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Ma Y, Hou B, Zong J, Liu S. Potential molecular mechanisms and clinical implications of piRNAs in preeclampsia: a review. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2024; 22:73. [PMID: 38915084 PMCID: PMC11194991 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-024-01247-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia is a multisystem progressive condition and is one of the most serious complications of pregnancy. Owing to its unclear pathogenesis, there are no precise and effective therapeutic targets for preeclampsia, and the only available treatment strategy is to terminate the pregnancy and eliminate the clinical symptoms. In recent years, non-coding RNAs have become a hotspot in preeclampsia research and have shown promise as effective biomarkers for the early diagnosis of preeclampsia over conventional biochemical markers. PIWI-interacting RNAs, novel small non-coding RNA that interact with PIWI proteins, are involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level. However, the mechanisms underlying the role of PIWI-interacting RNAs in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia remain unclear. In this review, we discuss the findings of existing studies on PIWI-interacting RNA biogenesis, functions, and their possible roles in preeclampsia, providing novel insights into the potential application of PIWI-interacting RNAs in the early diagnosis and clinical treatment of preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanxuan Ma
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266003, Shandong, China
- Department of Medical Genetics, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao , Shandong, 266003, China
| | - Bo Hou
- Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao , Shandong, 266003, China
| | - Jinbao Zong
- Department of Laboratory, Qingdao Hiser Hospital Affliated of Qingdao University (Oingdao Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital), 4 Renmin Road, Qingdao, 266033, China.
| | - Shiguo Liu
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266003, Shandong, China.
- Department of Medical Genetics, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao , Shandong, 266003, China.
- Medical Genetic Department, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266003, China.
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Gál L, Fóthi Á, Orosz G, Nagy S, Than NG, Orbán TI. Exosomal small RNA profiling in first-trimester maternal blood explores early molecular pathways of preterm preeclampsia. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1321191. [PMID: 38455065 PMCID: PMC10917917 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1321191] [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: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Preeclampsia (PE) is a severe obstetrical syndrome characterized by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria and it is often associated with fetal intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). PE leads to long-term health complications, so early diagnosis would be crucial for timely prevention. There are multiple etiologies and subtypes of PE, and this heterogeneity has hindered accurate identification in the presymptomatic phase. Recent investigations have pointed to the potential role of small regulatory RNAs in PE, and these species, which travel in extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the circulation, have raised the possibility of non-invasive diagnostics. The aim of this study was to investigate the behavior of exosomal regulatory small RNAs in the most severe subtype of PE with IUGR. Methods We isolated exosomal EVs from first-trimester peripheral blood plasma samples of women who later developed preterm PE with IUGR (n=6) and gestational age-matched healthy controls (n=14). The small RNA content of EVs and their differential expression were determined by next-generation sequencing and further validated by quantitative real-time PCR. We also applied the rigorous exceRpt bioinformatics pipeline for small RNA identification, followed by target verification and Gene Ontology analysis. Results Overall, >2700 small RNAs were identified in all samples and, of interest, the majority belonged to the RNA interference (RNAi) pathways. Among the RNAi species, 16 differentially expressed microRNAs were up-regulated in PE, whereas up-regulated and down-regulated members were equally found among the six identified Piwi-associated RNAs. Gene ontology analysis of the predicted small RNA targets showed enrichment of genes in pathways related to immune processes involved in decidualization, placentation and embryonic development, indicating that dysregulation of the induced small RNAs is connected to the impairment of immune pathways in preeclampsia development. Finally, the subsequent validation experiments revealed that the hsa_piR_016658 piRNA is a promising biomarker candidate for preterm PE associated with IUGR. Discussion Our rigorously designed study in a homogeneous group of patients unraveled small RNAs in circulating maternal exosomes that act on physiological pathways dysregulated in preterm PE with IUGR. Therefore, our small RNA hits are not only suitable biomarker candidates, but the revealed biological pathways may further inform us about the complex pathology of this severe PE subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Gál
- Gene Regulation Research Group, Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ábel Fóthi
- Gene Regulation Research Group, Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gergő Orosz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Sándor Nagy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Petz Aladár University Teaching Hospital, Győr, Hungary
- Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, Széchenyi István University, Győr, Hungary
| | - Nándor Gábor Than
- Systems Biology of Reproduction Research Group, Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Maternity Private Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Budapest, Hungary
- Genesis Theranostix Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás I. Orbán
- Gene Regulation Research Group, Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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He J, Yang H, Liu Z, Chen M, Ye Y, Tao Y, Li S, Fang J, Xu J, Wu X, Qi H. Elevated expression of glycolytic genes as a prominent feature of early-onset preeclampsia: insights from integrative transcriptomic analysis. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1248771. [PMID: 37818100 PMCID: PMC10561389 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1248771] [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: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE), a notable pregnancy-related disorder, leads to 40,000+ maternal deaths yearly. Recent research shows PE divides into early-onset (EOPE) and late-onset (LOPE) subtypes, each with distinct clinical features and outcomes. However, the molecular characteristics of various subtypes are currently subject to debate and are not consistent. Methods: We integrated transcriptomic expression data from a total of 372 placental samples across 8 publicly available databases via combat algorithm. Then, a variety of strategies including Random Forest Recursive Feature Elimination (RF-RFE), differential analysis, oposSOM, and Weighted Correlation Network Analysis were employed to identify the characteristic genes of the EOPE and LOPE subtypes. Finally, we conducted in vitro experiments on the key gene HK2 in HTR8/SVneo cells to explore its function. Results: Our results revealed a complex classification of PE placental samples, wherein EOPE manifests as a highly homogeneous sample group characterized by hypoxia and HIF1A activation. Among the core features is the upregulation of glycolysis-related genes, particularly HK2, in the placenta-an observation corroborated by independent validation data and single-cell data. Building on the pronounced correlation between HK2 and EOPE, we conducted in vitro experiments to assess the potential functional impact of HK2 on trophoblast cells. Additionally, the LOPE samples exhibit strong heterogeneity and lack distinct features, suggesting a complex molecular makeup for this subtype. Unsupervised clustering analysis indicates that LOPE likely comprises at least two distinct subtypes, linked to cell-environment interaction and cytokine and protein modification functionalities. Discussion: In summary, these findings elucidate potential mechanistic differences between the two PE subtypes, lend support to the hypothesis of classifying PE based on gestational weeks, and emphasize the potential significant role of glycolysis-related genes, especially HK2 in EOPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie He
