1
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Coenen CS, Hidalgo TN, Lynn T, Jones DM, Salmon JE, Chamley LW, Abrahams VM. Antiphospholipid-exposed trophoblast-derived extracellular vesicles express elevated levels of TLR7/8-activating microRNAs and induce endometrial endothelial activation, in part, through TLR7. J Reprod Immunol 2024; 164:104255. [PMID: 38797133 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2024.104255] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Women with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) are at high risk for miscarriage and preeclampsia. Unlike pro-thrombotic systemic APS, obstetric APS is associated with insufficient placentation, as well as inflammation and vascular dysfunction at the maternal-fetal interface. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) can target the placental trophoblast and induce inflammation. We reported that aPL trigger trophoblast cells to produce elevated levels of IL-8 through activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Downstream of TLR4, we found this IL-8 response is mediated by a TLR8-activating microRNA (miR), miR-146a-3p, which is also released by the trophoblast via extracellular vesicles (EVs). Since endothelial dysfunction is a feature of obstetric APS, we sought to determine if other miRs that can activate the RNA sensors, TLR7 and/or TLR8, are released by the trophoblast via EVs after exposure to aPL, and if these EVs can activate human endometrial endothelial cells (HEECs). Using a human first trimester extravillous trophoblast cell line we found that aPL elevated their release of small EVs (<150 nm). These extracellular vesicles released from trophoblast cells exposed to aPL expressed elevated levels of TLR7/8-activating miR-21a and miR-29a, in addition to the previously reported miR-146a-3p. Extracellular vesicles from aPL-exposed human trophoblast cells triggered human endometrial endothelial cells to generate an inflammatory IL-8 response, in part through TLR7. This study highlights EVs as a mode of communication between the placenta and the maternal vasculature, as well as a potential role for TLR7/8-activating miRs in contributing to inflammation at the maternal-fetal interface in obstetric APS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin S Coenen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, USA; Institute of Molecular Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tiffany N Hidalgo
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Tatyana Lynn
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Deidre M Jones
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jane E Salmon
- Department of Rheumatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Lawrence W Chamley
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Vikki M Abrahams
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, USA.
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2
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Guo M, Li X, Choi M, Zhang J, Yan S, Ma D, Zeng J, Ding W, Wen Y, Li D, Han X, Wang Y, Wu J. Microcystin-LR prenatal exposure induces coronary heart disease through macrophage polarization imbalance mediated by trophoblast-derived extracellular vesicles. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 948:174979. [PMID: 39053546 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR) has been reported to exhibit placental toxicity, leading to potential adverse pregnancy outcomes. Placental abnormalities often coincide with congenital heart defects (CHD). However, the extent to which MC-LR-induced placental abnormalities contribute to CHD and the cellular mechanisms underlying this association remain unknown. In this study, we observed abnormal polarization of placental macrophages in pregnant mice exposed to MC-LR during pregnancy, and the embryos developed cardiac developmental defects that persisted into adulthood. Trophoblast-derived extracellular vesicles (T-EVs) increase in number during pregnancy and act as a critical signal in macrophage polarization. However, MC-LR significantly affected the miRNA expression profile of T-EVs. Upon internalization into macrophages, T-EV-derived miR-377-3p specifically targets the 3'UTR region of NR6A1 to inhibit gene expression. Silencing of transcription suppressor NR6A1 leads to abnormal activation of the downstream mTOR/S6K1/SREBP pathway, inducing metabolic reprogramming and ultimately leading to M1 polarization of macrophages. This study elucidated the placental mechanism underlying MC-LR-induced CHD for the first time, providing insights into the environmental risks associated with CHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meihong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Division of Anatomy and Histo-embryology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Xinrui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Division of Anatomy and Histo-embryology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Manhou Choi
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Division of Anatomy and Histo-embryology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Jingwen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Division of Anatomy and Histo-embryology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Songci Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Division of Anatomy and Histo-embryology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Danni Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Division of Anatomy and Histo-embryology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Jing Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Division of Anatomy and Histo-embryology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Weidong Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Division of Anatomy and Histo-embryology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Yanting Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Division of Anatomy and Histo-embryology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Dongmei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Division of Anatomy and Histo-embryology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Xiaodong Han
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Division of Anatomy and Histo-embryology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Yong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Division of Anatomy and Histo-embryology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China.
| | - Jiang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Division of Anatomy and Histo-embryology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China.
