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Fakhr Y, Koshti S, Habibyan YB, Webster K, Hemmings DG. Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Induces a Preeclamptic-like Phenotype in Placental Villi via Sphingosine Kinase 1 Activation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073750. [PMID: 35409108 PMCID: PMC8998215 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) involves inadequate placental function. This can occur due to elevated pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). In other tissues, TNF-α signals via sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1). SphK1 hinders syncytial formation. Whether this occurs downstream of TNF-α signaling is unclear. We hypothesized that placental SphK1 levels are higher in PE and elevated TNF-α decreases syncytial function, increases syncytial shedding, and increases cytokine/factor release via SphK1 activity. Term placental biopsies were analyzed for SphK1 using immunofluorescence and qRT-PCR. Term placental explants were treated after 4 days of culture, at the start of syncytial regeneration, with TNF-α and/or SphK1 inhibitors, PF-543. Syncytialization was assessed by measuring fusion and chorionic gonadotropin release. Cell death and shedding were measured by lactate dehydrogenase release and placental alkaline phosphatase-positive shed particles. Forty-two cytokines were measured using multiplex assays. Placental SphK1 was increased in PE. Increased cell death, shedding, interferon-α2, IFN-γ-induced protein 10, fibroblast growth factor 2, and platelet-derived growth factor-AA release induced by TNF-α were reversed upon SphK1 inhibition. TNF-α increased the release of 26 cytokines independently of SphK1. TNF-α decreased IL-10 release and inhibiting SphK1 reversed this effect. Inhibiting SphK1 alone decreased TNF-α release. Hence, SphK1 partially mediates the TNF-α-induced PE placental phenotype, primarily through cell damage, shedding, and specific cytokine release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliya Fakhr
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T5H 3V9, Canada; (Y.F.); (S.K.); (Y.B.H.); (K.W.)
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Saloni Koshti
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T5H 3V9, Canada; (Y.F.); (S.K.); (Y.B.H.); (K.W.)
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Yasaman Bahojb Habibyan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T5H 3V9, Canada; (Y.F.); (S.K.); (Y.B.H.); (K.W.)
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Kirsten Webster
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T5H 3V9, Canada; (Y.F.); (S.K.); (Y.B.H.); (K.W.)
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Denise G. Hemmings
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T5H 3V9, Canada; (Y.F.); (S.K.); (Y.B.H.); (K.W.)
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(780)-492-2098
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Murugesan S, Hussey H, Saravanakumar L, Sinkey RG, Sturdivant AB, Powell MF, Berkowitz DE. Extracellular Vesicles From Women With Severe Preeclampsia Impair Vascular Endothelial Function. Anesth Analg 2021; 134:713-723. [PMID: 34871190 DOI: 10.1213/ane.0000000000005812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preeclampsia (PE) manifesting as hypertension and organ injury is mediated by vascular dysfunction. In biological fluids, extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing microRNA (miRNA), protein, and other cargo released from the placenta may serve as carriers to propagate injury, altering the functional phenotype of endothelial cells. PE has been consistently correlated with increased levels of placenta-derived EVs (pEVs) in maternal circulation. However, whether pEVs impaired endothelial cell function remains to be determined. In this study, we hypothesize that pEVs from pregnant women with severe PE (sPE) impair endothelial function through altered cell signaling. METHODS We obtained plasma samples from women with sPE (n = 14) and normotensive pregnant women (n = 15) for the isolation of EVs. The total number of EV and pEV contribution was determined by quantifying immunoreactive EV-cluster of designation 63 (CD63) and placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) as placenta-specific markers, respectively. Vascular endothelial functional assays were determined by cell migration, electric cell-substrate impedance sensing in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs), and wire myography in isolated blood vessels, preincubated with EVs from normotensive and sPE women. RESULTS Plasma EV and pEV levels were increased in sPE when compared to normotensive without a significant size distribution difference in sPE (108.8 ± 30.2 nm) and normotensive-EVs (101.3 ± 20.3 nm). Impaired endothelial repair and proliferation, reduced endothelial barrier function, reduced endothelial-dependent vasorelaxation, and decreased nitrite level indicate that sPE-EVs induced vascular endothelial dysfunction. Moreover, sPE-EVs significantly downregulated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS and p-eNOS) when compared to normotensive-EV. CONCLUSIONS EVs from sPE women impair endothelial-dependent vascular functions in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saravanakumar Murugesan
