Disrupted PI3K p110δ Signaling Dysregulates Maternal Immune Cells and Increases Fetal Mortality In Mice

Inhibition of Heme Oxygenase-1 by Zinc Protoporphyrin IX Improves Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Malaria During Early Gestation

The enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has cytoprotective effects by catalyzing the degradation of heme to produce carbon monoxide, iron and biliverdin. Furthermore, HO-1 activity has been associated with successful pregnancy. On the other hand, in the context of certain inflammatory conditions, HO-1 can induce iron overload and cell death. To investigate the role of HO-1 in gestational malaria, pregnant BALB/c mice were infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA in early, mid and late gestation. We found that malaria affected the pregnancy outcome in the three periods evaluated. However, only poor pregnancy outcomes in early pregnancy were related to HO-1 upregulation, iron overload, lipid peroxidation and necrosis of the decidua, which were prevented by HO-1 inhibition. In conclusion, HO-1 expression must be finely tuned in gestational malaria to avoid the deleterious effect of increased enzyme activity.

Beyond Maternal Tolerance: Education of Uterine Natural Killer Cells by Maternal MHC Drives Fetal Growth

Reproductive immunology has moved on from the classical Medawar question of 60 years ago "why doesn't the mother reject the fetus?". Looking beyond fetal-maternal tolerance, modern reproductive immunology focuses on how the maternal immune system supports fetal growth. Maternal uterine natural killer (uNK) cells, in partnership with fetal trophoblast cells, regulate physiological vascular changes in the uterus of pregnant women and mice. These vascular changes are necessary to build the placenta and sustain fetal growth. NK cell functions in the uterus and elsewhere, including anti-viral and anti-tumour immunity mediated mostly by blood NK cells, are modulated by NK cell education, a quantifiable process that determines cellular activation thresholds. This process relies largely on interactions between self-MHC class I molecules and inhibitory NK cell receptors. By getting to know self, the maternal immune system sets up uNK cells to participate to tissue homeostasis in the womb. Placentation can be viewed as a form of natural transplantation unique in vertebrates and this raises the question of how uNK cell education or missing-self recognition affect their function and, ultimately fetal growth. Here, using combinations of MHC-sufficient and -deficient mice, we show that uNK cell education is linked to maternal and not fetal MHC, so that MHC-deficient dams produce more growth-restricted fetuses, even when the fetuses themselves express self-MHC. We also show that, while peripheral NK cells reject bone marrow cells according to the established rules of missing-self recognition, uNK cells educated by maternal MHC do not reject fetuses that miss self-MHC and these fetuses grow to their full potential. While these results are not directly applicable to clinical research, they show that NK education by maternal MHC-I is required for optimal fetal growth.

Biology and pathology of the uterine microenvironment and its natural killer cells

Tissues are the new frontier of discoveries in immunology. Cells of the immune system are an integral part of tissue physiology and immunity. Determining how immune cells inhabit, housekeep, and defend gut, lung, brain, liver, uterus, and other organs helps revealing the intimate details of tissue physiology and may offer new therapeutic targets to treat pathologies. The uterine microenvironment modulates the development and function of innate lymphoid cells [ILC, largely represented by natural killer (NK) cells], macrophages, T cells, and dendritic cells. These immune cells, in turn, contribute to tissue homeostasis. Regulated by ovarian hormones, the human uterine mucosa (endometrium) undergoes ~400 monthly cycles of breakdown and regeneration from menarche to menopause, with its fibroblasts, glands, blood vessels, and immune cells remodeling the tissue into the transient decidua. Even more transformative changes occur upon blastocyst implantation. Before the placenta is formed, the endometrial glands feed the embryo by histiotrophic nutrition while the uterine spiral arteries are stripped of their endothelial layer and smooth muscle actin. This arterial remodeling is carried out by invading fetal trophoblast and maternal immune cells, chiefly uterine NK (uNK) cells, which also assist fetal growth. The transformed arteries no longer respond to maternal stimuli and meet the increasing demands of the growing fetus. This review focuses on how the everchanging uterine microenvironment affects uNK cells and how uNK cells regulate homeostasis of the decidua, placenta development, and fetal growth. Determining these pathways will help understand the causes of major pregnancy complications.

