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Stylianou N, Sebina I, Matigian N, Monkman J, Doehler H, Röhl J, Allenby M, Nam A, Pan L, Rockstroh A, Sadeghirad H, Chung K, Sobanski T, O'Byrne K, Almeida ACSF, Rebutini PZ, Machado‐Souza C, Stonoga ETS, Warkiani ME, Salomon C, Short K, McClements L, de Noronha L, Huang R, Belz GT, Souza‐Fonseca‐Guimaraes F, Clifton V, Kulasinghe A. Whole transcriptome profiling of placental pathobiology in SARS-CoV-2 pregnancies identifies placental dysfunction signatures. Clin Transl Immunology 2024; 13:e1488. [PMID: 38322491 PMCID: PMC10846628 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus infection in pregnancy is associated with higher incidence of placental dysfunction, referred to by a few studies as a 'preeclampsia-like syndrome'. However, the mechanisms underpinning SARS-CoV-2-induced placental malfunction are still unclear. Here, we investigated whether the transcriptional architecture of the placenta is altered in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods We utilised whole-transcriptome, digital spatial profiling, to examine gene expression patterns in placental tissues from participants who contracted SARS-CoV-2 in the third trimester of their pregnancy (n = 7) and those collected prior to the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (n = 9). Results Through comprehensive spatial transcriptomic analyses of the trophoblast and villous core stromal cell subpopulations in the placenta, we identified SARS-CoV-2 to promote signatures associated with hypoxia and placental dysfunction. Notably, genes associated with vasodilation (NOS3), oxidative stress (GDF15, CRH) and preeclampsia (FLT1, EGFR, KISS1, PAPPA2) were enriched with SARS-CoV-2. Pathways related to increased nutrient uptake, vascular tension, hypertension and inflammation were also enriched in SARS-CoV-2 samples compared to uninfected controls. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate the utility of spatially resolved transcriptomic analysis in defining the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy, particularly its role in placental dysfunction. Furthermore, this study highlights the significance of digital spatial profiling in mapping the intricate crosstalk between trophoblasts and villous core stromal cells, thus shedding light on pathways associated with placental dysfunction in pregnancies with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataly Stylianou
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre – Queensland, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of HealthQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Ismail Sebina
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of MedicineThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | | | - James Monkman
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of MedicineThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Hadeel Doehler
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre – Queensland, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of HealthQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Joan Röhl
- Faculty of Health Sciences and MedicineBond UniversityRobinaQLDAustralia
| | - Mark Allenby
- BioMimetic Systems Engineering Lab, School of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of Queensland (UQ)St LuciaQLDAustralia
| | - Andy Nam
- Nanostring Technologies, Inc.SeattleWAUSA
| | - Liuliu Pan
- Nanostring Technologies, Inc.SeattleWAUSA
| | - Anja Rockstroh
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre – Queensland, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of HealthQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Habib Sadeghirad
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of MedicineThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Kimberly Chung
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of MedicineThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Thais Sobanski
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre – Queensland, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of HealthQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Ken O'Byrne
- Princess Alexandra HospitalWoolloongabbaQLDAustralia
| | | | - Patricia Zadorosnei Rebutini
- Postgraduate Program of Health Sciences, School of MedicinePontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná ´ –PUCPRCuritibaBrazil
| | - Cleber Machado‐Souza
- Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology Applied in Health of Children and AdolescentInstituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Faculdades Pequeno PríncipeCuritibaBrazil
| | | | - Majid E Warkiani
- School of Life Sciences & Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Carlos Salomon
- Exosome Biology Laboratory, Centre for Clinical Diagnostics, University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Faculty of MedicineThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Kirsty Short
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of ScienceThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQLDAustralia
| | - Lana McClements
- School of Life Sciences & Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Lucia de Noronha
- Postgraduate Program of Health Sciences, School of MedicinePontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná ´ –PUCPRCuritibaBrazil
| | - Ruby Huang
- School of Medicine, College of MedicineNational Taiwan UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Gabrielle T Belz
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of MedicineThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | | | - Vicki Clifton
- Mater Medical Research InstituteUniversity of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Arutha Kulasinghe
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of MedicineThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