- From the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Molecular and Translational Biomedicine
| | - Hanna Hussey
- From the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Molecular and Translational Biomedicine
| | - Lakshmi Saravanakumar
- From the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Molecular and Translational Biomedicine
| | - Rachel G Sinkey
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Adam B Sturdivant
- From the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Molecular and Translational Biomedicine
| | - Mark F Powell
- From the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Molecular and Translational Biomedicine
| | - Dan E Berkowitz
- From the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Molecular and Translational Biomedicine
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Andreeva T, Komsa-Penkova R, Langari A, Krumova S, Golemanov G, Georgieva GB, Taneva SG, Giosheva I, Mihaylova N, Tchorbanov A, Todinova S. Morphometric and Nanomechanical Features of Platelets from Women with Early Pregnancy Loss Provide New Evidence of the Impact of Inherited Thrombophilia. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22157778. [PMID: 34360543 PMCID: PMC8346153 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22157778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is associated with hypercoagulation states and increased thrombotic risk, especially in women with thrombophilia. We combine atomic force microscopy (AFM) and flow cytometry to examine the morphology and nanomechanics of platelets derived from women with early pregnancy loss (EPL) and control pregnant (CP) and non-pregnant (CNP) women. Both control groups exhibit similar morphometric parameters (height and surface roughness) and membrane stiffness of platelets. EPL patients’ platelets, on the other hand, are more activated than the control groups, with prominent cytoskeletal rearrangement. In particular, reduced membrane roughness (22.9 ± 6 nm vs. 39.1 ± 8 nm) (p < 0.05) and height (692 ± 128 nm vs. 1090 ± 131 nm) (p < 0.05), strong alteration in the membrane Young modulus, increased production of platelets’ microparticles, and higher expression of procoagulant surface markers, as well as increased occurrence of thrombophilia (FVL, FII20210A, PLA1/A2, MTHFR C677T or 4G/5G PAI-1) polymorphisms were found. We suggest that the carriage of thrombophilic mutations triggers structural and nanomechanical abnormalities in platelets, resulting in their increased activation. The activation state of platelets can be well characterized by AFM, and the morphometric and nanomechanical characteristics might serve as a new criterion for evaluation of the cause of miscarriage and offer the prospect of an innovative approach serving for diagnostic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonya Andreeva
- Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Georgi Bonchev, Str. Bl. 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (T.A.); (A.L.); (S.K.); (S.G.T.); (I.G.)
| | - Regina Komsa-Penkova
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University, 1 St. Kliment Ohridski Str., 5800 Pleven, Bulgaria; (R.K.-P.); (G.G.); (G.B.G.)
| | - Ariana Langari
- Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Georgi Bonchev, Str. Bl. 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (T.A.); (A.L.); (S.K.); (S.G.T.); (I.G.)
| | - Sashka Krumova
- Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Georgi Bonchev, Str. Bl. 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (T.A.); (A.L.); (S.K.); (S.G.T.); (I.G.)
| | - Georgi Golemanov
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University, 1 St. Kliment Ohridski Str., 5800 Pleven, Bulgaria; (R.K.-P.); (G.G.); (G.B.G.)
| | - Galya B. Georgieva
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University, 1 St. Kliment Ohridski Str., 5800 Pleven, Bulgaria; (R.K.-P.); (G.G.); (G.B.G.)
| | - Stefka G. Taneva
- Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Georgi Bonchev, Str. Bl. 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (T.A.); (A.L.); (S.K.); (S.G.T.); (I.G.)
| | - Ina Giosheva
- Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Georgi Bonchev, Str. Bl. 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (T.A.); (A.L.); (S.K.); (S.G.T.); (I.G.)
