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Chakraborty P, Orvos H, Hermesz E. Molecular Study on Twin Cohort with Discordant Birth Weight. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1370. [PMID: 37507909 PMCID: PMC10376082 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12071370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The increased rate of twinning has pointed out newer challenges in clinical practices related to gestational complications, intrauterine growth restriction, perinatal mortality, and comorbidities. As a twin pregnancy progresses, the increased demand for oxygen supply can easily disrupt the redox homeostasis balance and further impose a greater challenge for the developing fetuses. A substantial birth-weight difference acts as an indicator of a deficit in oxygenation or blood flow to one of the fetuses, which might be related to a low bioavailable nitric oxide level. Therefore, in this study, we focused on networks involved in the adjustment of oxygen supply, like the activation of inducible and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) along with free radical and lipid peroxide formation in mature twin pairs with high birth-weight differences. The selected parameters were followed by immunofluorescence staining, fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, and biochemical measurements in the umbilical cord vessels and fetal red blood cells. Based on our data set, it is clear that the lower-weight siblings are markedly exposed to persistent intrauterine hypoxic conditions, which are connected to a decreased level in NOS3 activation. Furthermore, the increased level of peroxynitrite aggravates lipid peroxidation and induces morphological and functional damage and loss in redox homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payal Chakraborty
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, P.O. Box 533, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, JIS University, 81, Nilgunj Road, Kolkata 700109, India
| | - Hajnalka Orvos
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 1, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Edit Hermesz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, P.O. Box 533, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary
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Gogiraju R, Renner L, Bochenek ML, Zifkos K, Molitor M, Danckwardt S, Wenzel P, Münzel T, Konstantinides S, Schäfer K. Arginase-1 Deletion in Erythrocytes Promotes Vascular Calcification via Enhanced GSNOR (S-Nitrosoglutathione Reductase) Expression and NO Signaling in Smooth Muscle Cells. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2022; 42:e291-e310. [PMID: 36252109 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.122.318338] [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: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Erythrocytes (red blood cells) participate in the control of vascular NO bioavailability. The purpose of this study was to determine whether and how genetic deletion of ARG1 (arginase-1) affects vascular smooth muscle cell NO signaling, osteoblastic differentiation, and atherosclerotic lesion calcification. METHODS Atherosclerosis-prone mice with conditional, erythrocyte-restricted deletion of ARG1 (apoE-/- red blood cell.ARG1 knockout) were generated and vascular calcification studied using molecular imaging of the osteogenic activity agent OsteoSense, Alizarin staining or immunohistochemistry, qPCR of osteogenic markers and ex vivo assays. RESULTS Atherosclerotic lesion size at the aortic root did not differ, but calcification was significantly more pronounced in apoE-/- mice lacking erythrocyte ARG1. Incubation of murine and human VSMCs with lysed erythrocyte membranes from apoE-/- red blood cell. ARG1-knockout mice accelerated their osteogenic differentiation, and mRNA transcripts of osteogenic markers decreased following NO scavenging. In addition to NO signaling via sGC (soluble guanylyl cyclase), overexpression of GSNOR (S-nitrosoglutathione reductase) enhanced degradation of S-nitrosoglutathione to glutathione and reduced protein S-nitrosation of HSP (heat shock protein)-70 were identified as potential mechanisms of vascular smooth muscle cell calcification in mice lacking ARG1 in erythrocytes, and calcium phosphate deposition was enhanced by heat shock and prevented by GSNOR inhibition. Messenger RNA levels of enzymes metabolizing the arginase products L-ornithine and L-proline also were elevated in VSMCs, paralleled by increased proliferation, myofibroblast marker and collagen type 1 expression. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an important role of erythrocyte ARG1 for NO bioavailability and L-arginine metabolism in VSMCs, which controls atherosclerotic lesion composition and calcification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajinikanth Gogiraju
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology I (R.G., L.R., M.L.B., M.M., P.W., T.M., K.S.), University Medical Center Mainz, Germany
| | - Luisa Renner
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology I (R.G., L.R., M.L.B., M.M., P.W., T.M., K.S.), University Medical Center Mainz, Germany
| | - Magdalena L Bochenek
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology I (R.G., L.R., M.L.B., M.M., P.W., T.M., K.S.), University Medical Center Mainz, Germany.,Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (M.L.B., K.Z., M.M., S.D., P.W., S.K.), University Medical Center Mainz, Germany
| | - Konstantinos Zifkos
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (M.L.B., K.Z., M.M., S.D., P.W., S.K.), University Medical Center Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael Molitor
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology I (R.G., L.R., M.L.B., M.M., P.W., T.M., K.S.), University Medical Center Mainz, Germany.,Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (M.L.B., K.Z., M.M., S.D., P.W., S.K.), University Medical Center Mainz, Germany
| | - Sven Danckwardt
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (M.L.B., K.Z., M.M., S.D., P.W., S.K.), University Medical Center Mainz, Germany.,Institute for Clinical Chemistry (S.D.), University Medical Center Mainz, Germany
| | - Philip Wenzel
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology I (R.G., L.R., M.L.B., M.M., P.W., T.M., K.S.), University Medical Center Mainz, Germany.,Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (M.L.B., K.Z., M.M., S.D., P.W., S.K.), University Medical Center Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Münzel
