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Trinh QD, Pham NTK, Takada K, Ushijima H, Komine-Aizawa S, Hayakawa S. Roles of TGF-β1 in Viral Infection during Pregnancy: Research Update and Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076489. [PMID: 37047462 PMCID: PMC10095195 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076489] [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: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) is a pleiotropic growth factor playing various roles in the human body including cell growth and development. More functions of TGF-β1 have been discovered, especially its roles in viral infection. TGF-β1 is abundant at the maternal-fetal interface during pregnancy and plays an important function in immune tolerance, an essential key factor for pregnancy success. It plays some critical roles in viral infection in pregnancy, such as its effects on the infection and replication of human cytomegalovirus in syncytiotrophoblasts. Interestingly, its role in the enhancement of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection and replication in first-trimester trophoblasts has recently been reported. The above up-to-date findings have opened one of the promising approaches to studying the mechanisms of viral infection during pregnancy with links to corresponding congenital syndromes. In this article, we review our current and recent advances in understanding the roles of TGF-β1 in viral infection. Our discussion focuses on viral infection during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. We highlight the mutual roles of viral infection and TGF-β1 in specific contexts and possible functions of the Smad pathway in viral infection, with a special note on ZIKV infection. In addition, we discuss promising approaches to performing further studies on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quang Duy Trinh
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Ngan Thi Kim Pham
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Kazuhide Takada
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ushijima
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Shihoko Komine-Aizawa
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Satoshi Hayakawa
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
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Legg-St Pierre CB, Mackova M, Miskiewicz EI, Hemmings DG, Unniappan S, MacPhee DJ. Insulinotropic nucleobindin-2/nesfatin-1 is dynamically expressed in the haemochorial mouse and human placenta. Reprod Fertil Dev 2018; 30:519-532. [DOI: 10.1071/rd16486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The placenta is the physiological bridge between mother and fetus and has life-sustaining functions during pregnancy, including metabolic regulation, fetal protection and hormone secretion. Nucleobindin-2 (NUCB2) is a calcium- and DNA-binding protein and precursor of nesfatin-1, a signalling peptide with multiple functions, including regulation of energy homeostasis and glucose transport. These are also key functions of the placenta, yet NUCB2/nesfatin-1 expression has never been comprehensively studied in this organ. In the present study, mouse placental samples from Embryonic Day (E) 7.5 to E17.5 and human chorionic villi from the first and second trimester, as well as term pregnancy, were analysed for NUCB2/nesfatin-1 expression by immunohistochemistry with an antiserum that recognised both NUCB2 and nesfatin-1. From E7.5 to E9.5, NUCB2/nesfatin-1 was expressed in the ectoplacental cone, then parietal trophoblast giant cells and early spongiotrophoblast. At E10.5–12.5, NUCB2/nesfatin-1 expression became detectable in the developing labyrinth. From E12.5 and onwards, NUCB2/nesfatin-1 was expressed in the glycogen trophoblast cells, as well as highly expressed in syncytiotrophoblast, sinusoidal trophoblast giant cells and fetal capillary endothelial cells of the labyrinth. In all trimesters of human pregnancy, NUCB2/nesfatin-1 was highly expressed in syncytiotrophoblast. In addition, there was a significant increase in NUCB2 expression in human primary trophoblast cells induced to syncytialise. Thus, the haemochorial mammalian placenta is a novel source of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 and likely a site of its action, with potential roles in glucose homeostasis and/or nutrient sensing.
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Sagrillo-Fagundes L, Clabault H, Laurent L, Hudon-Thibeault AA, Salustiano EMA, Fortier M, Bienvenue-Pariseault J, Wong Yen P, Sanderson JT, Vaillancourt C. Human Primary Trophoblast Cell Culture Model to Study the Protective Effects of Melatonin Against Hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced Disruption. J Vis Exp 2016. [PMID: 27500522 DOI: 10.3791/54228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
This protocol describes how villous cytotrophoblast cells are isolated from placentas at term by successive enzymatic digestions, followed by density centrifugation, media gradient isolation and immunomagnetic purification. As observed in vivo, mononucleated villous cytotrophoblast cells in primary culture differentiate into multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast cells after 72 hr. Compared to normoxia (8% O2), villous cytotrophoblast cells that undergo hypoxia/reoxygenation (0.5% / 8% O2) undergo increased oxidative stress and intrinsic apoptosis, similar to that observed in vivo in pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and intrauterine growth restriction. In this context, primary villous trophoblasts cultured under hypoxia/reoxygenation conditions represent a unique experimental system to better understand the mechanisms and signalling pathways that are altered in human placenta and facilitate the search for effective drugs that protect against certain pregnancy disorders. Human villous trophoblasts produce melatonin and express its synthesizing enzymes and receptors. Melatonin has been suggested as a treatment for preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction because of its protective antioxidant effects. In the primary villous cytotrophoblast cell model described in this paper, melatonin has no effect on trophoblast cells in normoxic state but restores the redox balance of syncytiotrophoblast cells disrupted by hypoxia/reoxygenation. Thus, human villous trophoblast cells in primary culture are an excellent approach to study the mechanisms behind the protective effects of melatonin on placental function during hypoxia/reoxygenation.
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Phospholipid scramblase 1 (PLSCR1) in villous trophoblast of the human placenta. Histochem Cell Biol 2014; 143:381-96. [DOI: 10.1007/s00418-014-1294-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Ackerman W, Kwiek JJ. Role of the placenta in adverse perinatal outcomes among HIV-1 seropositive women. J NIPPON MED SCH 2014; 80:90-4. [PMID: 23657060 DOI: 10.1272/jnms.80.90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Women seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are at an increased risk for a number of adverse perinatal outcomes. Although efforts to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) remain a priority in resource-limited countries, HIV testing and treatment have led to steep declines in MTCT in well-resourced countries. Even so, HIV seropositive pregnant women in the United States continue to deliver a disproportionately high number of preterm and low birth weight infants. In this mini-review, we address the role of the placenta in such HIV-related perinatal sequelae. We posit that adverse perinatal outcomes may result from two mutually non-exclusive routes: (1) HIV infection of the placenta proper, potentially leading to impaired maternal-fetal exchange; and (2) infection of the maternal decidual microenvironment, possibly disrupting normal placental implantation and development. Further research into the relationship between HIV-1 infection and placental pathology may lead to the development of novel strategies to improve birth outcomes among HIV-1 seropositive parturients.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Ackerman
- Laboratory of Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
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Segat L, Zupin L, Kim HY, Catamo E, Thea DM, Kankasa C, Aldrovandi GM, Kuhn L, Crovella S. HLA-G 14 bp deletion/insertion polymorphism and mother-to-child transmission of HIV. TISSUE ANTIGENS 2014; 83:161-7. [PMID: 24571474 PMCID: PMC3950813 DOI: 10.1111/tan.12296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2013] [Revised: 12/27/2013] [Accepted: 01/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The human leukocyte antigen HLA-G, highly expressed at the maternal-fetal interface, has a pivotal role in mediating immune tolerance. In this study we investigated the influence of HLA-G 14 bp insertion polymorphism in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission. The 14 bp insertion polymorphism was analyzed among 99 HIV-1 positive mothers and 329 infants born to HIV-positive mothers in Zambia, among whom vertical transmission status and timing had been determined. HLA-G 14 bp insertion polymorphism was detected using a custom TaqMan single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) genotyping assay. Logistic regression was conducted to examine the associations between HLA-G alleles and the risk of HIV transmission. The 14 bp insertion allele was more frequent in HIV exposed-uninfected (EU) infants than in infected infants, and was associated with reduced risk of both in utero (IU) and intrapartum (IP) HIV transmission, after adjusting for maternal cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) cell count and plasma viral load. Maternal HLA-G 14 bp insertion genotype and HLA-G concordance between mother and child were not associated with the risk of perinatal HIV transmission. The presence of the 14 bp insertion associates with protection toward IU and IP HIV infection in children from Zambia, suggesting that HLA-G could be involved in the vertical transmission of HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Segat
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
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Antigen-presenting cells represent targets for R5 HIV-1 infection in the first trimester pregnancy uterine mucosa. PLoS One 2009; 4:e5971. [PMID: 19543402 PMCID: PMC2696085 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2009] [Accepted: 05/24/2009] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background During the first trimester of pregnancy, HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission is relatively rare despite the permissivity of placental cells to cell-to-cell HIV-1 infection. The placenta interacts directly with maternal uterine cells (decidual cells) but the physiological role of the decidua in the control of HIV-1 transmission and whether decidua could be a source of infected cells is unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings To answer to this question, decidual mononuclear cells were exposed to HIV-1 in vitro. Decidual cells were shown to be more susceptible to infection by an R5 HIV-1, as compared to an X4 HIV-1. Infected cells were identified by flow cytometry analysis. The results showed that CD14+ cells were the main targets of HIV-1 infection in the decidua. These infected CD14+ cells expressed DC-SIGN, CD11b, CD11c, the Fc gamma receptor CD16, CD32 and CD64, classical MHC class-I and class-II and maturation and activation molecules CD83, CD80 and CD86. The permissivity of decidual tissue was also evaluated by histoculture. Decidual tissue was not infected by X4 HIV-1 but was permissive to R5 HIV-1. Different profiles of infection were observed depending on tissue localization. Conclusions/Significance The presence of HIV-1 target cells in the decidua in vitro and the low rate of in utero mother-to-child transmission during the first trimester of pregnancy suggest that a natural control occurs in vivo limiting cell-to-cell infection of the placenta and consequently infection of the fetus.
