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Wu G, Grassi P, Molina BG, MacIntyre DA, Sykes L, Bennett PR, Dell A, Haslam SM. Glycomics of cervicovaginal fluid from women at risk of preterm birth reveals immuno-regulatory epitopes that are hallmarks of cancer and viral glycosylation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20813. [PMID: 39242814 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-71950-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024] Open
Abstract
During pregnancy the immune system needs to maintain immune tolerance of the foetus while also responding to infection, which can cause premature activation of the inflammatory pathways leading to the onset of labour and preterm birth. The vaginal microbiome is an important modifier of preterm birth risk, with Lactobacillus dominance during pregnancy associated with term delivery while high microbial diversity is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth. Glycans on glycoproteins along the lower female reproductive tract are fundamental to microbiota-host interactions and the mediation of inflammatory responses. However, the specific glycan epitopes involved in these processes are not well understood. To address this, we conducted glycomic analyses of cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) from 36 pregnant women at high risk of preterm birth and 4 non-pregnant women. Our analysis of N- and O-glycans revealed a rich CVF glycome. While O-glycans were shown to be the main carriers of ABO blood group epitopes, the main features of N-glycans were the presence of abundant paucimannose and high mannose glycans, and a remarkable diversity of complex bi-, tri-, and tetra-antennary glycans decorated with fucose and sialic acid. We identified immuno-regulatory epitopes, such as Lewis antigens, and found that fucosylation was negatively correlated to pro-inflammatory factors, such as IL-1β, MMP-8, C3a and C5a, while glycans with only sialylated antennae were mainly positively correlated to those. Similarly, paucimannose glycans showed a positive correlation to pro-inflammatory factors. We revealed a high abundance of glycans which have previously been identified as hallmarks of cancer and viral glycosylation, such as Man8 and Man9 high mannose glycans. Although each pregnant woman had a unique glycomic profile, longitudinal studies showed that the main glycosylation features were consistent throughout pregnancy in women who delivered at term, whereas women who experienced extreme preterm birth exhibited sharp changes in the CVF glycome shortly before delivery. These findings shed light on the processes underlying the role of glycosylation in maintaining a healthy vaginal microbiome and associated host immune responses. In addition, these discoveries facilitate our understanding of the lower female reproductive tract which has broad implications for women's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Wu
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre at Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Paola Grassi
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre at Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Belen Gimeno Molina
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre at Imperial College London, London, UK
- Institute of Reproductive & Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, UK
- The Parasol Foundation Centre for Women's Health and Cancer Research, St Mary's Hospital, London, W1 2NY, UK
| | - David A MacIntyre
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre at Imperial College London, London, UK
- Institute of Reproductive & Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, UK
| | - Lynne Sykes
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre at Imperial College London, London, UK
- Institute of Reproductive & Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, UK
- The Parasol Foundation Centre for Women's Health and Cancer Research, St Mary's Hospital, London, W1 2NY, UK
| | - Phillip R Bennett
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre at Imperial College London, London, UK
- Institute of Reproductive & Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, UK
| | - Anne Dell
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre at Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Stuart M Haslam
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre at Imperial College London, London, UK.
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Kulkarni DH, Starick M, Aponte Alburquerque R, Kulkarni HS. Local complement activation and modulation in mucosal immunity. Mucosal Immunol 2024; 17:739-751. [PMID: 38838816 DOI: 10.1016/j.mucimm.2024.05.006] [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: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
The complement system is an evolutionarily conserved arm of innate immunity, which forms one of the first lines of host response to pathogens and assists in the clearance of debris. A deficiency in key activators/amplifiers of the cascade results in recurrent infection, whereas a deficiency in regulating the cascade predisposes to accelerated organ failure, as observed in colitis and transplant rejection. Given that there are over 60 proteins in this system, it has become an attractive target for immunotherapeutics, many of which are United States Food and Drug Administration-approved or in multiple phase 2/3 clinical trials. Moreover, there have been key advances in the last few years in the understanding of how the complement system operates locally in tissues, independent of its activities in circulation. In this review, we will put into perspective the abovementioned discoveries to optimally modulate the spatiotemporal nature of complement activation and regulation at mucosal surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devesha H Kulkarni
- Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Marick Starick
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Rafael Aponte Alburquerque
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Hrishikesh S Kulkarni
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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Hamburg-Shields E, Mesiano S. The hormonal control of parturition. Physiol Rev 2024; 104:1121-1145. [PMID: 38329421 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00019.2023] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Parturition is a complex physiological process that must occur in a reliable manner and at an appropriate gestation stage to ensure a healthy newborn and mother. To this end, hormones that affect the function of the gravid uterus, especially progesterone (P4), 17β-estradiol (E2), oxytocin (OT), and prostaglandins (PGs), play pivotal roles. P4 via the nuclear P4 receptor (PR) promotes uterine quiescence and for most of pregnancy exerts a dominant block to labor. Loss of the P4 block to parturition in association with a gain in prolabor actions of E2 are key transitions in the hormonal cascade leading to parturition. P4 withdrawal can occur through various mechanisms depending on species and physiological context. Parturition in most species involves inflammation within the uterine tissues and especially at the maternal-fetal interface. Local PGs and other inflammatory mediators may initiate parturition by inducing P4 withdrawal. Withdrawal of the P4 block is coordinated with increased E2 actions to enhance uterotonic signals mediated by OT and PGs to promote uterine contractions, cervix softening, and membrane rupture, i.e., labor. This review examines recent advances in research to understand the hormonal control of parturition, with focus on the roles of P4, E2, PGs, OT, inflammatory cytokines, and placental peptide hormones together with evolutionary biology of and implications for clinical management of human parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Hamburg-Shields
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
| | - Sam Mesiano
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
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Shaffer Z, Romero R, Tarca AL, Galaz J, Arenas-Hernandez M, Gudicha DW, Chaiworapongsa T, Jung E, Suksai M, Theis KR, Gomez-Lopez N. The vaginal immunoproteome for the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth: A retrospective longitudinal study. eLife 2024; 13:e90943. [PMID: 38913421 PMCID: PMC11196114 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90943] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Most cases of preterm birth occur spontaneously and result from preterm labor with intact (spontaneous preterm labor [sPTL]) or ruptured (preterm prelabor rupture of membranes [PPROM]) membranes. The prediction of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) remains underpowered due to its syndromic nature and the dearth of independent analyses of the vaginal host immune response. Thus, we conducted the largest longitudinal investigation targeting vaginal immune mediators, referred to herein as the immunoproteome, in a population at high risk for sPTB. Methods Vaginal swabs were collected across gestation from pregnant women who ultimately underwent term birth, sPTL, or PPROM. Cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and antimicrobial peptides in the samples were quantified via specific and sensitive immunoassays. Predictive models were constructed from immune mediator concentrations. Results Throughout uncomplicated gestation, the vaginal immunoproteome harbors a cytokine network with a homeostatic profile. Yet, the vaginal immunoproteome is skewed toward a pro-inflammatory state in pregnant women who ultimately experience sPTL and PPROM. Such an inflammatory profile includes increased monocyte chemoattractants, cytokines indicative of macrophage and T-cell activation, and reduced antimicrobial proteins/peptides. The vaginal immunoproteome has improved predictive value over maternal characteristics alone for identifying women at risk for early (<34 weeks) sPTB. Conclusions The vaginal immunoproteome undergoes homeostatic changes throughout gestation and deviations from this shift are associated with sPTB. Furthermore, the vaginal immunoproteome can be leveraged as a potential biomarker for early sPTB, a subset of sPTB associated with extremely adverse neonatal outcomes. Funding This research was conducted by the Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS) under contract HHSN275201300006C. ALT, KRT, and NGL were supported by the Wayne State University Perinatal Initiative in Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Shaffer
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS)BethesdaUnited States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of MedicineDetroitUnited States
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of MedicineDetroitUnited States
| | - Roberto Romero
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS)BethesdaUnited States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State UniversityEast LansingUnited States
| | - Adi L Tarca
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS)BethesdaUnited States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of MedicineDetroitUnited States
- Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of EngineeringDetroitUnited States
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State UniversityDetroitUnited States
| | - Jose Galaz
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS)BethesdaUnited States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of MedicineDetroitUnited States
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileSantiagoChile
| | - Marcia Arenas-Hernandez
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS)BethesdaUnited States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of MedicineDetroitUnited States
| | - Dereje W Gudicha
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS)BethesdaUnited States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of MedicineDetroitUnited States
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS)BethesdaUnited States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of MedicineDetroitUnited States
| | - Eunjung Jung
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS)BethesdaUnited States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of MedicineDetroitUnited States
| | - Manaphat Suksai
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS)BethesdaUnited States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of MedicineDetroitUnited States
| | - Kevin R Theis
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS)BethesdaUnited States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of MedicineDetroitUnited States
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of MedicineDetroitUnited States
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS)BethesdaUnited States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of MedicineDetroitUnited States
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State UniversityDetroitUnited States
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of MedicineDetroitUnited States
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Elovitz M, Anton L, Cristancho A, Ferguson B, Joseph A, Ravel J. Vaginal microbes alter epithelial transcriptome and induce epigenomic modifications providing insight into mechanisms for susceptibility to adverse reproductive outcomes. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4385224. [PMID: 38854063 PMCID: PMC11160883 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4385224/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The cervicovaginal microbiome is highly associated with women's health, with microbial communities dominated by Lactobacillus species considered optimal. Conversely, a lack of lactobacilli and a high abundance of strict and facultative anaerobes, including Gardnerella vaginalis, have been associated with adverse reproductive outcomes. However, how host-microbial interactions alter specific molecular pathways and impact cervical and vaginal epithelial function remains unclear. Using RNA-sequencing, we characterized the in vitro cervicovaginal epithelial transcriptional response to different vaginal bacteria and their culture supernatants. We showed that G. vaginalis upregulates genes associated with an activated innate immune response. Unexpectedly, G. vaginalis specifically induced inflammasome pathways through activation of NLRP3-mediated increases in caspase-1, IL-1β and cell death, while live L. crispatus had minimal transcriptomic changes on epithelial cells. L. crispatus culture supernatants resulted in a shift in the epigenomic landscape of cervical epithelial cells that was confirmed by ATAC-sequencing showing reduced chromatin accessibility. This study reveals new insights into host-microbe interactions in the lower reproductive tract and suggests potential therapeutic strategies leveraging the vaginal microbiome to improve reproductive health.
