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Holuka C, Grova N, Charalambous EG, Le Cléac H J, Turner JD, Mposhi A. Transgenerational impacts of early life adversity: from health determinants, implications to epigenetic consequences. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 164:105785. [PMID: 38945418 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105785] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to different environmental factors, social and socioeconomic factors promotes development of the early-life adversity (ELA) phenotype. The persistence of this phenotype across generations is an interesting phenomenon that remains unexplored. Of late many studies have focused on disease-associated outcomes of ELA following exposure during childhood but the persistence of epigenetic imprints transmitted by ELA exposed parents to their offspring remains poorly described. It is possible that both parents are able to transmit ELA-associated genetic imprints to their offspring via transgenerational inheritance mechanisms. Here, we highlight the role of the mother and father in the biological process of conception, from epigenetic reprogramming cycles to later environmental exposures. We explain some of the known determinants of ELA (pollution, socioeconomic challenges, infections, etc.) and their disease-associated outcomes. Finally, we highlight the role of epigenetics, mitochondria and ncRNAs as mechanisms mediating transgenerational inheritance. Whether these transgenerational inheritance mechanisms occur in the human context remains unclear but there is a large body of suggestive evidence in non-human models that points out to its existence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyrielle Holuka
- Immune Endocrine Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg; Faculty of Science, University of Luxembourg, Belval L-4365, Luxembourg
| | - Nathalie Grova
- Immune Endocrine Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg; UMR Inserm 1256 nGERE, Nutrition-Génétique et exposition aux risques environnementaux, Institute of Medical Research (Pôle BMS) - University of Lorraine, B.P. 184, Nancy 54511, France
| | - Eleftheria G Charalambous
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medecine Greifswald, Ellernholzstr. 1-2, Greifswald 17489, Germany; Department of Psychology, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 2109, Cyprus
| | - Jeanne Le Cléac H
- Immune Endocrine Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg; Faculty of Science, University of Luxembourg, Belval L-4365, Luxembourg
| | - Jonathan D Turner
- Immune Endocrine Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg.
| | - Archibold Mposhi
- Immune Endocrine Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg
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Vasconcelos S, Moustakas I, Branco MR, Guimarães S, Caniçais C, van der Helm T, Ramalho C, Marques CJ, de Sousa Lopes SMC, Dória S. Syncytiotrophoblast Markers Are Downregulated in Placentas from Idiopathic Stillbirths. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5180. [PMID: 38791219 PMCID: PMC11121380 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105180] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The trophoblast cells are responsible for the transfer of nutrients between the mother and the foetus and play a major role in placental endocrine function by producing and releasing large amounts of hormones and growth factors. Syncytiotrophoblast cells (STB), formed by the fusion of mononuclear cytotrophoblasts (CTB), constitute the interface between the foetus and the mother and are essential for all of these functions. We performed transcriptome analysis of human placental samples from two control groups-live births (LB), and stillbirths (SB) with a clinically recognised cause-and from our study group, idiopathic stillbirths (iSB). We identified 1172 DEGs in iSB, when comparing with the LB group; however, when we compared iSB with the SB group, only 15 and 12 genes were down- and upregulated in iSB, respectively. An assessment of these DEGs identified 15 commonly downregulated genes in iSB. Among these, several syncytiotrophoblast markers, like genes from the PSG and CSH families, as well as ALPP, KISS1, and CRH, were significantly downregulated in placental samples from iSB. The transcriptome analysis revealed underlying differences at a molecular level involving the syncytiotrophoblast. This suggests that defects in the syncytial layer may underlie unexplained stillbirths, therefore offering insights to improve clinical obstetrics practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Vasconcelos
- Genetics Service, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal (C.J.M.)
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ioannis Moustakas
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands (T.v.d.H.); (S.M.C.d.S.L.)
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Miguel R. Branco
- Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Susana Guimarães
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carla Caniçais
- Genetics Service, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal (C.J.M.)
