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Valenzuela I, Kinoshita M, van der Merwe J, Maršál K, Deprest J. Prenatal interventions for fetal growth restriction in animal models: A systematic review. Placenta 2022; 126:90-113. [PMID: 35796064 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) in human pregnancy is associated with perinatal mortality, short- and long-term morbidities. No prenatal therapy is currently established despite decades of research. We aimed to review interventions in animal models for prenatal FGR treatment, and to seek the next steps for an effective clinical therapy. We registered our protocol and searched MEDLINE, Embase, and The Cochrane Library with no language restrictions, in accordance with the PRISMA guideline. We included all studies that reported the effects of any prenatal intervention in animal models of induced FGR. From 3257 screened studies, 202 describing 237 interventions were included for the final synthesis. Mice and rats were the most used animals (79%) followed by sheep (16%). Antioxidants (23%), followed by vasodilators (18%), nutrients (14%), and immunomodulators (12%) were the most tested therapy. Two-thirds of studies only reported delivery or immediate neonatal outcomes. Adverse effects were rarely reported (11%). Most studies (73%), independent of the intervention, showed a benefit in fetal survival or birthweight. The risk of bias was high, mostly due to the lack of randomization, allocation concealment, and blinding. Future research should aim to describe both short- and long-term outcomes across various organ systems in well-characterized models. Further efforts must be made to reduce selection, performance, and detection bias.
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Wang J, Noguchi S, Takizawa T, Negishi Y, Morita R, Luo SS, Takizawa T. Placenta-specific lncRNA 1600012P17Rik is expressed in spongiotrophoblast and glycogen trophoblast cells of mouse placenta. Histochem Cell Biol 2022; 158:65-78. [PMID: 35486179 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-022-02109-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A few long noncoding RNAs (long ncRNAs, lncRNAs) exhibit trophoblast cell type-specific expression patterns and functional roles in mouse placenta. However, the cell- and stage-specific expression patterns and functions of most placenta-derived lncRNAs remain unclear. In this study, we explored mouse placenta-associated lncRNAs using a combined bioinformatic and experimental approach. We used the FANTOM5 database to survey lncRNA expression in mouse placenta and found that 1600012P17Rik (MGI: 1919275, designated P17Rik), a long intergenic ncRNA, was the most highly expressed lncRNA at gestational day 17. Polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed that P17Rik was exclusively expressed in placenta and not in any of the adult organs examined in this study. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that it was highly expressed in spongiotrophoblast cells and to a lesser extent in glycogen trophoblast cells, including migratory glycogen trophoblast cells invading the decidua. Moreover, we found that it is a polyadenylated lncRNA localized mainly to the cytoplasm of these trophoblast cells. As these trophoblast cells also expressed the neighboring protein-coding gene, pappalysin 2 (Pappa2), we investigated the effects of P17Rik on Pappa2 expression using Pappa2-expressing MC3T3-E1 cells and found that P17Rik transfection increased the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of Pappa2. These results indicate that mouse placenta-specific lncRNA P17Rik modulates the expression of the neighboring protein-coding gene Pappa2 in spongiotrophoblast and glycogen trophoblast cells of mouse placenta during late gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junxiao Wang
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Anatomy, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Tokyo, 113-8602, Japan
| | - Syunya Noguchi
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Anatomy, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Tokyo, 113-8602, Japan
| | - Takami Takizawa
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Anatomy, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Tokyo, 113-8602, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Negishi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, 113-8602, Japan
| | - Rimpei Morita
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, 113-8602, Japan
| | - Shan-Shun Luo
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Toshihiro Takizawa
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Anatomy, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Tokyo, 113-8602, Japan.
