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Tian Y, Li M, Yang J, Chen H, Lu D. Preimplantation genetic testing in the current era, a review. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2024; 309:1787-1799. [PMID: 38376520 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-024-07370-z] [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: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), also referred to as preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), is an advanced reproductive technology used during in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles to identify genetic abnormalities in embryos prior to their implantation. PGT is used to screen embryos for chromosomal abnormalities, monogenic disorders, and structural rearrangements. DEVELOPMENT OF PGT Over the past few decades, PGT has undergone tremendous development, resulting in three primary forms: PGT-A, PGT-M, and PGT-SR. PGT-A is utilized for screening embryos for aneuploidies, PGT-M is used to detect disorders caused by a single gene, and PGT-SR is used to detect chromosomal abnormalities caused by structural rearrangements in the genome. PURPOSE OF REVIEW In this review, we thoroughly summarized and reviewed PGT and discussed its pros and cons down to the minutest aspects. Additionally, recent studies that highlight the advancements of PGT in the current era, including their future perspectives, were reviewed. CONCLUSIONS This comprehensive review aims to provide new insights into the understanding of techniques used in PGT, thereby contributing to the field of reproductive genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafei Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
- MOE Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Mingan Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Shuyang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian, 223800, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jingmin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, (Chongqing Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing Population and Family Planning Science and Technology Research Institute), Chongqing, 400020, China
| | - Hongyan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Daru Lu
- MOE Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, (Chongqing Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing Population and Family Planning Science and Technology Research Institute), Chongqing, 400020, China.
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2
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Gök K, Ozden S. Decreased fetal thymus size in pregnancies after assisted reproductive technologies. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2023; 36:2166401. [PMID: 36636015 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2023.2166401] [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: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the size of the fetal thymus, using both fetal thymic-thoracic ratio and fetal thymus transverse diameter values in Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) or naturally conceived pregnancies. METHODS In this retrospective study, fetal thymic-thoracic ratio and fetal thymus transverse diameter were evaluated in 204 pregnant women. Patients were examined in two groups. The study included 58 Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) patients (study group) and 146 healthy pregnant women (control group). RESULTS Fetal thymic-thoracic ratio in ART pregnancies were found to be statistically significantly lower than that of the control group (p = .001). Also, the fetal thymus transverse diameter value was found to be statistically significantly lower in ART pregnancies compared to that of the control group (p = .001). CONCLUSIONS The size of the fetal thymus, manifested with a decrease in both fetal thymic-thoracic ratio and thymus transverse diameter values, decreased in ART pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koray Gök
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey
| | - Selçuk Ozden
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey
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Ahmadi H, Aghebati-Maleki L, Rashidiani S, Csabai T, Nnaemeka OB, Szekeres-Bartho J. Long-Term Effects of ART on the Health of the Offspring. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13564. [PMID: 37686370 PMCID: PMC10487905 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713564] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) significantly increase the chance of successful pregnancy and live birth in infertile couples. The different procedures for ART, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), intrauterine insemination (IUI), and gamete intrafallopian tube transfer (GIFT), are widely used to overcome infertility-related problems. In spite of its inarguable usefulness, concerns about the health consequences of ART-conceived babies have been raised. There are reports about the association of ART with birth defects and health complications, e.g., malignancies, high blood pressure, generalized vascular functional disorders, asthma and metabolic disorders in later life. It has been suggested that hormonal treatment of the mother, and the artificial environment during the manipulation of gametes and embryos may cause genomic and epigenetic alterations and subsequent complications in the health status of ART-conceived babies. In the current study, we aimed to review the possible long-term consequences of different ART procedures on the subsequent health status of ART-conceived offspring, considering the confounding factors that might account for/contribute to the long-term consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Ahmadi
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscope Laboratory, Medical School, Pécs University, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (H.A.); (T.C.)
| | - Leili Aghebati-Maleki
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 5165665931, Iran;
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 5165665931, Iran
| | - Shima Rashidiani
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical School, Pécs University, 7624 Pécs, Hungary;
| | - Timea Csabai
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscope Laboratory, Medical School, Pécs University, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (H.A.); (T.C.)
- János Szentágothai Research Centre, Pécs University, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Endocrine Studies, Centre of Excellence, Pécs University, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- National Laboratory of Human Reproduction, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Obodo Basil Nnaemeka
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pécs University, 7621 Pécs, Hungary;
| | - Julia Szekeres-Bartho
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscope Laboratory, Medical School, Pécs University, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (H.A.); (T.C.)
- János Szentágothai Research Centre, Pécs University, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Endocrine Studies, Centre of Excellence, Pécs University, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- National Laboratory of Human Reproduction, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- MTA—PTE Human Reproduction Research Group, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
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4
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Chen G, Yan S, Zhang J, Zhang J, Deng IB, He R. The alternative 3' splice site of GPNMB may promote neuronal survival after neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy injury. IBRAIN 2022; 8:302-313. [PMID: 37786733 PMCID: PMC10529014 DOI: 10.1002/ibra.12056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to decipher the effect of glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) on neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (NHIE) and its potential molecular mechanism. The hypoxic-ischemic (HI) model was established in 7-day-old rats, and then, Zea-Longa scores and Nissl staining were performed to measure brain damage post-HI. In addition, gene sequencing was used to detect the differential expression genes (DEGs), and then, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases were used to determine the function of DEGs. Furthermore, an oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model was developed in SY5Y cells and human fetal neurons, and then, the level of GPNMB was verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. In addition, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and cell counting kit-8 assays were applied after GPNMB interference. Finally, the alternative splicing of GPNMB expression was analyzed using Splice Grapher software. The results indicated that HI induced marked neurological impairment and neuron injury in rats. Also, GPNMB was the most obviously upregulated gene in DEGs. Additionally, GPNMB was upregulated significantly in SY5Y and fetal neurons after OGD, and GPNMB-si promoted an increase in cell viability and number. Moreover, we found that the GPNMB alternative splicing type was the Alternative 3' splice site, with the alternative splicing site in 143382985:143404102. Herein, GPNMB promotes a crucial regulatory mechanism with alternative splicing for neuronal survival after NHIE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo‐Jiao Chen
- Bioinformatics CenterKunming Medical UniversityKunmingYunnanChina
| | | | | | - Ji Zhang
- Southwest Medical UniversityLuzhouSichuanChina
| | - Isaac Bul Deng
- Center for Epogenetics and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Kennedy Krieger InstituteJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUSA
| | - Rong He
- Bioinformatics CenterKunming Medical UniversityKunmingYunnanChina
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5
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Schroeder M, Badini G, Sferruzzi-Perri AN, Albrecht C. The Consequences of Assisted Reproduction Technologies on the Offspring Health Throughout Life: A Placental Contribution. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:906240. [PMID: 35747691 PMCID: PMC9210138 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.906240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) worldwide has led to the conception and birth of over eight million babies since being implemented in 1978. ART use is currently on the rise, given growing infertility and the increase in conception age among men and women in industrialized countries. Though obstetric and perinatal outcomes have improved over the years, pregnancies achieved by ART still bear increased risks for the mother and the unborn child. Moreover, given that the first generation of ART offspring is now only reaching their forties, the long-term effects of ART are currently unknown. This is important, as there is a wealth of data showing that life-long health can be predetermined by poor conditions during intrauterine development, including irregularities in the structure and functioning of the placenta. In the current review, we aim to summarize the latest available findings examining the effects of ART on the cardiometabolic, cognitive/neurodevelopmental, and behavioral outcomes in the perinatal period, childhood and adolescence/adulthood; and to examine placental intrinsic factors that may contribute to the developmental outcomes of ART offspring. Altogether, the latest knowledge about life outcomes beyond adolescence for those conceived by ART appears to suggest a better long-term outcome than previously predicted. There are also changes in placenta structure and functional capacity with ART. However, more work in this area is critically required, since the potential consequences of ART may still emerge as the offspring gets older. In addition, knowledge of the placenta may help to foresee and mitigate any adverse outcomes in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Schroeder
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gina Badini
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Amanda N Sferruzzi-Perri
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Christiane Albrecht
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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6
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Placental Dysfunction in Assisted Reproductive Pregnancies: Perinatal, Neonatal and Adult Life Outcomes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23020659. [PMID: 35054845 PMCID: PMC8775397 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Obstetric and newborn outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) pregnancies are associated with significative prevalence of maternal and neonatal adverse health conditions, such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. These data are interpreted as anomalies in placentation involving a dysregulation of several molecular factors and pathways. It is not clear which extent of the observed placental alterations are the result of ART and which originate from infertility itself. These two aspects probably act synergically for the final obstetric risk. Data show that mechanisms of inappropriate trophoblast invasion and consequent altered vascular remodeling sustain several clinical conditions, leading to obstetric and perinatal risks often found in ART pregnancies, such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction and placenta previa or accreta. The roles of factors such as VEGF, GATA3, PIGF, sFLT-1, sEndoglin, EGFL7, melatonin and of ART conditions, such as short or long embryo cultures, trophectoderm biopsy, embryo cryopreservation, and supraphysiologic endometrium preparation, are discussed. Inflammatory local conditions and epigenetic influence on embryos of ART procedures are important research topics since they may have important consequences on obstetric risk. Prevention and treatment of these conditions represent new frontiers for clinicians and biologists involved in ART, and synergic actions with researchers at molecular levels are advocated.
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Ducreux B, Frappier J, Bruno C, Doukani A, Guilleman M, Simon E, Martinaud A, Bourc’his D, Barberet J, Fauque P. Genome-Wide Analysis of DNA Methylation in Buccal Cells of Children Conceived through IVF and ICSI. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1912. [PMID: 34946866 PMCID: PMC8701402 DOI: 10.3390/genes12121912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Early life periconceptional exposures during assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures could alter the DNA methylation profiles of ART children, notably in imprinted genes and repetitive elements. At the genome scale, DNA methylation differences have been reported in ART conceptions at birth, but it is still unclear if those differences remain at childhood. Here, we performed an epigenome-wide DNA methylation association study using Illumina InfiniumEPIC BeadChip to assess the effects of the mode of conception on the methylome of buccal cells from 7- to 8-year-old children (48 children conceived after ART or naturally (control, CTL)) and according to the embryo culture medium in which they were conceived. We identified 127 differentially methylated positions (DMPs) and 16 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) (FDR < 0.05) with low delta beta differences between the two groups (ART vs. CTL). DMPs were preferentially located inside promoter proximal regions and CpG islands and were mostly hypermethylated with ART. We highlighted that the use of distinct embryo culture medium was not associated with DNA methylation differences in childhood. Overall, we bring additional evidence that children conceived via ART display limited genome-wide DNA methylation variation compared with those conceived naturally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastien Ducreux
- Equipe Génétique des Anomalies du Développement (GAD), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, INSERM UMR1231, 2 Rue Angélique Ducoudray, F-21000 Dijon, France; (B.D.); (J.F.); (C.B.); (M.G.); (E.S.); (A.M.); (J.B.)
| | - Jean Frappier
- Equipe Génétique des Anomalies du Développement (GAD), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, INSERM UMR1231, 2 Rue Angélique Ducoudray, F-21000 Dijon, France; (B.D.); (J.F.); (C.B.); (M.G.); (E.S.); (A.M.); (J.B.)
- Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction—CECOS, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, 14 Rue Gaffarel, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Céline Bruno
- Equipe Génétique des Anomalies du Développement (GAD), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, INSERM UMR1231, 2 Rue Angélique Ducoudray, F-21000 Dijon, France; (B.D.); (J.F.); (C.B.); (M.G.); (E.S.); (A.M.); (J.B.)
- Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction—CECOS, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, 14 Rue Gaffarel, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Abiba Doukani
- Faculté de Médecine, Sorbonne Université, UMS 37 PASS Plateforme P3S, 91, Bd de l’hôpital, F-75634 Paris, France;
| | - Magali Guilleman
- Equipe Génétique des Anomalies du Développement (GAD), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, INSERM UMR1231, 2 Rue Angélique Ducoudray, F-21000 Dijon, France; (B.D.); (J.F.); (C.B.); (M.G.); (E.S.); (A.M.); (J.B.)
- Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction—CECOS, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, 14 Rue Gaffarel, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Emmanuel Simon
- Equipe Génétique des Anomalies du Développement (GAD), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, INSERM UMR1231, 2 Rue Angélique Ducoudray, F-21000 Dijon, France; (B.D.); (J.F.); (C.B.); (M.G.); (E.S.); (A.M.); (J.B.)
- Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, 14 Rue Gaffarel, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Aurélie Martinaud
- Equipe Génétique des Anomalies du Développement (GAD), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, INSERM UMR1231, 2 Rue Angélique Ducoudray, F-21000 Dijon, France; (B.D.); (J.F.); (C.B.); (M.G.); (E.S.); (A.M.); (J.B.)
- Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction—CECOS, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, 14 Rue Gaffarel, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Déborah Bourc’his
- Institut Curie, PSL University, CNRS, INSERM, 26 Rue d’Ulm, F-75248 Paris, France;
| | - Julie Barberet
- Equipe Génétique des Anomalies du Développement (GAD), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, INSERM UMR1231, 2 Rue Angélique Ducoudray, F-21000 Dijon, France; (B.D.); (J.F.); (C.B.); (M.G.); (E.S.); (A.M.); (J.B.)
- Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction—CECOS, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, 14 Rue Gaffarel, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Patricia Fauque
- Equipe Génétique des Anomalies du Développement (GAD), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, INSERM UMR1231, 2 Rue Angélique Ducoudray, F-21000 Dijon, France; (B.D.); (J.F.); (C.B.); (M.G.); (E.S.); (A.M.); (J.B.)
- Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction—CECOS, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, 14 Rue Gaffarel, F-21000 Dijon, France
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Xu X, Wu H, Bian Y, Cui L, Man Y, Wang Z, Zhang X, Zhang C, Geng L. The altered immunological status of children conceived by assisted reproductive technology. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2021; 19:171. [PMID: 34836513 PMCID: PMC8620159 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-021-00858-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With the increased use of assisted reproductive technology (ART), assessing the potential health risks of children conceived on ART important to public health. Most research in this area has focused on the effects of ART on perinatal, metabolic, and oncological risks in children. Although an increased risk of immune-related diseases has been reported in children born after ART, there are no studies on the immunological status of these children. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different embryo transfer methods and fertilization strategies on the immune status of the offspring. METHODS A total of 69 children born to women treated with ART and a matched control group of 17 naturally conceived (NC) children, all aged from 3 to 6 years, were recruited in the reproductive hospital affiliated to Shandong University. The frequency of immune cells in the peripheral blood was assayed using flow cytometry; plasma cytokine levels were determined by multiplex cytokine immunoassay with human cytokine magnetic beads. RESULTS Compared to children born after natural conception, children born after ART had elevated interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels, regardless of embryo transfer and fertilization strategies. Children in the fresh-embryo transfer group had significantly higher IL-4 levels and a lower ratio of IFN-γ to IL-4 than those in the NC group ((P = 0.004, 10.41 ± 5.76 pg/mL vs 18.40 ± 7.01 pg/mL, P = 0.023, 1.00 ± 0.48 vs 0.67 ± 0.32, respectively). Similar results were shown in either the in vitro fertilization (IVF) group or the intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) group (P < 0.05 and P = 0.08 for IVF; P < 0.05 and P < 0.05 for ICSI, respectively). These alterations in IL-4 concentrations and the ratio of IFN-γ to IL-4 were statistically significantly correlated with supra-physical E2 (estradiol) levels on the day of hCG administration (R = 0.502, P = 0.017; R = - 0.537, P = 0.010, respectively). Consistently, the frozen embryo transfer did not result in alterations of these immune indicators in the offspring. Overall, there were no significant differences between the ART group and NC group in the frequencies of T cells, B cells, natural killer (NK) cells, CD4+T cells, CD8+T cells, T helper (TH)1 cells, TH17 cells, and regulatory T (Treg) cells and cytokine levels of IL-10 and IL-17a (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Immunological alterations existed in children born after the use of ART. The elevated E2 levels before embryo implantation contributed to the increased IL-4 levels in children conceived by fresh embryo transfer. The assessment of immunological alteration is of importance to children conceived by ART for early monitoring and intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Xu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Han Wu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Yuehong Bian
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Linlin Cui
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Yuanyuan Man
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Zhao Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Changming Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Ling Geng
- Key laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
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Fineman DC, Keller RL, Maltepe E, Rinaudo PF, Steurer MA. Outcomes of Very Preterm Infants Conceived with Assisted Reproductive Technologies. J Pediatr 2021; 236:47-53.e1. [PMID: 34023343 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.05.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare mortality and early respiratory outcomes of very preterm infants conceived via assisted reproductive technology (ART) vs spontaneously. STUDY DESIGN We identified inborn infants (July 2014-July 2019) with gestational age <32 weeks (n = 439); 54 cases were ART conceived. Spontaneously conceived controls (n = 103) were matched by multiple gestation status and gestational age. Primary outcome was 1-year mortality. Secondary outcomes were receipt of respiratory support and supplemental oxygen at 7 and 28 days and 36 weeks of postmenstrual age. We evaluated the association between conception method and outcomes by logistic regression, with adjustment for sociodemographic status. RESULTS Women who conceived via ART had increased rates of prepregnancy and gestational diabetes, and no differences in rates of hypertensive disorders. Infant 1-year mortality was not different by mode of conception (ART 11.8% vs spontaneous 7.1%, P = .49). Infants conceived by ART were less likely to receive respiratory support or supplemental oxygen at all time points, but this relationship only reached significance for receipt of oxygen at 28 days (ART 20.8% vs spontaneous 39.0%, P = .03); this remained true after adjustment for race/ethnicity and socioeconomic index. CONCLUSIONS When controlling for gestational age and multiple gestation status, very preterm infants conceived following ART had similar outcomes as those conceived spontaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roberta L Keller
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Emin Maltepe
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Paolo F Rinaudo
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Martina A Steurer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
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10
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Xiang M, Chen S, Zhang X, Ma Y. Placental diseases associated with assisted reproductive technology. Reprod Biol 2021; 21:100505. [PMID: 33862590 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2021.100505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The placenta develops from the outer trophoblastic layer following the differentiation of the fertilized ovum and is therefore more susceptible to epigenetic regulatory changes caused by environmental interventions and influences during assisted reproductive technology. Furthermore, the placenta regulates the development of the fetal heart, brain, kidneys, bones, and other tissues and organs [1]. Placental dysplasia leads to poor perinatal outcomes as well as long-term health risks later in life, including neurodevelopmental disorders, tumors, and adult metabolic syndrome [2,3]. In view of the decisive role of the placenta during intrauterine fetal development, Graham J. Burton, an expert in placentology from the University of Cambridge, formally proposed the theory of "placenta-derived chronic diseases" in 2018 based on embryonic-derived diseases [4]. In this review, we summarized the changes in placental morphology and structure, growth dynamics, imprinted and non-imprinted genes, and other aspects attributable to assisted reproduction technology. Our review provides a theoretical basis for further research on placental changes caused by assisted reproductive technology that are most strongly associated with an increased risk of neonatal long-term diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Xiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Clinical Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, 710021, China.
| | - Shuqiang Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China
| | - Xudong Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Clinical Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, 710021, China
| | - Yuan Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China
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11
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Siqueira LG, Silva MVG, Panetto JC, Viana JH. Consequences of assisted reproductive technologies for offspring function in cattle. Reprod Fertil Dev 2020; 32:82-97. [PMID: 32188560 DOI: 10.1071/rd19278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal fetuses, neonates and adult offspring derived by assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have been reported in humans, rodents and domestic animals. The use of ART has also been associated with an increased likelihood of certain adult diseases. These abnormalities may arise as a result of an excess of or missing maternally derived molecules during invitro culture, because the invitro environment is artificial and suboptimal for embryo development. Nonetheless, the success of ART in overcoming infertility or improving livestock genetics is undeniable. Limitations of invitro embryo production (IVEP) in cattle include lower rates of the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy and an increased incidence of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Moreover, recent studies demonstrated long-term effects of IVEP in cattle, including increased postnatal mortality, altered growth and a slight reduction in the performance of adult dairy cows. This review addresses the effects of an altered preimplantation environment on embryo and fetal programming and offspring development. We discuss cellular and molecular responses of the embryo to the maternal environment, how ART may disturb programming, the possible role of epigenetic effects as a mechanism for altered phenotypes and long-term effects of ART that manifest in postnatal life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz G Siqueira
- Embrapa Gado de Leite, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil 36038-330; and Corresponding author.
| | | | - João C Panetto
- Embrapa Gado de Leite, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil 36038-330
| | - João H Viana
- Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília, DF, Brazil 70770-917
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12
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Ahmadi H, Fathi F, Karimi H, Amidi F, Mehdinejadiani S, Moeini A, Bahram Rezai M, Hoseini S, Sobhani A. Altered TH1, TH2, TH17 balance in assisted reproductive technology conceived mice. J Reprod Immunol 2020; 139:103117. [PMID: 32244165 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2020.103117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
AIM AND PURPOSE The higher prevalence rate of different diseases may accentuate the possible alteration of the immune system in individuals conceived through the assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The present study was conducted to evaluate the TH1, TH2, TH17 balance in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) - conceived mice in comparison to naturally conceived offspring. METHODS Mice (6-8 weeks) were divided into three groups (IVF- conceived, ICSI- conceived and naturally conceived). They were subjected to subcutaneous immunization witMycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG). The blood samples were taken and the sera were separated. Then the spleens were surgically removed at the time the mice were sacrificed. Serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-17A and IL-4 were detected by ELISA. Then the proportion of TCD4 cells possessing the T-bet+, GATA3+, and ROR-γt + were measured using FACS caliber flow cytometer. RESULTS In comparison with naturally conceived mice, intracellular expression of T-bet and serum levels of IFN-γ were significantly decreased in ART- conceived mice. Moreover, ART- conceived offspring showed marked increase in IL-4 and IL-17A. CONCLUSION It is concluded that compared to naturally conceived male mice, ART- conceived counterparts exhibit less efficient immune responses against BCG through further promotion of humoral and inflammatory related immune response characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Ahmadi
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fardin Fathi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Hiwa Karimi
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fardin Amidi
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Ashraf Moeini
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Arash Women's Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mojdeh Bahram Rezai
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shirzad Hoseini
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, International Campus, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (IC-TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Aligholi Sobhani
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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13
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Teng C, Jia J, Wang Z, Yan B. Oral Co-Exposures to zinc oxide nanoparticles and CdCl 2 induced maternal-fetal pollutant transfer and embryotoxicity by damaging placental barriers. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2020; 189:109956. [PMID: 31761550 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Synergistic toxicity from multiple environmental pollutants poses greater threat to humans, especially to susceptible pregnant population. Here we evaluated combined toxicity from environment pollutants zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and cadmium chloride (CdCl2) using two pregnant mice models established by oral administration during peri-implantation or organogenesis period. We found that exposures to combined pollutants only at organogenesis stage induced higher fetal deformity rate compared to co-exposures at peri-implantation stage. We further discovered that surface charge of ZnO NPs were modified after Cd2+ adsorption and the resulting nanoadducts caused more severe damages in placental barriers by causing shed endothelial cells and decreased expressions of tight junction proteins ZO1, occludin, claudin-4 and claudin-8. These cellular and molecular events enhanced maternal-fetal transfer of both pollutants and aggravated embryotoxicity. Our findings help elucidate synergistic embryotoxicity by nanoparticle/pollutant adducts and establish proper safety criteria for pregnant population in an era that nanotechnology-based products are widely used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanfeng Teng
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, PR China
| | - Jianbo Jia
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Zhiping Wang
- School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, PR China.
| | - Bing Yan
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, PR China.