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8
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Ross AL, Cannou C, Barré-Sinoussi F, Menu E. Proteasome-independent degradation of HIV-1 in naturally non-permissive human placental trophoblast cells. Retrovirology 2009; 6:46. [PMID: 19445667 PMCID: PMC2689159 DOI: 10.1186/1742-4690-6-46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2009] [Accepted: 05/15/2009] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The human placenta-derived cell line BeWo has been demonstrated to be restrictive to cell-free HIV-1 infection. BeWo cells are however permissive to infection by VSV-G pseudotyped HIV-1, which enters cells by a receptor-independent mechanism, and to infection by HIV-1 via a cell-to-cell route. RESULTS Here we analysed viral entry in wild type BeWo (CCR5+, CXCR4+) and BeWo-CD4+ (CD4+, CCR5+, CXCR4+) cells. We report that HIV-1 internalisation is not restricted in either cell line. Levels of internalised p24 antigen between VSV-G HIV-1 pseudotypes and R5 or X4 virions were comparable. We next analysed the fate of internalised virions; X4 and R5 HIV-1 virions were less stable over time in BeWo cells than VSV-G HIV-1 pseudotypes. We then investigated the role of the proteasome in restricting cell-free HIV-1 infection in BeWo cells using proteasome inhibitors. We observed an increase in the levels of VSV-G pseudotyped HIV-1 infection in proteasome-inhibitor treated cells, but the infection by R5-Env or X4-Env pseudotyped virions remains restricted. CONCLUSION Collectively these results suggest that cell-free HIV-1 infection encounters a surface block leading to a non-productive entry route, which either actively targets incoming virions for non-proteasomal degradation, and impedes their release into the cytoplasm, or causes the inactivation of mechanisms essential for viral replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Laura Ross
- Institut Pasteur, Unit of Regulation of Retroviral Infections, Department of Virology, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, Paris, France.
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9
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Review the role and mechanism of in utero placental transmission of HIV-1. STUDY DESIGN A thorough review based on a literature search for publications relevant to this subject was performed using relevant search terms. Articles that describe the genetic and pathophysiology of vertical transmission have been acknowledged. The articles pertinent to the topic were selected to support the discussion. RESULTS Vertical transmission may occur through CD4+ endothelial tissues or CD4+ Hofbauer cells. Trophoblasts and villi have CD4 receptors, which make them potential candidates for HIV infection. Placental cytokines and chemokines influence HIV replication in trophoblasts. Genetic analysis of HIV-1 sequences verify the interaction of HIV-1 and placental tissue. The vertical transmission of HIV-1 characterized by selection of genotype variant that escape the mother's immune system. CONCLUSION Placental transmission of HIV-1 is a complex incompletely understood process which requires advanced studies. The available literature provides information with regards to the interactions of placental cells with HIV.
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Faye A, Pornprasert S, Mary JY, Dolcini G, Derrien M, Barré-Sinoussi F, Chaouat G, Menu E. Characterization of the main placental cytokine profiles from HIV-1-infected pregnant women treated with anti-retroviral drugs in France. Clin Exp Immunol 2007; 149:430-9. [PMID: 17511776 PMCID: PMC2219329 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2007.03411.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytokines are involved in regulating HIV-1 infection. They are also placental environment major components. We assessed the potential impact of HIV-1 infection and/or anti-retroviral drugs on the placental cytokine profiles that may be involved in controlling HIV-1 placental dissemination. Placental explants were obtained after elective caesarean section from anti-retroviral-treated HIV-1-infected pregnant women and from HIV-1 non-infected pregnant women. The main placental cytokines were assessed for protein secretion in the supernatants of 24-h placental culture explants and/or in uncultured placental explants for mRNA expression levels. The cytokine profiles were different between the HIV-1-infected and the non-infected groups. Higher medians of leukaemia inhibiting factor (LIF), tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-8 secretion were found in the 24-h culture supernatant of term placenta from HIV-1-infected women. High median levels of IL-16 and regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) levels were found in both groups. The mRNA expression medians were lower for TNF-alpha and IL-8 and higher for stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in uncultured placental explants from HIV-1-infected women. In the HIV-1-infected group, but not in the non-infected group, the secretion levels of TNF-alpha and IL-8, as well as their mRNA expression levels, were highly positively correlated; furthermore, their secretion levels were correlated positively with LIF and IL-10 secretion levels. We found no correlation between the cytokine levels and the immunovirological status of the HIV-1-infected mothers or the type or duration of treatment. These results highlight the potential impact of HIV-1 and of the anti-retroviral treatments on the placental cytokines pattern, independently of their anti-viral activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Faye
- Unité de Régulation des Infections Rétrovirales, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France, and INSERM U782, Clamart, France
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11
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Lehman DA, Farquhar C. Biological mechanisms of vertical human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) transmission. Rev Med Virol 2007; 17:381-403. [PMID: 17542053 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In the absence of interventions, 30-45% of exposed infants acquire human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) through mother-to-child transmission. It remains unclear why some infants become infected while others do not, despite significant exposure to HIV-1 in utero, during delivery and while breastfeeding. Here we discuss the correlates of vertical transmission with an emphasis on factors that increase maternal HIV-1 levels, either systemically or locally in genital secretions and breast milk. Immune responses may influence maternal viral load, and data suggest that maternal neutralising antibodies reduce infection rates. In addition, infants may be capable of mounting HIV-specific cellular immune responses. We propose that both humoral and cellular responses are necessary to reduce infection because cell-free as well as cell-associated virus appears to play a role in vertical transmission. These distinct forms of the virus may be targeted most effectively by different components of the immune system. We also discuss the use of antiretrovirals to reduce transmission, focusing on the mechanisms of action of regimens currently used in developing country settings. We conclude that prevention relies not only on reducing maternal HIV-1 levels within blood, genital tract and breast milk, but also on pre- and/or post-exposure prophylaxis to the infant. However, HIV-1 has the capacity to mutate under drug pressure and rapidly acquires mutations conferring antiretroviral resistance. This review concludes with data on persistence of low-level resistance after delivery as well as recent guidelines for maternal and infant regimens designed to limit resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dara A Lehman
- Department of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
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12
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Kilani RT, Mackova M, Davidge ST, Winkler-Lowen B, Demianczuk N, Guilbert LJ. Endogenous tumor necrosis factor α mediates enhanced apoptosis of cultured villous trophoblasts from intrauterine growth-restricted placentae. Reproduction 2007; 133:257-64. [PMID: 17244751 DOI: 10.1530/rep-06-0080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) has been implicated in the abnormally high levels of trophoblast apoptosis seen in placentae from pregnancies complicated by small births. We examined the hypothesis that at physiological (35–50 mmHg) oxygen tensions, the production of TNFα stimulates the apoptosis of placental trophoblasts associated with infants that are intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR). Highly purified cytotrophoblasts (CT) from IUGR-complicated pregnancies spontaneously underwent a higher rate of apoptosis after 24 h of culture at a normoxic (for villous CT) tension of 38 mmHg than did CT from normal placentae. Real-time PCR analysis of TNFαmRNA revealed ~threefold higher levels in IUGR trophoblasts afterculturing at a pO2of 38 mmHg. A higher level of TNFα receptor p55 (which mediates apoptosis) was found in IUGR CT by western blot analysis at pO2of <10, 38, and 140 mmHg. Neutralizing antibody to TNFα significantly inhibited the apoptosis of IUGR trophoblasts cultured at 38 mmHg and addition of TNFα significantly elevated apoptosis of normal and IUGR trophoblasts but less in IUGR cells cultured at <10 mmHg. We conclude that at physiological oxygen tensions (38 mmHg), villous CT from IUGR pregnancies, when compared with uncomplicated pregnancies, undergo more TNFα-induced apoptosis both because of elevated expression of TNFα and TNF receptor p55.