Human Placental Transcriptome Reveals Critical Alterations in Inflammation and Energy Metabolism with Fetal Sex Differences in Spontaneous Preterm Birth

A well-functioning placenta is crucial for normal gestation and regulates the nutrient, gas, and waste exchanges between the maternal and fetal circulations and is an important endocrine organ producing hormones that regulate both the maternal and fetal physiologies during pregnancy. Placental insufficiency is implicated in spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB). We proposed that deficits in the capacity of the placenta to maintain bioenergetic and metabolic stability during pregnancy may ultimately result in SPTB. To explore our hypothesis, we performed a RNA-seq study in male and female placentas from women with SPTB (<36 weeks gestation) compared to normal pregnancies (≥38 weeks gestation) to assess the alterations in the gene expression profiles. We focused exclusively on Black women (cases and controls), who are at the highest risk of SPTB. Six hundred and seventy differentially expressed genes were identified in male SPTB placentas. Among them, 313 and 357 transcripts were increased and decreased, respectively. In contrast, only 61 differentially expressed genes were identified in female SPTB placenta. The ingenuity pathway analysis showed alterations in the genes and canonical pathways critical for regulating inflammation, oxidative stress, detoxification, mitochondrial function, energy metabolism, and the extracellular matrix. Many upstream regulators and master regulators important for nutrient-sensing and metabolism were also altered in SPTB placentas, including the PI3K complex, TGFB1/SMADs, SMARCA4, TP63, CDKN2A, BRCA1, and NFAT. The transcriptome was integrated with published human placental metabolome to assess the interactions of altered genes and metabolites. Collectively, significant and biologically relevant alterations in the transcriptome were identified in SPTB placentas with fetal sex disparities. Altered energy metabolism, mitochondrial function, inflammation, and detoxification may underly the mechanisms of placental dysfunction in SPTB.

Class IA PI3Ks regulate subcellular and functional dynamics of IDO1

Knowledge of a protein's spatial dynamics at the subcellular level is key to understanding its function(s), interactions, and associated intracellular events. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is a cytosolic enzyme that controls immune responses via tryptophan metabolism, mainly through its enzymic activity. When phosphorylated, however, IDO1 acts as a signaling molecule in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), thus activating genomic effects, ultimately leading to long-lasting immunosuppression. Whether the two activities-namely, the catalytic and signaling functions-are spatially segregated has been unclear. We found that, under conditions favoring signaling rather than catabolic events, IDO1 shifts from the cytosol to early endosomes. The event requires interaction with class IA phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks), which become activated, resulting in full expression of the immunoregulatory phenotype in vivo in pDCs as resulting from IDO1-dependent signaling events. Thus, IDO1's spatial dynamics meet the needs for short-acting as well as durable mechanisms of immune suppression, both under acute and chronic inflammatory conditions. These data expand the theoretical basis for an IDO1-centered therapy in inflammation and autoimmunity.

Regulatory T Cells Play a Role in a Subset of Idiopathic Preterm Labor/Birth and Adverse Neonatal Outcomes

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been exhaustively investigated during early pregnancy; however, their role later in gestation is poorly understood. Herein, we report that functional Tregs are reduced at the maternal-fetal interface in a subset of women with idiopathic preterm labor/birth, which is accompanied by a concomitant increase in Tc17 cells. In mice, depletion of functional Tregs during late gestation induces preterm birth and adverse neonatal outcomes, which are rescued by the adoptive transfer of such cells. Treg depletion does not alter obstetrical parameters in the mother, yet it increases susceptibility to endotoxin-induced preterm birth. The mechanisms whereby depletion of Tregs induces adverse perinatal outcomes involve tissue-specific immune responses and mild systemic maternal inflammation, together with dysregulation of developmental and cellular processes in the placenta, in the absence of intra-amniotic inflammation. These findings provide mechanistic evidence supporting a role for Tregs in the pathophysiology of idiopathic preterm labor/birth and adverse neonatal outcomes.

Placentation and antitumor immunity regulated by a scaffolding protein in NK cells

Natural killer cells use the Gab3 adaptor protein to limit trophoblast invasion during pregnancy and to reject tumor cells. See the related Research Article by Sliz et al.