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Huan Yang
- Department of Obstetrics, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Miaomiao Chen
- Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Ying Ye
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuelan Tao
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shuhong Li
- Department of Oncology, Chengdu Second People’s Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Fang
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiacheng Xu
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiafei Wu
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongbo Qi
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Hasi G, Sodnompil T, Na H, Liu H, Ji M, Xie W, Nasenochir N. Whole transcriptome sequencing reveals core genes related to spermatogenesis in Bactrian camels. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skad115. [PMID: 37083698 PMCID: PMC10718809 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad115] [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: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Bactrian camels survive and reproduce better in extreme climatic conditions than other domestic animals can. However, the reproductive efficiency of camels under their natural pastoral conditions is low. Several factors affect mammalian reproductive performance, including testicular development, semen quality, libido, and mating ability. Testis is a main reproductive organ of the male and is responsible for producing spermatozoa and hormones. However, our understanding of the expression patterns of the genes in camel testis is minimal. Thus, we performed total RNA-sequencing to investigate the gene expression pattern. As a result, 1,538 differential expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs), 702 differential expressed long non-coding RNAs (DElncRNAs), and 61 differential expressed microRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were identified between pubertal and adult Bactrian camel testes. Then the genomic features, length distribution, and other characteristics of the lncRNAs and mRNAs in the Bactrian camel testis were investigated. Target genes of the DEmiRNAs and DEmRNAs were further subjected to gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. Genes, such as AMHR2, FGF1, ACTL7A, GATA4, WNT4, ID2, LAMA1, IGF1, INHBB, and TLR2, were mainly involved in the TGF-β, PI3K-AKT, Wnt, GnRH, and Hippo signaling pathways which relate to spermatogenesis. Some of the DEmiRNAs were predicted to be associated with numerous DElncRNAs and DEmRNAs through competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network. At last, the candidate genes were validated by RT-qPCR, dual fluorescent reporter gene, and a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay. This research provides high-throughput RNA sequencing data of the testes of Bactrian camels across different developmental stages. It lays the foundation for further investigations on lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs that involved in Bactrian camel spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaowa Hasi
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Tserennadmid Sodnompil
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Haya Na
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Hejie Liu
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Musi Ji
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Wangwei Xie
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Narenhua Nasenochir
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, Inner Mongolia, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, Inner Mongolia, China
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Xia Y, Zhao YD, Sun GX, Xia SS, Yang ZW. Gene Expression Network Analysis Identifies Potential Targets for Prevention of Preeclampsia. Int J Gen Med 2022; 15:1023-1032. [PMID: 35140505 PMCID: PMC8818964 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s348175] [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: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific multisystem disease as well as an important cause of maternal and perinatal death. This study aimed to analyze the placental transcriptional data and clinical information of PE patients available in the published database and predict the target genes for prevention of PE. Methods The clinical information and corresponding RNA data of PE patients were downloaded from the GEO database. Cluster analysis was performed to examine the correlation between different genotyping genes and clinical manifestations. Then, bioinformatic approaches including GO, KEGG, WGCNA, and GSEA were employed to functionally characterize candidate target genes involved in pathogenesis of PE. Results Two PE datasets GSE60438 and GSE75010 were obtained and combined, thereby providing the data of 205 samples in total (100 non-PE and 105 PE samples). After eliminating the batch effect, we grouped and analyzed the integrated data, and further performed GSEA analysis. It was found that the genes in group 1 and group 2 were different from those in normal samples. Moreover, WGCNA analysis revealed that genes in group 1 were up-regulated in turquoise module, including SASH1, PIK3CB and FLT-1, while genes in group 2 were up-regulated in the blue and brown modules. We further conducted GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses and found that the differential genes in turquoise module were mainly involved in biological processes such as small molecular catabolic process, while being highly enriched in pathways, including MAPK signaling pathway and Rap1 signaling pathway. Conclusion FLT-1 was conventionally used to predict PE risk, and sFLT-1 could also be used as an indicator to evaluate PE treatment effect. As a candidate biomarker for predicting PE, SASH1 may participate in proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial mesenchymal transformation of human trophoblast cells by regulating MAPK pathway and Rap1 signaling pathway, thus affecting the progression of PE. The mechanism allowing PIK3CB to regulate PE development was not clear, while the gene could be another candidate biomarker for PE risk prediction. This is an exploratory study and our findings were still required verification in further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Xia
- Provincial Key Laboratory of TCM Diagnostics, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410208, People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Chinese Medicine Diagnosis, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410208, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410007, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu-Dong Zhao
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610075, People’s Republic of China
| | - Gui-Xiang Sun
- Provincial Key Laboratory of TCM Diagnostics, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410208, People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Chinese Medicine Diagnosis, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410208, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Gui-Xiang Sun, Provincial Key Laboratory of TCM Diagnostics, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, No. 300, Xueshi Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410208, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-13787272837, Email
| | - Shuai-Shuai Xia
- Provincial Key Laboratory of TCM Diagnostics, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410208, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zheng-Wang Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410007, People’s Republic of China
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