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Affiliation(s)
- R T Kilani
- University of Alberta Perinatal Research Centre, Edmonton, Canada
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Parry S, Zhang J, Koi H, Arechavaleta-Velasco F, Elovitz MA. Transcytosis of Human immunodeficiency virus 1 across the placenta is enhanced by treatment with tumour necrosis factor alpha. J Gen Virol 2006; 87:2269-2278. [PMID: 16847123 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.81071-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The human placenta is relatively resistant to Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), but obstetric complications associated with inflammatory processes, including chorioamnionitis and spontaneous preterm delivery, are associated with increased rates of vertical transmission. It was hypothesized that the pro-inflammatory mediator tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), which promotes HIV-1 transmission across endothelial membranes, increases HIV-1 transmission across the placenta. Flow cytometry and immunostaining studies were performed, which demonstrated that the HIV-1 receptors CD4, CCR5 and CXCR4 were not expressed by villous trophoblast cells. Consequently, primary villous trophoblast cells were not infected with cell-free HIV-1 isolates, as measured by in situ PCR and quantitative PCR, but villous trophoblast cells were infected by HIV-1-infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). HIV-1 from infected PBMC was rapidly transported across confluent transformed trophoblast cell monolayers by transcytosis, and TNF-alpha significantly upregulated transcytosis of HIV-1 across the trophoblast layer without disrupting cell viability or confluency. Inhibitors of TNF-alpha (antibodies against TNF-alpha and TNF-alpha receptors) and an anti-inflammatory drug (tenidap) significantly reduced transcytosis rates. It was concluded that the villous trophoblast is resistant to infection by cell-free HIV-1 but susceptible to transcytosis of HIV-1 from infected PBMC, and inflammatory mediators such as TNF-alpha may play a critical role in promoting maternal-fetal transmission of HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Parry
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 1352 Biomedical Research Building II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6142, USA
| | - Jian Zhang
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 1352 Biomedical Research Building II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6142, USA
| | - Hideki Koi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113, Japan
| | - Fabian Arechavaleta-Velasco
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 1352 Biomedical Research Building II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6142, USA
| | - Michal A Elovitz
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 1352 Biomedical Research Building II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6142, USA
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Chen B, Nelson DM, Sadovsky Y. N-Myc Down-regulated Gene 1 Modulates the Response of Term Human Trophoblasts to Hypoxic Injury. J Biol Chem 2006; 281:2764-72. [PMID: 16314423 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m507330200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The placenta is susceptible to diverse insults during human pregnancy. The expression of the protein N-myc down-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) is regulated during cell proliferation, differentiation, and in response to stress. Nevertheless, the function of this protein in humans remains unknown. We tested the hypothesis that NDRG1 is up-regulated in hypoxic primary human trophoblasts and that NDRG1 modulates trophoblast response to hypoxia. We initially demonstrated that the expression of NDRG1 is enhanced in primary human trophoblasts exposed to hypoxia. Importantly, we found a similar increase in NDRG1 expression in placental samples derived from either singleton gestations complicated by intrauterine growth restriction or from dizygotic twin gestation where one twin exhibited growth restriction. Having established efficient lentivirus-mediated transfection of primary human trophoblasts, we overexpressed NDRG1 in trophoblasts, which resulted in enhanced trophoblast differentiation. In contrast, lentivirus-driven short interfering RNA-mediated silencing of NDRG1 diminished trophoblast viability and differentiation. Consistent with these results, NDRG1 reduced the expression level of p53 in trophoblasts cultured in standard or hypoxic conditions. Furthermore, NDRG1 expression was regulated by the activity of SIRT1 (Sir2-like protein 1), which promotes cell survival. Together, our data indicate that NDRG1 interacts with SIRT1/p53 signaling to attenuate hypoxic injury in human trophoblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baosheng Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
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15
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Johnstone ED, Mackova M, Das S, Payne SG, Lowen B, Sibley CP, Chan G, Guilbert LJ. Multiple anti-apoptotic pathways stimulated by EGF in cytotrophoblasts. Placenta 2005; 26:548-55. [PMID: 15993704 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2004.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) reduces apoptosis in primary cytotrophoblast (CT) in culture through two separate pathways: the extracellular signal related kinase (ERK) 1/2 and phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI-3 kinase) paths. Whether other pathways are involved in survival signalling is unknown. We here show that the c-Jun NH2 terminal kinase (JNK) and the mitogen activated kinase (MAPK) p38 are also activated by EGF as seen by increases in JNK and p38 phosphorylation. However, inhibition of JNK phosphorylation with the specific inhibitor SP600125 increases apoptosis in a manner refractory to the addition of EGF but inhibition of p38 phosphorylation with its specific inhibitor SB 203580 does not increase apoptosis. EGF also activates sphingosine kinase-1 (SPHK-1), which converts sphingosine to sphingosine-1-phosphate, and its inhibition with dimethyl sphingosine (DMS) increased trophoblast death. Inhibition of SPHK-1 also did not affect EGF stimulated phosphorylation of PI-3 kinase, Akt, ERK1/2 or p38 but inhibition of PI-3 kinase with a specific inhibitor LY294002 partly (40%) inhibited the EGF-stimulated increase in SPHK-1 activity. We conclude that, in addition to the PI-3 kinase and ERK1/2 pathways, EGF acts through its receptor to stimulate JNK, p38 and SPHK-1 pathways, but that the JNK and SPHK-1, and not the p38, pathways are involved in suppressing apoptosis. This information provides evidence that EGF stimulates survival along multiple pathways that differ in trophoblast and other cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- E D Johnstone
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and the University of Alberta Perinatal Research Centre, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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16
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Coats KS. The Feline Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Cat: A Model for Lentivirus-induced Placental Immunopathology and Reproductive Failure (Mini-Review). Am J Reprod Immunol 2005; 54:169-85. [PMID: 16135008 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2005.00296.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Pediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is largely a result of transplacental transmission, and pregnancy perturbation is more frequent in HIV-infected women. Dysregulation of placental immunology may occur during HIV infection, possibly facilitating HIV vertical transfer and miscarriage. The (FIV)-infected cat is a useful small-animal model for HIV pathogenesis because the viruses share common biological and clinical features. Transplacental transmission is readily achieved experimentally, resulting in a high proportion of infected offspring and frequent reproductive failure. METHOD OF STUDY We are using this model to examine lentivirus-induced placental immunopathology to determine the role aberrant immunology plays in intrauterine transmission and pregnancy perturbation. RESULTS Kittens were cesarean delivered from FIV-B-2542-infected and control queens at week 8 gestation (1 week short of term), and placental and fetal specimens were collected. On average, control queens delivered 3.8 kittens/litter, and 1 of 31 kittens (3.2%) was non-viable. FIV-infected queens produced 2.7 kittens/litter with 15 of 25 fetuses (60%) non-viable. The virus was detected in 14 of 15 placentas (93%) and 21 of 22 fetuses (95%) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using a one-step, real time reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR, we measured expression of representative placental T helper 1 (Th1) cytokines, interleukin (IL)-1beta and interferon (IFN)-gamma, a Th2 cytokine, IL-10, and chemokine receptor CXCR4. A comparison of placental cytokine expression between infected and control queens did not reveal differences between the two groups. However, elevated expression of Th1 cytokines and increased Th1/Th2 ratios (IL-1beta/IL-10) occurred in placentas from resorptions, indicating that increased placental Th1 cytokine expression was associated with pregnancy failure in the FIV-infected cat. CONCLUSION The potential to establish efficient FIV in utero transmission, coupled with the parallels in immunopathology between FIV-infected cats and HIV-infected humans, suggests the usefulness of the FIV-infected cat as a cost-effective, small-animal model to study lentivirus-induced immunopathology, transplacental infection, and reproductive failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen S Coats
- Department of Biological Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, PO Box GY, MS 39762, USA.