Placental bed research: I. The placental bed: from spiral arteries remodeling to the great obstetrical syndromes

The term placental bed was coined to describe the maternal-fetal interface (ie, the area in which the placenta attaches itself to the uterus). Appropriate vascularization of this area is of vital importance for the development of the fetus; this is why systematic investigations of this area have now been carried out. Initially, the challenge was the identification and classification of the various successive branching of uterine arteries in this area. These vessels have a unique importance because failure of their physiological transformation is considered to be the anatomical basis for reduced perfusion to the intervillous space in women with preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, preterm labor, preterm premature rupture of membranes, abruptio placentae, and fetal death. To investigate in depth the pathophysiology of the placental bed, some 60 years ago, a large number of placental bed biopsies, as well as of cesarean hysterectomy specimens with placenta in situ, from both early and late normotensive and hypertensive pregnancies, were carefully dissected and analyzed. Thanks to the presence of a series of specific physiological changes, characterized by the invasion and substitution of the arterial intima by trophoblast, this material allowed the identification in the placental bed of normal pregnancies of the main vessels, the uteroplacental arteries. It was then discovered that preeclampsia is associated with defective or absent transformation of the myometrial segment of the uteroplacental arteries. In addition, in severe hypertensive disease, atherosclerotic lesions were also found in the defective myometrial segment. Finally, in the basal decidua, a unique vascular lesion, coined acute atherosis, was also identified This disorder of deep placentation, coined defective deep placentation, has been associated with the great obstetrical syndromes, grouping together preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm labor, preterm premature rupture of membranes, late spontaneous abortion, and abruptio placentae. More recently, simplified techniques of tissue sampling have been also introduced: decidual suction allows to obtain a large number of decidual arteries, although their origin in the placental bed cannot be determined. Biopsies parallel to the surface of the basal plate have been more interesting, making possible to identify the vessels' region (central, paracentral, or peripheral) of origin in the placental bed and providing decidual material for immunohistochemical studies. Finally, histochemical and electron microscopy investigations have now clarified the pathology and pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the impairment of the physiological vascular changes.

MiR-337-3p suppresses proliferation of epithelial ovarian cancer by targeting PIK3CA and PIK3CB

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is responsible for nearly 140,000 deaths worldwide each year. MicroRNAs play critical roles in cancer development and progression. The function of microRNA miR-337-3p has been described in various cancers. However, the biological role of miR-337-3p and its molecular mechanisms underlying EOC initiation and progression have not been reported. Here, we reported that the expression of miR-337-3p is down-regulated in EOC tissues and low expression of miR-337-3p is correlated with advanced pathological grade for patients. Ectopic expression of miR-337-3p inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase of EOC cells. PIK3CA and PIK3CB were revealed to be direct targets of miR-337-3p for reducing the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. PIK3CA and PIK3CB were discovered to affect cell proliferation of EOC cells in combination, and only when overexpressed simultaneously in miR-337-3p-expressing cells, could fully restore cell proliferation. In vivo investigation confirmed that miR-337-3p is a tumor suppressor that control expression of PIK3CA and PIK3CB encoded protein: p110α and p110β. Altogether, our results demonstrate that miR-337-3p is a tumor suppressor in EOC that inhibits the expression of PIK3CA and PIK3CB.

Genetic Association between Swine Leukocyte Antigen Class II Haplotypes and Reproduction Traits in Microminipigs

The effects of swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) molecules on numerous production and reproduction performance traits have been mainly reported as associations with specific SLA haplotypes that were assigned using serological typing methods. In this study, we intended to clarify the association between SLA class II genes and reproductive traits in a highly inbred population of 187 Microminipigs (MMP), that have eight different types of SLA class II haplotypes. In doing so, we compared the reproductive performances, such as fertility index, gestation period, litter size, and number of stillbirth among SLA class II low resolution haplotypes (Lrs) that were assigned by a polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) typing method. Only low resolution haplotypes were used in this study because the eight SLA class II high-resolution haplotypes had been assigned to the 14 parents or the progenitors of the highly inbred MMP herd in a previous publication. The fertility index of dams with Lr-0.13 was significantly lower than that of dams with Lr-0.16, Lr-0.17, Lr-0.18, or Lr-0.37. Dams with Lr-0.23 had significantly smaller litter size at birth than those with Lr-0.17, Lr-0.18, or Lr-0.37. Furthermore, litter size at weaning of dams with Lr-0.23 was also significantly smaller than those dams with Lr-0.16, Lr-0.17, Lr-0.18, or Lr-0.37. The small litter size of dams with Lr-0.23 correlated with the smaller body sizes of these MMPs. These results suggest that SLA class II haplotypes are useful differential genetic markers for further haplotypic and epistatic studies of reproductive traits, selective breeding programs, and improvements in the production and reproduction performances of MMPs.