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3
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Graf I, Urbschat C, Arck PC. The 'communicatome' of pregnancy: spotlight on cellular and extravesicular chimerism. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:700-714. [PMID: 38467841 PMCID: PMC11018796 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00045-x] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Communication via biological mediators between mother and fetus are key to reproductive success and offspring's future health. The repertoire of mediators coding signals between mother and fetus is broad and includes soluble factors, membrane-bound particles and immune as well as non-immune cells. Based on the emergence of technological advancements over the last years, considerable progress has been made toward deciphering the "communicatome" between fetus and mother during pregnancy and even after birth. In this context, pregnancy-associated chimerism has sparked the attention among immunologists, since chimeric cells-although low in number-are maintained in the allogeneic host (mother or fetus) for years after birth. Other non-cellular structures of chimerism, e.g. extracellular vesicles (EVs), are increasingly recognized as modulators of pregnancy outcome and offspring's health. We here discuss the origin, distribution and function of pregnancy-acquired microchimerism and chimeric EVs in mother and offspring. We also highlight the pioneering concept of maternal microchimeric cell-derived EVs in offspring. Such insights expand the understanding of pregnancy-associated health or disease risks in mother and offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Graf
- Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christopher Urbschat
- Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Petra C Arck
- Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
- Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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4
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Song P, Anna B, E Scott G, Chamley LW. The interaction of placental micro-EVs with immune cells in vivo and in vitro. Am J Reprod Immunol 2023; 90:e13766. [PMID: 37641368 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13766] [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: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Considerable evidence suggests that placental extracellular vesicles (EVs) interact with most types of leukocytes in vitro but in vivo biodistribution studies question whether these interactions are reflective of the situation in vivo. METHOD OF STUDY CellTracker Red CMTPX stained human placental micro-EVs were isolated from first trimester placental explant cultures. Equivalent amounts of micro-EVs were cultured with murine leukocytes in vitro or injected into pregnant or non-pregnant mice. After intravenous injection, on day 12.5 of gestation, major organs and blood samples were harvested 30 min or 24 h post injection. RESULTS We screened cryosections of the organs and confirmed that human placental EVs were specifically localised to the spleen, liver and the lungs 30 min or 24 h after injection. Immunohistochemistry showed that most of the EVs interacted with macrophages in those three organs and some of them also associated with T and B lymphocytes in the spleen or endothelial cells in the lungs and liver. Flow cytometry demonstrated that there was very little interaction between circulating leukocytes and EVs in vivo. While minimal, significantly more EVs interacted with leukocytes in pregnant than nonpregnant mice. CONCLUSION The major interaction between human placental micro-EVs and maternal leukocytes appear to be with macrophages predominantly in the splenic marginal zone, liver and lungs with little interaction between EVs and circulating leukocytes. Since marginal zone macrophages induce tolerance after phagocytosing apoptotic bodies it is likely that phagocytosis of placental EVs by marginal zone macrophages may also contribute to maternal immune tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paek Song
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Hub for Extracellular Vesicle Investigations (HEVI), The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Brooks Anna
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Graham E Scott
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, and Centre for Brain Research, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Lawrence Willam Chamley
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Hub for Extracellular Vesicle Investigations (HEVI), The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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5
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Nguyen CM, Sallam M, Islam MS, Clack K, Soda N, Nguyen NT, Shiddiky MJA. Placental Exosomes as Biomarkers for Maternal Diseases: Current Advances in Isolation, Characterization, and Detection. ACS Sens 2023. [PMID: 37449399 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c00689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Serving as the interface between fetal and maternal circulation, the placenta plays a critical role in fetal growth and development. Placental exosomes are small membrane-bound extracellular vesicles released by the placenta during pregnancy. They contain a variety of biomolecules, including lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, which can potentially be biomarkers of maternal diseases. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated the utility of placental exosomes for the diagnosis and monitoring of pathological conditions such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. This suggests that placental exosomes may serve as new biomarkers in liquid biopsy analysis. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of the biological function of placental exosomes and their potential as biomarkers of maternal diseases. Additionally, this review highlights current barriers and the way forward for standardization and validation of known techniques for exosome isolation, characterization, and detection. Finally, microfluidic devices for exosome research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Minh Nguyen
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre (QMNC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- School of Environment and Science (ESC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Mohamed Sallam
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre (QMNC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- School of Environment and Science (ESC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Md Sajedul Islam
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Kimberley Clack
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre (QMNC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- School of Environment and Science (ESC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Narshone Soda
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre (QMNC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Nam-Trung Nguyen
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre (QMNC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Muhammad J A Shiddiky
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre (QMNC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- School of Environment and Science (ESC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- Rural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia
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6
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Menzies FM. Immunology of Pregnancy and Systemic Consequences. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2023; 441:253-280. [PMID: 37695432 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-35139-6_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Pregnancy is an immunological paradox, with renowned Nobel Prize winning transplantation biologist Sir Peter Brian Medawar being the first to introduce this concept back in 1953. This concept considers how the maternal immune system can tolerate the developing fetus, which is 50% antigenically foreign to the uterus. There have been significant advances in our understanding of the immune system in regulating fertility, pregnancy and in complications of these, and what was once considered a paradox can be seen as a highly evolved system. Indeed, the complexity of the maternal-fetal interface along with our ever-advancing knowledge of immune cells and mediators means that we have a better understanding of these interactions, with gaps still present. This chapter will summarise the key aspects of the role of the immune system at each stage of pregnancy and highlight the recent advances in our knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona M Menzies
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Lanarkshire, UK.
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7
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Liu X, Fei H, Yang C, Wang J, Zhu X, Yang A, Shi Z, Jin X, Yang F, Wu D, Jiang L, Zhang S. Trophoblast-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Promote Preeclampsia by Regulating Macrophage Polarization. Hypertension 2022; 79:2274-2287. [PMID: 35993233 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.122.19244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systemic inflammation caused by dysfunctional macrophages is a crucial pathogenetic event in preeclampsia (PE). Trophoblast-derived extracellular vesicles (T-EVs) are potent immune cell signaling modulators in pregnancy. Herein, we aimed to investigate T-EVs' effect and mechanism on macrophage polarization and its role in PE pathogenesis, which remain unclear. METHODS Flow cytometry and immunochemistry were used to determine placental macrophage phenotypes. T-EVs were immuno-isolated via placental alkaline phosphatase antibody and identified by transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry were used to examine the effects of T-EVs on macrophage polarization, and correlation analysis of T-EVs lipidomics and macrophages transcriptome were performed to explore how T-EVs modulate macrophages. Animal experiments were established to investigate the relationship among PE, T-EVs, and macrophages. RESULTS Macrophages shift from the M2 to M1 phenotype in the preeclamptic placenta. Also, T-EVs from women with PE (PE-EVs) significantly upregulated M1 gene markers and significantly downregulated CD163 expression in macrophages compared with T-EVs in women with normal pregnancies (NP-EVs). Mechanistically, correlation analysis with T-EVs lipidome and the transcriptome of macrophages treated with PE-EVs or NP-EVs indicated that 37 lipids altered in PE-EVs considerably affected classical inflammatory biological pathways in macrophages. Finally, animal experiments revealed that PE-EVs triggered PE-like symptoms in pregnant mice, which were alleviated after macrophage depletion. CONCLUSIONS T-EVs from women with PE could promote preeclampsia by inducing macrophage imbalance polarization, signifying a potential novel interventional target for the prevention and management of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu Liu
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China (X.L., H.F., C.Y., J.W., A.Y., Z.S., X.J., L.J., S.Z.).,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction, Management of Zhejiang Province, China (X.L., H.F., C.Y., J.W., A.Y., Z.S., X.J., L.J., S.Z.)