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17
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Johnstone ED, Chan G, Sibley CP, Davidge ST, Lowen B, Guilbert LJ. Sphingosine-1-phosphate inhibition of placental trophoblast differentiation through a G(i)-coupled receptor response. J Lipid Res 2005; 46:1833-9. [PMID: 15995175 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m500095-jlr200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The failure of placental trophoblasts to differentiate properly is thought to play an important role in the cause of pregnancy disorders such as preeclampsia. We looked at the effects of the bioactive lipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) on the differentiation of primary human cytotrophoblasts (CTs) into syncytiotrophoblasts (STs) in culture. We found that S1P inhibited CT differentiation measured by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) secretion and the expression of placental alkaline phosphatase but had no effect on their fusion into multinucleated syncytialized cells. G-protein-linked S1P receptors 1, 2, and 3 were found in CTs by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and receptor 1 was found by Western blot analysis. Disruption of G(i) signaling with pertussis toxin reversed the inhibitory effects of S1P. S1P reduced intracellular cAMP, and the addition of 8-bromo-cAMP reversed S1P inhibition of hCG secretion. Therefore, we suggest that S1P inhibits the differentiation of CTs into STs through G(i)-coupled S1P receptor interaction(s), leading to the inhibition of adenylate cyclase and reduced production of intracellular cAMP. This is the first reported effect of S1P on placental trophoblast function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward D Johnstone
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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18
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Li H, Dakour J, Guilbert LJ, Winkler-Lowen B, Lyall F, Morrish DW. PL74, a novel member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily, is overexpressed in preeclampsia and causes apoptosis in trophoblast cells. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005; 90:3045-53. [PMID: 15705926 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2004-0808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
PL74, a novel member of the TGFbeta superfamily that has highest expression in placenta, is a multifunctional peptide that can induce differentiation, inhibit inflammatory stimulation of TNFalpha, and execute apoptosis after p53 overexpression and cytotoxic injury. To study its expression and function in placenta and preeclampsia, we first determined mRNA expression in nine normal and 10 preeclamptic placentas. PL74 mRNA was overexpressed by 57.3% in preeclampsia. Transfection of PL74 into term cytotrophoblasts resulted in increased apoptosis by terminal uridine deoxynucleotidyl nick end labeling labeling (control, 2.8 +/- 0.5%; PL74, 19.1 +/- 0.2%; P < 0.005). Addition of PL74 protein to HTR8/SVneo extravillous cytotrophoblast cells showed a dose-response (0-100 ng/ml) inhibition of [3H]thymidine uptake and increase in apoptosis shown by terminal uridine deoxynucleotidyl nick end labeling and histone-associated DNA fragment ELISA (control, 0.11 +/- 0.01 absorbance units; PL74, 0.21 +/- 0.01; P < 0.01). PL74 did not alter cytotrophoblast invasion using a Matrigel in vitro invasion assay. Cytokine regulation of PL74 mRNA expression in term cytotrophoblasts showed that epidermal growth factor and IFNgamma increased PL74 expression, but TGFbeta and TNFalpha had no effect. Transfection of antisense PL74 into term cytotrophoblast cells resulted in an inhibition of spontaneous differentiation at 2 and 24 h of culture (control vector, 30.8 +/- 3.1% and 26.4 +/- 1.2%; antisense PL74, 17.6 +/- 1.8%and 12.6 +/- 1.4% syncytial units, at 2 and 24 h respectively; P < 0.01). We conclude that PL74 is overexpressed in preeclampsia and may thus promote apoptosis of cytotrophoblasts at the expense of differentiation. PL74 secretion is induced by IFNgamma and may play a role in abnormal placental responses in preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongshi Li
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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19
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Weaver CC, Burgess SC, Nelson PD, Wilkinson M, Ryan PL, Nail CA, Kelly-Quagliana KA, May ML, Reeves RK, Boyle CR, Coats KS. Placental immunopathology and pregnancy failure in the FIV-infected cat. Placenta 2005; 26:138-47. [PMID: 15708115 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2004.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/25/2004] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Placental HIV infections frequently result in infected babies or miscarriage. Aberrant placental cytokine expression during HIV infections may facilitate transplacental viral transmission or pregnancy perturbation. The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-infected cat is a model for HIV infections due to similarities in biology and clinical disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate placental immunomodulator expression and reproductive outcome using the FIV-infected cat model. Kittens were cesarean delivered from FIV-B-2542-infected and control queens near term; placental and fetal tissues were collected. Real-time RT-PCR was used to measure expression of representative placental Th1 cytokines, interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a Th2 cytokine, IL-10, and chemokine receptor CXCR4. On average, control queens delivered 3.8 kittens/litter; 1 of 31 kittens (3.2%) was non-viable. FIV-infected queens produced 2.7 kittens/litter; 15 of 25 concepti (60%) were non-viable. FIV was detected in 14 of 15 placentas (93%) and 21 of 22 fetuses (95%) using PCR. Placental immunomodulator expression did not differ significantly when placentas from infected cats were compared to those of control cats. However, elevated expression of Th1 cytokines and increased Th1/Th2 ratios (IL-1beta/IL-10) occurred in placentas from resorptions. Therefore, increased placental Th1 cytokine expression was associated with pregnancy failure in the FIV-infected cat.
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Affiliation(s)
- C C Weaver
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
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20
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Nagamatsu T, Fujii T, Ishikawa T, Kanai T, Hyodo H, Yamashita T, Osuga Y, Momoeda M, Kozuma S, Taketani Y. A Primary Cell Culture System for Human Cytotrophoblasts of Proximal Cytotrophoblast Cell Columns Enabling In Vitro Acquisition of the Extra-villous Phenotype. Placenta 2004; 25:153-65. [PMID: 14972448 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2003.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2003] [Revised: 08/26/2003] [Accepted: 08/28/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Cytotrophoblast (CT) differentiation into the extra-villous phenotype is a crucial process in initiating their invasion into the decidua and thereby developing the placenta. However, how CTs differentiate into extra-villous CTs (EVCTs) is not fully elucidated. To address this, a suitable culture model for CTs has been long-sought. But this has been hampered by annoying problems such as; cell aggregation, in vitro syncytialization, low plating efficiency, etc. The aim of this study is to develop a culture system in which CTs differentiate into EVCTs. CTs were isolated from the first trimester placenta using density gradient separation and immuno-depletion using anti-CD9 antibody to remove contaminating fibroblasts and EVCTs. The resultant isolated CTs were found to have the character similar to poorly differentiated CTs comprising proximal cytotrophoblastic cell columns as confirmed by immunocytochemical and flowcytometric analyses. When cultured on type 4 collagen-coated plates in culture media containing low calcium concentration, CTs neither aggregated nor syncytialized, remaining mononuclear and monolayer state. Interestingly, cultured CTs gradually upregulated integrin alpha1, CD9, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G; the known markers specific for EVCTs invading into the decidua diffusely. Hence, the CT culture system provides a sophisticated experimental model in which highly purified CTs acquire the extra-villous phenotype without syncytialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Nagamatsu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
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21
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Li H, Dakour J, Kaufman S, Guilbert LJ, Winkler-Lowen B, Morrish DW. Adrenomedullin Is Decreased in Preeclampsia Because of Failed Response to Epidermal Growth Factor and Impaired Syncytialization. Hypertension 2003; 42:895-900. [PMID: 14517225 DOI: 10.1161/01.hyp.0000095613.41961.6e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
To explore the mechanisms of adrenomedullin (ADM) regulation in normal and preeclamptic (PE) states, we determined placental production of ADM and ADM regulation by cytokines. Isolated, purified cytotrophoblast cultures from normal (n=8) and PE (n=10) placentas were cultured for 3 days in the absence or presence of 10 ng/mL epidermal growth factor (EGF), 1 ng/mL transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, 10 ng/mL tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, or 100 U/mL interferon (IFN)-γ. Cells were also cultured for 3 days in 10% fetal bovine serum for determination of syncytial formation by desmoplakin staining. Pieces of normal and PE placentas were snap-frozen for ADM mRNA measurement. Results showed that basal ADM production into culture medium by radioimmunoassay was significantly lower in PE placental cells. EGF significantly stimulated ADM production in normal trophoblasts but did not in PE placentas. None of the factors TNF-α, TGF-β1, or IFN-γ altered ADM secretion in either normal or PE placentas. ADM expression by Northern blot analysis demonstrated a 34.3±8.3% reduction in mRNA expression in PE placentas. Syncytialization, as assessed by desmoplakin-outlined syncytial units, was decreased in PE placentas (day 3: normal, 16.7±1.3%; PE, 5.5±2.0%;
P
<0.01, ANOVA). However, there was a normal increment in syncytialization in response to EGF in normal and PE trophoblast preparations (EGF day 3: normal, 43.8±5.6%; PE, 46.1±12.3%). We conclude that spontaneous placental syncytialization is impaired in PE and that ADM production is markedly reduced in PE, possibly owing to an impaired EGF response. These abnormalities indicate poor placental production of ADM as the likely cause of a failed compensatory increase in maternal serum ADM levels in PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongshi Li
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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22
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Dolcini G, Derrien M, Chaouat G, Barré-Sinoussi F, Menu E. Cell-free HIV type 1 infection is restricted in the human trophoblast choriocarcinoma BeWo cell line, even with expression of CD4, CXCR4 and CCR5. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2003; 19:857-64. [PMID: 14585217 DOI: 10.1089/088922203322493021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The restriction of cell-free HIV-1 infection has been demonstrated in placental trophoblast choriocarcinoma BeWo cells. We tried to determine the level of the viral replication cycle at which this restriction occurs. BeWo cells produce infectious viruses after transfection with HIV-1 plasmids, independently of viral tropism. CCR5 and CXCR4, but not the CD4 molecule, were detected at the cell surface. We therefore derived CD4-expressing clones from transfected BeWo cells. Cell-free virus infection of these clones resulted in neither virus production nor viral sequence integration, indicating that the restriction occurs before integration of the virus. If we used luciferase reporter viruses pseudotyped with HIV-1 Env R5 and X4 for infection, no luciferase activity was detected, even in the BeWo-CD4+ clone, in contrast to what was observed in VSV-G pseudotyped virus infection. Our results show that infection of trophoblast-derived cells with cell-free virus is at least restricted at the level of entry. Thus, BeWo is an interesting human placental cell line that is resistant to HIV-1, even if CD4, CXCR4, and CCR5 are expressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Dolcini
- Unité de Biologie des Rétrovirus, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75 724 Paris Cedex 15, France
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23
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Chan G, Hemmings DG, Yurochko AD, Guilbert LJ. Human cytomegalovirus-caused damage to placental trophoblasts mediated by immediate-early gene-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2002; 161:1371-81. [PMID: 12368210 PMCID: PMC1867293 DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9440(10)64413-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Infection of the fetal epithelium (trophoblast) lining the villous placenta by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) accompanies placental inflammations and fetal intrauterine growth restriction. However, the consequences of infection on the villous trophoblast have not been explored. We show that HCMV infection of primary immature (cytotrophoblast-like) or mature (syncytiotrophoblast-like) cultures results in loss of half of the cells within 24 hours of virus challenge. Two-color immunofluorescence of HCMV immediate early (IE) gene expression and apoptosis (terminal dUTP nick-end labeling) revealed apoptosis only in uninfected cells. Antibody to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha completely inhibited infection-induced trophoblast apoptosis and cell loss, as did co-incubation with epidermal growth factor, known to inhibit trophoblast apoptosis. Transfection with HCMV immediate early- (IE)1-72 and IE2-86, but not IE2-55, expression plasmids induced paracrine trophoblast apoptosis inhibitable by epidermal growth factor or antibody to TNF-alpha. These results show that HCMV infection of villous trophoblasts leads to rapid loss of neighboring cells mediated by viral IE protein-induced TNF-alpha secretion. We propose that HCMV infection damages the placental trophoblast barrier by accelerating trophoblast turnover and decreasing its capacity for renewal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Chan
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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24
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Tóth FD, Bácsi A, Beck Z, Szabó J. Vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus. Acta Microbiol Immunol Hung 2002; 48:413-27. [PMID: 11791341 DOI: 10.1556/amicr.48.2001.3-4.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Sensitive detection methods, such as DNA PCR and RNA PCR suggest that vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) occurs at three major time periods; in utero, around the time of birth, and postpartum as a result of breastfeeding (Fig. 1). Detection of proviral DNA in infant's blood at birth suggests that transmission occurred prior to delivery. A working definition for time of infection is that HIV detection by DNA PCR in the first 48 h of life indicates in utero transmission, while peripartum transmission is considered if DNA PCR is negative the first 48 h, but then it is positive 7 or more days later [1]. Generally, in the breastfeeding population, breast milk transmission is thought to occur if virus is not detected by PCR at 3-5 months of life but is detected thereafter within the breastfeeding period [2]. Using these definitions and guidelines, studies has suggested that in developed countries the majority, or two thirds of vertical transmission occur peripartum, and one-third in utero [3-6]. The low rate of breastfeeding transmission is due to the practice of advising known HIV-positive mothers not to feed breast milk. However, since the implementation of antiretroviral treatment in prophylaxis of HIV-positive mothers, some studies have suggested that in utero infection accounts for a larger percentage of vertical transmissions [7]. In developing countries, although the majority of infections occurs also peripartum, a significant percentage, 10-17%, is thought to be due to breastfeeding [2, 8, 9].