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Schuster HJ, Bos AM, Himschoot L, van Eekelen R, Matamoros SP, de Boer MA, Oudijk MA, Ris-Stalpers C, Cools P, Savelkoul PH, Painter RC, van Houdt R. Vaginal microbiota and spontaneous preterm birth in pregnant women at high risk of recurrence. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30685. [PMID: 38803950 PMCID: PMC11128838 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
We describe vaginal microbiota, including Gardnerella species and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), during pregnancy and their associations with recurrent spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB). We performed a prospective cohort study in a tertiary referral centre in the Netherlands, among pregnant women with previous sPTB <34 weeks' gestation. Participants collected three vaginal swabs in the first and second trimester. Vaginal microbiota was profiled with 16S rDNA sequencing. Gardnerella species and STI's were tested with qPCR. Standard care was provided according to local protocol, including screening and treatment for bacterial vaginosis (BV), routine progesterone administration and screening for cervical length shortening. Of 154 participants, 26 (16.9 %) experienced recurrent sPTB <37 weeks' gestation. Microbiota composition was not associated with sPTB. During pregnancy, the share of Lactobacillus iners-dominated microbiota increased at the expense of diverse microbiota between the first and second trimester. This change coincided with treatment for BV, demonstrating a similar change in microbiota composition after treatment. In this cohort of high-risk women, we did not find an association between vaginal microbiota composition and recurrent sPTB. This should be interpreted with care, as these women were offered additional preventive therapies to reduce sPTB according to national guidelines including progesterone and BV treatment. The increase observed in L. iners dominated microbiota and the decrease in diverse microbiota mid-gestation was most likely mediated by BV treatment. Our findings suggest that in recurrent sPTB occurring despite several preventive therapies, the microbe-related etiologic contribution might be limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen J. Schuster
- Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anouk M. Bos
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lisa Himschoot
- Ghent University, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rik van Eekelen
- Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Epidemiology and Data Science, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sébastien P.F. Matamoros
- Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marjon A. de Boer
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Martijn A. Oudijk
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Carrie Ris-Stalpers
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Piet Cools
- Ghent University, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Paul H.M. Savelkoul
- Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Maastricht University Medical Center+, Medical Microbiology Infectious Diseases & Infection Prevention, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Rebecca C. Painter
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Robin van Houdt
- Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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7
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Schuster HJ, Breedveld AC, Matamoros SPF, van Eekelen R, Painter RC, Kok M, Hajenius PJ, Savelkoul PHM, van Egmond M, van Houdt R. The interrelation between microbial immunoglobulin coating, vaginal microbiota, ethnicity, and preterm birth. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:99. [PMID: 38802950 PMCID: PMC11131309 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01787-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vaginal microbiota composition is associated with spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB), depending on ethnicity. Host-microbiota interactions are thought to play an important underlying role in this association between ethnicity, vaginal microbiota and sPTB. METHODS In a prospective cohort of nulliparous pregnant women, we assessed vaginal microbiota composition, vaginal immunoglobulins (Igs), and local inflammatory markers. We performed a nested case-control study with 19 sPTB cases, matched based on ethnicity and midwifery practice to 19 term controls. RESULTS Of the 294 included participants, 23 pregnancies ended in sPTB. We demonstrated that Lactobacillus iners-dominated microbiota, diverse microbiota, and ethnicity were all independently associated with sPTB. Microbial Ig coating was associated with both microbiota composition and ethnicity, but a direct association with sPTB was lacking. Microbial IgA and IgG coating were lowest in diverse microbiota, especially in women of any ethnic minority. When correcting for microbiota composition, increased microbial Ig coating correlated with increased inflammation. CONCLUSION In these nulliparous pregnant women, vaginal microbiota composition is strongly associated with sPTB. Our results support that vaginal mucosal Igs might play a pivotal role in microbiota composition, microbiota-related inflammation, and vaginal community disparity within and between ethnicities. This study provides insight in host-microbe interaction, suggesting that vaginal mucosal Igs play an immunomodulatory role similar to that in the intestinal tract. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- H J Schuster
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - A C Breedveld
- Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Boeleaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S P F Matamoros
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R van Eekelen
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Epidemiology and Data Science, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R C Painter
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M Kok
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - P J Hajenius
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - P H M Savelkoul
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Maastricht University Medical Center+, Medical Microbiology, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - M van Egmond
- Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Boeleaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Surgery, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R van Houdt
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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8
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Robinson JF, Das S, Khan W, Khanam R, Price JT, Rahman A, Ahmed S, Ali SM, Deb S, Deveale B, Dutta A, Gormley M, Hall SC, Hasan ASMT, Hotwani A, Juma MH, Kasaro MP, Khalid J, Kshetrapal P, McMaster MT, Mehmood U, Nisar I, Pervin J, Rahman S, Raqib R, San A, Sarker P, Tuomivaara ST, Zhang G, Zhou Y, Aktar S, Baqui AH, Jehan F, Sazawal S, Stringer JSA, Fisher SJ. High rates of placental inflammation among samples collected by the Multi-Omics for Mothers and Infants consortium. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024:S0002-9378(24)00560-X. [PMID: 38697337 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2024.04.034] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Multi-Omics for Mothers and Infants consortium aims to improve birth outcomes. Preterm birth is a major obstetrical complication globally and causes significant infant and childhood morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE We analyzed placental samples (basal plate, placenta or chorionic villi, and the chorionic plate) collected by the 5 Multi-Omics for Mothers and Infants sites, namely The Alliance for Maternal and Newborn Health Improvement Bangladesh, The Alliance for Maternal and Newborn Health Improvement Pakistan, The Alliance for Maternal and Newborn Health Improvement Tanzania, The Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth Bangladesh, and The Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth Zambia. The goal was to analyze the morphology and gene expression of samples collected from preterm and uncomplicated term births. STUDY DESIGN The teams provided biopsies from 166 singleton preterm (<37 weeks' gestation) and 175 term (≥37 weeks' gestation) deliveries. The samples were fixed in formalin and paraffin embedded. Tissue sections from these samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and subjected to morphologic analyses. Other placental biopsies (n=35 preterm, 21 term) were flash frozen, which enabled RNA purification for bulk transcriptomics. RESULTS The morphologic analyses revealed a surprisingly high rate of inflammation that involved the basal plate, placenta or chorionic villi, and the chorionic plate. The rate of inflammation in chorionic villus samples, likely attributable to chronic villitis, ranged from 25% (Pakistan site) to 60% (Zambia site) of cases. Leukocyte infiltration in this location vs in the basal plate or chorionic plate correlated with preterm birth. Our transcriptomic analyses identified 267 genes that were differentially expressed between placentas from preterm vs those from term births (123 upregulated, 144 downregulated). Mapping the differentially expressed genes onto single-cell RNA sequencing data from human placentas suggested that all the component cell types, either singly or in subsets, contributed to the observed dysregulation. Consistent with the histopathologic findings, gene ontology analyses highlighted the presence of leukocyte infiltration or activation and inflammatory responses in both the fetal and maternal compartments. CONCLUSION The relationship between placental inflammation and preterm birth is appreciated in developed countries. In this study, we showed that this link also exists in developing geographies. In addition, among the participating sites, we found geographic- and population-based differences in placental inflammation and preterm birth, suggesting the importance of local factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua F Robinson
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA
| | - Sayan Das
- Public Health Laboratory Ivo de Carneri, Wawi, Chake, Pemba, Zanzibar, Tanzania
| | - Waqasuddin Khan
- Biorepository and Omics Research Group, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical College, The Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi, Pakistan; Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical College, The Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Rasheda Khanam
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Joan T Price
- UNC Global Projects - Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Anisur Rahman
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Said Mohammed Ali
- Public Health Laboratory Ivo de Carneri, Wawi, Chake, Pemba, Zanzibar, Tanzania
| | - Saikat Deb
- Public Health Laboratory Ivo de Carneri, Wawi, Chake, Pemba, Zanzibar, Tanzania; Center for Public Health Kinetics, Vinoba Puri, Lajpatnagar II, New Delhi, India
| | - Brian Deveale
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA; Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Arup Dutta
- Center for Public Health Kinetics, Vinoba Puri, Lajpatnagar II, New Delhi, India
| | - Matthew Gormley
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA; Sandler-Moore Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Steven C Hall
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA; Sandler-Moore Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - A S M Tarik Hasan
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Aneeta Hotwani
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical College, The Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Mohamed Hamid Juma
- Public Health Laboratory Ivo de Carneri, Wawi, Chake, Pemba, Zanzibar, Tanzania
| | - Margaret P Kasaro
- UNC Global Projects - Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Zambia School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Javairia Khalid
- Biorepository and Omics Research Group, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical College, The Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi, Pakistan; Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical College, The Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Pallavi Kshetrapal
- Maternal and Child Health, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, India
| | - Michael T McMaster
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA; Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Usma Mehmood
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical College, The Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Imran Nisar
- Biorepository and Omics Research Group, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical College, The Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi, Pakistan; Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical College, The Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Jesmin Pervin
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sayedur Rahman
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Projahnmo Research Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Rubhana Raqib
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Ali San
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA
| | - Protim Sarker
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sami T Tuomivaara
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA; Sandler-Moore Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Ge Zhang
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH; Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH; March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center Ohio Collaborative, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA
| | - Shaki Aktar
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Abdullah H Baqui
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Fyezah Jehan
- Biorepository and Omics Research Group, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical College, The Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi, Pakistan; Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical College, The Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Sunil Sazawal
- Center for Public Health Kinetics, Vinoba Puri, Lajpatnagar II, New Delhi, India
| | - Jeffrey S A Stringer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Susan J Fisher
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA; Sandler-Moore Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
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9
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Wei J, Zhang L, Xu H, Luo Q. Preterm birth, a consequence of immune deviation mediated hyperinflammation. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28483. [PMID: 38689990 PMCID: PMC11059518 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth represents a multifaceted syndrome with intricacies still present in our comprehension of its etiology. In the context of a semi-allograft, the prosperity from implantation to pregnancy to delivery hinges on the establishment of a favorable maternal-fetal immune microenvironment and a successful trilogy of immune activation, immune tolerance and then immune activation transitions. The occurrence of spontaneous preterm birth could be related to abnormalities within the immune trilogy, stemming from deviation in maternal and fetal immunity. These immune deviations, characterized by insufficient immune tolerance and early immune activation, ultimately culminated in an unsustainable pregnancy. In this review, we accentuated the role of both innate and adaptive immune reason in promoting spontaneous preterm birth, reviewed the risk of preterm birth from vaginal microbiome mediated by immune changes and the potential of vaginal microbiomes and metabolites as a new predictive marker, and discuss the changes in the role of progesterone and its interaction with immune cells in a preterm birth population. Our objective was to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in the field, shedding light on the immunologic reason of spontaneous preterm birth and effective biomarkers for early prediction, providing a roadmap for forthcoming investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wei