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Cao L, Chen X, Huang L. Effect of a copper intrauterine device on HLA-G and IGF-II levels during pregnancy. Growth Horm IGF Res 2022; 62:101441. [PMID: 34847522 DOI: 10.1016/j.ghir.2021.101441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE An intrauterine device (IUD) is one of the most effective reversible contraceptive methods currently available. Women who use IUDs may become pregnant, albeit rarely, and many such women continue to use IUDs. Because it is difficult to remove or it may cause miscarriage. This study measured the changes in human leucocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) levels in the decidua and villi to explore the effect of a copper IUD on embryonic development. DESIGN A total of 54 samples of decidual and villus tissue were collected from pregnant women with IUDs (27 samples) or without IUDs (27 samples). Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to identify morphological characteristics. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect HLA-G and IGF-II; the protein expression levels were measured via Western blotting. RESULTS HLA-G was expressed on the membranes of trophoblasts of villus tissues and the glandular epithelium, and in stromal cells of decidual tissues, in both the IUD and control groups. IGF-II was expressed in the glandular epithelium and cytoplasm of trophoblasts and decidual cells in both groups. Compared to the control group, IGF-II expression was significantly reduced in villus tissues of the IUD group (p < 0.05). The mean sac diameter was significantly positively correlated with IGF-II expression in the villi (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS A copper IUD may affect embryonic development by regulating the expression of villus IGF-II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Cao
- Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Xiuying Chen
- The Fourth affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Lili Huang
- Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
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Santos BR, dos Anjos Cordeiro JM, Santos LC, Barbosa EM, Mendonça LD, Santos EO, de Macedo IO, de Lavor MSL, Szawka RE, Serakides R, Silva JF. Kisspeptin treatment improves fetal-placental development and blocks placental oxidative damage caused by maternal hypothyroidism in an experimental rat model. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:908240. [PMID: 35966095 PMCID: PMC9365946 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.908240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal hypothyroidism is associated with fetal growth restriction, placental dysfunction, and reduced kisspeptin/Kiss1R at the maternal-fetal interface. Kisspeptin affects trophoblastic migration and has antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of kisspeptin in the fetal-placental dysfunction of hypothyroid Wistar rats. Hypothyroidism was induced by daily administration of propylthiouracil. Kisspeptin-10 (Kp-10) treatment was performed every other day or daily beginning on day 8 of gestation. Feto-placental development, placental histomorphometry, and expression levels of growth factors (VEGF, PLGF, IGF1, IGF2, and GLUT1), hormonal (Dio2) and inflammatory mediators (TNFα, IL10, and IL6), markers of hypoxia (HIF1α) and oxidative damage (8-OHdG), antioxidant enzymes (SOD1, Cat, and GPx1), and endoplasmic reticulum stress mediators (ATF4, GRP78, and CHOP) were evaluated on day 18 of gestation. Daily treatment with Kp-10 increased free T3 and T4 levels and improved fetal weight. Both treatments reestablished the glycogen cell population in the junctional zone. Daily treatment with Kp-10 increased the gene expression levels of Plgf, Igf1, and Glut1 in the placenta of hypothyroid animals, in addition to blocking the increase in 8-OHdG and increasing protein and/or mRNA expression levels of SOD1, Cat, and GPx1. Daily treatment with Kp-10 did not alter the higher protein expression levels of VEGF, HIF1α, IL10, GRP78, and CHOP caused by hypothyroidism in the junctional zone compared to control, nor the lower expression of Dio2 caused by hypothyroidism. However, in the labyrinth zone, this treatment restored the expression of VEGF and IL10 and reduced the GRP78 and CHOP immunostaining. These findings demonstrate that daily treatment with Kp-10 improves fetal development and placental morphology in hypothyroid rats, blocks placental oxidative damage, and increases the expression of growth factors and antioxidant enzymes in the placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Reis Santos
- Centro de Microscopia Eletronica, Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Campus Soane Nazare de Andrade, Ilheus, Brazil
| | - Jeane Martinha dos Anjos Cordeiro
- Centro de Microscopia Eletronica, Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Campus Soane Nazare de Andrade, Ilheus, Brazil
| | - Luciano Cardoso Santos
- Centro de Microscopia Eletronica, Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Campus Soane Nazare de Andrade, Ilheus, Brazil
| | - Erikles Macedo Barbosa