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Affiliation(s)
- F D Tóth
- Institute of Microbiology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, H-4012 Debrecen, Hungary
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25
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Casper C, Fenyö EM. Mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1: the role of HIV-1 variability and the placental barrier. Acta Microbiol Immunol Hung 2002; 48:545-73. [PMID: 11791351 DOI: 10.1556/amicr.48.2001.3-4.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), was first described in the United States of America in 1981 [1]. The worldwide spread of HIV has soon been recognized and AIDS has become one of the most alarming infectious diseases of our days. Its impact has been tremendous, high morbidity and mortality has caused a reversal of socioeconomic gains previously recorded in several developing countries, especially those in Sub-Saharan Africa [2]. Epidemiological data about the HIV and AIDS pandemic are updated by the Joint United Nation Programme on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS (http://www.unaids.org). Their latest report from December 2000 states that in year 2000 approximately 5.3 million people have become newly infected with HIV, of which 2.2 were women and 600,000 children younger than 15 years of age. The estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS globally is 36.1 million, of which 16.4 million are women and 1.4 million are children younger than 15 years of age. Approximately 25.3 million (70%) of these HIV infected people live in Sub-Saharan Africa, 5.8 million in South- and South-East Asia (15%), and 1.4 million in Latin-America (5%). During year 2000, 3 million people died of AIDS (1.3 million women and 500,000 children younger than 15 years of age). This means that an estimated total of 21.8 million persons have died of AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic, including 4.3 million children younger than 15 years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Casper
- Microbiology and Tumorbiology Center, Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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26
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Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous infectious pathogen that, when transmitted to the fetus in utero, can result in numerous sequelae, including late-onset sensorineural damage. The villous trophoblast, the cellular barrier between maternal blood and fetal tissue in the human placenta, is infected by HCMV in vivo. Primary trophoblasts cultured on impermeable surfaces can be infected by HCMV, but release of progeny virus is delayed and minimal. It is not known whether these epithelial cells when fully polarized can release HCMV and, if so, if release is from the basal membrane surface toward the fetus. We therefore ask whether, and in which direction, progeny virus release occurs from HCMV-infected trophoblasts cultured on semipermeable (3.0-microm-pore-size) membranes that allow functional polarization. We show that infectious HCMV readily diffuses across cell-free 3.0-microm-pore-size membranes and that apical infection of confluent and multilayered trophoblasts cultured on these membranes reaches cells at the membrane surface. Using two different infection and culture protocols, we found that up to 20% of progeny virus is released but that <1% of released virus is detected in the basal culture chamber. These results suggest that very little, if any, HCMV is released from an infected villous trophoblast into the villous stroma where the virus could ultimately infect the fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- D G Hemmings
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Perinatal Research Centre, University of Alberta, 232 HMRC, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2S2
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27
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Guilbert LJ, Winkler-Lowen B, Sherburne R, Rote NS, Li H, Morrish DW. Preparation and functional characterization of villous cytotrophoblasts free of syncytial fragments. Placenta 2002; 23:175-83. [PMID: 11945084 DOI: 10.1053/plac.2001.0756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that purified villous cytotrophoblasts are largely contaminated by mononucleated syncytial fragments and therefore unsuitable for studies of trophoblast differentiation. We assessed highly purified (>99.99 per cent) populations of villous trophoblasts for fragment contamination using the syncytial markers placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP, by immunohistochemistry) and exteriorized phosphatidyl serine (ePS, by flow cytometric analysis). The preparations contained from 4-46 per cent syncytial fragments. However, we find that PLAP negative cells preferentially adhere to tissue culture surfaces and that all preparations were <2 per cent PLAP positive after routine plating and washing procedures. A second purification procedure eliminated dead (propidium iodide permeable) cells and separated viable syncytial fragments (ePS-positive) from viable cytotrophoblasts (ePS-negative) by two colour fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Viable ePS-positive cells were ultrastructurally apoptotic, adhered poorly in culture and those that adhered rapidly underwent apoptosis. Viable ePS-negative cells contained large heterochromic nuclei and cytoplasmic structures, adhered strongly in culture and remained viable. The latter population (putative true villous CT) differentiated into syncytialized cells when cultured with EGF. We conclude that villous CT can be routinely purified, are viable in culture and can undergo syncytial fusion without extensive preformed syncytium.
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Affiliation(s)
- L J Guilbert
- Perinatal Research Centre, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada T6G 2S2.
