Porphyromonas gingivalis, a cause of preterm birth in mice, induces an inflammatory response in human amnion mesenchymal cells but not epithelial cells

Periodontal disease in pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes: Progress in related mechanisms and management strategies

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory and destructive disease of tissues supporting the tooth. A large number of studies have confirmed that periodontal pathogens and their metabolites can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes in direct or indirect ways. Adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and pre-eclampsia, have a serious impact on human reproductive health. In recent years, although the level of global medical technology has gradually improved, the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes has not declined and is still a global public health problem. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current data on periodontal disease in pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including the association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes, the pathogenic mechanism related to this association, the efficacy of different nutrition supplements for both periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes and the effect of providing periodontal treatment on the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes, to provide guidance for the prevention and treatment of adverse pregnancy outcomes in clinical practice.

A Survey and Critical Evaluation of Isolation, Culture, and Cryopreservation Methods of Human Amniotic Epithelial Cells

Human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs), derived from an epithelial cell layer of the human amniotic membrane, possess embryonic stem-like properties and are known to maintain multilineage differentiation potential. Unfortunately, an inability to expand hAECs without significantly compromising their stem cell potency has precluded their widespread use for regenerative therapies. This article critically evaluates the methods used for isolation, expansion, and cryopreservation of hAECs. We assessed the impact of these methods on ex-vivo expansion and stem cell phenotype of hAECs. Moreover, the progress and challenges to optimize clinically suitable culture conditions for an efficient ex-vivo expansion and storage of these cells are highlighted. Additionally, we also reviewed the currently used hAECs isolation and characterization methods employed in clinical trials. Despite the developments made in the last decade, significant challenges still exist to overcome limitations of ex-vivo expansion and retention of stemness of hAECs in both xenogeneic and xenofree culture conditions. Therefore, optimization and standardization of culture conditions for robust ex-vivo maintenance of hAECs without affecting tissue regenerative properties is an absolute requirement for their successful therapeutic manipulation. This review may help the researchers to optimize the methods that support ex-vivo survival, proliferation, and self-renewal properties of the hAECs.Abbreviations: AM: Human amniotic membrane; CM-HBSS: Ca⁺⁺ and Mg⁺⁺ free HBSS; DMEM: Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium; DMEM-HG: DMEM-high glucose; EMEM: Eagle's Modified Essential Medium; EMT: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; EpM: Epi-life complete media; ESC: Embryonic stem cells; ESCM: Epithelial cell surface markers; hAECs: Human amniotic epithelial cells; HLA: Human leukocyte antigen; IM: Immunogenicity markers; iPSC: Induced pluripotent stem cells; KOSR; KSR: Knockout serum replacement; KSI: Key success indicators; CHM: Cell heterogeneity markers; Nanog: NANOG homeobox; Oct-4: Octamer binding transcription factor 4; OR: Operation room; P: Passage; PM: Pluripotency markers; SCM: Stem cell markers for non-differentiated cells; Sox-2: Sry-related HMG box gene 2; SSEA-4: Stage-specific embryonic antigen; TRA: Tumor rejection antigen; UC: Ultra-culture; XF: Xenogeneic free.

Oral bacteria, oral health, and adverse pregnancy outcomes

The link between oral health and adverse pregnancy outcomes has been suggested by numerous epidemiological studies. More recent studies indicate the relationship between severity of periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Two virulence mechanisms are proposed: direct invasion of oral microorganisms or their components into the fetal-placenta unit and inflammatory mediators produced in the oral cavity affecting the fetal-placenta unit. While interventional periodontal therapy still yielded contradictory results, animal studies suggest that maternal supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids protects the fetus by suppressing inflammation as well as bacteria proliferation in the placenta. This article reviews the recent epidemiological, mechanistic, interventional, and therapeutic studies of oral health and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Oral microbiome shifts during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes: Hormonal and Immunologic changes at play

Because of hormonal and immunologic changes, there are significant changes in the oral microbiome that emerge during pregnancy. Recent evidence further suggests that there is an association between the presence of periodontal disease and a pregnancy‐associated oral dysbiosis. Although this oral dysbiosis and pathogenic periodontal bacteria are considered to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, it is still not clear how an oral dysbiosis during pregnancy can modulate oral diseases and birth outcomes. To develop preventive or therapeutic interventions, it is critical to understand the oral microbiome changes that emerge during pregnancy and their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. In the present review, we summarize the current literature on normal changes in the oral microbiome that occur during pregnancy; the pathogenic changes in the oral microbiome believed to occur in association with adverse pregnancy outcomes; and the association between the placental microbiome and the oral microbiome.