Expression and regulation of metallothioneins in myometrium and fetal membranes

Transcriptome analysis of adenomyosis eutopic endometrium reveals molecular mechanisms involved in adenomyosis-related implantation failure and pregnancy disorders

BACKGROUND

Women with adenomyosis are characterized by having defective decidualization, impaired endometrial receptivity and/or embryo-maternal communication, and implantation failure. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying adenomyosis-related infertility remain unknown, mainly because of the restricted accessibility and the difficult preservation of endometrial tissue in vitro. We have recently shown that adenomyosis patient-derived endometrial organoids, maintain disease-specific features while differentiated into mid-secretory and gestational endometrial phase, overcoming these research barriers and providing a robust platform to study adenomyosis pathogenesis and the associated molecular dysregulation related to implantation and pregnancy disorders. For this reason, we aim to characterize the dysregulated mechanisms in the mid-secretory and gestational endometrium of patients with adenomyosis by RNA-sequencing.

METHODS

Endometrial organoids were derived from endometrial biopsies collected in the proliferative phase of women with adenomyosis (ADENO) or healthy oocyte donors (CONTROL) (n = 15/group) and differentiated into mid-secretory (-SECorg) and gestational (-GESTorg) phases in vitro. Following RNA-sequencing, the significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (FDR < 0.05) were identified and selected for subsequent functional enrichment analysis and QIAGEN Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). Statistical differences in gene expression were evaluated with the Student's t-test or Wilcoxon test.

RESULTS

We identified 1,430 DEGs in ADENO-SECorg and 1,999 DEGs in ADENO-GESTorg. In ADENO-SECorg, upregulated genes included OLFM1, FXYD5, and RUNX2, which are involved in impaired endometrial receptivity and implantation failure, while downregulated genes included RRM2, SOSTDC1, and CHAC2 implicated in recurrent implantation failure. In ADENO-GESTorg, upregulated CXCL14 and CYP24A1 and downregulated PGR were related to pregnancy loss. IPA predicted a significant inhibition of ID1 signaling, histamine degradation, and activation of HMGB1 and Senescence pathways, which are related to implantation failure. Alternatively, IPA predicted an inhibition of D-myo-inositol biosynthesis and VEGF signaling, and upregulation of Rho pathway, which are related to pregnancy loss and preeclampsia.

CONCLUSIONS

Identifying dysregulated molecular mechanisms in mid-secretory and gestational endometrium of adenomyosis women contributes to the understanding of adenomyosis-related implantation failure and/or pregnancy disorders revealing potential therapeutic targets. Following experimental validation of our transcriptomic and in silico findings, our differentiated adenomyosis patient-derived organoids have the potential to provide a reliable platform for drug discovery, development, and personalized drug screening for affected patients.

Microbial and human transcriptome in vaginal fluid at midgestation: Association with spontaneous preterm delivery

BACKGROUND

Intrauterine infection and inflammation caused by microbial transfer from the vagina are believed to be important factors causing spontaneous preterm delivery (PTD). Multiple studies have examined the relationship between the cervicovaginal microbiome and spontaneous PTD with divergent results. Most studies have applied a DNA-based assessment, providing information on the microbial composition but not transcriptional activity. A transcriptomic approach was applied to investigate differences in the active vaginal microbiome and human transcriptome at midgestation between women delivering spontaneously preterm versus those delivering at term.

METHODS

Vaginal swabs were collected in women with a singleton pregnancy at 18 + 0 to 20 + 6 gestational weeks. For each case of spontaneous PTD (delivery <37 + 0 weeks) two term controls were randomized (39 + 0 to 40 + 6 weeks). Vaginal specimens were subject to sequencing of both human and microbial RNA. Microbial reads were taxonomically classified using Kraken2 and RefSeq as a reference. Statistical analyses were performed using DESeq2. GSEA and HUMAnN3 were used for pathway analyses.

RESULTS

We found 17 human genes to be differentially expressed (false discovery rate, FDR < 0.05) in the preterm group (n = 48) compared to the term group (n = 96). Gene expression of kallikrein-2 (KLK2), KLK3 and four isoforms of metallothioneins 1 (MT1s) was higher in the preterm group (FDR < 0.05). We found 11 individual bacterial species to be differentially expressed (FDR < 0.05), most with a low occurrence. No statistically significant differences in bacterial load, diversity or microbial community state types were found between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In our mainly white population, primarily bacterial species of low occurrence were differentially expressed at midgestation in women who delivered preterm versus at term. However, the expression of specific human transcripts including KLK2, KLK3 and several isoforms of MT1s was higher in preterm cases. This is of interest, because these genes may be involved in critical inflammatory pathways associated with spontaneous PTD.

