca
- Perinatology Research Branch, Divisions of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Intramural Research, US Department of Health and Human Services, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI
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King VJ, Bennet L, Stone PR, Clark A, Gunn AJ, Dhillon SK. Fetal growth restriction and stillbirth: Biomarkers for identifying at risk fetuses. Front Physiol 2022; 13:959750. [PMID: 36060697 PMCID: PMC9437293 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.959750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a major cause of stillbirth, prematurity and impaired neurodevelopment. Its etiology is multifactorial, but many cases are related to impaired placental development and dysfunction, with reduced nutrient and oxygen supply. The fetus has a remarkable ability to respond to hypoxic challenges and mounts protective adaptations to match growth to reduced nutrient availability. However, with progressive placental dysfunction, chronic hypoxia may progress to a level where fetus can no longer adapt, or there may be superimposed acute hypoxic events. Improving detection and effective monitoring of progression is critical for the management of complicated pregnancies to balance the risk of worsening fetal oxygen deprivation in utero, against the consequences of iatrogenic preterm birth. Current surveillance modalities include frequent fetal Doppler ultrasound, and fetal heart rate monitoring. However, nearly half of FGR cases are not detected in utero, and conventional surveillance does not prevent a high proportion of stillbirths. We review diagnostic challenges and limitations in current screening and monitoring practices and discuss potential ways to better identify FGR, and, critically, to identify the “tipping point” when a chronically hypoxic fetus is at risk of progressive acidosis and stillbirth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria J. King
- Fetal Physiology and Neuroscience Group, Department of Physiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Laura Bennet
- Fetal Physiology and Neuroscience Group, Department of Physiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Peter R. Stone
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Alys Clark
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Auckland Biomedical Engineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Alistair J. Gunn
- Fetal Physiology and Neuroscience Group, Department of Physiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Simerdeep K. Dhillon
- Fetal Physiology and Neuroscience Group, Department of Physiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- *Correspondence: Simerdeep K. Dhillon,
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Evidence-Based Screening, Diagnosis and Management of Fetal Growth Restriction: Challenges and Confusions. MATERNAL-FETAL MEDICINE 2022. [DOI: 10.1097/fm9.0000000000000162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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31
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The Update of Fetal Growth Restriction Associated with Biomarkers. MATERNAL-FETAL MEDICINE 2022. [DOI: 10.1097/fm9.0000000000000156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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32
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Jaiman S, Romero R, Bhatti G, Jung E, Gotsch F, Suksai M, Gallo DM, Chaiworapongsa T, Kadar N. The role of the placenta in spontaneous preterm labor and delivery with intact membranes. J Perinat Med 2022; 50:553-566. [PMID: 35246973 PMCID: PMC9189066 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2021-0681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine whether placental vascular pathology and impaired placental exchange due to maturational defects are involved in the etiology of spontaneous preterm labor and delivery in cases without histologic acute chorioamnionitis. METHODS This was a retrospective, observational study. Cases included pregnancies that resulted in spontaneous preterm labor and delivery (<37 weeks), whereas uncomplicated pregnancies that delivered fetuses at term (≥37-42 weeks of gestation) were selected as controls. Placental histological diagnoses were classified into three groups: lesions of maternal vascular malperfusion, lesions of fetal vascular malperfusion, and placental microvasculopathy, and the frequency of each type of lesion in cases and controls was compared. Moreover, we specifically searched for villous maturational abnormalities in cases and controls. Doppler velocimetry of the umbilical and uterine arteries were performed in a subset of patients. RESULTS There were 184 cases and 2471 controls, of which 95 and 1178 had Doppler studies, respectively. The frequency of lesions of maternal vascular malperfusion was greater in the placentas of patients with preterm labor than in the control group [14.1% (26/184) vs. 8.8% (217/2471) (p=0.023)]. Disorders of villous maturation were more frequent in the group with preterm labor than in the control group: 41.1% (39/95) [delayed villous maturation in 31.6% (30/95) vs. 2.5% (13/519) in controls and accelerated villous maturation in 9.5% (9/95) vs. none in controls]. CONCLUSIONS Maturational defects of placental villi were associated with approximately 41% of cases of unexplained spontaneous preterm labor and delivery without acute inflammatory lesions of the placenta and with delivery of appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Jaiman
- 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, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, 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, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA,Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA,Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA,Corresponding Author: Roberto Romero, MD, DMedSci, Chief, Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Hutzel Women’s Hospital, 3990 John R Street, 4 Brush, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA. (313) 993-2700;
| | - 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, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Eunjung Jung
- 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, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Francesca Gotsch
- 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, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Manaphat Suksai
- 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, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Dahiana M. Gallo