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology I (R.G., L.R., M.L.B., M.M., P.W., T.M., K.S.), University Medical Center Mainz, Germany
| | - Stavros Konstantinides
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (M.L.B., K.Z., M.M., S.D., P.W., S.K.), University Medical Center Mainz, Germany
| | - Katrin Schäfer
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology I (R.G., L.R., M.L.B., M.M., P.W., T.M., K.S.), University Medical Center Mainz, Germany
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Molecular Background of Toxic-Substances-Induced Morphological Alterations in the Umbilical Cord Vessels and Fetal Red Blood Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314673. [PMID: 36499001 PMCID: PMC9736329 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314673] [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: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between smoking and human health has been investigated mostly in adults, despite the fact that the chemicals originating from sustained maternal smoking disrupt the carefully orchestrated regulatory cascades in the developing fetus. In this study, we followed molecular alterations in the umbilical cord (UC) vessels and fetal red blood cells (RBCs), which faithfully reflect the in vivo status of the fetus. We showed evidence for the decreased level of DNA-PKcs-positive nuclei in samples with smoking origin, which is associated with the impaired DNA repair system. Furthermore, we pointed out the altered ratio of MMP-9 metalloproteinase and its endogenous inhibitor TIMP-1, which might be a possible explanation for the morphological abnormalities in the UC vessels. The presented in vivo dataset emphasizes the higher vulnerability of the veins, as the primary target for the toxic materials unfiltered by the placenta. All these events become amplified by the functionally impaired fetal RBC population via a crosstalk mechanism between the vessel endothelium and the circulating RBCs. In our ex vivo approach, we looked for the molecular explanation of metal-exposure-induced alterations, where expressions of the selected genes were upregulated in the control group, while samples with smoking origin showed a lack of response, indicative of prior long-term in utero exposure.
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Mattioli S, Dimauro C, Cesarani A, Dal Bosco A, Bartolini D, Galli F, Migni A, Sebastiani B, Signorini C, Oger C, Collodel G, Castellini C. A Dynamic Model for Estimating the Interaction of ROS–PUFA–Antioxidants in Rabbit. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11030531. [PMID: 35326181 PMCID: PMC8944554 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11030531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Defining optimal nutrition in animals and humans remains a main scientific challenge. The objective of the work was to develop a dynamic model of reactive oxygen species (ROS)–polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)–antioxidant homeostasis using the rabbit as a model. The problem entity was to evaluate the main metabolites generated from interactions between traits included in the conceptual model and identified by three main sub–models: (i) ROS generation, (ii) PUFA oxidation and (iii) antioxidant defence. A mathematical model (VENSIM software) that consisted of molecular stocks (INPUTs, OUTPUTs), exchange flows (intermediate OUTPUTs) and process rates was developed. The calibration was performed by using standard experimental data (Experiment 1), whereas the validation was carried out in Experiments 2 and 3 by using supra–nutritional dietary inputs (VIT E+ and PUFA+). The accuracy of the models was measured using 95% confidence intervals. Analytical OUTPUTs (ROS, PUFA, Vit E, Ascorbic acid, Iso–/NeuroProstanes, Aldehydes) were well described by the standard model. There was also good accuracy for the VIT E+ scenario, whereas some compensatory rates (Kc1–Kc4) were added to assess body compensation when high levels of dietary PUFA were administered (Experiment 3). In conclusion, the model can be very useful for predicting the effects of dietary treatments on the redox homeostasis of rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Mattioli
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Science, University of Perugia, Borgo 20 Giugno, 74, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Corrado Dimauro
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Viale Italia, 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Alberto Cesarani
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Viale Italia, 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Alessandro Dal Bosco
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Science, University of Perugia, Borgo 20 Giugno, 74, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Desiree Bartolini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via Enrico Dal Pozzo, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesco Galli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via Enrico Dal Pozzo, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Anna Migni
- Department of Life Science and System Biology, Università di Torino, Via Accademia Albertina, 13, 10123 Torino, Italy
| | - Bartolomeo Sebastiani
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, Via del Giochetto, University of Perugia, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Signorini
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Policlinico Santa Maria alle Scotte, Viale Bracci 16, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Camille Oger
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), Pôle Chimie Balard Recherche, 1919 route de Mende, CEDEX 05, 34293 Montpellier, France
| | - Giulia Collodel
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Policlinico Santa Maria alle Scotte, Viale Bracci 16, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Cesare Castellini
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Science, University of Perugia, Borgo 20 Giugno, 74, 06123 Perugia, Italy