| | - Haiyi Fei
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China (X.L., H.F., C.Y., J.W., A.Y., Z.S., X.J., L.J., S.Z.).,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction, Management of Zhejiang Province, China (X.L., H.F., C.Y., J.W., A.Y., Z.S., X.J., L.J., S.Z.)
| | - Cuiyu Yang
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China (X.L., H.F., C.Y., J.W., A.Y., Z.S., X.J., L.J., S.Z.).,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction, Management of Zhejiang Province, China (X.L., H.F., C.Y., J.W., A.Y., Z.S., X.J., L.J., S.Z.)
| | - Jianmin Wang
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China (X.L., H.F., C.Y., J.W., A.Y., Z.S., X.J., L.J., S.Z.).,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction, Management of Zhejiang Province, China (X.L., H.F., C.Y., J.W., A.Y., Z.S., X.J., L.J., S.Z.)
| | - Xiaohong Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Xiao Shan Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University, China (X.Z.)
| | - Anran Yang
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China (X.L., H.F., C.Y., J.W., A.Y., Z.S., X.J., L.J., S.Z.).,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction, Management of Zhejiang Province, China (X.L., H.F., C.Y., J.W., A.Y., Z.S., X.J., L.J., S.Z.)
| | - Zhan Shi
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China (X.L., H.F., C.Y., J.W., A.Y., Z.S., X.J., L.J., S.Z.).,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction, Management of Zhejiang Province, China (X.L., H.F., C.Y., J.W., A.Y., Z.S., X.J., L.J., S.Z.)
| | - Xiaoying Jin
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China (X.L., H.F., C.Y., J.W., A.Y., Z.S., X.J., L.J., S.Z.).,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction, Management of Zhejiang Province, China (X.L., H.F., C.Y., J.W., A.Y., Z.S., X.J., L.J., S.Z.)
| | - Fei Yang
- Chronic Disease Research Institute, The Children's Hospital, and National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China (F.Y.)
| | - Dan Wu
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China (D.W.)
| | - Lingling Jiang
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China (X.L., H.F., C.Y., J.W., A.Y., Z.S., X.J., L.J., S.Z.)
| | - Songying Zhang
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China (X.L., H.F., C.Y., J.W., A.Y., Z.S., X.J., L.J., S.Z.).,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction, Management of Zhejiang Province, China (X.L., H.F., C.Y., J.W., A.Y., Z.S., X.J., L.J., S.Z.)
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8
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Exporting Proteins Associated with Senescence Repair via Extracellular Vesicles May Be Associated with Early Pregnancy Loss. Cells 2022; 11:cells11182772. [PMID: 36139348 PMCID: PMC9496689 DOI: 10.3390/cells11182772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Dysfunction of placental development is involved in early pregnancy loss. Senescent changes have been seen in missed miscarriage, one type of pregnancy loss. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been widely implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases. In this study, we investigated the protein profiles in placental EVs derived from missed miscarriage in comparison with healthy pregnancy. We also investigated whether cargos packed into EVs are involved in the dysfunctional development of the placenta seen in missed miscarriage. Methods: Proteomic analysis of placental EVs derived from healthy and missed-miscarriage placentae was performed. Three senescence-repair-associated proteins, replication protein A-70 (RPA-70), proteasome activator subunit-4 (PMSE-4), and protein activated kinase-2, (PAK-2) were examined in placental EVs and placentae, and in placental explants that had been treated with or without GW4869, by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results: The total number of proteins associated with placental EVs was not different between the two groups. However, there were 106 and 151 abundantly expressed proteins associated with placental micro- or nano-EVs from missed miscarriage in comparison with EVs from controls. Of these abundant proteins, 59 and 81 proteins in placental micro- or nano-EVs, respectively, are associated with DNA damage/repair and cell death/survival. We further found higher levels of three senescence-repair-associated proteins (RPA-70, PMSE-4, and PAK-2) associated with placental EVs, but lower levels of these proteins in missed-miscarriage placentae. Regarding inhibition of EV formation or release by GW4869, we found that the expression of these three proteins was higher in GW4869-treated placental explants from missed miscarriage. Discussion: Our data may suggest that “inadvertently” sorting of cargos and exporting proteins associated with senescence-repair by placental EVs may be associated with the dysfunction of placental development seen in missed miscarriage.
