Heparin modulates chemokines in human endometrial stromal cells by interaction with tumor necrosis factor α and thrombin

TNFα/TNFR1 signal induces excessive senescence of decidua stromal cells in recurrent pregnancy loss

Defects in decidual response are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes which includes recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). It is reported that cellular senescence happens during decidualization and pro-senescent decidual response in the luteal phase endometrium is related to RPL. However, the underlying mechanisms of how excessive decidual senescence takes place in RPL decidua cells remain largely unexplored. The senescent phenotype of RPL decidua and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1(TNFR1) expression were analyzed by using our previously published single-cell sequencing dataset of decidua cells from 6 RPL and 5 matched normal decidua, which were further verified by PCR and WB in decidual tissues. Effects of TNFα on the decidual stromal cells (DSCs) senescence and underlying molecular pathways were analyzed using the in vitro decidualization model of human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs). We showed that decidual stroma cells from RPL patients exhibited transcriptomic features of cellular senescence by analysis of single-cell datasets. The TNFα level and TNFR1 expression were increased in RPL decidua tissues. Furthermore, in vitro cell model demonstrated that increased TNFα induced excessive senescence during decidualization and TNFR1/p53/p16 pathway mediates TNFα-induced stromal senescence. In addition, we also found that the expression of IGFBP1 was regulated by TNFα-TNFR1 interaction during decidualization. Taken together, the present findings suggest that the increased secretion of TNFα induced stromal cell excessive senescence in RPL decidua, which is mediated via TNFR1, and thus provide a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of RPL.

CCL2: An important cytokine in normal and pathological pregnancies: A review

C-C motif ligand 2 (CCL2), also known as monocytic chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), is an integral chemotactic factor which recruits macrophages for the immune response. Together with its receptors (e.g., CCR2, ACKR1, and ACKR2), they exert noticeable influences on various diseases of different systems. At the maternal-fetal interface, CCL2 is detected to be expressed in trophoblasts, decidual tissue, the myometrium, and others. Meanwhile, existing reports have determined a series of physiological regulators of CCL2, which functions in maintaining normal recruitment of immunocytes, tissue remodeling, and angiogenesis. However, abnormal levels of CCL2 have also been reported to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia and preterm labor. In this review, we concentrate on CCL2 expression at the maternal-fetal interface, as well as its precise regulatory mechanisms and classic signaling pathways, to reveal the multidimensional aspects of CCL2 in pregnancy.

Identification of key genes and immune cell infiltration in recurrent implantation failure: A study based on integrated analysis of multiple microarray studies

PROBLEM

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) refers to a challenging topic in assisted reproductive technology (ART), the etiology of which may be attributed to impaired endometrial receptivity; however, the precise pathogenesis of RIF has not been thoroughly elucidated.

METHOD OF STUDY

Four RIF microarray datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and integrated by the "sva" R package. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed using the "limma" package and then GO, KEGG, GSEA, and GSVA were applied to perform functional and pathway enrichment analysis. The immune cell infiltration in the RIF process was evaluated by the CIBERSORT algorithm. Finally, the hub genes were identified through the CytoHubba and subsequently verified using two items of external endometrial data.

RESULTS

236 genes were differentially expressed in the endometrium of the RIF group. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that the biological functions of DEGs were mainly correlated to the immune-related pathways, including immune response, TNF signaling pathway, complement and coagulation cascades. Among the immune cells, γδ T cells decreased significantly in the endometrium of RIF patients. In addition, the key DEGs such as PTGS2, FGB, MUC1, SST, VCAM1, MMP7, ERBB4, FOLR1, and C3 were screened and identified as the hub genes involved in the pathogenesis of RIF.

CONCLUSIONS

Abnormal immune response regulation of endometrium contributes to the occurrence of RIF, and γδ T cells may be the pivotal immune cells causing RIF. At the same time, the novel hub genes identified will provide effective targets for the prediction and therapy of RIF.

