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Sun L, He Y, Chen J, Yang X, Ding Y, Shi M, He A, Zhang P, Huang Z, Li R. Bioinformatics analysis identifies potential autophagy key genes and immune infiltration in preeclampsia. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2024; 50:618-632. [PMID: 38350492 DOI: 10.1111/jog.15902] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preeclampsia (PE) is a disease that seriously threatens maternal and fetal health. Appropriate autophagy can shield the placenta from oxidative stress, but its role in PE is unclear. OBJECTIVE To identify potential autophagy-related genes in PE. METHODS Microarray datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, compassing the test dataset GSE10588, along with validation datasets GSE4707 and GSE60438 GPL10558, were utilized. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the limma R package, intersected with autophagy-related genes. Hub genes were obtained using the Cytoscape software and analyzed via gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The diagnostic capability of hub genes was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Analysis of immune cell infiltration was conducted using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) and CIBERSORT methods. Placental tissues were collected from 10 normal pregnant women and 10 preeclamptic pregnant women, and the expression of hub genes was validated through immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. RESULTS Analysis of the microarray data identified 2224 DEGs, among which 26 were autophagy-related DEGs identified through intersection with autophagy genes. Ten hub genes were identified. Immune cell infiltration analysis suggested the potential involvement of T regulatory cells (Tregs), natural killer cells, neutrophils, and T follicular helper cells in the pathogenesis of PE. ROC curve analysis indicated promising diagnostic capabilities for EGFR and TP53. Additionally, levels of EGFR and TP53 were significantly higher in placental tissue from PE pregnancies compared to normal pregnancies. CONCLUSION EGFR and TP53 may play a role in PE by influencing autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanhong He
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Shunde hospital of Jinan University, the Second People's Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Shunde hospital of Jinan University, the Second People's Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, China
| | - Xiaofeng Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuzhen Ding
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meiting Shi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Andong He
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhengrui Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruiman Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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Hao S, You J, Chen L, Zhao H, Huang Y, Zheng L, Tian L, Maric I, Liu X, Li T, Bianco YK, Winn VD, Aghaeepour N, Gaudilliere B, Angst MS, Zhou X, Li YM, Mo L, Wong RJ, Shaw GM, Stevenson DK, Cohen HJ, Mcelhinney DB, Sylvester KG, Ling XB. Changes in pregnancy-related serum biomarkers early in gestation are associated with later development of preeclampsia. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230000. [PMID: 32126118 PMCID: PMC7053753 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Placental protein expression plays a crucial role during pregnancy. We hypothesized that: (1) circulating levels of pregnancy-associated, placenta-related proteins throughout gestation reflect the temporal progression of the uncomplicated, full-term pregnancy, and can effectively estimate gestational ages (GAs); and (2) preeclampsia (PE) is associated with disruptions in these protein levels early in gestation; and can identify impending PE. We also compared gestational profiles of proteins in the human and mouse, using pregnant heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) heterozygote (Het) mice, a mouse model reflecting PE-like symptoms. Methods Serum levels of placenta-related proteins–leptin (LEP), chorionic somatomammotropin hormone like 1 (CSHL1), elabela (ELA), activin A, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), and placental growth factor (PlGF)–were quantified by ELISA in blood serially collected throughout human pregnancies (20 normal subjects with 66 samples, and 20 subjects who developed PE with 61 samples). Multivariate analysis was performed to estimate the GA in normal pregnancy. Mean-squared errors of GA estimations were used to identify impending PE. The human protein profiles were then compared with those in the pregnant HO-1 Het mice. Results An elastic net-based gestational dating model was developed (R2 = 0.76) and validated (R2 = 0.61) using serum levels of the 6 proteins measured at various GAs from women with normal uncomplicated pregnancies. In women who developed PE, the model was not (R2 = -0.17) associated with GA. Deviations from the model estimations were observed in women who developed PE (P = 0.01). The model developed with 5 proteins (ELA excluded) performed similarly from sera from normal human (R2 = 0.68) and WT mouse (R2 = 0.85) pregnancies. Disruptions of this model were observed in both human PE-associated (R2 = 0.27) and mouse HO-1 Het (R2 = 0.30) pregnancies. LEP outperformed sFlt-1 and PlGF in differentiating impending PE at early human and late mouse GAs. Conclusions Serum placenta-related protein profiles are temporally regulated throughout normal pregnancies and significantly disrupted in women who develop PE. LEP changes earlier than the well-established biomarkers (sFlt-1 and PlGF). There may be evidence of a causative action of HO-1 deficiency in LEP upregulation in a PE-like murine model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiying Hao