Identification of Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers and Biological Pathways in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Based on Bioinformatics Analysis

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic heterogeneous disorder and the main cause of sudden cardiac death in adolescents and young adults. This study was aimed at identifying potential diagnostic biomarkers and biological pathways to help to diagnose and treat HCM through bioinformatics analysis. We selected the GSE36961 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and identified 893 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Subsequently, 12 modules were generated through weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), and the turquoise module showed the highest negative correlation with HCM (cor = −0.9, p-value = 4 × 10−52). With the filtering standard gene significance (GS) < −0.7 and module membership (MM) > 0.9, 19 genes were then selected to establish the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) model, and LYVE1, MAFB, and MT1M were finally identified as key genes. The expression levels of these genes were additionally verified in the GSE130036 dataset. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed oxidative phosphorylation, tumor necrosis factor alpha-nuclear factor-κB (TNFα-NFκB), interferon-gamma (IFNγ) response, and inflammatory response were four pathways possibly related to HCM. In conclusion, LYVE1, MAFB, and MT1M were potential biomarkers of HCM, and oxidative stress, immune response as well as inflammatory response were likely to be associated with the pathogenesis of HCM.

Naringenin inhibits pro‑inflammatory cytokine production in macrophages through inducing MT1G to suppress the activation of NF‑κB

Naringenin (Nar) is a flavanone that has been suggested to provide human health benefits such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties. However, the mechanisms underlying these benefits are complex and still not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of Nar on the inflammatory response of macrophages and its underlying mechanism. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human macrophages, Nar inhibited the activation of NF-κB pathway and suppressed the downstream expression of pro-inflammatory factors. In addition, Nar was also able to induce metallothionein 1 G (MT1G) expression, and the inhibitory effects of Nar on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines was dependent on MT1G. Mechanistically, we found that MT1G-mediated inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines responses might be through repressing NF-κB activation via zinc chelation. Overall, this study reveals a novel mechanism of Nar on inflammatory responses, the suppression of NF-κB activation through upregulation of MT1G.

Changes in peripheral blood oxidative stress markers and hepatic gene expression related to oxidative stress in Holstein cows with and without subacute ruminal acidosis during the periparturient period

We investigated changes in peripheral blood metabolites, oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, potential antioxidant capacity, and glutathione peroxidase [GPX]), and hepatic gene expression related to oxidative stress in Holstein cows with and without subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) during the periparturient period. Eighteen multiparous Holstein cows were categorized into SARA (n=9) or non-SARA (n=9) groups depending on whether they developed SARA; reticulo-ruminal pH was <5.6 for more than 3 hr per day, during the 2 weeks after parturition. Blood and liver tissue samples were collected 3 weeks prepartum and 2 and 6 weeks postpartum, with an additional blood sample collected 0 and 4 weeks postpartum. Blood aspartate transaminase (AST) and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) increased significantly (P<0.05) after parturition in both groups. GPX activity decreased gradually after parturition in the SARA group. In the SARA group, gene expression of GPX 1 and microsomal glutathione S-transferase 3 (MGST3) decreased significantly (P<0.05), and expression of metallothionein 2A increased significantly (P<0.05) after parturition in the SARA group. Superoxide dismutase 1 and MGST3 decreased significantly (P<0.05) 2 weeks postpartum in the non-SARA group. Gene expression related to oxidative stress was negatively correlated with AST, NEFA and total ketone body levels. Therefore, the hepatic gene expression related to oxidative stress might change associated with a negative energy balance, and might relate the high oxidative stress in the SARA group during periparturient period.

Role of IRG1 in Regulating Pro-inflammatory and Pro-labor Mediators in Human Myometrium

Preterm birth is a major contributor to neonatal deaths and associated long-term morbidities for the survivors, yet therapies remain elusive, given our incomplete understanding of the mechanisms driving human labor and delivery. Human labor is an inflammatory process, and we investigated whether IRG1 (immunoresponsive gene-1) plays a role in these processes. We demonstrate that IRG1 mRNA and protein expression is significantly increased in myometrium with human term labor, compared to no labor samples, and with preterm (LPS) labor in a mouse model. Pro-labor mediators such as pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF and IL1B, and TLR ligands fsl-1, flagellin, LPS, and poly(I:C) also increased IRG1 mRNA expression in myometrial explants. IRG1 silencing, using siRNA in primary myometrial cells, displayed a decrease in the expression of inflammation-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL1A, IL6), chemokines (CCL2, CXCL1, CXCL8), adhesion molecules (ICAM1, VCAM1), and contractility (PTGFR mRNA expression, prostaglandin F_2α release, and in situ gel contraction assay). Our results suggest that IRG1 is involved when pro-labor mediators activate the inflammatory processes of human labor, warranting further investigation.