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Pei X, Zhu J, Wang Y, Zhang F, He Y, Li Y, Si Y. Placental galectins: a subfamily of galectins lose the ability to bind β-galactosides with new structural features†. Biol Reprod 2023; 109:799-811. [PMID: 37672213 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Galectins are a phylogenetically conserved family of soluble β-galactoside binding proteins. There are 16 different of galectins, each with a specific function determined by its distinct distribution and spatial structure. Galectin-13, galectin-14, and galectin-16 are distinct from other galectin members in that they are primarily found in placental tissue. These galectins, also referred to as placental galectins, play critical roles in regulating pregnancy-associated processes, such as placenta formation and maternal immune tolerance to the embedded embryo. The unique structural characteristics and the inability to bind lactose of placental galectins have recently received significant attention. This review primarily examines the novel structural features of placental galectins, which distinguish them from the classic galectins. Furthermore, it explores the correlation between these structural features and the loss of β-galactoside binding ability. In addition, the newly discovered functions of placental galectins in recent years are also summarized in our review. A detailed understanding of the roles of placental galectins may contribute to the discovery of new mechanisms causing numerous pregnancy diseases and enable the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for the treatment of these diseases, ultimately benefiting the health of mothers and offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejing Pei
- Jilin Province Key Laboratory on Chemistry and Biology of Natural Drugs in Changbai Mountain, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
- Xuzhou Tongshan Maocun High School, Xuzhou 221135, China
| | - Jiahui Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Yuchen Wang
- Xuzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China
| | - Fali Zhang
- Xuzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China
| | - Yufeng He
- Xuzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China
| | - Yuchun Li
- Xuzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China
| | - Yunlong Si
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
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Menkhorst E, Than NG, Jeschke U, Barrientos G, Szereday L, Dveksler G, Blois SM. Medawar's PostEra: Galectins Emerged as Key Players During Fetal-Maternal Glycoimmune Adaptation. Front Immunol 2022; 12:784473. [PMID: 34975875 PMCID: PMC8715898 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.784473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lectin-glycan interactions, in particular those mediated by the galectin family, regulate many processes required for a successful pregnancy. Over the past decades, increasing evidence gathered from in vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that members of the galectin family specifically bind to both intracellular and membrane bound carbohydrate ligands regulating angiogenesis, immune-cell adaptations required to tolerate the fetal semi-allograft and mammalian embryogenesis. Therefore, galectins play important roles in fetal development and placentation contributing to maternal and fetal health. This review discusses the expression and role of galectins during the course of pregnancy, with an emphasis on maternal immune adaptions and galectin-glycan interactions uncovered in the recent years. In addition, we summarize the galectin fingerprints associated with pathological gestation with particular focus on preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Menkhorst
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Gynaecological Research Centre, The Women's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nandor Gabor Than
- Systems Biology of Reproduction Research Group, Institute of Enyzmology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Udo Jeschke
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Gabriela Barrientos
- Laboratorio de Medicina Experimental, Hospital Alemán-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laszlo Szereday
- Medical School, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Gabriela Dveksler
- Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Sandra M Blois
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Li X, Yao Y, Liu T, Gu K, Han Q, Zhang W, Ayala GJ, Liu Y, Na H, Yu J, Zhang F, Mayo KH, Su J. Actin binding to galectin-13/placental protein-13 occurs independently of the galectin canonical ligand binding site. Glycobiology 2021; 31:1219-1229. [PMID: 34080003 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwab047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The gene for galectin-13 (Gal-13, placental protein 13) is only present in primates, and its low expression level in maternal serum may promote pre-eclampsia. In the present study, we used pull-down experiments and biolayer interferometry to assess the interaction between Gal-13 and actin. These studies uncovered that human Gal-13 (hGal-13) and Saimiri boliviensis boliviensis (sGal-13) strongly bind to α- and β/γ-actin, with Ca2+ and ATP significantly enhancing interactions. This in turn suggests that h/sGal-13 may inhibit myosin-induced contraction when vascular smooth muscle cells undergo polarization. Here, we solved the crystal structure of sGal-13 bound to lactose and found that it exists as a monomer in contrast to hGal-13 that is a dimer. The distribution of sGal-13 in HeLa cells is similar to that of hGal-13, indicating that monomeric Gal-13 is the primary form in cells. Even though sGal-13 also binds to actin, hGal-13 ligand binding site mutants do not influence hGal-13/actin binding, whereas the monomeric mutant C136S/C138S binds to actin more strongly than wild type hGal-13. Overall, our study demonstrates that monomeric Gal-13 binds to actin, an interaction that is independent of the galectin canonical ligand binding site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xumin Li