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- Clinical and Translational Research Program, Betty Irene Moore Children's Heart Center, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Jin You
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Lin Chen
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Hui Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Yujuan Huang
- Department of Emergency, Shanghai Children’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Le Zheng
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- Clinical and Translational Research Program, Betty Irene Moore Children's Heart Center, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Lu Tian
- Department of Health Research and Policy, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Ivana Maric
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Tian Li
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Ylayaly K. Bianco
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Virginia D. Winn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Nima Aghaeepour
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Brice Gaudilliere
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Martin S. Angst
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Xin Zhou
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Target Organ Injury, Pingjin Hospital Heart Center, Tianjin, China
| | - Yu-Ming Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Target Organ Injury, Pingjin Hospital Heart Center, Tianjin, China
| | - Lihong Mo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California San Francisco-Fresno, Fresno, CA, United States of America
| | - Ronald J. Wong
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Gary M. Shaw
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - David K. Stevenson
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Harvey J. Cohen
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Doff B. Mcelhinney
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- Clinical and Translational Research Program, Betty Irene Moore Children's Heart Center, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Karl G. Sylvester
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Xuefeng B. Ling
- Clinical and Translational Research Program, Betty Irene Moore Children's Heart Center, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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3
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Paquette AG, Brockway HM, Price ND, Muglia LJ. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of human placentae at term and preterm delivery. Biol Reprod 2019; 98:89-101. [PMID: 29228154 PMCID: PMC5803773 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/iox163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth affects 1 out of every 10 infants in the United States, resulting in substantial neonatal morbidity and mortality. Currently, there are few predictive markers and few treatment options to prevent preterm birth. A healthy, functioning placenta is essential to positive pregnancy outcomes. Previous studies have suggested that placental pathology may play a role in preterm birth etiology. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that preterm placentae may exhibit unique transcriptomic signatures compared to term samples reflective of their abnormal biology leading to this adverse outcome. We aggregated publicly available placental villous microarray data to generate a preterm and term sample dataset (n = 133, 55 preterm placentae and 78 normal term placentae). We identified differentially expressed genes using the linear regression for microarray (LIMMA) package and identified perturbations in known biological networks using Differential Rank Conservation (DIRAC). We identified 129 significantly differentially expressed genes between term and preterm placenta with 96 genes upregulated and 33 genes downregulated (P-value <0.05). Significant changes in gene expression in molecular networks related to Tumor Protein 53 and phosphatidylinositol signaling were identified using DIRAC. We have aggregated a uniformly normalized transcriptomic dataset and have identified novel and established genes and pathways associated with developmental regulation of the placenta and potential preterm birth pathology. These analyses provide a community resource to integrate with other high-dimensional datasets for additional insights in normal placental development and its disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heather M Brockway
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Cincinnati Children's, Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Louis J Muglia
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Cincinnati Children's, Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Hamzawy MA, El-Ghandour YB, Abdel-Aziem SH, Ali ZH. Leptin and camel milk abate oxidative stress status, genotoxicity induced in valproic acid rat model of autism. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2018; 32:2058738418785514. [PMID: 30004275 PMCID: PMC6047246 DOI: 10.1177/2058738418785514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The aspect of treatment of autistic behaviour was investigated using valproic