- Department of Obstetrics, Women's Hospital, of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, China
| | - LiYuan Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics, Women's Hospital, of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, China
| | - Heng Xu
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Qiong Luo
- Department of Obstetrics, Women's Hospital, of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, China
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10
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Wu T, Li S, Gong X, Li J, Li X, Zhai Y, Huang J, Li X, Li L, Yang J, Wang X, Shi H, Yuan P, Zhao Y, Wei Y. Longitudinal Cervical Length Measurements and Spontaneous Preterm Birth in Singleton and Twin Pregnancies. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e244592. [PMID: 38602679 PMCID: PMC11009824 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.4592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Changes in cervical length in twin pregnancies exhibit various patterns, but it is unclear whether the mechanism underlying spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) is consistent. The existence of detailed phenomena in singleton pregnancies is also unclear. Objectives To explore the different patterns in cervical length trajectories in singleton and twin pregnancies and to analyze whether the immunological mechanisms of sPTB are consistent among these cervical length patterns. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study recruited pregnant individuals who received antenatal care and delivered at Peking University Third Hospital in Beijing, China, between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2022. Individuals with singleton and twin pregnancies were included. Exposures Cervical length measurements and white blood cell (WBC) indicators. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was sPTB. Longitudinal trajectory cluster analysis was used to identify patterns of changes in cervical length in singleton and twin pregnancies. A random-effects model with cubic spline was used to fit and compare the longitudinal trajectory of WBC indicators among early preterm birth, moderate to late preterm birth, and term birth. Results A total of 43 559 pregnant individuals were included; of these, 41 706 had singleton pregnancies (mean [SD)] maternal age, 33.0 [4.0] years) and 1853 had twin pregnancies (mean [SD] maternal age, 33.3 [3.6] years). Two distinct patterns of cervical length changes were observed in both singleton and twin pregnancies: shortened (21 366 singletons and 546 twins) and stable (20 340 singletons and 1307 twins). In singleton pregnancies, WBC count was associated with early sPTB in individuals with both shortened cervix (odds ratio [OR], 1.35; 95% CI, 1.00-1.82) and stable cervix (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.07-2.50). However, for twin pregnancies, the association of WBC count (OR, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.58-6.18) with the risk of early sPTB was observed only in individuals with a shortened cervix. Conclusions and Relevance This study identified 2 distinct cervical length patterns: shortened and stable. These patterns revealed 2 preterm birth mechanisms in twin pregnancies, with the immunopathogenesis of sPTB found only in the shortened cervix pattern; in singleton pregnancies, maternal immune response was associated with a higher risk of sPTB regardless of a shortened or stable cervix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianchen Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Centre for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Centre for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoli Gong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Centre for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaxin Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Centre for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xuening Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Centre for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yujia Zhai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Centre for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Centre for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaona Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Luyao Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Centre for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Centre for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xueju Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Centre for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Huifeng Shi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Centre for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Pengbo Yuan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Centre for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yangyu Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Centre for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Wei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Centre for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
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11
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Huang X, Lin R, Mao B, Tang X, Zhao J, Zhang Q, Cui S. Lactobacillus crispatus CCFM1339 Inhibits Vaginal Epithelial Barrier Injury Induced by Gardnerella vaginalis in Mice. Biomolecules 2024; 14:240. [PMID: 38397477 PMCID: PMC10886512 DOI: 10.3390/biom14020240] [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: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The vaginal epithelial barrier, which integrates mechanical, immune, chemical, and microbial defenses, is pivotal in safeguarding against external pathogens and upholding the vaginal microecological equilibrium. Although the widely used metronidazole effectively curtails Gardnerella vaginalis, a key pathogen in bacterial vaginosis, it falls short in restoring the vaginal barrier or reducing recurrence rates. Our prior research highlighted Lactobacillus crispatus CCFM1339, a vaginally derived Lactobacillus strain, for its capacity to modulate the vaginal epithelial barrier. In cellular models, L. crispatus CCFM1339 fortified the integrity of the cellular monolayer, augmented cellular migration, and facilitated repair. Remarkably, in animal models, L. crispatus CCFM1339 substantially abated the secretion of the barrier disruption biomarker E-cadherin (from 101.45 to 82.90 pg/mL) and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (35.18% vs. the model), consequently mitigating vaginal inflammation in mice. Immunological assays in vaginal tissues elucidated increased secretory IgA levels (from 405.56 to 740.62 ng/mL) and curtailed IL-17 gene expression. Moreover, L. crispatus CCFM1339 enhanced Lactobacilli abundance and attenuated Enterobacterium and Enterococcus within the vaginal microbiome, underscoring its potential in probiotic applications for vaginal barrier regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (X.H.); (R.L.); (B.M.); (X.T.); (J.Z.)
| | - Rumeng Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (X.H.); (R.L.); (B.M.); (X.T.); (J.Z.)
| | - Bingyong Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (X.H.); (R.L.); (B.M.); (X.T.); (J.Z.)
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (X.H.); (R.L.); (B.M.); (X.T.); (J.Z.)
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Jianxin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (X.H.); (R.L.); (B.M.); (X.T.); (J.Z.)
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Qiuxiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (X.H.); (R.L.); (B.M.); (X.T.); (J.Z.)
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Shumao Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (X.H.); (R.L.); (B.M.); (X.T.); (J.Z.)
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
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12
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Laskou A, Znalesniak EB, Harder S, Schlüter H, Jechorek D, Langer K, Strecker C, Matthes C, Tchaikovski SN, Hoffmann W. Different Forms of TFF3 in the Human Endocervix, including a Complex with IgG Fc Binding Protein (FCGBP), and Further Aspects of the Cervico-Vaginal Innate Immune Barrier. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2287. [PMID: 38396964 PMCID: PMC10888570 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042287] [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: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
TFF3 is a typical secretory poplypeptide of mucous epithelia belonging to the trefoil factor family (TFF) of lectins. In the intestine, respiratory tract, and saliva, TFF3 mainly exists as a high-molecular-mass complex with IgG Fc binding protein (FCGBP), which is indicative of a role in mucosal innate immunity. For the first time, we identified different forms of TFF3 in the endocervix, i.e., monomeric and homodimeric TFF3, as well as a high-molecular-mass TFF3-FCGBP complex; the latter also exists in a hardly soluble form. Immunohistochemistry co-localized TFF3 and FCGBP. Expression analyses of endocervical and post-menopausal vaginal specimens revealed a lack of mucin and TFF3 transcripts in the vaginal specimens. In contrast, genes encoding other typical components of the innate immune defense were expressed in both the endocervix and vagina. Of note, FCGBP is possibly fucosylated. Endocervical specimens from transgender individuals after hormonal therapy showed diminished expression, particularly of FCGBP. Furthermore, mucus swabs from the endocervix and vagina were analyzed concerning TFF3, FCGBP, and lysozyme. It was the aim of this study to illuminate several aspects of the cervico-vaginal innate immune barrier, which is clinically relevant as bacterial and viral infections are also linked to infertility, pre-term birth and cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aikaterini Laskou
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Eva B. Znalesniak
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Sönke Harder
- Section Mass Spectrometric Proteomics, Diagnostic Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hartmut Schlüter
- Section Mass Spectrometric Proteomics, Diagnostic Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dörthe Jechorek
- Institute of Pathology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Langer
- Institute of Pathology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Carina Strecker
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Gerhart-Hauptmann-Str. 35, 39108 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Matthes
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Gerhart-Hauptmann-Str. 35, 39108 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Svetlana N. Tchaikovski
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Gerhart-Hauptmann-Str. 35, 39108 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Werner Hoffmann
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
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13
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Onyango S, Mi JD, Koech A, Okiro P, Temmerman M, von Dadelszen P, Tribe RM, Omuse G. Microbiota dynamics, metabolic and immune interactions in the cervicovaginal environment and their role in spontaneous preterm birth. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1306473. [PMID: 38196946 PMCID: PMC10774218 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1306473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Differences in the cervicovaginal microbiota are associated with spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB), a significant cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Although establishing a direct causal link between cervicovaginal microbiota and sPTB remains challenging, recent advancements in sequencing technologies have facilitated the identification of microbial markers potentially linked to sPTB. Despite variations in findings, a recurring observation suggests that sPTB is associated with a more diverse and less stable vaginal microbiota across pregnancy trimesters. It is hypothesized that sPTB risk is likely to be modified via an intricate host-microbe interactions rather than due to the presence of a single microbial taxon or broad community state. Nonetheless, lactobacilli dominance is generally associated with term outcomes and contributes to a healthy vaginal environment through the production of lactic acid/maintenance of a low pH that excludes other pathogenic microorganisms. Additionally, the innate immunity of the host and metabolic interactions between cervicovaginal microbiota, such as the production of bacteriocins and the use of proteolytic enzymes, exerts a profound influence on microbial populations, activities, and host immune responses. These interplays collectively impact pregnancy outcomes. This review aims to summarize the complexity of cervicovaginal environment and microbiota dynamics, and associations with bacterial vaginosis and sPTB. There is also consideration on how probiotics may mitigate the risk of sPTB and bacterial vaginosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley Onyango
- Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre of Excellence Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jia Dai Mi
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Angela Koech
- Centre of Excellence Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Patricia Okiro
- Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Marleen Temmerman
- Centre of Excellence Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Peter von Dadelszen
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel M. Tribe
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Geoffrey Omuse
- Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
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14
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Galaz J, Romero R, Greenberg JM, Theis KR, Arenas-Hernandez M, Xu Y, Farias-Jofre M, Miller D, Kanninen T, Garcia-Flores V, Gomez-Lopez N. Host-microbiome interactions in distinct subsets of preterm labor and birth. iScience 2023; 26:108341. [PMID: 38047079 PMCID: PMC10692673 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth, the leading cause of perinatal morbidity, often follows premature labor, a syndrome whose prevention remains a challenge. To better understand the relationship between premature labor and host-microbiome interactions, we conducted a mechanistic investigation using three preterm birth models. We report that intra-amniotic delivery of LPS triggers inflammatory responses in the amniotic cavity and cervico-vaginal microenvironment, causing vaginal microbiome changes and signs of active labor. Intra-amniotic IL-1α delivery causes a moderate inflammatory response in the amniotic cavity but increasing inflammation in the cervico-vaginal space, leading to vaginal microbiome disruption and signs of active labor. Conversely, progesterone action blockade by RU-486 triggers local immune responses accompanying signs of active labor without altering the vaginal microbiome. Preterm labor facilitates ascension of cervico-vaginal bacteria into the amniotic cavity, regardless of stimulus. This study provides compelling mechanistic insights into the dynamic host-microbiome interactions within the cervico-vaginal microenvironment that accompany premature labor and birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Galaz
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago 8330024, Chile
| | - Roberto Romero
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Jonathan M. Greenberg
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Kevin R. Theis
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Marcia Arenas-Hernandez
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Yi Xu
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Marcelo Farias-Jofre
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago 8330024, Chile
| | - Derek Miller
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Tomi Kanninen
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Valeria Garcia-Flores
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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15