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28
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Al-Harthi L, Guilbert LJ, Hoxie JA, Landay A. Trophoblasts are productively infected by CD4-independent isolate of HIV type 1. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2002; 18:13-7. [PMID: 11804552 DOI: 10.1089/088922202753394673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence for HIV-1 infection of trophoblasts is discordant. Utilizing highly purified full-term trophoblasts, we demonstrate that full-term trophoblasts express CXCR4 but are negative for CCR5 and CD4 cell surface proteins. Full-term trophoblasts were refractory to infection by HIV-1 IIIB and primary isolates of HIV-1. However, full-term trophoblasts could be infected by a CD4-independent, CXCR4-utilizing HIV-1 strain, as demonstrated by substantial p24 (5.5 ng/ml) levels and HIV-1 gag/pol DNA content (3050 copies/microg) 7 days postinfection. These data illustrate that trophoblasts express the essential host factors for productive HIV-1 infection and that the block to HIV-1 infection may be at the level of entry. In additional, our data suggest that CD4-independent mechanisms of infection may play a role in promoting in utero HIV-1 transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Al-Harthi
- Department of Immunology/Microbiology, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
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29
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Abstract
The placenta is a dynamic organ whose structure and function change throughout pregnancy. There is compelling evidence that the placenta plays an integral role in the vertical transmission of viruses, such as cytomegalovirus and human immunodeficiency virus, from the mother to the fetus. Although the sequelae of congenital viral infection (i.e., fetal anomalies, intrauterine fetal death, and persistent postnatal infection) may be devastating, very little is known about the passage of viruses across the placenta and the pathologic consequences of placental viral infection. We postulate that the syncytiotrophoblast, which forms a continuous barrier between the maternal and fetal circulation, is relatively resistant to viral infection. In support of this hypothesis, we observed that the susceptibility of trophoblast cells to infection by adenovirus and herpes simplex virus and the expression of viral receptors were reduced as trophoblast cells terminally differentiated into syncytiotrophoblast. Conversely, we observed that undifferentiated, extravillous trophoblast cells, which are susceptible to adenovirus infection, underwent pathologic changes (i.e., apoptosis) when infected by adenovirus in the presence of decidual lymphocytes (which were used to simulate the maternal immune response to viral infection). Based on these findings, we speculate that viral infection of extravillous trophoblast cells may negatively impact the process of placental invasion and predispose the mother and fetus to adverse reproductive outcomes that result from placental dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Koi
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104, USA
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30
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Bácsi A, Ebbesen P, Szabó J, Beck Z, Andirkó I, Csoma E, Tóth FD. Pseudotypes of vesicular stomatitis virus-bearing envelope antigens of certain HIV-1 strains permissively infect human syncytiotrophoblasts cultured in vitro: implications for in vivo infection of syncytiotrophoblasts by cell-free HIV-1. J Med Virol 2001; 64:387-97. [PMID: 11468721 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.1063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Intrauterine infection of the fetus is clearly an important mode of vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The syncytiotrophoblast layer of the human placenta must be traversed by HIV-1 in order to reach underlying cells and fetal capillaries. Although HIV-1 has been detected in the syncytiotrophoblast layer in situ, there is conflicting evidence regarding infection of syncytiotrophoblast cells with cell-free virus. The phenotypic mixing between HIV-1 and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has been exploited to assay the susceptibility of human term syncytiotrophoblast cells to penetration by various strains of HIV-1. VSV(HIV-1(IIIB)) and VSV(HIV-1(Ba-L)) pseudotypes were found to enter syncytiotrophoblast cells. In contrast, VSV pseudotyped with envelope glycoproteins of RF, MN, or Ada-M strains of HIV-1 did not infect syncytiotrophoblasts. Plating efficiency of VSV(HIV-1(IIIB)) and VSV(HIV-1(Ba-L)) was 10-fold lower on syncytiotrophoblasts than on T-cells and macrophages, respectively. Incubation of VSV(HIV-1(IIIB)) and VSV(HIV-1(Ba-L)) viruses with appropriate HIV-1 neutralizing sera before infection strongly inhibited entry of pseudotyped VSV into syncytiotrophoblast cells. These findings demonstrated that infection of syncytiotrophoblasts with VSV(HIV-1) pseudotypes was mediated by Env from IIIB and Ba-L strains of HIV-1. Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to CD4, CXCR4, CCR5, and CCR3 were tested for their ability to block VSV(HIV-1) infection of syncytiotrophoblast cells. Neither the anti-CD4 nor the anti-CXCR4, anti-CCR5, and anti-CCR3 MAb had any inhibitory effect on infection of syncytiotrophoblast cells with VSV(HIV-1) pseudotypes. Results from this study suggest that cell-free HIV-1 can enter syncytiotrophoblasts and the susceptibility of these cells to penetration by the virus is strain dependent. Pseudotype infection merely demonstrates that the first steps in HIV-1 replication are possible in syncytiotrophoblast cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bácsi
- Institute of Microbiology, University Medical School, Debrecen, Hungary
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31
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Athanassakis I, Papadimitriou L, Vassiliadis S. Murine ectoplacental cone-derived trophoblast cells express chemokine receptors. J Reprod Immunol 2001; 50:105-19. [PMID: 11334993 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-0378(01)00062-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Chemokine receptors (CCRs) have been shown to regulate T cell migration and differentiation as well as the establishment of Th1/Th2 bias. Furthermore, T cells and T cell products are essential to trophoblast development. Thus, postulating that chemokines as well as their receptors may be expressed by trophoblast to move T cells into an interaction with the feto-placental unit, we examined whether CCRs are expressed during the early stages of ectoplacental cone (EPC) formation. For this, murine EPC-derived trophoblast were examined for their ability to express CCRs constitutively or inducible by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Immunofluorescence experiments on EPC-derived trophoblast cells showed that CCR3, CXCR4 and CCR5 are significantly expressed. IFN-gamma accelerated the mobilization of intracellular pools of CCR molecules during early cell culture periods (2-6 h) and, in most cases, increased their expression on EPC-derived trophoblast cells. CCR activity could be detected in the culture supernatants of these cells, inversely proportional to cell surface expression, suggesting the existence of rapid endocytosis and recycling mechanisms. This finding indicates that the level of intracellular CCRs may partly be determined in the extracellular matrix, an event that could play an important role towards neutralization of specific T cell/trophoblast interactions during early stages of pregnancy and protect the fetus against harmful maternal immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Athanassakis
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, PO Box 2208, Heraklion 714-09, Crete, Greece.
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32
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Lagaye S, Derrien M, Menu E, Coïto C, Tresoldi E, Mauclère P, Scarlatti G, Chaouat G, Barré-Sinoussi F, Bomsel M. Cell-to-cell contact results in a selective translocation of maternal human immunodeficiency virus type 1 quasispecies across a trophoblastic barrier by both transcytosis and infection. J Virol 2001; 75:4780-91. [PMID: 11312350 PMCID: PMC114233 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.75.10.4780-4791.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mother-to-child transmission can occur in utero, mainly intrapartum and postpartum in case of breastfeeding. In utero transmission is highly restricted and results in selection of viral variant from the mother to the child. We have developed an in vitro system that mimics the interaction between viruses, infected cells present in maternal blood, and the trophoblast, the first barrier protecting the fetus. Trophoblastic BeWo cells were grown as a tight polarized monolayer in a two-chamber system. Cell-free virions applied to the apical pole neither crossed the barrier nor productively infected BeWo cells. In contrast, apical contact with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) resulted in transcytosis of infectious virus across the trophoblastic monolayer and in productive infection correlating with the fusion of HIV-infected PBMCs with trophoblasts. We showed that viral variants are selected during these two steps and that in one case of in utero transmission, the predominant maternal viral variant characterized after transcytosis was phylogenetically indistinguishable from the predominant child's virus. Hence, the first steps of transmission of HIV-1 in utero appear to involve the interaction between HIV type 1-infected cells and the trophoblastic layer, resulting in the passage of infectious HIV by transcytosis and by fusion/infection, both leading to a selection of virus quasispecies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Lagaye
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Rétrovirus, 75 724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
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Douglas GC, Thirkill TL, LaSalle J. Automated quantitation of cell-mediated HIV type 1 infection of human syncytiotrophoblast cells by fluorescence in situ hybridization and laser scanning cytometry. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2001; 17:507-16. [PMID: 11350664 DOI: 10.1089/08892220151126562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection of human placental syncytiotrophoblast cells with HIV requires direct contact with infected leukocytes. In vitro investigations into mechanisms regulating placental HIV transmission and into the development of therapeutic interventions have been hampered by difficulties inherent in quantitating HIV levels in cocultures of infected lymphocytes and adherent multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast cells. Here, we have used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for the direct detection of HIV-1 RNA within syncytiotrophoblast cells combined with laser scanning cytometry (LSC) to quantitate HIV levels exclusively in the syncytiotrophoblast cells. HIV-1-infected lymphocytic MOLT-4 cells were cocultured with primary human syncytiotrophoblast cells. Lymphocytic cells were identified with an anti-vimentin antibody and Cy5. HIV RNA was localized by in situ hybridization, using a digoxigenin-labeled riboprobe detected by Oregon Green, and nuclei were stained with 7-aminoactinomycin D. The three-color cocultures were analyzed by LSC to remove unwanted cell populations and quantitate HIV expression levels. The total HIV RNA level (green fluorescence integral) in each colony was normalized for cell size by dividing by the total DNA content (red fluorescence integral). The nuclear-normalized fluorescence integral was 2.3 times higher in infected cocultures than in uninfected cultures. When cocultures were incubated with 10 microM AZT, the green/red fluorescence integral value was significantly lower than that of cocultures incubated in the absence of AZT, corresponding to a 78% reduction in fluorescence. Laser scanning cytometry can be used to quantitate cell-mediated HIV infection in syncytiotrophoblast cells and should allow drug assessment studies and studies aimed at understanding the mechanism of virus entry into trophoblast cells to be carried out.
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Affiliation(s)
- G C Douglas
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
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Douglas GC, Thirkill TL, Sideris V, Rabieh M, Trollinger D, Nuccitelli R. Chemokine receptor expression by human syncytiotrophoblast. J Reprod Immunol 2001; 49:97-114. [PMID: 11164896 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-0378(00)00083-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Despite their potential importance in placental HIV infection and placental immune function, nothing is known about the expression of chemokine receptors by human syncytiotrophoblast cells. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that primary cultures of term syncytiotrophoblast cells express CCR1, CCR3, CXCR4, and CCR6. Immunohistochemical examination of cryosections of term placental villous tissue confirmed the expression of CCR3, CXCR4, and CCR6 by trophoblast cells. The primary syncytiotrophoblast cultures showed no reactivity with antibodies against CCR5. In the villous tissue sections, CCR5 was detected in stromal cells and blood vessel walls but was not found in trophoblast cells. RT-PCR analysis of RNA extracted from cultured syncytiotrophoblast cells confirmed that the cells express message for CCR1, CCR3, CXCR4, CCR6 and CCR10. No transcripts corresponding to CCR2b, CCR5, or CCR8 were detected. Other experiments showed that exposure of syncytiotrophoblast cells to soluble SDF-1alpha elicited a calcium mobilization response, consistent with the expression of functional CXCR4. Thus, human syncytiotrophoblast cells express CXCR4, a known co-receptor for TCL-tropic HIV-1 isolates but do not express CCR5, the major co-receptor for M-tropic isolates. In addition to implications for the maternal-fetal transmission of HIV, the expression of chemokine receptors by syncytiotrophoblast cells could be important in other aspects of placental immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
- G C Douglas
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California, Tupper Hall, Davis, CA 95616-8643, USA.
