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Campesi I, Capobianco G, Cano A, Lodde V, Cruciani S, Maioli M, Sotgiu G, Idda ML, Puci MV, Ruoppolo M, Costanzo M, Caterino M, Cambosu F, Montella A, Franconi F. Stratification of Amniotic Fluid Cells and Amniotic Fluid by Sex Opens Up New Perspectives on Fetal Health. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2830. [PMID: 37893203 PMCID: PMC10604128 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102830] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Amniotic fluid is essential for fetus wellbeing and is used to monitor pregnancy and predict fetal outcomes. Sex affects health and medicine from the beginning of life, but knowledge of its influence on cell-depleted amniotic fluid (AF) and amniotic fluid cells (AFCs) is still neglected. We evaluated sex-related differences in AF and in AFCs to extend personalized medicine to prenatal life. AFCs and AF were obtained from healthy Caucasian pregnant women who underwent amniocentesis at the 16th-18th week of gestation for advanced maternal age. In the AF, inflammation biomarkers (TNFα, IL6, IL8, and IL4), malondialdehyde, nitrites, amino acids, and acylcarnitines were measured. Estrogen receptors and cell fate (autophagy, apoptosis, senescence) were measured in AFCs. TNFα, IL8, and IL4 were higher in female AF, whereas IL6, nitrites, and MDA were similar. Valine was higher in male AF, whereas several acylcarnitines were sexually different, suggesting a mitochondrial involvement in establishing sex differences. Female AFCs displayed higher expression of ERα protein and a higher ERα/ERβ ratio. The ratio of LC3II/I, an index of autophagy, was higher in female AFCs, while LC3 gene was similar in both sexes. No significant sex differences were found in the expression of the lysosomal protein LAMP1, while p62 was higher in male AFCs. LAMP1 gene was upregulated in male AFCs, while p62 gene was upregulated in female ones. Finally, caspase 9 activity and senescence linked to telomeres were higher in female AFCs, while caspase 3 and β-galactosidase activities were similar. This study supports the idea that sex differences start very early in prenatal life and influence specific parameters, suggesting that it may be relevant to appreciate sex differences to cover knowledge gaps. This might lead to improving the diagnosis of risk prediction for pregnancy complications and achieving a more satisfactory monitoring of fetus health, even preventing future diseases in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Campesi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (V.L.); (S.C.); (M.M.); (A.M.)
- Laboratory of Sex-Gender Medicine, National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
| | - Giampiero Capobianco
- Gynecologic and Obstetric Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Antonella Cano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (V.L.); (S.C.); (M.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Valeria Lodde
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (V.L.); (S.C.); (M.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Sara Cruciani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (V.L.); (S.C.); (M.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Margherita Maioli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (V.L.); (S.C.); (M.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Giovanni Sotgiu
- Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (G.S.); (M.V.P.)
| | - Maria Laura Idda
- Institute of Genetics and Biomedical Research, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
| | - Mariangela Valentina Puci
- Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (G.S.); (M.V.P.)
| | - Margherita Ruoppolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.R.); (M.C.); (M.C.)
- CEINGE—Biotecnologie Avanzate s.c.ar.l., 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Michele Costanzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.R.); (M.C.); (M.C.)
- CEINGE—Biotecnologie Avanzate s.c.ar.l., 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Marianna Caterino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.R.); (M.C.); (M.C.)
