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Naruse K. Liver biomarkers and preeclampsia: an easy-accessible prediction method of the disease. Hypertens Res 2024:10.1038/s41440-024-01804-6. [PMID: 39043919 DOI: 10.1038/s41440-024-01804-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Katsuhiko Naruse
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
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Kammala AK, Richardson LS, Radnaa E, Han A, Menon R. Microfluidic technology and simulation models in studying pharmacokinetics during pregnancy. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1241815. [PMID: 37663251 PMCID: PMC10469630 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1241815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Preterm birth rates and maternal and neonatal mortality remain concerning global health issues, necessitating improved strategies for testing therapeutic compounds during pregnancy. Current 2D or 3D cell models and animal models often fail to provide data that can effectively translate into clinical trials, leading to pregnant women being excluded from drug development considerations and clinical studies. To address this limitation, we explored the utility of in silico simulation modeling and microfluidic-based organ-on-a-chip platforms to assess potential interventional agents. Methods: We developed a multi-organ feto-maternal interface on-chip (FMi-PLA-OOC) utilizing microfluidic channels to maintain intercellular interactions among seven different cell types (fetal membrane-decidua-placenta). This platform enabled the investigation of drug pharmacokinetics in vitro. Pravastatin, a model drug known for its efficacy in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation during pregnancy and currently in clinical trials, was used to test its transfer rate across both feto-maternal interfaces. The data obtained from FMi-PLA-OOC were compared with existing data from in vivo animal models and ex vivo placenta perfusion models. Additionally, we employed mechanistically based simulation software (Gastroplus®) to predict pravastatin pharmacokinetics in pregnant subjects based on validated nonpregnant drug data. Results: Pravastatin transfer across the FMi-PLA-OOC and predicted pharmacokinetics in the in silico models were found to be similar, approximately 18%. In contrast, animal models showed supraphysiologic drug accumulation in the amniotic fluid, reaching approximately 33%. Discussion: The results from this study suggest that the FMi-PLA-OOC and in silico models can serve as alternative methods for studying drug pharmacokinetics during pregnancy, providing valuable insights into drug transport and metabolism across the placenta and fetal membranes. These advanced platforms offer promising opportunities for safe, reliable, and faster testing of therapeutic compounds, potentially reducing the number of pregnant women referred to as "therapeutic orphans" due to the lack of consideration in drug development and clinical trials. By bridging the gap between preclinical studies and clinical trials, these approaches hold great promise in improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananth K. Kammala
- Division of Basic Science and Translational Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Lauren S. Richardson
- Division of Basic Science and Translational Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Enkhtuya Radnaa
- Division of Basic Science and Translational Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Arum Han
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Ramkumar Menon
- Division of Basic Science and Translational Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
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Toghi CJ, Martins LZ, Pacheco LL, Caetano ESP, Mattos BR, Rizzi E, Dias-Junior CA. Pravastatin Prevents Increases in Activity of Metalloproteinase-2 and Oxidative Stress, and Enhances Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide-Dependent Vasodilation in Gestational Hypertension. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12040939. [PMID: 37107314 PMCID: PMC10135677 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12040939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and has been associated with placental growth restriction. The pre-eclamptic placenta releases free radicals to maternal circulation, thus increasing oxidative stress. An impaired redox state leads to reduction in circulating nitric oxide (NO) levels and activation of extracellular matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). However, activation of MMPs induced by oxidative stress is still unclear in PE. Antioxidant effects have been demonstrated with the use of pravastatin. Therefore, we hypothesized that pravastatin protects against oxidative stress-induced activation of MMPs in a rat model of PE. The animals were divided into four groups: normotensive pregnant rats (Norm-Preg); pregnant rats treated with pravastatin (Norm-Preg + Prava); hypertensive pregnant rats (HTN-Preg); and hypertensive pregnant rats treated with pravastatin (HTN-Preg + Prava). The deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) and sodium chloride (DOCA-salt) model was used to induce hypertension in pregnancy. Blood pressure, and fetal and placental parameters were recorded. The gelatinolytic activity of MMPs, NO metabolites and lipid peroxide levels were also determined. Endothelium function was also examined. Pravastatin attenuated maternal hypertension, prevented placental weight loss, increased NO metabolites, inhibited increases in lipid peroxide levels, and reduced the activity of MMP-2, and these effects were observed along with enhanced endothelium-derived NO-dependent vasodilation. The present results provide evidence that pravastatin protects against activation of MMP-2 induced by oxidative stress in pre-eclamptic rats. These findings may also involve improvement in endothelial function related to NO and antihypertensive effects of pravastatin, thus suggesting pravastatin as a therapeutic intervention for PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristal Jesus Toghi