Heparin Protects Human Neural Progenitor Cells from Zika Virus-Induced Cell Death While Preserving Their Differentiation into Mature Neuroglial Cells

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arbovirus member of the Flaviviridae family that causes severe congenital brain anomalies in infected fetuses. The key target cells of ZIKV infection, human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs), are highly permissive to infection that causes the inhibition of cell proliferation and induces cell death. We have previously shown that pharmaceutical-grade heparin inhibits virus-induced cell death with negligible effects on in vitro virus replication in ZIKV-infected hNPCs at the “high” multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1. Here, we show that heparin inhibits formation of ZIKV-induced intracellular vacuoles, a signature of paraptosis, and inhibits necrosis and apoptosis of hNPCs grown as neurospheres (NS). To test whether heparin preserved the differentiation of ZIKV-infected hNPCs into neuroglial cells, hNPCs were infected at the MOI of 0.001. In this experimental condition, heparin inhibited ZIKV replication by ca. 2 log₁₀, mostly interfering with virion attachment, while maintaining its protective effect against ZIKV-induced cytopathicity. Heparin preserved differentiation into neuroglial cells of hNPCs that were obtained from either human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) or by fetal tissue. Quite surprisingly, multiple additions of heparin to hNPCs enabled prolonged virus replication while preventing virus-induced cytopathicity. Collectively, these results highlight the potential neuroprotective effect of heparin that could serve as a lead compound to develop novel agents for preventing the damage of ZIKV infection on the developing brain.

IMPORTANCE ZIKV is a neurotropic virus that invades neural progenitor cells (NPCs), causing inhibition of their proliferation and maturation into neurons and glial cells. We have shown previously that heparin, an anticoagulant also used widely during pregnancy, prevents ZIKV-induced cell death with negligible inhibition of virus replication. Here, we demonstrate that heparin also exerts antiviral activity against ZIKV replication using a much lower infectious inoculum. Moreover, heparin interferes with different modalities of virus-induced cell death. Finally, heparin-induced prevention of virus-induced NPC death allows their differentiation into neuroglial cells despite the intracellular accumulation of virions. These results highlight the potential use of heparin, or pharmacological agents derived from it, in pregnant women to prevent the devastating effects of ZIKV infection on the developing brain of their fetuses.

Uterine cytokine profiles after low-molecular-weight heparin administration are associated with pregnancy outcomes of patients with repeated implantation failure

INTRODUCTION

Low molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) plays a role in repeated implantation failure (RIF), but outcomes are controversial. LMWH can potentially modulate local immune responses associated with the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. The study aimed to explore the effects of LWMH in uterine inflammatory cytokine profiles and pregnancy outcomes of patients with repeated implantation failure (RIF) but without thrombophilia.

METHODS

We compared clinical characteristics and reproductive outcomes among 326 patients with RIF, but not thrombophilia, undergoing frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle with or without LMWH treatment. Endometrium secretions were aspirated from both groups after 3 days of progesterone administration before and after LMWH treatment. Cytokine mRNA expression was analyzed in primary endometrial cells in vitro.

RESULTS

The clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates did not significantly differ between the groups (31.5% vs. 24.4%, p = 0.15; 29.6% vs. 20.7%, p = 0.06). Concentrations of IL-6 and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in uterine secretions were significantly increased in the LWMH group, regardless of pregnancy outcomes (P < 0.05). And, in all patients treated with LWMH, those of secreted IL-6, IL-15 and G-CSF were significantly increased in pregnant group (P < 0.05). The expression of mRNA for G-CSF and IL-6 was significantly increased in human endometrial stromal cells in vitro (P < 0.05) after stimulation with LWMH (10 IU/mL).

CONCLUSIONS

Uterine cytokine profiles after LMWH administration are associated with pregnancy outcomes and LMWH may be beneficial for patients with three implantation failures who do not have coagulation disorders.

Recent Progress on Cellulose-Based Ionic Compounds for Biomaterials

Glycans play important roles in all major kingdoms of organisms, such as archea, bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. Cellulose, the most abundant polysaccharide on the Earth, plays a predominant role for mechanical stability in plants, and finds a plethora of applications by humans. Beyond traditional use, biomedical application of cellulose becomes feasible with advances of soluble cellulose derivatives with diverse functional moieties along the backbone and modified nanocellulose with versatile functional groups on the surface due to the native features of cellulose as both cellulose chains and supramolecular ordered domains as extractable nanocellulose. With the focus on ionic cellulose-based compounds involving both these groups primarily for biomedical applications, a brief introduction about glycoscience and especially native biologically active glycosaminoglycans with specific biomedical application areas on humans is given, which inspires further development of bioactive compounds from glycans. Then, both polymeric cellulose derivatives and nanocellulose-based compounds synthesized as versatile biomaterials for a large variety of biomedical applications, such as for wound dressings, controlled release, encapsulation of cells and enzymes, and tissue engineering, are separately described, regarding the diverse routes of synthesis and the established and suggested applications for these highly interesting materials.