- CEINGE—Biotecnologie Avanzate s.c.ar.l., 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca Cambosu
- Genetics and Developmental Biology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
| | - Andrea Montella
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (V.L.); (S.C.); (M.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Flavia Franconi
- Laboratory of Sex-Gender Medicine, National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
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Ahmed M, Casanova NG, Zaghloul N, Gupta A, Rodriguez M, Robbins IR, Kempf CL, Sun X, Song JH, Hernon VR, Sammani S, Camp SM, Moreira A, Hsu CD, Garcia JGN. The eNAMPT/TLR4 inflammatory cascade drives the severity of intra-amniotic inflammation in pregnancy and predicts infant outcomes. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1129413. [PMID: 37415908 PMCID: PMC10319582 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1129413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI) or chorioamnionitis is a common complication of pregnancy producing significant maternal morbidity/mortality, premature birth and neonatal risk of chronic lung diseases such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). We examined eNAMPT (extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase), a critical inflammatory DAMP and TLR4 ligand, as a potential therapeutic target to reduce IAI severity and improve adverse fetal/neonatal outcomes. Methods: Blood/tissue samples were examined in: 1) women with histologically-proven chorioamnionitis, 2) very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates, and 3) a preclinical murine pregnancy model of IAI. Groups of pregnant IAI-exposed mice and pups were treated with an eNAMPT-neutralizing mAb. Results: Human placentas from women with histologically-proven chorioamnionitis exhibited dramatic NAMPT expression compared to placentas without chorioamnionitis. Increased NAMPT expression in whole blood from VLBW neonates (day 5) significantly predicted BPD development. Compared to untreated LPS-challenged murine dams (gestational day 15), pups born to eNAMPT mAb-treated dams (gestational days 15/16) exhibited a > 3-fold improved survival, reduced neonate lung eNAMPT/cytokine levels, and reduced development and severity of BPD and pulmonary hypertension (PH) following postnatal exposure to 100% hyperoxia days 1-14. Genome-wide gene expression studies of maternal uterine and neonatal cardiac tissues corroborated eNAMPT mAb-induced reductions in inflammatory pathway genes. Discussion: The eNAMPT/TLR4 inflammatory pathway is a highly druggable contributor to IAI pathobiology during pregnancy with the eNAMPT-neutralizing mAb a novel therapeutic strategy to decrease premature delivery and improve short- and long-term neonatal outcomes. eNAMPT blood expression is a potential biomarker for early prediction of chronic lung disease among premature neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Ahmed
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Nancy G. Casanova
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Nahla Zaghloul
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Akash Gupta
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Marisela Rodriguez
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Ian R. Robbins
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Carrie L. Kempf
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Xiaoguang Sun
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Jin H. Song
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Vivian Reyes Hernon
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Saad Sammani
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Sara M. Camp
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Alvaro Moreira
- Department of Pediatrics, UT Health San Antonio, Long School of Medicine, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Chaur-Dong Hsu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Joe G. N. Garcia
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States
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The amniotic fluid proteome changes with term labor and informs biomarker discovery in maternal plasma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3136. [PMID: 36823217 PMCID: PMC9950459 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28157-3] [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: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The intra-uterine components of labor, namely, myometrial contractility, cervical ripening, and decidua/membrane activation, have been extensively characterized and involve a local pro-inflammatory milieu of cellular and soluble immune mediators. Targeted profiling has demonstrated that such processes extend to the intra-amniotic space, yet unbiased analyses of the proteome of human amniotic fluid during labor are lacking. Herein, we utilized an aptamer-based platform to characterize 1,310 amniotic fluid proteins and found that the proteome undergoes substantial changes with term labor (251 proteins with differential abundance, q < 0.1, and fold change > 1.25). Proteins with increased abundance in labor are enriched for immune and inflammatory processes, consistent with prior reports of labor-associated changes in the intra-uterine space. By integrating the amniotic fluid proteome with previously generated placental-derived single-cell RNA-seq data, we demonstrated the labor-driven upregulation of signatures corresponding to stromal-3 and decidual cells. We also determined that changes in amniotic fluid protein abundance are reflected in the maternal plasma proteome. Collectively, these findings provide novel insights into the amniotic fluid proteome in term labor and support its potential use as a source of biomarkers to distinguish between true and false labor by using maternal blood samples.
