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Liu CL, Mou HL, Na RS, Wang X, Hu PF, Ceccobelli S, Huang YF, E GX. Multiomic meta-analysis suggests a correlation between steroid hormone-related genes and litter size in goats. Anim Genet 2024. [PMID: 39019844 DOI: 10.1111/age.13464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Litter size is a key indicator of production performance in livestock. However, its genetic basis in goats remains poorly understood. In this work, a genome-wide selection sweep analysis (GWSA) on 100 published goat genomes with different litter rates was performed for the first time to identify candidate genes related to kidding rate. This analysis was combined with the public RNA-sequencing data of ovary tissues (follicular phase) from high- and low-yielding goats. A total of 2278 genes were identified by GWSA. Most of these genes were enriched in signaling pathways related to ovarian follicle development and hormone secretion. Moreover, 208 differentially expressed genes between groups were obtained from the ovaries of goats with different litter sizes. These genes were substantially enriched in the cholesterol and steroid synthesis signaling pathways. Meanwhile, the weighted gene co-expression network was used to perform modular analysis of differentially expressed genes. The results showed that seven modules were reconstructed, of which one module showed a very strong correlation with litter size (r = -0.51 and p-value <0.001). There were 51 genes in this module, and 39 hub genes were screened by Pearson's correlation coefficient between core genes > 0.4, correlation coefficient between module members > 0.80 and intra-module connectivity ≥5. Finally, based on the results of GWSA and hub gene Venn analysis, seven key genes (ACSS2, HECW2, KDR, LHCGR, NAMPT, PTGFR and TFPI) were found to be associated with steroid synthesis and follicle growth development. This work contributes to understanding of the genetic basis of goat litter size and provides theoretical support for goat molecular breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Li Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hui-Long Mou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ri-Su Na
- Animal Sciences, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Peng-Fei Hu
- Institute of Antler Science and Product Technology, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Changchun, China
| | - Simone Ceccobelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Yong-Fu Huang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guang-Xin E
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Hamburg-Shields E, Mesiano S. The hormonal control of parturition. Physiol Rev 2024; 104:1121-1145. [PMID: 38329421 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00019.2023] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Parturition is a complex physiological process that must occur in a reliable manner and at an appropriate gestation stage to ensure a healthy newborn and mother. To this end, hormones that affect the function of the gravid uterus, especially progesterone (P4), 17β-estradiol (E2), oxytocin (OT), and prostaglandins (PGs), play pivotal roles. P4 via the nuclear P4 receptor (PR) promotes uterine quiescence and for most of pregnancy exerts a dominant block to labor. Loss of the P4 block to parturition in association with a gain in prolabor actions of E2 are key transitions in the hormonal cascade leading to parturition. P4 withdrawal can occur through various mechanisms depending on species and physiological context. Parturition in most species involves inflammation within the uterine tissues and especially at the maternal-fetal interface. Local PGs and other inflammatory mediators may initiate parturition by inducing P4 withdrawal. Withdrawal of the P4 block is coordinated with increased E2 actions to enhance uterotonic signals mediated by OT and PGs to promote uterine contractions, cervix softening, and membrane rupture, i.e., labor. This review examines recent advances in research to understand the hormonal control of parturition, with focus on the roles of P4, E2, PGs, OT, inflammatory cytokines, and placental peptide hormones together with evolutionary biology of and implications for clinical management of human parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Hamburg-Shields
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
| | - Sam Mesiano
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
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Galaz J, Romero R, Greenberg JM, Theis KR, Arenas-Hernandez M, Xu Y, Farias-Jofre M, Miller D, Kanninen T, Garcia-Flores V, Gomez-Lopez N. Host-microbiome interactions in distinct subsets of preterm labor and birth. iScience 2023; 26:108341. [PMID: 38047079 PMCID: PMC10692673 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth, the leading cause of perinatal morbidity, often follows premature labor, a syndrome whose prevention remains a challenge. To better understand the relationship between premature labor and host-microbiome interactions, we conducted a mechanistic investigation using three preterm birth models. We report that intra-amniotic delivery of LPS triggers inflammatory responses in the amniotic cavity and cervico-vaginal microenvironment, causing vaginal microbiome changes and signs of active labor. Intra-amniotic IL-1α delivery causes a moderate inflammatory response in the amniotic cavity but increasing inflammation in the cervico-vaginal space, leading to vaginal microbiome disruption and signs of active labor. Conversely, progesterone action blockade by RU-486 triggers local immune responses accompanying signs of active labor without altering the vaginal microbiome. Preterm labor facilitates ascension of cervico-vaginal bacteria into the amniotic cavity, regardless of stimulus. This study provides compelling mechanistic insights into the dynamic host-microbiome interactions within the cervico-vaginal microenvironment that accompany premature labor and birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Galaz
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago 8330024, Chile
| | - Roberto Romero
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Jonathan M. Greenberg
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Kevin R. Theis
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Marcia Arenas-Hernandez
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Yi Xu
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Marcelo Farias-Jofre
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago 8330024, Chile
| | - Derek Miller
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Tomi Kanninen
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Valeria Garcia-Flores
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Bosco M, Romero R, Gallo DM, Suksai M, Gotsch F, Jung E, Chaemsaithong P, Tarca AL, Gomez-Lopez N, Arenas-Hernandez M, Meyyazhagan A, Al Qasem M, Franchi MP, Grossman LI, Aras S, Chaiworapongsa T. Clinical chorioamnionitis at term is characterized by changes in the plasma concentration of CHCHD2/MNRR1, a mitochondrial protein. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2023; 36:2222333. [PMID: 37349086 PMCID: PMC10445405 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2023.2222333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Mitochondrial dysfunction was observed in acute systemic inflammatory conditions such as sepsis and might be involved in sepsis-induced multi-organ failure. Coiled-Coil-Helix-Coiled-Coil-Helix Domain Containing 2 (CHCHD2), also known as Mitochondrial Nuclear Retrograde Regulator 1 (MNRR1), a bi-organellar protein located in the mitochondria and the nucleus, is implicated in cell respiration, survival, and response to tissue hypoxia. Recently, the reduction of the cellular CHCHD2/MNRR1 protein, as part of mitochondrial dysfunction, has been shown to play a role in the amplification of inflammatory cytokines in a murine model of lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine whether the plasma concentration of CHCHD2/MNRR1 changed during human normal pregnancy, spontaneous labor at term, and clinical chorioamnionitis at term. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study that included the following groups: 1) non-pregnant women (n = 17); 2) normal pregnant women at various gestational ages from the first trimester until term (n = 110); 3) women at term with spontaneous labor (n = 50); and 4) women with clinical chorioamnionitis at term in labor (n = 25). Plasma concentrations of CHCHD2/MNRR1 were assessed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS 1) Pregnant women at term in labor with clinical chorioamnionitis had a significantly higher plasma CHCHD2/MNRR1 concentration than those in labor without chorioamnionitis (p = .003); 2) CHCHD2/MNRR1 is present in the plasma of healthy non-pregnant and normal pregnant women without significant differences in its plasma concentrations between the two groups; 3) there was no correlation between maternal plasma CHCHD2/MNRR1 concentration and gestational age at venipuncture; and 4) plasma CHCHD2/MNRR1 concentration was not significantly different in women at term in spontaneous labor compared to those not in labor. CONCLUSIONS CHCHD2/MNRR1 is physiologically present in the plasma of healthy non-pregnant and normal pregnant women, and its concentration does not change with gestational age and parturition at term. However, plasma CHCHD2/MNRR1 is elevated in women at term with clinical chorioamnionitis. CHCHD2/MNRR1, a novel bi-organellar protein located in the mitochondria and the nucleus, is released into maternal plasma during systemic inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariachiara Bosco
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, AOUI Verona, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Roberto Romero
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Dahiana M Gallo
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Manaphat Suksai
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Francesca Gotsch
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Eunjung Jung
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Piya Chaemsaithong
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Adi L Tarca
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Marcia Arenas-Hernandez
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Arun Meyyazhagan
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Centre of Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Malek Al Qasem
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Mutah University, Al-Karak, Jordan
| | - Massimo P Franchi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, AOUI Verona, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Lawrence I Grossman
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Siddhesh Aras
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
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The amniotic fluid proteome changes with term labor and informs biomarker discovery in maternal plasma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3136. [PMID: 36823217 PMCID: PMC9950459 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28157-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The intra-uterine components of labor, namely, myometrial contractility, cervical ripening, and decidua/membrane activation, have been extensively characterized and involve a local pro-inflammatory milieu of cellular and soluble immune mediators. Targeted profiling has demonstrated that such processes extend to the intra-amniotic space, yet unbiased analyses of the proteome of human amniotic fluid during labor are lacking. Herein, we utilized an aptamer-based platform to characterize 1,310 amniotic fluid proteins and found that the proteome undergoes substantial changes with term labor (251 proteins with differential abundance, q < 0.1, and fold change > 1.25). Proteins with increased abundance in labor are enriched for immune and inflammatory processes, consistent with prior reports of labor-associated changes in the intra-uterine space. By integrating the amniotic fluid proteome with previously generated placental-derived single-cell RNA-seq data, we demonstrated the labor-driven upregulation of signatures corresponding to stromal-3 and decidual cells. We also determined that changes in amniotic fluid protein abundance are reflected in the maternal plasma proteome. Collectively, these findings provide novel insights into the amniotic fluid proteome in term labor and support its potential use as a source of biomarkers to distinguish between true and false labor by using maternal blood samples.