- University Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital “Maichin Dom”, 2 Zdrave Str., 1463 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Nikolina Mihaylova
- Stefan Angelov Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Georgi Bonchev, Str. Bl. 26, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (N.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Andrey Tchorbanov
- Stefan Angelov Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Georgi Bonchev, Str. Bl. 26, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (N.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Svetla Todinova
- Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Georgi Bonchev, Str. Bl. 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (T.A.); (A.L.); (S.K.); (S.G.T.); (I.G.)
- Correspondence:
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Chen Y, Huang P, Han C, Li J, Liu L, Zhao Z, Gao Y, Qin Y, Xu Q, Yan Y, Wang Y, Ren J, Men J, Dong J, Zhang J, Xue F. Association of placenta-derived extracellular vesicles with pre-eclampsia and associated hypercoagulability: a clinical observational study. BJOG 2020; 128:1037-1046. [PMID: 33010098 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.16552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-associated condition initiated by placental factors. We have demonstrated that placental extracellular vesicles (pcEVs) cause hypertension and proteinuria in pregnant and non-pregnant mice. STUDY DESIGN An observational study with both case-control and longitudinal designs. SETTING A single centre at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tianjin Medical University. POPULATION We collected blood samples and clinical information from 54 PE patients, 33 normally pregnant women at 30-36 gestational weeks and on postpartum days 1 and 4 for the cross-sectional study, and at 22-31, 32-35 and 36-40 weeks for the longitudinal study. Non-pregnant women were also recruited. METHODS Blood samples were analysed using flow cytometry, coagulation tests and ELISA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was plasma pcEV and other extracellular vesicles (EVs), and their expressions of anionic phospholipids and von Willebrand factor (VWF). Secondary variables included coagulation, ADAMTS-13 and the anionic phospholipid-binding proteins. RESULTS Plasma pcEVs progressively increased from pregnant women during non-menstrual period (NW) to PE patients (interquartile range [IQR] for NW: 206/microlitre [116-255], normal pregnancy [NP]: 1108/microlitre [789-1969] and PE: 8487/microlitre [4991-16 752]) and predicted PE. EVs from endothelial cells, platelets and erythrocytes accounted for <10% of pcEVs. VWF became hyper-adhesive in PE patients and contributed to the pregnancy-associated hypercoagulability. CONCLUSION Placental, platelet- and endothelial cell-derived EVs were significantly elevated in PE patients, but only pcEVs predicted PE. These EVs played a causal role in the pregnancy-induced hypercoagulability. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT Placenta-derived extracellular vesicles predict pre-eclampsia and the associated hypercoagulability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Health and Eugenics, Tianjin, China
| | - P Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Health and Eugenics, Tianjin, China
| | - C Han
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Health and Eugenics, Tianjin, China
| | - J Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Health and Eugenics, Tianjin, China
| | - L Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin, China
| | - Z Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin, China
| | - Y Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin, China
| | - Y Qin
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Q Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Health and Eugenics, Tianjin, China
| | - Y Yan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Health and Eugenics, Tianjin, China
| | - Y Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Health and Eugenics, Tianjin, China
| | - J Ren
- Centre of Precision Medicine, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - J Men
- Centre of Precision Medicine, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - J Dong
- Bloodworks Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.,Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - J Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin, China
| | - F Xue
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Health and Eugenics, Tianjin, China
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Han C, Han L, Huang P, Chen Y, Wang Y, Xue F. Syncytiotrophoblast-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Pathophysiology of Preeclampsia. Front Physiol 2019; 10:1236. [PMID: 31632289 PMCID: PMC6779799 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia is a common obstetric complication associated with pregnancy and it endangers lives of the mother and the infant. The histopathological changes associated with preeclampsia include systemic endothelial dysfunction, persistent inflammatory state, and coagulation and fibrinolysis dysregulations. Preeclampsia is considered to be caused by the systemic vasoconstriction of small arteries and disruption of the endothelial integrity, resulting in hypertension, proteinuria, and multiple organ dysfunction. However, mediators that trigger or propagate the pathology of preeclampsia remain poorly defined. Syncytiotrophoblast-derived extracellular vesicles (SDEVs) are increasingly recognized as a key mediator for the development of preeclampsia, but the underlying mechanisms through which these SDEVs are released and induce systemic responses are not fully understood. This review focuses on multiple roles of SDEVs in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cha Han
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Lulu Han
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Pengzhu Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuanyuan Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yingmei Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Fengxia Xue
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