- 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, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- 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, and Detroit, Michigan, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
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Diagnostic utility of serial circulating placental growth factor levels and uterine artery Doppler waveforms in diagnosing underlying placental diseases in pregnancies at high risk of placental dysfunction. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022; 227:618.e1-618.e16. [PMID: 35644246 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.05.043] [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: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Placental pathology assessment following delivery in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, abruption, and stillbirth reveals a range of underlying diseases. The most common pathology is maternal vascular malperfusion, characterized by high-resistance uterine artery Doppler waveforms and abnormal expression of circulating maternal angiogenic growth factors. Rare placental diseases (massive perivillous fibrinoid deposition and chronic histiocytic intervillositis) are reported to have high recurrence risks, but their associations with uterine artery Doppler waveforms and angiogenic growth factors are presently ill-defined. OBJECTIVE To characterize the patterns of serial placental growth factor measurements and uterine artery Doppler waveform assessments in pregnancies that develop specific types of placental pathology to gain insight into their relationships with the timing of disease onset and pregnancy outcomes. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective cohort study conducted between January 2017 and November 2021 included all singleton pregnancies with at least 1 measurement of maternal circulating placental growth factor between 16 and 36 weeks' gestation, delivery at our institution, and placental pathology analysis demonstrating diagnostic features of maternal vascular malperfusion, fetal vascular malperfusion, villitis of unknown etiology, chronic histiocytic intervillositis, or massive perivillous fibrinoid deposition. Profiles of circulating placental growth factor as gestational age advanced were compared between these placental pathologies. Maternal and perinatal outcomes were recorded. RESULTS A total of 337 pregnancies from 329 individuals met our inclusion criteria. These comprised placental pathology diagnoses of maternal vascular malperfusion (n=109), fetal vascular malperfusion (n=87), villitis of unknown etiology (n=96), chronic histiocytic intervillositis (n=16), and massive perivillous fibrinoid deposition (n=29). Among patients who developed maternal vascular malperfusion, placental growth factor levels gradually declined as pregnancy progressed (placental growth factor <10th percentile at 16-20 weeks' gestation in 42.9%; 20-24 weeks in 61.9%; 24-28 weeks in 77%; and 28-32 weeks in 81.4%) accompanied by mean uterine artery Doppler pulsatility index >95th percentile in 71.6% cases. Patients who developed either fetal vascular malperfusion or villitis of unknown etiology mostly exhibited normal circulating placental growth factor values in association with normal uterine artery Doppler waveforms (mean [standard deviation] pulsatility index values: fetal vascular malperfusion, 1.14 [0.49]; villitis of unknown etiology, 1.13 [0.45]). Patients who developed either chronic histiocytic intervillositis or massive perivillous fibrinoid deposition exhibited persistently low placental growth factor levels from the early second trimester (placental growth factor <10th centile at 16-20 weeks' gestation in 80% and 77.8%, respectively; 20-24 weeks in 88.9% and 63.6%; 24-28 weeks in 85.7% and 75%), all in combination with normal uterine artery Doppler waveforms (mean pulsatility index >95th centile: chronic histiocytic intervillositis, 25%; massive perivillous fibrinoid deposition, 37.9%). Preeclampsia developed in 83 of 337 (24.6%) patients and was most common in those developing maternal vascular malperfusion (54/109, 49.5%) followed by chronic histiocytic intervillositis (7/16, 43.8%). There were 29 stillbirths in the cohort (maternal vascular malperfusion, n=10 [9.2%]; fetal vascular malperfusion, n=5 [5.7%]; villitis of unknown etiology, n=1 [1.0%]; chronic histiocytic intervillositis, n=7 [43.8%]; massive perivillous fibrinoid deposition, n=6 [20.7%]). Most patients experiencing stillbirth exhibited normal uterine artery Doppler waveforms (21/29, 72.4%) and had nonmaternal vascular malperfusion pathologies (19/29, 65.5%). By contrast, 28 of 29 (96.5%) patients experiencing stillbirth had ≥1 low placental growth factor values before fetal death. CONCLUSION Serial circulating maternal placental growth factor tests, in combination with uterine artery Doppler waveform assessments in the second trimester, may indicate the likely underlying type of placental pathology mediating severe adverse perinatal events. This approach has the potential to test disease-specific therapeutic strategies to improve clinical outcomes. Serial placental growth factor testing, compared with uterine artery Doppler studies, identifies a greater proportion of patients destined to have a poor perinatal outcome because diseases other than maternal vascular malperfusion are characterized by normal uteroplacental circulation.
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Ashwal E, Ferreira F, Mei-Dan E, Aviram A, Sherman C, Zaltz A, Kingdom J, Melamed N. The accuracy of Fetoplacental Doppler in distinguishing between growth restricted and constitutionally small fetuses. Placenta 2022; 120:40-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Malmberg M, Kragsterman E, Sinding M, Hansen DN, Peters DA, Frøkjær JB, Petersen AC, Sørensen A. Perfusion fraction derived from IVIM analysis of diffusion-weighted MRI in the assessment of placental vascular malperfusion antenatally. Placenta 2022; 119:1-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Aviram A, Jones SL, Huang T, Satkunaratnam A, Melamed N, Mei-Dan E. Reassurance from second trimester sonographic placental scan for pregnancies complicated by abnormal first trimester biomarkers. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2022; 35:9415-9421. [PMID: 35139739 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2022.2040013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Enhanced first trimester aneuploidy screening (eFTS) combines serum biomarkers and ultrasound. Abnormal biomarkers are associated with placental complications, such as fetal growth restriction (FGR). We aimed to evaluate whether a Midtrimester placental scan can provide reassurance regarding FGR in women with abnormal eFTS biomarkers. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women who had eFTS and delivered at a single referral center. Women with abnormal biomarkers had a mid-trimester scan of the placenta (morphologic assessment, fetal biometry and uterine artery pulsatility index). We compared pregnancies with abnormal eFTS biomarkers and normal placental scans (study group) with those who had normal eFTS biomarkers (control group). RESULTS A total of 6,514 women were included, of whom 343 (5.3%) comprised the study group. Women in the study group had an increased risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy [(aOR)1.96(95%CI 1.21-3.16)], and preterm birth <37 weeks [aOR1.98(95%CI 1.33-2.95)] compared to the control group. Yet, their neonates were not at higher risk for FGR <3rd, 5th, or 10th percentile [aOR1.16(95%CI 0.83-1.63), 1.14(95%CI 0.70-1.87), and 0.47(95%CI 0.17-1.27), respectively]. CONCLUSION A normal second trimester placental scan provided reassurance regarding the risk of FGR in women at high risk based on abnormal eFTS biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Aviram
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, DAN Women & Babies Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sara L Jones
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, North York General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Dalhousie Medical School, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Tianhua Huang
- Genetics Program, North York General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Prenatal Screening Ontario, Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Abheha Satkunaratnam
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, North York General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nir Melamed
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, DAN Women & Babies Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elad Mei-Dan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, North York General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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McLaughlin K, Hobson SR, Chandran AR, Agrawal S, Windrim RC, Parks WT, Bowman AW, Sovio U, Smith GC, Kingdom JC. Circulating maternal placental growth factor responses to low-molecular-weight heparin in pregnant patients at risk of placental dysfunction. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022; 226:S1145-S1156.e1. [PMID: 34461078 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients at high risk of severe preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction have low circulating levels of placental growth factor and features of maternal vascular malperfusion placental pathology at delivery. Multimodal screening and commencement of aspirin prophylaxis at 11 to 13 weeks' gestation markedly reduces the risk of preterm delivery with preeclampsia. However, the additional role of low-molecular-weight heparin and mechanisms of action remain uncertain. Because low-molecular-weight heparin augments the production and release of placental growth factor in vitro by both placental villi and vascular endothelium, it may be effective to suppress the risk of severe preeclampsia in a niche group of high-risk patients with low circulating placental growth factor in the early second trimester. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to define a gestational age-specific reference range for placental growth factor and to test the hypothesis that prophylactic low-molecular-weight heparin administered in the early second trimester may restore deficient circulating placental growth factor levels and thereby prolong pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN Centile curves for circulating placental growth factor levels from 12 to 36 weeks' gestation were derived using quantile regression of combined data from a published cohort of 4207 unselected nulliparous patients in Cambridge, United Kingdom, at 4 sampling time points (12, 20, 28, and 36 weeks' gestation) and the White majority (n=531) of a healthy nulliparous cohort in Toronto, Canada, at 16 weeks' gestation using the same test platform. Within a specialty high-risk clinic in Toronto, a niche group of 7 patients with a circulating placental growth factor at the <10th centile in the early second trimester received daily prophylactic low-molecular-weight heparin (enoxaparin; 40 mg subcutaneously) and were followed up until delivery (group 1). Their baseline characteristics, delivery details, and placental pathologies were compared with 5 similar patients who did not receive low-molecular-weight heparin during the observation period (group 2) and further with 21 patients who delivered with severe preeclampsia (group 3) in the same institution. RESULTS A gestational age-specific reference range for placental growth factor levels at weekly intervals between 12 and 36 weeks was established for White women with singleton pregnancies. Within group 1, 5 of 7 patients demonstrated a sustained increase in circulating placental growth factor levels, whereas placental growth factor levels did not increase in group 2 or group 3 patients who did not receive low-molecular-weight heparin. Group 1 patients receiving low-molecular-weight heparin therapy exhibited a later gestation at delivery, relative to groups 2 and 3 (36 weeks [33-37] vs 23 weeks [22-26] and 28 weeks [27-31], respectively), and consequently had higher birthweights (1.93 kg [1.1-2.7] vs 0.32 kg [0.19-0.39] and 0.73 kg [0.52-1.03], respectively). The incidence of stillbirth was lowest in group 1 (14% [1 of 7]), relative to groups 2 and 3 (80% [4 of 5] and 29% [6 of 21], respectively). Maternal vascular malperfusion was the most common placental pathology found in association with abnormal uterine artery Doppler. CONCLUSION In patients at high risk of a serious adverse pregnancy outcome owing to placental disease, the addition of low-molecular-weight heparin to aspirin prophylaxis in the early second trimester may restore deficient circulating placental growth factor to mediate an improved perinatal outcome. These data support the implementation of a multicenter pilot randomized control trial where patients are recruited primarily based on the assessment of placental function in the early second trimester.