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Gao S, Wang J. Maternal and infant microbiome: next-generation indicators and targets for intergenerational health and nutrition care. Protein Cell 2023; 14:807-823. [PMID: 37184065 PMCID: PMC10636639 DOI: 10.1093/procel/pwad029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbes are commonly sensitive to shifts in the physiological and pathological state of their hosts, including mothers and babies. From this perspective, the microbiome may be a good indicator for diseases during pregnancy and has the potential to be used for perinatal health monitoring. This is embodied in the application of microbiome from multi body sites for auxiliary diagnosis, early prediction, prolonged monitoring, and retrospective diagnosis of pregnancy and infant complications, as well as nutrition management and health products developments of mothers and babies. Here we summarized the progress in these areas and explained that the microbiome of different body sites is sensitive to different diseases and their microbial biomarkers may overlap between each other, thus we need to make a diagnosis prudently for those diseases. Based on the microbiome variances and additional anthropometric and physical data, individualized responses of mothers and neonates to meals and probiotics/prebiotics were predictable, which is of importance for precise nutrition and probiotics/prebiotics managements and developments. Although a great deal of encouraging performance was manifested in previous studies, the efficacy could be further improved by combining multi-aspect data such as multi-omics and time series analysis in the future. This review reconceptualizes maternal and infant health from a microbiome perspective, and the knowledge in it may inspire the development of new options for the prevention and treatment of adverse pregnancy outcomes and bring a leap forward in perinatal health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengtao Gao
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jinfeng Wang
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
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16
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Nori SRC, McGuire TK, Lawton EM, McAuliffe FM, Sinderen DV, Walsh CJ, Cotter PD, Feehily C. Profiling of vaginal Lactobacillus jensenii isolated from preterm and full-term pregnancies reveals strain-specific factors relating to host interaction. Microb Genom 2023; 9. [PMID: 38010361 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Each year, 15 million infants are born preterm (<37 weeks gestation), representing the leading cause of mortality for children under the age of five. Whilst there is no single cause, factors such as maternal genetics, environmental interactions, and the vaginal microbiome have been associated with an increased risk of preterm birth. Previous studies show that a vaginal microbiota dominated by Lactobacillus is, in contrast to communities containing a mixture of genera, associated with full-term birth. However, this binary principle does not fully consider more nuanced interactions between bacterial strains and the host. Here, through a combination of analyses involving genome-sequenced isolates and strain-resolved metagenomics, we identify that L. jensenii strains from preterm pregnancies are phylogenetically distinct from strains from full-term pregnancies. Detailed analysis reveals several genetic signatures that distinguish preterm birth strains, including genes predicted to be involved in cell wall synthesis, and lactate and acetate metabolism. Notably, we identify a distinct gene cluster involved in cell surface protein synthesis in our preterm strains, and profiling the prevalence of this gene cluster in publicly available genomes revealed it to be predominantly present in the preterm-associated clade. This study contributes to the ongoing search for molecular biomarkers linked to preterm birth and opens up new avenues for exploring strain-level variations and mechanisms that may contribute to preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Ravi Chandra Nori
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- SFI Centre for Research Training in Genomics Data Science, School of Mathematics, Statistics & Applied Mathematics, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | | | | | - Fionnuala M McAuliffe
- UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Douwe Van Sinderen
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Calum J Walsh
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Paul D Cotter
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Conor Feehily
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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17
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Suff N, Webley E, Hall M, Tribe RM, Shennan AH. Amniotic fluid sludge is associated with earlier preterm delivery and raised cervicovaginal interleukin 8 concentrations. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2023; 5:101161. [PMID: 37709051 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.101161] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm birth is the leading cause of global neonatal mortality. Amniotic fluid sludge, thought to indicate intra-amniotic infection, may have potential as a clinical biomarker of preterm birth risk. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to analyze whether the presence of amniotic fluid sludge in pregnant participants with a known short cervical length can help improve the understanding of the etiology and guide management choice. STUDY DESIGN This was a retrospective cohort study analyzing the effects of amniotic fluid sludge presence on the risk of preterm birth in high-risk asymptomatic pregnant participants with a short cervical length (<25 mm) at a large tertiary referral maternity center in London. Amniotic fluid sludge was detected on a routine transvaginal ultrasound scan. RESULTS Overall, 147 pregnant participants with a short cervical length were identified, 54 of whom had amniotic fluid sludge. Compared with pregnant participants without amniotic fluid sludge, pregnant participants with amniotic fluid sludge were more likely to have a short cervical length (19 vs 14 mm, respectively; P<.0001) and increased cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin concentrations at diagnosis (125 vs 45 ng/mL, respectively; P=.0006). Pregnant participants with amniotic fluid sludge were at increased risk of midtrimester loss and delivery before 24 weeks of gestation (relative risk, 3.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-10.3). Furthermore, this study showed that pregnant participants with amniotic fluid sludge have increased cervicovaginal interleukin 8 concentrations, supporting the concept of amniotic fluid sludge as an indicator of an inflammatory response to microbial invasion (P=.03). Neonatal outcomes were similar between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION In our cohort of high-risk asymptomatic pregnant participants with a short cervical length, the presence of amniotic fluid sludge is associated with an increased risk of delivery before 24 weeks of gestation. Moreover, pregnant participants with amniotic fluid sludge were more likely to have raised fetal fibronectin levels and inflammatory cytokines, particularly interleukin 8, in the cervicovaginal fluid, supporting the concept that amniotic fluid sludge is associated with an infective or inflammatory process. Future research should aim to further establish the clinical significance of amniotic fluid sludge presence and guide subsequent management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Suff
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Eve Webley
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Megan Hall
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel M Tribe
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew H Shennan
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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18
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Huang C, Gin C, Fettweis J, Foxman B, Gelaye B, MacIntyre DA, Subramaniam A, Fraser W, Tabatabaei N, Callahan B. Meta-analysis reveals the vaginal microbiome is a better predictor of earlier than later preterm birth. BMC Biol 2023; 21:199. [PMID: 37743497 PMCID: PMC10518966 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01702-2] [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: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND High-throughput sequencing measurements of the vaginal microbiome have yielded intriguing potential relationships between the vaginal microbiome and preterm birth (PTB; live birth prior to 37 weeks of gestation). However, results across studies have been inconsistent. RESULTS Here, we perform an integrated analysis of previously published datasets from 12 cohorts of pregnant women whose vaginal microbiomes were measured by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Of 2039 women included in our analysis, 586 went on to deliver prematurely. Substantial variation between these datasets existed in their definition of preterm birth, characteristics of the study populations, and sequencing methodology. Nevertheless, a small group of taxa comprised a vast majority of the measured microbiome in all cohorts. We trained machine learning (ML) models to predict PTB from the composition of the vaginal microbiome, finding low to modest predictive accuracy (0.28-0.79). Predictive accuracy was typically lower when ML models trained in one dataset predicted PTB in another dataset. Earlier preterm birth (< 32 weeks, < 34 weeks) was more predictable from the vaginal microbiome than late preterm birth (34-37 weeks), both within and across datasets. Integrated differential abundance analysis revealed a highly significant negative association between L. crispatus and PTB that was consistent across almost all studies. The presence of the majority (18 out of 25) of genera was associated with a higher risk of PTB, with L. iners, Prevotella, and Gardnerella showing particularly consistent and significant associations. Some example discrepancies between studies could be attributed to specific methodological differences but not most study-to-study variations in the relationship between the vaginal microbiome and preterm birth. CONCLUSIONS We believe future studies of the vaginal microbiome and PTB will benefit from a focus on earlier preterm births and improved reporting of specific patient metadata shown to influence the vaginal microbiome and/or birth outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caizhi Huang
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 27606, USA
| | - Craig Gin
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 27607, USA
| | - Jennifer Fettweis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, 23284, USA
| | - Betsy Foxman
- Thomas Francis School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Raleigh, 27606, USA
| | - Bizu Gelaye
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, USA
| | - David A MacIntyre
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, USA
| | - Akila Subramaniam
- Obstetrics & Gynecology and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, 35294, USA
| | - William Fraser
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, J1K 2R1, USA
| | - Negar Tabatabaei
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, J1K 2R1, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, 60612, USA
| | - Benjamin Callahan
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 27606, USA.
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 27607, USA.
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19
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Lingasamy P, Modhukur V, Mändar R, Salumets A. Exploring Immunome and Microbiome Interplay in Reproductive Health: Current Knowledge, Challenges, and Novel Diagnostic Tools. Semin Reprod Med 2023; 41:172-189. [PMID: 38262441 PMCID: PMC10846929 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1778017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
The dynamic interplay between the immunome and microbiome in reproductive health is a complex and rapidly advancing research field, holding tremendously vast possibilities for the development of reproductive medicine. This immunome-microbiome relationship influences the innate and adaptive immune responses, thereby affecting the onset and progression of reproductive disorders. However, the mechanisms governing these interactions remain elusive and require innovative approaches to gather more understanding. This comprehensive review examines the current knowledge on reproductive microbiomes across various parts of female reproductive tract, with special consideration of bidirectional interactions between microbiomes and the immune system. Additionally, it explores innate and adaptive immunity, focusing on immunoglobulin (Ig) A and IgM antibodies, their regulation, self-antigen tolerance mechanisms, and their roles in immune homeostasis. This review also highlights ongoing technological innovations in microbiota research, emphasizing the need for standardized detection and analysis methods. For instance, we evaluate the clinical utility of innovative technologies such as Phage ImmunoPrecipitation Sequencing (PhIP-Seq) and Microbial Flow Cytometry coupled to Next-Generation Sequencing (mFLOW-Seq). Despite ongoing advancements, we emphasize the need for further exploration in this field, as a deeper understanding of immunome-microbiome interactions holds promise for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for reproductive health, like infertility treatment and management of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vijayachitra Modhukur
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Reet Mändar
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Andres Salumets
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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20
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Garg A, Ellis LB, Love RL, Grewal K, Bowden S, Bennett PR, Kyrgiou M. Vaginal microbiome in obesity and its impact on reproduction. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2023; 90:102365. [PMID: 37399714 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2023.102365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
A number of reproductive outcomes have been increasingly found to be affected by the vaginal microbiota. Obesity has become a global epidemic, affecting increasing numbers of reproductive-age women, and has been shown to be a risk factor for a number of adverse female health outcomes. A healthy vaginal microbiome is characterized by Lactobacillus-dominance, in particular Lactobacillus crispatus; obesity has been found to be associated with higher diversity and a lower likelihood of Lactobacillus-dominance. In this review, we summarize the evidence on the vaginal microbiome in obese women and the impact on reproductive outcomes such as conception rates, early pregnancy, and preterm birth. We further explore the mechanisms by which obesity may result in an altered microbial composition and highlight future avenues for therapeutic targeting of the vaginal microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akanksha Garg
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, W12 0NN, London, UK; Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Laura Burney Ellis
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, W12 0NN, London, UK; Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Ryan Laurence Love
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, W12 0NN, London, UK; Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Karen Grewal
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, W12 0NN, London, UK; Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Sarah Bowden
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, W12 0NN, London, UK
| | - Phillip R Bennett
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, W12 0NN, London, UK
| | - Maria Kyrgiou
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, W12 0NN, London, UK; Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK.
