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Deepak V, El-Balawi L, Harris LK. Placental Drug Delivery to Treat Pre-Eclampsia and Fetal Growth Restriction. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2311165. [PMID: 38745536 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202311165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction (FGR) continue to cause unacceptably high levels of morbidity and mortality, despite significant pharmaceutical and technological advances in other disease areas. The recent pandemic has also impacted obstetric care, as COVID-19 infection increases the risk of poor pregnancy outcomes. This review explores the reasons why it lacks effective drug treatments for the placental dysfunction that underlies many common obstetric conditions and describes how nanomedicines and targeted drug delivery approaches may provide the solution to the current drug drought. The ever-increasing range of biocompatible nanoparticle formulations available is now making it possible to selectively deliver drugs to uterine and placental tissues and dramatically limit fetal drug transfer. Formulations that are refractory to placental uptake offer the possibility of retaining drugs within the maternal circulation, allowing pregnant individuals to take medicines previously considered too harmful to the developing baby. Liposomes, ionizable lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, and adenoviral vectors have all been used to create efficacious drug delivery systems for use in pregnancy, although each approach offers distinct advantages and limitations. It is imperative that recent advances continue to be built upon and that there is an overdue investment of intellectual and financial capital in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkataraman Deepak
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
- St Mary's Hospital, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Lujain El-Balawi
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Lynda K Harris
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
- St Mary's Hospital, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- Olson Center for Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
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Drakopoulou E, Anagnou NP, Pappa KI. Gene Therapy for Malignant and Benign Gynaecological Disorders: A Systematic Review of an Emerging Success Story. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14133238. [PMID: 35805007 PMCID: PMC9265289 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14133238] [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: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This review discusses all the major advances in gene therapy of gynaecological disorders, highlighting the novel and potentially therapeutic perspectives associated with such an approach. It specifically focuses on the gene therapy strategies against major gynaecological malignant disorders, such as ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancer, as well as benign disorders, such as uterine leiomyomas, endometriosis, placental, and embryo implantation disorders. The above therapeutic strategies, which employ both viral and non-viral systems for mutation compensation, suicide gene therapy, oncolytic virotherapy, antiangiogenesis and immunopotentiation approaches, have yielded promising results over the last decade, setting the grounds for successful clinical trials. Abstract Despite the major advances in screening and therapeutic approaches, gynaecological malignancies still present as a leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. Cervical cancer, although largely preventable through vaccination and regular screening, remains the fourth most common and most lethal cancer type in women, while the available treatment schemes still pose a fertility threat. Ovarian cancer is associated with high morbidity rates, primarily due to lack of symptoms and high relapse rates following treatment, whereas endometrial cancer, although usually curable by surgery, it still represents a therapeutic problem. On the other hand, benign abnormalities, such as fibroids, endometriosis, placental, and embryo implantation disorders, although not life-threatening, significantly affect women’s life and fertility and have high socio-economic impacts. In the last decade, targeted gene therapy approaches toward both malignant and benign gynaecological abnormalities have led to promising results, setting the ground for successful clinical trials. The above therapeutic strategies employ both viral and non-viral systems for mutation compensation, suicide gene therapy, oncolytic virotherapy, antiangiogenesis and immunopotentiation. This review discusses all the major advances in gene therapy of gynaecological disorders and highlights the novel and potentially therapeutic perspectives associated with such an approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekati Drakopoulou
- Laboratory of Cell and Gene Therapy, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), 11527 Athens, Greece; (E.D.); (K.I.P.)
| | - Nicholas P. Anagnou
- Laboratory of Cell and Gene Therapy, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), 11527 Athens, Greece; (E.D.); (K.I.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Kalliopi I. Pappa
- Laboratory of Cell and Gene Therapy, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), 11527 Athens, Greece; (E.D.); (K.I.P.)