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Mesiano S. Progesterone withdrawal and parturition. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2022; 224:106177. [PMID: 36096351 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2022.106177] [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: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The steroid hormone progesterone (P4), acting via the nuclear P4 receptors (PRs) in uterine cells, is essential for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. P4/PR signaling maintains pregnancy by promoting uterine quiescence and blocking the contractions of labor. Withdrawal of the P4/PR block to labor induces parturition. The success of pregnancy requires the timely birth of a mature neonate to a healthy mother, and to this end, the mechanism by which the P4/PR block is withdrawn, and how that process is physiologically controlled is critical. This review examines current understanding of cell and molecular biology of P4/PR withdrawal in the control of parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Mesiano
- William H Weir MD Professor of Reproductive Biology, Department of Reproductive Biology Case, Western Reserve University, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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7
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Gomez-Lopez N, Romero R, Galaz J, Bhatti G, Done B, Miller D, Ghita C, Motomura K, Farias-Jofre M, Jung E, Pique-Regi R, Hassan SS, Chaiworapongsa T, Tarca AL. Transcriptome changes in maternal peripheral blood during term parturition mimic perturbations preceding spontaneous Preterm birth†. Biol Reprod 2021; 106:185-199. [PMID: 34686873 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The complex physiologic process of parturition includes the onset of labor, which requires the orchestrated stimulation of a common pathway involving uterine contractility, cervical ripening, and chorioamniotic membrane activation. However, the labor-specific processes taking place in these tissues have limited use as predictive biomarkers unless they can be probed in non-invasive samples, such as the peripheral blood. Herein, we utilized a transcriptomic dataset to assess labor-specific changes in the peripheral blood of women who delivered at term. We identified a set of genes that were differentially expressed with labor and enriched for immunological processes, and these gene expression changes were strongly correlated with results from prior studies, providing in silico validation of our findings. We then identified significant correlations between labor-specific transcriptomic changes in the maternal circulation and those reported in the chorioamniotic membranes, myometrium, and cervix of women at term, demonstrating that tissue-specific labor signatures are partly mirrored in the peripheral blood. Last, we demonstrated a significant overlap between the peripheral blood transcriptomic changes in term parturition and those observed in asymptomatic women prior to the diagnosis of preterm prelabor rupture of membranes who delivered preterm. Collectively, we provide evidence that the normal process of labor at term is characterized by a unique immunological expression signature, which may serve as a useful tool for assessing labor status and potentially identifying women at risk for preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.,Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jose Galaz
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Gaurav Bhatti
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Bogdan Done
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Derek Miller
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Corina Ghita
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Kenichiro Motomura
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Marcelo Farias-Jofre
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Eunjung Jung
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Roger Pique-Regi
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Sonia S Hassan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Adi L Tarca
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI, USA
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8
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Para R, Romero R, Miller D, Panaitescu B, Varrey A, Chaiworapongsa T, Hassan SS, Hsu CD, Gomez-Lopez N. Human β-defensin-3 participates in intra-amniotic host defense in women with labor at term, spontaneous preterm labor and intact membranes, and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2020; 33:4117-4132. [PMID: 30999788 PMCID: PMC6800590 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2019.1597047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2019] [Revised: 03/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Human β-defensin-3 (HBD-3) has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, and activity and, therefore, plays a central role in host defense mechanisms against infection. Herein, we determined whether HBD-3 was a physiological constituent of amniotic fluid during midtrimester and at term and whether the concentration of this defensin was increased in amniotic fluid of women with spontaneous preterm labor and intact membranes and those with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (pPROM) with intra-amniotic inflammation or intra-amniotic infection.Methods: Amniotic fluid was collected from 219 women in the following groups: (1) midtrimester who delivered at term (n = 35); (2) with or without spontaneous labor at term (n = 50); (3) spontaneous preterm labor with intact membranes who delivered at term (n = 29); (4) spontaneous preterm labor with intact membranes who delivered preterm with or without intra-amniotic inflammation or intra-amniotic infection (n = 69); and (5) pPROM with or without intra-amniotic infection (n = 36). Amniotic fluid HBD-3 concentrations were determined using a sensitive and specific ELISA kit.Results: (1) HBD-3 is a physiological constituent of amniotic fluid; (2) the amniotic fluid concentration of HBD-3 did not change with gestational age (midtrimester versus term not in labor); (3) amniotic fluid concentrations of HBD-3 were higher in women with spontaneous labor at term than in those without labor; (4) in the absence of intra-amniotic inflammation, amniotic fluid concentrations of HBD-3 were similar between women with spontaneous preterm labor who delivered preterm and those who delivered at term; (5) among patients with spontaneous preterm labor who delivered preterm, amniotic fluid concentrations of HBD-3 were greater in women with intra-amniotic infection than in those without this clinical condition; (6) among patients with spontaneous preterm labor, amniotic fluid concentrations of HBD-3 were higher in women with intra-amniotic inflammation or intra-amniotic infection who delivered preterm than in those without these clinical conditions who delivered at term; and (7) women with pPROM and intra-amniotic infection had higher median amniotic fluid concentrations of HBD-3 than those without this clinical condition.Conclusion: Human β-defensin-3 is a physiological constituent of amniotic fluid and increases during the process of labor at term. Amniotic fluid concentrations of HBD-3 were increased in women with spontaneous preterm labor with intact membranes or pPROM with intra-amniotic inflammation or intra-amniotic infection, indicating that this defensin participates in the host defense mechanisms in the amniotic cavity against microorganisms or danger signals. These findings provide insight into the soluble host defense mechanisms against intra-amniotic inflammation and intra-amniotic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Para
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Derek Miller
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Bogdan Panaitescu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Aneesha Varrey
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Sonia S. Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Chaur-Dong Hsu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
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9
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Yang J, Lai Y, Chen J, Lin B, Zhou B, Han X. Changes in alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and macrophage polarization state participate in the regulation of cervical remodeling in pregnant rats†. Biol Reprod 2020; 101:950-960. [PMID: 31342065 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
To test the hypothesis that changes in alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) expression on macrophages and macrophage polarization participate in cervical remodeling during normal pregnancy, pregnant rats from gestational days (GDs) 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 were used in the present study. The expression of α7nAChR on macrophages and the numbers of M1 and M2 macrophages were detected by double immunofluorescence staining. The levels of α7nAChR and collagens were detected by western blotting. M1 markers (inducible nitric oxide synthase and inflammatory cytokines) and M2 markers (arginase 1, anti-inflammatory cytokines) were detected to evaluate the macrophage polarization state by immunohistochemistry staining, western blotting, and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) expression was determined by immunohistochemistry staining and western blotting. We found that the α7nAChR expression on macrophages significantly decreased on GD22 compared to GDs 14, 16, 18, and 20. There was an increased number of M1 macrophages and decreased number of M2 macrophages in late pregnancy. The expression of M1 macrophage biomarkers was much higher on GDs 20 and 22 than on GDs 14, 16, and 18, but expression of M2 biomarkers decreased on GDs 20 and 22 compared to GDs 14, 16, and 18. MMP-9 expression was higher on GD22 than on GDs 14, 16, 18, and 20, and collagen expression significantly decreased on GDs 18, 20, and 22 compared to GD14. Our results indicated that the decreased expression of α7nAChR and increased number of M1 macrophages are associated with cervical remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinying Yang
- Department of Obstetrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yumian Lai
- Department of Obstetrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Juanhua Chen
- Department of Obstetrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Baohua Lin
- Department of Obstetrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bei Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinjia Han
- Department of Obstetrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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10
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Yellon SM, Greaves E, Heuerman AC, Dobyns AE, Norman JE. Effects of macrophage depletion on characteristics of cervix remodeling and pregnancy in CD11b-dtr mice. Biol Reprod 2020; 100:1386-1394. [PMID: 30629144 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
To test the hypothesis that macrophages are essential for remodeling the cervix in preparation for birth, pregnant homozygous CD11b-dtr mice were injected with diphtheria toxin (DT) on days 14 and 16 postbreeding. On day 15 postbreeding, macrophages (F4/80+) were depleted in cervix and kidney, but not in liver, ovary, or other non-reproductive tissues in DT-compared to saline-treated dtr mice or wild-type controls given DT or saline. Within 24 h of DT-treatment, the density of cell nuclei and macrophages declined in cervix stroma in dtr mice versus controls, but birefringence of collagen, as an indication of extracellular cross-linked structure, remained unchanged. Only in the cervix of DT-treated dtr mice was an apoptotic morphology evident in macrophages. DT-treatment did not alter the sparse presence or morphology of neutrophils. By day 18 postbreeding, macrophages repopulated the cervix in DT-treated dtr mice so that the numbers were comparable to that in controls. However, at term, evidence of fetal mortality without cervix ripening occurred in most dtr mice given DT-a possible consequence of treatment effects on placental function. These findings suggest that CD11b+ F4/80+ macrophages are important to sustain pregnancy and are required for processes that remodel the cervix in preparation for parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Yellon
- Longo Center for Perinatal Biology.,Division of Physiology, Departments of Basic Sciences, and Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - E Greaves
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - J E Norman
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
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11
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Gomez-Lopez N, Motomura K, Miller D, Garcia-Flores V, Galaz J, Romero R. Inflammasomes: Their Role in Normal and Complicated Pregnancies. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 203:2757-2769. [PMID: 31740550 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Inflammasomes are cytoplasmic multiprotein complexes that coordinate inflammatory responses, including those that take place during pregnancy. Inflammasomes and their downstream mediators caspase-1 and IL-1β are expressed by gestational tissues (e.g., the placenta and chorioamniotic membranes) during normal pregnancy. Yet, only the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the chorioamniotic membranes has been partially implicated in the sterile inflammatory process of term parturition. In vivo and ex vivo studies have consistently shown that the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is a mechanism whereby preterm labor and birth occur in the context of microbial- or alarmin-induced inflammation. In the placenta, the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and other pregnancy syndromes associated with placental inflammation. This evidence suggests that inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome or its downstream mediators may foster the development of novel anti-inflammatory therapies for the prevention or treatment of pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20892, and Detroit, MI 48201; .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Kenichiro Motomura