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Han C, Wang C, Chen Y, Wang J, Xu X, Hilton T, Cai W, Zhao Z, Wu Y, Li K, Houck K, Liu L, Sood AK, Wu X, Xue F, Li M, Dong JF, Zhang J. Placenta-derived extracellular vesicles induce preeclampsia in mouse models. Haematologica 2019; 105:1686-1694. [PMID: 31439676 PMCID: PMC7271597 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2019.226209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-induced condition that impairs the mother’s health and results in pregnancy termination or premature delivery. Elevated levels of placenta-derived extracellular vesicles (pcEV) in the circulation have been consistently associated with preeclampsia, but whether these vesicles induce preeclampsia or are the product of preeclampsia is not known. Guided by a small cohort study of preeclamptic patients, we examined the impact of pcEV on the pathogenesis of preeclampsia in mouse models. We detected pcEV in pregnant C56BL/6J mice with a peak level of 3.8±0.9×107/mL at 17-18 days post-coitum. However, these pregnant mice developed hypertension and proteinuria only after being infused with vesicles purified from injured placenta. These extracellular vesicles released from injured placenta disrupted endothelial integrity and induced vasoconstriction. Enhancing the clearance of extracellular vesicles prevented the development of the extracellular vesicle-induced preeclampsia in mice. Our results demonstrate a causal role of pcEV in preeclampsia and identify microvesicle clearance as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of this pregnancy-associated complication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cha Han
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Bloodworks Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Chenyu Wang
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences and Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drug Development, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiwei Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cerebral Vascular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Xu
- Bloodworks Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Wei Cai
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences and Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drug Development, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zilong Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin, China
| | - Yingang Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Ke Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Katie Houck
- Bloodworks Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Li Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin, China
| | - Anil K Sood
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Surgery, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xiaoping Wu
- Bloodworks Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Fengxia Xue
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Min Li
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences and Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drug Development, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jing-Fei Dong
- Bloodworks Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA .,Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jianning Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin, China
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Cheng SB, Sharma S. Preeclampsia and health risks later in life: an immunological link. Semin Immunopathol 2016; 38:699-708. [PMID: 27339196 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-016-0579-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy represents a period of physiological stress, and although this stress is experienced for a very modest portion of life, it is now recognized as a window to women's future health, often by unmasking predispositions to conditions that only become symptomatic later in life. In normal pregnancy, the mother experiences mild metabolic syndrome-like condition through week 20 of gestation. A pronounced phenotype of metabolic syndrome may program pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a serious complication with a myriad of manifestations for mother and offspring. This pregnancy syndrome is a polygenic disease and has been now linked to higher incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and several other disorders associated with vulnerable organs. Furthermore, the offspring born to preeclamptic mothers also exhibit an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and mental disorders during adulthood. This suggests that preeclampsia not only exposes the mother and the fetus to complications during pregnancy but also programs chronic diseases in later life. The etiology of preeclampsia is thought to be primarily associated with poor placentation and entails excessive maternal inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. It is well established now that the maternal immune system and the placenta are involved in a highly choreographed cross-talk that underlies adequate spiral artery remodeling required for uteroplacental perfusion and free flow of nutrients to the fetus. Since normal pregnancy is associated with a sequence of events represented by temporal events of inflammation (implantation), anti-inflammation (gestation), and inflammation (parturition), it is quite possible that unscheduled alterations in these regulatory responses may lead to pathologic consequences. Although it is not clear whether immunological alterations occur early in pregnancy, it is proposed that dysregulated systemic and placental immunity contribute to impaired angiogenesis and the onset of preeclampsia. This review will focus on important aspects of the immune system that coordinate with placental dysfunction to program preeclampsia and influence health in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Bin Cheng
- Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infants' Hospital of Rhode Island, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 101 Dudley Street, Providence, RI, 02905, USA
| | - Surendra Sharma
- Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infants' Hospital of Rhode Island, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 101 Dudley Street, Providence, RI, 02905, USA.
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