- First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens School of Medicine, 11528 Athens, Greece
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Wattez JS, Qiao L, Lee S, Natale DRC, Shao J. The platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha promoter-directed expression of cre recombinase in mouse placenta. Dev Dyn 2019; 248:363-374. [PMID: 30843624 PMCID: PMC6488356 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Numerous pathologies of pregnancy originate from placental dysfunction. It is essential to understand the functions of key genes in the placenta in order to discern the etiology of placental pathologies. A paucity of animal models that allow conditional and inducible expression of a target gene in the placenta is a major limitation for studying placental development and function. Results To study the platelet‐derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα)‐directed and tamoxifen‐induced Cre recombinase expression in the placenta, PDGFRα‐CreER mice were crossed with mT/mG dual‐fluorescent reporter mice. The expression of endogenous membrane‐localized enhanced green fluorescent protein (mEGFP) and/or dTomato in the placenta was examined to identify PDGFRα promoter‐directed Cre expression. Pregnant PDGFRα‐CreER;mT/mG mice were treated with tamoxifen at various gestational ages. Upon tamoxifen treatment, reporter protein mEGFP was observed in the junctional zone (JZ) and chorionic plate (CP). Furthermore, a single dose of tamoxifen was sufficient to induce the recombination. Conclusions PDGFRα‐CreER expression is restricted to the JZ and CP of mouse placentas. PDGFRα‐CreER mice provide a useful tool to conditionally knock out or overexpress a target gene in these regions of the mouse placenta. Inducible PDGFRα‐directed Cre expression trophoblasts cells. A single tamoxifen treatment is sufficient to induce the recombination. Valuable tool to temporary knockout or over‐express a target gene in the placenta. Do not require sophisticated system and suitable for ordinary laboratory setting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Liping Qiao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Samuel Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | | | - Jianhua Shao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
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Krishnan T, David AL. Placenta-directed gene therapy for fetal growth restriction. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med 2017; 22:415-422. [PMID: 28522033 DOI: 10.1016/j.siny.2017.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a serious pregnancy complication affecting ∼8% of all pregnancies. There is no treatment to increase fetal growth in the uterus. Gene therapy presents a promising treatment strategy for FGR, with the use of adenoviral vectors encoding for proteins such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor demonstrating improvements in fetal growth, placental function, and neonatal outcome in preclinical studies. Safety assessments suggest no adverse risk to the mother or fetus for VEGF maternal gene therapy; a clinical trial is in development. This review assesses research into placenta-directed gene therapy for FGR, investigating the use of transgenes and vectors, their route of administration in obstetrics, and the steps that will be needed to take this treatment modality into the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara Krishnan
- UCL Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Anna L David
- Head of Research Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine at the Institute for Women's Health, University College London, United Kingdom
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Mehta V, Ofir K, Swanson A, Kloczko E, Boyd M, Barker H, Avdic-Belltheus A, Martin J, Zachary I, Peebles D, David AL. Gene Targeting to the Uteroplacental Circulation of Pregnant Guinea Pigs. Reprod Sci 2016; 23:1087-95. [PMID: 26865541 DOI: 10.1177/1933719116630411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Our study aimed to target adenoviral gene therapy to the uteroplacental circulation of pregnant guinea pigs in order to develop a novel therapy for fetal growth restriction. Four methods of delivery of an adenovirus encoding β-galactosidase (Ad.LacZ) were evaluated: intravascular injection using phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) into (1) uterine artery (UtA) or (2) internal iliac artery or external administration in (3) PBS or (4) pluronic F-127 gel (Sigma Aldrich). Postmortem examination was performed 4 to 7 days after gene transfer. Tissue transduction was assessed by X-gal histochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. External vascular application of the adenovirus vector in combination with pluronic gel had 91.7% success rate in terms of administration (85% maternal survival) and gave the best results for maternal/fetal survival and local transduction efficiency without any spread to maternal or fetal tissues. This study suggests an optimal method of gene delivery to the UtAs of a small rodent for preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vedanta Mehta
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Keren Ofir
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Swanson
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ewa Kloczko
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Boyd