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Wang WS, Lin YK, Zhang F, Lei WJ, Pan F, Zhu YN, Lu JW, Zhang CY, Zhou Q, Ying H, Sun K. Single cell transcriptomic analysis of human amnion identifies cell-specific signatures associated with membrane rupture and parturition. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:64. [PMID: 35585644 PMCID: PMC9118831 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00797-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The human amnion is an intrauterine tissue which is involved in the initiation of parturition. In-depth understanding of gene expression signatures of individual cell types in the amnion with respect to membrane rupture at parturition may help identify crucial initiators of parturition for the development of specific strategies to prevent preterm birth, a leading cause of perinatal mortality. Results Six major cell types were revealed in human amnion including epithelial cells, fibroblasts and immunocytes as well as three other cell types expressing dual cell markers including epithelial/fibroblast, immune/epithelial and immune/fibroblast markers. The existence of cell types expressing these dual cell markers indicates the presence of epithelial-mesenchymal (EMT), epithelial-immune (EIT) and mesenchymal-immune (MIT) transitions in amnion at parturition. We found that the rupture zone of amnion exhibited some specific increases in subcluster proportions of immune and EMT cells related to extracellular matrix remodeling and inflammation in labor. The non-rupture zone exhibited some common changes in subcluster compositions of epithelial and fibroblast cells with the rupture zone in labor, particularly those related to oxidative stress and apoptosis in epithelial cells and zinc ion transport in fibroblasts. Moreover, we identified that C–C motif chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) was among the top up-regulated genes in amnion epithelial cells, fibroblasts and immunocytes in the rupture zone at parturition. Studies in pregnant mice showed that administration of CCL20 induced immunocytes infiltration to tissues at the maternal–fetal interface and led to preterm birth. Conclusions Apart from the conventional epithelial, fibroblast and immunocytes, human amnion cells may undergo EMT, EIT and FIT in preparation for parturition. Intense inflammation and ECM remodeling are present in the rupture zone, while enhanced apoptosis and oxidative stress in epithelial cells and zinc ion transport in fibroblasts are present in amnion regardless of the rupture zones at parturition. CCL20 derived from the major cell types of the amnion participates in labor onset. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-022-00797-4.
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Tarca AL, Romero R, Bhatti G, Gotsch F, Done B, Gudicha DW, Gallo DM, Jung E, Pique-Regi R, Berry SM, Chaiworapongsa T, Gomez-Lopez N. Human Plasma Proteome During Normal Pregnancy. J Proteome Res 2022; 21:2687-2702. [PMID: 36154181 PMCID: PMC10445406 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.2c00391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The human plasma proteome is underexplored despite its potential value for monitoring health and disease. Herein, using a recently developed aptamer-based platform, we profiled 7288 proteins in 528 plasma samples from 91 normal pregnancies (Gene Expression Omnibus identifier GSE206454). The coefficient of variation was <20% for 93% of analytes (median 7%), and a cross-platform correlation for selected key angiogenic and anti-angiogenic proteins was significant. Gestational age was associated with changes in 953 proteins, including highly modulated placenta- and decidua-specific proteins, and they were enriched in biological processes including regulation of growth, angiogenesis, immunity, and inflammation. The abundance of proteins corresponding to RNAs specific to populations of cells previously described by single-cell RNA-Seq analysis of the placenta was highly modulated throughout gestation. Furthermore, machine learning-based prediction of gestational age and of time from sampling to term delivery compared favorably with transcriptomic models (mean absolute error of 2 weeks). These results suggested that the plasma proteome may provide a non-invasive readout of placental cellular dynamics and serve as a blueprint for investigating obstetrical disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adi L Tarca
- 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, Bethesda, MD, and, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
- Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, Michigan48202, United States
| | - Roberto Romero
- 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, Bethesda, MD, and, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan48103, United States
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan48824, United States
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan48202, United States
- Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
| | - Gaurav Bhatti
- 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, Bethesda, MD, and, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
| | - Francesca Gotsch
- 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, Bethesda, MD, and, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
| | - Bogdan Done
- 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, Bethesda, MD, and, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
| | - Dereje W Gudicha
- 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, Bethesda, MD, and, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
| | - Dahiana M Gallo
