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Salvi S, Fruci S, Lacconi V, Totaro Aprile F, Rullo R, Stuhlmann H, Lanzone A, Campagnolo L, Massimiani M. Effect of Pravastatin on Placental Expression of Epidermal Growth Factor-like Domain 7 in Early-Onset Pre-Eclampsia: A New Potential Mechanism of Action. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1929. [PMID: 39200393 PMCID: PMC11351877 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12081929] [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: 07/31/2024] [Revised: 08/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The primary intervention for pre-eclampsia (PE) remains iatrogenic delivery, which can be very preterm and not optimal for the fetus. Although many efforts have been made to prevent and manage PE, there is still a dearth of drugs to treat its pathophysiological progression. Pravastatin (PRA), a hydrophilic statin, has gained interest for the prevention and treatment of PE. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ability of PRA to modulate factors involved in placentation, such as Epidermal Growth Factor-Like Domain 7 (EGFL7), in human chorionic villous culture from healthy controls and women with PE. A total of 18 women were enrolled: 10 controls and 8 cases. Chorionic villous explants were maintained in culture for 24 h with or without 10 μM Pravastatin, and the expression of EGFL7 and NOTCH1 pathway members was evaluated by qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis. The rationale of the present study was to establish an ex vivo model to identify potential different responses to PRA treatment of chorionic villous explants in order to clarify the molecular mechanism of PRA in the prevention and treatment of PE and to predict whether there are specific clinical conditions that modulate the response to the drug treatment. Within PE patients, two different groups were identified: the high responders, whose villous cultures exhibit significantly increased expressions of the EGFL7 and Notch pathways after PRA incubation; and the low responders, who are high-risk PE patients in which prophylaxis failed to prevent PE and PRA was not able to modulate EGFL7 expression. In conclusion, we identified EGFL7 as a new factor regulated by PRA, placing interest in early discrimination between low- and high- risk women, in which the well-known pharmacological prophylaxis seems to be ineffective, and to explore new potential prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Salvi
- UOC di Ostetricia e Patologia Ostetrica, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute della Donna, del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, L.go Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy; (S.S.); (S.F.); (R.R.); (A.L.)
- Dipartimento Universitario di Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Ginecologia ed Ostetricia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Stefano Fruci
- UOC di Ostetricia e Patologia Ostetrica, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute della Donna, del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, L.go Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy; (S.S.); (S.F.); (R.R.); (A.L.)
| | - Valentina Lacconi
- Departmental Faculty of Medicine, Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Via di Sant’Alessandro 8, 00131 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Totaro Aprile
- Dipartimento Universitario di Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Ginecologia ed Ostetricia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Roberta Rullo
- UOC di Ostetricia e Patologia Ostetrica, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute della Donna, del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, L.go Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy; (S.S.); (S.F.); (R.R.); (A.L.)
| | - Heidi Stuhlmann
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, Box 60, New York, NY 10065, USA;
| | - Antonio Lanzone
- UOC di Ostetricia e Patologia Ostetrica, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute della Donna, del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, L.go Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy; (S.S.); (S.F.); (R.R.); (A.L.)