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20892, and Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Derek Miller
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20892, and Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Valeria Garcia-Flores
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20892, and Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Jose Galaz
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20892, and Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20892, and Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.,Center for Molecular Obstetrics and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201.,Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48201; and.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199
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12
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Levenson D, Romero R, Garcia-Flores V, Miller D, Xu Y, Sahi A, Hassan SS, Gomez-Lopez N. The effects of advanced maternal age on T-cell subsets at the maternal-fetal interface prior to term labor and in the offspring: a mouse study. Clin Exp Immunol 2020; 201:58-75. [PMID: 32279324 DOI: 10.1111/cei.13437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Women who conceive at 35 years of age or older, commonly known as advanced maternal age, have a higher risk of facing parturition complications and their children have an increased risk of developing diseases later in life. However, the immunological mechanisms underlying these pathological processes have yet to be established. To fill this gap in knowledge, using a murine model and immunophenotyping, we determined the effect of advanced maternal age on the main cellular branch of adaptive immunity, T cells, at the maternal-fetal interface and in the offspring. We report that advanced maternal age impaired the process of labor at term, inducing dystocia and delaying the timing of delivery. Advanced maternal age diminished the number of specific proinflammatory T-cell subsets [T helper type 1 (Th1): CD4+ IFN-γ+ , CD8+ IFN-γ+ and Th9: CD4+ IL-9+ ], as well as CD4+ regulatory T cells (CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ T cells), at the maternal-fetal interface prior to term labor. Advanced maternal age also altered fetal growth and survival of the offspring in early life. In addition, infants born to advanced-age mothers had alterations in the T-cell repertoire but not in CD71+ erythroid cells (CD3- CD71+ TER119+ cells). This study provides insight into the immune alterations observed at the maternal-fetal interface of advanced-age mothers and their offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Levenson
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - R Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.,Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - V Garcia-Flores
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - D Miller
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Y Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - A Sahi
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - S S Hassan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Office of Women's Health, Integrative Biosciences Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - N Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
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13
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Abstract
The cervix is the essential gatekeeper for birth. Incomplete cervix remodeling contributes to problems with delivery at or post-term while preterm birth is a major factor in perinatal morbidity and mortality in newborns. Lack of cervix biopsies from women during the period preceding term or preterm birth have led to use of rodent models to advanced understanding of the mechanism for prepartum cervix remodeling. The critical transition from a soft cervix to a compliant prepartum lower uterine segment has only recently been recognized to occur in various mammalian species when progesterone in circulation is at or near the peak of pregnancy in preparation for birth. In rodents, characterization of ripening resembles an inflammatory process with a temporal coincidence of decreased density of cell nuclei, decline in cross-linked extracellular collagen, and increased presence of macrophages in the cervix. Although a role for inflammation in parturition and cervix remodeling is not a new concept, a comprehensive examination of literature in this review reveals that many conclusions are drawn from comparisons before and after ripening has occurred, not during the process. The present review focuses on essential phenotypes and functions of resident myeloid and possibly other immune cells to bridge the gap with evidence that specific biomarkers may assess the progress of ripening both at term and with preterm birth. Moreover, use of endpoints to determine the effectiveness of various therapeutic approaches to forestall remodeling and reduce risks for preterm birth, or facilitate ripening to promote parturition will improve the postpartum well-being of mothers and newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Yellon
- Department of Basic Sciences, Longo Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States
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14
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The Regulation of Uterine Function During Parturition: an Update and Recent Advances. Reprod Sci 2020; 27:3-28. [DOI: 10.1007/s43032-019-00001-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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15
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Cell-Free Fetal DNA Increases Prior to Labor at Term and in a Subset of Preterm Births. Reprod Sci 2020; 27:218-232. [PMID: 32046392 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-019-00023-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free fetal DNA in the maternal circulation has been associated with the onset of labor at term. Moreover, clinical studies have suggested that cell-free fetal DNA has value to predict pregnancy complications such as spontaneous preterm labor leading to preterm birth. However, a mechanistic link between cell-free fetal DNA and preterm labor and birth has not been established. Herein, using an allogeneic mouse model in which a paternal green fluorescent protein (GFP) can be tracked in the fetuses, we established that cell-free fetal DNA (Egfp) concentrations were higher in late gestation compared to mid-pregnancy and were maintained at increased levels during the onset of labor at term, followed by a rapid decrease after birth. A positive correlation between cell-free fetal DNA concentrations and the number of GFP-positive pups was also observed. The increase in cell-free fetal DNA concentrations prior to labor at term was not linked to a surge in any specific cytokine/chemokine; yet, specific chemokines (i.e., CCL2, CCL7, and CXCL2) increased as gestation progressed and maintained elevated levels in the postpartum period. In addition, cell-free fetal DNA concentrations increased prior to systemic inflammation-induced preterm birth, which was associated with a strong cytokine response in the maternal circulation. However, cell-free fetal DNA concentrations were not increased prior to intra-amniotic inflammation-induced preterm birth, but in this model, a mild inflammatory response was observed in the maternal circulation. Collectively, these findings suggest that an elevation in cell-free fetal DNA concentrations in the maternal circulation precedes the physiological process of labor at term and the pathological process of preterm labor linked with systemic inflammation, but not that associated with intra-amniotic inflammation.
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Gomez-Lopez N, Romero R, Panaitescu B, Miller D, Zou C, Gudicha DW, Tarca AL, Para R, Pacora P, Hassan SS, Hsu CD. Gasdermin D: in vivo evidence of pyroptosis in spontaneous labor at term. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019; 34:569-579. [PMID: 31006293 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2019.1610740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Pyroptosis is an inflammatory form of programmed cell death that is mediated by the activation of the inflammasome and depends on the pore-forming function of gasdermin D. Therefore, the detection of gasdermin D represents in vivo evidence of pyroptosis. We recently showed that there is intra-amniotic inflammasome activation in spontaneous labor at term; however, evidence of pyroptosis is lacking. The objectives of this study were to investigate (1) whether gasdermin D is detectable in the amniotic fluid of women who delivered at term; (2) whether amniotic fluid gasdermin D concentrations are associated with the process of spontaneous labor at term; and (3) whether gasdermin D is expressed in the chorioamniotic membranes from these patients.Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included amniotic fluid samples from 41 women who underwent spontaneous labor at term (n = 17) or delivered at term without labor (n = 24). As a readout of pyroptosis, gasdermin D was determined in amniotic fluid samples using a specific and sensitive ELISA kit. The 90th percentile of amniotic fluid gasdermin D concentrations was calculated among women without spontaneous labor at term (reference group). The association between high amniotic fluid gasdermin D concentrations (≥90th percentile in the reference group) and spontaneous labor at term was tested using the Fisher's exact test. A p value <.05 was considered significant. Multiplex immunofluorescence staining and phenoptics (multispectral imaging) were performed to determine gasdermin D expression in the chorioamniotic membranes and to colocalize this protein with the inflammasome-related molecules caspase-1 and interleukin-1β.Results: (1) Gasdermin D is present in the amniotic fluid of women who delivered at term; (2) the 90th percentile of amniotic fluid gasdermin D concentrations in women who delivered at term without spontaneous labor was 3.4 ng/mL; (3) the proportion of women with amniotic fluid gasdermin D concentrations above the threshold was higher in those who underwent term labor than in those who delivered at term without labor; (4) amniotic fluid concentrations of gasdermin D > 3.4 ng/mL were significantly associated with the presence of spontaneous labor in women who delivered at term (odds ratio 6.0, p-value .048); and (5) the protein expression of gasdermin D is increased in the chorioamniotic membranes of women who underwent spontaneous labor at term and is colocalized with caspase-1 and IL-1β.Conclusions: Gasdermin D is increased in the amniotic fluid and chorioamniotic membranes of women who underwent spontaneous labor at term compared to those without labor. These data provide evidence implicating pyroptosis in the mechanisms that lead to the sterile inflammatory process of term parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Department of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Roberto Romero
- Department of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Bogdan Panaitescu
- Department of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Derek Miller
- Department of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Chengrui Zou
- Department of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Dereje W Gudicha
- Department of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Adi L Tarca
- Department of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Robert Para
- Department of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Percy Pacora
- Department of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Sonia S Hassan
- Department of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Chaur-Dong Hsu
- Department of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
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17
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Kirby MA, Heuerman AC, Yellon SM. Utility of Optical Density of Picrosirius Red Birefringence for Analysis of Cross-Linked Collagen in Remodeling of the Peripartum Cervix for Parturition. INTEGRATIVE GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS JOURNAL 2018; 1:10.31038/IGOJ.2018107. [PMID: 30175325 PMCID: PMC6117116 DOI: 10.31038/igoj.2018121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
We report on development of a rapid, quantitative analysis technique of collagen fibers in cross-linked structures to assess remodeling of the cervix during the transition from soft to ripening in preparation for birth. Optical density analysis of picrosirius red stain tissue using circular polarized birefringence light from fixed paraffin-embedded or frozen cervix from pregnant mice during phases of remodeling prior to birth. Data were analyzed using NIH Image J and extended recently to include studies of prepartum cervix in peripartum women. Our results, developed a rapid, consistent, technique to quantify cervical organization. This approach assesses the structure of collagen organization (the principle component of the cervix) and is essential for analysis of experimental outcomes that disrupt cervical morphology in rodent models of preterm birth. The technique, in this report has, for the first time permitted rapid, accurate assessment of the stages that define cervical ripening with large numbers of slides from individual animals. The approach integrates analysis of collagen organization, with distensability and inflammation, processes associated with cervical change before birth. This analysis further holds promise to evaluate other tissues, but also fibrolytic and fibrogenic changes in collagen associated with physiological or pathophysiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Kirby
