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Wang C, Wang YJ, Ying L, Wong RJ, Quaintance CC, Hong X, Neff N, Wang X, Biggio JR, Mesiano S, Quake SR, Alvira CM, Cornfield DN, Stevenson DK, Shaw GM, Li J. Integrative analysis of noncoding mutations identifies the druggable genome in preterm birth. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk1057. [PMID: 38241369 PMCID: PMC10798565 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk1057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Preterm birth affects ~10% of pregnancies in the US. Despite familial associations, identifying at-risk genetic loci has been challenging. We built deep learning and graphical models to score mutational effects at base resolution via integrating the pregnant myometrial epigenome and large-scale patient genomes with spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) from European and African American cohorts. We uncovered previously unidentified sPTB genes that are involved in myometrial muscle relaxation and inflammatory responses and that are regulated by the progesterone receptor near labor onset. We studied genomic variants in these genes in our recruited pregnant women administered progestin prophylaxis. We observed that mutation burden in these genes was predictive of responses to progestin treatment for preterm birth. To advance therapeutic development, we screened ~4000 compounds, identified candidate molecules that affect our identified genes, and experimentally validated their therapeutic effects on regulating labor. Together, our integrative approach revealed the druggable genome in preterm birth and provided a generalizable framework for studying complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Wang
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yuejun Jessie Wang
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lihua Ying
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ronald J. Wong
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Cecele C. Quaintance
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Xiumei Hong
- Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Norma Neff
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xiaobin Wang
- Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joseph R. Biggio
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ochsner Health, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Sam Mesiano
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve University and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Stephen R. Quake
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Cristina M. Alvira
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - David N. Cornfield
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - David K. Stevenson
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Gary M. Shaw
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jingjing Li
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Mead EC, Wang CA, Phung J, Fu JY, Williams SM, Merialdi M, Jacobsson B, Lye S, Menon R, Pennell CE. The Role of Genetics in Preterm Birth. Reprod Sci 2023; 30:3410-3427. [PMID: 37450251 PMCID: PMC10692032 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01287-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB), defined as the birth of a child before 37 completed weeks gestation, affects approximately 11% of live births and is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years. PTB is a complex disease with multiple risk factors including genetic variation. Much research has aimed to establish the biological mechanisms underlying PTB often through identification of genetic markers for PTB risk. The objective of this review is to present a comprehensive and updated summary of the published data relating to the field of PTB genetics. A literature search in PubMed was conducted and English studies related to PTB genetics were included. Genetic studies have identified genes within inflammatory, immunological, tissue remodeling, endocrine, metabolic, and vascular pathways that may be involved in PTB. However, a substantial proportion of published data have been largely inconclusive and multiple studies had limited power to detect associations. On the contrary, a few large hypothesis-free approaches have identified and replicated multiple novel variants associated with PTB in different cohorts. Overall, attempts to predict PTB using single "-omics" datasets including genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic biomarkers have been mostly unsuccessful and have failed to translate to the clinical setting. Integration of data from multiple "-omics" datasets has yielded the most promising results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse C Mead
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Carol A Wang
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, 2308, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Jason Phung
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, 2308, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, 2305, Australia
- Department of Maternity and Gynaecology, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Joanna Yx Fu
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Scott M Williams
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mario Merialdi
- Maternal Newborn Health Innovations, Geneva, PBC, Switzerland
| | - Bo Jacobsson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Clinical Science, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Genetics and Bioinformatics, Domain of Health Data and Digitalization, Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stephen Lye
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ramkumar Menon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Basic Science and Translational Research, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Craig E Pennell
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, 2308, Australia.
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, 2305, Australia.
- Department of Maternity and Gynaecology, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, 2305, Australia.
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3
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Manuck TA, Gyamfi-Bannerman C, Saade G. What now? A critical evaluation of over 20 years of clinical and research experience with 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate for recurrent preterm birth prevention. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2023; 5:101108. [PMID: 37527737 PMCID: PMC10591827 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.101108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Spontaneous preterm birth is multifactorial, and underlying etiologies remain incompletely understood. Supplementation with progestogens, including 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate has been a mainstay of prematurity prevention strategies in the United States in the last 2 decades. Following a recent negative confirmatory trial, 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate was withdrawn from the US market and is currently available only through clinical research studies. This expert review summarized clinical and research data regarding the use of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate in the United States from 2003 to 2023 for recurrent prematurity prevention. In 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate. The history of the use, mechanisms of action, clinical trial results, and efficacy by clinical and biologic criteria of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate are presented. We report that disparate findings and conclusions between similarly designed rigorous studies may reflect differences in a priori risk and population incidence and extreme care should be taken in interpreting the studies and making decisions regarding efficacy of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate for the prevention of preterm birth. The likelihood of improved obstetrical outcomes after receiving 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate may vary by clinical factors (eg, body mass index), plasma drug concentrations, and genetic factors, although the identification of individuals most likely to benefit remains imperfect. It is crucial for the medical community to recognize the importance of preserving the decades-long efforts invested in preventing recurrent preterm birth in the United States. Moreover, it is important that we thoroughly and thoughtfully evaluate 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate as a promising contender for future well-executed prematurity studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy A Manuck
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (Dr Manuck); Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC (Dr Manuck).
| | - Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA (Dr Gyamfi-Bannerman)
| | - George Saade
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA (Dr Saade)
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Meher A. Role of Transcription Factors in the Management of Preterm Birth: Impact on Future Treatment Strategies. Reprod Sci 2022; 30:1408-1420. [PMID: 36131222 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-022-01087-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Preterm birth is defined as the birth of a neonate before 37 weeks of gestation and is considered as a leading cause of the under five deaths of neonates. Neonates born preterm are known to have higher perinatal mortality and morbidity with associated risks of low birth weight, respiratory distress syndrome, gastrointestinal, immunologic, central nervous system, hearing, and vision problems, cerebral palsy, and delayed development. India leads the list of countries with the greatest number of preterm births. The studies focusing on the molecular mechanisms related to the etiology of preterm birth have described the role of different transcription factors. With respect to this, transcription factors like peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPAR), nuclear factor kappa β (NF-kβ), nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and progesterone receptor (PR) are known to be associated with preterm labor. All these transcription factors are linked together with a common cascade involving inflammatory processes. Thus, the current review describes the possible cross-talk between these transcription factors and their therapeutic potential to prevent or manage preterm labor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshaya Meher
- Central Research Laboratory, Dr. Vasantrao Pawar Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Nashik, Maharashtra, India, 422003.
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5
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Delanerolle G, Zeng YT, Phiri P, Phan T, Tempest N, Busuulwa P, Shetty A, Raymont V, Rathod S, Shi JQ, Hapangama DK. Mental health impact on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic populations with preterm birth: A systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Psychiatry 2022; 12:1233-1254. [PMID: 36186507 PMCID: PMC9521531 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v12.i9.1233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm birth (PTB) is one of the main causes of neonatal deaths globally, with approximately 15 million infants are born preterm. Women from the Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) populations maybe at higher risk of PTB, therefore, the mental health impact on mothers experiencing a PTB is particularly important, within the BAME populations.
AIM To determine the prevalence of mental health conditions among BAME women with PTB as well as the methods of mental health assessments used to characterise the mental health outcomes.
METHODS A systematic methodology was developed and published as a protocol in PROSPERO (CRD42020210863). Multiple databases were used to extract relevant data. I2 and Egger’s tests were used to detect the heterogeneity and publication bias. A trim and fill method was used to demonstrate the influence of publication bias and the credibility of conclusions.
RESULTS Thirty-nine studies met the eligibility criteria from a possible 3526. The prevalence rates of depression among PTB-BAME mothers were significantly higher than full-term mothers with a standardized mean difference of 1.5 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) 29%-74%. The subgroup analysis indicated depressive symptoms to be time sensitive. Women within the very PTB category demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of depression than those categorised as non-very PTB. The prevalence rates of anxiety and stress among PTB-BAME mothers were significantly higher than in full-term mothers (odds ratio of 88% and 60% with a CI of 42%-149% and 24%-106%, respectively).
CONCLUSION BAME women with PTB suffer with mental health conditions. Many studies did not report on specific mental health outcomes for BAME populations. Therefore, the impact of PTB is not accurately represented in this population, and thus could negatively influence the quality of maternity services they receive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayathri Delanerolle
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7JX, United Kingdom
- Research and Innovation, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO30 3JB, United Kingdom
| | - Yu-Tian Zeng
- Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Peter Phiri
- Research and Innovation, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO30 3JB, United Kingdom
- Psychology Department, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Thuan Phan
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Tempest
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, United Kingdom
- Gynaecology Directorate and Hewitt Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation, Liverpool L8 7SS, United Kingdom
| | - Paula Busuulwa
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, United Kingdom
| | - Ashish Shetty
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London W1T 4AJ, United Kingdom
| | - Vanessa Raymont
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7JX, United Kingdom
| | - Shanaya Rathod
- Research and Innovation, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO30 3JB, United Kingdom
| | - Jian-Qing Shi
- National Centre for Applied Mathematics Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong Province, China
- Department of Statistics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Dharani K Hapangama
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, United Kingdom
- Gynaecology Directorate and Hewitt Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation, Liverpool L8 7SS, United Kingdom
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Progesterone Receptor Signaling in the Uterus Is Essential for Pregnancy Success. Cells 2022; 11:cells11091474. [PMID: 35563781 PMCID: PMC9104461 DOI: 10.3390/cells11091474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The uterus plays an essential role in the reproductive health of women and controls critical processes such as embryo implantation, placental development, parturition, and menstruation. Progesterone receptor (PR) regulates key aspects of the reproductive function of several mammalian species by directing the transcriptional program in response to progesterone (P4). P4/PR signaling controls endometrial receptivity and decidualization during early pregnancy and is critical for the establishment and outcome of a successful pregnancy. PR is also essential throughout gestation and during labor, and it exerts critical roles in the myometrium, mainly by the specialized function of its two isoforms, progesterone receptor A (PR-A) and progesterone receptor B (PR-B), which display distinct and separate roles as regulators of transcription. This review summarizes recent studies related to the roles of PR function in the decidua and myometrial tissues. We discuss how PR acquired key features in placental mammals that resulted in a highly specialized and dynamic role in the decidua. We also summarize recent literature that evaluates the myometrial PR-A/PR-B ratio at parturition and discuss the efficacy of current treatment options for preterm birth.