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9
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Zhang E, Phan P, Zhao Z. Cellular nanovesicles for therapeutic immunomodulation: A perspective on engineering strategies and new advances. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 13:1789-1827. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
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10
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Murrieta-Coxca JM, Fuentes-Zacarias P, Ospina-Prieto S, Markert UR, Morales-Prieto DM. Synergies of Extracellular Vesicles and Microchimerism in Promoting Immunotolerance During Pregnancy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:837281. [PMID: 35844513 PMCID: PMC9285877 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.837281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of biological identity has been traditionally a central issue in immunology. The assumption that entities foreign to a specific organism should be rejected by its immune system, while self-entities do not trigger an immune response is challenged by the expanded immunotolerance observed in pregnancy. To explain this "immunological paradox", as it was first called by Sir Peter Medawar, several mechanisms have been described in the last decades. Among them, the intentional transfer and retention of small amounts of cells between a mother and her child have gained back attention. These microchimeric cells contribute to expanding allotolerance in both organisms and enhancing genetic fitness, but they could also provoke aberrant alloimmune activation. Understanding the mechanisms used by microchimeric cells to exert their function in pregnancy has proven to be challenging as per definition they are extremely rare. Profiting from studies in the field of transplantation and cancer research, a synergistic effect of microchimerism and cellular communication based on the secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs) has begun to be unveiled. EVs are already known to play a pivotal role in feto-maternal tolerance by transferring cargo from fetal to maternal immune cells to reshape their function. A further aspect of EVs is their function in antigen presentation either directly or on the surface of recipient cells. Here, we review the current understanding of microchimerism in the feto-maternal tolerance during human pregnancy and the potential role of EVs in mediating the allorecognition and tropism of microchimeric cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Udo R. Markert
- Placenta Lab, Department of Obstetrics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
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11
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Žarković M, Hufsky F, Markert UR, Marz M. The Role of Non-Coding RNAs in the Human Placenta. Cells 2022; 11:cells11091588. [PMID: 35563893 PMCID: PMC9104507 DOI: 10.3390/cells11091588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a central and regulatory role in almost all cells, organs, and species, which has been broadly recognized since the human ENCODE project and several other genome projects. Nevertheless, a small fraction of ncRNAs have been identified, and in the placenta they have been investigated very marginally. To date, most examples of ncRNAs which have been identified to be specific for fetal tissues, including placenta, are members of the group of microRNAs (miRNAs). Due to their quantity, it can be expected that the fairly larger group of other ncRNAs exerts far stronger effects than miRNAs. The syncytiotrophoblast of fetal origin forms the interface between fetus and mother, and releases permanently extracellular vesicles (EVs) into the maternal circulation which contain fetal proteins and RNA, including ncRNA, for communication with neighboring and distant maternal cells. Disorders of ncRNA in placental tissue, especially in trophoblast cells, and in EVs seem to be involved in pregnancy disorders, potentially as a cause or consequence. This review summarizes the current knowledge on placental ncRNA, their transport in EVs, and their involvement and pregnancy pathologies, as well as their potential for novel diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Žarković
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany; (M.Ž.); (F.H.)
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Placenta Lab, Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany;
| | - Franziska Hufsky
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany; (M.Ž.); (F.H.)
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Udo R. Markert
- Placenta Lab, Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany;
| | - Manja Marz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany; (M.Ž.); (F.H.)
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
- FLI Leibniz Institute for Age Research, Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Aging Research Center (ARC), 07745 Jena, Germany
- Correspondence:
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12
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Arenas-Hernandez M, Romero R, Gershater M, Tao L, Xu Y, Garcia-Flores V, Pusod E, Miller D, Galaz J, Motomura K, Schwenkel G, Para R, Gomez-Lopez N. Specific innate immune cells uptake fetal antigen and display homeostatic phenotypes in the maternal circulation. J Leukoc Biol 2022; 111:519-538. [PMID: 34889468 PMCID: PMC8881318 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.5hi0321-179rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy represents a period when the mother undergoes significant immunological changes to promote tolerance of the fetal semi-allograft. Such tolerance results from the exposure of the maternal immune system to fetal antigens (Ags), a process that has been widely investigated at the maternal-fetal interface and in the adjacent draining lymph nodes. However, the peripheral mechanisms of maternal-fetal crosstalk are poorly understood. Herein, we hypothesized that specific innate immune cells interact with fetal Ags in the maternal circulation. To test this hypothesis, a mouse model was utilized in which transgenic male mice expressing the chicken ovalbumin (OVA) Ag under the beta-actin promoter were allogeneically mated with wild-type females to allow for tracking of the fetal Ag. Fetal Ag-carrying Ly6G+ and F4/80+ cells were identified in the maternal circulation, where they were more abundant in the second half of pregnancy. Such innate immune cells displayed unique phenotypes: while Ly6G+ cells expressed high levels of MHC-II and CD80 together with low levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, F4/80+ cells up-regulated the expression of CD86 as well as the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β. In vitro studies using allogeneic GFP+ placental particles revealed that maternal peripheral Ly6G+ and F4/80+ cells phagocytose fetal Ags in mid and late murine pregnancy. Importantly, cytotrophoblast-derived particles were also engulfed in vitro by CD15+ and CD14+ cells from women in the second and third trimester, providing translational evidence that this process also occurs in humans. Collectively, this study demonstrates novel interactions between specific maternal circulating innate immune cells and fetal Ags, thereby shedding light on the systemic mechanisms of maternal-fetal crosstalk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia Arenas-Hernandez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
- Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Meyer Gershater
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Li Tao
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Yi Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Valeria Garcia-Flores
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Errile Pusod
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Derek Miller
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jose Galaz
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Kenichiro Motomura
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - George Schwenkel
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Robert Para
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
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13