- Lawrence D. Longo Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda University. Loma Linda, California, USA
- Departments of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda University. Loma Linda, California, USA
- Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda University. Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Anne C Heuerman
- Lawrence D. Longo Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda University. Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Steven M Yellon
- Lawrence D. Longo Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda University. Loma Linda, California, USA
- Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda University. Loma Linda, California, USA
- Basic Sciences, Division of Physiology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda University. Loma Linda, California, USA
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18
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Kirby MA, Heuerman AC, Yellon SM. Utility of Optical Density of Picrosirius Red Birefringence for Analysis of Cross-Linked Collagen in Remodeling of the Peripartum Cervix for Parturition. INTEGRATIVE GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS JOURNAL 2018; 1. [PMID: 30175325 DOI: 10.31038/igoj.2018107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We report on development of a rapid, quantitative analysis technique of collagen fibers in cross-linked structures to assess remodeling of the cervix during the transition from soft to ripening in preparation for birth. Optical density analysis of picrosirius red stain tissue using circular polarized birefringence light from fixed paraffin-embedded or frozen cervix from pregnant mice during phases of remodeling prior to birth. Data were analyzed using NIH Image J and extended recently to include studies of prepartum cervix in peripartum women. Our results, developed a rapid, consistent, technique to quantify cervical organization. This approach assesses the structure of collagen organization (the principle component of the cervix) and is essential for analysis of experimental outcomes that disrupt cervical morphology in rodent models of preterm birth. The technique, in this report has, for the first time permitted rapid, accurate assessment of the stages that define cervical ripening with large numbers of slides from individual animals. The approach integrates analysis of collagen organization, with distensability and inflammation, processes associated with cervical change before birth. This analysis further holds promise to evaluate other tissues, but also fibrolytic and fibrogenic changes in collagen associated with physiological or pathophysiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Kirby
- Lawrence D. Longo Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda University. Loma Linda, California, USA.,Departments of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda University. Loma Linda, California, USA.,Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda University. Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Anne C Heuerman
- Lawrence D. Longo Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda University. Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Steven M Yellon
- Lawrence D. Longo Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda University. Loma Linda, California, USA.,Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda University. Loma Linda, California, USA.,Basic Sciences, Division of Physiology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda University. Loma Linda, California, USA
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19
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Vink J, Myers K. Cervical alterations in pregnancy. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2018; 52:88-102. [PMID: 30314740 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2018.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB), defined as delivery before 37 weeks' gestation, remains a significant obstetric dilemma even after decades of research in this field. Although trends from 2007 to 2014 showed the rate of preterm birth slightly decreased, the CDC recently reported the rate of preterm birth has increased for two consecutive years since 2014. Currently, 1 in 10 pregnancies in the US still end prematurely. In this chapter, we focus on the "compartment" of the cervix. The goal is to outline the current knowledge of normal cervical structure and function in pregnancy and the current knowledge of how the cervix malfunctions lead to SPTB. We review the mechanisms by which our current interventions are hypothesized to work. Finally, we outline gaps in knowledge and future research directions that may lead to novel and effective interventions to prevent premature cervical failure and SPTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Vink
- Dept. of OB/GYN, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Kristin Myers
- Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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20
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Panaitescu B, Romero R, Gomez-Lopez N, Xu Y, Leng Y, Maymon E, Pacora P, Erez O, Yeo L, Hassan SS, Hsu CD. In vivo evidence of inflammasome activation during spontaneous labor at term. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2018; 32:1978-1991. [PMID: 29295667 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2017.1422714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Upon inflammasome activation, the adaptor protein of the inflammasome ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD) forms intracellular specks, which can be released into the extracellular space. The objectives of this study were to investigate whether (1) extracellular ASC is present in the amniotic fluid of women who delivered at term; (2) amniotic fluid ASC concentrations are greater in women who underwent spontaneous labor at term than in those who delivered at term in the absence of labor; and (3) amniotic epithelial and mesenchymal cells can form intracellular ASC specks in vitro. METHODS This retrospective cross-sectional study included amniotic fluid samples from 41 women who delivered at term in the absence of labor (n = 24) or underwent spontaneous labor at term (n = 17). Amniotic epithelial and mesenchymal cells were also isolated from the chorioamniotic membranes obtained from a separate group of women who delivered at term (n = 3), in which ASC speck formation was assessed by confocal microscopy. Monocytes from healthy individuals were used as positive controls for ASC speck formation (n = 3). RESULTS (1) The adaptor protein of the inflammasome ASC is detectable in the amniotic fluid of women who delivered at term; (2) amniotic fluid ASC concentration was higher in women who underwent spontaneous labor at term than in those who delivered at term without labor; and (3) amniotic epithelial and mesenchymal cells are capable of forming ASC specks and/or filaments in vitro. CONCLUSION Amniotic fluid ASC concentrations are increased in women who undergo spontaneous labor at term. Amniotic epithelial and mesenchymal cells are capable of forming ASC specks, suggesting that these cells are a source of extracellular ASC in the amniotic fluid. These findings provide in vivo evidence that there is inflammasome activation in the amniotic cavity during the physiological process of labor at term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogdan Panaitescu
- a Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS , Detroit , MI , USA.,b Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , MI , USA
| | - Roberto Romero
- a Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS , Detroit , MI , USA.,c Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.,d Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics , Michigan State University , East Lansing , MI , USA.,e Center for Molecular Medicine & Genetics , Wayne State University , Detroit , MI , USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- a Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS , Detroit , MI , USA.,b Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , MI , USA.,f Department of Immunology, Microbiology & Biochemistry , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , MI , USA
| | - Yi Xu
- a Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS , Detroit , MI , USA.,b Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , MI , USA
| | - Yaozhu Leng
- a Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS , Detroit , MI , USA.,b Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , MI , USA
| | - Eli Maymon
- a Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS , Detroit , MI , USA.,b Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , MI , USA.,g Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Soroka University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beersheba , Israel
| | - Percy Pacora
- a Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS , Detroit , MI , USA.,b Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , MI , USA
| | - Offer Erez
- a Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS , Detroit , MI , USA.,b Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , MI , USA.,g Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Soroka University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beersheba , Israel
| | - Lami Yeo
- a Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS , Detroit , MI , USA.,b Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , MI , USA
| | - Sonia S Hassan
- a Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS , Detroit , MI , USA.,b Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , MI , USA.,h Department of Physiology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , MI , USA
| | - Chaur-Dong Hsu
- b Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , MI , USA
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21
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Cappelletti M, Lawson MJ, Chan CC, Wilburn AN, Divanovic S. Differential outcomes of TLR2 engagement in inflammation-induced preterm birth. J Leukoc Biol 2017; 103:535-543. [PMID: 29345344 PMCID: PMC6084304 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.3ma0717-274rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of neonatal mortality worldwide. Infection and inflammation are considered main causes of PTB. Among multiple pathogens, Gram‐positive bacteria are commonly linked with induction of PTB. Although activation of innate immune responses, via TLR2 engagement, by Gram‐positive bacteria is a likely cause, whether induction of PTB depends on the potency of specific microbial components to induce Toll‐like receptor (TLR)2‐driven inflammation has not been elucidated. Here, we show that TLR2 activation by synthetic lipopeptides, Pam2Cys, and Pam3Cys specifically, variably influenced inflammation and subsequent induction of PTB. Pam2Cys challenge, compared to Pam3Cys, induced PTB and promoted significantly higher expression of inflammatory cytokines, specifically IL‐6 and IFN‐β, both in vivo and in vitro. Notably, antibody‐mediated neutralization of IL‐6 or genetic deletion of type I IFN receptor (IFNAR) was sufficient to protect from Pam2Cys‐driven PTB and to temper excessive proinflammatory cytokine production. Conversely, IFN‐β or IL‐6 was not sufficient to promote induction of PTB by Pam3Cys. In summary, our data implies a divergent function of TLR2‐activating lipopeptides in the magnitude and type of ligand‐driven inflammatory vigor in induction of PTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Cappelletti
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Matthew J Lawson
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Molecular, Cellular and Biochemical Pharmacology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Calvin C Chan
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Immunology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Adrienne N Wilburn
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Immunology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Senad Divanovic
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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22
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Vink J, Mourad M. The pathophysiology of human premature cervical remodeling resulting in spontaneous preterm birth: Where are we now? Semin Perinatol 2017; 41:427-437. [PMID: 28826790 PMCID: PMC6007872 DOI: 10.1053/j.semperi.2017.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Approximately one in ten (approximately 500,000) pregnancies results in preterm birth (PTB) annually in the United States. Although we have seen a slight decrease in the U.S. PTB rate between 2007 and 2014, data from 2014 to 2015 shows the preterm birth rate has slightly increased. It is even more intriguing to note that the rate of PTB has not significantly decreased since the 1980s. In order to decrease the rate of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB), it is imperative that we improve our understanding of normal and abnormal reproductive tissue structure and function and how these tissues interact with each other at a cellular and biochemical level. Since other chapters in this issue will be focusing on the myometrium and fetal membranes, the goal of this chapter is to focus on the compartment of the cervix. We will review the current literature on normal and abnormal human cervical tissue remodeling and identify gaps in knowledge. Our goal is also to introduce a revised paradigm of normal cervical tissue structure and function which will provide novel research opportunities that may ultimately lead to developing safe and effective interventions to significantly decrease the rate and complications of prematurity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Vink
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, 622 West 168th St, PH16-66, New York, NY 10025.