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EBF1 Gene mRNA Levels in Maternal Blood and Spontaneous Preterm Birth. Reprod Sci 2020; 27:316-324. [PMID: 32046385 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-019-00027-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Genetic variants of six genes (EBF1, EEFSEC, AGTR2, WNT4, ADCY5, and RAP2C) have been linked recently to gestational duration and/or spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB). Our goal was to examine sPTB in relation to maternal blood mRNA levels of these genes. We used a public gene expression dataset (GSE59491) derived from maternal blood in trimesters 2 and 3 that included women with sPTB (n = 51) and term births (n = 106) matched for maternal age, race/ethnicity, pre-pregnancy body mass index, smoking during pregnancy, and parity. T tests were used to examine mRNA mean differences (sPTB vs term) within and across trimesters, and logistic regression models with mRNA quartiles were applied to assess associations between candidate gene mRNA levels and sPTB. Based on these analyses, one significant candidate gene was used in a Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to identify related gene sets. These gene sets were then compared with the ones previously linked to sPTB in the same samples. Our results indicated that among women in the lowest quartile of EBF1 mRNA in the 2nd or 3rd trimester, the odds ratio for sPTB was 2.86 (95%CI 1.08, 7.58) (p = 0.0349, false discovery rate (FDR) = 0.18) and 4.43 (95%CI 1.57, 12.50) (p = 0.0049, FDR = 0.06), respectively. No other candidate gene mRNAs were significantly associated with sPTB. In GSEA, 24 downregulated gene sets were correlated with 2nd trimester low EBF1 mRNA and part of previous sPTB-associated gene sets. In conclusion, mRNA levels of EBF1 in maternal blood may be useful in detecting increased risk of sPTB as early as 2nd trimester. The potential underlying mechanism might involve maternal-fetal immune and cell cycle/apoptosis pathways.
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Effects of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Cytokine, Toll-Like Receptor, and Progesterone Receptor Genes on Risk of Miscarriage. Obstet Gynecol Int 2018; 2018:9272749. [PMID: 30116270 PMCID: PMC6079348 DOI: 10.1155/2018/9272749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous abortion is a complex, multifactorial pathology, where various genetic, neural, endocrine, and immunological factors are involved. Cytokines, Toll-like receptors, and progesterone receptors play critical roles in embryonic implantation and development. A delicate, stage-specific equilibrium of these proteins is required for successful pregnancy outcome. However, genetic variation from one individual to another results in variation in levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines, strength of identification of infectious agents by Toll-like receptors, and quality of progesterone recognition. Thus, a complex study encompassing effects of major SNPs of cytokine, TLR, and PGR genes on the risk of miscarriage is needed. In this study, we investigated SNPs of 9 genes (TLR2 G753A, TLR4 C399T, TLR9 G2848A, TGF-β1 C509T, PGR PROGINS, IL-6 G174C, IL-8 C781T, IL-10 C592A, and TNFα G308A) in 106 women, whose pregnancy ended in miscarriage, and 74 women, who delivered in term without any pregnancy complication. All participants are from Ukrainian population. As a result, TLR9 and IL-10 SNPs have been found to play critical roles in the development of spontaneous abortion. TLR2, TLR4, IL-6, IL-8, and PGR SNPs were identified as secondary factors that can also affect the risk of miscarriage. There was no association found between TGF-β1 and TNFα polymorphisms and miscarriage.