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Talia van der Helm
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands (T.v.d.H.); (S.M.C.d.S.L.)
| | - Carla Ramalho
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cristina Joana Marques
- Genetics Service, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal (C.J.M.)
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Susana M. Chuva de Sousa Lopes
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands (T.v.d.H.); (S.M.C.d.S.L.)
| | - Sofia Dória
- Genetics Service, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal (C.J.M.)
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
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Lin YJ, Chang WH, Kuo PL, Chen HC, Chang WT, Huang PC. Oxidative/nitrosative stress increased the risk of recurrent pregnancy loss-Taiwan Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and Environmental Study (TREPLES). Redox Biol 2023; 68:102940. [PMID: 38661281 PMCID: PMC10628800 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Oxidative stress biomarkers (OSBs) may be strongly associated with disease progression and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). However, the research on associations of most OSBs (e.g., 8-nitroguanine [8-NO2Gua] and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-mercapturic acid [HNE-MA]) with RPL is limited. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of OSBs exposure on RPL risk by performing a case-control study. MATERIAL AND METHODS We use our established dataset, Taiwan Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and Environmental Study (TREPLES), which included 514 Taiwanese reproductive age women (aged 20-50 years; 397 cases and 117 controls) from National Cheng Kung University Hospital. RPL is clinically defined by a history of two or more consecutive miscarriages, where a miscarriage is defined as the termination of pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation. The urinary levels of several OSBs (e.g., 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG], 8-NO2Gua, 8-isoprostaglandin F2α [8-isoPGF2α], and HNE-MA) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured using isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, respectively. RESULTS The median levels of 8-NO2Gua (6.15 vs. 3.76 ng/mL) and HNE-MA (30.12 and 21.54 ng/mL) were significantly higher in the RPL group than in the control group. By categorizing the OSBs data into tertiles, after we adjusted for age and urine creatinine levels discovered that the RPL risk associated with 8-NO2Gua and HNE-MA levels in the third tertile were approximately 2 times higher than those in the first tertile (8-NO2Gua, adjusted OR = 3.27, 95 % CI = 1.66-6.43; HNE-MA, adjusted OR = 1.96, 95 % CI = 1.05-3.64; p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the oxidative stress biomarkers of 8-NO2Gua and HNE-MA are risk factors for RPL. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that specific OSBs are associated with an increased RPL risk, suggesting that reducing OSB levels can improve RPL risk. Nevertheless, more studies on preventive medicine are required to understand the exposure sources and adverse outcome pathways of OSBs associated with RPL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jung Lin
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Hsiang Chang
- Department of Food Safety/ Hygiene and Risk Management, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 704, Taiwan
| | - Pao-Lin Kuo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital and College of Medicine, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eda Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Chang Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Ting Chang
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chin Huang