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Principe P, Mukosera GT, Gray-Hutto N, Tugung A, Gheorghe CP, Blood AB. Nitric Oxide Affects Heme Oxygenase-1, Hepcidin, and Transferrin Receptor Expression in the Placenta. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065887. [PMID: 36982960 PMCID: PMC10056931 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065887] [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: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is a gasotransmitter that avidly binds both free and heme-bound iron, forming relatively stable iron nitrosyl compounds (FeNOs). We have previously demonstrated that FeNOs are present in the human placenta and are elevated in preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. The ability of NO to sequester iron raises the possibility of the NO-mediated disruption of iron homeostasis in the placenta. In this work, we tested whether exposure of placental syncytiotrophoblasts or villous tissue explants to sub-cytotoxic concentrations of NO would elicit the formation of FeNOs. Furthermore, we measured changes in the mRNA and protein expression levels of key iron regulatory genes in response to NO exposure. Ozone-based chemiluminescence was used to measure concentrations of NO and its metabolites. Our results showed a significant increase in FeNO levels in placental cells and explants treated with NO (p < 0.0001). The mRNA and protein levels of HO-1 were significantly increased in both cultured syncytiotrophoblasts and villous tissue explants (p < 0.01), and the mRNA levels of hepcidin and transferrin receptor were significantly increased in culture syncytiotrophoblasts and villous tissue explants, respectively, (p < 0.01), while no changes were seen in the expression levels of divalent metal transporter-1 or ferroportin. These results suggest a potential role for NO in iron homeostasis in the human placenta and could be relevant for disorders of pregnancy such as fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Principe
- Lawrence D. Longo Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 11175 Campus Street, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - George T Mukosera
- Lawrence D. Longo Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 11175 Campus Street, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Nikia Gray-Hutto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 11370 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Ashra Tugung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 11370 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Ciprian P Gheorghe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 11370 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Arlin B Blood
- Lawrence D. Longo Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 11175 Campus Street, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 11175 Campus Street, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
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3
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Russell TM, Richardson DR. The good Samaritan glutathione-S-transferase P1: An evolving relationship in nitric oxide metabolism mediated by the direct interactions between multiple effector molecules. Redox Biol 2023; 59:102568. [PMID: 36563536 PMCID: PMC9800640 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) are phase II detoxification isozymes that conjugate glutathione (GSH) to xenobiotics and also suppress redox stress. It was suggested that GSTs have evolved not to enhance their GSH affinity, but to better interact with and metabolize cytotoxic nitric oxide (NO). The interactions between NO and GSTs involve their ability to bind and store NO as dinitrosyl-dithiol iron complexes (DNICs) within cells. Additionally, the association of GSTP1 with inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) results in its inhibition. The function of NO in vasodilation together with studies associating GSTM1 or GSTT1 null genotypes with preeclampsia, additionally suggests an intriguing connection between NO and GSTs. Furthermore, suppression of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity occurs upon increased levels of GSTP1 or NO that decreases transcription of JNK target genes such as c-Jun and c-Fos, which inhibit apoptosis. This latter effect is mediated by the direct association of GSTs with MAPK proteins. GSTP1 can also inhibit nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling through its interactions with IKKβ and Iκα, resulting in decreased iNOS expression and the stimulation of apoptosis. It can be suggested that the inhibitory activity of GSTP1 within the JNK and NF-κB pathways may be involved in crosstalk between survival and apoptosis pathways and modulating NO-mediated ROS generation. These studies highlight an innovative role of GSTs in NO metabolism through their interaction with multiple effector proteins, with GSTP1 functioning as a "good Samaritan" within each pathway to promote favorable cellular conditions and NO levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany M Russell
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Des R Richardson
- Centre for Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, Australia.
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Chronic High-Altitude Hypoxia Alters Iron and Nitric Oxide Homeostasis in Fetal and Maternal Sheep Blood and Aorta. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11091821. [PMID: 36139895 PMCID: PMC9495375 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11091821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian fetus thrives at oxygen tensions much lower than those of adults. Gestation at high altitude superimposes hypoxic stresses on the fetus resulting in increased erythropoiesis. We hypothesized that chronic hypoxia at high altitude alters the homeostasis of iron and bioactive nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) in gestation. To test for this, electron paramagnetic resonance was used to provide unique measurements of iron, metalloproteins, and free radicals in the blood and aorta of fetal and maternal sheep from either high or low altitudes (3801 or 300 m). Using ozone-based chemiluminescence with selectivity for various NOx species, we determined the NOx levels in these samples immediately after collection. These experiments demonstrated a systemic redistribution of iron in high altitude fetuses as manifested by a decrease in both chelatable and total iron in the aorta and an increase in non-transferrin bound iron and total iron in plasma. Likewise, high altitude altered the redox status diversely in fetal blood and aorta. This study also found significant increases in blood and aortic tissue NOx in fetuses and mothers at high altitude. In addition, gradients in NOx concentrations observed between fetus and mother, umbilical artery and vein, and plasma and RBCs demonstrated complex dynamic homeostasis of NOx among these circulatory compartments, such as placental generation and efflux as well as fetal consumption of iron-nitrosyls in RBCs, probably HbNO. In conclusion, these results may suggest the utilization of iron from non-hematopoietic tissues iron for erythropoiesis in the fetus and increased NO bioavailability in response to chronic hypoxic stress at high altitude during gestation.