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Li J, Hong X, Mesiano S, Muglia LJ, Wang X, Snyder M, Stevenson DK, Shaw GM. Natural Selection Has Differentiated the Progesterone Receptor among Human Populations. Am J Hum Genet 2018; 103:45-57. [PMID: 29937092 PMCID: PMC6035283 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2018.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The progesterone receptor (PGR) plays a central role in maintaining pregnancy and is significantly associated with medical conditions such as preterm birth that affects 12.6% of all the births in U.S. PGR has been evolving rapidly since the common ancestor of human and chimpanzee, and we herein investigated evolutionary dynamics of PGR during recent human migration and population differentiation. Our study revealed substantial population differentiation at the PGR locus driven by natural selection, where very recent positive selection in East Asians has substantially decreased its genetic diversity by nearly fixing evolutionarily novel alleles. On the contrary, in European populations, the PGR locus has been promoted to a highly polymorphic state likely due to balancing selection. Integrating transcriptome data across multiple tissue types together with large-scale genome-wide association data for preterm birth, our study demonstrated the consequence of the selection event in East Asians on remodeling PGR expression specifically in the ovary and determined a significant association of early spontaneous preterm birth with the evolutionarily selected variants. To reconstruct its evolutionary trajectory on the human lineage, we observed substantial differentiation between modern and archaic humans at the PGR locus, including fixation of a deleterious missense allele in the Neanderthal genome that was later introgressed in modern human populations. Taken together, our study revealed substantial evolutionary innovation in PGR even during very recent human evolution, and its different forms among human populations likely result in differential susceptibility to progesterone-associated disease conditions including preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Li
- The March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Stanford Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Xiumei Hong
- Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Sam Mesiano
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Louis J Muglia
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Departments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Xiaobin Wang
- Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Pediatrics, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Michael Snyder
- Stanford Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - David K Stevenson
- The March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Gary M Shaw
- The March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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Bustos ML, Caritis SN, Jablonski KA, Reddy UM, Sorokin Y, Manuck T, Varner MW, Wapner RJ, Iams JD, Carpenter MW, Peaceman AM, Mercer BM, Sciscione A, Rouse DJ, Ramin SM. The association among cytochrome P450 3A, progesterone receptor polymorphisms, plasma 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate concentrations, and spontaneous preterm birth. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2017; 217:369.e1-369.e9. [PMID: 28522317 PMCID: PMC5896763 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2017.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infants born <37 weeks' gestation are of public health concern since complications associated with preterm birth are the leading cause of mortality in children <5 years of age and a major cause of morbidity and lifelong disability. The administration of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate reduces preterm birth by 33% in women with history of spontaneous preterm birth. We demonstrated previously that plasma concentrations of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate vary widely among pregnant women and that women with 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate plasma concentrations in the lowest quartile had spontaneous preterm birth rates of 40% vs rates of 25% in those women with higher concentrations. Thus, plasma concentrations are an important factor in determining drug efficacy but the reason 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate plasma concentrations vary so much is unclear. Predominantly, 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate is metabolized by CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 enzymes. OBJECTIVE We sought to: (1) determine the relation between 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate plasma concentrations and single nucleotide polymorphisms in CYP3A4 and CYP3A5; (2) test the association between progesterone receptor single nucleotide polymorphisms and spontaneous preterm birth; and (3) test whether the association between plasma concentrations of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate and spontaneous preterm birth varied by progesterone receptor single nucleotide polymorphisms. STUDY DESIGN In this secondary analysis, we evaluated genetic polymorphism in 268 pregnant women treated with 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate, who participated in a placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the benefit of omega-3 supplementation in women with history of spontaneous preterm birth. Trough plasma concentrations of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate were measured between 25-28 weeks of gestation after a minimum of 5 injections of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate. We extracted DNA from maternal blood samples and genotyped the samples using TaqMan (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping assays for the following single nucleotide polymorphisms: CYP3A4*1B, CYP3A4*1G, CYP3A4*22, and CYP3A5*3; and rs578029, rs471767, rs666553, rs503362, and rs500760 for progesteronereceptor. We adjusted for prepregnancy body mass index, race, and treatment group in a multivariable analysis. Differences in the plasma concentrations of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate by genotype were evaluated for each CYP single nucleotide polymorphism using general linear models. The association between progesterone receptor single nucleotide polymorphisms and frequency of spontaneous preterm birth was tested using logistic regression. A logistic model also tested interaction between 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate concentrations with each progesterone receptor single nucleotide polymorphism for the outcome of spontaneous preterm birth. RESULTS The association between CYP single nucleotide polymorphisms *22, *1G, *1B, and *3 and trough plasma concentrations of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate was not statistically significant (P = .68, .44, .08, and .44, respectively). In an adjusted logistic regression model, progesterone receptor single nucleotide polymorphisms rs578029, rs471767, rs666553, rs503362, and rs500760 were not associated with the frequency of spontaneous preterm birth (P = .29, .10, .76, .09, and .43, respectively). Low trough plasma concentrations of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate were statistically associated with a higher frequency of spontaneous preterm birth (odds ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence ratio, 0.61-0.99; P = .04 for trend across quartiles), however no significant interaction with the progesterone receptor single nucleotide polymorphisms rs578029, rs471767, rs666553, rs503362, and rs500760 was observed (P = .13, .08, .10, .08, and .13, respectively). CONCLUSION The frequency of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth appears to be associated with trough 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate plasma concentrations. However, the wide variation in trough 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate plasma concentrations is not attributable to polymorphisms in CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 genes. Progesterone receptor polymorphisms do not predict efficacy of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate. The limitations of this secondary analysis include that we had a relative small sample size (n = 268) and race was self-reported by the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha L Bustos