- BSU, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah Barker
- BSU, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - John Martin
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Zachary
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Donald Peebles
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna L David
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Szalai G, Romero R, Chaiworapongsa T, Xu Y, Wang B, Ahn H, Xu Z, Chiang PJ, Sundell B, Wang R, Jiang Y, Plazyo O, Olive M, Tarca AL, Dong Z, Qureshi F, Papp Z, Hassan SS, Hernandez-Andrade E, Than NG. Full-length human placental sFlt-1-e15a isoform induces distinct maternal phenotypes of preeclampsia in mice. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0119547. [PMID: 25860260 PMCID: PMC4393117 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Most anti-angiogenic preeclampsia models in rodents utilized the overexpression of a truncated soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) not expressed in any species. Other limitations of mouse preeclampsia models included stressful blood pressure measurements and the lack of postpartum monitoring. We aimed to 1) develop a mouse model of preeclampsia by administering the most abundant human placental sFlt-1 isoform (hsFlt-1-e15a) in preeclampsia; 2) determine blood pressures in non-stressed conditions; and 3) develop a survival surgery that enables the collection of fetuses and placentas and postpartum (PP) monitoring. METHODS Pregnancy status of CD-1 mice was evaluated with high-frequency ultrasound on gestational days (GD) 6 and 7. Telemetry catheters were implanted in the carotid artery on GD7, and their positions were verified by ultrasound on GD13. Mice were injected through tail-vein with adenoviruses expressing hsFlt-1-e15a (n = 11) or green fluorescent protein (GFP; n = 9) on GD8/GD11. Placentas and pups were delivered by cesarean section on GD18 allowing PP monitoring. Urine samples were collected with cystocentesis on GD6/GD7, GD13, GD18, and PPD8, and albumin/creatinine ratios were determined. GFP and hsFlt-1-e15a expression profiles were determined by qRT-PCR. Aortic ring assays were performed to assess the effect of hsFlt-1-e15a on endothelia. RESULTS Ultrasound predicted pregnancy on GD7 in 97% of cases. Cesarean section survival rate was 100%. Mean arterial blood pressure was higher in hsFlt-1-e15a-treated than in GFP-treated mice (∆MAP = 13.2 mmHg, p = 0.00107; GD18). Focal glomerular changes were found in hsFlt-1-e15a -treated mice, which had higher urine albumin/creatinine ratios than controls (109.3 ± 51.7 μg/mg vs. 19.3 ± 5.6 μg/mg, p = 4.4 x 10(-2); GD18). Aortic ring assays showed a 46% lesser microvessel outgrowth in hsFlt-1-e15a-treated than in GFP-treated mice (p = 1.2 x 10(-2)). Placental and fetal weights did not differ between the groups. One mouse with liver disease developed early-onset preeclampsia-like symptoms with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). CONCLUSIONS A mouse model of late-onset preeclampsia was developed with the overexpression of hsFlt-1-e15a, verifying the in vivo pathologic effects of this primate-specific, predominant placental sFlt-1 isoform. HsFlt-1-e15a induced early-onset preeclampsia-like symptoms associated with IUGR in a mouse with a liver disease. Our findings support that hsFlt-1-e15a is central to the terminal pathway of preeclampsia, and it can induce the full spectrum of symptoms in this obstetrical syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabor Szalai
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Yi Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Bing Wang
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Hyunyoung Ahn
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Zhonghui Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Po Jen Chiang
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Birgitta Sundell
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Rona Wang
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Yang Jiang
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Olesya Plazyo
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Mary Olive
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Adi L. Tarca
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Zhong Dong
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Faisal Qureshi
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Zoltan Papp
- Maternity Private Department, Kutvolgyi Clinical Block, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sonia S. Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Edgar Hernandez-Andrade
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Nandor Gabor Than