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Hemmings DG, Lowen B, Sherburne R, Sawicki G, Guilbert LJ. Villous trophoblasts cultured on semi-permeable membranes form an effective barrier to the passage of high and low molecular weight particles. Placenta 2001; 22:70-9. [PMID: 11162355 DOI: 10.1053/plac.2000.0587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
An effective in vitro model of the placental villous syncytium cultured on semi-permeable substrata is essential for studies of infectious pathogen transmission from mother to fetus. Current models using amniotic membranes or thinner artificial membranes show significant leakage, suggesting disruption of tight junctions or the presence of gaps between syncytial units. Such disruption and discontinuity of trophoblast cultures are probably the result of high stromal cell contamination, poor viability and lack of proliferation in culture. We have successfully cultured confluent layers of tight-junctioned syncytium on semi-permeable insert membranes using highly viable purified cytotrophoblasts and an alternating multiple seeding and differentiation technique. Using criteria including transepithelial diffusion of high and low molecular weight substances, electrical resistance and directional secretion of the matrix metalloproteinase, MMP-9, we demonstrate that these cultures form effective and functional physical barriers that can be maintained for up to 1 month.
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Affiliation(s)
- D G Hemmings
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Alberta Perinatal Research Centre, Edmonton, Canada T6G 2H7
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36
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Lee BN, Hammill H, Popek EJ, Cron S, Kozinetz C, Paul M, Shearer WT, Reuben JM. Production of interferons and beta-chemokines by placental trophoblasts of HIV-1-infected women. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol 2001; 9:95-104. [PMID: 11495560 PMCID: PMC1784647 DOI: 10.1155/s1064744901000175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The mechanism whereby the placental cells of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-infected mother protect the fetus from HIV-1 infection is unclear. Interferons (IFNs) inhibit the replication of viruses by acting at various stages of the life cycle and may play a role in protecting against vertical transmission of HIV-1. In addition the beta-chemokines RANTES (regulated on activation T cell expressed and secreted), macrophage inflammatory protein-1-alpha (MIP-1alpha), and MIP-1beta can block HIV-1 entry into cells by preventing the binding of the macrophage-trophic HIV-1 strains to the coreceptor CCR5. In this study the production of IFNs and beta-chemokines by placental trophoblasts of HIV-1-infected women who were HIV-1 non-transmitters was examined. METHODS Placental trophoblastic cells were isolated from 29 HIV-1-infected and 10 control subjects. Supernatants of trophoblast cultures were tested for the production of IFNs and beta-chemokines by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, HIV-1-gag and IFN-beta transcripts were determined by a semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. RESULTS All placental trophoblasts of HIV-1-infected women contained HIV-1-gag transcripts. There were no statistical differences in the median constitutive levels of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma produced by trophoblasts of HIV-1 infected and control subjects. In contrast, trophoblasts of HIV-1-infected women constitutively produced significantly higher levels of IFN-beta protein than trophoblasts of control subjects. Furthermore, the median levels of beta-chemokines produced by trophoblasts of HIV-infected and control women were similar. CONCLUSIONS Since there was no correlation between the placental HIV load and the production of interferons or beta-chemokines, the role of trophoblast-derived IFNs and beta-chemokines in protecting the fetus from infection with HIV-1 is not clear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bang-Ning Lee
- Department of Molecular PathologyDivision of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineBox 7The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd.HoustonTX77030USA
| | | | - Edwina J. Popek
- Department of PathologyTexas Children's HospitalHoustonTXUSA
| | - Stanley Cron
- Department of PediatricsTexas Children's HospitalHoustonTXUSA
| | | | - Mary Paul
- Department of PediatricsTexas Children's HospitalHoustonTXUSA
| | | | - James M. Reuben
- Department of Molecular PathologyDivision of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineBox 7The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd.HoustonTX77030USA
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Behbahani H, Popek E, Garcia P, Andersson J, Spetz AL, Landay A, Flener Z, Patterson BK. Up-regulation of CCR5 expression in the placenta is associated with human immunodeficiency virus-1 vertical transmission. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2000; 157:1811-8. [PMID: 11106553 PMCID: PMC1885789 DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9440(10)64819-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The role of placenta in vertical transmission is not yet fully understood. A protective role of the placenta during gestation is suggested by the finding that caesarian sections reduce the risk of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 from mother to child three- to fourfold. Here we investigated whether the immunological milieu of the placenta might be important in HIV-1 transmission. In situ imaging of immunohistochemically stained placenta sections and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated a fourfold increase in CCR5:CXCR4 expression ratio in placentae from transmitting women compared to placentae from nontransmitting women. This chemokine receptor repertoire was consistent with an up-regulation of interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 expression in placentae from nontransmitting placentae compared to transmitting placentae. In situ imaging demonstrated that CCR5 and CXCR4 were expressed on placental macrophages and lymphocytes but not in trophoblasts. Simultaneous immunofluorescence/ultrasensitive in situ hybridization for HIV-1 gag-pol mRNA revealed that HIV-1 infects primarily CXCR4-expressing cells in placentae from nontransmitting women whereas predominantly CCR5-expressing cells were infected in placentae from transmitting women. These data are consistent with transmission of a homogeneous population of nonsyncytium-inducing HIV-1 isolates that use CCR5 as co-receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Behbahani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska Institutet Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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38
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Sawicki G, Radomski MW, Winkler-Lowen B, Krzymien A, Guilbert LJ. Polarized release of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 from cultured human placental syncytiotrophoblasts. Biol Reprod 2000; 63:1390-5. [PMID: 11058543 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod63.5.1390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The large increase in placental surface area and fetal villous vascular development in the third trimester of pregnancy requires degradation and reformation of the placental basal lamina. Degradation is carried out by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) secreted by adjacent cells. Although the gelatinases, MMP-2 and MMP-9, which are released by extravillous cytotrophoblasts (CTs) are believed to play crucial roles in early placental expansion, neither has been reported in third trimester villous trophoblasts nor has appropriate (basolateral) release of any MMP by the highly polarized syncytiotrophoblast (ST) been demonstrated. We demonstrated villous trophoblast expression of both MMP-2 and MMP-9 by in situ immunohistochemistry and by Western blot analysis and zymography of lysates and culture supernatants of highly purified villous CTs. We also found that epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated CT differentiation into ST and stimulation by the phorbol diester, PMA, both increase MMP-9 secretion. The direction of MMP release was determined with confluent cultures of ST on porous membranes. We found that >90% of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were released from the basolateral surface. We conclude that villous STs express and release gelatinases from their basolateral surfaces in a regulated manner and suggest that such polarized release may be important to villous tissue remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Sawicki
- Departments of Pharmacology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Perinatal Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
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Athanassakis I, Papadimitriou L, Koumantakis E, Vassiliadis S. Th1- and Th2-type lymphokine-assisted induction and release of chemokine receptors from primary human trophoblast cells. Hum Immunol 2000; 61:651-7. [PMID: 10880735 DOI: 10.1016/s0198-8859(00)00128-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Chemokine receptors (CCRs) have been demonstrated to facilitate the entry of HIV in different cell types of infected individuals, including CD4(+) T cells and dendritic cells. The natural or inducible expression of CCRs on trophoblast cells could provide a valid mechanism for the in utero transmission of HIV from mother to fetus. Because of the rapid turnover of these receptors, we attempted to define the natural and inducible expression of surface CCR3 and CXCR4 on primary human trophoblasts during short periods of cell culture. In the absence of any external stimulus the expression of CCR3 and CXCR4 varied from 1% to 24%. Kinetic experiments show that the levels of both CCR3 and CXCR4 reach a peak of expression after 6 h of culture, whereas by 24 h they have almost disappeared. In the presence of IFN-gamma, CCR3 is showing an increasing pattern of expression after 4 h of incubation, reaching highest levels after 24 h of culture, whereas CXCR4 is kept at lower levels as compared with nontreated cells. Furthermore, in the presence of IL-4, CCR3 expression declines from 2 to 8 h of culture to increase again at 24 h, where 50% of the cell population is expressing the receptors. Under the IL-4 stimulus, CXCR4 shows a peak of expression at 8 h of culture. An interesting feature of this study is that we were able to detect soluble CCR activity in the culture supernatants of trophoblast cells, which followed an inverse pattern of this of surface expression. Thus, the inability of many laboratories to detect high levels of CCRs in placentae of HIV infected mothers may be due on these fast turnover of these receptors, which by the assaying time have either been released in the culture medium or been internalized to the cell.
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40
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Miller RK, Polliotti BM, Laughlin T, Gnall S, Iida S, Carneiro M, Lord K, Ding Y, Sheikh AU. Role of the placenta in fetal HIV infection. TERATOLOGY 2000; 61:391-4. [PMID: 10777837 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9926(200005)61:5<391::aid-tera14>3.0.co;2-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R K Miller
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642-8668, USA.