- 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, Bethesda, MD, and, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Valle 13, Cali, Valle del Cauca100-00, Colombia
| | - Eunjung Jung
- 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, Bethesda, MD, and, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
| | - Roger Pique-Regi
- 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, Bethesda, MD, and, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan48202, United States
| | - Stanley M Berry
- 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, Bethesda, MD, and, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- 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, Bethesda, MD, and, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- 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, Bethesda, MD, and, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
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The amniotic fluid proteome predicts imminent preterm delivery in asymptomatic women with a short cervix. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11781. [PMID: 35821507 PMCID: PMC9276779 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15392-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth, the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality, is associated with increased risk of short- and long-term adverse outcomes. For women identified as at risk for preterm birth attributable to a sonographic short cervix, the determination of imminent delivery is crucial for patient management. The current study aimed to identify amniotic fluid (AF) proteins that could predict imminent delivery in asymptomatic patients with a short cervix. This retrospective cohort study included women enrolled between May 2002 and September 2015 who were diagnosed with a sonographic short cervix (< 25 mm) at 16–32 weeks of gestation. Amniocenteses were performed to exclude intra-amniotic infection; none of the women included had clinical signs of infection or labor at the time of amniocentesis. An aptamer-based multiplex platform was used to profile 1310 AF proteins, and the differential protein abundance between women who delivered within two weeks from amniocentesis, and those who did not, was determined. The analysis included adjustment for quantitative cervical length and control of the false-positive rate at 10%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated to determine whether protein abundance in combination with cervical length improved the prediction of imminent preterm delivery as compared to cervical length alone. Of the 1,310 proteins profiled in AF, 17 were differentially abundant in women destined to deliver within two weeks of amniocentesis independently of the cervical length (adjusted p-value < 0.10). The decreased abundance of SNAP25 and the increased abundance of GPI, PTPN11, OLR1, ENO1, GAPDH, CHI3L1, RETN, CSF3, LCN2, CXCL1, CXCL8, PGLYRP1, LDHB, IL6, MMP8, and PRTN3 were associated with an increased risk of imminent delivery (odds ratio > 1.5 for each). The sensitivity at a 10% false-positive rate for the prediction of imminent delivery by a quantitative cervical length alone was 38%, yet it increased to 79% when combined with the abundance of four AF proteins (CXCL8, SNAP25, PTPN11, and MMP8). Neutrophil-mediated immunity, neutrophil activation, granulocyte activation, myeloid leukocyte activation, and myeloid leukocyte-mediated immunity were biological processes impacted by protein dysregulation in women destined to deliver within two weeks of diagnosis. The combination of AF protein abundance and quantitative cervical length improves prediction of the timing of delivery compared to cervical length alone, among women with a sonographic short cervix.
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Saito Reis CA, Ng PK, Kurashima CK, Padron J, Kendal-Wright CE. Fetal DNA Causes Sex-Specific Inflammation From Human Fetal Membranes. Front Physiol 2022; 13:901726. [PMID: 35812324 PMCID: PMC9257279 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.901726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is central to the mechanisms of parturition, but the lack of understanding of how it is controlled in normal parturition hampers our ability to understand how it may diverge resulting in preterm birth. Cell-free fetal DNA is found in the amniotic fluid, and it is thought to be able to activate inflammation as a danger-associated molecular pattern. Although its levels increases with gestational age, its effect has not been studied on the human fetal membranes. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine if the fetal DNA can trigger inflammation in the human fetal membranes and, thus, potentially contribute to the inflammatory load. Isolated human amniotic epithelial cells and fetal membrane explants were treated apically with fetal DNA causing the translocation of NF-KB into the nucleus of cells and throughout the cells of the explant layers with time. Fetal membrane explants were treated apically with either small or larger fragments of fetal DNA. IL-6, TNFα, and GM-CSF secretion was measured by ELISA, and pro-MMP2 and pro-MMP9 activity was measured by zymography from apical and basal media. Increased apical IL-6 secretion and basal pro-MMP2 activity was seen with small fragments of fetal DNA. When the data were disaggregated based on fetal sex, males had significant increases in IL-6 secretion and basal increased activity in pro-MMP2 and 9, whereas females had significantly increased basal secretion of TNFα. This was caused by the smaller fragments of fetal DNA, whereas the larger fragments did not cause any significant increases. Male fetal DNA had significantly lower percentages of methylation than females. Thus, when the cytokine and pro-MMP activity data were correlated with methylation percentage, IL-6 secretion significantly correlated negatively, whereas GM-CSF secretion positively correlated. These data support the role of fetal DNA as an inflammatory stimulus in the FM, as measured by increased NF-κB translocation, cytokine secretion, and increased pro-MMP activity. However, the data also suggested that the responses are different from FM tissues of male and female fetuses, and both the fragment size and methylation status of the fetal DNA can influence the magnitude and type of molecule secreted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea A. Saito Reis