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Maternity Private Department, Kutvolgyi Clinical Block, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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Szalai G, Xu Y, Romero R, Chaiworapongsa T, Xu Z, Chiang PJ, Ahn H, Sundell B, Plazyo O, Jiang Y, Olive M, Wang B, Jacques SM, Qureshi F, Tarca AL, Erez O, Dong Z, Papp Z, Hassan SS, Hernandez-Andrade E, Than NG. In vivo experiments reveal the good, the bad and the ugly faces of sFlt-1 in pregnancy. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110867. [PMID: 25393290 PMCID: PMC4230935 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt)-1-e15a, a primate-specific sFlt-1-isoform most abundant in the human placenta in preeclampsia, can induce preeclampsia in mice. This study compared the effects of full-length human (h)sFlt-1-e15a with those of truncated mouse (m)sFlt-1(1-3) used in previous preeclampsia studies on pregnancy outcome and clinical symptoms in preeclampsia. Methods Mice were injected with adenoviruses or fiber-mutant adenoviruses overexpressing hsFlt-1-e15a, msFlt-1(1-3) or control GFP under the CMV or CYP19A1 promoters on gestational day 8 (GD8) and GD11. Placentas and pups were delivered by cesarean section, and dams were monitored postpartum. Blood pressure was telemetrically recorded. Urine samples were collected with cystocentesis and examined for albumin/creatinine ratios. Tissue specimens were evaluated for transgene as well as endogenous mFlt-1 and msFlt-1-i13 expression. H&E-, Jones- and PAS-stained kidney sections were histopathologically examined. Placental GFP expression and aortic ring assays were investigated with confocal microscopy. Results Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was elevated before delivery in hsFlt-1-e15a-treated mice compared to controls (GD18: ΔMAP = 7.8 mmHg, p = 0.009), while ΔMAP was 12.8 mmHg (GD18, p = 0.005) in msFlt-1(1-3)-treated mice. Urine albumin/creatinine ratio was higher in hsFlt-1-e15a-treated mice than in controls (GD18, p = 0.04; PPD8, p = 0.03), and msFlt-1(1-3)-treated mice had marked proteinuria postpartum (PPD8, p = 4×10−5). Focal glomerular changes were detected in hsFlt-1-e15a and msFlt-1(1-3)-treated mice. Aortic ring microvessel outgrowth was decreased in hsFlt-1-e15a (p = 0.007) and msFlt-1(1-3)-treated (p = 0.02) mice. Full-length msFlt-1-i13 expression was unique for the placenta. In hsFlt-1-e15a-treated mice, the number of pups (p = 0.046), total weight of living pups (p = 0.04) and maternal weights (p = 0.04) were higher than in controls. These differences were not observed in truncated msFlt-1(1-3)-treated mice. Conclusions Truncated msFlt-1(1-3) simulated the preeclampsia-promoting effects of full-length hsFlt-1. MsFlt-1(1-3) had strong effect on maternal endothelium but not on placentas and embryos. In contrast, hsFlt-1-e15a induced preeclampsia-like symptoms; however, it also increased litter size. In accord with the predominant placental expression of hsFlt-1-e15a and msFlt-1-i13, full-length sFlt-1 may have a role in the regulation of embryonic development. These observations point to the difference in the biological effects of full-length and truncated sFlt-1 and the changes in the effect of full-length sFlt-1 during pregnancy, and may have important implications in the management of preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabor Szalai
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Yi Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RR); (NGT)
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Zhonghui Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Po Jen Chiang
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Hyunyoung Ahn
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Birgitta Sundell
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Olesya Plazyo
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Yang Jiang
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Mary Olive
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, United States of America
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Bing Wang
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Suzanne M. Jacques
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Faisal Qureshi
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Adi L. Tarca
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, United States of America
- Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States of America
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Offer Erez
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Zhong Dong
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Zoltan Papp
- Maternity Private Department, Kutvolgyi Clinical Block, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sonia S. Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Edgar Hernandez-Andrade
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Nandor Gabor Than
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States of America
- Maternity Private Department, Kutvolgyi Clinical Block, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- * E-mail: (RR); (NGT)
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Placental trophoblast cell differentiation: Physiological regulation and pathological relevance to preeclampsia. Mol Aspects Med 2013; 34:981-1023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2012.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 238] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2012] [Revised: 12/01/2012] [Accepted: 12/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Abstract
This introductory chapter provides a short review of the ideas and practical approaches that have led to the present and perceived future development of prenatal gene therapy. It summarizes the advantages and the potential adverse effects of this novel preventive and therapeutic approach to the management of prenatal diseases. It also provides guidance to the range of conditions to which prenatal gene therapy may be applied and to the technical approaches, vectors, and societal/ethical considerations for this newly emerging field of Fetal Medicine.