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21
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Masson L, Wilson J, Amir Hamzah AS, Tachedjian G, Payne M. Advances in mass spectrometry technologies to characterize cervicovaginal microbiome functions that impact spontaneous preterm birth. Am J Reprod Immunol 2023; 90:e13750. [PMID: 37491925 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13750] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in young children. Infection is a major cause of this adverse outcome, particularly in PTBs characterised by spontaneous rupture of membranes, referred to as spontaneous (s)PTB. However, the aetiology of sPTB is not well defined and specific bacteria associated with sPTB differ between studies and at the individual level. This may be due to many factors including a lack of understanding of strain-level differences in bacteria that influence how they function and interact with each other and the host. Metaproteomics and metabolomics are mass spectrometry-based methods that enable the collection of detailed microbial and host functional information. Technological advances in this field have dramatically increased the resolution of these approaches, enabling the simultaneous detection of thousands of proteins or metabolites. These data can be used for taxonomic analysis of vaginal bacteria and other microbes, to understand microbiome-host interactions, and identify diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets. Although these methods have been used to assess host proteins and metabolites, few have characterized the microbial compartment in the context of pregnancy. The utilisation of metaproteomic and metabolomic-based approaches has the potential to vastly improve our understanding of the mechanisms leading to sPTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindi Masson
- Disease Elimination Program, Life Sciences Discipline, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jenna Wilson
- Disease Elimination Program, Life Sciences Discipline, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Aleya Sarah Amir Hamzah
- Disease Elimination Program, Life Sciences Discipline, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gilda Tachedjian
- Disease Elimination Program, Life Sciences Discipline, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Matthew Payne
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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22
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Farr Zuend C, Lamont A, Noel-Romas L, Knodel S, Birse K, Kratzer K, McQueen P, Perner M, Ayele H, Mutch S, Berard AR, Schellenberg JJ, Senturk F, McCorrister S, Westmacott G, Mulhall F, Sandberg B, Yu A, Burnett M, Poliquin V, Burgener AD. Increased genital mucosal cytokines in Canadian women associate with higher antigen-presenting cells, inflammatory metabolites, epithelial barrier disruption, and the depletion of L. crispatus. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:159. [PMID: 37491398 PMCID: PMC10367425 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01594-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cervicovaginal inflammation has been linked to negative reproductive health outcomes including the acquisition of HIV, other sexually transmitted infections, and cervical carcinogenesis. While changes to the vaginal microbiome have been linked to genital inflammation, the molecular relationships between the functional components of the microbiome with cervical immunology in the reproductive tract are understudied, limiting our understanding of mucosal biology that may be important for reproductive health. RESULTS In this study, we used a multi'-omics approach to profile cervicovaginal samples collected from 43 Canadian women to characterize host, immune, functional microbiome, and metabolome features of cervicovaginal inflammation. We demonstrate that inflammation is associated with lower amounts of L. crispatus and higher levels of cervical antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Proteomic analysis showed an upregulation of pathways related to neutrophil degranulation, complement, and leukocyte migration, with lower levels of cornified envelope and cell-cell adherens junctions. Functional microbiome analysis showed reductions in carbohydrate metabolism and lactic acid, with increases in xanthine and other metabolites. Bayesian network analysis linked L. crispatus with glycolytic and nucleotide metabolism, succinate and xanthine, and epithelial proteins SCEL and IVL as major molecular features associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased APCs. CONCLUSIONS This study identified key molecular and immunological relationships with cervicovaginal inflammation, including higher APCs, bacterial metabolism, and proteome alterations that underlie inflammation. As APCs are involved in HIV transmission, parturition, and cervical cancer progression, further studies are needed to explore the interactions between these cells, bacterial metabolism, mucosal immunity, and their relationship to reproductive health. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Farr Zuend
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA.
| | - Alana Lamont
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Laura Noel-Romas
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Samantha Knodel
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Kenzie Birse
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Kateryna Kratzer
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Peter McQueen
- JC Wilt Infectious Disease Research Centre, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Michelle Perner
- JC Wilt Infectious Disease Research Centre, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Hossaena Ayele
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Sarah Mutch
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Alicia R Berard
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - John J Schellenberg
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Faruk Senturk
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
| | - Stuart McCorrister
- JC Wilt Infectious Disease Research Centre, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Garrett Westmacott
- JC Wilt Infectious Disease Research Centre, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | | | | | - Adelicia Yu
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Margaret Burnett
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Vanessa Poliquin
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Adam D Burgener
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
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23
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Jeong S, Cho WK, Jo Y, Choi SR, Lee N, Jeon K, Park MJ, Song W, Lee KY. Immune-checkpoint proteins, cytokines, and microbiome impact on patients with cervical insufficiency and preterm birth. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1228647. [PMID: 37554329 PMCID: PMC10404982 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1228647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Microenvironmental factors, including microbe-induced inflammation and immune-checkpoint proteins that modulate immune cells have been associated with both cervical insufficiency and preterm delivery. These factors are incompletely understood. This study aimed to explore and compare interactions among microbiome and inflammatory factors, such as cytokines and immune-checkpoint proteins, in patients with cervical insufficiency and preterm birth. In particular, factors related to predicting preterm birth were identified and the performance of the combination of these factors was evaluated. Methods A total of 220 swab samples from 110 pregnant women, prospectively recruited at the High-Risk Maternal Neonatal Intensive Care Center, were collected between February 2020 and March 2021. This study included 63 patients with cervical insufficiency receiving cerclage and 47 control participants. Endo- and exocervical swabs and fluids were collected simultaneously. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing for the microbiome and the measurement of 34 immune-checkpoint proteins and inflammatory cytokines were performed. Results First, we demonstrated that immune-checkpoint proteins, the key immune-regulatory molecules, could be measured in endocervical and exocervical samples. Secondly, we identified significantly different microenvironments in cervical insufficiency and preterm birth, with precise cervical locations, to provide information about practically useful cervical locations in clinical settings. Finally, the presence of Moraxella osloensis (odds ratio = 14.785; P = 0.037) and chemokine CC motif ligand 2 levels higher than 73 pg/mL (odds ratio = 40.049; P = 0.005) in endocervical samples were associated with preterm birth. Combining M. osloensis and chemokine CC motif ligand 2 yielded excellent performance for predicting preterm birth (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.846, 95% confidence interval = 0.733-0.925). Conclusion Multiple relationships between microbiomes, immune-checkpoint proteins, and inflammatory cytokines in the cervical microenvironment were identified. We focus on these factors to aid in the comprehensive understanding and therapeutic modulation of local microbial and immunologic compositions for the management of cervical insufficiency and preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seri Jeong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Kyong Cho
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeonhwa Jo
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo-Ran Choi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inha University College of Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Nuri Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kibum Jeon
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Jeong Park
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonkeun Song
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Keun-Young Lee
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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24
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Yang R, Li X, Ying Z, Zhao Z, Wang Y, Wang Q, Shen B, Peng W. Prematurely delivering mothers show reductions of lachnospiraceae in their gut microbiomes. BMC Microbiol 2023; 23:169. [PMID: 37322412 PMCID: PMC10268532 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-02892-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm birth is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Despite evidence shows that imbalances in the maternal microbiome associates to the risk of preterm birth, the mechanisms underlying the association between a perturbed microbiota and preterm birth remain poorly understood. METHOD Applying shotgun metagenomic analysis on 80 gut microbiotas of 43 mothers, we analyzed the taxonomic composition and metabolic function in gut microbial communities between preterm and term mothers. RESULTS Gut microbiome of mothers delivering prematurely showed decreased alpha diversity and underwent significant reorganization, especially during pregnancy. SFCA-producing microbiomes, particularly species of Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Eubacteriaceae, were significantly depleted in preterm mothers. Lachnospiraceae and its species were the main bacteria contributing to species' differences and metabolic pathways. CONCLUSION Gut microbiome of mothers delivering prematurely has altered and demonstrates the reduction of Lachnospiraceae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Yang
- Department of Neonatology Nursing, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhiye Ying
- West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
- Medical Big Data Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan China
| | - Zicheng Zhao
- Shenzhen Byoryn Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong P.R. China
| | - Yinan Wang
- Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, 1120 Lianhua Road, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qingyu Wang
- School of Business Administration, Northeast University, Shenyang, China
| | - Bairong Shen
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
| | - Wentao Peng
- Department of Neonatology Nursing, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
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25
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Zhao F, Hu X, Ying C. Advances in Research on the Relationship between Vaginal Microbiota and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Gynecological Diseases. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11040991. [PMID: 37110417 PMCID: PMC10146011 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11040991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The human microbiota inhabiting different parts of the body has been shown to have a significant impact on human health, with the gut microbiota being the most extensively studied in relation to disease. However, the vaginal microbiota is also an essential commensal microbiota in the female body that plays a crucial role in female health. Despite receiving less attention than gut microbiota, its importance in regulating reproductive immunity and its complex dynamic properties have been increasingly recognized in recent years. Advances in research on the relationship between vaginal microbiota and pregnancy outcomes & gynecological diseases in women have shed light on the importance of maintaining a healthy vaginal microbiota. In this review, we aim to compile recent developments in the study of the vaginal microbial ecosystem and its role in female health and reproductive outcomes. We provide a comprehensive account of the normal vaginal microbiota, the association between the vaginal microbiota and pregnancy outcomes, and the impact of the vaginal microbiota on gynecological diseases in women. By reviewing recent research, we hope to contribute to the advancement of academic medicine's understanding of the vaginal microbiota's importance in female health. We also aim to raise awareness among healthcare professionals and the general public of the significance of maintaining a healthy vaginal microbiota for better reproductive health and the prevention of gynecological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuju Zhao
- Clinical Laboratory, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
- Clinical Laboratory, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Xianyang Hu
- Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Chunmei Ying
- Clinical Laboratory, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China
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26
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Bayar E, MacIntyre DA, Sykes L, Mountain K, Parks TP, Lee PP, Bennett PR. Safety, tolerability, and acceptability of Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05 (LACTIN-V) in pregnant women at high-risk of preterm birth. Benef Microbes 2023; 14:45-56. [PMID: 36815494 DOI: 10.3920/bm2022.0084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The vaginal microbiota is a determinant for the risk of preterm birth (PTB). Dominance of the vaginal niche by Lactobacillus crispatus associates with term delivery. This is the first observational clinical study of live vaginal biotherapeutics (Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05 (LACTIN-V)) in pregnant women at high-risk of PTB. The primary aim was to explore safety, tolerability and acceptability of LACTIN-V in pregnancy. Women were offered a course of LACTIN-V at 14 weeks gestation for five consecutive days followed by weekly administration for six weeks. Participants were followed up at 15, 18-, 20-, 28- and 36-weeks' gestation and at delivery for assessment of adverse events, compliance and tolerability. Participants completed a questionnaire to gauge experience and acceptability. In total, 73 women were recruited, of whom eight withdrew, leaving a final cohort size of 61. Self-reported compliance to the course was high (56/60, 93%). Solicited adverse events were reported in 13 women (19%) including changes in vaginal discharge, odour, colour or consistency of urine, itching and vaginal bleeding. One unsolicited adverse event was reported as haematuria at 38 weeks gestation, but was judged to be unrelated to LACTIN-V. No serious adverse events occurred. One mild adverse event led to study withdrawal. Thirty-one women completed an experience and acceptability questionnaire. Women found LACTIN-V easy and comfortable to use and the majority (30/31, 97%) would use LACTIN-V in future pregnancies. Eight women (8/31, 26%) found the schedule of use difficult to remember. The rate of PTB <34 weeks in this cohort was 3.3% compared to 7% in a historical cohort of 2,190 women at similar background PTB risk. With satisfactory uptake and good compliance, we demonstrate that LACTIN-V is safe and accepted in pregnancy, with high tolerability. Further studies are needed to assess colonisation of Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05 and clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Bayar
