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Nosaka R, Ushida T, Kidokoro H, Kawaguchi M, Shiraki A, Iitani Y, Imai K, Nakamura N, Sato Y, Hayakawa M, Natsume J, Kajiyama H, Kotani T. Intrauterine exposure to chorioamnionitis and neuroanatomical alterations at term-equivalent age in preterm infants. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2024; 309:1909-1918. [PMID: 37178219 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-023-07064-y] [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: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Infants born to mothers with chorioamnionitis (CAM) are at increased risk of developing adverse neurodevelopmental disorders in later life. However, clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies examining brain injuries and neuroanatomical alterations attributed to CAM have yielded inconsistent results. We aimed to determine whether exposure to histological CAM in utero leads to brain injuries and alterations in the neuroanatomy of preterm infants using 3.0- Tesla MRI at term-equivalent age. METHODS A total of 58 preterm infants born before 34 weeks of gestation at Nagoya University Hospital between 2010 and 2018 were eligible for this study (CAM group, n = 21; non-CAM group, n = 37). Brain injuries and abnormalities were assessed using the Kidokoro Global Brain Abnormality Scoring system. Gray matter, white matter, and subcortical gray matter (thalamus, caudate nucleus, putamen, pallidum, hippocampus, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens) volumes were evaluated using segmentation tools (SPM12 and Infant FreeSurfer). RESULTS The Kidokoro scores for each category and severity in the CAM group were comparable to those observed in the non-CAM group. White matter volume was significantly smaller in the CAM group after adjusting for covariates (postmenstrual age at MRI, infant sex, and gestational age) (p = 0.007), whereas gray matter volume was not significantly different. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed significantly smaller volumes in the bilateral pallidums (right, p = 0.045; left, p = 0.038) and nucleus accumbens (right, p = 0.030; left, p = 0.004) after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS Preterm infants born to mothers with histological CAM showed smaller volumes in white matter, pallidum, and nucleus accumbens at term-equivalent age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rena Nosaka
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Takafumi Ushida
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan.
- Division of Perinatology, Center for Maternal-Neonatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.
| | - Hiroyuki Kidokoro
- Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masahiro Kawaguchi
- Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
- Division of Neurology, Aichi Children's Health and Medical Center, Obu, Aichi, Japan
| | - Anna Shiraki
- Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yukako Iitani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Kenji Imai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Nakamura
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Anjo Kosei Hospital, Anjo, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Sato
- Division of Neonatology, Center for Maternal-Neonatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masahiro Hayakawa
- Division of Neonatology, Center for Maternal-Neonatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Jun Natsume
- Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Developmental Disability Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kajiyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Tomomi Kotani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
- Division of Perinatology, Center for Maternal-Neonatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
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Ohori Y, Imai K, Tano S, Owaki T, Miki R, Nozaki Y, Ushida T, Kajiyama H, Kotani T. Predicting preterm birth within 2 weeks in asymptomatic women with a short cervix: Combined effects of cervicovaginal fluid cytokine levels and fetal fibronectin test. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2024; 50:587-595. [PMID: 38217336 DOI: 10.1111/jog.15889] [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: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
AIMS To predict preterm birth (PTB) accurately, we conducted a comprehensive cytokine assay using cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) and evaluated the additive effects of cytokine levels on the fetal fibronectin (fFN) test. METHODS A total of 645 CVF samples were collected from 256 asymptomatic pregnant women between 24 and 35 weeks gestation, exhibiting short cervix. After selection based on specific criteria, 17 cytokines in 105 CVF samples were simultaneously measured using multiplex assay. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between cytokine levels and impending PTB, which is defined as PTB within 2 weeks after CVF collection. Moreover, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed in women with positive fFN results, which was validated using another set of 65 CVF samples. RESULTS In positive fFN women, the CCL2 level was significantly higher in the impending PTB group than the other group (p < 0.01) and a predictor of impending PTB (adjusted odds ratio 1.020, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.003-1.038, p = 0.020). The cutoff value of CCL2 was 64.8 pg/mL (are under the curve 0.726, p = 0.004, 95% CI 0.593-0.859, sensitivity 45.2%, specificity 91.7%). Additionally, the reliable classification performance of proposed ROC model could be validated. However, measuring cytokine levels could not help in predicting impending PTB in women with negative fFN or normal labor onset in healthy-term women. CONCLUSION Comprehensive analysis of CVF cytokines revealed that the CCL2 level significantly improves the prediction of impending PTB in asymptomatic fFN-positive women with a short cervix, which may contribute to better clinical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukiko Ohori
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kenji Imai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Sho Tano
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Taro Owaki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Komaki City Hospital, Komaki, Japan
| | - Rika Miki