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Mukosera GT, Principe P, Mata-Greenwood E, Liu T, Schroeder H, Parast M, Blood AB. Iron nitrosyl complexes are formed from nitrite in the human placenta. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102078. [PMID: 35643317 PMCID: PMC9257420 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Placental nitric oxide (NO) is critical for maintaining perfusion in the maternal-fetal-placental circulation during normal pregnancy. NO and its many metabolites are also increased in pregnancies complicated by maternal inflammation such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, gestational diabetes, and bacterial infection. However, it is unclear how increased levels of NO or its metabolites affect placental function or how the placenta deals with excessive levels of NO or its metabolites. Since there is uncertainty over the direction of change in plasma levels of NO metabolites in preeclampsia, we measured the levels of these metabolites at the placental tissue level. We found that NO metabolites are increased in placentas from patients with preeclampsia compared to healthy controls. We also discovered by ozone-based chemiluminescence and electron paramagnetic resonance that nitrite is efficiently converted into iron nitrosyl complexes (FeNOs) within the human placenta and also observed the existence of endogenous FeNOs within placentas from sheep and rats. We show these nitrite-derived FeNOs are relatively short-lived, predominantly protein-bound, heme-FeNOs. The efficient formation of FeNOs from nitrite in the human placenta hints toward the importance of both nitrite and FeNOs in placental physiology or pathology. As iron nitrosylation is an important posttranslational modification that affects the activity of multiple iron-containing proteins such as those in the electron transport chain, or those involved in epigenetic regulation, we conclude that FeNOs merit increased study in pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- George T Mukosera
- Lawrence D Longo Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Patricia Principe
- Lawrence D Longo Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Eugenia Mata-Greenwood
- Lawrence D Longo Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Taiming Liu
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Hobe Schroeder
- Lawrence D Longo Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Mana Parast
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Arlin B Blood
- Lawrence D Longo Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA; Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA.
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6
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Liu T, Schroeder H, Power GG, Blood AB. A physiologically relevant role for NO stored in vascular smooth muscle cells: A novel theory of vascular NO signaling. Redox Biol 2022; 53:102327. [PMID: 35605454 PMCID: PMC9126848 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
S-nitrosothiols (SNO), dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNIC), and nitroglycerine (NTG) dilate vessels via activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) in vascular smooth muscle cells. Although these compounds are often considered to be nitric oxide (NO) donors, attempts to ascribe their vasodilatory activity to NO-donating properties have failed. Even more puzzling, many of these compounds have vasodilatory potency comparable to or even greater than that of NO itself, despite low membrane permeability. This raises the question: How do these NO adducts activate cytosolic sGC when their NO moiety is still outside the cell? In this review, we classify these compounds as ‘nitrodilators’, defined by their potent NO-mimetic vasoactivities despite not releasing requisite amounts of free NO. We propose that nitrodilators activate sGC via a preformed nitrodilator-activated NO store (NANOS) found within the vascular smooth muscle cell. We reinterpret vascular NO handling in the framework of this NANOS paradigm, and describe the knowledge gaps and perspectives of this novel model.