| | - Mirella Mourad
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, 622 West 168th St, PH16-66, New York, NY 10025
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23
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Lannaman K, Romero R, Chaiworapongsa T, Kim YM, Korzeniewski SJ, Maymon E, Gomez-Lopez N, Panaitescu B, Hassan SS, Yeo L, Yoon BH, Kim CJ, Erez O. Fetal death: an extreme manifestation of maternal anti-fetal rejection. J Perinat Med 2017; 45:851-868. [PMID: 28862989 PMCID: PMC5848503 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2017-0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the association between chronic placental inflammation and amniotic fluid (AF) markers of maternal anti-fetal rejection as well as the presence of microorganisms in the AF fluid of patients with fetal death. STUDY DESIGN This cohort study included 40 patients with fetal death whose placentas were examined for chronic inflammatory lesions and whose AF chemokine ligand (CXCL)10 and interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations were determined by immunoassays. AF was processed for bacteria, mycoplasmas and viruses using cultivation and molecular microbiologic techniques (i.e. PCR-ESI/MS). RESULTS (1) The most prevalent placental findings were maternal vascular underperfusion (63.2%, 24/38), followed by chronic inflammatory lesions (57.9%, 22/38); (2) chronic chorioamnionitis (18/38) was three times more frequent than villitis of unknown etiology (6/38); (3) an elevated AF CXCL10 concentration (above the 95th centile) was present in 60% of the cases, and a receiver operating characteristics (ROC)-derived cut-off of 2.9 ng/mL had a sensitivity of 73% and a specificity of 75% in the identification of chronic placental inflammatory lesions; (4) only five cases had microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity, and the presence of microorganisms did not correlate with chronic placental inflammation. CONCLUSION In women with unexplained fetal death, there is an association between elevated AF CXCL10 and chronic placental inflammatory lesions. Therefore, we conclude that a subset of patients with fetal death may have endured a breakdown of maternal-fetal tolerance, which cannot be attributed to microorganisms in the amniotic cavity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kia Lannaman
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Yeon Mee Kim
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Steven J. Korzeniewski
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Eli Maymon
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Bogdan Panaitescu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Sonia S. Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Lami Yeo
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Bo Hyun Yoon
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chong Jai Kim
- Department of Pathology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Offer Erez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
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24
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O'Brien CM, Herington JL, Brown N, Pence IJ, Paria BC, Slaughter JC, Reese J, Mahadevan-Jansen A. In vivo Raman spectral analysis of impaired cervical remodeling in a mouse model of delayed parturition. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6835. [PMID: 28754971 PMCID: PMC5533720 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07047-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring cervical structure and composition during pregnancy has high potential for prediction of preterm birth (PTB), a problem affecting 15 million newborns annually. We use in vivo Raman spectroscopy, a label-free, light-based method that provides a molecular fingerprint to non-invasively investigate normal and impaired cervical remodeling. Prostaglandins stimulate uterine contractions and are clinically used for cervical ripening during pregnancy. Deletion of cyclooxygenase-1 (Cox-1), an enzyme involved in production of these prostaglandins, results in delayed parturition in mice. Contrary to expectation, Cox-1 null mice displayed normal uterine contractility; therefore, this study sought to determine whether cervical changes could explain the parturition differences in Cox-1 null mice and gestation-matched wild type (WT) controls. Raman spectral changes related to extracellular matrix proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids were tracked over pregnancy and found to be significantly delayed in Cox-1 null mice at term. A cervical basis for the parturition delay was confirmed by other ex vivo tests including decreased tissue distensibility, hydration, and elevated progesterone levels in the Cox-1 null mice at term. In conclusion, in vivo Raman spectroscopy non-invasively detected abnormal remodeling in the Cox-1 null mouse, and clearly demonstrated that the cervix plays a key role in their delayed parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M O'Brien
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Biophotonics Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Jennifer L Herington
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Naoko Brown
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Isaac J Pence
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Biophotonics Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Bibhash C Paria
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - James C Slaughter
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Jeff Reese
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Biophotonics Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Anita Mahadevan-Jansen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA. .,Biophotonics Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
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25
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Cappelletti M, Presicce P, Lawson MJ, Chaturvedi V, Stankiewicz TE, Vanoni S, Harley IT, McAlees JW, Giles DA, Moreno-Fernandez ME, Rueda CM, Senthamaraikannan P, Sun X, Karns R, Hoebe K, Janssen EM, Karp CL, Hildeman DA, Hogan SP, Kallapur SG, Chougnet CA, Way SS, Divanovic S. Type I interferons regulate susceptibility to inflammation-induced preterm birth. JCI Insight 2017; 2:e91288. [PMID: 28289719 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.91288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB) is a leading worldwide cause of morbidity and mortality in infants. Maternal inflammation induced by microbial infection is a critical predisposing factor for PTB. However, biological processes associated with competency of pathogens, including viruses, to induce PTB or sensitize for secondary bacterial infection-driven PTB are unknown. We show that pathogen/pathogen-associated molecular pattern-driven activation of type I IFN/IFN receptor (IFNAR) was sufficient to prime for systemic and uterine proinflammatory chemokine and cytokine production and induction of PTB. Similarly, treatment with recombinant type I IFNs recapitulated such effects by exacerbating proinflammatory cytokine production and reducing the dose of secondary inflammatory challenge required for induction of PTB. Inflammatory challenge-driven induction of PTB was eliminated by defects in type I IFN, TLR, or IL-6 responsiveness, whereas the sequence of type I IFN sensing by IFNAR on hematopoietic cells was essential for regulation of proinflammatory cytokine production. Importantly, we also show that type I IFN priming effects are conserved from mice to nonhuman primates and humans, and expression of both type I IFNs and proinflammatory cytokines is upregulated in human PTB. Thus, activation of the type I IFN/IFNAR axis in pregnancy primes for inflammation-driven PTB and provides an actionable biomarker and therapeutic target for mitigating PTB risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pietro Presicce
- Division of Neonatology/Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation
| | - Matthew J Lawson
- Division of Immunobiology.,Molecular, Cellular and Biochemical Pharmacology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | | | - Simone Vanoni
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | | | - Daniel A Giles
- Division of Immunobiology.,Immunology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Rebekah Karns
- Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Simon P Hogan
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Suhas G Kallapur
- Division of Neonatology/Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation
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26
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Yellon SM. Contributions to the dynamics of cervix remodeling prior to term and preterm birth. Biol Reprod 2017; 96:13-23. [PMID: 28395330 PMCID: PMC5803764 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.116.142844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Revised: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Major clinical challenges for obstetricians and neonatologists result from early cervix remodeling and preterm birth. Complications related to cervix remodeling or delivery account for significant morbidity in newborns and peripartum mothers. Understanding morphology and structure of the cervix in pregnant women is limited mostly to the period soon before and after birth. However, evidence in rodent models supports a working hypothesis that a convergence of factors promotes a physiological inflammatory process that degrades the extracellular collagen matrix and enhances biomechanical distensibility of the cervix well before the uterus develops the contractile capabilities for labor. Contributing factors to this remodeling process include innervation, mechanical stretch, hypoxia, and proinflammatory mediators. Importantly, the softening and shift to ripening occurs while progesterone is near peak concentrations in circulation across species. Since progesterone is required to maintain pregnancy, the premise of this review is that loss of responsiveness to progesterone constitutes a common final mechanism for remodeling the mammalian cervix in preparation for birth at term. Various inputs are suggested to promote signaling between stromal cells and resident macrophages to drive proinflammatory processes that advance the soft cervix into ripening. With infection, pathophysiological processes may prematurely drive components of this remodeling mechanism and lead to preterm birth. Identification of critical molecules and pathways from studies in various rodent models hold promise for novel endpoints to assess risk and provide innovative approaches to treat preterm birth or promote the progress of ripening at term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M. Yellon
- Longo Center for Perinatal Biology, Departments of Basic Sciences Division of Physiology and Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
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27
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Kirby MA, Heuerman AC, Custer M, Dobyns AE, Strilaeff R, Stutz KN, Cooperrider J, Elsissy JG, Yellon SM. Progesterone Receptor-Mediated Actions Regulate Remodeling of the Cervix in Preparation for Preterm Parturition. Reprod Sci 2016; 23:1473-1483. [PMID: 27233754 DOI: 10.1177/1933719116650756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
This study determined whether a progesterone (P) receptor (PR)-mediated mechanism regulates morphological characteristics associated with prepartum cervix remodeling at term and with preterm birth. With focus on the transition from a soft to ripe cervix, the cervix stroma of untreated controls had reduced cell nuclei density/area and less organized extracellular collagen, while the density of macrophages/area, but not neutrophils, increased just 2 days before birth (day 17 vs day 15 or 16.5 postbreeding). Preterm birth was induced within 24 hours of treatment on day 16 postbreeding with PR antagonist or ovariectomy (Ovx). Pure or mixed PR antagonists increased the density of macrophages in the cervix within 8 hours (day 16.5 postbreeding), in advance of preterm birth. However, neither PR antagonists nor P withdrawal after Ovx affected the densities of cell nuclei and neutrophils or extracellular collagen compared to the same day controls-an indication that the cervix was sufficiently remodeled for birth to occur. To block the effect of systemic P withdrawal, Ovx pregnant mice were given a PR agonist, either pure or mixed. These treatments forestalled preterm birth and prevented further morphological remodeling of the cervix. The resulting increase in macrophage density in cervix stroma following Ovx was only blocked by a pure PR agonist. These findings support the hypothesis that inflammatory processes in the prepartum cervix that include residency of macrophages, cellular hypertrophy, and extracellular collagen structure are regulated by genomic actions of PR in a final common mechanism both at term and with induced preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Kirby
- Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA Departments of Pathology and Human anatomy, and Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Anne C Heuerman
- Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Melisa Custer
- Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Abigail E Dobyns
- Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Ryan Strilaeff
- Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Kathleen N Stutz
- Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Jaclyn Cooperrider
- Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Joseph G Elsissy
- Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Steven M Yellon
- Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA Departments of Pathology and Human anatomy, and Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
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28
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Romero R, Xu Y, Plazyo O, Chaemsaithong P, Chaiworapongsa T, Unkel R, Than NG, Chiang PJ, Dong Z, Xu Z, Tarca AL, Abrahams VM, Hassan SS, Yeo L, Gomez-Lopez N. A Role for the Inflammasome in Spontaneous Labor at Term. Am J Reprod Immunol 2016; 79:e12440. [PMID: 26952361 DOI: 10.1111/aji.12440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Inflammasomes are signaling platforms that, upon sensing pathogens and sterile stressors, mediate the release of mature forms of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. The aims of this study were to determine (i) the expression of major inflammasome components in the chorioamniotic membranes in spontaneous labor at term, (ii) whether there are changes in the inflammasome components associated with the activation of caspase-1 and caspase-4, and (iii) whether these events are associated with the release of the mature forms of IL-1β and IL-18. METHOD OF STUDY Chorioamniotic membranes were collected from women at term with and without spontaneous labor. mRNA abundance and protein concentrations of inflammasome components, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing (NOD)1 and NOD2 proteins, caspase-1, caspase-4, IL-1β, and IL-18 were quantified by qRT-PCR (n = 28-29 each), ELISA (n = 10 each) or immunoblotting (n = 8 each), and immunohistochemistry (n = 10 each). Active caspase-1 and caspase-4, as well as mature IL-18, were determined by immunoblotting (n = 4 each), and pro- and mature forms of IL-1β were determined by ELISA (n = 4-7 each). RESULTS Inflammasome components and NOD proteins were expressed in the chorioamniotic membranes obtained from women at term. The chorioamniotic membranes from women who underwent labor had (i) higher concentrations of NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain-containing protein 3) and NOD1 protein, (ii) greater immunoreactivity for caspase-1 and caspase-4, (iii) a greater quantity of the active form of caspase-1 (p20), and (iv) higher mRNA abundance and protein concentrations of pro- and mature IL-1β. However, mRNA abundance and protein concentrations of the mature form of IL-18 were not increased in tissues from women who underwent labor at term. CONCLUSIONS Spontaneous labor at term is characterized by the expression of inflammasome components, which may participate in the activation of caspase-1 and lead to the cleavage and release of mature IL-1β by the chorioamniotic membranes. These results support the participation of the inflammasome in the mechanisms responsible for spontaneous parturition at term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Yi Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Olesya Plazyo
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Piya Chaemsaithong
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Ronald Unkel
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Nandor Gabor Than
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Institute of Enzymology, Momentum Research Group, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.,Maternity Private Department, Kutvolgyi Clinical Block, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Po Jen Chiang
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Zhong Dong
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Zhonghui Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Adi L Tarca
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Vikki M Abrahams
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sonia S Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Lami Yeo
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
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29
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Roos N, Blesson CS, Stephansson O, Masironi B, Vladic Stjernholm Y, Ekman-Ordeberg G, Sahlin L. The expression of prostaglandin receptors EP3 and EP4 in human cervix in post-term pregnancy differs between failed and successful labor induction. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2013; 93:159-67. [DOI: 10.1111/aogs.12300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Accepted: 10/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Roos
- Division for Reproductive Endocrinology and the Pediatric Endocrinology Unit Q2:08; Karolinska University Hospital; Stockholm Sweden
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, H2:01; Department of Women's and Children's Health; Karolinska University Hospital; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Chellakkan S. Blesson
- Division for Reproductive Endocrinology and the Pediatric Endocrinology Unit Q2:08; Karolinska University Hospital; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Olof Stephansson
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, H2:01; Department of Women's and Children's Health; Karolinska University Hospital; Stockholm Sweden
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit; Department of Medicine; Karolinska Institute; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Britt Masironi
- Division for Reproductive Endocrinology and the Pediatric Endocrinology Unit Q2:08; Karolinska University Hospital; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Ylva Vladic Stjernholm
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, H2:01; Department of Women's and Children's Health; Karolinska University Hospital; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Gunvor Ekman-Ordeberg
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, H2:01; Department of Women's and Children's Health; Karolinska University Hospital; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Lena Sahlin
- Division for Reproductive Endocrinology and the Pediatric Endocrinology Unit Q2:08; Karolinska University Hospital; Stockholm Sweden
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30
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Yellon SM, Dobyns AE, Beck HL, Kurtzman JT, Garfield RE, Kirby MA. Loss of progesterone receptor-mediated actions induce preterm cellular and structural remodeling of the cervix and premature birth. PLoS One 2013; 8:e81340. [PMID: 24339918 PMCID: PMC3858221 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2013] [Accepted: 10/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A decline in serum progesterone or antagonism of progesterone receptor function results in preterm labor and birth. Whether characteristics of premature remodeling of the cervix after antiprogestins or ovariectomy are similar to that at term was the focus of the present study. Groups of pregnant rats were treated with vehicle, a progesterone receptor antagonist (onapristone or mifepristone), or ovariectomized on day 17 postbreeding. As expected, controls given vehicle delivered at term while rats delivered preterm after progesterone receptor antagonist treatment or ovariectomy. Similar to the cervix before term, the preterm cervix of progesterone receptor antagonist-treated rats was characterized by reduced cell nuclei density, decreased collagen content and structure, as well as a greater presence of macrophages per unit area. Thus, loss of nuclear progesterone receptor-mediated actions promoted structural remodeling of the cervix, increased census of resident macrophages, and preterm birth much like that found in the cervix at term. In contrast to the progesterone receptor antagonist-induced advance in characteristics associated with remodeling, ovariectomy-induced loss of systemic progesterone did not affect hypertrophy, extracellular collagen, or macrophage numbers in the cervix. Thus, the structure and macrophage census in the cervix appear sufficient for premature ripening and birth to occur well before term. With progesterone receptors predominantly localized on cells other than macrophages, the findings suggest that interactions between cells may facilitate the loss of progesterone receptor-mediated actions as part of a final common mechanism that remodels the cervix in certain etiologies of preterm and with parturition at term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M. Yellon
- Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences and Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, United States of America
| | - Abigail E. Dobyns
- Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences and Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, United States of America
| | - Hailey L. Beck
- Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences and Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, United States of America
| | - James T. Kurtzman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, United States of America
| | - Robert E. Garfield
- St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Michael A. Kirby
- Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences and Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, United States of America
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31
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Gonzalez JM, Romero R, Girardi G. Comparison of the mechanisms responsible for cervical remodeling in preterm and term labor. J Reprod Immunol 2013; 97:112-9. [PMID: 23312455 PMCID: PMC3581722 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2012.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2012] [Revised: 07/19/2012] [Accepted: 07/20/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms of term and preterm cervical remodeling is essential to prevent prematurity. Is preterm cervical remodeling caused by the same mechanisms that cause cervical remodeling at term, and are these changes accelerated in time? This question has been pondered by obstetricians seeking strategies to prevent preterm labor for many years. Mice represent an informative model of preterm birth. Thus, in this review we discuss the recent findings from mouse models that identify and characterize the initiators and cellular effectors of cervical remodeling at term and preterm labor/delivery. These studies suggest that similarities and differences exist between term and preterm cervical remodeling. Complement is an initiator or mediator in preterm labor/delivery, but is not involved in the physiological process that leads to term delivery. Therefore, complememt constitutes a specific and selective target for potentially preventing preterm delivery, thus improving neonatal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- JM Gonzalez
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayns State University, Detroit, MI
| | - R Romero
- Perinatology Reserch Branch, National Institutes of Helath, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
| | - G Girardi
- The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Conde-Agudelo A, Romero R, Nicolaides K, Chaiworapongsa T, O'Brien JM, Cetingoz E, da Fonseca E, Creasy G, Soma-Pillay P, Fusey S, Cam C, Alfirevic Z, Hassan SS. Vaginal progesterone vs. cervical cerclage for the prevention of preterm birth in women with a sonographic short cervix, previous preterm birth, and singleton gestation: a systematic review and indirect comparison metaanalysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2013; 208:42.e1-42.e18. [PMID: 23157855 PMCID: PMC3529767 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2012.10.877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2012] [Revised: 10/12/2012] [Accepted: 10/17/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE No randomized controlled trial has compared vaginal progesterone and cervical cerclage directly for the prevention of preterm birth in women with a sonographic short cervix in the mid trimester, singleton gestation, and previous spontaneous preterm birth. We performed an indirect comparison of vaginal progesterone vs cerclage using placebo/no cerclage as the common comparator. STUDY DESIGN Adjusted indirect metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials. RESULTS Four studies that evaluated vaginal progesterone vs placebo (158 patients) and 5 studies that evaluated cerclage vs no cerclage (504 patients) were included. Both interventions were associated with a statistically significant reduction in the risk of preterm birth at <32 weeks of gestation and composite perinatal morbidity and mortality compared with placebo/no cerclage. Adjusted indirect metaanalyses did not show statistically significant differences between vaginal progesterone and cerclage in the reduction of preterm birth or adverse perinatal outcomes. CONCLUSION Based on state-of-the-art methods for indirect comparisons, either vaginal progesterone or cerclage are equally efficacious in the prevention of preterm birth in women with a sonographic short cervix in the mid trimester, singleton gestation, and previous preterm birth. Selection of the optimal treatment needs to consider adverse events, cost and patient/clinician preferences.