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10
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Targeted expression of Cre recombinase provokes placental-specific DNA recombination in transgenic mice. PLoS One 2012; 7:e29236. [PMID: 22363401 PMCID: PMC3281813 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2010] [Accepted: 11/22/2011] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Inadequate placental development is associated with a high incidence of early embryonic lethality and serious pregnancy disorders in both humans and mice. However, the lack of well-defined trophoblast-specific gene regulatory elements has hampered investigations regarding the role of specific genes in placental development and fetal growth. Principal Findings By random assembly of placental enhancers from two previously characterized genes, trophoblast specific protein α (Tpbpa) and adenosine deaminase (Ada), we identified a chimeric Tpbpa/Ada enhancer that when combined with the basal Ada promoter provided the highest luciferase activity in cultured human trophoblast cells, in comparison with non-trophoblast cell lines. We used this chimeric enhancer arrangement to drive the expression of a Cre recombinase transgene in the placentas of transgenic mice. Cre transgene expression occurred throughout the placenta but not in maternal organs examined or in the fetus. Significance In conclusion, we have provided both in vitro and in vivo evidence for a novel genetic system to achieve placental transgene expression by the use of a chimeric Tpbpa/Ada enhancer driven transgene. The availability of this expression vector provides transgenic opportunities to direct the production of desired proteins to the placenta.
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11
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Katayama K, Furuki R, Yokoyama H, Kaneko M, Tachibana M, Yoshida I, Nagase H, Tanaka K, Sakurai F, Mizuguchi H, Nakagawa S, Nakanishi T. Enhanced in vivo gene transfer into the placenta using RGD fiber-mutant adenovirus vector. Biomaterials 2011; 32:4185-93. [PMID: 21411139 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.02.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2011] [Accepted: 02/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Among viral vectors, the fiber-mutant adenovirus vector carrying the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide sequence (Ad-RGD) seems to have potential for both clinical gene therapy and basic research. As a part of a thorough evaluation of Ad-RGD in preclinical studies, we designed an experiment to investigate in detail the distribution of Ad-RGD compared with conventional adenovirus vector (WT-Ad) in pregnant mice. Surprisingly, Ad-RGD had substantial placental tropism, at 10-100 times that of WT-Ad. Transgene expression was sustained for at least 7 days, and Ad-RGD expressing firefly luciferase or red fluorescent protein has so far caused no placental dysfunction leading to fetal death. Ad-RGD showed high levels of transduction efficiency in in vitro-differentiated trophoblast stem cells, in which higher expression of αvβ3 integrin than in undifferentiated cells was observed. Our results suggest that the use of Ad-RGD or another RGD-mediated targeting strategy holds promise for drug delivery to the placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazufumi Katayama
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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12
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Renaud SJ, Karim Rumi MA, Soares MJ. Review: Genetic manipulation of the rodent placenta. Placenta 2011; 32 Suppl 2:S130-5. [PMID: 21256588 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2010.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2010] [Revised: 12/10/2010] [Accepted: 12/13/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The principal role of the placenta is the maintenance of pregnancy and promotion of fetal growth and viability. The use of transgenic rodents has greatly enhanced our understanding of placental development and function. However, embryonic lethality is often a confounding variable in determining whether a genetic modification adversely affected placental development. In these cases, it is beneficial to specifically manipulate the placental genome. The purpose of this review is to summarize available methodologies for specific genetic modification of the rodent placenta. By restricting genetic alterations to the trophoblast lineage, it is possible to gain a deeper understanding of placental development that perhaps will lead to gene-targeted therapies to rescue irregular placentation in transgenic animals or in women at high-risk for placenta-associated pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Renaud
- Institute for Reproductive Health and Regenerative Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
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13