- Centro de Microscopia Eletronica, Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Campus Soane Nazare de Andrade, Ilheus, Brazil
| | - Letícia Dias Mendonça
- Centro de Microscopia Eletronica, Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Campus Soane Nazare de Andrade, Ilheus, Brazil
| | - Emilly Oliveira Santos
- Centro de Microscopia Eletronica, Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Campus Soane Nazare de Andrade, Ilheus, Brazil
| | - Isabella Oliveira de Macedo
- Centro de Microscopia Eletronica, Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Campus Soane Nazare de Andrade, Ilheus, Brazil
| | - Mário Sergio Lima de Lavor
- Centro de Microscopia Eletronica, Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Campus Soane Nazare de Andrade, Ilheus, Brazil
| | - Raphael Escorsim Szawka
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Rogeria Serakides
- Departamento de Clinica e Cirurgia Veterinarias, Escola de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Juneo Freitas Silva
- Centro de Microscopia Eletronica, Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Campus Soane Nazare de Andrade, Ilheus, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Juneo Freitas Silva,
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Aykroyd BRL, Tunster SJ, Sferruzzi-Perri AN. Loss of imprinting of the Igf2-H19 ICR1 enhances placental endocrine capacity via sex-specific alterations in signalling pathways in the mouse. Development 2022; 149:dev199811. [PMID: 34982814 PMCID: PMC8783045 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Imprinting control region (ICR1) controls the expression of the Igf2 and H19 genes in a parent-of-origin specific manner. Appropriate expression of the Igf2-H19 locus is fundamental for normal fetal development, yet the importance of ICR1 in the placental production of hormones that promote maternal nutrient allocation to the fetus is unknown. To address this, we used a novel mouse model to selectively delete ICR1 in the endocrine junctional zone (Jz) of the mouse placenta (Jz-ΔICR1). The Jz-ΔICR1 mice exhibit increased Igf2 and decreased H19 expression specifically in the Jz. This was accompanied by an expansion of Jz endocrine cell types due to enhanced rates of proliferation and increased expression of pregnancy-specific glycoprotein 23 in the placenta of both fetal sexes. However, changes in the endocrine phenotype of the placenta were related to sexually-dimorphic alterations to the abundance of Igf2 receptors and downstream signalling pathways (Pi3k-Akt and Mapk). There was no effect of Jz-ΔICR1 on the expression of targets of the H19-embedded miR-675 or on fetal weight. Our results demonstrate that ICR1 controls placental endocrine capacity via sex-dependent changes in signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amanda N. Sferruzzi-Perri
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
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Llobat L. Pluripotency and Growth Factors in Early Embryonic Development of Mammals: A Comparative Approach. Vet Sci 2021; 8:vetsci8050078. [PMID: 34064445 PMCID: PMC8147802 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8050078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The regulation of early events in mammalian embryonic development is a complex process. In the early stages, pluripotency, cellular differentiation, and growth should occur at specific times and these events are regulated by different genes that are expressed at specific times and locations. The genes related to pluripotency and cellular differentiation, and growth factors that determine successful embryonic development are different (or differentially expressed) among mammalian species. Some genes are fundamental for controlling pluripotency in some species but less fundamental in others, for example, Oct4 is particularly relevant in bovine early embryonic development, whereas Oct4 inhibition does not affect ovine early embryonic development. In addition, some mechanisms that regulate cellular differentiation do not seem to be clear or evolutionarily conserved. After cellular differentiation, growth factors are relevant in early development, and their effects also differ among species, for example, insulin-like growth factor improves the blastocyst development rate in some species but does not have the same effect in mice. Some growth factors influence genes related to pluripotency, and therefore, their role in early embryo development is not limited to cell growth but could also involve the earliest stages of development. In this review, we summarize the differences among mammalian species regarding the regulation of pluripotency, cellular differentiation, and growth factors in the early stages of embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lola Llobat
- Research Group Microbiological Agents Associated with Animal Reproduction (PROVAGINBIO), Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA) Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46113 Valencia, Spain
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7