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7
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Mandakh Y, Oudin A, Erlandsson L, Isaxon C, Hansson SR, Broberg K, Malmqvist E. Association of Prenatal Ambient Air Pollution Exposure With Placental Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number, Telomere Length and Preeclampsia. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 3:659407. [PMID: 35295138 PMCID: PMC8915808 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2021.659407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Studies have shown that ambient air pollution is linked to preeclampsia (PE), possibly via generation of oxidative stress in the placenta. Telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) are sensitive to oxidative stress damage. Objective: To study the association between prenatal exposure to ambient nitrogen oxides (NOx, a marker for traffic-related air pollution), and PE, as well as potential mediation effects by placental telomere length and mtDNAcn. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 42 preeclamptic and 95 arbitrarily selected normotensive pregnant women with gestational ambient NOx exposure assessment in southern Scania, Sweden. Hourly concentrations of NOx were estimated at the residential addresses by a Gaussian-plume dispersion model with 100 × 100 m spatial resolutions and aggregated into trimester-specific mean concentrations. Placental relative mtDNAcn and telomere length were measured using qPCR. Linear and logistic regression models were used to investigate associations, adjusted for perinatal and seasonal characteristics. Results: Exposure was categorized into low and high exposures by median cut-offs during first [11.9 μg/m3; interquartile range (IQR) 7.9, 17.9], second (11.6 μg/m3; IQR: 7.1, 21.1), third trimesters (11.9 μg/m3; IQR: 7.7, 19.5) and entire pregnancy (12.0 μg/m3; IQR: 7.6, 20.1). Increased risk of PE was found for high prenatal NOx exposure during the first trimester (OR 4.0; 95% CI: 1.4, 11.1; p = 0.008), and entire pregnancy (OR 3.7; 95% CI: 1.3, 10.4; p = 0.012). High exposed group during the first trimester had lower placental relative mtDNAcn compared with low exposed group (-0.20; 95% CI: -0.36, -0.04; p = 0.01). Changes in relative mtDNAcn did not mediate the association between prenatal NOx exposure and PE. No statistically significant association was found between placental relative telomere length, prenatal NOx exposure and PE. Conclusion: In this region with relatively low levels of air pollution, ambient NOx exposure during the first trimester was associated with reduced placental relative mtDNAcn and an increased risk of PE. However, we did not find any evidence that mtDNAcn or TL mediated the association between air pollution and PE. Future research should further investigate the role of mtDNAcn for pregnancy complications in relation to exposure to ambient air pollution during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumjirmaa Mandakh
- Environment Society and Health, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anna Oudin
- Environment Society and Health, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Lena Erlandsson
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christina Isaxon
- Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Stefan R Hansson
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Karin Broberg
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ebba Malmqvist
- Environment Society and Health, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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8
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Palei AC, Granger JP, Spradley FT. Placental Ischemia Says "NO" to Proper NOS-Mediated Control of Vascular Tone and Blood Pressure in Preeclampsia. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222011261. [PMID: 34681920 PMCID: PMC8541176 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222011261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review, we first provide a brief overview of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms and biochemistry. This is followed by describing what is known about NOS-mediated blood pressure control during normal pregnancy. Circulating nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability has been assessed by measuring its metabolites, nitrite (NO2) and/or nitrate (NO3), and shown to rise throughout normal pregnancy in humans and rats and decline postpartum. In contrast, placental malperfusion/ischemia leads to systemic reductions in NO bioavailability leading to maternal endothelial and vascular dysfunction with subsequent development of hypertension in PE. We end this article by describing emergent risk factors for placental malperfusion and ischemic disease and discussing strategies to target the NOS system therapeutically to increase NO bioavailability in preeclamptic patients. Throughout this discussion, we highlight the critical importance that experimental animal studies have played in our current understanding of NOS biology in normal pregnancy and their use in finding novel ways to preserve this signaling pathway to prevent the development, treat symptoms, or reduce the severity of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C. Palei
- Department of Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA;
| | - Joey P. Granger
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA;
| | - Frank T. Spradley
- Department of Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA;
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA;
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
- Correspondence:
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9
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Selection of reliable reference genes for analysis of gene expression in the rat placenta. Mol Cell Biochem 2021; 476:2613-2622. [PMID: 33660185 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-021-04115-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The selection of suitable reference genes (RGs), especially the identification of the proper combination of RGs is the key to obtain reliable results of gene expression for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). To date, there is no relevant study dealing with the stability of RGs in rat placenta. In this study, the geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper software were used to analyze the expression stability of the candidate RGs in placenta under physiological and prenatal caffeine exposure (PCE) conditions. The expression of Tbp, Gapdh and Ywhaz in female and Polr2a, Gapdh and Ywhaz in male placenta were highly stable under physiological conditions, and there was no obvious gender difference. We further found that two RGs were sufficient for reliable normalization in female and male placenta and the combination of Ywhaz and Gapdh was the most suitable compound RGs under physiological conditions. Under PCE conditions, Ywhaz, Gapdh and Polr2a were the most stable genes in both female and male placenta. Among them, Ywhaz and Gapdh were chosen as the best paring. Finally, selected RGs were employed for normalization of the expression of a clear target gene and the results of standardization supported our choice. In conclusion, our study confirmed that Ywhaz/Gapdh combination was the most suitable RGs in rat placenta under physiological and PCE pathological conditions and provided a theoretical and experimental basis for physiological and pathological research of the rat placenta.