Heparin prevents oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in human decidualized endometrial stromal cells

Clinical trials have shown that administering heparin during the luteal phase has beneficial effects on implantation and live birth rates. Heparin exerts direct effects on decidual human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs), which are independent of its anticoagulant effect. However, the accurate effects of heparin on the decidualization process remain unidentified. Here, we demonstrate that HESCs become dramatically resistant to oxidative stress upon decidualization, and we hypothesize a possible direct action of heparin on the decidualization of HESCs, which would lead to improved implantation. To test this hypothesis, we established primary HESC cultures and propagated them, and then we decidualized confluent cultures with 8-bromo-cAMP, with medroxyprogesterone acetate, and with or without heparin. We treated the cells with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as a source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Adding heparin to decidualized HESCs induced prolactin secretion. Decidualized HESCs treated with heparin were prevented from undergoing apoptosis induced by oxidative stress. Heparin induced nuclear accumulation of the forkhead transcription factor FOXO1 and expression of its downstream target, the ROS scavenger superoxide dismutase 2. These results demonstrate that heparin-treated decidualized HESCs acquired further resistance to oxidative stress, suggesting that heparin may improve the implantation environment.

The presence of heparins during decidualization modulates the response of human endometrial stromal cells to IL-1β in vitro

PURPOSE

The aim of this paper is to study the impact of heparin on the response of human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) to interleukin (IL)-1β during decidualization in vitro.

METHODS

ESCs were isolated from hysterectomy specimens of premenopausal women undergoing hysterectomy for benign reasons; decidualized in vitro and incubated in parallel with unfractionated heparin or tinzaparin; and stimulated with IL-1β at days 0, 3, 6, and 9 during decidualization. IL-6, IL-11, and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) were analyzed using ELISAs and real-time RT-PCR. Cell viability was determined by a fluorometric assay.

RESULTS

IL-1β dose-dependently stimulated IL-6, IL-11, and LIF in distinct patterns in ESCs during decidualization. Unfractionated heparin as well as tinzaparin attenuated the IL-1β-mediated induction of IL-6, IL-11, and LIF on protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. The relative effects of heparin and tinzaparin were getting more pronounced during the time course of decidualization.

CONCLUSIONS

Unfractionated heparin and the low molecular weight heparin tinzaparin have modulating effects on IL-1β-induced endometrial cytokines of the IL-6 family during decidualization. These effects of heparins beyond their classical anti-coagulatory properties might have implications on the regulation of endometrial receptivity and early implantation.

Progesterone modulates endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) viability through the CXCL12/CXCR4/PI3K/Akt signalling pathway

OBJECTIVES

Progesterone treatment can effectively increase levels of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and improve neurological functional outcome in a traumatic brain injury (TBI) rat model. However, the mechanisms of progesterone's effects on EPC viability remain elusive. The CXCL12/CXCR4 (CXC chemokine ligand 12/CXC chemokine receptor 4) signalling pathway regulates cell proliferation; we hypothesize that it mediates progesterone-induced EPC viability.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

EPCs were isolated from bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) and treated with progesterone (5, 10 and 100 nm). MTS assay was used to investigate EPC viability. Protein expression was examined by Western blotting, ELISA assay and flow cytometry. Cell membrane and cytoplasm proteins were extracted with membrane and cytoplasm protein extraction kits. CXCR4 antagonist (AMD3100) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K) antagonist (LY294002) were used to characterize underlying mechanisms.

RESULTS

Progesterone-induced EPC viability was time- and dose-dependent. Administration of progesterone facilitated EPC viability and increased expression of CXCL12 and phosphorylated Akt (also known as protein kinase B, pAkt) activity (P < 0.05). Progesterone did not regulate CXCR4 protein expression in cultured EPC membranes or cytoplasm. However, progesterone-induced EPC viability was significantly attenuated by AMD3100 or LY294002. Inhibition of the signalling pathway with AMD3100 and LY294002 subsequently reduced progesterone-induced CXCL12/CXCR4/PI3K/pAkt signalling activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The CXCL12/CXCR4/PI3K/pAkt signalling pathway increased progesterone-induced EPC viability.