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Zhao L, Sun L, Zheng X, Liu J, Zheng R, Yang R, Wang Y. In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer alter human placental function through trophoblasts in early pregnancy. Mol Med Rep 2020; 21:1897-1909. [PMID: 32319609 PMCID: PMC7057775 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.10971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanism underlying the potential risk associated with in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF‑ET) has been previously investigated but remains to be fully elucidated. As the placenta is a critical organ that sustains and protects the fetus, this is an important area of research. The aim of the present study was to determine the difference in trophoblast cell function in the first trimester between naturally conceived pregnancies and pregnancies achieved via IVF‑ET therapy. A total of 20 placental villi in first trimester samples were obtained through fetal bud aspiration from patients undergoing IVF‑ET due to oviductal factors between January 2016 and August 2018. In addition, a further 20 placental villi were obtained from those who naturally conceived and had normal pregnancies but were undergoing artificial abortion; these patients were recruited as the controls. Reverse transcription‑quantitative (RT‑q)PCR and semi‑quantitative immunohistochemical methods were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of α‑fetoprotein (AFP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transferrin (TF), tubulin β1 class VI (TUBB1), metallothionein 1G (MT1G), BCL2, glial cells missing transcription factor 1 (GCM1), epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR), PTEN and leukocyte associated immunoglobulin like receptor 2 (LAIR2) in villi from both groups. Differentially expressed genes were analyzed using Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis was conducted. The RT‑qPCR data revealed that the mRNA expression levels of AFP, VEGF and TF were significantly higher in the IVF‑ET group than in the control group (P<0.05), and those of TUBB1, MT1G, BCL2, GCM1, EGFR, PTEN and LAIR2 were significantly lower (P<0.05). These gene products were expressed in the placental villus tissues, either in the cytoplasm, or in the membrane of syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast cells. The immunohistochemistry results were in line with those observed using RT‑qPCR. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the trophoblast cell function of the IVF‑ET group in the first trimester was different from naturally conceived pregnancies with regard to proliferation, invasion, apoptosis and vascular development. The IVF‑ET process may trigger adaptive placental responses, and these compensatory mechanisms could be a risk for certain diseases later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, P.R. China
| | - Lifang Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, P.R. China
| | - Xiuli Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, P.R. China
| | - Jingfang Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, P.R. China
| | - Rong Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, P.R. China
| | - Rui Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, P.R. China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, P.R. China
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15
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Zhao L, Zheng X, Liu J, Zheng R, Yang R, Wang Y, Sun L. PPAR signaling pathway in the first trimester placenta from in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 118:109251. [PMID: 31351426 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.109251] [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: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Placenta is a temporary critical organ related to fetal development and pregnancy outcomes. And epidemiologic data demonstrate an increased risk of placental abnormality after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). This study aims to explore the molecular mechanism for PPAR signaling pathway in placenta subjected to IVF-ET in the first trimester. Four first trimester placenta samples from double chorionic twins to single reduction in IVF-ET only because of oviducts factors. The other four control placenta samples from double chorionic twin were derived from those unplanned spontaneously conceived pregnancy after the legal termination. Affymetrix HG-U133 Plus 2.0 Array was performed to evaluate the global gene expressions. We confirmed microarray results from 10 significant differential genes using RT-qPCR. And 10 deregulated gene products were stained in the first trimester placenta by immunohistochemistry. These differentially expressed genes in IVF-ET placentas were submitted to functional annotation of clustering tools of bioinformatics resources and gene ontology enrichment analysis. Schematic representation of placental PPAR signaling pathway was labelled by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Analysis results of early placental PPAR signaling pathway gene expression from 8 women demonstrated 34 genes with a significant change in expression between IVF-ET and control group, 25 up-regulated; 9 down-regulated. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that IVF-ET manipulation extensively over-activated PPAR signaling pathway. Immune tolerance, trophoblast invasion, syncytia formation, lipid and glucose metabolism, inflammatory response and other complex biological functions were disturbed. RT-qPCR results and proteins staining intensity were consisted with microarray. Placental gene expressions and functions in PPAR signaling pathway were affected by IVF-ET treatment in the first trimester, which may offer a potential mechanism for the pathogenesis of various adverse outcomes during the perinatal period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, No. 31, Xinjiekou East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, China
| | - Xiuli Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, No. 31, Xinjiekou East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, China
| | - Jingfang Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, No. 31, Xinjiekou East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, China
| | - Rong Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, No. 31, Xinjiekou East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, China
| | - Rui Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, No. 49, Huayuan North Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, No. 49, Huayuan North Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Lifang Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, No. 31, Xinjiekou East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, China.
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16
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Zhao L, Zheng X, Liu J, Zheng R, Yang R, Wang Y, Sun L. The placental transcriptome of the first-trimester placenta is affected by in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2019; 17:50. [PMID: 31262321 PMCID: PMC6604150 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-019-0494-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The placenta is a highly specialized temporary organ that is related to fetal development and pregnancy outcomes, and epidemiological data demonstrate an increased risk of placental abnormality after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHODS This study examines alterations in the transcriptome profile of first-trimester placentas from IVF-ET pregnancies and analyzes the potential mechanisms that play a role in the adverse perinatal outcomes associated with IVF-ET procedures. Four human placental villi from first-trimester samples were obtained through fetal bud aspiration from patients subjected to IVF-ET due to oviductal factors. An additional four control human placental villi were derived from a group of subjects who spontaneously conceived a twin pregnancy. We analyzed their transcriptomes by microarray. Then, RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry were utilized to analyze several dysregulated genes to validate the microarray results. Biological functions and pathways were analyzed with bioinformatics tools. RESULTS A total of 3405 differentially regulated genes were identified as significantly dysregulated (> 2-fold change; P < 0.05) in the IVF-ET placenta in the first trimester: 1910 upregulated and 1495 downregulated genes. Functional enrichment analysis of the differentially regulated genes demonstrated that the genes were involved in more than 50 biological processes and pathways that have been shown to play important roles in the first trimester in vivo. These pathways can be clustered into coagulation cascades, immune response, transmembrane signaling, metabolism, cell cycle, stress control, invasion and vascularization. Nearly the same number of up- and downregulated genes participate in the same biological processes related to placental development and maintenance. Procedures utilized in IVF-ET altered the expression of first-trimester placental genes that are critical to these biological processes and triggered a compensatory mechanism during early implantation in vivo. CONCLUSION These data provide a potential basis for further analysis of the higher frequency of adverse perinatal outcomes following IVF-ET, with the ultimate goal of developing safer IVF-ET protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan, Hospital, No. 31, Xinjiekou East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuli Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan, Hospital, No. 31, Xinjiekou East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingfang Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan, Hospital, No. 31, Xinjiekou East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, People's Republic of China
| | - Rong Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan, Hospital, No. 31, Xinjiekou East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Yang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49, Huayuan North Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Wang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49, Huayuan North Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Lifang Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan, Hospital, No. 31, Xinjiekou East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, People's Republic of China.
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17
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Proteomic Assessment of iTRAQ-Based NaoMaiTong in the Treatment of Ischemic Stroke in Rats. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2019; 2019:5107198. [PMID: 31223330 PMCID: PMC6541990 DOI: 10.1155/2019/5107198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Background NaoMaiTong (NMT) is widely used in the treatment of cerebral ischemia but the molecular details of its beneficial effects remain poorly characterized. Materials and Methods In this study, we used iTRAQ using 2D LC-MS/MS technology to investigate the cellular mechanisms governing the protective effects of NMT. The transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model was established and evaluated. The degree of cerebral ischemia was assessed through scoring for nerve injury symptoms and through the assessment of the areas of cerebral infarction. Brain tissues were subjected to analysis by iTRAQ. High-pH HPLC and RSLC-MS/MS analysis were performed to detect differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between the treatment groups (Sham, MCAO, and NMT). Bioinformatics were employed for data analysis and DEPs were validated by western blot. Results The results showed that NMT offers protection to the neurological damage caused by MCAO and was found to reduce the areas of cerebral infarction. We detected 3216 DEPs via mass spectrometry. Of these proteins, 21 displayed altered expression following NMT intervention. These included DEPs involved in translation, cell cycle regulation, cellular nitrogen metabolism, and stress responses. Pathway analysis revealed seven key DEPs that were enriched in ribosomal synthesis pathways, tight junction formation, and regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. According to protein-protein interaction analysis, RPL17, Tuba, and Rac1 were affected by NMT treatment, which was validated by western blot analysis. Discussion We therefore identify new pharmacodynamic mechanisms of NMT for the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke. These DEPs reveal new targets to prevent ischemic stroke induced neuronal damage.
