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Chaudhary N, Newby AN, Whitehead KA. Non-Viral RNA Delivery During Pregnancy: Opportunities and Challenges. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023:e2306134. [PMID: 38145340 PMCID: PMC11196389 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202306134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
During pregnancy, the risk of maternal and fetal adversities increases due to physiological changes, genetic predispositions, environmental factors, and infections. Unfortunately, treatment options are severely limited because many essential interventions are unsafe, inaccessible, or lacking in sufficient scientific data to support their use. One potential solution to this challenge may lie in emerging RNA therapeutics for gene therapy, protein replacement, maternal vaccination, fetal gene editing, and other prenatal treatment applications. In this review, the current landscape of RNA platforms and non-viral RNA delivery technologies that are under active development for administration during pregnancy is explored. Advancements of pregnancy-specific RNA drugs against SARS-CoV-2, Zika, influenza, preeclampsia, and for in-utero gene editing are discussed. Finally, this study highlights bottlenecks that are impeding translation efforts of RNA therapies, including the lack of accurate cell-based and animal models of human pregnancy and concerns related to toxicity and immunogenicity during pregnancy. Overcoming these challenges will facilitate the rapid development of this new class of pregnancy-safe drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namit Chaudhary
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | - Alexandra N. Newby
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | - Kathryn A. Whitehead
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
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Pan M, Zhou J, Wang J, Cao W, Li L, Wang L. The role of placental aging in adverse pregnancy outcomes: A mitochondrial perspective. Life Sci 2023; 329:121924. [PMID: 37429418 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121924] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Premature placental aging is associated with placental insufficiency, which reduces the functional capacity of the placenta, leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Placental mitochondria are vital organelles that provide energy and play essential roles in placental development and functional maintenance. In response to oxidative stress, damage, and senescence, an adaptive response is induced to selectively remove mitochondria through the mitochondrial equivalent of autophagy. However, adaptation can be disrupted when mitochondrial abnormalities or dysfunctions persist. This review focuses on the adaptation and transformation of mitochondria during pregnancy. These changes modify placental function throughout pregnancy and can cause complications. We discuss the relationship between placental aging and adverse pregnancy outcomes from the perspective of mitochondria and potential approaches to improve abnormal pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meijun Pan
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China; The Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China; The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-related Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China; The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-related Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China; The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-related Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenli Cao
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Zhoushan Women and Children Hospital, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lisha Li
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China; The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-related Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China; The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-related Diseases, Shanghai, China.
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Liu W, Zhang T, Wang J, Zhao G, Hou Y. Protective Effect of Akkermansia muciniphila on the Preeclampsia-Like Mouse Model. Reprod Sci 2023; 30:2623-2633. [PMID: 36920671 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01206-y] [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] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is known as a metabolism-related complication of pregnancy related to gut dysbiosis including the decreased abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila). However, the modulatory role of A. muciniphila as a supplement for PE remains ambiguous. This study investigated the effect of A. muciniphila administration on PE-like mice and its underlying mechanisms. A total of twenty-four C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into three groups. PE-like symptoms were induced by continuous injection of L-NAME intraperitoneally from gestational day (GD) 11 to GD18 combined with oral administration of pasteurized A. muciniphila during GD14-18 or not. Mice were sacrificed at GD19 to collect for further evaluation. Decreased A. muciniphila was observed in a successfully established PE-like model than normotensive pregnant control (NP), inversely correlated to increased systolic blood pressure blood and 24-h proteinuria. After supplementing with A. muciniphila, mice showed significantly minimized blood pressure and protein expression in urine, increased number of pups and weight of both embryos and placentas. In addition, colonies of bacteria, inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6), and metabolic products of lipids including TC, FC, and TG were alleviated by A. muciniphila in the placentas. Among proteins linked with bowel barrier functions, diminished 2-AG and growing ZO-1 and occludin were attributable to A. muciniphila. Also, enhanced Treg/Th17 ratios were found in the intestines of mice treated with A. muciniphila. A. muciniphila facilitated alleviating PE-like symptoms and was beneficial as a novel probiotic therapeutic agent for PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157, Xiwu Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, 710004, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157, Xiwu Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, 710004, Shaanxi, China
| | - Juanni Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157, Xiwu Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, 710004, Shaanxi, China
| | - Gang Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157, Xiwu Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, 710004, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuemin Hou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157, Xiwu Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, 710004, Shaanxi, China
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Abstract
Pregnancy complications affect millions of women each year. Some of these diseases have high morbidity and mortality such as preeclampsia. At present, there is no safe and effective treatment for pregnancy complications, so it is still a difficult clinical problem. As many pregnancy complications are closely related to placental dysplasia, placenta-specific therapy, as an important method, is expected to be a safe, effective, and specific therapeutic strategy. This review explains in detail the placenta physiological structure, characteristics, and action mechanism of some biomolecules and signaling pathways that play roles in normal development and disorders of the development of the placenta, and how to use these biomolecules as therapeutic targets when the placenta disorder causes disease, combining the latest progress in the field of nanodelivery systems, so as to lay a foundation for the development of placenta-specific therapy of pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100, Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Xingli Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100, Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Songwei Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100, Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.,Department of Pharmacy, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Yu Song
- School of Pharmacy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Yongran Guo
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100, Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Jing Cao
- Department of Pathology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhenzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
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