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Payne KJ, Clyde LA, Weldon AJ, Milford TA, Yellon SM. Residency and activation of myeloid cells during remodeling of the prepartum murine cervix. Biol Reprod 2012; 87:106. [PMID: 22914314 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.112.101840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Remodeling of the cervix is a critical early component of parturition and resembles an inflammatory process. Infiltration and activation of myeloid immune cells along with production of proinflammatory mediators and proteolytic enzymes are hypothesized to regulate cervical remodeling as pregnancy nears term. The present study standardized an approach to assess resident populations of immune cells and phenotypic markers of functional activities related to the mechanism of extracellular matrix degradation in the cervix in preparation for birth. Analysis of cells from the dispersed cervix of mice that were nonpregnant or pregnant (Days 15 and 18 postbreeding) by multicolor flow cytometry indicated increased total cell numbers with pregnancy as well as increased numbers of macrophages, the predominant myeloid cell, by Day 18, the day before birth. The number of activated macrophages involved in matrix metalloproteinase induction (CD147) and signaling for matrix adhesion (CD169) significantly increased by the day before birth. Expression of the adhesion markers CD54 and CD11b by macrophages decreased in the cervix by Day 18 versus that on Day 15 or in nonpregnant mice. The census of cells that expressed the migration marker CD62L was unaffected by pregnancy. The data suggest that remodeling of the cervix at term in mice is associated with recruitment and selective activation of macrophages that promote extracellular matrix degradation. Indices of immigration and activities by macrophages may thus serve as markers for local immune cell activity that is critical for ripening of the cervix in the final common mechanism for parturition at term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly J Payne
- Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA
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Yellon SM, Oshiro BT, Chhaya TY, Lechuga TJ, Dias RM, Burns AE, Force L, Apostolakis EM. Remodeling of the cervix and parturition in mice lacking the progesterone receptor B isoform. Biol Reprod 2011; 85:498-502. [PMID: 21613631 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.111.091983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Withdrawal of progestational support for pregnancy is part of the final common pathways for parturition, but the role of nuclear progesterone receptor (PGR) isoforms in this process is not known. To determine if the PGR-B isoform participates in cervical remodeling at term, cervices were obtained from mice lacking PGR-B (PGR-BKO) and from wild-type (WT) controls before or after birth. PGR-BKO mice gave birth to viable pups at the same time as WT controls during the early morning of Day 19 postbreeding. Morphological analyses indicated that by the day before birth, cervices from PGR-BKO and WT mice had increased in size, with fewer cell nuclei/area as well as diminished collagen content and structure, as evidenced by optical density of picrosirius red-stained sections, compared to cervices from nonpregnant mice. Moreover, increased numbers of resident macrophages, but not neutrophils, were found in the prepartum cervix of PGR-BKO compared to nonpregnant mice, parallel to findings in WT mice. These results suggest that PGR-B does not contribute to the growth or degradation of the extracellular matrix or proinflammatory processes associated with recruitment of macrophages in the cervix leading up to birth. Rather, other receptors may contribute to the progesterone-dependent mechanism that promotes remodeling of the cervix during pregnancy and in the proinflammatory process associated with ripening before parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Yellon
- Department of Physiology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA.
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Clyde LA, Lechuga TJ, Ebner CA, Burns AE, Kirby MA, Yellon SM. Transection of the pelvic or vagus nerve forestalls ripening of the cervix and delays birth in rats. Biol Reprod 2010; 84:587-94. [PMID: 21106964 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.110.086207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Innervation of the cervix is important for normal timing of birth because transection of the pelvic nerve forestalls birth and causes dystocia. To discover whether transection of the parasympathetic innervation of the cervix affects cervical ripening in the process of parturition was the objective of the present study. Rats on Day 16 of pregnancy had the pelvic nerve (PnX) or the vagus nerve (VnX) or both pathways (PnX+VnX) transected, sham-operated (Sham) or nonpregnant rats served as controls. Sections of fixed peripartum cervix were stained for collagen or processed by immunohistochemistry to identify macrophages and nerve fibers. All Sham controls delivered by the morning of Day 22 postbreeding, while births were delayed in more than 75% of neurectomized rats by more than 12 h. Dystocia was evident in more than 25% of the PnX and PnX+VnX rats. Moreover, on prepartum Day 21, serum progesterone was increased severalfold in neurectomized versus Sham rats. Assessments of cell nuclei counts indicated that the cervix of neurectomized rats and Sham controls had become equally hypertrophied compared to the unripe cervix in nonpregnant rats. Collagen content and structure were reduced in the cervix of all pregnant rats, whether neurectomized or Shams, versus that in nonpregnant rats. Stereological analysis of cervix sections found reduced numbers of resident macrophages in prepartum PnX and PnX+VnX rats on Day 21 postbreeding, as well as in VnX rats on Day 22 postbreeding compared to that in Sham controls. Finally, nerve transections blocked the prepartum increase in innervation that occurred in Sham rats on Day 21 postbreeding. These findings indicate that parasympathetic innervation of the cervix mediates local inflammatory processes, withdrawal of progesterone in circulation, and the normal timing of birth. Therefore, pelvic and vagal nerves regulate macrophage immigration and nerve fiber density but may not be involved in final remodeling of the extracellular matrix in the prepartum cervix. These findings support the contention that immigration of immune cells and enhanced innervation are involved in processes that remodel the cervix and time parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey A Clyde
- Department of Physiology, Pathology, and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
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Yellon SM, Grisham LA, Rambau GM, Lechuga TJ, Kirby MA. Pregnancy-related changes in connections from the cervix to forebrain and hypothalamus in mice. Reproduction 2010; 140:155-64. [PMID: 20453158 DOI: 10.1530/rep-10-0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The transneuronal tracer pseudorabies virus was used to test the hypothesis that connections from the cervix to the forebrain and hypothalamus are maintained with pregnancy. The virus was injected into the cervix of nonpregnant or pregnant mice, and, after 5 days, virus-labeled cells and fibers were found in specific forebrain regions and, most prominently, in portions of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. With pregnancy, fewer neurons and fibers were evident in most brain regions compared to that in nonpregnant mice. In particular, little or no virus was found in the medial and ventral parvocellular subdivisions, anteroventral periventricular nucleus, or motor cortex in pregnant mice. By contrast, labeling of virus was sustained in the dorsal hypothalamus and suprachiasmatic nucleus in all groups. Based upon image analysis of digitized photomicrographs, the area with label in the rostral and medial parvocellular paraventricular nucleus and magnocellular subdivisions was significantly reduced in mice whose cervix was injected with virus during pregnancy than in nonpregnant mice. The findings indicate that connections from the cervix to brain regions that are involved in sensory input and integrative autonomic functions are reduced during pregnancy. The findings raise the possibility that remaining pathways from the cervix to the forebrain and hypothalamus may be important for control of pituitary neuroendocrine secretion, as well as for effector functions in the cervix as pregnancy nears term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Yellon
- Departments of Physiology, Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California 92354, USA.