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Research Center for Precision Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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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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Hoffmann JA, Gründler K, Richter DU, Stubert J. Prediction of spontaneous preterm birth using CCL2 and CXCL10 in maternal serum of symptomatic high-risk pregnant women: a prospective cohort study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023; 23:697. [PMID: 37770883 PMCID: PMC10537471 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-06016-3] [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: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION CCL2 and CXCL10 are putative biomarkers for the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth. This study evaluates these markers in a cohort of pregnant high-risk women. MATERIAL AND METHODS In our prospective study, we included 109 women with signs of preterm labor between 20 + 0 and 31 + 6 weeks of gestation. Inclusion criteria were regular (< 3/30 min) or painful contractions, cervical length < 25 mm or a history of previous preterm birth (PTB). Blood samples were obtained upon first admission to our clinic. Biomarker concentrations were measured using pre-coated sandwich immunoassays (ELISA). Primary study outcome was spontaneous preterm birth < 34 weeks, secondary outcome was delivery < 37 weeks or within seven days after study inclusion. RESULTS Sixteen women (14.7%) delivered < 34 weeks and twenty women between 34 + 0 and 36 + 6 weeks (18.4%). Six patients (5.5%) gave birth within seven days after study admission. CXCL10 showed higher medium serum levels in women with PTB < 34 weeks (115 pg/ml compared to 61 pg/ml ≥ 34 weeks; p < 0.001) and < 37 weeks (103 pg/ml vs. 53 pg/ml; p < 0.001). In contrary, lower CCL2 serum levels were associated with PTB < 34 weeks (46 pg/ml vs. 73 pg/ml; p = 0.032) and birth within 7 days (25 pg/ml vs. 73 pg/ml; p = 0.008). The CXCL10/CCL2-ratio further improved the predictive model with a ROC-AUC of 0.83 (95% CI 0.73-0.93, p < 0.001) for delivery < 34 weeks. These corresponds to a sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of 0.67, 0.86 and 0.43 at a cut-off of 2.2. CONCLUSION Low maternal serum CCL2 levels are associated with a higher risk of preterm delivery within seven days. High CXCL10 serum levels are more associated with a high risk for preterm birth < 34 weeks. Elevated CXCL10/CCL2-ratio is showing the best predictive performance. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER (DRKS-ID) DRKS00010763, Registration date: September 02, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Alana Hoffmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rostock University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
| | - Kathleen Gründler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, HELIOS Hospital Schwerin, Schwerin, Germany
| | - Dagmar- Ulrike Richter
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rostock University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
| | - Johannes Stubert
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rostock University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany.
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Association of Maternal Plasma Manganese with the Risk of Spontaneous Preterm Birth: A Nested Case–Control Study Based on the Beijing Birth Cohort Study (BBCS) in China. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15061413. [PMID: 36986144 PMCID: PMC10053178 DOI: 10.3390/nu15061413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
We performed this study to clarify the dynamic changes in maternal manganese (Mn) concentration during pregnancy and its association with spontaneous preterm birth (SPB). A nested case–control study was conducted based on the Beijing Birth Cohort Study (BBCS) from 2018 to 2020. Singleton pregnancy women aged 18–44 (n = 488) were involved in the study, including 244 cases of SPB and 244 controls. All of the participants provided blood samples twice (in their first and third trimesters). Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used for the laboratory analysis, and unconditional logistic regression was used for the statistical analysis. We found that the maternal Mn levels were significantly higher in the third trimester than those in the first trimester (median: 1.23 vs. 0.81 ng/mL). The SPB risk was increased to 1.65 (95% CI: 1.04–2.62, p = 0.035) in the highest Mn level (third tertile) in the third trimester, especially in normal-weight women (OR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.18–3.61, p = 0.011) or non-premature rupture of membrane (PROM) women (OR: 3.93, 95% CI: 2.00–7.74, p < 0.001). Moreover, a dose-dependent relationship exists between the SPB risk and maternal Mn concentration in non-PROM women (P trend < 0.001). In conclusion, dynamic monitoring of maternal Mn level during pregnancy would be helpful for SPB prevention, especially in normal-weight and non-PROM women.
