Comparative Analysis of Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells between Preeclampsia and Normal Pregnant Women

Bioinformatics analysis identifies potential autophagy key genes and immune infiltration in preeclampsia

BACKGROUND

Preeclampsia (PE) is a disease that seriously threatens maternal and fetal health. Appropriate autophagy can shield the placenta from oxidative stress, but its role in PE is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To identify potential autophagy-related genes in PE.

METHODS

Microarray datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, compassing the test dataset GSE10588, along with validation datasets GSE4707 and GSE60438 GPL10558, were utilized. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the limma R package, intersected with autophagy-related genes. Hub genes were obtained using the Cytoscape software and analyzed via gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The diagnostic capability of hub genes was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Analysis of immune cell infiltration was conducted using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) and CIBERSORT methods. Placental tissues were collected from 10 normal pregnant women and 10 preeclamptic pregnant women, and the expression of hub genes was validated through immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Analysis of the microarray data identified 2224 DEGs, among which 26 were autophagy-related DEGs identified through intersection with autophagy genes. Ten hub genes were identified. Immune cell infiltration analysis suggested the potential involvement of T regulatory cells (Tregs), natural killer cells, neutrophils, and T follicular helper cells in the pathogenesis of PE. ROC curve analysis indicated promising diagnostic capabilities for EGFR and TP53. Additionally, levels of EGFR and TP53 were significantly higher in placental tissue from PE pregnancies compared to normal pregnancies.

CONCLUSION

EGFR and TP53 may play a role in PE by influencing autophagy.

Fetal microchimerism and the two-stage model of preeclampsia

Fetal cells cross the placenta during pregnancy and some have the ability to persist in maternal organs and circulation long-term, a phenomenon termed fetal microchimerism. These cells often belong to stem cell or immune cell lineages. The long-term effects of fetal microchimerism are likely mixed, potentially depending on the amount of fetal cells transferred, fetal-maternal histocompatibility and fetal cell-specific properties. Both human and animal data indicate that fetal-origin cells partake in tissue repair and may benefit maternal health overall. On the other hand, these cells have been implicated in inflammatory diseases by studies showing increased fetal microchimerism in women with autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. During pregnancy, preeclampsia is associated with increased cell-transfer between the mother and fetus, and an increase in immune cell subsets. In the current review, we discuss potential mechanisms of transplacental transfer, including passive leakage across the compromised diffusion barrier and active recruitment of cells residing in the placenta or fetal circulation. Within the conceptual framework of the two-stage model of preeclampsia, where syncytiotrophoblast stress is a common pathophysiological pathway to maternal and fetal clinical features of preeclampsia, we argue that microchimerism may represent a mechanistic link between stage 1 placental dysfunction and stage 2 maternal cardiovascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Finally, we postulate that fetal microchimerism may contribute to the known association between placental syndromes and increased long-term maternal cardiovascular disease risk. Fetal microchimerism research represents an exciting opportunity for developing new disease biomarkers and targeted prophylaxis against maternal diseases.

EndMT-derived mesenchymal stem cells: a new therapeutic target to atherosclerosis treatment

Cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary artery disease and stroke, are the main threats to human health worldwide. Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disorder, plays a role as an initiator of all of the above-mentioned diseases. Cell therapy for diseases has attracted widespread attention. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a type of stem cell that still exist in adults and have the characteristics of self-renewal ability, pluripotent differentiation potential, immunomodulation, tissue regeneration, anti-inflammation and low immunogenicity. In light of the properties of MSCs, some researchers have begun to target MSCs to create a possible way to alleviate atherosclerosis. Most of these studies are focused on MSC transplantation, injecting MSCs to modulate macrophages, the key inflammatory cell in atherosclerosis plaque. According to recent studies, researchers found that endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) has something to do with atherosclerosis development. A new cell type MSC might also appear during the EndMT process. In this article, we summarize the characteristics of MSCs, the latest progress of MSC research and its application prospects, and in view of the process of EndMT occurring in atherosclerosis, we propose some new ideas for the treatment of atherosclerosis by targeting MSCs.

The pathological and therapeutic roles of mesenchymal stem cells in preeclampsia

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have made progress in the treatment of ischemic and inflammatory diseases. Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by placenta ischemic and inflammatory injury. Our paper summarized the new role of MSCs in PE pathology and its potency in PE therapy and analyzed its current limitations. Intravenously administered MSCs dominantly distributed in perinatal tissues. There may be additional advantages to using MSCs-based therapies for reproductive disorders. It will provide new ideas for future research in this field.

Expression and significance of let-7a and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in placenta of severe preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression and clinical significance of let-7a and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in placental tissue of patients with severe preeclampsia (SPE).

METHODS

From January 2018 to October 2019, 64 cases of puerperal delivery at the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang City, 44 cases of SPE (SPE group), and 20 cases of healthy pregnant women (NC group) were selected. QRT-PCR and Western-blot were used to detect the expression levels of let-7a, TNF-αmRNA, and protein in the two groups of placental tissues. The correlation and the clinical significance of the two were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

The relative expression of let-7a in the SPE group was significantly lower than that in the control group (0.06 ± 0.02 versus 0.25 ± 0.04, p < .05); the expression of TNF-αmRNA in the SPE group was significantly higher than that in the control group (0.48 ± 0.04 versus 0.17 ± 0.03, p < .05); TNF-α protein expression was significantly increased in the SPE group (1.09 ± 0.12 versus 0.56 ± 0.03, p < .05); let-7a and TNF-α were significantly negatively correlated (r = -0.41, p < .05); the blood pressure and birth weight of the pregnant women in the SPE group and the control group were significantly different [systolic blood pressure (164.27 ± 4.62) mmHg versus (125.01 ± 2.23)] mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (109.24 ± 2.97) mmHg versus (75.94 ± 2.74) mmHg, neonatal birth weight (2507.02 ± 161.46) g versus (3592.12 ± 153.05) g, p < .05]; the expression of TNF-α in placental tissue of SPE group was significantly positively correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.93 and 0.89, p < .05).

CONCLUSION

let-7a may participate in the occurrence and development of SPE by negatively regulating the expression of TNF-α.