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Steve N Caritis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
| | | | - Uma M Reddy
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD
| | | | - Tracy Manuck
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Brian M Mercer
- Case Western Reserve University-MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH
| | | | | | - Susan M Ramin
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
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11
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Ribeiro de Andrade Ramos B, da Silva MG. The Burden of Genetic and Epigenetic Traits in Prematurity. Reprod Sci 2017; 25:471-479. [PMID: 28718380 DOI: 10.1177/1933719117718270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Despite decades of investigations and accumulated scientific knowledge, preterm birth (PTB) remains a significant burden worldwide. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain this condition, and a number of risk factors from infectious to behavioral and genetic/epigenetic factors influence this outcome. The heritability of PTB is estimated to be 17% to 36%, which demonstrates that genetic predisposition plays a key role in PTB. Structural DNA modifications without changes in the DNA sequence and post-transcriptional regulation also have an impact on gene expression and thus influence pregnancy outcomes. There is a complex interplay between environmental factors and the individual's genetics and epigenetics that may culminate in PTB, but the complete regulatory pathways and networks involved in this context are still unclear. Here, we outline what is known so far about the genetic and epigenetic factors involved in preterm delivery, including polymorphisms, DNA methylation, and microRNAs, and suggest fields for research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Márcia Guimarães da Silva
- 1 Department of Pathology, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University-UNESP, São Paulo, Brazil
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12
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Manuck TA, Stoddard GJ, Fry RC, Esplin MS, Varner MW. Nonresponse to 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate for recurrent spontaneous preterm birth prevention: clinical prediction and generation of a risk scoring system. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2016; 215:622.e1-622.e8. [PMID: 27418444 PMCID: PMC5086280 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2016.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Revised: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spontaneous preterm birth remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality among nonanomalous neonates in the United States. Spontaneous preterm birth tends to recur at similar gestational ages. Intramuscular 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate reduces the risk of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth. Unfortunately, one-third of high-risk women will have a recurrent spontaneous preterm birth despite 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate therapy; the reasons for this variability in response are unknown. OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that clinical factors among women treated with 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate who suffer recurrent spontaneous preterm birth at a similar gestational age differ from women who deliver later, and that these associations could be used to generate a clinical scoring system to predict 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate response. STUDY DESIGN Secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial enrolling women with ≥1 previous singleton spontaneous preterm birth <37 weeks' gestation. Participants received daily omega-3 supplementation or placebo for the prevention of recurrent preterm birth; all were provided 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate. Women were classified as a 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate responder or nonresponder by calculating the difference in delivery gestational age between the 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate-treated pregnancy and her earliest previous spontaneous preterm birth. Responders were women with pregnancy extending ≥3 weeks later compared with the delivery gestational age of their earliest previous preterm birth; nonresponders delivered earlier or within 3 weeks of the gestational age of their earliest previous preterm birth. A risk score for nonresponse to 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate was generated from regression models via the use of clinical predictors and was validated in an independent population. Data were analyzed with multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS A total of 754 women met inclusion criteria; 159 (21%) were nonresponders. Responders delivered later on average (37.7±2.5 weeks) than nonresponders (31.5±5.3 weeks), P<.001. Among responders, 27% had a recurrent spontaneous preterm birth (vs 100% of nonresponders). Demographic characteristics were similar between responders and nonresponders. In a multivariable logistic regression model, independent risk factors for nonresponse to 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate were each additional week of gestation of the earliest previous preterm birth (odds ratio, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-1.30, P<.001), placental abruption or significant vaginal bleeding (odds ratio, 5.60; 95% confidence interval, 2.46-12.71, P<.001), gonorrhea and/or chlamydia in the current pregnancy (odds ratio, 3.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-9.48, P=.010), carriage of a male fetus (odds ratio, 1.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-2.24, P=.040), and a penultimate preterm birth (odds ratio, 2.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-4.25, P=.041). These clinical factors were used to generate a risk score for nonresponse to 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate as follows: black +1, male fetus +1, penultimate preterm birth +2, gonorrhea/chlamydia +4, placental abruption +5, earliest previous preterm birth was 32-36 weeks +5. A total risk score >6 was 78% sensitive and 60% specific for predicting nonresponse to 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate (area under the curve=0.69). This scoring system was validated in an independent population of 287 women; in the validation set, a total risk score >6 performed similarly with a 65% sensitivity, 67% specificity and area under the curve of 0.66. CONCLUSIONS Several clinical characteristics define women at risk for recurrent preterm birth at a similar gestational age despite 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate therapy and can be used to generate a clinical risk predictor score. These data should be refined and confirmed in other cohorts, and women at high risk for nonresponse should be targets for novel therapeutic intervention studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy A Manuck
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT.