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Biology of Changbai Mountain Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Yuan Yao
- Media Academy, Jilin Engineering Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Tianhao Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Biology of Changbai Mountain Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Keqi Gu
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Biology of Changbai Mountain Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Qiuyu Han
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Biology of Changbai Mountain Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Wenlu Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Biology of Changbai Mountain Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Gabriela Jaramillo Ayala
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Biology of Changbai Mountain Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Yuhan Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Biology of Changbai Mountain Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Heya Na
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Biology of Changbai Mountain Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Jinyi Yu
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Biology of Changbai Mountain Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Biology of Changbai Mountain Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Kevin H Mayo
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics, 6-155 Jackson Hall, University of Minnesota, 321 Church Street, Minneapolis, MN 55455, U.S.A
| | - Jiyong Su
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Biology of Changbai Mountain Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
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Blois SM, Verlohren S, Wu G, Clark G, Dell A, Haslam SM, Barrientos G. Role of galectin-glycan circuits in reproduction: from healthy pregnancy to preterm birth (PTB). Semin Immunopathol 2020; 42:469-486. [PMID: 32601855 PMCID: PMC7508936 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-020-00801-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that galectins, an evolutionarily conserved family of glycan-binding proteins, fulfill key roles in pregnancy including blastocyst implantation, maternal-fetal immune tolerance, placental development, and maternal vascular expansion, thereby establishing a healthy environment for the growing fetus. In this review, we comprehensively present the function of galectins in shaping cellular circuits that characterize a healthy pregnancy. We describe the current understanding of galectins in term and preterm labor and discuss how the galectin-glycan circuits contribute to key immunological pathways sustaining maternal tolerance and preventing microbial infections. A deeper understanding of the glycoimmune pathways regulating early events in preterm birth could offer the broader translational potential for the treatment of this devastating syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra M Blois
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Cooperation Between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and the Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, AG GlycoImmunology, Berlin, Germany. .,Institute for Medical Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Stefan Verlohren
- Department of Obstetrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gang Wu
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Gary Clark
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Anne Dell
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Stuart M Haslam
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Gabriela Barrientos
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Hospital Alemán, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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5
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Sammar M, Drobnjak T, Mandala M, Gizurarson S, Huppertz B, Meiri H. Galectin 13 (PP13) Facilitates Remodeling and Structural Stabilization of Maternal Vessels during Pregnancy. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20133192. [PMID: 31261864 PMCID: PMC6651626 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20133192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Galectins regulate cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, signal transduction, mRNA splicing, and interactions with the extracellular matrix. Here we focus on the galectins in the reproductive system, particularly on a group of six galectins that first appears in anthropoid primates in conjunction with the evolution of highly invasive placentation and long gestation. Of these six, placental protein 13 (PP13, galectin 13) interacts with glycoproteins and glycolipids to enable successful pregnancy. PP13 is related to the development of a major obstetric syndrome, preeclampsia, a life-threatening complication of pregnancy which affects ten million pregnant women globally. Preeclampsia is characterized by hypertension, proteinuria, and organ failure, and is often accompanied by fetal loss and major newborn disabilities. PP13 facilitates the expansion of uterine arteries and veins during pregnancy in an endothelial cell-dependent manner, via the eNOS and prostaglandin signaling pathways. PP13 acts through its carbohydrate recognition domain that binds to sugar residues of extracellular and connective tissue molecules, thus inducing structural stabilization of vessel expansion. Further, decidual PP13 aggregates may serve as a decoy that induces white blood cell apoptosis, contributing to the mother's immune tolerance to pregnancy. Lower first trimester PP13 level is one of the biomarkers to predict the subsequent risk to develop preeclampsia, while its molecular mutations/polymorphisms that are associated with reduced PP13 expression are accompanied by higher rates of preeclampsia We propose a targeted PP13 replenishing therapy to fight preeclampsia in carriers of these mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marei Sammar
- Ephraim Katzir Department of Biotechnology Engineering, ORT Braude College, 2161002 Karmiel, Israel.