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18
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Zhao L, Sun LF, Zheng XL, Liu JF, Zheng R, Wang Y, Yang R, Zhang L, Yu L, Zhang H. [In vitro fertilization-embryo transfer affects focal adhension kinase signaling pathway in early placenta]. JOURNAL OF PEKING UNIVERSITY. HEALTH SCIENCES 2019; 51:151-158. [PMID: 30773560 DOI: 10.19723/j.issn.1671-167x.2019.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the effects of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) technique on gene expression of focal adhension kinase (FAK) signaling pathway in early placental trophoblast cells, and to explore the effects of IVF-ET technology on the development and function of early placenta. METHODS We collected 7-8 weeks of gestation placenta tissue as a study group by ultrasound guided reduction of fetal from double embryo transfer under IVF-ET technology. In the control group, placenta tissues were obtained from the spontaneous abortion of natural pregnancy twin 7-8 weeks. Microarray hybridization analysis was performed on the placenta tissue of the two groups using the Affymetrix HG-U133 Plus 2.0 gene chip. Eight differentially expressed genes were identified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and unsupervised clustering analysis and functional bioinformatics analysis were performed for the differentially expressed genes. RESULTS Twenty-eight cases of IVF-ET reduced fetal villi and 8 cases of spontaneous abortion villi were collected. A total of 8 placental villi were detected by the gene chip. Compared with the natural pregnancy control group, 32 differentially expressed genes in the placental FAK signaling pathway were expressed in IVF-ET. The differential expression was greater than or equal to 2 times, of which 12 genes were up-regulated and 20 were down-regulated. The qRT-PCR showed that the expression of the 8 genes in FAK signaling pathways of IVF-ET was significantly different from that in the placenta of natural pregnancy, which was consistent with the result of the gene chip detection. The FAK signal pathway gene localization showed that the FAK gene was mainly located in the upstream of the signal pathway in the placenta of IVF-ET. The placental trophoblast cells maintained the FAK signaling pathway function through gene expression compensation. CONCLUSION There are gene expression differences in the FAK signaling pathway between the IVF-ET derived early placenta and the natural pregnancy placenta. The differentially expressed genes are involved in many key functions of the FAK signaling pathway and affect the early development and function of the IVF-ET placenta, while the placental trophoblast cells change gene expression for interference to compensate for IVF-ET technology itself, maintain normal function of the FAK signaling pathway, and satisfy the need for placental and fetal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China
| | - L F Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China
| | - X L Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China
| | - J F Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China
| | - R Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China
| | - Y Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - R Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - L Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Beijing 102218, China
| | - L Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
| | - H Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China
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19
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Wilczyńska K, Wiśniewski A, Malinowski A, Barcz E, Wilczyński JR, Kuśnierczyk P, Nowak I. ERAP, KIR and HLA-C gene interaction in susceptibility to recurrent spontaneous abortion in the Polish population. Hum Immunol 2019; 80:344-348. [PMID: 30797824 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2019.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases ERAP1 and ERAP2 trim peptides to generate stable antigenic epitopes for their presentation by HLA class I (HLA-I) molecules to T cell receptor. By influencing the peptide repertoire of HLA-I molecules, they affect also the interactions of HLA-I with killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) of natural killer (NK) cells. HLA-C is the only polymorphic HLA-I molecule present on the trophoblast. In this study we investigated the role of ERAP1 and ERAP2 polymorphisms in the context of KIR and HLA-C genes in women suffering from recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) in the Polish population. We used TaqMan genotyping assays for ERAP1 rs27044, rs30187, rs2287987, rs26618, rs2665 and ERAP2 rs2248374; PCR-SSP methods for KIR and HLA-C genotyping. We tested 285 women who experienced recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) and 319 fertile women. We observed a significant association of ERAP1 rs30187TT genotype with RSA (p = 0.02, OR = 1.89, 95%CI = 1.11-3.21), however the most striking association was found in comparison of patients and controls with ERAP1 rs30187TT and KIR Bx genotypes (p = 0.006, pcorr. = 0.036, OR = 2.40, 95%CI = 1.27-4.52). Moreover, this effect was even stronger in HLA-C2 positive patients (p = 0.0031, pcorr. = 0.019, OR = 3.46, 95%CI = 1.48-8.11). Other weaker associations of the remaining tested ERAP single nucleotide polymorphisms with RSA were also presented. In conclusion, ERAP1 rs30187TT genotype itself increased susceptibility to RSA but this effect was much stronger in patients positive for HLA-C2 and KIR Bx genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Wilczyńska
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Tissue Immunology, Department of Clinical Immunology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Rudolfa Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Andrzej Wiśniewski
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Tissue Immunology, Department of Clinical Immunology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Rudolfa Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Andrzej Malinowski
- Department of Surgical, Endoscopic and Oncologic Gynecology, Polish Mothers' Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, ul. Rzgowska 281/289, 93-338 Łódź, Poland.
| | - Ewa Barcz
- First Chair and Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland, Pl. Starynkiewcza 1/3, 02-015 Warszawa, Poland.
| | - Jacek R Wilczyński
- Department of Surgical and Oncological Gynecology, Medical University of Lodz, Al. Kościuszki 4, 90-419 Łódź, Poland.
| | - Piotr Kuśnierczyk
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Tissue Immunology, Department of Clinical Immunology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Rudolfa Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Izabela Nowak
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Tissue Immunology, Department of Clinical Immunology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Rudolfa Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland.
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Xia XR, Jiang SW, Zhang Y, Hu YF, Yi HG, Liu J, Zhao NN, Chen J, Gao L, Cui YG, Liu JY. Serum levels of trace elements in children born after assisted reproductive technology. Clin Chim Acta 2018; 495:664-669. [PMID: 30248345 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2018.09.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The health and development of newborn children born via assisted reproductive technology (ART), as well as their health in adulthood, have raised great concern. This study was designed to investigate whether ART children have differences in the levels of trace elements compared with naturally conceived children. METHODS This study included those ART children and controls aged 1 to 12 years assessed with a follow-up protocol. Serum levels of the trace elements zinc, copper, iron, calcium, magnesium and lead were determined and analyzed. RESULTS There were no significant differences in age, gender or body weight between the ART and control groups. There were no significant differences in the rates of deficiency or excess of trace elements between the two groups. Serum lead levels in children born via ART were significantly higher than those in the controls, whereas the levels of zinc and iron were significantly decreased in the ART group, although these levels were still within the normal ranges. DISCUSSION These results indicate the need to monitor the blood levels of zinc, iron and lead in ART children aged 1-6 years old. These findings contribute to our understanding on the long-term safety of ART and may facilitate screening for potential diseases related to trace elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Ru Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Shi-Wen Jiang
- The Affiliated Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Medical University, Wuxi 214002, China; Department of Biomedical Science, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, Georgia
| | - Yuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - You-Fang Hu
- Department of Child Health, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Hong-Gang Yi
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Jie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Nan-Nan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Juan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Li Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Yu-Gui Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
| | - Jia-Yin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
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Bhandari HM, Choudhary MK, Stewart JA. Complications of assisted reproductive technology treatment and the factors influencing reproductive outcome. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/tog.12504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Harish M Bhandari
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Leeds Fertility; Seacroft Hospital; Leeds LS14 6UH UK
| | - Meenakshi K Choudhary
- Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life; International Centre for Life; Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4EP UK
| | - Jane A Stewart
- Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life; International Centre for Life; Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4EP UK
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22
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Foetal thymus size in pregnancies after assisted reproductive technologies. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2018; 298:329-336. [PMID: 29926171 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-018-4795-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of our study was to compare thymus sizes in foetuses conceived using assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to those conceived naturally (control group). METHODS Sonographic foetal thymus size was assessed retrospectively in 162 pregnancies conceived using ART and in 774 pregnancies conceived naturally. The anteroposterior thymic and the intrathoracic mediastinal diameter were measured to calculate the thymic-thoracic ratio (TT-ratio). The ART cases were subdivided into two groups: (1) intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI; n = 109) and (2) in vitro fertilisation (IVF; n = 53). RESULTS The TT-ratio was smaller in pregnancies conceived using ART (p < 0.001). In both ART subgroups (ICSI and IVF), the TT-ratio was lower compared to the control group (p < 0.001). However, no difference between the two subgroups could be detected (p = 0.203). CONCLUSIONS Our data show reduced thymus size in foetuses conceived using ART compared to controls. These findings indicate that the use of ART may lead to certain deviations in organogenesis.
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Zhang Y, Zhao HJ, Xia XR, Diao FY, Ma X, Wang J, Gao L, Liu J, Gao C, Cui YG, Liu JY. Hypoxia-induced and HIF1α-VEGF-mediated tight junction dysfunction in choriocarcinoma cells: Implications for preeclampsia. Clin Chim Acta 2017; 489:203-211. [PMID: 29223764 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2017.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Revised: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Accumulated data indicate that placental hypoxia is implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). Tight junction (TJ) is important structure that sustains normal placental barrier function, its dysregulation under hypoxia has been observed. This study was designed to explore hypoxia-induced TJ dysfunction in trophoblast cells and its possible involvement in PE pathophysiology. METHODS Choriocarcinoma cells were grown in a monolayer and treated with cobalt chloride (CoCl2) to induce hypoxia. TJ architecture was assessed using transmission electron microscopy, and locations of TJ proteins were determined by immunofluorescence. TJ functions were assessed by transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and increased cell paracellular permeability (CPP), and the expression of TJ-related proteins, HIF-1α and VEGF was measured. RESULTS The TJ functions of trophoblast cells were significantly altered by hypoxia; TER decreased and CPP increased in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Significant alterations in TJ protein expression and increases in HIF1α and VEGF expression were observed in hypoxic cells, and these effects were attenuated by pretreatment with YC-1. Moreover, corresponding changes in TJ protein expression were also detected in preeclamptic placentas. CONCLUSION These data demonstrate that trophoblast cells undergo significant changes in TJ protein expression under hypoxic conditions and highlight the potential significance of the HIF1α-VEGF axis in the regulation of TJ structure and function in the preeclamptic placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center of Clinical Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Hai-Jun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center of Clinical Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China; Department of Reproductive Medicine, Central Hospital of Handan City, Handan, Hebei 956000, China
| | - Xin-Ru Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center of Clinical Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Fei-Yang Diao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center of Clinical Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Xiang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center of Clinical Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center of Clinical Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Li Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center of Clinical Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Jie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center of Clinical Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Chao Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center of Clinical Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Yu-Gui Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center of Clinical Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Jia-Yin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center of Clinical Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China.