| | - Gregory J Stoddard
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - M Sean Esplin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT; Intermountain Healthcare Women and Newborns Clinical Program, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Michael W Varner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT; Intermountain Healthcare Women and Newborns Clinical Program, Salt Lake City, UT
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13
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Sheikh IA, Ahmad E, Jamal MS, Rehan M, Assidi M, Tayubi IA, AlBasri SF, Bajouh OS, Turki RF, Abuzenadah AM, Damanhouri GA, Beg MA, Al-Qahtani M. Spontaneous preterm birth and single nucleotide gene polymorphisms: a recent update. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:759. [PMID: 27766960 PMCID: PMC5073925 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3089-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Preterm birth (PTB), birth at <37 weeks of gestation, is a significant global public health problem. World-wide, about 15 million babies are born preterm each year resulting in more than a million deaths of children. Preterm neonates are more prone to problems and need intensive care hospitalization. Health issues may persist through early adulthood and even be carried on to the next generation. Majority (70 %) of PTBs are spontaneous with about a half without any apparent cause and the other half associated with a number of risk factors. Genetic factors are one of the significant risks for PTB. The focus of this review is on single nucleotide gene polymorphisms (SNPs) that are reported to be associated with PTB. Results A comprehensive evaluation of studies on SNPs known to confer potential risk of PTB was done by performing a targeted PubMed search for the years 2007–2015 and systematically reviewing all relevant studies. Evaluation of 92 studies identified 119 candidate genes with SNPs that had potential association with PTB. The genes were associated with functions of a wide spectrum of tissue and cell types such as endocrine, tissue remodeling, vascular, metabolic, and immune and inflammatory systems. Conclusions A number of potential functional candidate gene variants have been reported that predispose women for PTB. Understanding the complex genomic landscape of PTB needs high-throughput genome sequencing methods such as whole-exome sequencing and whole-genome sequencing approaches that will significantly enhance the understanding of PTB. Identification of high risk women, avoidance of possible risk factors, and provision of personalized health care are important to manage PTB. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-3089-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishfaq A Sheikh
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ejaz Ahmad
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad S Jamal
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohd Rehan
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mourad Assidi
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Iftikhar A Tayubi
- Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Samera F AlBasri
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Osama S Bajouh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rola F Turki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,KACST Innovation Center in Personalized Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adel M Abuzenadah
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,KACST Innovation Center in Personalized Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ghazi A Damanhouri
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohd A Beg
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mohammed Al-Qahtani
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Caritis SN, Feghali MN, Grobman WA, Rouse DJ. What we have learned about the role of 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate in the prevention of preterm birth. Semin Perinatol 2016; 40:273-80. [PMID: 27105940 PMCID: PMC4983195 DOI: 10.1053/j.semperi.2016.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Despite major advances in neonatal care, the burden of preterm birth remains high. This is not unexpected since strategies to identify and treat risk factors in early pregnancy have not been very effective in reducing the preterm birth rate. Initial studies suggested a potential benefit for 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC) in decreasing the risk of recurrent preterm birth women with a singleton gestation. However, the use of 17-OHPC has not conferred benefit for other categories of women at high risk for preterm delivery (twins, triplets, and short cervical length). The increasing body of evidence suggests that preterm birth is a complex condition with variable mechanisms of disease and significant individual heterogeneity. This review will examine the plausibility of 17-OHPC in preventing preterm birth and the investigation of its clinical efficacy. We will also highlight factors to explain variations in clinical trial outcomes and outline the trajectory needed for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve N Caritis
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA.
| | - Maisa N Feghali
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - William A Grobman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Dwight J Rouse
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
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15
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Esplin MS, Manuck TA, Varner MW, Christensen B, Biggio J, Bukowski R, Parry S, Zhang H, Huang H, Andrews W, Saade G, Sadovsky Y, Reddy UM, Ilekis J. Cluster analysis of spontaneous preterm birth phenotypes identifies potential associations among preterm birth mechanisms. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015; 213:429.e1-9. [PMID: 26070700 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We sought to use an innovative tool that is based on common biologic pathways to identify specific phenotypes among women with spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) to enhance investigators' ability to identify and to highlight common mechanisms and underlying genetic factors that are responsible for SPTB. STUDY DESIGN We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective case-control multicenter study of SPTB. All cases delivered a preterm singleton at SPTB ≤34.0 weeks' gestation. Each woman was assessed for the presence of underlying SPTB causes. A hierarchic cluster analysis was used to identify groups of women with homogeneous phenotypic profiles. One of the phenotypic clusters was selected for candidate gene association analysis with the use of VEGAS software. RESULTS One thousand twenty-eight women with SPTB were assigned phenotypes. Hierarchic clustering of the phenotypes revealed 5 major clusters. Cluster 1 (n = 445) was characterized by maternal stress; cluster 2 (n = 294) was characterized by premature membrane rupture; cluster 3 (n = 120) was characterized by familial factors, and cluster 4 (n = 63) was characterized by maternal comorbidities. Cluster 5 (n = 106) was multifactorial and characterized by infection (INF), decidual hemorrhage (DH), and placental dysfunction (PD). These 3 phenotypes were correlated highly by χ(2) analysis (PD and DH, P < 2.2e-6; PD and INF, P = 6.2e-10; INF and DH, (P = .0036). Gene-based testing identified the INS (insulin) gene as significantly associated with cluster 3 of SPTB. CONCLUSION We identified 5 major clusters of SPTB based on a phenotype tool and hierarch clustering. There was significant correlation between several of the phenotypes. The INS gene was associated with familial factors that were underlying SPTB.