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Morelli AE, Sadovsky Y. Extracellular vesicles and immune response during pregnancy: A balancing act. Immunol Rev 2022; 308:105-122. [PMID: 35199366 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying maternal tolerance of the semi- or fully-allogeneic fetus are intensely investigated. Across gestation, feto-placental antigens interact with the maternal immune system locally within the trophoblast-decidual interface and distantly through shed cells and soluble molecules that interact with maternal secondary lymphoid tissues. The discovery of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as local or systemic carriers of antigens and immune-regulatory molecules has added a new dimension to our understanding of immune modulation prior to implantation, during trophoblast invasion, and throughout the course of pregnancy. New data on immune-regulatory molecules, located on EVs or within their cargo, suggest a role for EVs in negotiating immune tolerance during gestation. Lessons from the field of transplant immunology also shed light on possible interactions between feto-placentally derived EVs and maternal lymphoid tissues. These insights illuminate a potential role for EVs in major obstetrical disorders. This review provides updated information on intensely studied, pregnancy-related EVs, their cargo molecules, and patterns of fetal-placental-maternal trafficking, highlighting potential immune pathways that might underlie immune suppression or activation in gestational health and disease. Our summary also underscores the likely need to broaden the definition of the maternal-fetal interface to systemic maternal immune tissues that might interact with circulating EVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian E Morelli
- Department of Surgery, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yoel Sadovsky
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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14
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Powell JS, Gandley RE, Lackner E, Dolinish A, Ouyang Y, Powers RW, Morelli AE, Hubel CA, Sadovsky Y. Small extracellular vesicles from plasma of women with preeclampsia increase myogenic tone and decrease endothelium-dependent relaxation of mouse mesenteric arteries. Pregnancy Hypertens 2022; 28:66-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.preghy.2022.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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15
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Tiozzo C, Bustoros M, Lin X, Manzano De Mejia C, Gurzenda E, Chavez M, Hanna I, Aguiari P, Perin L, Hanna N. Placental extracellular vesicles-associated microRNA-519c mediates endotoxin adaptation in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2021; 225:681.e1-681.e20. [PMID: 34181894 PMCID: PMC8633060 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.06.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnancy represents a unique challenge for the maternal-fetal immune interface, requiring a balance between immunosuppression, which is essential for the maintenance of a semiallogeneic fetus, and proinflammatory host defense to protect the maternal-fetal interface from invading organisms. Adaptation to repeated inflammatory stimuli (endotoxin tolerance) may be critical in preventing inflammation-induced preterm birth caused by exaggerated maternal inflammatory responses to mild or moderate infections that are common during pregnancy. However, the exact mechanisms contributing to the maintenance of tolerance to repeated infections are not completely understood. MicroRNAs play important roles in pregnancy with several microRNAs implicated in gestational tissue function and in pathologic pregnancy conditions. MicroRNA-519c, a member of the chromosome 19 microRNA cluster, is a human-specific microRNA mainly expressed in the placenta. However, its role in pregnancy is largely unknown. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the role of "endotoxin tolerance" failure in the pathogenesis of an exaggerated inflammatory response often seen in inflammation-mediated preterm birth. In this study, we investigated the role of microRNA-519c, a placenta-specific microRNA, as a key regulator of endotoxin tolerance at the maternal-fetal interface. STUDY DESIGN Using a placental explant culture system, samples from term and second-trimester placentas were treated with lipopolysaccharide. After 24 hours, the conditioned media were collected for analysis, and the placental explants were re-exposed to repeated doses of lipopolysaccharide for 3 days. The supernatant was analyzed for inflammatory markers, the presence of extracellular vesicles, and microRNAs. To study the possible mechanism of action of the microRNAs, we evaluated the phosphodiesterase 3B pathway involved in tumor necrosis factor alpha production using a microRNA mimic and phosphodiesterase 3B small interfering RNA transfection. Finally, we analyzed human placental samples from different gestational ages and from women affected by inflammation-associated pregnancies. RESULTS Our data showed that repeated exposure of the human placenta to endotoxin challenges induced a tolerant phenotype characterized by decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha and up-regulated interleukin-10 levels. This reaction was mediated by the placenta-specific microRNA-519c packaged within placental extracellular vesicles. Lipopolysaccharide treatment increased the extracellular vesicles that were positive for the exosome tetraspanin markers, namely CD9, CD63, and CD81, and secreted primarily by trophoblasts. Primary human trophoblast cells transfected with a microRNA-519c mimic decreased phosphodiesterase 3B, whereas a lack of phosphodiesterase 3B, achieved by small interfering RNA transfection, led to decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha production. These data support the hypothesis that the anti-inflammatory action of microRNA-519c was mediated by a down-regulation of the phosphodiesterase 3B pathway, leading to inhibition of tumor necrosis factor alpha production. Furthermore, human placentas from normal and inflammation-associated pregnancies demonstrated that a decreased placental microRNA-519c level was linked to infection-induced inflammatory pathologies during pregnancy. CONCLUSION We identified microRNA-519c, a human placenta-specific microRNA, as a novel regulator of immune adaptation associated with infection-induced preterm birth at the maternal-fetal interface. Our study serves as a basis for future experiments to explore the potential use of microRNA-519c as a biomarker for infection-induced preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Tiozzo
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island, New York University Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY
| | - Mark Bustoros
- Women and Children's Research Laboratory, New York University Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY; Division of Hematologic Neoplasia, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Xinhua Lin
- Women and Children's Research Laboratory, New York University Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY
| | - Claudia Manzano De Mejia
- Women and Children's Research Laboratory, New York University Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY
| | - Ellen Gurzenda
- Research and Academic Center, New York University Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY
| | - Martin Chavez
- Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island, New York University Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY
| | - Iman Hanna
- Department of Pathology, NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island, New York University Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY
| | - Paola Aguiari
- GOFARR Laboratory for Organ Regenerative Research and Cell Therapeutics, Division of Urology, Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Laura Perin
- GOFARR Laboratory for Organ Regenerative Research and Cell Therapeutics, Division of Urology, Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Nazeeh Hanna
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island, New York University Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY.