acid rat model of pregnant female rats. Two main groups (10 male rats/group)
were treated for 6 days and then divided into six subgroups. The first group of
normal rats was divided into three subgroups: (A) – control group, (B) – treated
with camel milk (CAM; 2 mL/p.o) and (C) – treated with leptin (1000 µg/kg i.p)
twice daily. The second group of autistic rats was randomly distributed into
four subgroups as follows: (D) – positive control (autistics rats), (E) –
treated with CAM, (F) – treated with a moderate dose of leptin and (G) – treated
with a higher dose of leptin. Autistic behaviours of male offspring were checked
by grooming and elevated pulz maze tests. Valproic acid (VPA)-induced autistic
rats showed severe changes in oxidative stress markers, neurotransmitters and
inflammatory cytokines, besides genotoxic manifestation of expression of tumour
necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Bax and caspase-3. Leptin or CAM alone showed no signs
of toxicity. CAM showed pronounced improvement in control rats than control
itself. Leptin or CAM treatment of autistic animals showed a significant
improvement of all measured parameters and genetic expression values. The
improvement was pronounced in animals treated with CAM. These results suggest
that CAM is a potential therapeutic candidate for autism via regulation of
inflammatory and apoptotic pathways. Leptin plays an essential role in
alleviation of autistic behaviour through antioxidant effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A Hamzawy
- 1 Pharmacology & Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
| | - Yasmin B El-Ghandour
- 2 Oral Biology Department, Faculty Oral and Dental Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
| | | | - Zoba H Ali
- 2 Oral Biology Department, Faculty Oral and Dental Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
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Pérez-Pérez A, Toro A, Vilariño-Garcia T, Guadix P, Maymó J, Dueñas JL, Varone C, Sánchez-Margalet V. Leptin protects placental cells from apoptosis induced by acidic stress. Cell Tissue Res 2018; 375:733-742. [PMID: 30338379 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-018-2940-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Development of the human placenta is critical for a successful pregnancy. The placenta allows the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide and is crucial to manage acid-base balance within a narrow pH. It is known that low pH levels are a risk of apoptosis in several tissues. However, there has been little discussion about the effect of acidic stress in the placenta. Leptin is produced by the placenta with a trophic autocrine effect. Previous results of our group have demonstrated that leptin prevents apoptosis of trophoblast cells under different stress conditions such as serum deprivation and hyperthermia. The purpose of the present work is to evaluate acidic stress consequences in trophoblast explant survival and to determine leptin action in these conditions. For this objective, term human trophoblast explants were cultured at physiological pH (pH 7.4) and at acidic pH (pH 6.8) in the presence or absence of leptin. Western blot assays were performed to study the abundance of active caspase-3 and the p89 fragment of PARP-1. Pro-apoptotic and pro-survival members of Bcl-2 family, as Bax, t-Bid, and Bcl-2, were studied. Moreover, p53 pathway was also evaluated including Mdm-2, the main p53 regulator. Active caspase-3 and cleaved PARP-1 abundances were increased at low extracellular pH. Moreover, t-Bid levels were also augmented as well as p53 expression and phosphorylation on S46. Leptin treatment prevents the consequences of acidosis, decreasing p53 expression and increasing Mdm-2 expression. In summary, this work demonstrated for first time that low pH induces apoptosis of human trophoblast explants involving apoptotic intrinsic pathway, and leptin impairs this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Pérez-Pérez
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virgen Macarena University Hospital, University of Seville, Av. Dr. Fedriani 3, 41071, Seville, Spain
| | - Ayelén Toro
- Laboratory of Placental Molecular Physiology, Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, IQUIBICEN-CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria, Pab. 2, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Teresa Vilariño-Garcia
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virgen Macarena University Hospital, University of Seville, Av. Dr. Fedriani 3, 41071, Seville, Spain
| | - Pilar Guadix
- Department of Obstetrics and gynecology, Virgen Macarena University Hospital, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Julieta Maymó
- Laboratory of Placental Molecular Physiology, Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, IQUIBICEN-CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria, Pab. 2, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - José Luis Dueñas
- Department of Obstetrics and gynecology, Virgen Macarena University Hospital, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Cecilia Varone
- Laboratory of Placental Molecular Physiology, Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, IQUIBICEN-CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria, Pab. 2, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Víctor Sánchez-Margalet
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virgen Macarena University Hospital, University of Seville, Av. Dr. Fedriani 3, 41071, Seville, Spain.