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Zachar V, Zacharova V, Fink T, Thomas RA, King BR, Ebbesen P, Jones TB, Goustin AS. Genetic analysis reveals ongoing HIV type 1 evolution in infected human placental trophoblast. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 1999; 15:1673-83. [PMID: 10606090 DOI: 10.1089/088922299309711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To provide a better understanding of the role of placenta in vertical human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, we have studied the infection of placental trophoblast in a group of 15 mother-neonate pairs. By nested PCR amplification of the C2V3 env gene region, HIV-1 has been found to infect the placenta in five cases (33%). Phylogenetic analysis of the cloned sequences showed that all recovered maternal variants were of the B subtype. Further investigation into the ancestral relationships at the nucleotide level revealed that the trophoblast sequences evolved into a quasispecies population clearly distant from that observed in the mother. As expected, the populations transmitted to the trophoblast were also found to be more homogeneous than those in the mothers when characterized on the basis of pairwise nucleotide sequence distances. With regard to the predicted biological properties, the primary amino acid structure of the V3 loop domain was consistent, with a macrophage-tropic, non-syncytium-inducing phenotype in all patients. We also attempted to determine if any of a number of selected maternal or viral factors was associated with trophoblast infection. However, none of the followed parameters, including maternal age, disease stage, antiretroviral therapy, CCR5delta32 deletion status of the infant, and viral genotype, could be associated with viral transmission. Moreover, in one pair with proven trophoblast infection, HIV was also detected in the cord blood. Taken together, our data suggest that the productive trophoblast infection by HIV-1 in vivo is a relatively frequent event that may bear direct implications for a further transplacental propagation of the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Zachar
- Department of Virus and Cancer, Danish Cancer Society, Aarhus.
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42
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Tscherning-Casper C, Papadogiannakis N, Anvret M, Stolpe L, Lindgren S, Bohlin AB, Albert J, Fenyö EM. The trophoblastic epithelial barrier is not infected in full-term placentae of human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive mothers undergoing antiretroviral therapy. J Virol 1999; 73:9673-8. [PMID: 10516083 PMCID: PMC113009 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.73.11.9673-9678.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
To study the mechanism of the placental barrier function, we examined 10 matched samples of term placentae, cord blood, and maternal blood obtained at delivery from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected mothers with children diagnosed as HIV negative in Sweden. All placentae were histologically normal, and immunochemistry for HIV type 1 p24 and gp120 antigens was negative. Highly purified trophoblasts (93 to 99% purity) were negative for HIV DNA and RNA, indicating that the trophoblasts were uninfected. Although HIV DNA was detected in placenta-derived T lymphocytes and monocytes, microsatellite analysis showed that these cells were a mixture of maternal and fetal cells. Our study indicates that the placental barrier, i.e., the trophoblastic layer, is not HIV infected and, consequently, HIV infection of the fetus is likely to occur through other routes, such as breaks in the placental barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Tscherning-Casper
- Microbiology and Tumorbiology Center, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge Hospital, Karolinska Institute
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Payne SG, Smith SC, Davidge ST, Baker PN, Guilbert LJ. Death receptor Fas/Apo-1/CD95 expressed by human placental cytotrophoblasts does not mediate apoptosis. Biol Reprod 1999; 60:1144-50. [PMID: 10208976 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod60.5.1144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Trophoblasts, the fetal cells that line the villous placenta and separate maternal blood from fetal tissue, express both Fas antigen and the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor p55 (TNFRp55), two members of the TNF receptor family that contain a cytoplasmic "death domain" that mediates apoptotic signals. We show that Fas mRNA expressed by cultured villous cytotrophoblasts isolated from term placentas encodes transmembrane sequences and that the protein is full-length (approximately 45 kDa), suggesting that the product is an active plasma membrane-anchored receptor. Its location on the cell surface was confirmed by cellular ELISA analysis of live cells. Although cytotrophoblast apoptosis was induced by TNFalpha, and both anti-Fas antibody (CH11) and FasL-expressing T lymphocyte hybridoma (activated A1.1) cells induced HeLa cell apoptosis, neither CH11 antibody nor activated A1.1 cells stimulated apoptosis in term or first-trimester cytotrophoblasts or in term syncytiotrophoblasts. We conclude that Fas- but not TNFRp55-mediated apoptosis is blocked in primary villous trophoblasts. These data suggest that the Fas response is specifically inactivated by unknown mechanisms to avoid autocrine or paracrine killing by Fas ligand constitutively expressed on neighboring cyto- or syncytiotrophoblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- S G Payne
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Alberta Perinatal Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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44
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Douglas GC, Fazely F, Hu JJ. Transmission of HIV to the placenta, fetus and mother and implications of gametic infection. J Reprod Immunol 1998; 41:321-9. [PMID: 10213320 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-0378(98)00068-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Therapeutic interventions and public education are reducing pediatric AIDS cases in developed countries, but the number of HIV-infected women and children is still a major global concern. The finding that human sperm-associated HIV can be transmitted to oocytes following in vitro fertilization provides a novel viewpoint from which to consider not only the problem of HIV transmission to children but also transmission to women. In the present paper we will first discuss some recent findings that offer new perspectives on the role of the placenta, and particularly the trophoblast, in maternal-fetal transmission of HIV. Results will be presented showing that cell-mediated infection of syncytiotrophoblast cells requires direct contact between infected lymphocytes and trophoblast. We will also discuss possible routes of transmission of HIV to both mothers and their offspring in the light of data providing evidence of gametic infection. These hypothetical routes include trophoblast-mediated infection of maternal uterine cells during implantation and trophoblast-mediated infection of maternal blood cells during pregnancy. Clearly, more studies are needed in order to assess the significance and relative contribution of these routes in the transmission of HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- G C Douglas
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616-8643, USA.
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45
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Hemmings DG, Kilani R, Nykiforuk C, Preiksaitis J, Guilbert LJ. Permissive cytomegalovirus infection of primary villous term and first trimester trophoblasts. J Virol 1998; 72:4970-9. [PMID: 9573266 PMCID: PMC110059 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.72.6.4970-4979.1998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Forty percent of women with primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections during pregnancy infect their fetuses with complications for the baby varying from mild to severe. How CMV crosses the syncytiotrophoblast, the barrier between maternal blood and fetal tissue in the villous placenta, is unknown. Virus may cross by infection of maternal cells that pass through physical breaches in the syncytiotrophoblast or by direct infection of the syncytiotrophoblast, with subsequent transmission to underlying fetal placental cells. In this study, we show that pure (>99.99%), long-term and healthy (>3 weeks) cultures of syncytiotrophoblasts are permissively infected with CMV. Greater than 99% of infectious progeny virus remained cell associated throughout culture periods up to 3 weeks. Infection of term trophoblasts required a higher virus inoculum, was less efficient, and progressed more slowly than parallel infections of placental and human embryonic lung fibroblasts. Three laboratory strains (AD169, Towne, and Davis) and a clinical isolate from a congenitally infected infant all permissively infected trophoblasts, although infection efficiencies varied. The infection of first trimester syncytiotrophoblasts with strain AD169 occurred at higher frequency and progressed more rapidly than infection of term cells but less efficiently and rapidly than infection of fibroblasts. These results show that villous syncytiotrophoblasts can be permissively infected by CMV but that the infection requires high virus titers and proceeds slowly and that progeny virus remains predominantly cell associated.
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Affiliation(s)
- D G Hemmings
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H7
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Fear WR, Kesson AM, Naif H, Lynch GW, Cunningham AL. Differential tropism and chemokine receptor expression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in neonatal monocytes, monocyte-derived macrophages, and placental macrophages. J Virol 1998; 72:1334-44. [PMID: 9445034 PMCID: PMC124612 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.72.2.1334-1344.1998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Laboratory-adapted (LA) macrophage-tropic (M-tropic) human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates (e.g., HIV-1(Ba-L)) and low-passage primary (PR) isolates differed markedly in tropism for syngeneic neonatal monocytes, monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs), and placental macrophages (PMs). Newly adherent neonatal monocytes and cultured PMs were highly refractory to infection with PR HIV-1 isolates yet were permissive for LA M-tropic isolates. Day 4 MDMs were also permissive for LA M-tropic isolates and additionally, were permissive for over half the PR isolates tested. Qualitative differences in PR HIV-1 infection of monocytes/MDMs could not be correlated with CD4 levels alone, and in all three cell types the block to PR HIV-1 strain replication preceded reverse transcription. Neonatal monocyte susceptibility to PR HIV-1 strains correlated with increasing CCR-5 expression during maturation. CCR-5 could not be detected on newly adherent (day 1) neonatal monocytes, in contrast to adult monocytes (H. Naif et al., J. Virol. 72:830-836, 1998), but was readily detectable after 4 to 7 days of culture. However, moderate CCR-5 mRNA levels were present in day 1 neonatal monocytes and remained constant during monocyte maturation. CCR-5 was not detectable on the surface of PMs, yet the receptor was present within permeabilized cells. Notably, two brain-derived PR HIV-1 isolates from a single patient, differing in their V3 loops, were discordant in their abilities to infect neonatal monocytes/MDMs and PMs, yet both isolates could infect newly adherent adult monocytes. Together these data strongly suggest that LA HIV-1 isolates are able to infect neonatal monocytes at earlier stages of maturation and lower-level expression of CCR-5 than PR isolates. The differences between neonatal and adult monocytes in susceptibility to PR isolates may also be related to the level of CCR-5 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- W R Fear
- Westmead Institutes of Health Research and Australian National Centre for HIV Virology Research, Westmead Hospital, The University of Sydney, NSW
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