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16
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Awoyemi T, Motta-Mejia C, Zhang W, Kouser L, White K, Kandzija N, Alhamlan FS, Cribbs AP, Tannetta D, Mazey E, Redman C, Kishore U, Vatish M. Syncytiotrophoblast Extracellular Vesicles From Late-Onset Preeclampsia Placentae Suppress Pro-Inflammatory Immune Response in THP-1 Macrophages. Front Immunol 2021; 12:676056. [PMID: 34163477 PMCID: PMC8215361 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.676056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Syncytiotrophoblast derived Extracellular Vesicles (STBEV) from normal pregnancy (NP) have previously been shown to interact with circulating monocytes and B cells and induce pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Early-onset preeclampsia (EOPE) is associated with an exacerbated inflammatory response, yet there is little data regarding late-onset PE (LOPE) and immune function. Here, using a macrophage/monocyte cell line THP-1, we investigated the inflammatory potential of STBEV, comprising medium/large-STBEV (>200nm) and small-STBEV (<200nm), isolated from LOPE (n=6) and normal (NP) (n=6) placentae via dual-lobe ex-vivo placental perfusion and differential centrifugation. THP-1 cells bound and internalised STBEV isolated from NP and LOPE placentae, as revealed by flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and ELISA. STBEV-treated THP-1 cells were examined for cytokine gene expression by RT-qPCR and the cell culture media examined for secreted cytokines/chemokines. As expected, NP medium/large-STBEV significantly upregulated the transcriptional expression of TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6, IL-12, IL-8 and TGF-β compared to PE medium/large-STBEV. However, there was no significant difference in the small STBEV population between the two groups, although in general, NP small STBEVs slightly upregulated the same cytokines. In contrast, LOPE STBEV (medium and large) did not induce pro-inflammatory responses by differentiated THP-1 macrophages. This decreased effect of LOPE STBEV was echoed in cytokine/chemokine release. Our results appear to suggest that STBEV from LOPE placentae do not have a major immune-modulatory effect on macrophages. In contrast, NP STBEV caused THP-1 cells to release pro-inflammatory cytokines. Thus, syncytiotrophoblast extracellular vesicles from LOPE dampen immune functions of THP-1 macrophages, suggesting an alternative mechanism leading to the pro-inflammatory environment observed in LOPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toluwalase Awoyemi
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Carolina Motta-Mejia
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Biosciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Wei Zhang
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Lubna Kouser
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kirsten White
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Neva Kandzija
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Fatimah S Alhamlan
- Department of Infection and Immunity, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adam P Cribbs
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Dionne Tannetta
- Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Emily Mazey
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Redman
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Uday Kishore
- Biosciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Manu Vatish
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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17
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Salnikov L, Baramiya MG. From Autonomy to Integration, From Integration to Dynamically Balanced Integrated Co-existence: Non-aging as the Third Stage of Development. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2021; 2:655315. [PMID: 35822034 PMCID: PMC9261420 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2021.655315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Reversible senescence at the cellular level emerged together with tissue specialization in Metazoans. However, this reversibility (ability to permanently rejuvenate) through recapitulation of early stages of development, was originally a part of ontogenesis, since the pressure of integrativeness was not dominant. The complication of specialization in phylogenesis narrowed this “freedom of maneuver”, gradually “truncating” remorphogenesis to local epimorphosis and further up to the complete disappearance of remorphogenesis from the ontogenesis repertoire. This evolutionary trend transformed cellular senescence into organismal aging and any recapitulation of autonomy into carcinogenesis. The crown of specialization, Homo sapiens, completed this post-unicellular stage of development, while in the genome all the potential for the next stage of development, which can be called the stage of balanced coexistence of autonomous and integrative dominants within a single whole. Here, completing the substantiation of the new section of developmental biology, we propose to call it Developmental Biogerontology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lev Salnikov
- SibEnzyme US LLC, West Roxbury, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Lev Salnikov,
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18
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Chamley LW, Markert UR, Menon R, Sharma S. Introduction to the special issue on extracellular vesicles and reproduction. Am J Reprod Immunol 2021; 85:e13387. [PMID: 33340198 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence W Chamley
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Udo R Markert
- Placenta Lab, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Ramkumar Menon
- Department of OB-GYN/Cell Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch @ Galveston MRB Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Surendra Sharma
- Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infants Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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19
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Favaro RR, Murrieta-Coxca JM, Gutiérrez-Samudio RN, Morales-Prieto DM, Markert UR. Immunomodulatory properties of extracellular vesicles in the dialogue between placental and immune cells. Am J Reprod Immunol 2020; 85:e13383. [PMID: 33251688 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicle (EV)-mediated communication has been implicated in the cooperative alliance between trophoblast and immune cells toward maternal tolerance and placentation. Syncytiotrophoblast cells secrete EVs directly into the maternal circulation, which are taken up by immune cells, endothelial cells, and other cell types. Initial evidence also shows that EVs produced by immune cells are, in turn, incorporated by trophoblast cells and modulate placental responses. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), proteins, and lipid mediators transported in EVs are able to influence proliferation, differentiation, cytokine production, and immunological responses of recipient cells. The molecular alphabet and cellular targets involved in this dialogue are being revealed. Nevertheless, several questions regarding the whole content, surface markers, and biological functions of EVs still remain to be investigated in both physiological and pathological conditions. Analysis of circulating EVs in maternal blood has the potential to serve as a minimally invasive approach to monitoring placental functions and immunological features of pregnancy, aiding in the diagnostics of complications. This review addresses the immunomodulatory properties of EVs and their tasks in the communication between placental and immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo R Favaro