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Hiersch L, Barrett J, Fox NS, Rebarber A, Kingdom J, Melamed N. Should twin-specific growth charts be used to assess fetal growth in twin pregnancies? Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022; 227:10-28. [PMID: 35114185 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
One of the hallmarks of twin pregnancies is the slower rate of fetal growth when compared with singleton pregnancies during the third trimester. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon and whether it represents pathology or benign physiological adaptation are currently unclear. One important implication of these questions relates to the type growth charts that should be used by care providers to monitor growth of twin fetuses. If the slower growth represents pathology (ie, intrauterine growth restriction caused uteroplacental insufficiency), it would be preferable to use a singleton growth chart to identify a small twin fetus that is at risk for perinatal mortality and morbidity. If, however, the relative smallness of twins is the result of benign adaptive mechanisms, it is likely preferable to use a twin-based charts to avoid overdiagnosis of intrauterine growth restriction in twin pregnancies. In the current review, we addressed this question by describing the differences in fetal growth between twin and singleton pregnancies, reviewing the current knowledge regarding the mechanisms responsible for slower fetal growth in twins, summarizing available empirical evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of the 2 types of charts for intrauterine growth restriction in twin pregnancies, and addressing the question of whether uncomplicated dichorionic twins are at an increased risk for fetal death when compared with singleton fetuses. We identified a growing body of evidence that shows that the use of twin charts can reduce the proportion of twin fetuses identified with suspected intrauterine growth restriction by up to 8-fold and can lead to a diagnosis of intrauterine growth restriction that is more strongly associated with adverse perinatal outcomes and hypertensive disorders than a diagnosis of intrauterine growth restriction based on a singleton-based chart without compromising the detection of twin fetuses at risk for adverse outcomes caused by uteroplacental insufficiency. We further found that small for gestational age twins are less likely to experience adverse perinatal outcomes or to have evidence of uteroplacental insufficiency than small for gestational age singletons and that recent data question the longstanding view that uncomplicated dichorionic twins are at an increased risk for fetal death caused by placental insufficiency. Overall, it seems that, based on existing evidence, the of use twin charts is reasonable and may be preferred over the use of singleton charts when monitoring the growth of twin fetuses. Still, it is important to note that the available data have considerable limitations and are primarily derived from observational studies. Therefore, adequately-powered trials are likely needed to confirm the benefit of twin charts before their use is adopted by professional societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liran Hiersch
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lis Maternity Hospital, Sourasky Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Jon Barrett
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nathan S Fox
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates, PLLC, New York, NY
| | - Andrei Rebarber
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates, PLLC, New York, NY
| | - John Kingdom
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nir Melamed
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Ahmed FA, Klausen C, Zhu H, Leung PCK. Myostatin increases human trophoblast cell invasion by upregulating N-cadherin via SMAD2/3-SMAD4 Signaling. Biol Reprod 2022; 106:1267-1277. [PMID: 35020826 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Placental insufficiency disorders are major obstetric complications that share a common phenomenon of poor placental trophoblast cell invasion and remodeling of uterine tissues. Myostatin is a transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily member well-known for its important role in muscle growth control. Myostatin is also produced in the placenta and has been shown to regulate some trophoblast functions. However, its roles in placental development are still poorly understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that myostatin increases trophoblast cell invasion by upregulating N-cadherin via SMAD2/3-SMAD4 signaling. Primary and immortalized (HTR8/SVneo) trophoblast cells were used as study models. Matrigel-coated transwell invasion assays were used to study the effects of recombinant human myostatin on trophoblast cell invasion. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to measure myostatin effects on N-cadherin mRNA and protein levels, respectively. Small inhibitor molecules as well as siRNA-mediated knockdown were used to block myostatin receptor and downstream signaling, respectively. Data were analyzed either by unpaired Student T test or one-way ANOVA followed by Newman Keuls test for multiple group comparisons. Myostatin significantly increased primary and HTR8/SVneo trophoblast cell invasion. Moreover, myostatin upregulated N-cadherin mRNA and protein levels in a time dependent manner in both study models. These effects were blocked by inhibition of TGF-β type I receptors as well as siRNA-mediated knockdown of SMAD2/3 combined or common SMAD4. Importantly, myostatin-induced trophoblast cell invasion was abolished by knockdown of N-cadherin, SMAD2/3 or SMAD4. Myostatin may increase human trophoblast cell invasion by upregulating N-cadherin via SMAD2/3-SMAD4 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faten AbdelHafez Ahmed
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Christian Klausen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Hua Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Peter C K Leung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Chen Q, Zhu YM, Zhang YK, Gui LP, Fan HR, Zhang Y, Chen M. The role of shear wave elastography in the assessment of placentas in healthy pregnancy women during third-trimester: A preliminary study. J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod 2021; 51:102292. [PMID: 34933147 DOI: 10.1016/j.jogoh.2021.102292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The study aimed to analysis the elasticity value of placenta in healthy women during third trimester by shear wave elastography (SWE), and tried to investigate the relationship between clinical characteristics and placental elasticity. METHODS Singleton healthy pregnant women who had routine ultrasound examination between 28 and 37 weeks were enrolled. SWE of the frontier placentas were evaluated by transabdominal ultrasound elastography. Only placentas at front wall were enrolled. The placenta was divided into three areas for SWE examination: the central area (Area A), the periphery area (Area B) and the area between central and edge of placenta (Area C). Then, the subjects with normal delivery were evaluated and analyze the relationship between clinical features and placental elasticity. RESULTS A total of 43 pregnant women were included in this study. The mean value of SWE in the central area was 5.67±2.51 kPa. And it was 6.50±2.57 kPa in the periphery area, 5.17±2.25 kPa in the area C. There were no significant differences except area B and C. In different age group, there were no significant differences except area C. The history of childbearing and uterine operation and the gestational age were no significant correlation with the SWE value of placenta. There were also no significant differences between birth weight percentile and placental elasticity. CONCLUSION The placental elasticity is stable in healthy women during third trimester. Shear wave elastography is helpful to assess the placental elasticity and can be used as a supplemental technique to existing methods for monitoring the placental function. But the normal elasticity range in some certain areas of placenta should be confirmed by further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Chen
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya-Mei Zhu
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Ke Zhang
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Li-Ping Gui
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong-Rong Fan
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Man Chen
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Liauw J, Groom K, Ganzevoort W, Gluud C, McKinlay CJD, Sharp A, Mackay L, Kariya C, Lim K, von Dadelszen P, Limpens J, Jakobsen JC. Short-term outcomes of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors for fetal growth restriction: a study protocol for a systematic review with individual participant data meta-analysis, aggregate meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis. Syst Rev 2021; 10:305. [PMID: 34861900 PMCID: PMC8643016 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-021-01849-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early onset fetal growth restriction secondary to placental insufficiency can lead to severe maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Pre-clinical studies and a few small randomised clinical trials have suggested that phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors may have protective effects against placental insufficiency in this context; however, robust evidence is lacking. The STRIDER Consortium conducted four randomised trials to investigate the use of a PDE-5 inhibitor, sildenafil, for the treatment of early onset fetal growth restriction. We present a protocol for the pre-planned systematic review with individual participant data meta-analysis, aggregate meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis of these and other eligible trials. The main objective of this study will be to evaluate the effects of PDE-5 inhibitors on neonatal morbidity compared with placebo or no intervention among pregnancies with fetal growth restriction. METHODS We will search the following electronic databases with no language or date restrictions: OVID MEDLINE, OVID EMBASE, the Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL), and the clinical trial registers Clinicaltrials.gov and World Health Organisation International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). We will identify randomised trials of PDE-5 inhibitors in singleton pregnancies with growth restriction. Two reviewers will independently screen all citations, full-text articles, and abstract data. Our primary outcome will be infant survival without evidence of serious adverse neonatal outcome. Secondary outcomes will include gestational age at birth and birth weight z-scores. We will assess bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. We will conduct aggregate meta-analysis using fixed and random effects models, Trial Sequential Analysis, and individual participant data meta-analysis using one- and two-stage approaches. The certainty of evidence will be assessed with GRADE. DISCUSSION This pre-defined protocol will minimise bias during analysis and interpretation of results, toward the goal of providing robust evidence regarding the use of PDE-5 inhibitors for the treatment of early onset fetal growth restriction. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO (CRD42017069688).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Liauw
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Room C420-4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 3N1, Canada.