- Laboratory of Bell Research Centre-Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Collaborative Research, Bell Research Centre for Reproductive Health and Cancer, Department of Reproduction, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yuki Nozaki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takafumi Ushida
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kajiyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tomomi Kotani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
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Aoki C, Imai K, Mizutani T, Sugiyama D, Miki R, Koya Y, Kobayashi T, Ushida T, Iitani Y, Nakamura N, Owaki T, Nishikawa H, Toyokuni S, Kajiyama H, Kotani T. Molecular hydrogen has a positive impact on pregnancy maintenance through enhancement of mitochondrial function and immunomodulatory effects on T cells. Life Sci 2022; 308:120955. [PMID: 36115583 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120955] [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: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Molecular hydrogen (H2) has attracted growing interest because of its implications in various diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the remarkable effect of a small amount of H2 remain elusive. No knowledge has been available on the role of H2 in the etiology of pregnancy disorders or its direct influence on human immune cells. Since maternal immunity, T cells in particular, plays a critical role in pregnancy maintenance. We investigated the effects of H2 on T cells and its relation to preterm birth (PTB). MAIN METHODS Exhaled H2 concentrations in pregnant women were measured and correlated with cytokine concentrations in maternal and umbilical cord blood. H2 was added to T cells collected from healthy donors, and differentiation and proliferation were examined. Energy metabolism was also examined. H2 was administered to mice and cytokine expression was compared. KEY FINDINGS Our prospective observational study revealed that maternal production of H2 is significantly lower in pregnant women with PTB, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for predicting PTB. We found that H2 has clear associations with several maternal cytokines, and acts as an immunomodulator by exerting mitochondrial function in human T cells. Moreover, in vivo administration of H2 to pregnant mice regulated inflammatory responses and reduced PTB caused by T cell activation, which further supports the notion that H2 may contribute to prolonged gestation through its immunomodulatory effect. SIGNIFICANCE Measuring maternal H2-production could be a potential clinical tool in the management of PTB, and H2 may have positive impact on pregnancy maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chieko Aoki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Japan
| | - Kenji Imai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Japan.
| | - Teruyuki Mizutani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Japan; Department of Immunology, Japan
| | | | - Rika Miki
- Laboratory of Bell Research Centre-Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Collaborative Research, Bell Research Centre for Reproductive Health and Cancer, Department of Reproduction, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Koya
- Laboratory of Bell Research Centre-Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Collaborative Research, Bell Research Centre for Reproductive Health and Cancer, Department of Reproduction, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | - Taro Owaki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Nishikawa
- Department of Immunology, Japan; Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute/Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Shinya Toyokuni
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
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Katsuki S, Ushida T, Kidokoro H, Nakamura N, Iitani Y, Fuma K, Imai K, Nakano-Kobayashi T, Sato Y, Hayakawa M, Natsume J, Kajiyama H, Kotani T. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and alterations in brain metabolites in preterm infants: A multi-voxel proton MR spectroscopy study. Early Hum Dev 2021; 163:105479. [PMID: 34624700 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2021.105479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infants born to mothers with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) have adverse neurodevelopmental consequences in later life. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is used to predict subsequent neurodevelopment in the field of perinatology. AIM We aimed to determine whether exposure to HDP in utero leads to alterations in brain metabolites in preterm infants using multi-voxel proton MRS at term-equivalent age. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SUBJECTS A total of 103 preterm infants born before 34 weeks of gestation at Nagoya University Hospital between 2010 and 2018 were eligible. Twenty-seven infants were born to mothers with HDP (HDP group), and 76 were born to mothers without HDP (non-HDP group). OUTCOME MEASURES The peak area ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/choline (Cho), NAA/creatine (Cr), and Cho/Cr were evaluated at 10 designated regions of interest (bilateral frontal lobes, basal ganglia, thalami, temporal lobes, and occipital lobes). RESULTS The peak area ratios of NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr in the bilateral thalami were significantly higher in the HDP group than in the non-HDP group after adjustment for covariates (postmenstrual age at MRS assessment and infant sex). No significant differences were observed in other regions. Preeclampsia, abnormal umbilical artery blood flow, and fetal growth restrictions were significantly associated with increased NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr ratios in the thalami. CONCLUSIONS Based on the evidence that NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr ratios constantly increase with postmenstrual age in normal brain development, exposure to maternal HDP in utero may accelerate brain maturation and increase neuronal activity in preterm infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Katsuki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takafumi Ushida
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan; Division of Perinatology, Center for Maternal-Neonatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.