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, W120NN London, United Kingdom
- March of Dimes European Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, W120NN London, UK, United Kingdom
| | - D A MacIntyre
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, W120NN London, United Kingdom
- March of Dimes European Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, W120NN London, UK, United Kingdom
- Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research. Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, W120NN London, United Kingdom
| | - L Sykes
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, W120NN London, United Kingdom
- March of Dimes European Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, W120NN London, UK, United Kingdom
- The Parasol Foundation Centre for Women's Health and Cancer Research, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, W2 1NY
| | - K Mountain
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, W120NN London, United Kingdom
- March of Dimes European Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, W120NN London, UK, United Kingdom
| | - T P Parks
- Osel Inc., 320 Logue Ave # 114, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
| | - P P Lee
- Osel Inc., 320 Logue Ave # 114, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
| | - P R Bennett
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, W120NN London, United Kingdom
- March of Dimes European Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, W120NN London, UK, United Kingdom
- Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research. Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, W120NN London, United Kingdom
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27
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Cooley A, Madhukaran S, Stroebele E, Colon Caraballo M, Wang L, Akgul Y, Hon GC, Mahendroo M. Dynamic states of cervical epithelia during pregnancy and epithelial barrier disruption. iScience 2023; 26:105953. [PMID: 36718364 PMCID: PMC9883190 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.105953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The cervical epithelium undergoes changes in proliferation, differentiation, and function that are critical to ensure fertility and maintain pregnancy. Here, we identify cervical epithelial subtypes in non-pregnant, pregnant, and in labor mice using single-cell transcriptome and spatial analysis. We identify heterogeneous subpopulations of epithelia displaying spatial and temporal specificity. Notably in pregnancy, two goblet cell subtypes are present in the most luminal layers with one goblet population expanding earlier in pregnancy than the other goblet population. The goblet populations express novel protective factors and distinct mucosal networks. Single-cell analysis in a model of cervical epithelial barrier disruption indicates untimely basal cell proliferation precedes the expansion of goblet cells with diminished mucosal integrity. These data demonstrate how the cervical epithelium undergoes continuous remodeling to maintain dynamic states of homeostasis in pregnancy and labor, and provide a framework to understand perturbations in epithelial health that increase the risk of premature birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Cooley
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - ShanmugaPriyaa Madhukaran
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Elizabeth Stroebele
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Mariano Colon Caraballo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Lei Wang
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Yucel Akgul
- Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Gary C. Hon
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Mala Mahendroo
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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28
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Shen L, Wang W, Hou W, Jiang C, Yuan Y, Hu L, Shang A. The function and mechanism of action of uterine microecology in pregnancy immunity and its complications. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 12:1025714. [PMID: 36683698 PMCID: PMC9846260 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1025714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The human microbiota influences physiology, disease, and metabolic reproduction. The origin of uterine bacteria is controversial. The main assumption is that the germs enter the uterine cavity from the vagina through the cervical canal, bloodstream, fallopian tubes, and gynecological surgical channels. Understanding the microbiota at various anatomical sites is critical to the female reproductive system and pregnancy. Today's study focuses on the role of uterine bacteria in pregnancy and embryo implantation. According to our findings, the uterine microbiome influences embryo implantation and pregnancy outcome. Pregnancy is a natural, evolutionarily selected approach to human reproduction. During pregnancy, the microbiota of the reproductive tract changes, facilitating the maintenance of pregnancy, and the human immune system undergoes a series of changes that recognize and adapt to the non-self. From the beginning of pregnancy, a non-self fetus must establish a placenta of embryonic origin to protect itself and promote growth; the VMB tends to be more stable and lactobacillus-dominated in late gestation than in early gestation. Any material that disrupts this connection, such as microbial changes, is associated with a higher risk of poor health and poor pregnancy outcomes in women (eclampsia). The presence of any material that disrupts this connection, such as microbial changes, is associated with a higher risk of poor health and poor pregnancy outcomes (preeclampsia, preterm birth, gestational diabetes, etc.). In this work, we review the last decade of relevant research to improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which the microbiota of the female reproductive tract influences female reproductive health. This work discusses the mechanisms associated with the reproductive tract microbiota and pregnancy immunity, as well as the impact of an abnormal microbiota on adverse pregnancy outcomes. Emphasis is placed on the characteristics and sources of the female vaginal, uterine, and placental microbiota and the importance of a well-stabilized local human microbiota and immune system for embryo implantation, placental development, fetal growth, and pregnancy outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Shen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changning Maternity & Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai, China,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Weiwei Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang & The Oncology Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, P.R., China,Department of Pathology, Tinghu People's Hospital of Yancheng City, Yancheng, Jiangsu, P.R., China
| | - Weiwei Hou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenfei Jiang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Yuan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang & The Oncology Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, P.R., China
| | - Liqing Hu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ningbo First Hospital & Ningbo Hospital of Zhejiang University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, P.R., China,*Correspondence: Anquan Shang, ; Liqing Hu,
| | - Anquan Shang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang & The Oncology Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, P.R., China,*Correspondence: Anquan Shang, ; Liqing Hu,
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29
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Cobo T, Burgos-Artizzu XP, Collado MC, Andreu-Fernández V, Sanchez-Garcia AB, Filella X, Marin S, Cascante M, Bosch J, Ferrero S, Boada D, Murillo C, Rueda C, Ponce J, Palacio M, Gratacós E. Noninvasive prediction models of intra-amniotic infection in women with preterm labor. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023; 228:78.e1-78.e13. [PMID: 35868419 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among women with preterm labor, those with intra-amniotic infection present the highest risk of early delivery and the most adverse outcomes. The identification of intra-amniotic infection requires amniocentesis, perceived as too invasive by women and physicians. Noninvasive methods for identifying intra-amniotic infection and/or early delivery are crucial to focus early efforts on high-risk preterm labor women while avoiding unnecessary interventions in low-risk preterm labor women. OBJECTIVE This study modeled the best performing models, integrating biochemical data with clinical and ultrasound information to predict a composite outcome of intra-amniotic infection and/or spontaneous delivery within 7 days. STUDY DESIGN From 2015 to 2020, data from a cohort of women, who underwent amniocentesis to rule in or rule out intra-amniotic infection or inflammation, admitted with a diagnosis of preterm labor at <34 weeks of gestation at the Hospital Clinic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain, were used. At admission, transvaginal ultrasound was performed, and maternal blood and vaginal samples were collected. Using high-dimensional biology, vaginal proteins (using multiplex immunoassay), amino acids (using high-performance liquid chromatography), and bacteria (using 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing) were explored to predict the composite outcome. We selected ultrasound, maternal blood, and vaginal predictors that could be tested with rapid diagnostic techniques and developed prediction models employing machine learning that was applied in a validation cohort. RESULTS A cohort of 288 women with preterm labor at <34 weeks of gestation, of which 103 (35%) had a composite outcome of intra-amniotic infection and/or spontaneous delivery within 7 days, were included in this study. The sample was divided into derivation (n=116) and validation (n=172) cohorts. Of note, 4 prediction models were proposed, including ultrasound transvaginal cervical length, maternal C-reactive protein, vaginal interleukin 6 (using an automated immunoanalyzer), vaginal pH (using a pH meter), vaginal lactic acid (using a reflectometer), and vaginal Lactobacillus genus (using quantitative polymerase chain reaction), with areas under the receiving operating characteristic curve ranging from 82.2% (95% confidence interval, ±3.1%) to 85.2% (95% confidence interval, ±3.1%), sensitivities ranging from 76.1% to 85.9%, and specificities ranging from 75.2% to 85.1%. CONCLUSION The study results have provided proof of principle of how noninvasive methods suitable for point-of-care systems can select high-risk cases among women with preterm labor and might substantially aid in clinical management and outcomes while improving the use of resources and patient experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Cobo
- BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clinic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Institut Clínic de Ginecología, Obstetrícia I Neonatología, Fetal i+D Fetal Medicine Research Center, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer, University of Barcelona. Barcelona, Spain; Center for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - M Carmen Collado
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, National Research Council, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Vicente Andreu-Fernández
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer, University of Barcelona. Barcelona, Spain; Faculty of Health Sciences, Valencian International University, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana B Sanchez-Garcia
- BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clinic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Institut Clínic de Ginecología, Obstetrícia I Neonatología, Fetal i+D Fetal Medicine Research Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Filella
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer, University of Barcelona. Barcelona, Spain; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Marin
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Center for Biomedical Research on Hepatic and Digestive Diseases, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Cascante
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Center for Biomedical Research on Hepatic and Digestive Diseases, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Bosch
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedical Diagnostic Center, Hospital Clinic, ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Ferrero
- BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clinic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Institut Clínic de Ginecología, Obstetrícia I Neonatología, Fetal i+D Fetal Medicine Research Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Boada
- BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clinic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Institut Clínic de Ginecología, Obstetrícia I Neonatología, Fetal i+D Fetal Medicine Research Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara Murillo
- BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clinic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Institut Clínic de Ginecología, Obstetrícia I Neonatología, Fetal i+D Fetal Medicine Research Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claudia Rueda
- BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clinic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Institut Clínic de Ginecología, Obstetrícia I Neonatología, Fetal i+D Fetal Medicine Research Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Júlia Ponce
- BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clinic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Institut Clínic de Ginecología, Obstetrícia I Neonatología, Fetal i+D Fetal Medicine Research Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Montse Palacio
- BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clinic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Institut Clínic de Ginecología, Obstetrícia I Neonatología, Fetal i+D Fetal Medicine Research Center, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer, University of Barcelona. Barcelona, Spain; Center for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Eduard Gratacós
- BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clinic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Institut Clínic de Ginecología, Obstetrícia I Neonatología, Fetal i+D Fetal Medicine Research Center, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer, University of Barcelona. Barcelona, Spain; Center for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Xiao Y, Huang S, Yu W, Ni Y, Lu D, Wu Q, Leng Q, Yang T, Ni M, Xie J, Zhang X. Effects of emergency/nonemergency cervical cerclage on the vaginal microbiome of pregnant women with cervical incompetence. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1072960. [PMID: 36968117 PMCID: PMC10034410 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1072960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Evaluation of the therapeutic effects of cerclage on preterm birth (PTB) caused by cervical incompetence remains challenging. The vaginal microbiome is associated with preterm births. Thus, this study aimed to analyse the vaginal microbiota of patients with cervical incompetence, explore the relationship between the composition of the vaginal microbiota before cervical cerclage and at term delivery, and assess the effect of cervical cerclage on the vaginal microbiota. Methods Patients (n = 30) underwent cerclage performed by the same surgical team. Vaginal swabs were obtained pre-surgery and seven days post-surgery. A gestational age-matched cohort of healthy pregnant women (n = 20) (no particular abnormality during pregnancy, delivery at term) was used as the control group and sampled during a comparable pregnancy. All collected vaginal swabs were analysed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results When comparing the healthy control and cervical cerclage groups, the enriched microorganism in the healthy controls was G. Scardovia, and the enriched microorganism of the cerclage was G. Streptococcus. α diversity was significantly increased in patients who received cerclage with preterm delivery compared with those with full-term delivery, and the enriched microorganism was F. Enterococcus. A comparison before and after nonemergency cerclage suggested that the enriched microorganisms were G. Lactobacillus and F. Lactobacillaceae before surgery. After nonemergency cerclage, the enriched microorganisms were F. Enterobacteriaceae and C. Gammaproteobacteria. Vaginal microbiota diversity significantly increased, and the proportion of women with Lactobacillus spp.-depleted microbiomes increased after emergency cerclage. Significant differences in β diversity were found between the groups. Before the emergency cerclage, the enriched microorganisms were G. Lactobacillus, O. Alteromonadales, and P. Firmicutes. After emergency cerclage, the enriched microorganisms were P. Actinobacteria, C. Actinobacteria, P. Proteobacteria, F. Bifidobacteriaceae, O. Bifidobacteriales, G. Gardnerella, and G. Veillonella. Conclusion Cerclage (particularly emergency cerclage) may alter the vaginal microbiota by increasing microbiota diversity, decreasing vaginal Lactobacillus abundance, and increasing the abundance of pathogenic bacteria that are not conducive to pregnancy maintenance, thereby affecting surgical efficacy. Therefore, the role of the vaginal microbiome should be considered when developing treatment strategies for pregnant women with cervical incompetence. Clinical trial registration https://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2100046305.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunshan Xiao
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Clinical Research Center for Perinatal Medicine, Xiamen, China
| | - Shiting Huang
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Weiwei Yu
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Yan Ni
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Danni Lu
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Quanfeng Wu
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Qin Leng
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Ting Yang
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Meilan Ni
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Jingxian Xie
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Xueqin Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Clinical Research Center for Perinatal Medicine, Xiamen, China
- *Correspondence: Xueqin Zhang,
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Smith-Jackson K, Harrison RA. Alternative pathway activation in pregnancy, a measured amount "complements" a successful pregnancy, too much results in adverse events. Immunol Rev 2023; 313:298-319. [PMID: 36377667 PMCID: PMC10100418 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13169] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
During pregnancy, the maternal host must adapt in order to enable growth of the fetus. These changes affect all organ systems and are designed both to protect the fetus and to minimize risk to the mother. One of the most prominent adaptations involves the immune system. The semi-allogenic fetoplacental unit has non-self components and must be protected against attack from the host. This requires both attenuation of adaptive immunity and protection from innate immune defense mechanisms. One of the key innate immune players is complement, and it is important that the fetoplacental unit is not identified as non-self and subjected to complement attack. Adaptation of the complement response must, however, be managed in such a way that maternal protection against infection is not compromised. As the complement system also plays a significant facilitating role in many of the stages of a normal pregnancy, it is also important that any necessary adaptation to accommodate the semi-allogenic aspects of the fetoplacental unit does not compromise this. In this review, both the physiological role of the alternative pathway of complement in facilitating a normal pregnancy, and its detrimental participation in pregnancy-specific disorders, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Smith-Jackson
- Complement Therapeutics Research Group, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.,The National Renal Complement Therapeutics Centre (NRCTC), Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
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You YA, Park S, Kim K, Kwon EJ, Hur YM, Kim SM, Lee G, Ansari A, Park J, Kim YJ. Transition in vaginal Lactobacillus species during pregnancy and prediction of preterm birth in Korean women. Sci Rep 2022; 12:22303. [PMID: 36566290 PMCID: PMC9789976 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26058-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The predominance of vaginal Lactobacillus species, specifically L. crispatus, is important for pregnancy maintenance, but varies by race. The composition of the vaginal microbiome can affect susceptibility to adverse pregnancy outcomes. We performed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing on vaginal swabs taken from Korean pregnant women. Here, we report the transition of Lactobacillus spp. in samples of full-term birth (FTB) collected longitudinally in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy in a cohort study (n = 23) and their association with Lactobacillus abundance and preterm birth (PTB) in a case-control study (n = 200). Lactobacillus species, which was dominant in FTB samples including those that received interventions in the second trimester, did not change until 37 weeks of gestation. However, L. crispatus was replaced by other Lactobacillus species after 37 weeks. The PTB risk showed a closer association with the Lactobacillus abundance than with community state type determined by Lactobacillus species. PTB was associated with less than 90% of Lactobacillus abundance and an increase in Ureplasma parvum in the second trimester. Thus, the vaginal microbiome may change in preparation for childbirth in response to multiple intrinsic factors after 37 weeks of gestation. Monitoring the Lactobacillus abundance may help improve the reliability of microbial PTB biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Ah You
- grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Medical Research Institute, Ewha Womans University Medical School, Seoul, 07985 Republic of Korea
| | - Sunwha Park
- grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Medical Research Institute, Ewha Womans University Medical School, Seoul, 07985 Republic of Korea ,grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Womans University Mok Dong Hospital, Seoul, 158-051 South Korea
| | | | - Eun Jin Kwon
- grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Medical Research Institute, Ewha Womans University Medical School, Seoul, 07985 Republic of Korea
| | - Young Min Hur
- grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Medical Research Institute, Ewha Womans University Medical School, Seoul, 07985 Republic of Korea ,grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Womans University Mok Dong Hospital, Seoul, 158-051 South Korea
| | - Soo Min Kim
- grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Medical Research Institute, Ewha Womans University Medical School, Seoul, 07985 Republic of Korea ,grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Gain Lee
- grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Medical Research Institute, Ewha Womans University Medical School, Seoul, 07985 Republic of Korea ,grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - AbuZar Ansari
- grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Medical Research Institute, Ewha Womans University Medical School, Seoul, 07985 Republic of Korea ,grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Young Ju Kim
- grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Medical Research Institute, Ewha Womans University Medical School, Seoul, 07985 Republic of Korea ,grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Womans University Mok Dong Hospital, Seoul, 158-051 South Korea ,grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Jiang B, Wang J, Cao M, Jin H, Liu W, Cheng J, Zhou L, Xu J, Li Y. Differential Replication and Cytokine Response between Vaccine and Very Virulent Marek's Disease Viruses in Spleens and Bursas during Latency and Reactivation. Viruses 2022; 15:6. [PMID: 36680047 PMCID: PMC9864003 DOI: 10.3390/v15010006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Marek's disease virus (MDV) infection results in Marek's disease (MD) in chickens, a lymphoproliferative and oncogenic deadly disease, leading to severe economic losses. The spleen and bursa are the most important lymphoid and major target organs for MDV replication. The immune response elicited by MDV replication in the spleen and bursa is critical for the formation of latent MDV infection and reactivation. However, the mechanism of the host immune response induced by MDV in these key lymphoid organs during the latent and reactivation infection phases is not well understood. In the study, we focused on the replication dynamics of a vaccine MDV strain MDV/CVI988 and a very virulent MDV strain MDV/RB1B in the spleen and bursa in the latent and reactivation infection phases (7-28 days post-inoculation [dpi]), as well as the expression of some previously characterized immune-related molecules. The results showed that the replication ability of MDV/RB1B was significantly stronger than that of MDV/CVI988 within 28 days post-infection, and the replication levels of both MDV strains in the spleen were significantly higher than those in the bursa. During the latent and reactivation phase of MDV infection (7-28 dpi), the transcriptional upregulation of chicken IL-1β, IL6, IL-8L1 IFN-γ and PML in the spleen and bursa induced by MDV/RB1B infection was overall stronger than that of MDV/CVI988. However, compared to MDV/RB1Binfection, MDV/CVI988 infection resulted in a more effective transcriptional activation of CCL4 in the latent infection phase (7-14 dpi), which may be a characteristic distinguishing MDV vaccine strain from the very virulent strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Jiang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Mengyao Cao
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Huan Jin
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Wenxiao Liu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Jing Cheng
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Linyi Zhou
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
- Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yongqing Li
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
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Fransson E, Gudnadottir U, Hugerth LW, Itzel EW, Hamsten M, Boulund F, Pennhag A, Du J, Schuppe-Koistinen I, Brusselaers N, Engstrand L. Cohort profile: the Swedish Maternal Microbiome project (SweMaMi) - assessing the dynamic associations between the microbiome and maternal and neonatal adverse events. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e065825. [PMID: 36288838 PMCID: PMC9615996 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The Swedish Maternal Microbiome (SweMaMi) project was initiated to better understand the dynamics of the microbiome in pregnancy, with longitudinal microbiome sampling, shotgun metagenomics, extensive questionnaires and health registry linkage. PARTICIPANTS Pregnant women were recruited before the 20th gestational week during 2017-2021 in Sweden. In total, 5439 pregnancies (5193 unique women) were included. For 3973 pregnancies (73%), samples were provided at baseline, and for 3141 (58%) at all three timepoints (second and third trimester and postpartum). In total, 38 591 maternal microbiome samples (vaginal, faecal and saliva) and 3109 infant faecal samples were collected. Questionnaires were used to collect information on general, reproductive and mental health, diet and lifestyle, complemented by linkage to the nationwide health registries, also used to follow up the health of the offspring (up to age 10). FINDINGS TO DATE The cohort is fairly representative for the total Swedish pregnant population (data from 2019), with 41% first-time mothers. Women with university level education, born in Sweden, with normal body mass index, not using tobacco-products and aged 30-34 years were slightly over-represented. FUTURE PLANS The sample and data collection were finalised in November 2021. The next steps are the characterisation of the microbial DNA and linkage to the health and demographic information from the questionnaires and registries. The role of the microbiome on maternal and neonatal outcomes and early-childhood diseases will be explored (including preterm birth, miscarriage) and the role and interaction of other risk factors and confounders (including endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, diet, drug use). This is currently among the largest pregnancy cohorts in the world with longitudinal design and detailed and standardised microbiome sampling enabling follow-up of both mothers and children. The findings are expected to contribute greatly to the field of reproductive health focusing on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Fransson
- Centre for Translational Microbiome Research, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Unnur Gudnadottir
- Centre for Translational Microbiome Research, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Luisa W Hugerth
- Centre for Translational Microbiome Research, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eva Wiberg Itzel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Södersjukhuset AB, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marica Hamsten
- Centre for Translational Microbiome Research, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Boulund
- Centre for Translational Microbiome Research, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alexandra Pennhag
- Centre for Translational Microbiome Research, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Juan Du
- Centre for Translational Microbiome Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ina Schuppe-Koistinen
- Centre for Translational Microbiome Research, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nele Brusselaers
- Centre for Translational Microbiome Research, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Lars Engstrand
- Centre for Translational Microbiome Research, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), Stockholm, Sweden
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N-glycosylation of cervicovaginal fluid reflects microbial community, immune activity, and pregnancy status. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16948. [PMID: 36216861 PMCID: PMC9551102 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20608-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) is a complex, functionally important and glycan rich biological fluid, fundamental in mediating physiological events associated with reproductive health. Using a comprehensive glycomic strategy we reveal an extremely rich and complex N-glycome in CVF of pregnant and non-pregnant women, abundant in paucimannose and high mannose glycans, complex glycans with 2-4 N-Acetyllactosamine (LacNAc) antennae, and Poly-LacNAc glycans decorated with fucosylation and sialylation. N-glycosylation profiles were observed to differ in relation to pregnancy status, microbial composition, immune activation, and pregnancy outcome. Compared to CVF from women experiencing term birth, CVF from women who subsequently experienced preterm birth showed lower sialylation, which correlated to the presence of a diverse microbiome, and higher fucosylation, which correlated positively to pro-inflammatory cytokine concentration. This study is the first step towards better understanding the role of cervicovaginal glycans in reproductive health, their contribution to the mechanism of microbial driven preterm birth, and their potential for preventative therapy.