- Placenta Lab, Department of Obstetrics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Jose Martín Murrieta-Coxca
- Placenta Lab, Department of Obstetrics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,RNA Bioinformatics, High Throughput Analysis, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | | | | | - Udo R Markert
- Placenta Lab, Department of Obstetrics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
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20
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Li Y, Lopez GE, Lindner PN, Parrella L, Larson M, Sun Y, Stanic AK. The role of RORγt at maternal-fetal interface during murine pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol 2020; 84:e13250. [PMID: 32314428 PMCID: PMC8261794 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs, including NK cells) and their subsets are the most frequent lymphocytes at the maternal-fetal interface (decidua). Recent recognition of extensive ILC subset diversity at mucosal sites and the possible role they might play at different stages of pregnancy poses questions about their composition and lineage stability. Namely, RORγt-dependent ILC3s have been recognized as a key cellular mediator of tissue organization in the gut and secondary lymphoid organs, prompting examination of their distribution and role in decidua during pregnancy. METHOD OF STUDY We employed highly polychromatic flow cytometry with conventional and machine learning-aided analysis to map ILC subsets and dissected the role of canonical transcription factor RORγt using fate-mapping animals and RORγt-/- animals. RESULTS We demonstrate a comprehensive immunome map of ILCs/NKs, revealing a dynamic interface even in the absence of antigenic or allogeneic challenge. Strikingly, we demonstrate plasticity of RORγt expression in decidual ILCs with across gestation. However, gross reproductive efficiency is not affected in RORγt-/- animals. CONCLUSION These results indicated that RORγt+ ILCs are highly plastic at the maternal-fetal interface, but dispensable for normal pregnancy, revealing a novel mechanism of transcriptional immunoregulation in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Gladys E. Lopez
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Payton N. Lindner
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Luke Parrella
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Mariah Larson
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Yan Sun
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children’s Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University
| | - Aleksandar K. Stanic
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
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21
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Placental miRNAs in feto-maternal communication mediated by extracellular vesicles. Placenta 2020; 102:27-33. [PMID: 33218575 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2020.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A complex network composed of at least 1900 microRNA (miRNA) species orchestrates the development and function of the human placenta. These molecules regulate genes and pathways operating major functional processes in trophoblast cells such as proliferation, invasion, differentiation, and metabolism. Nevertheless, the cellular localization and role of most placental miRNAs remain to be determined. The existence of eutherian- (C14MC) and primate-specific miRNA clusters (C19MC), together with human placenta-specific miRNAs, indicate the relevance of these molecules in evolution and diversification of the placenta, including the acquisition of its unique features in humans. They may be related also to diseases that are exclusively present in primates, such as preeclampsia. Changes in the miRNA expression profile have been reported in several placental pathologies. Which miRNAs are involved in the pathomechanism of these diseases or act to maintain placental homeostasis is uncertain. Placenta-derived miRNAs are packed into extracellular vesicles (EVs) and distributed through the maternal circulation to distant organs, where they contribute to adaptations required during pregnancy. Similarly, the placenta also receives molecular information from other tissues to adapt fetoplacental metabolic demands to the maternal energetic supply. These processes can be impaired in pathologic conditions. Therefore, the collection of circulating placental miRNAs constitutes potentially a minimally-invasive approach to assess the fetoplacental status and to diagnose pregnancy diseases. Future therapies may include manipulation of miRNA levels for prevention and treatment of placental complications to protect maternal health and fetal development.
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22
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From cancer to rejuvenation: incomplete regeneration as the missing link (part II: rejuvenation circle). Future Sci OA 2020; 6:FSO610. [PMID: 32983567 PMCID: PMC7491027 DOI: 10.2144/fsoa-2020-0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the first part of our study, we substantiated that the embryonic reontogenesis and malignant growth (disintegrating growth) pathways are the same, but occur at different stages of ontogenesis, this mechanism is carried out in opposite directions. Cancer has been shown to be epigenetic-blocked redifferentiation and unfinished somatic embryogenesis. We formulated that only this approach of aging elimination has real prospects for a future that is fraught with cancer, as we will be able to convert this risk into a rejuvenation process through the continuous cycling of cell dedifferentiation-differentiation processes (permanent remorphogenesis). Here, we continue to develop the idea of looped ontogenesis and formulate the concept of the rejuvenation circle.
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23
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MiR-519d-3p in Trophoblastic Cells: Effects, Targets and Transfer to Allogeneic Immune Cells via Extracellular Vesicles. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21103458. [PMID: 32422900 PMCID: PMC7278925 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the placenta-specific miRNA cluster C19MC, including miR-519d, are secreted by fetal trophoblast cells within extracellular vesicles (EVs). Trophoblast-derived EVs can be internalized by the autologous trophoblast and surrounding maternal immune cells, resulting in coordination of cellular responses. The study of functions and targets of placental miRNAs in the donor and recipient cells may contribute to the understanding of the immune tolerance essential in pregnancy. Here, we report that miR-519d-3p levels correlate positively with cell proliferation and negatively with migration in trophoblastic cell lines. Inhibition of miR-519d-3p in JEG-3 cells increases caspase-3 activation and apoptosis. PDCD4 and PTEN are targeted by miR-519d-3p in a cell type-specific manner. Transfection of trophoblastic cell lines with miR-519d mimic results in secretion of EVs containing elevated levels of this miRNA (EVmiR-519d). Autologous cells enhance their proliferation and decrease their migration ability when treated with EVmiR-519d. NK92 cells incorporate EV-delivered miR-519d-3p at higher levels than Jurkat T cells. EVmiR-519d increases the proliferation of Jurkat T cells but decreases that of NK92 cells. Altogether, miR-519d-3p regulates pivotal trophoblast cell functions, can be transferred horizontally via EVs to maternal immune cells and exerts functions therein. Vesicular miRNA transfer from fetal trophoblasts to maternal immune cells may contribute to the immune tolerance in pregnancy.