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Fetal oxygen supply can be improved by an effective cross-talk between fetal erythrocytes and vascular endothelium. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2021; 1867:166243. [PMID: 34371111 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In twin/multiple pregnancy, siblings experience an adverse intrauterine environment which forms the major etiological factor leading to pathological conditions. The status of the developing fetus is highly determined by the nitric oxide (NO) level, that facilitates vasodilation which in turn modulates the oxygen and nutrition supply. As the umbilical cord (UC) lacks innervation, activation of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) is fundamental to maintain adequate NO production. Recent ground breaking fact showed that under stress conditions, circulating red blood cells (RBCs) can actively produces NO as a "rescue mechanism". Therefore, this study majorly focused on the molecular mechanisms that affected the redox environment by altering NOS3 activation - both in the UC arteries and vein endothelium and RBCs - that have impacts on developmental parameters, like birth weight. In connection to that, we pursued the communication efficiency between the vessels' endothelium and the circulating RBCs in demand of bioavailable NO. Our results indicated that twinning itself at stage 33-35 weeks, does not reduce the NOS3 level and its phosphorylation status in the cord vessels. However, RBC-NOS3 activation is highly upregulated during this period - providing additional evidence for the active regulatory role of fetal RBCs in the rate of blood flow - and this functional activity highly correlates with the birth weight of the fetuses. Detailed analysis on NOS3 signalling at different time points of gestation could establish a benchmark in understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the process of developing neonatal vascular diseases.
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Zahorán S, Szántó PR, Bódi N, Bagyánszki M, Maléth J, Hegyi P, Sári T, Hermesz E. Sustained Maternal Smoking Triggers Endothelial-Mediated Oxidative Stress in the Umbilical Cord Vessels, Resulting in Vascular Dysfunction. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10040583. [PMID: 33918732 PMCID: PMC8069726 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10040583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability is fundamental in the regulation of redox balance and functionality of the endothelium, especially in the case of the umbilical cord (UC), which has no innervation. The analysis of UC vessel-related complications could serve as a useful tool in the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to neonatal cardiovascular disorders. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the mechanisms that rule the severity of prenatal endothelial dysfunction, induced by the long-term effect of maternal smoking. Our analysis describes the initiation and the consequences of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) deactivation, along with the up-regulation of possible compensatory pathways, using structural, molecular and biochemical approaches. This study was carried out on both the UC arteries and veins originated from neonates born to non-smoking and heavy-smoking mothers. The alterations stimulated by maternal smoking are vessel-specific and proportional to the level of exposure to harmful materials passed through the placenta. Typically, in the primarily exposed veins, an increased formation of reactive oxygen species and an up-regulation of the highly-efficient NOS2-NO producing pathway were detected. Despite all the extensive structural and functional damages, the ex vivo heat and cadmium ion-treated UC vein pieces still support the potential for stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szabolcs Zahorán
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary; (S.Z.); (P.R.S.)
| | - Péter R. Szántó
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary; (S.Z.); (P.R.S.)
| | - Nikolett Bódi
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Neuroscience, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary; (N.B.); (M.B.)
| | - Mária Bagyánszki
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Neuroscience, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary; (N.B.); (M.B.)
| | - József Maléth
- First Department of Medicine, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary;
- HAS-USZ Momentum Epithel Cell Signalling and Secretion Research Group, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Péter Hegyi
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7601 Pécs, Hungary;
| | - Tamás Sári
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - Edit Hermesz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary; (S.Z.); (P.R.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +36-(62)-544-887
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Chakraborty P, Dugmonits KN, Orvos H, Hermesz E. Mature Twin Neonates Exhibit Oxidative Stress via Nitric Oxide Synthase Dysfunctionality: A Prognostic Stress Marker in the Red Blood Cells and Umbilical Cord Vessels. Antioxidants (Basel) 2020; 9:antiox9090845. [PMID: 32927592 PMCID: PMC7555925 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9090845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrauterine hypoxic condition increases the generation of reactive oxygen species and fetal oxidative stress. Multiple pregnancy always bears an additional oxidative stress condition with severe complications, such as prematurity, structural abnormalities, delayed development and low birthweight. The umbilical cord (UC) vessels, along with circulating fetal red blood cells (RBCs), highly determine the oxygenation status of fetus and regulate the feto-placental circulation. As UC lacks innervation, the activation of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) is fundamental for proper NO production. Therefore, we aimed to study the NOS3 activation pathways along with damages to macromolecules in the endothelium of UC vessels and RBCs of mature non-discordant twins, in connection to major differences in their birth weight. We provide evidence that, under severe hypoxic conditions such as twin pregnancy, the NOS3-related NO production pathways are altered both in UC vessels and RBCs; moreover, the extent of changes is highly birthweight-specific. Furthermore, macromolecular damages are prominent in the RBCs and arteries compared to the vein, with a similar increase in the Arginase1 level, which is believed to play a role in NOS3 functionality, resulting in endothelial dysfunctionality, which might have relevance to the major etiologies of cardiovascular diseases in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payal Chakraborty
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, P.O.Box 533, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary; (P.C.); (K.N.D.)