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Paquette AG, MacDonald J, Bammler T, Day DB, Loftus CT, Buth E, Mason WA, Bush NR, Lewinn KZ, Marsit C, Litch JA, Gravett M, Enquobahrie DA, Sathyanarayana S. Placental transcriptomic signatures of spontaneous preterm birth. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023; 228:73.e1-73.e18. [PMID: 35868418 PMCID: PMC9790028 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spontaneous preterm birth accounts for most preterm births and leads to significant morbidity in the newborn and childhood period. This subtype of preterm birth represents an increasing proportion of all preterm births when compared with medically indicated preterm birth, yet it is understudied in omics analyses. The placenta is a key regulator of fetal and newborn health, and the placental transcriptome can provide insight into pathologic changes that lead to spontaneous preterm birth. OBJECTIVE This analysis aimed to identify genes for which placental expression was associated with spontaneous preterm birth (including early preterm and late preterm birth). STUDY DESIGN The ECHO PATHWAYS consortium extracted RNA from placental samples collected from the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood and the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth studies. Placental transcriptomic data were obtained by RNA sequencing. Linear models were fit to estimate differences in placental gene expression between term birth and spontaneous preterm birth (including gestational age subgroups defined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists). Models were adjusted for numerous confounding variables, including labor status, cohort, and RNA sequencing batch. This analysis excluded patients with induced labor, chorioamnionitis, multifetal gestations, or medical indications for preterm birth. Our combined cohort contained gene expression data for 14,023 genes in 48 preterm and 540 term samples. Genes and pathways were considered statistically significantly different at false discovery rate-adjusted P value of <.05. RESULTS In total, we identified 1728 genes for which placental expression was associated with spontaneous preterm birth with more differences in expression in early preterm samples than late preterm samples when compared with full-term samples. Of those, 9 genes were significantly decreased in both early and late spontaneous preterm birth, and the strongest associations involved placental expression of IL1B, ALPL, and CRLF1. In early and late preterm samples, we observed decreased expression of genes involved in immune signaling, signal transduction, and endocrine function. CONCLUSION This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the differences in the placental transcriptome associated with spontaneous preterm birth with robust adjustment for confounding. Results of this study are in alignment with the known etiology of spontaneous preterm birth, because we identified multiple genes and pathways for which the placental and chorioamniotic membrane expression was previously associated with prematurity, including IL1B. We identified decreased expression in key signaling pathways that are essential for placental growth and function, which may be related to the etiology of spontaneous preterm birth. We identified increased expression of genes within metabolic pathways associated exclusively with early preterm birth. These signaling and metabolic pathways may provide clinically targetable pathways and biomarkers. The findings presented here can be used to understand underlying pathologic changes in premature placentas, which can inform and improve clinical obstetrics practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison G Paquette
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
| | - James MacDonald
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Theo Bammler
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Drew B Day
- Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA
| | - Christine T Loftus
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Erin Buth
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - W Alex Mason
- Department of Preventative Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
| | - Nicole R Bush
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Department of Pediatrics, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Kaja Z Lewinn
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Carmen Marsit
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - James A Litch
- Global Alliance to Prevent Preterm Birth and Stillbirth (GAPPS), Lynnwood, WA
| | - Michael Gravett
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | | | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA; Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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Zheng Y, Pan J, Xia C, Chen H, Zhou H, Ju W, Wegiel J, Myatt L, Roberts JM, Guo X, Zhong N. Characterization of placental and decidual cell development in early pregnancy loss by single-cell RNA sequencing. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:168. [PMID: 36209198 PMCID: PMC9548121 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00904-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Early pregnancy loss (EPL) presents as sporadic or recurrent miscarriage during the first trimester. In addition to chromosomal defects, EPL may result from impairment of the placental-decidual interface at early gestational age due to gene-environmental interactions. Methods To better understand the pathogenesis associated with this impairment, cell development in chorionic villi and decidua of different forms of EPL (sporadic or recurrent) was investigated with single-cell RNA sequencing and compared to that of normal first-trimester tissue. Results Unique gene expression signatures were obtained for the different forms of EPL and for normal tissue and the composition of placental and decidual cell clusters in each form was established. In particular, the involvement of macrophages in the EPL phenotypes was identified revealing an immunoactive state. Conclusion Differential gene expression and unique marker genes among cell clusters from chorionic villi and decidua of miscarried and normal pregnancies, may lead to identification of biomarker for EPL. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-022-00904-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhua Zheng
- Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Foshan Women and Children, 11 W. Renmin Lu, Foshan, 528000 China
| | - Jing Pan
- Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Foshan Women and Children, 11 W. Renmin Lu, Foshan, 528000 China
| | - Chenglai Xia
- Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Foshan Women and Children, 11 W. Renmin Lu, Foshan, 528000 China
| | - Haiying Chen
- Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Foshan Women and Children, 11 W. Renmin Lu, Foshan, 528000 China
| | - Huadong Zhou
- Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Foshan Women and Children, 11 W. Renmin Lu, Foshan, 528000 China
| | - Weina Ju
- grid.420001.70000 0000 9813 9625New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314 USA
| | - Jerzy Wegiel
- grid.420001.70000 0000 9813 9625New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314 USA
| | - Leslie Myatt
- grid.5288.70000 0000 9758 5690Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97239 USA
| | - James M. Roberts
- grid.5288.70000 0000 9758 5690Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97239 USA ,grid.460217.60000 0004 0387 4432Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Epidemiology and Clinical and Translational Research University of Pittsburgh, Magee-Womens Research Institute, 204 Craft Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA
| | - Xiaoling Guo
- Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Foshan Women and Children, 11 W. Renmin Lu, Foshan, 528000 China
| | - Nanbert Zhong
- grid.420001.70000 0000 9813 9625New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314 USA
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Ran Y, Chen R, Huang D, Qin Y, Liu Z, He J, Mei Y, Zhou Y, Yin N, Qi H. The landscape of circular RNA in preterm birth. Front Immunol 2022; 13:879487. [PMID: 36072601 PMCID: PMC9441874 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.879487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Preterm birth (PTB) is a multifactorial syndrome that seriously threatens the health of pregnant women and babies worldwide. Recently, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been understood as important regulators of various physiological and pathological processes. However, the expression pattern and potential roles of circRNAs in PTB are largely unclear. Methods In this study, we extracted and analyzed the circRNA expression profiles in maternal and fetal samples of preterm and term pregnancies, including maternal plasma, maternal monocytes, myometrium, chorion, placenta, and cord blood. We identified the circRNAs which is associated with PTB in different tissues and explored their relationships from the perspective of the overall maternal-fetal system. Furthermore, co-expression analysis of circRNAs and mRNAs, target microRNAs (miRNAs), and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), provided new clues about possible mechanisms of circRNA function in PTB. In the end, we investigated the potential special biofunctions of circRNAs in different tissues and their common features and communication in PTB. Results Significant differences in circRNA types and expression levels between preterm and term groups have been proved, as well as between tissues. Nevertheless, there were still some PTB-related differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs) shared by these tissues. The functional enrichment analysis showed that the DECs putatively have important tissue-specific biofunctions through their target miRNA and co-expressed mRNAs, which contribute to the signature pathologic changes of each tissue within the maternal-fetal system in PTB (e.g., the contraction of the myometrium). Moreover, DECs in different tissues might have some common biological activities, which are mainly the activation of immune-inflammatory processes (e.g., interleukin1/6/8/17, chemokine, TLRs, and complement). Conclusions In summary, our data provide a preliminary blueprint for the expression and possible roles of circRNAs in PTB, which lays the foundation for future research on the mechanisms of circRNAs in PTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Ran
- Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ruixin Chen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dongni Huang
- Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Qin
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie He
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Youwen Mei
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yunqian Zhou
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Nanlin Yin
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Nanlin Yin, ; Hongbo Qi,
| | - Hongbo Qi
- Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Nanlin Yin, ; Hongbo Qi,
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Zhang S, Ding J, Zhang Y, Liu S, Yang J, Yin T. Regulation and Function of Chemokines at the Maternal–Fetal Interface. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:826053. [PMID: 35938162 PMCID: PMC9354654 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.826053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful pregnancy requires the maternal immune system to tolerate the semi-allogeneic embryo. A good trophoblast function is also essential for successful embryo implantation and subsequent placental development. Chemokines are initially described in recruiting leukocytes. There are rich chemokines and chemokine receptor system at the maternal–fetal interface. Numerous studies have reported that they not only regulate trophoblast biological behaviors but also participate in the decidual immune response. At the same time, the chemokine system builds an important communication network between fetally derived trophoblast cells and maternally derived decidual cells. However, abnormal functions of chemokines or chemokine receptors are involved in a series of pregnancy complications. As growing evidence points to the roles of chemokines in pregnancy, there is a great need to summarize the available data on this topic. This review aimed to describe the recent research progress on the regulation and function of the main chemokines in pregnancy at the maternal–fetal interface. In addition, we also discussed the potential relationship between chemokines and pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sainan Zhang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University & Hubei Clinic Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Embryonic Development, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinli Ding