- Natural Science and Mathematics, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - Po’okela K. Ng
- Natural Science and Mathematics, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | | | - Justin Padron
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - Claire Enid Kendal-Wright
- Natural Science and Mathematics, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Honolulu, HI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, United States
- *Correspondence: Claire Enid Kendal-Wright,
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Hui L, De Catte L, Beard S, Maksimovic J, Vora NL, Oshlack A, Walker SP, Hannan NJ. RNA-Seq of amniotic fluid cell-free RNA: a discovery phase study of the pathophysiology of congenital cytomegalovirus infection. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022; 227:634.e1-634.e12. [PMID: 35609640 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital cytomegalovirus infection is the most common perinatal infection and a significant cause of sensorineural hearing loss, cerebral palsy, and neurodevelopmental disability. There is a paucity of human gene expression studies examining the pathophysiology of cytomegalovirus infection. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to perform a whole transcriptomic assessment of amniotic fluid from pregnancies with live fetuses to identify differentially expressed genes and enriched Gene Ontology categories associated with congenital cytomegalovirus infection. STUDY DESIGN Amniotic fluid supernatant was prospectively collected from pregnant women undergoing amniocentesis for suspected congenital cytomegalovirus infection because of first-trimester maternal primary infection or ultrasound features suggestive of fetal infection. Women who had received therapy to prevent fetal infection were excluded. Congenital cytomegalovirus infection was diagnosed via viral polymerase chain reaction of amniotic fluid; cytomegalovirus-infected fetuses were paired with noninfected controls, matched for gestational age and fetal sex. Paired-end RNA sequencing was performed on amniotic fluid cell-free RNA with the Novaseq 6000 at a depth of 30 million reads per sample. Following quality control and filtering, reads were mapped to the human genome and counts summarized across genes. Differentially expressed genes were identified using 2 approaches: voomWithQualityWeights in conjunction with limma and RUVSeq with edgeR. Genes with a false discovery rate <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Differential exon use was analyzed using DEXSeq. Functional analysis was performed using gene set enrichment analysis and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Manual curation of differentially regulated genes was also performed. RESULTS Amniotic fluid samples were collected from 50 women; 16 (32%) had congenital cytomegalovirus infection confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. After excluding 3 samples without matched controls, 13 cytomegalovirus-infected samples collected at 18 to 23 weeks and 13 cytomegalovirus-negative gestation-matched controls were submitted for RNA sequencing and analysis (N=26). Ten of the 13 pregnancies with cytomegalovirus-infected fetuses had amniocentesis because of serologic evidence of maternal primary infection with normal fetal ultrasound, and 3 had amniocentesis because of ultrasound abnormality suggestive of cytomegalovirus infection. Four cytomegalovirus-infected pregnancies ended in termination (n=3) or fetal death (n=1), and 9 resulted in live births. Pregnancy outcomes were available for 11 of the 13 cytomegalovirus-negative controls; all resulted in live births of clinically-well infants. Differential gene expression analysis revealed 309 up-regulated and 32 down-regulated genes in the cytomegalovirus-infected group compared with the cytomegalovirus-negative group. Gene set enrichment analysis showed significant enrichment of multiple Gene Ontology categories involving the innate immune response to viral infection and interferon signaling. Of the 32 significantly down-regulated genes, 8 were known to be involved in neurodevelopment and preferentially expressed by the brain. Six specific cellular restriction factors involved in host defense to cytomegalovirus infection were up-regulated in the cytomegalovirus-infected group. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis predicted the activation of pathways involved in progressive neurologic disease and inflammatory neurologic disease. CONCLUSION In this next-generation sequencing study, we revealed new insights into the pathophysiology of congenital cytomegalovirus infection. These data on the up-regulation of the intraamniotic innate immune response to cytomegalovirus infection and the dysregulation of neurodevelopmental genes may inform future approaches to developing prognostic markers and assessing fetal responses to in utero therapy.