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6
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Zahid H, Subbaramaiah K, Iyengar NM, Zhou XK, Chen IC, Bhardwaj P, Gucalp A, Morrow M, Hudis CA, Dannenberg AJ, Brown KA. Leptin regulation of the p53-HIF1α/PKM2-aromatase axis in breast adipose stromal cells: a novel mechanism for the obesity-breast cancer link. Int J Obes (Lond) 2018; 42:711-720. [PMID: 29104286 PMCID: PMC5936686 DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2017.273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Obesity (body mass index (BMI)⩾30 kg m-2) is associated with an increased risk of estrogen-dependent breast cancer after menopause. Levels of aromatase, the rate-limiting enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis, are elevated in breast tissue of obese women. Recently, the regulation of aromatase by the p53-hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α)/pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) axis was characterized in adipose stromal cells (ASCs) of women with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, a hereditary cancer syndrome that predisposes to estrogen-dependent breast cancer. The current study aimed to determine whether stimulation of aromatase by obesity-associated adipokine leptin involves the regulation of the p53-HIF1α/PKM2 axis. SUBJECTS/METHODS Human breast ASCs were used to characterize the p53-HIF1α/PKM2-aromatase axis in response to leptin. The effect of pharmacological or genetic modulation of protein kinase C (PKC), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), p53, Aha1, Hsp90, HIF1α and PKM2 on aromatase promoter activity, expression and enzyme activity was examined. Semiquantitative immunofluorescence and confocal imaging were used to assess ASC-specific protein expression in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections of breast of women and mammary tissue of mice following a low-fat (LF) or high-fat (HF) diet for 17 weeks. RESULTS Leptin-mediated induction of aromatase was dependent on PKC/MAPK signaling and the suppression of p53. This, in turn, was associated with an increase in Aha1 protein expression, activation of Hsp90 and the stabilization of HIF1α and PKM2, known stimulators of aromatase expression. Consistent with these findings, ASC-specific immunoreactivity for p53 was inversely associated with BMI in breast tissue, while HIF1α, PKM2 and aromatase were positively correlated with BMI. In mice, HF feeding was associated with significantly lower p53 ASC-specific immunoreactivity compared with LF feeding, while immunoreactivity for HIF1α, PKM2 and aromatase were significantly higher. CONCLUSIONS Overall, findings demonstrate a novel mechanism for the obesity-associated increase in aromatase in ASCs of the breast and support the study of lifestyle interventions, including weight management, which may reduce breast cancer risk via effects on this pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heba Zahid
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Australia
- Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Neil M. Iyengar
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - Xi Kathy Zhou
- Department of Healthcare Policy and Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA
| | - I-Chun Chen
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA
| | - Priya Bhardwaj
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA
| | - Ayca Gucalp
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - Monica Morrow
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - Clifford A. Hudis
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | | | - Kristy A. Brown
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA
- Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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7
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Pérez‐Pérez A, Toro A, Vilariño‐García T, Maymó J, Guadix P, Dueñas JL, Fernández‐Sánchez M, Varone C, Sánchez‐Margalet V. Leptin action in normal and pathological pregnancies. J Cell Mol Med 2018; 22:716-727. [PMID: 29160594 PMCID: PMC5783877 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptin is now considered an important signalling molecule of the reproductive system, as it regulates the production of gonadotrophins, the blastocyst formation and implantation, the normal placentation, as well as the foeto-placental communication. Leptin is a peptide hormone secreted mainly by adipose tissue, and the placenta is the second leptin-producing tissue in humans. Placental leptin is an important cytokine which regulates placental functions in an autocrine or paracrine manner. Leptin seems to play a crucial role during the first stages of pregnancy as it modulates critical processes such as proliferation, protein synthesis, invasion and apoptosis in placental cells. Furthermore, deregulation of leptin levels has been correlated with the pathogenesis of various disorders associated with reproduction and gestation, including polycystic ovary syndrome, recurrent miscarriage, gestational diabetes mellitus, pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. Due to the relevant incidence of the mentioned diseases and the importance of leptin, we decided to review the latest information available about leptin action in normal and pathological pregnancies to support the idea of leptin as an important factor and/or predictor of diverse disorders associated with reproduction and pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Pérez‐Pérez
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyVirgen Macarena University HospitalUniversity of SevilleSevilleSpain
| | - Ayelén Toro
- Laboratory of Placental Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Biological ChemistrySchool of SciencesUniversity of Buenos AiresIQUIBICEN‐CONICETBuenos AiresArgentina
| | - Teresa Vilariño‐García
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyVirgen Macarena University HospitalUniversity of SevilleSevilleSpain
| | - Julieta Maymó