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil
| | - Laisla Zanetoni Martins
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Lopes Pacheco
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil
| | - Edileia Souza Paula Caetano
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruna Rahal Mattos
- Unit of Biotechnology, University of Ribeirao Preto (UNAERP), Ribeirao Preto 14096-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Elen Rizzi
- Unit of Biotechnology, University of Ribeirao Preto (UNAERP), Ribeirao Preto 14096-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlos Alan Dias-Junior
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil
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Govender S, Nayak NR, Nandlal L, Naicker T. Gene polymorphisms within regions of complement component C1q in HIV associated preeclampsia. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2023; 282:133-139. [PMID: 36716536 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2023.01.029] [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: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study investigates the association of C1q gene (rs292001 and rs294183) polymorphisms in HIV infected and uninfected preeclamptic women of African ancestry. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study population consisted of 325 pregnant women of African ancestry grouped into 145 normotensive pregnant women (72 HIV uninfected normotensive, 73 HIV infected normotensive) and 180 preeclamptic pregnant women (103 HIV uninfected preeclamptics, 77 HIV infected preeclamptics). Preeclamptic pregnant women were further sub-grouped into 79 early-onset preeclampsia (EOPE) (40 HIV uninfected EOPE, 39 HIV infected EOPE) and 101 late-onset preeclampsia (LOPE) (63 HIV uninfected LOPE, 38 HIV infected LOPE). Genotyping of complement C1q gene polymorphisms (rs292001 and rs294183) was detected using a TaqMan® SNP Genotyping assay from purified DNA. RESULTS No significant differences in allelic and genotype frequencies of rs292001 and rs294183 between preeclamptic and normotensive women were observed. Likewise, there were no significant differences in allelic and genotype frequencies between HIV infected normotensive vs HIV infected preeclampsia and HIV uninfected normotensive vs HIV uninfected preeclampsia for both SNPs. However, the odds ratio of preeclamptic women having the GA genotype was 1:2. CONCLUSION We demonstrate that SNPs of the C1q gene (rs292001 and rs294183) are not associated with the pathogenesis of PE development in women of African ancestry. The role ofC1qrs292001 heterozygous GA is highlighted (with and without HIV infection) may affect susceptibility to PE development. Notably, this dysregulation may affect C1q translation and protein output thus influencing the downstream role of the complement system and functional immunology in HIV infection comorbid with PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumeshree Govender
- Optics and Imaging Centre, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
| | - Nihar R Nayak
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Kansas City, United States
| | - Louansha Nandlal
- Optics and Imaging Centre, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Thajasvarie Naicker
- Optics and Imaging Centre, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
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Qi J, Wu B, Chen X, Wei W, Yao X. Diagnostic biomolecules and combination therapy for pre-eclampsia. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2022; 20:136. [PMID: 36068569 PMCID: PMC9446775 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-022-01003-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Pre-eclampsia (PE), associated with placental malperfusion, is the primary reason for maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity that can cause vascular endothelial injury and multi-organ injury. Despite considerable research efforts, no pharmaceutical has been shown to stop disease progression. If women precisely diagnosed with PE can achieve treatment at early gestation, the maternal and fetal outcomes can be maximally optimized by expectant management. Current diagnostic approaches applying maternal characteristics or biophysical markers, including blood test, urine analysis and biophysical profile, possess limitations in the precise diagnosis of PE. Biochemical factor research associated with PE development has generated ambitious diagnostic targets based on PE pathogenesis and dissecting molecular phenotypes. This review focuses on current developments in biochemical prediction of PE and the corresponding interventions to ameliorate disease progression, aiming to provide references for clinical diagnoses and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingqi Qi
- International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. N1, Shangcheng Avenue, Yiwu, 322000, China
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, 718 East Haizhou Road, Haining, 314400, China
| | - Bingbing Wu
- International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. N1, Shangcheng Avenue, Yiwu, 322000, China
| | - Xiuying Chen
- International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. N1, Shangcheng Avenue, Yiwu, 322000, China
| | - Wei Wei
- International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. N1, Shangcheng Avenue, Yiwu, 322000, China.
| | - Xudong Yao
- International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. N1, Shangcheng Avenue, Yiwu, 322000, China.