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Liu P, Vossaert L. Emerging technologies for prenatal diagnosis: The application of whole genome and RNA sequencing. Prenat Diagn 2022; 42:686-696. [PMID: 35416301 PMCID: PMC10014115 DOI: 10.1002/pd.6146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
DNA sequencing technologies for clinical genetic testing have been rapidly evolving in recent years, and steadily become more important within the field of prenatal diagnostics. This review aims to give an overview of recent developments and to describe how they have the potential to fill the gaps of the currently clinically implemented methods for prenatal diagnosis of various genetic disorders. It has been shown for postnatal testing that whole genome sequencing provides a set of added benefits compared to exome sequencing, and it is to be expected that this will be the case for prenatal testing as well. RNA-sequencing, already used postnatally, can provide valuable complementary data to DNA-based testing, and aid in variant interpretation. While not ready for clinical implementation, emerging technologies such as long-read and Hi-C sequencing analyses might add to the toolbox for interpreting the expanding genetic data sets generated by genome-wide sequencing. Lastly, we also discuss some more practical implications of introducing these emerging technologies, which generate larger and larger genomic data sets, in the prenatal field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Liu
- Baylor College of Medicine and Baylor Genetics, Houston, Texas, USA
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Mastromoro G, Guadagnolo D, Khaleghi Hashemian N, Marchionni E, Traversa A, Pizzuti A. Molecular Approaches in Fetal Malformations, Dynamic Anomalies and Soft Markers: Diagnostic Rates and Challenges-Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:575. [PMID: 35328129 PMCID: PMC8947110 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12030575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Fetal malformations occur in 2-3% of pregnancies. They require invasive procedures for cytogenetics and molecular testing. "Structural anomalies" include non-transient anatomic alterations. "Soft markers" are often transient minor ultrasound findings. Anomalies not fitting these definitions are categorized as "dynamic". This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the diagnostic yield and the rates of variants of uncertain significance (VUSs) in fetuses undergoing molecular testing (chromosomal microarray (CMA), exome sequencing (ES), genome sequencing (WGS)) due to ultrasound findings. The CMA diagnostic yield was 2.15% in single soft markers (vs. 0.79% baseline risk), 3.44% in multiple soft markers, 3.66% in single structural anomalies and 8.57% in multiple structural anomalies. Rates for specific subcategories vary significantly. ES showed a diagnostic rate of 19.47%, reaching 27.47% in multiple structural anomalies. WGS data did not allow meta-analysis. In fetal structural anomalies, CMA is a first-tier test, but should be integrated with karyotype and parental segregations. In this class of fetuses, ES presents a very high incremental yield, with a significant VUSs burden, so we encourage its use in selected cases. Soft markers present heterogeneous CMA results from each other, some of them with risks comparable to structural anomalies, and would benefit from molecular analysis. The diagnostic rate of multiple soft markers poses a solid indication to CMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gioia Mastromoro
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (D.G.); (N.K.H.); (E.M.); (A.T.); (A.P.)
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Bremer AA, Grewal J, Hazra R, Romero R, Bianchi DW. World Prematurity Day: it takes an NIH village to prevent preterm birth and improve treatments for preterm infants. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2021; 321:L960-L969. [PMID: 34643102 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00401.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Prematurity remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Research to prevent preterm birth and improve treatments for preterm infants involves both intramural and extramural research, not just at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, but across many institutes and centers at the National Institutes of Health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew A Bremer
- Division of Extramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jagteshwar Grewal
- Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Rohan Hazra
- Division of Extramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Diana W Bianchi
- Office of the Director, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland
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