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Wilson RL, Troja W, Sumser EK, Maupin A, Lampe K, Jones HN. Insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling in the placenta requires endothelial nitric oxide synthase to support trophoblast function and normal fetal growth. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2021; 320:R653-R662. [PMID: 33621475 PMCID: PMC8163607 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00250.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Currently, there is no effective treatment for placental dysfunction in utero. In a ligated mouse model of fetal growth restriction (FGR), nanoparticle-mediated human insulin-like 1 growth factor (hIGF1) gene delivery (NP-Plac1-hIGF1) increased hIGF1 expression and maintained fetal growth. However, whether it can restore fetal growth remains to be determined. Using the endothelial nitric oxide synthase knockout (eNOS-/-) mouse model, a genetic model of FGR, we found that despite inducing expression of hIGF1 in the placentas treated with NP-Plac1-hIGF1 (P = 0.0425), FGR did not resolve. This was associated with no change to the number of fetal capillaries in the placental labyrinth; an outcome which was increased with NP-Plac1-hIGF1 treatment in the ligated mouse model, despite increased expression of angiopoietin 1 (P = 0.05), and suggested IGF1 signaling in the placenta requires eNOS to modulate placenta angiogenesis. To further assess this hypothesis, BeWo choriocarcinoma cell line and human placental explant cultures were treated with NP-Plac1-hIGF1, oxidative stress was induced with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and NOS activity was inhibited using the inhibitor NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA). In both BeWo cells and explants, the protective effect of NP-Plac1-hIGF1 treatment against H2O2-induced cell death/lactate dehydrogenase release was prevented by eNOS inhibition (P = 0.003 and P < 0.0001, respectively). This was associated with an increase in mRNA expression of oxidative stress markers hypoxia inducing factor 1α (HIF1α; P < 0.0001) and ADAM10 (P = 0.0002) in the NP-Plac1-hIGF1 + H2O2 + l-NMMA-treated BeWo cells. These findings show for the first time the requirement of eNOS/NOS in IGF1 signaling in placenta cells that may have implications for placental angiogenesis and fetal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Wilson
- Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Weston Troja
- Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Emily K Sumser
- Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Alec Maupin
- Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Kristin Lampe
- Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Helen N Jones
- Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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8
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Wilson RL, Jones HN. Targeting the Dysfunctional Placenta to Improve Pregnancy Outcomes Based on Lessons Learned in Cancer. Clin Ther 2021; 43:246-264. [PMID: 33446335 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2020.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, our understanding of the disrupted mechanisms that contribute to major obstetrical diseases, including preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, and gestational diabetes, has increased exponentially. Common to many of these obstetric diseases is placental maldevelopment and dysfunction; the placenta is a significant component of the maternal-fetal interface involved in coordinating, facilitating, and regulating maternal and fetal nutrient, oxygen and waste exchange, and hormone and cytokine production. Despite the advances in our understanding of placental development and function, there are currently no treatments for placental maldevelopment and dysfunction. However, given the transient nature and accessibility from the maternal circulation, the placenta offers a unique opportunity to develop targeted therapeutics for routine obstetric practices. Furthermore, given the similar developmental paradigms between the placenta and cancer, there is an opportunity to appropriate current knowledge from advances in targeted therapeutics in cancer treatments. In this review, we highlight the similarities between early placental development and cancer and introduce a number of targeted therapies currently being explored in cancer and pregnancy. We also propose a number of new effectors currently being targeted in cancer research that have the potential to be targeted in the development of treatments for pregnancy complications. Finally, we describe a method for targeting the placenta using nonviral polymers that are capable of delivering plasmids, small interfering RNA, and other effector nucleic acids, which could ultimately improve fetal and maternal outcomes from complicated pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Wilson
- Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Helen N Jones
- Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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Colson A, Sonveaux P, Debiève F, Sferruzzi-Perri AN. Adaptations of the human placenta to hypoxia: opportunities for interventions in fetal growth restriction. Hum Reprod Update 2020; 27:531-569. [PMID: 33377492 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The placenta is the functional interface between the mother and the fetus during pregnancy, and a critical determinant of fetal growth and life-long health. In the first trimester, it develops under a low-oxygen environment, which is essential for the conceptus who has little defense against reactive oxygen species produced during oxidative metabolism. However, failure of invasive trophoblasts to sufficiently remodel uterine arteries toward dilated vessels by the end of the first trimester can lead to reduced/intermittent blood flow, persistent hypoxia and oxidative stress in the placenta with consequences for fetal growth. Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is observed in ∼10% of pregnancies and is frequently seen in association with other pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia (PE). FGR is one of the main challenges for obstetricians and pediatricians, as smaller fetuses have greater perinatal risks of morbidity and mortality and postnatal risks of neurodevelopmental and cardio-metabolic disorders. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE The aim of this review was to examine the importance of placental responses to changing oxygen environments during abnormal pregnancy in terms of cellular, molecular and functional changes in order to highlight new therapeutic pathways, and to pinpoint approaches aimed at enhancing oxygen supply and/or mitigating oxidative stress in the placenta as a mean of optimizing fetal growth. SEARCH METHODS An extensive online search of peer-reviewed articles using PubMed was performed with combinations of search terms including pregnancy, placenta, trophoblast, oxygen, hypoxia, high altitude, FGR and PE (last updated in May 2020). OUTCOMES Trophoblast differentiation and placental establishment are governed by oxygen availability/hypoxia in early pregnancy. The placental response to late gestational hypoxia includes changes in syncytialization, mitochondrial functions, endoplasmic reticulum stress, hormone production, nutrient handling and angiogenic factor secretion. The nature of these changes depends on the extent of hypoxia, with some responses appearing adaptive and others appearing detrimental to the placental support of fetal growth. Emerging approaches that aim to increase placental oxygen supply and/or reduce the impacts of excessive oxidative stress are promising for their potential to prevent/treat FGR. WIDER IMPLICATIONS There are many risks and challenges of intervening during pregnancy that must be considered. The establishment of human trophoblast stem cell lines and organoids will allow further mechanistic studies of the effects of hypoxia and may lead to advanced screening of drugs for use in pregnancies complicated by placental insufficiency/hypoxia. Since no treatments are currently available, a better understanding of placental adaptations to hypoxia would help to develop therapies or repurpose drugs to optimize placental function and fetal growth, with life-long benefits to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Colson
- Pole of Obstetrics, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,Pole of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Obstetrics, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre Sonveaux
- Pole of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Frédéric Debiève
- Pole of Obstetrics, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Obstetrics, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Amanda N Sferruzzi-Perri
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Roselló-Díez A, Madisen L, Bastide S, Zeng H, Joyner AL. Cell-nonautonomous local and systemic responses to cell arrest enable long-bone catch-up growth in developing mice. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2005086. [PMID: 29944650 PMCID: PMC6019387 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2005086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Catch-up growth after insults to growing organs is paramount to achieving robust body proportions. In fly larvae, injury to individual tissues is followed by local and systemic compensatory mechanisms that allow the damaged tissue to regain normal proportions with other tissues. In vertebrates, local catch-up growth has been described after transient reduction of bone growth, but the underlying cellular responses are controversial. We developed an approach to study catch-up growth in foetal mice in which mosaic expression of the cell cycle suppressor p21 is induced in the cartilage cells (chondrocytes) that drive long-bone elongation. By specifically targeting p21 expression to left hindlimb chondrocytes, the right limb serves as an internal control. Unexpectedly, left-right limb symmetry remained normal, revealing deployment of compensatory mechanisms. Above a certain threshold of insult, an orchestrated response was triggered involving local enhancement of bone growth and systemic growth reduction that ensured that body proportions were maintained. The local response entailed hyperproliferation of spared left limb chondrocytes that was associated with reduced chondrocyte density. The systemic effect involved impaired placental function and IGF signalling, revealing bone-placenta communication. Therefore, vertebrates, like invertebrates, can mount coordinated local and systemic responses to developmental insults that ensure that normal body proportions are maintained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Roselló-Díez