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Gimeno-Molina B, Muller I, Kropf P, Sykes L. The Role of Neutrophils in Pregnancy, Term and Preterm Labour. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12101512. [PMID: 36294949 PMCID: PMC9605051 DOI: 10.3390/life12101512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils are surveillance cells, and the first to react and migrate to sites of inflammation and infection following a chemotactic gradient. Neutrophils play a key role in both sterile inflammation and infection, performing a wide variety of effector functions such as degranulation, phagocytosis, ROS production and release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Healthy term labour requires a sterile pro-inflammatory process, whereas one of the most common causes of spontaneous preterm birth is microbial driven. Peripheral neutrophilia has long been described during pregnancy, and evidence exists demonstrating neutrophils infiltrating the cervix, uterus and foetal membranes during both term and preterm deliveries. Their presence supports a role in tissue remodelling via their effector functions. In this review, we describe the effector functions of neutrophils. We summarise the evidence to support their role in healthy pregnancy and labour and describe their potential contribution to microbial driven preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belen Gimeno-Molina
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London W12 0HS, UK
- March of Dimes European Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, London W12 0HS, UK
| | - Ingrid Muller
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College London, London W2 1NY, UK
| | - Pascale Kropf
- March of Dimes European Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, London W12 0HS, UK
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College London, London W2 1NY, UK
| | - Lynne Sykes
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London W12 0HS, UK
- March of Dimes European Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, London W12 0HS, UK
- The Parasol Foundation Centre for Women’s Health and Cancer Research, St. Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W2 1NY, UK
- Correspondence:
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Pavlidis I, Stock SJ. Preterm Birth Therapies to Target Inflammation. J Clin Pharmacol 2022; 62 Suppl 1:S79-S93. [PMID: 36106783 PMCID: PMC9545799 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.2107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB; defined as delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in infants and children aged <5 years, conferring potentially devastating short- and long-term complications. Despite extensive research in the field, there is currently a paucity of medications available for PTB prevention and treatment. Over the past few decades, inflammation in gestational tissues has emerged at the forefront of PTB pathophysiology. Even in the absence of infection, inflammation alone can prematurely activate the main components of parturition resulting in uterine contractions, cervical ripening and dilatation, membrane rupture, and subsequent PTB. Mechanistic studies have identified critical elements of the complex inflammatory molecular pathways involved in PTB. Here, we discuss therapeutic options that target such key mediators with an aim to prevent, postpone, or treat PTB. We provide an overview of more traditional therapies that are currently used or being tested in humans, and we highlight recent advances in preclinical studies introducing novel approaches with therapeutic potential. We conclude that urgent collaborative action is required to address the unmet need of developing effective strategies to tackle the challenge of PTB and its complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Pavlidis
- University of Warwick Biomedical Research Unit in Reproductive HealthCoventryUK
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Microbiota of the Pregnant Mouse: Characterization of the Bacterial Communities in the Oral Cavity, Lung, Intestine, and Vagina through Culture and DNA Sequencing. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0128622. [PMID: 35916526 PMCID: PMC9430855 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01286-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mice are frequently used as animal models for mechanistic studies of infection and obstetrical disease, yet characterization of the murine microbiota during pregnancy is lacking. The objective of this study was to characterize the microbiotas of distinct body sites of the pregnant mouse—vagina, oral cavity, intestine, and lung—that harbor microorganisms that could potentially invade the murine amniotic cavity, thus leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes. The microbiotas of these body sites were characterized through anoxic, hypoxic, and oxic culture as well as through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. With the exception of the vagina, the cultured microbiotas of each body site varied by atmosphere, with the greatest diversity in the cultured microbiota appearing under anoxic conditions. Only cultures of the vagina were comprehensively representative of the microbiota observed through direct DNA sequencing of body site samples, primarily due to the predominance of two Rodentibacter strains. Identified as Rodentibacter pneumotropicus and Rodentibacter heylii, these isolates exhibited predominance patterns similar to those of Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus iners in the human vagina. Whole-genome sequencing of these Rodentibacter strains revealed shared genomic features, including the ability to degrade glycogen, an abundant polysaccharide in the vagina. In summary, we report body site-specific microbiotas in the pregnant mouse with potential ecological parallels to those of humans. Importantly, our findings indicate that the vaginal microbiotas of pregnant mice can be readily cultured, suggesting that mock vaginal microbiotas can be tractably generated and maintained for experimental manipulation in future mechanistic studies of host vaginal-microbiome interactions. IMPORTANCE Mice are widely utilized as animal models of obstetrical complications; however, the characterization of the murine microbiota during pregnancy has been neglected. Microorganisms from the vagina, oral cavity, intestine, and lung have been found in the intra-amniotic space, where their presence threatens the progression of gestation. Here, we characterized the microbiotas of pregnant mice and established the appropriateness of culture in capturing the microbiota at each site. The high relative abundance of Rodentibacter observed in the vagina is similar to that of Lactobacillus in humans, suggesting potential ecological parallels. Importantly, we report that the vaginal microbiota of the pregnant mouse can be readily cultured under hypoxic conditions, demonstrating that mock microbial communities can be utilized to test the potential ecological parallels between microbiotas in human and murine pregnancy and to evaluate the relevance of the structure of these microbiotas for adverse pregnancy outcomes, especially intra-amniotic infection and preterm birth.
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Adams Waldorf KM, Abrahams VM. Editorial: Translational Virology in Pregnancy. FRONTIERS IN VIROLOGY 2022; 2:908471. [PMID: 36313916 PMCID: PMC9611285 DOI: 10.3389/fviro.2022.908471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina M. Adams Waldorf
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Vikki M. Abrahams
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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Gardnerella vaginalis induces matrix metalloproteinases in the cervicovaginal epithelium through TLR-2 activation. J Reprod Immunol 2022; 152:103648. [PMID: 35679790 PMCID: PMC9313515 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2022.103648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Lactobacillus-deficient cervicovaginal microbiota, including Gardnerella vaginalis, are implicated in cervical remodeling and preterm birth. Mechanisms by which microbes drives outcomes are not fully elucidated. We hypothesize that Gardnerella vaginalis induces matrix metalloproteinases through TLR-2, leading to epithelial barrier dysfunction and premature cervical remodeling. Cervicovaginal cells were treated with live Gardnerella vaginalis or Lactobacillus crispatus or their bacteria-free supernatants for 24 h. For TLR-2 experiments, cells were pretreated with TLR-2 blocking antibody. A Luminex panel was run on cell media. For human data, we conducted a case-control study from a prospective pregnancy cohort of Black individuals with spontaneous preterm (sPTB) (n = 40) or term (n = 40) births whose vaginal microbiota had already been characterized. Cervicovaginal fluid was obtained between 20 and 24 weeks' gestation. Short cervix was defined as < 25 mm by second trimester transvaginal ultrasound. MMP-9 was quantified by ELISA. Standard analytical approaches were used to determine differences across in vitro conditions, as well as MMP-9 and associations with clinical outcomes. Gardnerella vaginalis induced MMP-1 in cervical cells (p = 0.01) and MMP-9 in cervical and vaginal (VK2) cells (p ≤ 0.001 for all). TLR-2 blockade mitigated MMP-9 induction by Gardnerella vaginalis. MMP-9 in cervicovaginal fluid is higher among pregnant individuals with preterm birth, short cervix, and Lactobacillus-deficient microbiota (p < 0.05 for all). MMP-9 is increased in the cervicovaginal fluid of pregnant individuals with subsequent sPTB. Our in vitro work ascribes a potential mechanism by which a cervicovaginal microbe, commonly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, may disrupt the cervicovaginal epithelial barrier and promote premature cervical remodeling in spontaneous preterm birth.
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Rasheed ZBM, Lee YS, Kim SH, Teoh T, MacIntyre DA, Bennett PR, Sykes L. 15-Deoxy-Delta-12,14-prostaglandin J2 modulates pro-labour and pro-inflammatory responses in human myocytes, vaginal and amnion epithelial cells. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:983924. [PMID: 36213265 PMCID: PMC9533017 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.983924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prematurity is the leading cause of childhood death under the age of five. The aetiology of preterm birth is multifactorial; however, inflammation and infection are the most common causal factors, supporting a potential role for immunomodulation as a therapeutic strategy. 15-Deoxy-Delta-12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15dPGJ2) is an anti-inflammatory prostaglandin and has been shown to delay lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced preterm labour in mice and improve pup survival. This study explores the immunomodulatory effect of 15dPGJ2 on the transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and contraction associated proteins in human cultured myocytes, vaginal epithelial cell line (VECs) and primary amnion epithelial cells (AECs). METHODS Cells were pre-incubated with 32µM of 15dPGJ2 and stimulated with 1ng/mL of IL-1β as an in vitro model of inflammation. Western immunoblotting was used to detect phosphorylated p-65 and phosphorylated c-Jun as markers of NF-κB and AP-1 activation, respectively. mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α was examined, and protein expression of COX-2 and PGE2 were detected by western immunoblotting and ELISA respectively. Myometrial contractility was examined ex-vivo using a myograph. RESULTS 15dPGJ2 inhibited IL-1β-induced activation of NF-κB and AP-1, and expression of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, COX-2 and PGE2 in myocytes, with no effect on myometrial contractility or cell viability. Despite inhibiting IL-1β-induced activation of NF-κB, expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and COX-2, 15dPGJ2 led to activation of AP-1, increased production of PGE2 and increased cell death in VECs and AECs. CONCLUSION We conclude that 15dPGJ2 has differential effects on inflammatory modulation depending on cell type and is therefore unlikely to be a useful therapeutic agent for the prevention of preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahirrah BM. Rasheed
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yun S. Lee
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- March of Dimes European Preterm Birth Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sung H. Kim
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- March of Dimes European Preterm Birth Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tg Teoh
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- March of Dimes European Preterm Birth Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- The Parasol Foundation Centre for Women’s Health and Cancer Research, St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare National Health Service (NHS) Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A. MacIntyre
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- March of Dimes European Preterm Birth Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Phillip R. Bennett
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- March of Dimes European Preterm Birth Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lynne Sykes
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- March of Dimes European Preterm Birth Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- The Parasol Foundation Centre for Women’s Health and Cancer Research, St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare National Health Service (NHS) Trust, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Lynne Sykes,
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