| | - Katie Groom
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Wessel Ganzevoort
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Christian Gluud
- Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, Capital Region of Denmark, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Andrew Sharp
- Harris-Wellbeing Preterm Birth Centre, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Laura Mackay
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Ken Lim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Room C420-4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 3N1, Canada
| | | | - Jacqueline Limpens
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Janus C Jakobsen
- Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, Capital Region of Denmark, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Regional Health Research, The Faculty of Heath Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Ding J, Zhang Y, Cai X, Diao L, Yang C, Yang J. Crosstalk Between Trophoblast and Macrophage at the Maternal-Fetal Interface: Current Status and Future Perspectives. Front Immunol 2021; 12:758281. [PMID: 34745133 PMCID: PMC8566971 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.758281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune tolerance microenvironment is crucial for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy at the maternal-fetal interface. The maternal-fetal interface is a complex system containing various cells, including lymphocytes, decidual stromal cells, and trophoblasts. Macrophages are the second-largest leukocytes at the maternal-fetal interface, which has been demonstrated to play essential roles in remodeling spiral arteries, maintaining maternal-fetal immune tolerance, and regulating trophoblast's biological behaviors. Many researchers, including us, have conducted a series of studies on the crosstalk between macrophages and trophoblasts at the maternal-fetal interface: on the one hand, macrophages can affect the invasion and migration of trophoblasts; on the other hand, trophoblasts can regulate macrophage polarization and influence the state of the maternal-fetal immune microenvironment. In this review, we systemically introduce the functions of macrophages and trophoblasts and the cell-cell interaction between them for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Advances in this area will further accelerate the basic research and clinical translation of reproductive medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinli Ding
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Clinic Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Embryonic Development, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaopeng Cai
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Clinical Medical Research Center of Peritoneal Cancer of Wuhan, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lianghui Diao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology for Periimplantation, Shenzhen Zhongshan Institute for Reproduction and Genetics, Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chaogang Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Clinical Medical Research Center of Peritoneal Cancer of Wuhan, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Clinic Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Embryonic Development, Wuhan, China
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Bhamidipaty-Pelosi S, Fox J, Greer RM, Kumar S. The risk of recurrent small-for-gestational-age infants at term is dependent on the number of previously affected births. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2021; 225:415.e1-415.e9. [PMID: 33848539 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.04.219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Small-for-gestational-age infants are at a substantially increased risk of perinatal complications, but the risk of recurrent small-for-gestational-age is not well known, particularly because there are many demographic and obstetrical factors that interact and modify this risk. We investigated the relationship between previous small-for-gestational-age births and the risk of recurrence at term in a large Australian cohort. OBJECTIVE We aimed to identify key demographic and obstetrical variables that influence the risk of recurrence of a small-for-gestational-age infant at term. The primary outcome measure was the odds of recurrence of small-for-gestational-age in subsequent pregnancies up to a maximum of 4 consecutive term births. STUDY DESIGN This was a retrospective analysis of women who had more than 1 consecutive nonanomalous, singleton, term live births between July 1997 and September 2018 at the Mater Mother's Hospital in Brisbane, Australia. Women with multiple pregnancy, preterm birth, or major congenital malformations were excluded. Small-for-gestational-age was defined as birthweight at the <10th centile. We calculated the odds of recurrence depending on the number of previous small-for-gestational-age infants and if only the preceding infant was small-for-gestational-age. The study population was dichotomized into small-for-gestational-age and non-small-for-gestational-age for each consecutive pregnancy. Univariate analyses compared baseline demographic and obstetrical characteristics followed by logistic regression modeling to determine the odds of recurrence in the second, third, and fourth pregnancies. RESULTS The final study comprised 24,819 women. The proportion of women who had a small-for-gestational-age infant in their first pregnancy was 9.4%, whereas the proportion of women who had a small-for-gestational-age infant in their second, third, and fourth pregnancies after the birth of a previous small-for-gestational-age infant were 20.5% (479 of 2338), 24.6% (63 of 256), and 30.4% (14 of 46), respectively. Regardless of parity, the odds of recurrence increased if the preceding infant was small-for-gestational-age. The odds of recurrence increased markedly if there was more than 1 previous small-for-gestational-age infant. In women with 3 previous small-for-gestational-age infants, the adjusted odds of another small-for-gestational-age infant were 66.00 (95% confidence interval, 11.35-383.76). Maternal age, body mass index, ethnicity, and smoking were significant risk factors for recurrent small-for-gestational-age. However, maternal diabetes mellitus or hypertension, either in a previous or current pregnancy, did not influence the risk of recurrence. CONCLUSION The risk of recurrence in a subsequent pregnancy increased if there was a previous small-for-gestational-age birth. Women with consecutive small-for-gestational-age infants were at the highest risk of recurrence. Our results highlight that women with a previous small-for-gestational-age infant are at a substantial risk of another small infant and need to be counseled and monitored appropriately.