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Tal R, Shaish A, Barshack I, Polak-Charcon S, Afek A, Volkov A, Feldman B, Avivi C, Harats D. Effects of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha overexpression in pregnant mice: possible implications for preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2010; 177:2950-62. [PMID: 20952590 PMCID: PMC2993274 DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.090800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/29/2010] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are pregnancy-specific disorders that share a common pathophysiology. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a transcription factor that plays an important role in placental development. HIF-1α is elevated in preeclamptic placentas and induces soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sFLT-1), a central factor in preeclampsia and IUGR pathogenesis. Our objective was to investigate the effects of HIF-1α overexpression on pregnancy in mice. C57BL/6J pregnant mice were systemically administered either adenovirus expressing stabilized HIF-1α (cytomegalovirus [CMV]-HIF), luciferase control (CMV-Luc), or saline on gestational day 8. Pregnant mice overexpressing HIF-1α had significantly elevated blood pressure and proteinuria compared with pregnant controls. HIF-1α mice showed fetal IUGR, decreased placental weights, and histopathological placental abnormalities compared with control mice. Glomerular endotheliosis, the hallmark lesion of preeclampsia, was demonstrated in the kidneys of these mice relative to the normal histology in control mice. Moreover, liver enzyme levels were significantly elevated, whereas complete blood counts revealed significant anemia and thrombocytopenia in CMV-HIF mice compared with controls. Blood smears confirmed microangiopathic hemolytic anemia in CMV-HIF mice, consistent with HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets)-like syndrome. CMV-HIF mice showed elevation in serum sFLT-1 and soluble endoglin, providing a mechanistic explanation for the observations. Collectively, our results suggest a possible role for HIF-1α in the pathogenesis of both preeclampsia and IUGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reshef Tal
- Vascular Biogenics Ltd., 6 Jonathan Netanyahu St., Or-Yehuda 60376, Israel
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14
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Okada Y. [Development and evaluation of a novel placenta-specific gene manipulation method using lentiviral vectors]. YAKUGAKU ZASSHI 2008; 128:1007-11. [PMID: 18591868 DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.128.1007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The placenta plays numerous important roles to support fetal development such as gas exchange, nutrient supply, and hormone production. Placental defects underlie many aspects of pregnancy losses and complications; thus understanding and regulating gene function during placentation is of high clinical relevance. However, the lack of a facile and efficient method for placenta-specific gene manipulation has hampered study of the placenta. We have previously shown that transduction of fertilized mouse eggs with lentiviral (LV) vectors efficiently generates transgenic animals; however, transgene expression occurred in both the fetus and the placenta. In the present study, we transduced zona-free blastocysts with LV vectors expecting placenta-specific gene expression, since most placental cells differentiate from trophoblast cells that form the outermost layer of the blastocyst. Transgene expression was observed in trophoblast cells from preimplantation stages and in the placenta throughout gestation. All the analyzed placentas carried the transgene, while none of the fetuses became transgenic. By applying this method, embryonic lethality caused by placental defects in several knockout animal models was substantially rescued. This technology provides a powerful system for gene manipulation exclusively in placental organogenesis with implications for the treatment of placental dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Okada
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita City, Japan.
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15
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Crocker I. Gabor Than Award Lecture 2006: pre-eclampsia and villous trophoblast turnover: perspectives and possibilities. Placenta 2007; 28 Suppl A:S4-13. [PMID: 17379302 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2007.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2006] [Revised: 01/23/2007] [Accepted: 01/26/2007] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Placental apoptosis is exaggerated in pre-eclampsia and cytotrophoblast proliferation is enhanced. This imbalance may be a primary pathogenic event, whereby excessive syncytiotrophoblast apoptosis counters cytotrophoblast fusion, promoting the liberation of syncytial material which perturbs the maternal vascular endothelium. We have previously shown that primary trophoblasts and explant cultured villous fragments from pre-eclamptic pregnancies elicit greater levels of terminal differentiation and apoptosis. This review considers current opinions in trophoblast cell turnover in normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia. In the context of other findings, this review highlights: (i) the disparity in expression of pro-apoptotic transcription factor p53 in the syncytiotrophoblast in pre-eclampsia, (ii) the importance of reactive oxygen species and hypoxia in initiating villous trophoblast apoptosis and (iii) the concept that aberrant intervillous haemodynamics, as opposed to oxygen per se, initiates excessive syncytiotrophoblast shedding. Finally, therapeutic ways of restoring the syncytiotrophoblast in pre-eclampsia and preventing excessive placental apoptosis are considered, including a role for mitotic manipulators and growth factor replacement strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Crocker
- Division of Human Development, The Medical School, University of Manchester, UK.