Ephrin A1 promotes proliferation of bovine endometrial cells with abundant expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and cyclin D1 changing the cell population at each stage of the cell cycle

Ephrin A1 has a role in a variety of biological events, including cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and angiogenesis. Ephrin A1 expression is abundant in trophoblasts and endometrial cells during the implantation period; however, its intracellular activities have not yet been reported in bovine endometrial (BEND) epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to identify the functional role of ephrin A1 in BEND cells, which have served as a good model system for investigating the regulation of signal transduction following treatment with interferon-τ (IFNT) in vitro. Supplementation of ephrin A1 to BEND cells increased cell proliferation and increased levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and cyclin D1 protein in BEND cell nuclei. To investigate intracellular mechanisms regulated by ephrin A1, we performed Western blot analysis focused on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling, which are significantly involved in the successful maintenance of pregnancy. Ephrin A1 dose-dependently increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)1/2, c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), P38, protein kinase B (AKT), P70S6K, S6, and cyclin D1, and the activated proteins were suppressed by pharmacological inhibitors including wortmannin (a PI3K inhibitor), U0126 (an ERK1/2 inhibitor), and SP600125 (a JNK inhibitor). Among ephrin A1 receptors, abundant expression of EPHA2 and EPHA4 messenger RNA was detected in BEND cells by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. Furthermore, tunicamycin-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was inactivated by ephrin A1 treatment of BEND cells. Our findings suggest that ephrin A1 promotes the development of BEND cells and likely enhances uterine capacity and maintenance of pregnancy by activating MAPK and PI3K signaling cascades and by restoring ER stress.

Roles of Interferons in Pregnant Women with Dengue Infection: Protective or Dangerous Factors

Dengue infection is a serious public health problem in tropical and subtropical areas. With the recent outbreaks of Zika disease and its reported correlation with microcephaly, the large number of pregnancies with dengue infection has become a serious concern. This review describes the epidemiological characteristics of pregnancy with dengue and the initial immune response to dengue infection, especially in IFNs production in this group of patients. Dengue is much more prevalent in pregnant women compared with other populations. The severity of dengue is correlated with the level of IFNs, while the serum IFN level must be sufficiently high to maintain the pregnancy and to inhibit virus replication.

Inhibition of Hematopoietic Cell Kinase Activity Suppresses Myeloid Cell-Mediated Colon Cancer Progression

Aberrant activation of the SRC family kinase hematopoietic cell kinase (HCK) triggers hematological malignancies as a tumor cell-intrinsic oncogene. Here we find that high HCK levels correlate with reduced survival of colorectal cancer patients. Likewise, increased Hck activity in mice promotes the growth of endogenous colonic malignancies and of human colorectal cancer cell xenografts. Furthermore, tumor-associated macrophages of the corresponding tumors show a pronounced alternatively activated endotype, which occurs independently of mature lymphocytes or of Stat6-dependent Th2 cytokine signaling. Accordingly, pharmacological inhibition or genetic reduction of Hck activity suppresses alternative activation of tumor-associated macrophages and the growth of colon cancer xenografts. Thus, Hck may serve as a promising therapeutic target for solid malignancies.

Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase (PI3K) Subunit p110δ Is Essential for Trophoblast Cell Differentiation and Placental Development in Mouse

Maternal PI3K p110δ has been implicated in smaller litter sizes in mice, but its underlying mechanism remains unclear. The placenta is an indispensable chimeric organ that supports mammalian embryonic development. Using a mouse model of genetic inactivation of PI3K p110δ (p110δ^D910A/D910A), we show that fetuses carried by p110δ^D910A/D910A females were growth retarded and showed increased mortality in utero mainly during placentation. The placentas in p110δ^D910A/D910A females were anomalously anemic, exhibited thinner spongiotrophoblast layer and looser labyrinth zone, which indicate defective placental vasculogenesis. In addition, p110δ was detected in primary trophoblast giant cells (P-TGC) at early placentation. Maternal PI3K p110δ inactivation affected normal TGCs generation and expansion, impeded the branching of chorioallantoic placenta but enhanced the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-12). Poor vasculature support for the developing fetoplacental unit resulted in fetal death or gross growth retardation. These data, taken together, provide the first in vivo evidence that p110δ may play an important role in placental vascularization through manipulating trophoblast giant cell.