- Dipartimento Universitario di Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Ginecologia ed Ostetricia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Luisa Campagnolo
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Micol Massimiani
- Departmental Faculty of Medicine, Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Via di Sant’Alessandro 8, 00131 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
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Salah NM, Hussein NM, Aboazma SM, Shalaby HA, Seleem AK. Evaluation Of Epidermal Growth Factor-Like Domain (EGFL7) mRNA Expression and its Protein Level in Preeclampsia. J Obstet Gynaecol India 2023; 73:21-27. [PMID: 36879940 PMCID: PMC9984659 DOI: 10.1007/s13224-022-01697-w] [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: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives To evaluate the mRNA expression of epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 (EGFL7) in maternal blood and its protein level in sera of pregnant women complicated with preeclampsia (PE). Method Case-control study involving 25 pregnant women diagnosed with PE (cases) and 25 gestational age-matched normal pregnant women (controls). EGFL7 mRNA expression in normal and PE patients was quantified by (qRT-PCR), and EGFL7 protein level was estimated using ELISA. Results The RQ values of EGFL7 in the PE group were significantly higher than in the NC group (P < 0.001). Pregnancies affected with PE showed higher serum EGFL7 protein compared with matched controls (P < 0.001). EGFL7 serum level cutoff value ≥ 38.25 µg/ml could be used in the diagnosis of PE with sensitivity = 92%, and specificity = 88%. Conclusion EGFL7 mRNA is overexpressed in maternal blood of pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia. Serum EGFL7 protein is elevated in PE cases and can be used as a diagnostic marker for preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noha M. Salah
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, El Gomhouria St, Mansoura, 35516 Dakahlia Governorate Egypt
| | - Nora M. Hussein
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, El Gomhouria St, Mansoura, 35516 Dakahlia Governorate Egypt
| | - Souad M. Aboazma
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, El Gomhouria St, Mansoura, 35516 Dakahlia Governorate Egypt
| | - Hend A. Shalaby
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Amal K. Seleem
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, El Gomhouria St, Mansoura, 35516 Dakahlia Governorate Egypt
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Li P, He L, Lan Y, Fang J, Fan Z, Li Y. Intrauterine Growth Restriction Induces Adulthood Chronic Metabolic Disorder in Cardiac and Skeletal Muscles. Front Nutr 2022; 9:929943. [PMID: 35938117 PMCID: PMC9354130 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.929943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Although population-based studies of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) demonstrated a series of postnatal complications, several studies identified that IUGR could definitely cause dysfunction of metabolism of cardiac and skeletal muscles in the perinatal period and early life. However, it is still unknown if such metabolic alternation would remain for long term or not, and whether normal protein diet administration postnatally would protect the IUGR offsprings from a “catch-up growth” and be able to reverse the premature metabolic remodeling. Materials and Methods We established an IUGR rat model with pregnant rats and a low-protein diet, and the developmental phenotypes had been carefully recorded. The cardiac and skeletal muscles had been collected to undergo RNA-seq. Results According to a series of comparisons of transcriptomes among various developmental processes, programmed metabolic dysfunction and chronic inflammation activity had been identified by transcriptome sequencing in IUGR offsprings, even such rats presented a normal developmental curve or body weight after normal postnatal diet feeding. Conclusion The data revealed that IUGR had a significant adverse impact on long-term cardiovascular function in rats, even they exhibit good nutritional status. So that, the fetal stage adverse events would encode the lifelong disease risk, which could hide in young age. This study remaindered that the research on long-term molecular changes is important, and only nutrition improvement would not totally reverse the damage of IUGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Li
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE, State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lewei He
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yue Lan
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Fang
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE, State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Jie Fang,
| | - Zhenxin Fan
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Zhenxin Fan,
| | - Yifei Li
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE, State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Ortega MA, Fraile-Martínez O, García-Montero C, Sáez MA, Álvarez-Mon MA, Torres-Carranza D, Álvarez-Mon M, Bujan J, García-Honduvilla N, Bravo C, Guijarro LG, De León-Luis JA. The Pivotal Role of the Placenta in Normal and Pathological Pregnancies: A Focus on Preeclampsia, Fetal Growth Restriction, and Maternal Chronic Venous Disease. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030568. [PMID: 35159377 PMCID: PMC8833914 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The placenta is a central structure in pregnancy and has pleiotropic functions. This organ grows incredibly rapidly during this period, acting as a mastermind behind different fetal and maternal processes. The relevance of the placenta extends far beyond the pregnancy, being crucial for fetal programming before birth. Having integrative knowledge of this maternofetal structure helps significantly in understanding the development of pregnancy either in a proper or pathophysiological context. Thus, the aim of this review is to summarize the main features of the placenta, with a special focus on its early development, cytoarchitecture, immunology, and functions in non-pathological conditions. In contraposition, the role of the placenta is examined in preeclampsia, a worrisome hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, in order to describe the pathophysiological implications of the placenta in this disease. Likewise, dysfunction of the placenta in fetal growth restriction, a major consequence of preeclampsia, is also discussed, emphasizing the potential clinical strategies derived. Finally, the emerging role of the placenta in maternal chronic venous disease either as a causative agent or as a consequence of the disease is equally treated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A. Ortega
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (M.A.S.); (M.A.Á.-M.); (D.T.-C.); (M.Á.-M.); (J.B.); (N.G.-H.)