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Linda Madisen
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Sébastien Bastide
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Hongkui Zeng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Alexandra L. Joyner
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, New York, United States of America
- Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, New York, United States of America
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11
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Abstract
Placental dysfunction underlies major obstetric diseases such as pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction (FGR). Whilst there has been a little progress in prophylaxis, there are still no treatments for placental dysfunction in normal obstetric practice. However, a combination of increasingly well-described in vitro systems for studying the human placenta, together with the availability of more appropriate animal models of pre-eclampsia and FGR, has facilitated a recent surge in work aimed at repurposing drugs and therapies, developed for other conditions, as treatments for placental dysfunction. This review: (1) highlights potential candidate drug targets in the placenta - effectors of improved uteroplacental blood flow, anti-oxidants, heme oxygenase induction, inhibition of HIF, induction of cholesterol synthesis pathways, increasing insulin-like growth factor II availability; (2) proposes an experimental pathway for taking a potential drug or treatment for placental dysfunction from concept through to early phase clinical trials, utilizing techniques for studying the human placenta in vitro and small animal models, particularly the mouse, for in vivo studies; (3) describes the data underpinning sildenafil citrate and adenovirus expressing vascular endothelial growth as potential treatments for placental dysfunction and summarizes recent research on other potential treatments. The importance of sharing information from such studies even when no effect is found, or there is an adverse outcome, is highlighted. Finally, the use of adenoviral vectors or nanoparticle carriers coated with homing peptides to selectively target drugs to the placenta is highlighted: such delivery systems could improve efficacy and reduce the side effects of treating the dysfunctional placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin P Sibley
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research CentreDivision of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- St Mary's HospitalCentral Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
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12
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Beards F, Jones LE, Charnock J, Forbes K, Harris LK. Placental Homing Peptide-microRNA Inhibitor Conjugates for Targeted Enhancement of Intrinsic Placental Growth Signaling. Am J Cancer Res 2017; 7:2940-2955. [PMID: 28824727 PMCID: PMC5562227 DOI: 10.7150/thno.18845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Suboptimal placental growth and development are the underlying cause of many pregnancy complications. No treatments are available, primarily due to the risk of causing fetal teratogenicity. microRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding RNA sequences that regulate multiple downstream genes; miR-145 and miR675 have previously been identified as negative regulators of placental growth. In this proof of principle study, we explored the feasibility of delivering miRNA inhibitors to the placentas of pregnant mice and developed novel placental homing peptide-microRNA inhibitor conjugates for targeted enhancement of intrinsic placental growth signalling. Scrambled-, miR-145- or miR-675 inhibitor sequences were synthesised from peptide nucleic acids and conjugated to the placental homing peptide CCGKRK. Intravenous administration of the miR-145- and miR-675 conjugates to pregnant C57BL/6J mice significantly increased fetal and placental weights compared to controls; the miR-675 conjugate significantly reduced placental miR-675 expression. When applied to human first trimester placental explants, the miR-145 conjugate significantly reduced placental miR-145 expression, and both conjugates induced significant enhancement of cytotrophoblast proliferation; no effect was observed in term placental explants. This study demonstrates that homing peptide-miRNA inhibitor conjugates can be exploited to promote placental growth; these novel therapeutics may represent an innovative strategy for targeted treatment of compromised placental development.