| | - Hiroyuki Kidokoro
- Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Nakamura
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yukako Iitani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kazuya Fuma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kenji Imai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tomoko Nakano-Kobayashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Sato
- Division of Neonatology, Center for Maternal-Neonatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masahiro Hayakawa
- Division of Neonatology, Center for Maternal-Neonatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Jun Natsume
- Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan; Department of Developmental Disability Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kajiyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tomomi Kotani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan; Division of Perinatology, Center for Maternal-Neonatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
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Owaki T, Imai K, Miki R, Niwa Y, Kotani T, Nakano-Kobayashi T, Ushida T, Kajiyama H. Multiple cytokine analysis in gastroschisis: Association with adverse outcomes including fetal brain damage. Cytokine 2020; 138:155406. [PMID: 33341000 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2020.155406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the distribution of multiple cytokines in gastroschisis and reveal its association with clinical outcomes, including gastrointestinal disorders and fetal brain damage caused by chronic inflammation in gastroschisis. METHODS We obtained amniotic fluid and arterial cord blood from 10 patients with gastroschisis, and evaluated the profile of 40 cytokines via multiplex immunoassay. The possible relationship of the cytokines with the time taken to attain full enteral nutrition and cord S100B, a surrogate marker of brain damage, was estimated. Associations among the relevant cytokines were also assessed. RESULTS Although clinical characteristics in our cohort had no relevance, several cytokines in cord blood, especially IL-2, IL-8, CCL1, CCL7, CXCL1, CXCL2, and CXCL6, were clearly elevated in patients who took a longer time to attain full enteral nutrition, whereas only IL-16 in cord blood was significantly related to cord S100B and strongly correlation with cord S100B levels. Moreover, our data indicated that IL-16 was considerably less correlated with the other cytokines associated with adverse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS We investigated the cytokine characteristics of both amniotic fluid and cord blood in gastroschisis, and found that certain cytokines could affect the adverse outcomes, including fetal brain damage. These findings provide important information that could further clarify the pathophysiology of gastroschisis and propose a novel clinical implication of gastroschisis that could be used to predict adverse outcomes, especially neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taro Owaki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kenji Imai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
| | - Rika Miki
- Laboratory of Bell Research Centre-Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Collaborative Research, Bell Research Centre for Reproductive Health and Cancer, Department of Reproduction, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yuri Niwa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seto-tosei Hospital, Seto, Japan
| | - Tomomi Kotani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tomoko Nakano-Kobayashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takafumi Ushida
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kajiyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
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Imai K, Kotani T, Tsuda H, Kobayashi T, Ushida T, Moriyama Y, Kikkawa F. Determination of the cytokine levels in fetal pleural effusion and their association with fetal/neonatal findings. Cytokine 2019; 127:154945. [PMID: 31805478 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2019.154945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Few studies have investigated the distribution of multiple cytokines in fetal pleural effusion, and its clinical implications are uncertain. This study aimed to determine cytokine levels in fetal pleural effusion and their clinical role in affected fetuses. METHODS We obtained fetal pleural fluid samples from 18 infants and investigated the profiles of 40 cytokines using multiplex immunoassay. Relationships among cytokines were estimated by Spearman correlation analysis. Possible associations of cytokine levels with fetal adverse outcomes, including perinatal demise and neurodevelopmental impairment, were studied using univariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Several pro-inflammatory cytokines and CCL chemokines were highly correlated with each other. In contrast, CXCL chemokines had relatively weak correlations with other cytokines. The levels of IL-1β, IL-2, and CCL20 were significantly associated with the occurrence of fetal adverse outcomes. Based on our findings, IL-1β had the strongest causal link to adverse outcomes among the cytokines [odds ratio (OR): 19.74; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14-341.9; p = 0.040]. CONCLUSIONS Cytokine levels in fetal pleural effusion varied considerably among cases with or without adverse outcomes. These results provide important information for further clarifying the pathophysiology of fetal pleural effusion and a novel clinical implication that could predict the occurrence of adverse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Imai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
| | - Tomomi Kotani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Tsuda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Japanese Red Cross Nagoya Daiichi Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tomoko Kobayashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takafumi Ushida
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Moriyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Fumitaka Kikkawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
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