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Karimi H, Mahdavi P, Fakhari S, Faryabi MR, Esmaeili P, Banafshi O, Mohammadi E, Fathi F, Mokarizadeh A. Altered helper T cell-mediated immune responses in male mice conceived through in vitro fertilization. Reprod Toxicol 2017; 69:196-203. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2017.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 03/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Altmäe S, Segura MT, Esteban FJ, Bartel S, Brandi P, Irmler M, Beckers J, Demmelmair H, López-Sabater C, Koletzko B, Krauss-Etschmann S, Campoy C. Maternal Pre-Pregnancy Obesity Is Associated with Altered Placental Transcriptome. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169223. [PMID: 28125591 PMCID: PMC5268451 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal obesity has a major impact on pregnancy outcomes. There is growing evidence that maternal obesity has a negative influence on placental development and function, thereby adversely influencing offspring programming and health outcomes. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes are poorly understood. We analysed ten term placenta’s whole transcriptomes in obese (n = 5) and normal weight women (n = 5), using the Affymetrix microarray platform. Analyses of expression data were carried out using non-parametric methods. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis showed a clear distinction in placental transcriptome between obese and normal weight women. We identified 72 differentially regulated genes, with most being down-regulated in obesity (n = 61). Functional analyses of the targets using DAVID and IPA confirm the dysregulation of previously identified processes and pathways in the placenta from obese women, including inflammation and immune responses, lipid metabolism, cancer pathways, and angiogenesis. In addition, we detected new molecular aspects of obesity-derived effects on the placenta, involving the glucocorticoid receptor signalling pathway and dysregulation of several genes including CCL2, FSTL3, IGFBP1, MMP12, PRG2, PRL, QSOX1, SERPINE2 and TAC3. Our global gene expression profiling approach demonstrates that maternal obesity creates a unique in utero environment that impairs the placental transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Signe Altmäe
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre of Excellence for Paediatric Research EURISTIKOS and Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- * E-mail: (SA); (CC)
| | - Maria Teresa Segura
- Centre of Excellence for Paediatric Research EURISTIKOS and Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Sabine Bartel
- Division of Experimental Asthma Research, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz-Center for Medicine and Biosciences, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Borstel, Germany
| | - Pilar Brandi
- Centre of Excellence for Paediatric Research EURISTIKOS and Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Martin Irmler
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Johannes Beckers
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, Neuherberg, Germany
- Technische Universität München, Chair of Experimental Genetics, Freising, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Hans Demmelmair
- Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Dr. Hauner Children’s Hospital, University of Munich Medical Centre, Munich, Germany
| | - Carmen López-Sabater
- Department of Nutrition and Bromatology, School of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - Berthold Koletzko
- Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Dr. Hauner Children’s Hospital, University of Munich Medical Centre, Munich, Germany
| | - Susanne Krauss-Etschmann
- Division of Experimental Asthma Research, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz-Center for Medicine and Biosciences, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Borstel, Germany
- Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universitaet zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
- Comprehensive Pneumology Center, Ludwig Maximilians University Hospital and Helmholtz Zentrum München, Großhadern, Germany
| | - Cristina Campoy
- Centre of Excellence for Paediatric Research EURISTIKOS and Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Biohealth Institute of Granada, Granada, Spain
- * E-mail: (SA); (CC)
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Sunde A, Brison D, Dumoulin J, Harper J, Lundin K, Magli MC, Van den Abbeel E, Veiga A. Time to take human embryo culture seriously. Hum Reprod 2016; 31:2174-82. [PMID: 27554442 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dew157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Is it important that end-users know the composition of human embryo culture media? SUMMARY ANSWER We argue that there is as strong case for full transparency concerning the composition of embryo culture media intended for human use. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Published data suggest that the composition of embryo culture media may influence the phenotype of the offspring. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A review of the literature was carried out. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Data concerning the potential effects on embryo development of culture media were assessed and recommendations for users made. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The safety of ART procedures, especially with respect to the health of the offspring, is of major importance. There are reports from the literature indicating a possible effect of culture conditions, including culture media, on embryo and fetal development. Since the introduction of commercially available culture media, there has been a rapid development of different formulations, often not fully documented, disclosed or justified. There is now evidence that the environment the early embryo is exposed to can cause reprogramming of embryonic growth leading to alterations in fetal growth trajectory, birthweight, childhood growth and long-term disease including Type II diabetes and cardiovascular problems. The mechanism for this is likely to be epigenetic changes during the preimplantation period of development. In the present paper the ESHRE working group on culture media summarizes the present knowledge of potential effects on embryo development related to culture media, and makes recommendations. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION There is still a need for large prospective randomized trials to further elucidate the link between the composition of embryo culture media used and the phenotype of the offspring. We do not presently know if the phenotypic changes induced by in vitro embryo culture represent a problem for long-term health of the offspring. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Published data indicate that there is a strong case for demanding full transparency concerning the compositions of and the scientific rationale behind the composition of embryo culture media. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS This work was funded by The European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology. No competing interests to declare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Sunde
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. Olav's University Hospital in Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Daniel Brison
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - John Dumoulin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, IVF Laboratory, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Joyce Harper
- Embryology, IVF and reproductive genetics group, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kersti Lundin
- Reproductive Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden
| | | | | | - Anna Veiga
- Reproductive Medicine Service, Hospital Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain
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Toschi P, Czernik M, Zacchini F, Fidanza A, Loi P, Ptak GE. Evidence of Placental Autophagy during Early Pregnancy after Transfer of In Vitro Produced (IVP) Sheep Embryos. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0157594. [PMID: 27326761 PMCID: PMC4915622 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancies obtained by Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) are associated with limited maternal nutrient uptake. Our previous studies shown that in vitro culture of sheep embryos is associated with vascularization defects in their placentae and consequent reduction of embryo growth. Autophagy is a pro-survival cellular mechanism triggered by nutrient insufficiency. Therefore, the goal of our present study was to determine if autophagy is involved in early placental development after transfer of in vitro produced (IVP) embryos. To do this, placentae obtained following transfer of IVP sheep embryos were compared with placentae obtained after natural mating (control-CTR). The placentae were collected on day 20 post-fertilization and post-mating, respectively, and were analyzed using molecular (qPCR), ultrastructural and histological/immunological approaches. Our results show drastically increased autophagy in IVP placentae: high levels of expression (p<0.05) of canonical markers of cellular autophagy and a high proportion of autophagic cells (35.08%; p<0.001) were observed. We conclude that high autophagic activity in IVP placentae can be a successful temporary counterbalance to the retarded vasculogenesis and the reduction of foetal growth observed in pregnancies after transfer of IVP embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Toschi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piazza Aldo Moro 45, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Marta Czernik
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piazza Aldo Moro 45, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Federica Zacchini
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec ul. Postepu 36A, 05–552 Magdalenka, Poland
| | - Antonella Fidanza
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec ul. Postepu 36A, 05–552 Magdalenka, Poland
| | - Pasqualino Loi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piazza Aldo Moro 45, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Grażyna Ewa Ptak
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piazza Aldo Moro 45, 64100, Teramo, Italy
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec ul. Postepu 36A, 05–552 Magdalenka, Poland
- National Research Institute of Animal Production, 1, Krakowska Street, 32–083 Balice n/Krakow, Poland
- * E-mail:
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28
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Wu L, Feng XT, Hu YQ, Tang N, Zhao QS, Li TW, Li HY, Wang QB, Bi XY, Cai XK. Global Gene Expression Profile of the Hippocampus in a Rat Model of Vascular Dementia. TOHOKU J EXP MED 2016; 237:57-67. [PMID: 26353909 DOI: 10.1620/tjem.237.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Vascular dementia (VD) has been one of the most serious public health problems worldwide. It is well known that cerebral hypoperfusion is the key pathophysiological basis of VD, but it remains unclear how global genes in hippocampus respond to cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. In this study, we aimed to reveal the global gene expression profile in the hippocampus of VD using a rat model. VD was induced by repeated occlusion of common carotid arteries followed by reperfusion. The rats with VD were characterized by deficit of memory and cognitive function and by the histopathological changes in the hippocampus, such as a reduction in the number and the size of neurons accompanied by an increase in intercellular space. Microarray analysis of global genes displayed up-regulation of 7 probesets with genes with fold change more than 1.5 (P < 0.05) and down-regulation of 13 probesets with genes with fold change less than 0.667 (P < 0.05) in the hippocampus. Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway analysis showed that the up-regulated genes are mainly involved in oxygen binding and transport, autoimmune response and inflammation, and that the down-regulated genes are related to glucose metabolism, autoimmune response and inflammation, and other biological process, related to memory and cognitive function. Thus, the abnormally expressed genes are closely related to oxygen transport, glucose metabolism, and autoimmune response. The current findings display global gene expression profile of the hippocampus in a rat model of VD, providing new insights into the molecular pathogenesis of VD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Wu
- Guangxi Scientific Experimental Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine
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Li C, Zhang Y, Tang L, Zhao H, Gao C, Gao L, Cui Y, Liu J. Expression of factors involved in the regulation of angiogenesis in the full-term human placenta: Effects of in vitro fertilization. Reprod Biol 2016; 16:104-12. [PMID: 27288334 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2016.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2015] [Revised: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The effects of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) on the safety of pregnancy and the resulting offspring remain controversial. Studies of placental functions, especially vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, in pregnancies established through ART are helpful for furthering our understanding of the safety of ART. This study compares the expression profiles of angiogenic factors in human term placentas obtained from natural (NAT) pregnancies vs. placentas obtained from pregnancies that resulted from ART. Term placentas were obtained from women who underwent an ART procedure (n=4), and these were compared with term placentas that were obtained from women who had experienced a spontaneous pregnancy (controls, n=4). An array analysis was performed using the Human Angiogenesis Antibody Array to detect 43 angiogenic factors and to identify which of these factors were differentially expressed between the two groups. The expression of six of these factors was greater in the ART group than in the NAT group. The levels of four of them, including vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR3), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), interferon gamma (IFNG) and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1), were quantified using western blot analysis. These factors were examined using immunohistochemistry and microscopy in vascular endothelial cells or the cytoplasm and membranes of syncytiotrophoblast cells. Our finding that selected angiogenic factors exhibit altered expression profiles in ART placentas might be significant when evaluating ART safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanjuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Center of Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China; Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Nanjing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210005, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Center of Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Lisha Tang
- Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Lianyungang, Jiangsu 222006, China
| | - Haijun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Center of Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Chao Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Center of Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Li Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Center of Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Yugui Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Center of Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
| | - Jiayin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Center of Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
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Joy J, Armstrong L, Ardill J, Mcclure N, Cooke I. Biochemical markers of placental dysfunction in assisted conception. HUM FERTIL 2015; 18:282-90. [PMID: 26560488 DOI: 10.3109/14647273.2015.1083620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
A possible mechanism for poor perinatal outcomes in singleton pregnancies conceived following assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and those conceived naturally following a period of infertility (>12 months) is thought to be placental dysfunction. This was investigated by measuring plasma concentrations of biochemical markers: (i) soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase1 (sFlt1); (ii) placental growth factor (PlGF); (iii) leptin; and (iv) plasminogen activator inhibitor 2 (PAI-2), serially at four antenatal time points. Baseline concentrations of each marker after delivery were also measured. The control group was naturally conceived singleton pregnancies with no history of infertility. Non-smoking, age-matched nulliparous women with no significant medical history were recruited to all groups. The ART group had significantly lower mean plasma concentrations of PlGF at all antenatal time points compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The subfertility (SF) group had significantly higher mean serum concentrations of leptin than the other groups at all time points (p < 0.001), even after correction for body mass index. There were no significant differences in sFlt1 and PAI-2 concentrations between the groups. Low plasma PlGF concentrations in the ART group might suggest abnormal placentation and/or abnormal function in ART pregnancies with relevance to pathogenesis of pregnancy complications in these women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolly Joy
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Queen's University Belfast , Belfast , UK and
| | - Lee Armstrong
- b Regional Regulatory Peptide Laboratory , Royal Victoria Hospital , Belfast , UK
| | - Joy Ardill
- b Regional Regulatory Peptide Laboratory , Royal Victoria Hospital , Belfast , UK
| | - Neil Mcclure
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Queen's University Belfast , Belfast , UK and
| | - Inez Cooke
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Queen's University Belfast , Belfast , UK and
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31
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Vannuccini S, Clifton VL, Fraser IS, Taylor HS, Critchley H, Giudice LC, Petraglia F. Infertility and reproductive disorders: impact of hormonal and inflammatory mechanisms on pregnancy outcome. Hum Reprod Update 2015; 22:104-15. [PMID: 26395640 PMCID: PMC7289323 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmv044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 208] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reproductive disorders and infertility are associated with the risk of obstetric complications and have a negative impact on pregnancy outcome. Affected patients often require assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to conceive, and advanced maternal age is a further confounding factor. The challenge is to dissect causation, correlation and confounders in determining how infertility and reproductive disorders individually or together predispose women to poor pregnancy outcomes. METHODS The published literature, to June 2015, was searched using PubMed, summarizing all evidences concerning the perinatal outcome of women with infertility and reproductive disorders and the potential mechanisms that may influence poor pregnancy outcome. RESULTS Reproductive disorders (endometriosis, adenomyosis, polycystic ovary syndrome and uterine fibroids) and unexplained infertility share inflammatory pathways, hormonal aberrations, decidual senescence and vascular abnormalities that may impair pregnancy success through common mechanisms. Either in combination or alone, these disorders results in an increased risk of preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, placental pathologies and hypertensive disorders. Systemic hormonal aberrations, and inflammatory and metabolic factors acting on endometrium, myometrium, cervix and placenta are all associated with an aberrant milieu during implantation and pregnancy, thus contributing to the genesis of obstetric complications. Some of these features have been also described in placentas from ART. CONCLUSIONS Reproductive disorders are common in women of childbearing age and rarely occur in isolation. Inflammatory, endocrine and metabolic mechanisms associated with these disorders are responsible for an increased incidence of obstetric complications. These patients should be recognized as 'high risk' for poor pregnancy outcomes and monitored with specialized follow-up. There is a real need for development of evidence-based recommendations about clinical management and specific obstetric care pathways for the introduction of prompt preventative care measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Vannuccini
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Vicki L Clifton
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Ian S Fraser
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Center for Women's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Hugh S Taylor
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hilary Critchley
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Linda C Giudice
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, 550 16th Street, Floor 7, Box 0132, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Felice Petraglia
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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The placenta: phenotypic and epigenetic modifications induced by Assisted Reproductive Technologies throughout pregnancy. Clin Epigenetics 2015; 7:87. [PMID: 26300992 PMCID: PMC4546204 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-015-0120-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Today, there is growing interest in the potential epigenetic risk related to assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Much evidence in the literature supports the hypothesis that adverse pregnancy outcomes linked to ART are associated with abnormal trophoblastic invasion. The aim of this review is to investigate the relationship between epigenetic dysregulation caused by ART and subsequent placental response. The dialogue between the endometrium and the embryo is a crucial step to achieve successful trophoblastic invasion, thus ensuring a non-complicated pregnancy and healthy offspring. However, as described in this review, ART could impair both actors involved in this dialogue. First, ART may induce epigenetic defects in the conceptus by modifying the embryo environment. Second, as a result of hormone treatments, ART may impair endometrial receptivity. In some cases, it results in embryonic growth arrest but, when the development of the embryo continues, the placenta could bring adaptive responses throughout pregnancy. Amongst the different mechanisms, epigenetics, especially thanks to a finely tuned network of imprinted genes stimulated by foetal signals, may modify nutrient transfer, placental growth and vascularization. If these coping mechanisms are overwhelmed, improper maternal-foetal exchanges occur, potentially leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as abortion, preeclampsia or intra-uterine growth restriction. But in most cases, successful placental adaptation enables normal progress of the pregnancy. Nevertheless, the risks induced by these modifications during pregnancy are not fully understood. Metabolic diseases later in life could be exacerbated through the memory of epigenetic adaptation mechanisms established during pregnancy. Thus, more research is still needed to better understand abnormal interactions between the embryo and the milieu in artificial conditions. As trophectoderm cells are in direct contact with the environment, they deserve to be studied in more detail. The ultimate goal of these studies will be to render ART protocols safer. Optimization of the environment will be the key to improving the dialogue between the endometrium and embryo, so as to ensure that placentation after ART is similar to that following natural conception.