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Sferruzzi-Perri AN, Sandovici I, Constancia M, Fowden AL. Placental phenotype and the insulin-like growth factors: resource allocation to fetal growth. J Physiol 2017; 595:5057-5093. [PMID: 28337745 DOI: 10.1113/jp273330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The placenta is the main determinant of fetal growth and development in utero. It supplies all the nutrients and oxygen required for fetal growth and secretes hormones that facilitate maternal allocation of nutrients to the fetus. Furthermore, the placenta responds to nutritional and metabolic signals in the mother by altering its structural and functional phenotype, which can lead to changes in maternal resource allocation to the fetus. The molecular mechanisms by which the placenta senses and responds to environmental cues are poorly understood. This review discusses the role of the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) in controlling placental resource allocation to fetal growth, particularly in response to adverse gestational environments. In particular, it assesses the impact of the IGFs and their signalling machinery on placental morphogenesis, substrate transport and hormone secretion, primarily in the laboratory species, although it draws on data from human and other species where relevant. It also considers the role of the IGFs as environmental signals in linking resource availability to fetal growth through changes in the morphological and functional phenotype of the placenta. As altered fetal growth is associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality and a greater risk of developing adult-onset diseases in later life, understanding the role of IGFs during pregnancy in regulating placental resource allocation to fetal growth is important for identifying the mechanisms underlying the developmental programming of offspring phenotype by suboptimal intrauterine growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda N Sferruzzi-Perri
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Ionel Sandovici
- Metabolic Research Laboratories, MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SW, UK
| | - Miguel Constancia
- Metabolic Research Laboratories, MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SW, UK
| | - Abigail L Fowden
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
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Vaughan O, Rosario F, Powell T, Jansson T. Regulation of Placental Amino Acid Transport and Fetal Growth. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2017; 145:217-251. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2016.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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King A, Ndifon C, Lui S, Widdows K, Kotamraju VR, Agemy L, Teesalu T, Glazier JD, Cellesi F, Tirelli N, Aplin JD, Ruoslahti E, Harris LK. Tumor-homing peptides as tools for targeted delivery of payloads to the placenta. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2016; 2:e1600349. [PMID: 27386551 PMCID: PMC4928982 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1600349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The availability of therapeutics to treat pregnancy complications is severely lacking mainly because of the risk of causing harm to the fetus. As enhancement of placental growth and function can alleviate maternal symptoms and improve fetal growth in animal models, we have developed a method for targeted delivery of payloads to the placenta. We show that the tumor-homing peptide sequences CGKRK and iRGD bind selectively to the placental surface of humans and mice and do not interfere with normal development. Peptide-coated nanoparticles intravenously injected into pregnant mice accumulated within the mouse placenta, whereas control nanoparticles exhibited reduced binding and/or fetal transfer. We used targeted liposomes to efficiently deliver cargoes of carboxyfluorescein and insulin-like growth factor 2 to the mouse placenta; the latter significantly increased mean placental weight when administered to healthy animals and significantly improved fetal weight distribution in a well-characterized model of fetal growth restriction. These data provide proof of principle for targeted delivery of drugs to the placenta and provide a novel platform for the development of placenta-specific therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna King
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Institute of Human Development, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
- Academic Health Science Centre, St Mary’s Hospital, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - Cornelia Ndifon
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Institute of Human Development, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
- Academic Health Science Centre, St Mary’s Hospital, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - Sylvia Lui
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Institute of Human Development, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
- Academic Health Science Centre, St Mary’s Hospital, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - Kate Widdows
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Institute of Human Development, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
- Academic Health Science Centre, St Mary’s Hospital, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - Venkata R. Kotamraju
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106–9610, USA
| | - Lilach Agemy
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106–9610, USA
| | - Tambet Teesalu
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106–9610, USA
| | - Jocelyn D. Glazier
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Institute of Human Development, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
- Academic Health Science Centre, St Mary’s Hospital, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - Francesco Cellesi
- School of Pharmacy, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Nicola Tirelli
- School of Pharmacy, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
- Institute of Inflammation and Repair, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - John D. Aplin
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Institute of Human Development, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
- Academic Health Science Centre, St Mary’s Hospital, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - Erkki Ruoslahti
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106–9610, USA
| | - Lynda K. Harris
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Institute of Human Development, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
- Academic Health Science Centre, St Mary’s Hospital, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
- School of Pharmacy, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
- Corresponding author.
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