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16
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Langmia IM, Apalasamy YD, Omar SZ, Mohamed Z. Progesterone Receptor (PGR) gene polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to preterm birth. BMC MEDICAL GENETICS 2015; 16:63. [PMID: 26286601 PMCID: PMC4593226 DOI: 10.1186/s12881-015-0202-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm birth (PTB) is the major cause of death in newborn and the second major cause of death in children less than 5 years old worldwide. Genetic polymorphism has been implicated as a factor for the occurrence of preterm birth. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether polymorphism in the progesterone receptor (PGR) is associated with susceptibility to preterm birth. METHODS A total of 135 women with preterm and 532 women with term deliveries were genotyped for PGR gene polymorphisms (rs660149, rs471767, rs10895068) using Sequenom MassARRAY platform. RESULTS The G allele of PGR rs660149 polymorphism was significantly associated with susceptibility to PTB in the Malay women. The odds of G allele occurring among Malay women with preterm delivery was twice that of Malay women with term delivery (OR 2.3, 95 % CI (1.2-4.5, P = 0.011). Alternatively, no significant association was observed between PGR rs660149 polymorphisms and susceptibility to PTB in Chinese and Indian women. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that variability in the occurrence of PTB across ethnicities in Malaysia is partly due to differences in genetic background. We therefore suggest that in addition to life style and environmental factors, genetic factor should be greatly considered in this population. Prior information on the genetic composition of women may help in the identification and management of women at risk of preterm birth complication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Immaculate Mbongo Langmia
- Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacogenomics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Yamunah Devi Apalasamy
- Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacogenomics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Siti Zawaih Omar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Zahurin Mohamed
- Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacogenomics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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17
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Abstract
The molecular mechanisms controlling human birth timing at term, or resulting in preterm birth, have been the focus of considerable investigation, but limited insights have been gained over the past 50 years. In part, these processes have remained elusive because of divergence in reproductive strategies and physiology shown by model organisms, making extrapolation to humans uncertain. Here, we summarize the evolution of progesterone signaling and variation in pregnancy maintenance and termination. We use this comparative physiology to support the hypothesis that selective pressure on genomic loci involved in the timing of parturition have shaped human birth timing, and that these loci can be identified with comparative genomic strategies. Previous limitations imposed by divergence of mechanisms provide an important new opportunity to elucidate fundamental pathways of parturition control through increasing availability of sequenced genomes and associated reproductive physiology characteristics across diverse organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayleigh A Swaggart
- Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
| | - Mihaela Pavlicev
- Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229 Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
| | - Louis J Muglia
- Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229 Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
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18
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Feghali M, Venkataramanan R, Caritis S. Prevention of preterm delivery with 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate: pharmacologic considerations. Semin Perinatol 2014; 38:516-22. [PMID: 25256193 PMCID: PMC4253874 DOI: 10.1053/j.semperi.2014.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Despite advances in neonatal care, the burden of preterm birth remains high. Preterm birth is a multifactorial problem, and strategies to identify and treat medical risk factors in early pregnancy have not been effective in reducing preterm birth rates. In a sentinel clinical trial, prophylactic therapy with 17-hydoxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC) reduced the risk of recurrent, spontaneous preterm birth in 34% of women. As a result, clinical practice changed and extensive research on 17-OHPC followed. The increasing body of evidence demonstrated a variable efficacy of the drug. This review will examine the plausibility, pharmacology, clinical efficacy, and safety of 17-OHPC when used in the setting of preterm birth prevention. We will also discuss pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics data to highlight drug metabolism and mechanism of action, which will help clarify the variability in clinical outcomes and efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maisa Feghali
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
| | - Raman Venkataramanan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Steve Caritis
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
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Manuck TA, Watkins WS, Moore B, Esplin MS, Varner MW, Jackson GM, Yandell M, Jorde L. Pharmacogenomics of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate for recurrent preterm birth prevention. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2014; 210:321.e1-321.e21. [PMID: 24594138 PMCID: PMC4266558 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2014.