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Eidem HR, Ackerman WE, McGary KL, Abbot P, Rokas A. Gestational tissue transcriptomics in term and preterm human pregnancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Med Genomics 2015; 8:27. [PMID: 26044726 PMCID: PMC4456776 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-015-0099-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm birth (PTB), or birth before 37 weeks of gestation, is the leading cause of newborn death worldwide. PTB is a critical area of scientific study not only due to its worldwide toll on human lives and economies, but also due to our limited understanding of its pathogenesis and, therefore, its prevention. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes the landscape of PTB transcriptomics research to further our understanding of the genes and pathways involved in PTB subtypes. METHODS We evaluated published genome-wide pregnancy studies across gestational tissues and pathologies, including those that focus on PTB, by performing a targeted PubMed MeSH search and systematically reviewing all relevant studies. RESULTS Our search yielded 2,361 studies on gestational tissues including placenta, decidua, myometrium, maternal blood, cervix, fetal membranes (chorion and amnion), umbilical cord, fetal blood, and basal plate. Selecting only those original research studies that measured transcription on a genome-wide scale and reported lists of expressed genetic elements identified 93 gene expression, 21 microRNA, and 20 methylation studies. Although 30 % of all PTB cases are due to medical indications, 76 % of the preterm studies focused on them. In contrast, only 18 % of the preterm studies focused on spontaneous onset of labor, which is responsible for 45 % of all PTB cases. Furthermore, only 23 of the 10,993 unique genetic elements reported to be transcriptionally active were recovered 10 or more times in these 134 studies. Meta-analysis of the 93 gene expression studies across 9 distinct gestational tissues and 29 clinical phenotypes showed limited overlap of genes identified as differentially expressed across studies. CONCLUSIONS Overall, profiles of differentially expressed genes were highly heterogeneous both between as well as within clinical subtypes and tissues as well as between studies of the same clinical subtype and tissue. These results suggest that large gaps still exist in the transcriptomic study of specific clinical subtypes as well in the generation of the transcriptional profile of well-studied clinical subtypes; understanding the complex landscape of prematurity will require large-scale, systematic genome-wide analyses of human gestational tissues on both understudied and well-studied subtypes alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley R Eidem
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B #35-1634, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
| | - William E Ackerman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
| | - Kriston L McGary
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B #35-1634, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
| | - Patrick Abbot
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B #35-1634, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B #35-1634, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
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Zhang L, Li YJ, Wu XY, Hong Z, Wei WS. MicroRNA-181c negatively regulates the inflammatory response in oxygen-glucose-deprived microglia by targeting Toll-like receptor 4. J Neurochem 2015; 132:713-23. [PMID: 25545945 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2014] [Revised: 12/05/2014] [Accepted: 12/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Cerebral hypoxia/ischemia rapidly induces inflammation in the brain, which is characterized by microglial activation and the release of inflammatory cytokines. We have previously demonstrated that miR-181c can directly regulate tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production post-transcriptionally. Here, we determined that hypoxia up-regulated TLR4 expression but down-regulated miR-181c expression in primary microglia. We also demonstrated that miR-181c suppresses TLR4 by directly binding its 3'-untranslated region. In addition, miR-181c inhibited NF-κB activation and the downstream production of proinflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and iNOS. Knocking down TLR4 in microglia significantly decreased TLR4 expression and inhibited NF-κB activation and the downstream production of proinflammatory mediators, whereas ectopic TLR4 expression significantly abrogated the suppressed inflammatory response induced by miR-181c. Therefore, our study identified an important role for the miR-181c-TLR4 pathway in hypoxic microglial activation and neuroinflammation. This pathway could represent a potential therapeutic target for cerebral hypoxic diseases associated with microglial activation and the inflammatory response. Cerebral hypoxia/ischemia induces microglial activation and the release of inflammatory cytokines. We found that hypoxia down-regulated miR-181c in primary microglia. In addition, miR-181c inhibited TLR4 expression through binding to its 3'UTR, thus inhibiting NF-kB activation and the production of downstream proinflammatory mediators. Therefore, the miR-181c-TLR4 pathway may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cerebral hypoxic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Pliushch G, Schneider E, Schneider T, El Hajj N, Rösner S, Strowitzki T, Haaf T. In vitro maturation of oocytes is not associated with altered deoxyribonucleic acid methylation patterns in children from in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Fertil Steril 2015; 103:720-7.e1. [PMID: 25572872 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.12.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2014] [Revised: 12/08/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the possible transmission, to the next generation, of epigenetic defects associated with in vitro maturation (IVM) of human oocytes. DESIGN Case-control study using epigenetic data. SETTING Two collaborating university departments. PATIENT(S) Eleven IVM newborns and 19 controls, conceived by conventional assisted reproduction. INTERVENTION(S) Chorionic villus and cord-blood sampling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Using bisulfite pyrosequencing, we have measured average methylation levels of 6 imprinted (LIT1, MEG, MEST, NESPas, PEG3, and SNRPN), 5 tumor-suppressor (APC, ATM, BRCA1, RAD51C, and TP53), 2 pluripotency (NANOG and OCT4), and 2 metabolic (LEP and NR3C1) genes, as well as 2 repetitive elements (ALU and LINE1) in 2 tissues of IVM and control neonates. Using deep bisulfite sequencing, we have determined methylation patterns of many individual DNA molecules to detect rare RAD51C epimutations (allele methylation errors). RESULT(S) No statistically significant impact was found of IVM on chorionic villus and cord-blood DNA methylation at the studied developmentally important genes and interspersed repeats. The RAD51C epimutation rate was low (0.5% ± 0.1%) in all analyzed samples. CONCLUSION(S) IVM-induced epigenetic changes in offspring, if any, are relatively small in magnitude and/or infrequent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galyna Pliushch
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Eberhard Schneider
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Tamara Schneider
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Nady El Hajj
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Sabine Rösner
- Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Women's Hospital, Ruprecht Karls University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Strowitzki
- Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Women's Hospital, Ruprecht Karls University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Haaf
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University, Wuerzburg, Germany.