| | - Krisztina N. Dugmonits
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, P.O.Box 533, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary; (P.C.); (K.N.D.)
| | - Hajnalka Orvos
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, P.O.Box 533, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - Edit Hermesz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, P.O.Box 533, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary; (P.C.); (K.N.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +36-62-544887
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Balogh G, Chakraborty P, Dugmonits KN, Péter M, Végh AG, Vígh L, Hermesz E. Sustained maternal smoking-associated changes in the physico-chemical properties of fetal RBC membranes might serve as early markers for vascular comorbidities. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2020; 1865:158615. [PMID: 31926297 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2020.158615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Maternal smoking-induced congenital heart and microvascular defects are closely associated with the impaired functioning of the in-utero feto-placental circulation system. Current groundbreaking facts revealed intimate crosstalk between circulating red blood cells (RBCs) and the vascular endothelium. Thus, RBCs have become the protagonists under varied pathological and adverse pro-oxidative cellular stress conditions. We isolated and screened fetal RBCs from the arterial cord blood of neonates, born to non-smoking (RBC-NS) and smoking mothers (RBC-S), assuming that parameters of fetal RBCs are blueprints of conditions experienced in-utero. Using atomic force microscopy and mass spectrometry-based shotgun lipidomics in the RBC-S population we revealed induced membrane stiffness, loss in intrinsic plastic activities and several abnormalities in their membrane-lipid composition, that could consequently result in perturbed hemodynamic flow movements. Altogether, these features are indicative of the outcome of neonatal microvascular complications and suggest unavailability for the potential rescue mechanism in cases of vascular endothelium impairment due to altered membrane integrity and rheological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gábor Balogh
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Payal Chakraborty
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Krisztina N Dugmonits
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Mária Péter
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Attila G Végh
- Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - László Vígh
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Edit Hermesz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
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Maternal Smoking Highly Affects the Function, Membrane Integrity, and Rheological Properties in Fetal Red Blood Cells. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2019; 2019:1509798. [PMID: 31871538 PMCID: PMC6906794 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1509798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
An understanding of the basic pathophysiological mechanisms of neonatal diseases necessitates detailed knowledge about the wide range of complications in the circulating fetal RBCs. Recent publications on adult red blood cells (RBCs) provide evidence that RBCs carry an active nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) enzyme and contribute to vascular functioning and integrity via their active nitric oxide synthesis. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of maternal smoking on the phenotypical appearance and functionality of fetal RBCs, based on morphological and molecular studies. We looked for possible links between vascular dysfunction and NOS3 expression and activation and its regulation by arginase (ARG1). Significant morphological and functional differences were found between fetal RBCs isolated from the arterial cord blood of neonates born to nonsmoking (RBC-NS, n = 62) and heavy-smoking (RBC-S, n = 51) mothers. Morphological variations were quantified by Advanced Cell Classifier, microscopy-based intelligent analysis software. To investigate the relevance of the newly suggested “erythrocrine” function in fetal RBCs, we measured the levels of NOS3 and its phosphorylation in parallel with the level of ARG1, as one of the major influencers of NOS3 dimerization, by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Fetal RBCs, even the “healthy-looking” biconcave-shaped type, exhibited impaired NOS3 activation in the RBC-S population, which was paralleled with elevated ARG1 level, thus suggesting an increased redox burden. Our molecular data indicate that maternal smoking can exert marked effects on the circulating fetal RBCs, which could have a consequence on the outcome of in utero development. We hypothesize that any endothelial dysfunction altering NO production/bioavailability can be sensed by circulating fetal RBCs. Hence, we are putting forward the idea that neonatal RBC could serve as a real-time sensor for not only monitoring RBC-linked anomalies but also predicting the overall status of the vascular microenvironment.
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