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2013] [Revised: 12/26/2013] [Accepted: 01/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that genetic variation affects responsiveness to 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17P) for recurrent preterm birth prevention. STUDY DESIGN Women of European ancestry with ≥1 spontaneous singleton preterm birth at <34 weeks' gestation who received 17P were recruited prospectively and classified as a 17P responder or nonresponder by the difference in delivery gestational age between 17P-treated and -untreated pregnancies. Samples underwent whole exome sequencing. Coding variants were compared between responders and nonresponders with the use of the Variant Annotation, Analysis, and Search Tool (VAAST), which is a probabilistic search tool for the identification of disease-causing variants, and were compared with a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway candidate gene list. Genes with the highest VAAST scores were then classified by the online Protein ANalysis THrough Evolutionary Relationships (PANTHER) system into known gene ontology molecular functions and biologic processes. Gene distributions within these classifications were compared with an online reference population to identify over- and under- represented gene sets. RESULTS Fifty women (9 nonresponders) were included. Responders delivered 9.2 weeks longer with 17P vs 1.3 weeks' gestation for nonresponders (P < .001). A genome-wide search for genetic differences implicated the NOS1 gene to be the most likely associated gene from among genes on the KEGG candidate gene list (P < .00095). PANTHER analysis revealed several over-represented gene ontology categories that included cell adhesion, cell communication, signal transduction, nitric oxide signal transduction, and receptor activity (all with significant Bonferroni-corrected probability values). CONCLUSION We identified sets of over-represented genes in key processes among responders to 17P, which is the first step in the application of pharmacogenomics to preterm birth prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy A Manuck
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, UT; Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - W Scott Watkins
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Barry Moore
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - M Sean Esplin
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, UT; Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Michael W Varner
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, UT; Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - G Marc Jackson
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, UT; Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Mark Yandell
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Lynn Jorde
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
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Gupta S, Roman AS. 17-α hydroxyprogesterone caproate for the prevention of preterm birth. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 8:21-30. [PMID: 22171770 DOI: 10.2217/whe.11.78] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
17 α hydroxyprogesterone caproate is a synthetic form of the natural progestin 17-α hydroxyprogesterone that is US FDA approved for the prevention of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth in women with a history of a prior singleton preterm birth. For women with a history of a prior spontaneous preterm birth between 20 weeks and 36 weeks and 6 days of gestation, the use of 17-α hydroxyprogesterone caproate has been shown to reduce the risk of recurrent preterm birth by more than 30%. This medication is the only drug currently FDA approved for the prevention of preterm birth, and it is the first drug the FDA has approved for use exclusively during pregnancy in approximately 15 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simi Gupta
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
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21
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Abstract
Sexual dimorphism in human immune systems is most apparent in the female predominance of certain autoimmune diseases (ADs) like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Epidemiologic, observational and experimental evidence strongly suggest sex steroids are important modulators of genetic risk in human AD. In this regard, the roles of progesterone (Pg), an immunomodulatory female sex steroid, are poorly understood. Several lines of investigation indicate Pg and synthetic progestins impact risk of AD and immune-mediated injury in different ways depending on their concentrations and their engagement of various Pg receptors expressed in immune organs, immune cells or tissues targeted by immune attack. At low physiologic levels, Pg may enhance interferon-alpha (IFN-α) pathways important in SLE pathogenesis. Commonly used synthetic progestins may have the opposite effect. At pregnancy levels, Pg may suppress disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS) via inhibition of T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th17 pathways and induction of anti-inflammatory molecules. Importantly, Pg's immunomodulatory effects differ from those of estrogens and androgens. An additional layer of complexity arises from apparent interdependence of sex hormone signaling pathways. Identifying mechanisms by which Pg and other sex steroids modulate risk of AD and immune-mediated injury will require clarification of their cellular and molecular targets in vivo. These future studies should be informed by recent genetic discoveries in human AD, particularly those revealing their sex-specific genetic associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant C Hughes
- University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St., Box 356428, Seattle, WA 98195–6428, USA.
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Manuck TA, Lai Y, Meis PJ, Dombrowski MP, Sibai B, Spong CY, Rouse DJ, Durnwald CP, Caritis SN, Wapner RJ, Mercer BM, Ramin SM. Progesterone receptor polymorphisms and clinical response to 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2011; 205:135.e1-9. [PMID: 21600550 PMCID: PMC3210889 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2011.03.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2010] [Revised: 02/08/2011] [Accepted: 03/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Seventeen-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC) reduces recurrent preterm birth (PTB). We hypothesized that single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human progesterone receptor (PGR) affect response to 17-OHPC in the prevention of recurrent PTB. STUDY DESIGN We conducted secondary analysis of a study of 17-OHPC vs placebo for recurrent PTB prevention. Twenty PGR gene single nucleotide polymorphisms were studied. Multivariable logistic regression assessed for an interaction between PGR genotype and treatment status in modulating the risk of recurrent PTB. RESULTS A total of 380 women were included; 253 (66.6%) received 17-OHPC and 127 (33.4%) received placebo. In all, 61.1% of women were African American. Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated significant treatment-genotype interactions (either a beneficial or harmful treatment response) for African Americans delivering<37 weeks' gestation for rs471767 and rs578029, and for Hispanics/Caucasians delivering<37 weeks' gestation for rs500760 and <32 weeks' gestation for rs578029, rs503362, and rs666553. CONCLUSION The clinical efficacy and safety of 17-OHPC for recurrent PTB prevention may be altered by PGR gene polymorphisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy A Manuck
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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