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Schoots MH, Bourgonje MF, Bourgonje AR, Prins JR, van Hoorn EGM, Abdulle AE, Muller Kobold AC, van der Heide M, Hillebrands JL, van Goor H, Gordijn SJ. Oxidative stress biomarkers in fetal growth restriction with and without preeclampsia. Placenta 2021; 115:87-96. [PMID: 34583270 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Oxidative stress as observed in fetal growth restriction (FGR) and preeclampsia (PE) can be identified by decreased levels of systemic free thiols (FT) and increased levels of plasma ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), which may serve as biomarkers in maternal blood for pregnancy complications. We evaluate the performance of oxidative stress-associated potential biomarkers for FGR and PE, and their relationship with clinical characteristics. METHODS A prospective clinical pilot study was performed in healthy controls and women with pregnancies complicated by severe FGR with or without PE. Blood samples were taken directly after inclusion and analyzed for FT; IMA; soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1); placenta growth factor (PlGF); and biomarkers like leptin and soluble receptors for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE). Placentas were examined microscopically. Descriptive statistics and receiver operating characteristics statistics were performed. RESULTS Mothers with both severe FGR and PE had significantly reduced FT levels (p < 0.001) and PlGF levels (p < 0.001), and increased levels of plasma IMA (p < 0.05), sFlt (p < 0.001), leptin (p < 0.05) and sRAGE (p < 0.01) compared to women with FGR only. Systemic FT levels were significantly inversely associated with blood pressure (p < 0.01) and plasma IMA (p < 0.001), leptin (p = 0.01) and sRAGE (p < 0.001). Systemic FT and leptin showed significant discriminative ability to differentiate mothers with both FGR and PE from mothers with uncomplicated pregnancies or pregnancies complicated by FGR only. DISCUSSION There is a significant discriminative capacity of FT, IMA, leptin and sRAGE that harbor potential as biomarkers of pregnancies complicated by combined FGR and PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirthe H Schoots
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Martin F Bourgonje
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Arno R Bourgonje
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jelmer R Prins
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Eline G M van Hoorn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Amaal E Abdulle
- Division of Vascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Anneke C Muller Kobold
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Martin van der Heide
- Division of Neonatology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jan-Luuk Hillebrands
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Harry van Goor
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Sanne J Gordijn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
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Pang B, Pan JJ, Li Q, Zhang X. Accuracy of ultrasonography in diagnosis of fetal central nervous system malformation. World J Clin Cases 2021; 9:8027-8034. [PMID: 34621859 PMCID: PMC8462195 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i27.8027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal examination is an important measure for the screening and diagnosis of fetal malformations.
AIM To investigate the accuracy of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of fetal central nervous system (CNS) malformations.
METHODS One hundred and thirteen pregnant women suspected of having fetal CNS malformations were examined at our hospital from December 2018 to October 2020 using two-dimensional ultrasonography and three-dimensional ultrasonography, respectively.
RESULTS According to the pathological results, there were 79 cases of CNS malformations and 34 cases of non-CNS malformations among the 113 pregnant women suspected of having fetal CNS malformation. Fifty-one cases of CNS malformation and 26 cases of non-CNS malformation were detected by two-dimensional ultrasonography, and 73 cases of CNS malformation and 30 cases of non-CNS malformation were detected by three-dimensional ultrasonography. The diagnostic sensitivity (92.41%) and accuracy (91.15%) of three-dimensional ultrasonography were higher than those of two-dimensional ultrasonography (64.56% and 68.14%, respectively) (P = 0.000). The specificity of three-dimensional ultrasonography (88.24%) was higher than that of two-dimensional ultrasonography (76.47%); however, the difference was not significant (P = 0.203).
CONCLUSION Three-dimensional ultrasonography has high application value in the diagnosis of fetal CNS malformations. In addition, the image quality is clear, and the diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy are high.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Pang
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241000, Anhui Province, China
| | - Jing-Jing Pan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second People’s Hospital of Wuhu, Wuhu 241000, Anhui Province, China
| | - Qin Li
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241000, Anhui Province, China
| | - Xia Zhang
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241000, Anhui Province, China
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Bruin C, Damhuis S, Gordijn S, Ganzevoort W. Evaluation and Management of Suspected Fetal Growth Restriction. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 2021; 48:371-385. [PMID: 33972072 DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2021.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Impaired fetal growth owing to placental insufficiency is a major contributor to adverse perinatal outcomes. No intervention is available that improves outcomes by changing the pathophysiologic process. Monitoring in early-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) focuses on optimizing the timing of iatrogenic preterm delivery using cardiotocography and Doppler ultrasound. In late-onset FGR, identifying the fetus at risk for immediate hypoxia and who benefits from expedited delivery is challenging. It is likely that studies in the next decade will provide evidence how to best integrate different monitoring variables and other prognosticators in risk models that are aimed to optimize individual treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claartje Bruin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Room H4-205, PO Box 22660, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands.