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University & Hubei Clinic Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Embryonic Development, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Su Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology for Peri-implantation, Shenzhen Zhongshan Institute for Reproduction and Genetics, Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Su Liu, ; Jing Yang, ; Tailang Yin,
| | - Jing Yang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University & Hubei Clinic Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Embryonic Development, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Su Liu, ; Jing Yang, ; Tailang Yin,
| | - Tailang Yin
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University & Hubei Clinic Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Embryonic Development, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Su Liu, ; Jing Yang, ; Tailang Yin,
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11
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Lapehn S, Paquette AG. The Placental Epigenome as a Molecular Link Between Prenatal Exposures and Fetal Health Outcomes Through the DOHaD Hypothesis. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:490-501. [PMID: 35488174 PMCID: PMC9363315 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00354-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis posits that the perinatal environment can impact fetal and later life health. The placenta is uniquely situated to assess prenatal exposures in the context of DOHaD because it is an essential ephemeral fetal organ that manages the transport of oxygen, nutrients, waste, and endocrine signals between the mother and fetus. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent studies that evaluated the DOHaD hypothesis in human placentas using epigenomics, including DNA methylation and transcriptomic studies of mRNA, lncRNA, and microRNAs. Recent Findings Between 2016 and 2021, 28 articles evaluated associations between prenatal exposures and placental epigenomics across broad exposure categories including maternal smoking, psychosocial stressors, chemicals, air pollution, and metals. Sixteen of these studies connected exposures to health outcome such as birth weight, fetal growth, or infant neurobehavior through mediation analysis, identification of shared associations between exposure and outcome, or network analysis. These aspects of infant and childhood health serve as a foundation for future studies that aim to use placental epigenetics to understand relationships between the prenatal environment and perinatal complications (such as preterm birth or fetal growth restriction) or later life childhood health. Summary Placental DNA methylation and RNA expression have been linked to numerous prenatal exposures, such as PM2.5 air pollution, metals, and maternal smoking, as well as infant and childhood health outcomes, including fetal growth and birth weight. Placental epigenomics provides a unique opportunity to expand the DOHaD premise, particularly if research applies novel methodologies such as multi-omics analysis, sequencing of non-coding RNAs, mixtures analysis, and assessment of health outcomes beyond early childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Lapehn
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Alison G Paquette
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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12
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Hussein S, Ju W, Pizzella S, Flory M, Chu C, Wang Y, Zhong N. Reduced expression in preterm birth of sFLT-1 and PlGF with a high sFLT-1/PlGF ratio in extracellular vesicles suggests a potential biomarker. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1024587. [PMID: 36619545 PMCID: PMC9814499 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1024587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth may have a pathological impact on intrauterine development of the fetal brain, resulting in developmental disabilities. In this study, we examine the expression of soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFLT-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF), which is one of the vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs), as these play a key role in angiogenesis; in particular, we examine their effect on the sFLT-1/PlGF ratio in cases of preterm birth as compared to typical pregnancies. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed on samples of maternal-derived plasma and extracellular vesicles-exosomes (EVs-EXs) isolated at the third trimester, consisting of 17 samples from cases of preterm birth and 38 control cases. Our results showed that both sFLT-1 (P=0.0014) and PlGF (P=0.0032) were significantly downregulated in cases of preterm birth compared to controls, while the sFLT-1/PIGF ratio was significantly (P=0.0008) increased in EVs-EXs, but not in maternal plasma. Our results suggest that this reduced expression of sFLT-1 and PlGF with an elevated sFLT-1/PlGF ratio in EVs-EXs may represent a potential biomarker for prediction of PTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sama Hussein
- New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, United States
| | - Weina Ju
- New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, United States
| | - Stephanie Pizzella
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Michael Flory
- New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, United States
| | - Chu Chu
- New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, United States
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
- *Correspondence: Nanbert Zhong, ; Yong Wang,
| | - Nanbert Zhong
- New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Nanbert Zhong, ; Yong Wang,
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