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Bloise E, Feuer SK, Rinaudo PF. Comparative intrauterine development and placental function of ART concepti: implications for human reproductive medicine and animal breeding. Hum Reprod Update 2014; 20:822-39. [PMID: 24947475 PMCID: PMC4196686 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmu032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2014] [Revised: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The number of children conceived using assisted reproductive technologies (ART) has reached >5 million worldwide and continues to increase. Although the great majority of ART children are healthy, many reports suggest a forthcoming risk of metabolic complications, which is further supported by the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis of suboptimal embryo/fetal conditions predisposing adult cardiometabolic pathologies. Accumulating evidence suggests that fetal and placental growth kinetics are important features predicting post-natal health, but the relationship between ART and intrauterine growth has not been systematically reviewed. METHODS Relevant studies describing fetoplacental intrauterine phenotypes of concepti generated by in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in the mouse, bovine and human were comprehensively researched using PubMed and Google Scholar. Intrauterine growth plots were created from tabular formatted data available in selected reports. RESULTS ART pregnancies display minor but noticeable alterations in fetal and placental growth curves across mammalian species. In all species, there is evidence of fetal growth restriction in the earlier stages of pregnancy, followed by significant increases in placental size and accelerated fetal growth toward the end of gestation. However, there is a species-specific effect of ART on birthweights, that additionally vary in a culture condition-, strain-, and/or stage at transfer-specific manner. We discuss the potential mechanisms that underlie these changes, and how they are affected by specific components of ART procedures. CONCLUSIONS ART may promote measurable alterations to intrauterine growth trajectory and placental function. Key findings include evidence that birthweight is not a reliable marker of fetal stress, and that increases in embryo manipulation result in more deviant fetal growth curves. Because growth kinetics in early life are particularly relevant to adult metabolic physiology, we advise more rigorous assessment of fetal growth and placental function in human ART pregnancies, as well as continued follow-up of ART offspring throughout post-natal life. Finally, strategies to minimize embryo manipulations should be adopted whenever possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrrico Bloise
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Sky K Feuer
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Paolo F Rinaudo
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Rifouna MS, Reus AD, Koning AHJ, van der Spek PJ, Exalto N, Steegers EAP, Laven JSE. First trimester trophoblast and placental bed vascular volume measurements in IVF or IVF/ICSI pregnancies. Hum Reprod 2014; 29:2644-9. [PMID: 25336709 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deu273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Are first trimester trophoblast volume (TV) and placental bed vascular volume (PBVV) different in IVF or IVF/ICSI pregnancies in comparison with spontaneously conceived pregnancies? SUMMARY ANSWER Any possible abnormal placentation in IVF or IVF/ICSI pregnancies in comparison with spontaneously conceived pregnancies is not detected by a difference in PBVV or TV at an early gestational age (GA). WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Assisted reproductive technology pregnancies have been associated with an increased risk of placenta-related adverse pregnancy outcomes. It is unclear whether these effects originate from infertility or from the technique itself. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We performed a retrospective cohort study in which 154 pregnant patients qualified for participation. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Out of 154 pregnant patients, 84 conceived spontaneously and 70 conceived after IVF or IVF/ICSI. We determined the TV at 10 weeks GA by Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis measuring application and the PBVV at 12 weeks GA by the virtual reality operating system of BARCO I-Space in both subgroups. The investigators were blinded to the mode of conception during the measurements. Analysis was limited to singleton pregnancies with only one sac ever detectable. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE There were no differences in TV (mean 42.7, SD 15.9 versus mean 41.2, SD 13.9, P = 0.70) and PBVV (mean 27.6, SD 16.9 versus mean 24.8, SD 19.9, P = 0.20) between IVF or IVF/ICSI pregnancies and spontaneously conceived pregnancies. There was a significant correlation between TV and PBVV (rs = 0.283, P = 0.004). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The limitations of the present study concern the small size of the study groups. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS IVF or IVF/ICSI does not seem to be associated with abnormal placentation. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS This study was financially supported by the Erasmus Trustfonds, the Meindert de Hoop foundation and the Fonds NutsOhra. No competing interests are declared.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Rifouna
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3000 CA, The Netherlands
| | - A D Reus
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3000 CA, The Netherlands
| | - A H J Koning
- Department of Bioinformatics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Room Na-1523, PO Box 2040, Rotterdam, 3000 CA, The Netherlands
| | - P J van der Spek
- Department of Bioinformatics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Room Na-1523, PO Box 2040, Rotterdam, 3000 CA, The Netherlands
| | - N Exalto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3000 CA, The Netherlands
| | - E A P Steegers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3000 CA, The Netherlands
| | - J S E Laven
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3000 CA, The Netherlands
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Nelissen ECM, Dumoulin JCM, Busato F, Ponger L, Eijssen LM, Evers JLH, Tost J, van Montfoort APA. Altered gene expression in human placentas after IVF/ICSI. Hum Reprod 2014; 29:2821-31. [PMID: 25316457 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deu241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Is gene expression in placental tissue of IVF/ICSI patients altered when compared with a spontaneously conceived group, and are these alterations due to loss of imprinting (LOI) in the case of imprinted genes? SUMMARY ANSWER An altered imprinted gene expression of H19 and Pleckstrin homology-like domain family A member 2 (PHLDA2), which was not due to LOI, was observed in human placentas after IVF/ICSI and several biological pathways were significantly overrepresented and mostly up-regulated. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Genomic imprinting plays an important role in placental biology and in placental adaptive responses triggered by external stimuli. Changes in placental development and function can have dramatic effects on the fetus and its ability to cope with the intrauterine environment. An increased frequency of placenta-related problems as well as an adverse perinatal outcome is seen in IVF/ICSI derived pregnancies, but the role of placental epigenetic deregulation is not clear yet. STUDY DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS In this prospective cohort study, a total of 115 IVF/ICSI and 138 control couples were included during pregnancy. After applying several exclusion criteria (i.e. preterm birth or stillbirth, no placental samples, pregnancy complications or birth defects), respectively, 81 and 105 placentas from IVF/ICSI and control pregnancies remained for analysis. Saliva samples were collected from both parents. METHODS We quantitatively analysed the mRNA expression of several growth-related imprinted genes [H19, insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), PHLDA2, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1C (CDKN1C), mesoderm-specific transcript homolog (MEST) isoform α and β by quantitative PCR] after standardization against three housekeeping genes [Succinate dehydrogenase A (SDHA), YWHAZ and TATA-binding protein (TBP)]. A quantitative allele-specific expression analysis of the differentially expressed imprinted genes was performed to investigate LOI, independent of the mechanism of imprinting. Furthermore, a microarray analysis was carried out (n = 10 in each group) to investigate the expression of non-imprinted genes as well. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Both H19 and PHLDA2 showed a significant change, respectively, a 1.3-fold (P = 0.033) and 1.5-fold (P = 0.002) increase in mRNA expression in the IVF/ICSI versus control group. However, we found no indication that there is an increased frequency of LOI in IVF/ICSI placental samples. Genome-wide mRNA expression revealed 13 significantly overrepresented biological pathways involved in metabolism, immune response, transmembrane signalling and cell cycle control, which were mostly up-regulated in the IVF/ICSI placental samples. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Only a subset of samples was found to be fully informative, which unavoidably led to lower sample numbers for our LOI analysis. Our study cannot distinguish whether the reported differences in the IVF/ICSI group are exclusively attributable to the IVF/ICSI technique itself or to the underlying subfertility of the patients. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Whether these placental adaptations observed in pregnancies conceived by IVF/ICSI might be connected to an adverse perinatal outcome after IVF remains unknown. However, it is possible that these differences affect fetal development and long-term patterns of gene expression, as well as maternal gestational physiology. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS Partly funded by an unrestricted research grant by Organon BV (now MSD BV) and GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology without any role in study design, data collection and analysis or preparation of the manuscript. No conflict of interests to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Dutch Trial Registry (NTR) number 1298.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewka C M Nelissen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - John C M Dumoulin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Florence Busato
- Laboratory for Epigenetics and Environment, CEA-Institut de Génomique, Centre National de Génotypage, Evry, France
| | - Loïc Ponger
- MNHN CNRS UMR7196, Paris, France INSERM U565, Paris, France
| | - Lars M Eijssen
- Department of Bioinformatics-BiGCaT, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes L H Evers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jörg Tost
- Laboratory for Epigenetics and Environment, CEA-Institut de Génomique, Centre National de Génotypage, Evry, France
| | - Aafke P A van Montfoort
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The advances in the world of IVF during the last decades have been rapid and impressive and culture media play a major role in this success. Until the 1980s fertility centers made their media in house. Nowadays, there are numerous commercially available culture media that contain various components including nutrients, vitamins and growth factors. This review goes through the past, present and future of IVF culture media and explores their composition and quality assessment. METHODS A computerized search was performed in PubMed regarding IVF culture media including results from 1929 until March 2014. Information was gathered from the websites of companies who market culture media, advertising material, instructions for use and certificates of analysis. The regulation regarding IVF media mainly in the European Union (EU) but also in non-European countries was explored. RESULTS The keyword 'IVF culture media' gave 923 results in PubMed and 'embryo culture media' 12 068 results dating from 1912 until March 2014, depicting the increased scientific activity in this field. The commercialization of IVF culture media has increased the standards bringing a great variety of options into clinical practice. However, it has led to reduced transparency and comparisons of brand names that do not facilitate the scientific dialogue. Furthermore, there is some evidence suggesting that suboptimal culture conditions could cause long-term reprogramming in the embryo as the periconception period is particularly susceptible to epigenetic alterations. IVF media are now classified as class III medical devices and only CE (Conformité Européene)-marked media should be used in the EU. CONCLUSION The CE marking of IVF culture media is a significant development in the field. However, the quality and efficiency of culture media should be monitored closely. Well-designed randomized controlled trials, large epidemiological studies and full transparency should be the next steps. Reliable, standardized models assessing multiple end-points and post-implantation development should replace the mouse embryo assay. Structured long-term follow-up of children conceived by assisted reproduction technologies and traceability are of paramount importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elpiniki Chronopoulou
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
| | - Joyce C Harper
- UCL Centre for PG and D, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK The Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health, UCLH, London, UK
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Fidanza A, Toschi P, Zacchini F, Czernik M, Palmieri C, Scapolo P, Modlinski JA, Loi P, Ptak GE. Impaired Placental Vasculogenesis Compromises the Growth of Sheep Embryos Developed In Vitro1. Biol Reprod 2014; 91:21. [DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.113902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
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Wang P, Zhang J, Zhang L, Zhu Z, Fan J, Chen L, Zhuang L, Luo J, Chen H, Liu L, Chen Z, Meng Z. MicroRNA 23b regulates autophagy associated with radioresistance of pancreatic cancer cells. Gastroenterology 2013; 145:1133-1143.e12. [PMID: 23916944 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2013.07.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2013] [Revised: 07/29/2013] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Tumor resistance to radiation is a challenge in the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer. Improving our understanding of the mechanisms of radioresistance could lead to strategies to increase patients' response to therapy. We investigated the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in radioresistance of pancreatic cancer cells. METHODS We established radioresistant pancreatic cancer cell lines and used array analysis to compare levels of different miRNAs between radioresistant cell lines and the parental cell lines from which they were derived. We transfected pancreatic cancer cells with miRNA mimics or inhibitors and evaluated their effects on cell radiosensitivity using a clonogenic survival assay. The effects of miRNA on autophagy were determined by transmission electron microscopy and immunoblot analysis. We used a luciferase reporter assay to identify messenger RNA targets of specific miRNAs. RESULTS Radioresistant pancreatic cancer cells had reduced levels of the miRNA miR-23b and increased autophagy compared with cells that were not radioresistant. Overexpression of miR-23b inhibited radiation-induced autophagy, whereas an inhibitor of miR-23b promoted autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells. Overexpression of miR-23b sensitized pancreatic cancer cells to radiation. The target of miR-23b, ATG12, was overexpressed in radioresistant cells; levels of ATG12 protein correlated with the occurrence of autophagy. Expression of miR-23b blocked radiation-induced autophagy and sensitized pancreatic cancer cells to radiation. We observed an inverse correlation between the level of miR-23b and autophagy in human pancreatic cancer tissue samples. CONCLUSIONS In pancreatic cancer cells, reduced levels of the miRNA miR-23b increase levels of ATG12 and autophagy to promote radioresistance. miR-23b might be used to increase the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to radiation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Wang