- Laboratory of Placental Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Biological ChemistrySchool of SciencesUniversity of Buenos AiresIQUIBICEN‐CONICETBuenos AiresArgentina
| | - Pilar Guadix
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyVirgen Macarena University HospitalUniversity of SevilleSevilleSpain
| | - José L. Dueñas
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyVirgen Macarena University HospitalUniversity of SevilleSevilleSpain
| | | | - Cecilia Varone
- Laboratory of Placental Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Biological ChemistrySchool of SciencesUniversity of Buenos AiresIQUIBICEN‐CONICETBuenos AiresArgentina
| | - Víctor Sánchez‐Margalet
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyVirgen Macarena University HospitalUniversity of SevilleSevilleSpain
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8
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Schanton M, Maymó JL, Pérez-Pérez A, Sánchez-Margalet V, Varone CL. Involvement of leptin in the molecular physiology of the placenta. Reproduction 2017; 155:R1-R12. [PMID: 29018059 DOI: 10.1530/rep-17-0512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Leptin is a homeostatic regulator in the placenta where it promotes proliferation, protein synthesis and the expression of tolerogenic maternal response molecules such as HLA-G. Leptin also exerts an anti-apoptotic action in placenta controlling the expression of p53 master cell cycle regulator under different stress conditions. On the other hand, leptin is an integrative target of different placental stimuli. The expression of leptin in placenta is regulated by hCG, insulin, steroids, hypoxia and many other growth hormones, suggesting that it might have an important endocrine function in the trophoblastic cells. The leptin expression is induced involving the cAMP/PKA or cAMP/Epac pathways which have profound actions upon human trophoblast function. The activation of PI3K and MAPK pathways also participates in the leptin expression. Estrogens play a central role during pregnancy, particularly 17β-estradiol upregulates the leptin expression in placental cells through genomic and non-genomic actions. The leptin promoter analysis reveals specific elements that are active in placental cells. The transcription factors CREB, AP1, Sp1, NFκB and the coactivator CBP are involved in the placental leptin expression. Moreover, placental leptin promoter is a target of epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation that regulates not only the leptin expression in placenta during pregnancy but also determines the predisposition of acquiring adult metabolism diseases. Taken together, all these results allow a better understanding of leptin function and regulatory mechanisms of leptin expression in human placental trophoblasts, and support the importance of leptin during pregnancy and in programming adult health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malena Schanton
- Departamento de Química BiológicaUniversidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Universidad de Buenos AiresCONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta L Maymó
- Departamento de Química BiológicaUniversidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Universidad de Buenos AiresCONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Antonio Pérez-Pérez
- Departamento de Bioquímica Médica y Biología MolecularHospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, España
| | - Víctor Sánchez-Margalet
- Departamento de Bioquímica Médica y Biología MolecularHospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, España
| | - Cecilia L Varone
- Departamento de Química BiológicaUniversidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina .,Universidad de Buenos AiresCONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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9
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Leptin reduces apoptosis triggered by high temperature in human placental villous explants: The role of the p53 pathway. Placenta 2016; 42:106-13. [PMID: 27238720 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2016.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Revised: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Maternal fever is common during pregnancy and has for many years been suspected to harm the developing fetus. Whether increased maternal temperature produces exaggerated apoptosis in trophoblast cells remains unclear. Since p53 is a critical regulator of apoptosis we hypothesized that increased temperature in placenta produces abnormal expression of proteins in the p53 pathway and finally caspase-3 activation. Moreover, leptin, produced by placenta, is known to promote the proliferation and survival of trophoblastic cells. Thus, we aimed to study the possible role of leptin preventing apoptosis triggered by high temperature, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect. Fresh placental tissue was collected from normal pregnancies. Explants of placental villi were exposed to 37 °C, 40 °C and 42 °C during 3 h in the presence or absence of 10 nM leptin in DMEM-F12 medium. Western blotting and qRT-PCR was performed to analyze the expression of p53 and downstream effector, P53AIP1, Mdm2, p21, BAX and BCL-2 as well as the activated cleaved form of caspase-3 and the fragment of cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) cleaved at Asp396 (neoepitope M30). Phosphorylation of the Ser 46 residue on p53, the expression of P53AIP1, Mdm2, p21, as well as caspase-3 and CK-18 were significantly increased in explants at 40 °C and 42 °C. Conversely, these effects were significantly attenuated by leptin 10 nM at both 40 °C and 42 °C. The BCL2/BAX ratio was also significantly decreased in explants at 40 °C and 42 °C compared with explants incubated at 37 °C, which was prevented by leptin stimulation. These data illustrate the potential role of leptin for reducing apoptosis in trophoblast explants, including trophoblastic cells, triggered by high temperature, by preventing the activation of p53 signaling.
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