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NR4A2 expression is not altered in placentas from cases of growth restriction or preeclampsia, but is reduced in hypoxic cytotrophoblast. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20670. [PMID: 34667209 PMCID: PMC8526588 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00192-y] [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: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4 Group A Member 2 (NR4A2) transcripts are elevated in the circulation of individuals whose pregnancies are complicated by preterm fetal growth restriction (FGR). In this paper, we show that the cases with preeclampsia (PE) have increased circulating NR4A2 transcripts compared to those with normotensive FGR. We aimed to establish whether the dysfunctional placenta mirrors the increase in NR4A2 transcripts and further, to uncover the function of placental NR4A2. NR4A2 expression was detected in preterm and term placental tissue; expressed higher at term. NR4A2 mRNA expression and protein were not altered in placentas from preterm FGR or PE pregnancies. Hypoxia (1% O2 compared to 8% O2) significantly reduced cytotrophoblast NR4A2 mRNA expression, but not placental explant NR4A2 expression. Silencing cytotrophoblast NR4A2 expression under hypoxia (via short interfering (si)RNAs) did not alter angiogenic Placental Growth Factor, nor anti-angiogenic sFlt-1 mRNA expression or protein secretion, but increased expression of cellular antioxidant, oxidative stress, inflammatory, and growth genes. NR4A2 expression was also not altered in a model of tumour necrosis factor-α-induced endothelial dysfunction, or with pravastatin treatment. Further studies are required to identify the origin of the circulating transcripts in pathological pregnancies, and investigate the function of placental NR4A2.
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A systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of statins on pregnancy outcomes. Atherosclerosis 2021; 336:1-11. [PMID: 34601188 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Statins are contraindicated in pregnancy, due to their potential teratogenicity. However, data are still inconsistent and some even suggest a potential benefit of statin use against pregnancy complications. We aimed to investigate the effects of statins on pregnancy outcomes, including stillbirth, fetal abortion, and preterm delivery, through a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis of the available clinical studies. METHODS A literature search was performed through PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to 16 May 2020. Data were extracted from 18 clinical studies (7 cohort studies, 2 clinical trials, 3 case reports, and 6 case series). Random effect meta-analyses were conducted using the restricted maximum likelihood method. The common effect sizes were calculated as odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence interval (CI) for each main outcome. RESULTS Finally, nine studies were included in the meta-analysis. There was no significant association between statin therapy and stillbirth [OR (95% CI) = 1.30 (0.56, 3.02), p=0.54; I2 = 0%]. While statin exposure was significantly associated with increased rates of spontaneous abortion [OR (95% CI) = 1.36 (1.10-1.68), p=0.004, I2 = 0%], it was non-significantly associated with increased rates of induced abortion [OR (95% CI) = 2.08 (0.81, 5.36), p=0.129, I2 = 17.33%] and elective abortion [OR (95% CI) = 1.37 (0.68, 2.76), p=0.378, I2 = 62.46%]. A non-significant numerically reduced rate of preterm delivery was observed in statin users [OR (95% CI) = 0.47 (0.06, 3.70), p=0.47, I2 = 76.35%]. CONCLUSIONS Statin therapy seems to be safe as it was not associated with stillbirth or induced and elective abortion rates. Significant increase after statin therapy was, however, observed for spontaneous abortion. These results need to be confirmed and validated in future studies.
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Thobani A, Hassen L, Mehta LS, Agarwala A. Management of Hypercholesterolemia in Pregnant Women with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. Curr Atheroscler Rep 2021; 23:58. [PMID: 34345940 DOI: 10.1007/s11883-021-00957-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In this review, we discuss strategies for managing dyslipidemia in pregnant women with ASCVD. RECENT FINDINGS Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in women as well as the leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality in the USA. It is paramount to screen, identify, counsel, and treat women of childbearing age who have existing atherosclerotic disease to mitigate the risks of complications and mortality. Dyslipidemias, including hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia, can further enhance the risk for future CVD events. Treating hypercholesterolemia during pregnancy is crucial, and this is an opportune time for cross-collaboration of subspecialties in cardiology, obstetrics, and gynecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneesha Thobani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lauren Hassen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Laxmi S Mehta
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Anandita Agarwala
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Baylor Scott and White, The Health Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, 1100 Allied Dr., Plano, TX, 75093, USA.
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