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Tomescu LC, Cosma AA, Fenesan MP, Melnic E, Petrovici V, Sarb S, Chis M, Sas I, Ribatti D, Cimpean AM, Dorobantu FR. Combining RNAscope, Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Digital Image Analysis to Assess Podoplanin (PDPN) Protein and PDPN_mRNA Expression on Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Normal Human Placenta Tissues. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:5161-5177. [PMID: 38920982 PMCID: PMC11202497 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46060310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The expression and function of podoplanin (PDPN) in the normal human placenta has been debated in placental evaluation. This study emphasizes the importance of a multimodal approach of PDPN expression in normal human placentas. A complete examination is performed using immunohistochemistry, RNAscope and automated Digital Image examination (DIA) interpretation. QuPath DIA-based analysis automatically generated the stromal and histological scores of PDPN expression for immunohistochemistry and RNAscope stains. The umbilical cord's isolated fibroblasts and luminal structures expressed PDPN protein and PDPN_mRNA. RNAscope detected PDPN_mRNA upregulation in syncytial placental knots trophoblastic cells, but immunohistochemistry did not certify this at the protein level. The study found a significant correlation between the IHC and RNAscope H-Score (p = 0.033) and Allred Score (p = 0.05). A successful multimodal strategy for PDPN assessment in human placentas confirmed PDPN expression heterogeneity in the full-term human normal placenta and umbilical cord at the protein and mRNA level. In placental syncytial knots trophoblastic cells, PDPN showed mRNA overexpression, suggesting a potential role in placenta maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larisa Cristina Tomescu
- Doctoral School in Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.C.T.); (A.A.C.); (M.P.F.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Andrei Alexandru Cosma
- Doctoral School in Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.C.T.); (A.A.C.); (M.P.F.)
- Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- OncoHelp Hospital, 300239 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Mihaela Pasca Fenesan
- Doctoral School in Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.C.T.); (A.A.C.); (M.P.F.)
- Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- OncoHelp Hospital, 300239 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Eugen Melnic
- Department of Pathology, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2004 Chisinau, Moldova; (E.M.); (V.P.)
| | - Vergil Petrovici
- Department of Pathology, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2004 Chisinau, Moldova; (E.M.); (V.P.)
| | - Simona Sarb
- Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Monica Chis
- Department ME2/Rheumatology, Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine and Balneology, Faculty of Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of TârguMureş (UMPhST), 540088 Targu Mures, Romania;
- Clinic of Rheumatology, Emergency County Hospital of Târgu Mureş, 540088 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Ioan Sas
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Domenico Ribatti
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Anca Maria Cimpean
- Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Center of Expertise for Rare Vascular Disease in Children, Emergency Hospital for Children Louis Turcanu, 300011 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Florica Ramona Dorobantu
- Department of Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania;
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Brady CA, Riley T, Batra G, Crocker I, Heazell AEP. Characterizing Histopathologic Features in Pregnancies With Chronic Histiocytic Intervillositis Using Computerized Image Analysis. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2024; 148:430-442. [PMID: 37490411 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2022-0494-oa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT.— Chronic histiocytic intervillositis (CHI) is a rare condition characterized by maternal immune cell infiltration into the human placenta. CHI is strongly associated with fetal growth restriction, miscarriage, and stillbirth, and knowledge of its etiology, and consequently effective treatment, is limited. Currently, diagnosis is largely subjective and varies between centers, making comparison between studies challenging. OBJECTIVE.— To objectively quantify and interrelate inflammatory cells and fibrin in placentas with CHI compared with controls and determine how pathology may be altered in subsequent pregnancies following diagnosis. Macrophage phenotype was also investigated in untreated cases of CHI. DESIGN.— Computerized analysis was applied to immunohistochemically stained untreated (index) cases of CHI, subsequent pregnancies, and controls. Index placentas were additionally stained by immunofluorescence for M1 (CD80 and CD86) and M2 macrophage markers (CD163 and CD206). RESULTS.— Quantification revealed a median 32-fold increase in macrophage infiltration in index cases versus controls, with CHI recurring in 2 of 11 (18.2%) subsequent pregnancies. A total of 4 of 14 placentas (28.6%) with a diagnosis of CHI did not exhibit infiltration above controls. Macrophages in index pregnancies strongly expressed CD163. There was no significant difference in fibrin deposition between index cases and controls, although subsequent pregnancies displayed a 2-fold decrease compared with index pregnancies. CD3+ T cells were significantly elevated in index pregnancies; however, they returned to normal levels in subsequent pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS.— In CHI, intervillous macrophages expressed CD163, possibly representing an attempt to resolve inflammation. Computerized analysis of inflammation in CHI may be useful in determining how treatment affects recurrence, and alongside pathologist expertise in grading lesion severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe A Brady
- From Tommy's Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, St Mary's Hospital, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom (Brady, Riley, Crocker, Heazell)
| | - Tihesia Riley
- From Tommy's Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, St Mary's Hospital, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom (Brady, Riley, Crocker, Heazell)
- the Royal Bolton Hospital, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, Bolton, United Kingdom (Riley)
| | - Gauri Batra
- the Department of Paediatric and Perinatal Pathology, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom (Batra)
| | - Ian Crocker
- From Tommy's Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, St Mary's Hospital, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom (Brady, Riley, Crocker, Heazell)
| | - Alexander E P Heazell
- From Tommy's Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, St Mary's Hospital, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom (Brady, Riley, Crocker, Heazell)
- Saint Mary's Hospital Managed Clinical Maternity Service, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom (Heazell)
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Bankhead P. Developing image analysis methods for digital pathology. J Pathol 2022; 257:391-402. [PMID: 35481680 PMCID: PMC9324951 DOI: 10.1002/path.5921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The potential to use quantitative image analysis and artificial intelligence is one of the driving forces behind digital pathology. However, despite novel image analysis methods for pathology being described across many publications, few become widely adopted and many are not applied in more than a single study. The explanation is often straightforward: software implementing the method is simply not available, or is too complex, incomplete, or dataset‐dependent for others to use. The result is a disconnect between what seems already possible in digital pathology based upon the literature, and what actually is possible for anyone wishing to apply it using currently available software. This review begins by introducing the main approaches and techniques involved in analysing pathology images. I then examine the practical challenges inherent in taking algorithms beyond proof‐of‐concept, from both a user and developer perspective. I describe the need for a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to developing and validating meaningful new algorithms, and argue that openness, implementation, and usability deserve more attention among digital pathology researchers. The review ends with a discussion about how digital pathology could benefit from interacting with and learning from the wider bioimage analysis community, particularly with regard to sharing data, software, and ideas. © 2022 The Author. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Bankhead
- Edinburgh Pathology, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Genomic & Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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