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Kirby MA, Groves MM, Yellon SM. Retrograde tracing of spinal cord connections to the cervix with pregnancy in mice. Reproduction 2010; 139:645-53. [PMID: 19965985 PMCID: PMC4242584 DOI: 10.1530/rep-09-0361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
In contrast to the uterus, the cervix is well innervated during pregnancy and the density of nerve fibers increases before birth. To assess neural connections between the cervix and the spinal cord, the cervix of pregnant mice was injected with the trans-synaptic retrograde neural tract tracer pseudorabies virus (PRV). After 5 days, the virus was present in nerve cells and fibers in specific areas of the sensory, autonomic, and motor subdivisions of the thoracolumbar spinal cord. In nonpregnant controls, the virus was predominantly distributed in laminae I-III in the dorsal gray sensory areas with the heaviest label in the substantia gelatinosa compared with the autonomic or motor areas. Labeled cells and processes were sparse in other regions, except for a prominent cluster in the intermediolateral column (lamina VII). Photomicrographs of spinal cord sections were digitized, and the total area with the virus was estimated. Compared with nonpregnant controls, the area with PRV was significantly decreased in all the spinal cord subdivisions in pregnant mice except in the intermediolateral column. However, areas with the virus were equivalent in mice injected with PRV at 4 days or 1 day before birth. These findings suggest that the predominant innervation of the murine cervix is from the sensory regions of the thoracolumbar spinal cord, and that these connections diminish with pregnancy. The results raise the possibility that the remaining connections from sensory and autonomic subdivisions, particularly the intermediolateral column, of the thoracolumbar spinal cord may be important for increased density of nerve fibers in the cervix as pregnancy nears term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Kirby
- Department of Physiology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California 92350, USA
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Mitchell BF, Taggart MJ. Are animal models relevant to key aspects of human parturition? Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2009; 297:R525-45. [PMID: 19515978 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00153.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Preterm birth remains the most serious complication of pregnancy and is associated with increased rates of infant death or permanent neurodevelopmental disability. Our understanding of the regulation of parturition remains inadequate. The scientific literature, largely derived from rodent animal models, suggests two major mechanisms regulating the timing of parturition: the withdrawal of the steroid hormone progesterone and a proinflammatory response by the immune system. However, available evidence strongly suggests that parturition in the human has significantly different regulators and mediators from those in most of the animal models. Our objectives are to critically review the data and concepts that have arisen from use of animal models for parturition and to rationalize the use of a new model. Many animal models have contributed to advances in our understanding of the regulation of parturition. However, we suggest that those animals dependent on progesterone withdrawal to initiate parturition clearly have a limitation to their translation to the human. In such models, a linear sequence of events (e.g., luteolysis, progesterone withdrawal, uterine activation, parturition) gives rise to the concept of a "trigger" mechanism. Conversely, we propose that human parturition may arise from the concomitant maturation of several systems in parallel. We have termed this novel concept "modular accumulation of physiological systems" (MAPS). We also emphasize the urgency to determine the precise role of the immune system in the process of parturition in situations other than intrauterine infection. Finally, we accentuate the need to develop a nonprimate animal model whose physiology is more relevant to human parturition. We suggest that the guinea pig displays several key physiological characteristics of gestation that more closely resemble human pregnancy than do currently favored animal models. We conclude that the application of novel concepts and new models are required to advance translational research in parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan F Mitchell
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Heritage Medical Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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Boyd JW, Lechuga TJ, Ebner CA, Kirby MA, Yellon SM. Cervix remodeling and parturition in the rat: lack of a role for hypogastric innervation. Reproduction 2009; 137:739-48. [PMID: 19158235 PMCID: PMC4242588 DOI: 10.1530/rep-08-0507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The hypogastric nerve is a major pathway innervating the uterine cervix, yet its contribution to the processes of cervical ripening and parturition is not known. The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of hypogastric nerve transection on remodeling of the cervix and timing of birth. As an initial goal, processes associated with remodeling of the peripartum cervix were studied. The cervix was obtained from time-dated pregnant rats on days 15, 19, 21, and 21.5 of pregnancy, and post partum on the day of birth (day 22). The cervix was excised, post-fixed overnight, and sections stained to evaluate collagen content and structure or processed by immunohistochemistry to identify macrophages or nerve fibers. The census of macrophages and density of nerve fibers in the cervix peaked on day 21, the day before birth, and then declined post partum. These results replicate in time course and magnitude previous studies in mice. To address the main objective, the hypogastric nerve was bilaterally transected on day 15 post-breeding; sham-operated rats served as controls. Pups were born in both groups at normal term. Transection of the hypogastric nerves did not affect remodeling of collagen or the census of macrophages or the density of nerve fibers in the cervix. These findings support the contention that enhanced innervation and immigration of immune cells are associated with remodeling of the cervix and parturition, but that a neural pathway other than the hypogastric nerve may participate in the process of cervical ripening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan W Boyd
- Departments of Physiology, Pathology and Human Anatomy, Pediatrics Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
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Yellon SM, Burns AE, See JL, Lechuga TJ, Kirby MA. Progesterone withdrawal promotes remodeling processes in the nonpregnant mouse cervix. Biol Reprod 2009; 81:1-6. [PMID: 19228593 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.108.074997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Prepartum cervical ripening is associated with remodeling of collagen structure and with inflammation. Progesterone withdrawal is critical for parturition, but the effects of progesterone decline on cervical morphology are unknown. The present study tested the hypothesis that progesterone withdrawal promotes processes associated with remodeling of the cervix. Adult, virgin, female C57BL/6 mice received silastic capsules with oil vehicle or estradiol plus progesterone to parallel concentrations in circulation during pregnancy. After 17 days of estradiol and progesterone treatment, the progesterone implant was removed from one group. Mice in each group were killed 15, 18, or 19 days after placement of capsules. Sections of cervix were stained for collagen, and the densities of macrophages, neutrophils, and area with nerve fibers were assessed. Treatment with gonadal steroids promoted hypertrophy of the cervix, as well as reduced collagen and increased area with nerve fibers compared with vehicle-treated controls. Removal of the progesterone capsule did not affect hypertrophy or innervation, but it did reduce collagen. By contrast, significantly more macrophages and neutrophils were present in the cervix on Days 18 and 19 (i.e., by 24 and 48 h after withdrawal of the progesterone capsule); the immune cell census was equivalent to that in vehicle controls. Findings indicate that gonadal steroids, comparable to those during pregnancy, promote hypertrophy and suppress immigration of immune cells in the cervix. Therefore, in a nonpregnant murine model for parturition, progesterone withdrawal is suggested to recruit immune cells and processes that remodel the cervix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Yellon
- Department of Physiology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA.
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Yellon SM, Ebner CA, Elovitz MA. Medroxyprogesterone acetate modulates remodeling, immune cell census, and nerve fibers in the cervix of a mouse model for inflammation-induced preterm birth. Reprod Sci 2008; 16:257-64. [PMID: 19087974 DOI: 10.1177/1933719108325757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
To determine whether a progestational agent can modify inflammation-induced preterm cervical ripening, mice on day 15 of gestation were given an intrauterine injection of (1) saline, (2) lipopolysaccharide, (3) an intramuscular injection of medroxyprogesterone acetate alone prior to lipopolysaccharide, or (4) medroxyprogesterone acetate alone. Cervices were obtained 6 hours later, then fixed, sectioned, and processed to stain collagen structure or to identify immune cells or nerve fibers. Cervical remodeling was induced by lipopolysaccharide treatment compared with that in saline controls, an effect blocked by medroxyprogesterone acetate pretreatment. Moreover, lipopolysaccharide reduced macrophages and enhanced neutrophils in the cervix, effects also forestalled by medroxyprogesterone acetate pretreatment. Although the density of nerve fibers was not altered by lipopolysaccharide, medroxyprogesterone acetate reduced innervation in the cervix. Thus, progestational treatment forestalls the inflammation-induced reduction in collagen structure and immune cell traffic through a mechanism that is independent of nerve fiber density. These findings raise the possibility that progestational treatment may regulate ripening of the cervix early in the process leading to preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Yellon
- Department of Physiology, Pediatrics and Obstetrics/Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California 92350, USA.
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Sahlin L, Stjernholm-Vladic Y, Roos N, Masironi B, Ekman-Ordeberg G. Impaired leukocyte influx in cervix of postterm women not responding to prostaglandin priming. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2008; 6:36. [PMID: 18764934 PMCID: PMC2551600 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-6-36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2008] [Accepted: 09/02/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prolonged pregnancies are associated with increased rate of maternal and fetal complications. Post term women could be divided into at least two subgroups, one where parturition is possible to induce by prostaglandins and one where it is not. Our aim was to study parameters in cervical biopsies in women with spontaneous delivery at term (controls) and compare to those that are successfully induced post term (responders), and those that are not induced (non-responders), by local prostaglandin treatment. METHODS Stromal parameters examined in this study were the accumulation of leukocytes (CD45, CD68), mRNAs and/or proteins for the extracellular matrix degrading enzymes (matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-8 and MMP-9), their inhibitors (tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2), interleukin-8 (IL-8), the platelet activating factor-receptor (PAF-R), syndecan-1 and estrogen binding receptors (estrogen receptor (ER)alpha, ERbeta and G-coupled protein receptor (GPR) 30) as well as the proliferation marker Ki-67. RESULTS The influx of leukocytes as assessed by CD45 was strongest in the responders, thereafter in the controls and significantly lower in the non-responders. IL-8, PAF-R and MMP-9, all predominantly expressed in leukocytes, showed significantly reduced immunostaining in the group of non-responders, while ERalpha and GPR30 were more abundant in the non-responders, as compared to the controls. CONCLUSION The impaired leukocyte influx, as reflected by the reduced number of CD45 positive cells as well as decreased immunostaining of IL-8, PAF-R and MMP-9 in the non-responders, could be one explanation of the failed ripening of the cervix in post term women. If the decreased leukocyte influx is a primary explanation to absent ripening or secondary, as a result of other factors, is yet to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Sahlin
- Division for Reproductive Endocrinology, Q2:08, Karolinska University Hospital – Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ylva Stjernholm-Vladic
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, H2:01, Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska University Hospital – Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nathalie Roos
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, H2:01, Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska University Hospital – Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Britt Masironi
- Division for Reproductive Endocrinology, Q2:08, Karolinska University Hospital – Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gunvor Ekman-Ordeberg
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, H2:01, Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska University Hospital – Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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