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Healthcare Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain;
- Cancer Registry and Pathology Department, Hospital Universitario Principe de Asturias, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-91-885-4540; Fax: +34-91-885-4885
| | - Oscar Fraile-Martínez
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (M.A.S.); (M.A.Á.-M.); (D.T.-C.); (M.Á.-M.); (J.B.); (N.G.-H.)
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Healthcare Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Cielo García-Montero
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (M.A.S.); (M.A.Á.-M.); (D.T.-C.); (M.Á.-M.); (J.B.); (N.G.-H.)
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Healthcare Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Miguel A. Sáez
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (M.A.S.); (M.A.Á.-M.); (D.T.-C.); (M.Á.-M.); (J.B.); (N.G.-H.)
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Healthcare Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain;
- Pathological Anatomy Service, Central University Hospital of Defence-UAH, 28047 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Angel Álvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (M.A.S.); (M.A.Á.-M.); (D.T.-C.); (M.Á.-M.); (J.B.); (N.G.-H.)
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Healthcare Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Diego Torres-Carranza
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (M.A.S.); (M.A.Á.-M.); (D.T.-C.); (M.Á.-M.); (J.B.); (N.G.-H.)
| | - Melchor Álvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (M.A.S.); (M.A.Á.-M.); (D.T.-C.); (M.Á.-M.); (J.B.); (N.G.-H.)
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Healthcare Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain;
- Immune System Diseases-Rheumatology and Oncology Service, University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, CIBEREHD, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julia Bujan
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (M.A.S.); (M.A.Á.-M.); (D.T.-C.); (M.Á.-M.); (J.B.); (N.G.-H.)
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Healthcare Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Natalio García-Honduvilla
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (M.A.S.); (M.A.Á.-M.); (D.T.-C.); (M.Á.-M.); (J.B.); (N.G.-H.)
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Healthcare Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Coral Bravo
- Department of Public and Maternal and Child Health, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (C.B.); (J.A.D.L.-L.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Gregorio Marañón, 28009 Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute Gregorio Marañón, 28009 Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis G. Guijarro
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Healthcare Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain;
- Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (CIBEREHD), Department of System Biology, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan A. De León-Luis
- Department of Public and Maternal and Child Health, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (C.B.); (J.A.D.L.-L.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Gregorio Marañón, 28009 Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute Gregorio Marañón, 28009 Madrid, Spain
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Placental Dysfunction in Assisted Reproductive Pregnancies: Perinatal, Neonatal and Adult Life Outcomes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23020659. [PMID: 35054845 PMCID: PMC8775397 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Obstetric and newborn outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) pregnancies are associated with significative prevalence of maternal and neonatal adverse health conditions, such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. These data are interpreted as anomalies in placentation involving a dysregulation of several molecular factors and pathways. It is not clear which extent of the observed placental alterations are the result of ART and which originate from infertility itself. These two aspects probably act synergically for the final obstetric risk. Data show that mechanisms of inappropriate trophoblast invasion and consequent altered vascular remodeling sustain several clinical conditions, leading to obstetric and perinatal risks often found in ART pregnancies, such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction and placenta previa or accreta. The roles of factors such as VEGF, GATA3, PIGF, sFLT-1, sEndoglin, EGFL7, melatonin and of ART conditions, such as short or long embryo cultures, trophectoderm biopsy, embryo cryopreservation, and supraphysiologic endometrium preparation, are discussed. Inflammatory local conditions and epigenetic influence on embryos of ART procedures are important research topics since they may have important consequences on obstetric risk. Prevention and treatment of these conditions represent new frontiers for clinicians and biologists involved in ART, and synergic actions with researchers at molecular levels are advocated.
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