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10
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Arias A, Schander JA, Bariani MV, Correa F, Domínguez Rubio AP, Cella M, Cymeryng CB, Wolfson ML, Franchi AM, Aisemberg J. Dexamethasone-induced intrauterine growth restriction modulates expression of placental vascular growth factors and fetal and placental growth. Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 27:gaab006. [PMID: 33528567 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaab006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to glucocorticoids (GC) is a central topic of interest in medicine since GCs are essential for the maturation of fetal organs and intrauterine growth. Synthetic glucocorticoids, which are used in obstetric practice, exert beneficial effects on the fetus, but have also been reported to lead to intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). In this study, a model of growth restriction in mice was established through maternal administration of dexamethasone during late gestation. We hypothesised that GC overexposure may adversely affect placental angiogenesis and fetal and placental growth. Female BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to control or dexamethasone treatment, either left to give birth or euthanised on days 15, 16, 17 and 18 of gestation followed by collection of maternal and fetal tissue. The IUGR rate increased to 100% in the dexamethasone group (8 mg/kg body weight on gestational days 14 and 15) and pups had clinical features of symmetrical IUGR at birth. Dexamethasone administration significantly decreased maternal body weight gain and serum corticosterone levels. Moreover, prenatal dexamethasone treatment not only induced fetal growth retardation but also decreased placental weight. In IUGR placentas, VEGFA protein levels and mRNA expression of VEGF receptors were reduced and NOS activity was lower. Maternal dexamethasone administration also reduced placental expression of the GC receptor, αGR. We demonstrated that maternal dexamethasone administration causes fetal and placental growth restriction. Furthermore, we propose that the growth retardation induced by prenatal GC overexposure may be caused, at least partially, by an altered placental angiogenic profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Arias
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - J A Schander
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M V Bariani
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - F Correa
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A P Domínguez Rubio
- Laboratorio Interdisciplinario de Dinámica Celular y Nanoherramientas, Instituto de Química Biológica Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN-UBA-CONICET), Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Cella
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - C B Cymeryng
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología Molecular, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M L Wolfson
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A M Franchi
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J Aisemberg
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Mikoyan VD, Burgova EN, Borodulin RR, Vanin AF. Dinitrosyl Iron Complexes with Thiol-Containing Ligands Exist in Living Organisms Mainly in the Binuclear Form. Biophysics (Nagoya-shi) 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006350920060111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Blood AB, Liu T, Mukosera G, Hanson SF, Terry MH, Schroeder H, Power GG. Evidence for placental-derived iron-nitrosyls in the circulation of the fetal lamb and against a role for nitrite in mediating the cardiovascular transition at birth. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2020; 319:R401-R411. [PMID: 32813540 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00196.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Circulating metabolites of nitric oxide, such as nitrite, iron nitrosyls (FeNO), and nitrosothiols, have vasodilatory bioactivity. In both human and sheep neonates, plasma concentrations of these NO metabolite (NOx) concentrations fall >50% within minutes after birth, raising the possibility that circulating NOx plays a role in maintaining low fetal vascular resistance and in the cardiovascular transition at birth. To test whether the fall in plasma NOx concentrations at birth is due to either ligation of the umbilical cord or oxygenation of the fetus to newborn levels, plasma NOx concentrations were measured during stepwise delivery of near-term fetal lambs. When fetal lambs were intubated and mechanically ventilated with 100% O2 to oxygenate the arterial blood while still in utero with the umbilical circulation still intact, there was no change in plasma NOx levels. In contrast, when the umbilical cord was ligated while fetal lambs were mechanically ventilated with O2 levels that maintained fetal arterial blood gases, plasma NOx levels decreased by nearly 50%. Characterization of the individual NOx species in plasma revealed that the overall fall in NOx at birth was attributable mainly to FeNO compounds. Finally, when the typical fall in NOx after birth was prevented by intravenous nitrite infusion, birth-related changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and carotid flow changes were little affected, suggesting the cardiovascular transition at birth is not dependent on a fall in plasma NOx. In conclusion, this study shows FeNO is released from the placenta and that its decline accounts for most of the measured fall in plasma NOx at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlin B Blood
- Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California.,Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California
| | - Taiming Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California
| | - George Mukosera
- Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California
| | - Shawn F Hanson
- Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California
| | - Michael H Terry
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California
| | - Hobe Schroeder
- Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California
| | - Gordon G Power
- Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California
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13
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Parkington HC, Sheehan PM, Coleman HA, Brennecke SP. NO placental inflammation. J Physiol 2020; 598:2047-2048. [PMID: 32329893 DOI: 10.1113/jp279743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Helena C Parkington
- Department of Physiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Penelope M Sheehan
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Harold A Coleman
- Department of Physiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Shaun P Brennecke
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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