| | - Stefanie Damhuis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Room H4-205, PO Box 22660, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Huispostcode CB20, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen 9700 RB, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne Gordijn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Huispostcode CB20, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen 9700 RB, The Netherlands
| | - Wessel Ganzevoort
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Room H4-205, PO Box 22660, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
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Chandran AR, Agrawal S, Hobson SR, Windrim RC, Parks T, Kingdom JC. Stillbirth Following Normal Ultrasound Findings and Maternal Placental Growth Factor Levels. JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY CANADA 2021; 43:1426-1428. [PMID: 34411727 DOI: 10.1016/j.jogc.2021.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Attempts to reduce the current rate of antepartum stillbirth in the late third trimester have largely focused on the accurate identification of fetal growth restriction. Universal ultrasound significantly increases detection, especially when combined with maternal angiogenic growth factors, but this screening strategy is not well suited to identify umbilical cord pathology. While this poses unique challenges to pregnancy care, the recurrence risk of cord obstruction is low in comparison with many intrinsic placental diseases. CASE A 30-year-old woman with normal uterine artery Doppler waveforms, fetal growth ultrasounds, and circulating placental growth factor experienced an unexpected third-trimester stillbirth. Placental pathology demonstrated fetal vascular malperfusion and cord hyper-coiling. CONCLUSION Despite normal placental function, the otherwise healthy fetus is at risk of antepartum stillbirth due to cord-related pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Swati Agrawal
- Maternal Fetal Medicine, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON
| | | | - Rory C Windrim
- Maternal Fetal Medicine, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON
| | - Tony Parks
- Department of Pathology, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON
| | - John C Kingdom
- Maternal Fetal Medicine, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON
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Shinar S, Tigert M, Agrawal S, Parks WA, Kingdom JC. Placental growth factor as a diagnostic tool for placental mediated fetal growth restriction. Pregnancy Hypertens 2021; 25:123-128. [PMID: 34119877 DOI: 10.1016/j.preghy.2021.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Placental growth factor (PlGF) has shown promise in identification of placental fetal growth restriction (FGR). We aimed to investigate the association between PlGF and sonographic markers of placental dysfunction and assess its ability to diagnose FGR secondary to maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM). STUDY DESIGN A retrospective study of singleton pregnancies with small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses, who had PlGF testing at 16-36 weeks. Fetuses with major chromosomal and/or structural anomalies and pregnancies with missing outcomes were excluded. Sonographic characteristics, perinatal outcomes and placental histopathology were compared between pregnancies with normal and low PlGF (<10th percentile for gestational age). The diagnostic accuracy of PlGF for prediction of MVM was calculated. RESULTS 130 fetuses met inclusion criteria. Compared to normal PlGF (n = 65), pregnancies with low PlGF (n = 65) were associated with an estimated fetal weight < 5th centile (73.8% (48) vs 53% (35), respectively, p = 0.01), abnormal uterine, umbilical and MCA Dopplers (p = 0.001 for all), fetal demise (18.8% (12) vs 0% respectively, p = 0.01) and preterm delivery (100% (65) vs 39% (59), respectively, p < 0.001) . Low PlGF had a 70.1% (58.6-80.0) sensitivity and a 79.6% (64.7-90.2) specificity for identifying MVM, with an AUC of 0.73 (0.63-0.84). Positive and negative predictive values were 85.7% (76.8-91.2) and 60.3% (51.2-68.9), respectively. PlGF outperformed other parameters of placental FGR (uterine, umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery and abdominal circumference < 5th centile), in isolation and when combined. CONCLUSION PlGF is a useful tool to aid in the diagnosis of placental FGR secondary to MVM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiri Shinar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Melissa Tigert
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Swati Agrawal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - William A Parks
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - John C Kingdom
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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49
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Yong HEJ, Chan SY. Current approaches and developments in transcript profiling of the human placenta. Hum Reprod Update 2021; 26:799-840. [PMID: 33043357 PMCID: PMC7600289 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The placenta is the active interface between mother and foetus, bearing the molecular marks of rapid development and exposures in utero. The placenta is routinely discarded at delivery, providing a valuable resource to explore maternal-offspring health and disease in pregnancy. Genome-wide profiling of the human placental transcriptome provides an unbiased approach to study normal maternal–placental–foetal physiology and pathologies. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE To date, many studies have examined the human placental transcriptome, but often within a narrow focus. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of human placental transcriptome studies, encompassing those from the cellular to tissue levels and contextualize current findings from a broader perspective. We have consolidated studies into overarching themes, summarized key research findings and addressed important considerations in study design, as a means to promote wider data sharing and support larger meta-analysis of already available data and greater collaboration between researchers in order to fully capitalize on the potential of transcript profiling in future studies. SEARCH METHODS The PubMed database, National Center for Biotechnology Information and European Bioinformatics Institute dataset repositories were searched, to identify all relevant human studies using ‘placenta’, ‘decidua’, ‘trophoblast’, ‘transcriptome’, ‘microarray’ and ‘RNA sequencing’ as search terms until May 2019. Additional studies were found from bibliographies of identified studies. OUTCOMES The 179 identified studies were classifiable into four broad themes: healthy placental development, pregnancy complications, exposures during pregnancy and in vitro placental cultures. The median sample size was 13 (interquartile range 8–29). Transcriptome studies prior to 2015 were predominantly performed using microarrays, while RNA sequencing became the preferred choice in more recent studies. Development of fluidics technology, combined with RNA sequencing, has enabled transcript profiles to be generated of single cells throughout pregnancy, in contrast to previous studies relying on isolated cells. There are several key study aspects, such as sample selection criteria, sample processing and data analysis methods that may represent pitfalls and limitations, which need to be carefully considered as they influence interpretation of findings and conclusions. Furthermore, several areas of growing importance, such as maternal mental health and maternal obesity are understudied and the profiling of placentas from these conditions should be prioritized. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Integrative analysis of placental transcriptomics with other ‘omics’ (methylome, proteome and metabolome) and linkage with future outcomes from longitudinal studies is crucial in enhancing knowledge of healthy placental development and function, and in enabling the underlying causal mechanisms of pregnancy complications to be identified. Such understanding could help in predicting risk of future adversity and in designing interventions that can improve the health outcomes of both mothers and their offspring. Wider collaboration and sharing of placental transcriptome data, overcoming the challenges in obtaining sufficient numbers of quality samples with well-defined clinical characteristics, and dedication of resources to understudied areas of pregnancy will undoubtedly help drive the field forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah E J Yong
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shiao-Yng Chan
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Rendón Abad M, Serra V, Gámiz P, de Los Santos JM, Remohí J, Navarro AT, de Los Santos MJ. The influence of oxygen concentration during embryo culture on obstetric and neonatal outcomes: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Hum Reprod 2021; 35:2017-2025. [PMID: 32772073 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Does oxygen concentration during 3-day embryo culture affect obstetric and neonatal outcomes? SUMMARY ANSWER Oxygen concentration during 3-day embryo culture does not seem to affect the obstetric and neonatal outcomes measured. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Atmospheric oxygen appears to be harmful during extended embryo culture. Embryo culture conditions might therefore be a potential risk factor for subsequent fetal development and the health of future children. No data are available concerning the obstetrics and neonatal outcomes after Day 3 transfer of embryos cultured under reduced and atmospheric oxygen tensions. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A secondary analysis of a previous randomized controlled trial assessing clinical pregnancy outcomes was carried out. This analysis included 1125 consecutive oocyte donation cycles utilizing ICSI or IVF and Day 3 embryo transfers between November 2009 and April 2012. The whole cohort of donated oocytes from patients who agreed to participate in the study were randomly allocated (1:1 ratio) to a reduced O2 tension group (6% O2) or an air-exposed group (20% O2) based on a computer-generated randomization list. Fresh and vitrified oocytes were used for oocyte donation. Only those pregnancies with a live birth at or beyond 24 weeks of gestation were included. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Day 3 embryos were cultured in an atmosphere of 5.5% CO2, 6% O2, 88.5% N2 versus a dual gas system in air. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE From the eligible 1125 cycles, 564 were allocated to the 6% O2 group and 561 cycles to the 20% O2 group. However, 50 and 62 cycles did not reach embryo transfer in the 6% and 20% O2 groups, respectively. No differences were found between 6% O2 and atmospheric O2 tension in the number of livebirths per embryo transfer (mean ± SD, 0.5 ± 0.7 versus 0.5 ± 0.7), pregnancy complications or neonatal outcomes. Both groups (6% and atmospheric O2) had similar single and twin delivery rates (40.8% versus 38.1% and 10.7% versus 12.3%, respectively). Preterm delivery rates and very preterm delivery rates (10.80% versus 13.24% and 1.25% versus 2.94%, respectively), birthweight (3229 ± 561 g versus 3154 ± 731 g), low birthweight (2.92% versus 2.45%), birth height (50.18 ± 2.41 cm versus 49.7 ± 3.59 cm), head circumference (34.16 ± 1.87 cm versus 33.09 ± 1.85 cm) and 1 min Apgar scores (8.96 ± 0.87 versus 8.89 ± 0.96) were also similar between 6% and atmospheric O2 groups, respectively. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The number of liveborns finally analyzed is still small and not all obstetric and neonatal variables could be evaluated. Furthermore, a small proportion of the obstetric and neonatal data was obtained through a questionnaire filled out by the patients themselves. One reason for the lack of effect of oxygen concentration on pregnancy outcome could be the absence of trophectoderm cells at cleavage stage, which may make Day 3 embryos less susceptible to hypoxic conditions. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Nowadays many IVF laboratories use a more physiological oxygen concentration for embryo culture. However, the benefits of using low oxygen concentration on both laboratory and clinical outcomes during embryo culture are still under debate. Furthermore, long-term studies investigating the effect of using atmospheric O2 are also needed. Gathering these type of clinical data is indeed, quite relevant from the safety perspective. The present data show that, at least in egg donation cycles undergoing Day 3 embryo transfers, culturing embryos under atmospheric oxygen concentration seems not to affect perinatal outcomes. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The present project was supported by the R + D program of the Regional Valencian Government, Spain (IMPIVA IMDTF/2011/214). The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest with respect to the content of this manuscript. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT01532193.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rendón Abad
- OBGYN Department, School of Medicine, Valencia University, Valencia, Spain
| | - Vicente Serra
- OBGYN Department, School of Medicine, Valencia University, Valencia, Spain.,In Vitro Fertilization Laboratory, IVIRMA Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Pilar Gámiz
- In Vitro Fertilization Laboratory, IVIRMA Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - José Maria de Los Santos
- OBGYN Department, School of Medicine, Valencia University, Valencia, Spain.,In Vitro Fertilization Laboratory, IVIRMA Valencia, Valencia, Spain.,IVI Foundation, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria la Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Josè Remohí
- OBGYN Department, School of Medicine, Valencia University, Valencia, Spain.,In Vitro Fertilization Laboratory, IVIRMA Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Alfredo T Navarro
- IVI Foundation, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria la Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria José de Los Santos
- OBGYN Department, School of Medicine, Valencia University, Valencia, Spain.,In Vitro Fertilization Laboratory, IVIRMA Valencia, Valencia, Spain.,IVI Foundation, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria la Fe, Valencia, Spain
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