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Vanhille DL, Hill LD, Hilliard DD, Lee ED, Teves ME, Srinivas S, Kusanovic JP, Gomez R, Stratikos E, Elovitz MA, Romero R, Strauss JF. A Novel ERAP2 Haplotype Structure in a Chilean Population: Implications for ERAP2 Protein Expression and Preeclampsia Risk. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2013; 1:98-107. [PMID: 24040622 PMCID: PMC3769221 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 2 (ERAP2) gene are associated with preeclampsia (PE) in different populations. rs2549782, a coding variant (N392K) that significantly affects substrate specificity, is in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with rs2248374, a marker SNP associated with ERAP2 protein expression in previously studied populations. As a result of nonsense-mediated RNA decay, ERAP2 protein is not expressed from the rs2248374 G allele. We previously reported that the fetal rs2549782 minor G allele is associated with PE in African-Americans, but not in Chileans. In this study, we found that rs2549782 was in LD with rs2248374 in African-Americans, but not in Chileans. The unexpected lack of strong LD in Chileans raised the possibility that rs2248374 could be associated with PE in the absence of an association with rs2549782. However, we found no significant association for this allele with PE in Chileans. Chileans homozygous for the rs2248374 G allele did not express 110 kDa ERAP2 protein, consistent with nonsense-mediated RNA decay, and carriers of the rs2248374 A allele did. We conclude that the Chilean ERAP2 haplotype structure allows for the expression of the major T allele of rs2549782 encoding 392N, which could impact peptide trimming and antigen presentation. Our discovery of racial differences in genetic structure and association with PE reveal heretofore unrecognized complexity of the ERAP2 locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek L Vanhille
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Center on Health Disparities, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States, 23298
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Lu YH, Wang N, Jin F. Long-term follow-up of children conceived through assisted reproductive technology. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2013; 14:359-71. [PMID: 23645173 PMCID: PMC3650450 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b1200348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2012] [Accepted: 03/05/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Children conceived via assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are nowadays a substantial proportion of the population. It is important to follow up these children and evaluate whether they have elevated health risks compared to naturally conceived (NC) children. In recent years there has been a lot of work in this field. This review will summarize what is known about the health of ART-conceived children, encompassing neonatal outcomes, birth defects, growth and gonadal developments, physical health, neurological and neurodevelopmental outcomes, psychosocial developments, risk for cancer, and epigenetic abnormalities. Most of the children conceived after ART are normal. However, there is increasing evidence that ART-conceived children are at higher risk of poor perinatal outcome, birth defects, and epigenetic disorders, and the mechanism(s) leading to these changes have not been elucidated. Continuous follow-up of children after ART is of great importance as they progress through adolescence into adulthood, and new ART techniques are constantly being introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue-hong Lu
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang), Ministry of Education, and Centre of Reproductive Medicine, Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, China
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shaoxing Women and Children’s Hospital, Shaoxing 312000, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang), Ministry of Education, and Centre of Reproductive Medicine, Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Fan Jin
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang), Ministry of Education, and Centre of Reproductive Medicine, Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, China
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Sundrani DP, Reddy US, Joshi AA, Mehendale SS, Chavan-Gautam PM, Hardikar AA, Chandak GR, Joshi SR. Differential placental methylation and expression of VEGF, FLT-1 and KDR genes in human term and preterm preeclampsia. Clin Epigenetics 2013; 5:6. [PMID: 23621880 PMCID: PMC3640948 DOI: 10.1186/1868-7083-5-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2012] [Accepted: 04/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication of placental origin is associated with altered expression of angiogenic factors and their receptors. Recently, there is considerable interest in understanding the role of adverse intrauterine conditions in placental dysfunction and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Since we have observed changes in placental global DNA methylation levels in preeclampsia, this study was undertaken to examine gene promoter CpG methylation and expression of several angiogenic genes. We recruited 139 women comprising, 46 normotensive women with term delivery (≥37 weeks), 45 women with preeclampsia delivering preterm (<37 weeks) and 48 women with preeclampsia delivering at term. Expression levels and promoter CpG methylation of VEGF, FLT-1 and KDR genes in placentae from respective groups were determined by Taqman-based quantitative real time PCR and by the Sequenom® EpiTYPER™ technology respectively. Results We observed several differentially methylated CpG sites in the promoter regions of VEGF, FLT-1 and KDR between the normotensive and preeclampsia groups. We specifically observed hypomethylated CpGs in the promoter region and an increased expression of VEGF gene between term and preterm preeclampsia. However, mean promoter CpG methylation could not account for the higher expression of FLT-1 and KDR in preterm preeclampsia as compared to normotensive group. Conclusions Our data indicates altered DNA methylation patterns in the VEGF, FLT-1 and KDR genes in preeclampsia as compared to the normotensive group, which could be involved in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. Hypomethylation of VEGF promoter and consequent upregulation of VEGF mRNA levels could be a compensatory mechanism to restore normal angiogenesis and blood flow in preterm preeclampsia. This study suggests a role of altered DNA methylation in placental angiogenesis and in determining adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepali P Sundrani
- Department of Nutritional Medicine, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune, 411043, India
| | - Umakar S Reddy
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Hyderabad, 500007, India
| | - Asmita A Joshi
- Department of Nutritional Medicine, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune, 411043, India
| | - Savita S Mehendale
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bharati Medical College and Hospital, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune, 411043, India
| | - Preeti M Chavan-Gautam
- Department of Nutritional Medicine, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune, 411043, India
| | - Anandwardhan A Hardikar
- Diabetes and Islet-biology Group, NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Giriraj R Chandak
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Hyderabad, 500007, India
| | - Sadhana R Joshi
- Department of Nutritional Medicine, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune, 411043, India
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Ptak GE, D'Agostino A, Toschi P, Fidanza A, Zacchini F, Czernik M, Monaco F, Loi P. Post-implantation mortality of in vitro produced embryos is associated with DNA methyltransferase 1 dysfunction in sheep placenta. Hum Reprod 2012; 28:298-305. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/des397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
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Zhang L, Dong LY, Li YJ, Hong Z, Wei WS. The microRNA miR-181c controls microglia-mediated neuronal apoptosis by suppressing tumor necrosis factor. J Neuroinflammation 2012; 9:211. [PMID: 22950459 PMCID: PMC3488569 DOI: 10.1186/1742-2094-9-211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2012] [Accepted: 08/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Post-ischemic microglial activation may contribute to neuronal damage through the release of large amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines and neurotoxic factors. The involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis of disorders related to the brain and central nervous system has been previously studied, but it remains unknown whether the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines is regulated by miRNAs. Methods BV-2 and primary rat microglial cells were activated by exposure to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). Global cerebral ischemia was induced using the four-vessel occlusion (4-VO) model in rats. Induction of pro-inflammatory and neurotoxic factors, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and nitric oxide (NO), were assessed by ELISA, immunofluorescence, and the Griess assay, respectively. The miRNA expression profiles of OGD-activated BV-2 cells were subsequently compared with the profiles of resting cells in a miRNA microarray. BV-2 and primary rat microglial cells were transfected with miR-181c to evaluate its effects on TNF-α production after OGD. In addition, a luciferase reporter assay was conducted to confirm whether TNF-α is a direct target of miR-181c. Results OGD induced BV-2 microglial activation in vitro, as indicated by the overproduction of TNF-α, IL-1β, and NO. Global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury induced microglial activation and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus. OGD also downregulated miR-181c expression and upregulated TNF-α expression. Overproduction of TNF-α after OGD-induced microglial activation provoked neuronal apoptosis, whereas the ectopic expression of miR-181c partially protected neurons from cell death caused by OGD-activated microglia. RNAinterference-mediated knockdown of TNF-α phenocopied the effect of miR-181c-mediated neuronal protection, whereas overexpression of TNF-α blocked the miR-181c-dependent suppression of apoptosis. Further studies showed that miR-181c could directly target the 3′-untranslated region of TNF-α mRNA, suppressing its mRNA and protein expression. Conclusions Our data suggest a potential role for miR-181c in the regulation of TNF-α expression after ischemia/hypoxia and microglia-mediated neuronal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, 221 West Yan An Road, Shanghai, 200040, China
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Vaughan OR, Sferruzzi-Perri AN, Coan PM, Fowden AL. Environmental regulation of placental phenotype: implications for fetal growth. Reprod Fertil Dev 2012; 24:80-96. [PMID: 22394720 DOI: 10.1071/rd11909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental conditions during pregnancy determine birthweight, neonatal viability and adult phenotype in human and other animals. In part, these effects may be mediated by the placenta, the principal source of nutrients for fetal development. However, little is known about the environmental regulation of placental phenotype. Generally, placental weight is reduced during suboptimal conditions like maternal malnutrition or hypoxaemia but compensatory adaptations can occur in placental nutrient transport capacity to help maintain fetal growth. In vivo studies show that transplacental glucose and amino acid transfer adapt to the prevailing conditions induced by manipulating maternal calorie intake, dietary composition and hormone exposure. These adaptations are due to changes in placental morphology, metabolism and/or abundance of specific nutrient transporters. This review examines environmental programming of placental phenotype with particular emphasis on placental nutrient transport capacity and its implications for fetal growth, mainly in rodents. It also considers the systemic, cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in signalling environmental cues to the placenta. Ultimately, the ability of the placenta to balance the competing interests of mother and fetus in resource allocation may determine not only the success of pregnancy in producing viable neonates but also the long-term health of the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- O R Vaughan
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK.
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Sugawara A, Sato B, Bal E, Collier AC, Ward MA. Blastomere removal from cleavage-stage mouse embryos alters steroid metabolism during pregnancy. Biol Reprod 2012; 87:4, 1-9. [PMID: 22517623 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.111.097444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a genetic screening of embryos conceived with assisted reproduction technologies (ART). A single blastomere from an early-stage embryo is removed and molecular analyses follow to identify embryos carrying genetic defects. PGD is considered highly successful for detecting genetic anomalies, but the effects of blastomere biopsy on fetal development are understudied. We aimed to determine whether single blastomere removal affects steroid homeostasis in the maternal-placental-fetal unit during mouse pregnancy. Embryos generated by in vitro fertilization (IVF) were biopsied at the four-cell stage, cultured to morula/early blastocyst, and transplanted into the oviducts of surrogate mothers. Nonbiopsied embryos from the same IVF cohorts served as controls. Cesarean section was performed at term, and maternal and fetal tissues were collected. Embryo biopsy affected the levels of steroids (estradiol, estrone, and progesterone) in fetal and placental compartments but not in maternal tissues. Steroidogenic enzyme activities (3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, cytochrome P450 17alpha-hydroxylase, and cytochrome P450 19) were unaffected but decreased activities of steroid clearance enzymes (uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase and sulfotransferase) were observed in placentas and fetal livers. Although maternal body, ovarian, and placental weights did not differ, the weights of fetuses derived from biopsied embryos were lower than those of their nonbiopsied counterparts. The data demonstrate that blastomere biopsy deregulates steroid metabolism during pregnancy. This may have profound effects on several aspects of fetal development, of which low birth weight is only one. If a similar phenomenon occurs in humans, it may explain low birth weights associated with PGD/ART and provide a plausible target for improving PGD outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Sugawara
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA
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Joy J, Gannon C, McClure N, Cooke I. Is assisted reproduction associated with abnormal placentation? Pediatr Dev Pathol 2012; 15:306-14. [PMID: 22594307 DOI: 10.2350/11-11-1115-oa.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Artificial reproductive technologies (ART) and conception following a period of untreated infertility (>1 year) are independently associated with increased pregnancy complications in both singleton and multiple pregnancies. It is unknown if placental dysfunction associated with macroscopic and/or microscopic histological discrepancies might explain some of these variances. Our aim was to compare the histopathology of placentae from singleton pregnancies belonging to 3 groups, as follows: conception as a result of ART; spontaneous conception (<1 year of trying); and conception following untreated infertility (>1 year). Pathological examination of placentae from singleton pregnancies of nonsmoking, age-matched primiparous women with no significant medical history and no known uterine congenital anomalies was performed by a single pathologist blinded to the groups. Features were compared using analysis of variance and chi-square tests. A total of 89 placental pathology reports were available (control = 39, infertility = 17, ART = 33). The mean placental thickness was significantly higher in the ART group when compared to the spontaneous conception group (P = 0.02). There were significantly more placental hematomas in the ART group (P = 0.04) compared to the other groups. There were no significant differences in rates of abnormal placental shapes or abnormal cord insertions. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of microscopic placental lesions, nor were there any statistically significant differences in the incidence of macroscopic and microscopic placental lesions between the infertility group and the other groups. Placentae of ART pregnancies show significantly increased thickness and a higher incidence of hematomas. Increased placental thickness has previously been linked to increased perinatal risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolly Joy
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mulhouse Building, Queen's University Belfast, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BJ, Northern Ireland.
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50
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Histological and immunohistochemical changes in placental chorionic villi of patients with poorly controlled gestational diabetes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1097/01.ehx.0000414585.81633.b3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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