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16
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Okada Y, Ueshin Y, Isotani A, Saito-Fujita T, Nakashima H, Kimura K, Mizoguchi A, Oh-Hora M, Mori Y, Ogata M, Oshima RG, Okabe M, Ikawa M. Complementation of placental defects and embryonic lethality by trophoblast-specific lentiviral gene transfer. Nat Biotechnol 2007; 25:233-7. [PMID: 17220877 DOI: 10.1038/nbt1280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2006] [Accepted: 12/08/2006] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Placental dysfunction underlies many complications during pregnancy, and better understanding of gene function during placentation could have considerable clinical relevance. However, the lack of a facile method for placenta-specific gene manipulation has hampered investigation of placental organogenesis and the treatment of placental dysfunction. We showed previously that transduction of fertilized mouse eggs with lentiviral vectors leads to transgene expression in both the fetus and the placenta. Here we report placenta-specific gene incorporation by lentiviral transduction of mouse blastocysts after removal of the zona pellucida. All of the placentas analyzed, but none of the fetuses, were transgenic. Application of this method substantially rescued mice deficient in Ets2, Mapk14 (also known as p38alpha) and Mapk1 (also known as Erk2) from embryonic lethality caused by placental defects. Ectopic expression of Mapk11 also complemented Mapk14 deficiency during placentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Okada
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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Slevin JC, Byers L, Gertsenstein M, Qu D, Mu J, Sunn N, Kingdom JCP, Rossant J, Adamson SL. High resolution ultrasound-guided microinjection for interventional studies of early embryonic and placental development in vivo in mice. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2006; 6:10. [PMID: 16504164 PMCID: PMC1436015 DOI: 10.1186/1471-213x-6-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2005] [Accepted: 02/27/2006] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Background In utero microinjection has proven valuable for exploring the developmental consequences of altering gene expression, and for studying cell lineage or migration during the latter half of embryonic mouse development (from embryonic day 9.5 of gestation (E9.5)). In the current study, we use ultrasound guidance to accurately target microinjections in the conceptus at E6.5–E7.5, which is prior to cardiovascular or placental dependence. This method may be useful for determining the developmental effects of targeted genetic or cellular interventions at critical stages of placentation, gastrulation, axis formation, and neural tube closure. Results In 40 MHz ultrasound images at E6.5, the ectoplacental cone region and proamniotic cavity could be visualized. The ectoplacental cone region was successfully targeted with 13.8 nL of a fluorescent bead suspension with few or no beads off-target in 51% of concepti microinjected at E6.5 (28/55 injected). Seventy eight percent of the embryos survived 2 to 12 days post injection (93/119), 73% (41/56) survived to term of which 68% (38/56) survived and appeared normal one week after birth. At E7.5, the amniotic and exocoelomic cavities, and ectoplacental cone region were discernable. Our success at targeting with few or no beads off-target was 90% (36/40) for the ectoplacental cone region and 81% (35/43) for the exocoelomic cavity but tended to be less, 68% (34/50), for the smaller amniotic cavity. At E11.5, beads microinjected at E7.5 into the ectoplacental cone region were found in the placental spongiotrophoblast layer, those injected into the exocoelomic cavity were found on the surface or within the placental labyrinth, and those injected into the amniotic cavity were found on the surface or within the embryo. Following microinjection at E7.5, survival one week after birth was 60% (26/43) when the amniotic cavity was the target and 66% (19/29) when the target was the ectoplacental cone region. The survival rate was similar in sham experiments, 54% (33/61), for which procedures were identical but no microinjection was performed, suggesting that surgery and manipulation of the uterus were the main causes of embryonic death. Conclusion Ultrasound-guided microinjection into the ectoplacental cone region at E6.5 or E7.5 and the amniotic cavity at E7.5 was achieved with a 7 day postnatal survival of ≥60%. Target accuracy of these sites and of the exocoelomic cavity at E7.5 was ≥51%. We suggest that this approach may be useful for exploring gene function during early placental and embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Slevin
- Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Lois Byers
- Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Marina Gertsenstein
- Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Dawei Qu
- Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Junwu Mu
- Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Nana Sunn
- Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - John CP Kingdom
- Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Janet Rossant
- Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics and Microbiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - S Lee Adamson
- Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Heikkilä A, Myllynen P, Keski-Nisula L, Heinonen S, Vähäkangas K, Ylä-Herttuala S. Gene transfer to human placenta ex vivo: a novel application of dual perfusion of human placental cotyledon. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002; 186:1046-51. [PMID: 12015535 DOI: 10.1067/mob.2002.121724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine whether the transfer of a marker gene in dual recirculating human placental perfusion is feasible and whether the transgene production is detectable by X-Gal histochemistry. STUDY DESIGN Four term human placentas were perfused for 9 to 16 hours in a dual perfusion chamber. At the beginning of each experiment, an adenoviral vector that carried beta-galactosidase gene was added to the maternal perfusate that was entering the intervillous space; at the end, the placental tissues were analyzed for beta-galactosidase activity by X-Gal staining. RESULTS Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer resulted in a 0.5% to 1% gene transfer efficiency in placental trophoblastic cells after 9 hours of perfusion, whereas the gene transfer efficiency was much higher, to 5% after 16 hours of perfusion. When postperfusion tissue explant cultures were analyzed for beta-galactosidase expression 56 hours after the perfusion, the transfection rate was as high as 11%. CONCLUSION Perfused human placenta can be efficiently transfected with adenoviral vectors, and the expression of the transgene can be detected in the trophoblastic cells. This system can be used for the optimization and analysis of gene transfer conditions to human placenta without any risk to the fetus.
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Heikkilä A, Hiltunen MO, Turunen MP, Keski-Nisula L, Turunen AM, Räsänen H, Rissanen TT, Kosma VM, Manninen H, Heinonen S, Ylä-Herttuala S. Angiographically guided utero-placental gene transfer in rabbits with adenoviruses, plasmid/liposomes and plasmid/polyethyleneimine complexes. Gene Ther 2001; 8:784-8. [PMID: 11420642 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3301444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2000] [Accepted: 02/14/2001] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
We examined the feasibility of gene transfer to rabbit placenta using adenoviruses, plasmid/liposomes and plasmid/polyethyleneimine (PEI) complexes. Pregnant New Zealand White rabbits (n = 17) were anesthetized and local gene transfer was done via a catheter inserted in uterine arteries under direct angiographic control. Either nuclear targeted LacZ adenoviruses (1.0 x 10(10) p.f.u.), nuclear targeted LacZ plasmid (500 microg)/liposome (DOTMA:DOPE 1:1) complexes or nuclear targeted LacZ plasmid (250 microg)/PEI (25 kDa) complexes (charge ratio +/-4) were used. Animals were killed 3 days later and detection of the transgene expression was done by X-gal staining and RT-PCR. Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer resulted in a high transfection efficiency (34 +/- 10%) in placental trophoplastic cells. Very little, if any, transfection was seen in fetal membranes. Plasmid/liposomes and plasmid/PEI complexes led to a very low (<0.01%) transfection efficiency in trophoblastic cells, but some transfection was seen in fetal membranes. A total of 25 fetuses were analyzed for the presence of transgene at the time of death. In most fetuses expression of the LacZ gene was below the sensitivity of the X-gal staining, but expression was detected by PCR in 50%, 50% and 42% of the analyzed fetuses after adenoviral, plasmid/PEI and plasmid/liposome gene transfer, respectively. No major inflammatory changes were present in the transfected placentas as analyzed by general histology and macrophage- and T cell-specific immunostainings. We conclude that catheter-mediated intravascular gene transfer with adenoviruses can be used for the transfection of placental trophoplastic cells, but plasmid complexes are inefficient for this purpose. However, selective angiographically guided gene transfer also led to leakage of the vector to fetuses. Therefore, if gene therapy is developed for the treatment of placental disorders, the gene-vector combination should not be harmful to the fetus and the expression of the transgene should only occur in placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Heikkilä
- AI Virtanen Institute, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland
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