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24
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Sadovsky Y, Ouyang Y, Powell JS, Li H, Mouillet JF, Morelli AE, Sorkin A, Margolis L. Placental small extracellular vesicles: Current questions and investigative opportunities. Placenta 2020; 102:34-38. [PMID: 33218576 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2020.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of regulated trafficking of extracellular vesicles (EVs) has added a new dimension to our understanding of local and distant communication among cells and tissues. Notwithstanding the expanded landscape of EV subtypes, the majority of research in the field centers on small and large EVs that are commonly termed exosomes, microvesicles and apoptotic cell-derived vesicles. In the context of pregnancy, EV-based communication has a special role in the crosstalk among the placenta, maternal and fetal compartments, with most studies focusing on trophoblastic EVs and their effect on other placental cell types, endothelial cells, and distant tissues. Many unanswered questions in the field of EV biology center on the mechanisms of vesicle biogenesis, loading of cargo molecules, EV release and trafficking, the interaction of EVs with target cells and the endocytic pathways underlying their uptake, and the intracellular processing of EVs inside target cells. These questions are directly relevant to EV-based placental-maternal-fetal communication and have unique implications in the context of interaction between two organisms. Despite rapid progress in the field, the number of speculative, unsubstantiated assumptions about placental EVs is concerning. Here we attempt to delineate existing knowledge in the field, focusing primarily on placental small EVs (exosomes). We define central questions that require investigative attention in order to advance the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoel Sadovsky
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Yingshi Ouyang
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Juliana S Powell
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Hui Li
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Reproductive Department of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jean-Francois Mouillet
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Adrian E Morelli
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alexander Sorkin
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Leonid Margolis
- Section for Intercellular Interactions, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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25
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Abstract
Preterm birth is a serious global health problem that affects 5-18% of pregnancies worldwide. In addition to being the major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity, preterm birth is associated with short term and long term complications in the offspring. Despite this, the causes and pathogenesis of preterm birth remain unclear. Neutrophils are innate immune cells that infiltrate the maternal-fetal interface during normal parturition and their accumulation is dramatically increased during preterm birth, especially in the presence of an infection. Indeed, a defining feature of chorioamnionitis (inflammation of the chorioamnionic fetal membranes) that is associated with more than 40% of preterm births, is neutrophil accumulation. While these cells may play an important role during normal term parturition as well as preterm birth, their functions at the maternal-fetal interface are unclear. This review will provide a broad overview of the relevant studies to enable a better understanding of the roles of neutrophils during normal parturition and preterm birth.
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26
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Kamity R, Sharma S, Hanna N. MicroRNA-Mediated Control of Inflammation and Tolerance in Pregnancy. Front Immunol 2019; 10:718. [PMID: 31024550 PMCID: PMC6460512 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Gestational age-dependent immune intolerance at the maternal-fetal interface might be a contributing factor to placental pathology and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Although the intrauterine setting is highly choreographed and considered to be a protective environment for the fetus, unscheduled inflammation might overwhelm the intrauterine milieu to cause a cascade of events leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes. The old paradigm of a sterile intrauterine microenvironment has been challenged, and altered microflora has been detected in gestational tissues and amniotic fluid in the absence of induction of significant inflammation. Is there a role for endotoxin tolerance at the maternal-fetal interface? Endotoxin tolerance is a phenomenon in which tissues or cells exposed to the bacterial product, particularly lipopolysaccharide, become less responsive to subsequent exposures accompanied by decreased expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. This could also be related to trained or experienced immunity that leads to the successful outcome of subsequent pregnancies. Adaptation to endotoxin tolerance or trained immunity might be critical in preventing rejection of the fetus by the maternal immune system and protecting the fetus from excessive maternal inflammatory responses to infectious agents; however, to date, the exact mechanisms contributing to the establishment and maintenance of tolerance at the maternal-fetal interface remain incompletely understood. There is now extensive evidence suggesting that microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the maintenance of a healthy pregnancy. miRNAs not only circulate freely in extracellular fluids but are also packaged within extracellular vesicles (EVs) produced by various cells and tissues. The placenta is a known, abundant, and transient source of EVs; therefore, our proposed model suggests that repeated exposure to infectious agents induces a tolerant phenotype at the maternal-fetal interface mediated by specific miRNAs mostly contained within placental EVs. We hypothesize that impaired endotoxin tolerance or failed trained immunity at the maternal-fetal interface will result in a pathological inflammatory response contributing to early or late pregnancy maladies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjith Kamity
- Women and Children Research Laboratory, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, NYU Winthrop Hospital, Mineola, NY, United States
| | - Surendra Sharma
- Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infants Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Nazeeh Hanna
- Women and Children Research Laboratory, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, NYU Winthrop Hospital, Mineola, NY, United States
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27
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Malnou EC, Umlauf D, Mouysset M, Cavaillé J. Imprinted MicroRNA Gene Clusters in the Evolution, Development, and Functions of Mammalian Placenta. Front Genet 2019; 9:706. [PMID: 30713549 PMCID: PMC6346411 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, the expression of a subset of microRNA (miRNA) genes is governed by genomic imprinting, an epigenetic mechanism that confers monoallelic expression in a parent-of-origin manner. Three evolutionarily distinct genomic intervals contain the vast majority of imprinted miRNA genes: the rodent-specific, paternally expressed C2MC located in intron 10 of the Sfmbt2 gene, the primate-specific, paternally expressed C19MC positioned at human Chr.19q13.4 and the eutherian-specific, maternally expressed miRNAs embedded within the imprinted Dlk1-Dio3 domains at human 14q32 (also named C14MC in humans). Interestingly, these imprinted miRNA genes form large clusters composed of many related gene copies that are co-expressed with a marked, or even exclusive, localization in the placenta. Here, we summarize our knowledge on the evolutionary, molecular, and physiological relevance of these epigenetically-regulated, recently-evolved miRNAs, by focusing on their roles in placentation and possibly also in pregnancy diseases (e.g., preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth).
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Affiliation(s)
- E Cécile Malnou
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INSERM, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - David Umlauf
- Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire Eucaryote, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Maïlys Mouysset
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INSERM, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Jérôme Cavaillé
- Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire Eucaryote, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
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28
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie J McConnell
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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