| | - Tijana Drobnjak
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Science, University of Iceland, 107 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Maurizio Mandala
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87030 Rende, Italy
| | - Sveinbjörn Gizurarson
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Science, University of Iceland, 107 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Berthold Huppertz
- Department of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Hamutal Meiri
- Hylabs Ltd., Rehovot, 7670606 and TeleMarpe Ltd., 6908742 Tel Aviv, Israel
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Balogh A, Toth E, Romero R, Parej K, Csala D, Szenasi NL, Hajdu I, Juhasz K, Kovacs AF, Meiri H, Hupuczi P, Tarca AL, Hassan SS, Erez O, Zavodszky P, Matko J, Papp Z, Rossi SW, Hahn S, Pallinger E, Than NG. Placental Galectins Are Key Players in Regulating the Maternal Adaptive Immune Response. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1240. [PMID: 31275299 PMCID: PMC6593412 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Galectins are potent immunomodulators that regulate maternal immune responses in pregnancy and prevent the rejection of the semi-allogeneic fetus that also occurs in miscarriages. We previously identified a gene cluster on Chromosome 19 that expresses a subfamily of galectins, including galectin-13 (Gal-13) and galectin-14 (Gal-14), which emerged in anthropoid primates. These galectins are expressed only by the placenta and induce the apoptosis of activated T lymphocytes, possibly contributing to a shifted maternal immune balance in pregnancy. The placental expression of Gal-13 and Gal-14 is decreased in preeclampsia, a life-threatening obstetrical syndrome partly attributed to maternal anti-fetal rejection. This study is aimed at revealing the effects of Gal-13 and Gal-14 on T cell functions and comparing the expression of these galectins in placentas from healthy pregnancies and miscarriages. First-trimester placentas were collected from miscarriages and elective termination of pregnancies, tissue microarrays were constructed, and then the expression of Gal-13 and Gal-14 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and immunoscoring. Recombinant Gal-13 and Gal-14 were expressed and purified, and their effects were investigated on primary peripheral blood T cells. The binding of Gal-13 and Gal-14 to T cells and the effects of these galectins on apoptosis, activation marker (CD25, CD71, CD95, HLA-DR) expression and cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFNγ) production of T cells were examined by flow cytometry. Gal-13 and Gal-14 are primarily expressed by the syncytiotrophoblast at the maternal-fetal interface in the first trimester, and their placental expression is decreased in miscarriages compared to first-trimester controls. Recombinant Gal-13 and Gal-14 bind to T cells in a population- and activation-dependent manner. Gal-13 and Gal-14 induce apoptosis of Th and Tc cell populations, regardless of their activation status. Out of the investigated activation markers, Gal-14 decreases the cell surface expression of CD71, Gal-13 increases the expression of CD25, and both galectins increase the expression of CD95 on T cells. Non-activated T cells produce larger amounts of IL-8 in the presence of Gal-13 or Gal-14. In conclusion, these results show that Gal-13 and Gal-14 already provide an immunoprivileged environment at the maternal-fetal interface during early pregnancy, and their reduced expression is related to miscarriages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Balogh
- Systems Biology of Reproduction Momentum Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Immunology, Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Eszter Toth
- Systems Biology of Reproduction Momentum Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, United States.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Katalin Parej
- Systems Biology of Reproduction Momentum Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.,Structural Biophysics Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Diana Csala
- Systems Biology of Reproduction Momentum Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nikolett L Szenasi
- Systems Biology of Reproduction Momentum Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Istvan Hajdu
- Structural Biophysics Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Kata Juhasz
- Systems Biology of Reproduction Momentum Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Arpad F Kovacs
- Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Petronella Hupuczi
- Maternity Private Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Adi L Tarca
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, United States.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States.,Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Sonia S Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, United States.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States.,Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Offer Erez
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternity Department "D", Faculty of Health Sciences, Soroka University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Peter Zavodszky
- Structural Biophysics Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Janos Matko
- Department of Immunology, Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltan Papp
- Maternity Private Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Simona W Rossi
- Department of Biomedicine, University and University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sinuhe Hahn
- Department of Biomedicine, University and University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Eva Pallinger
- Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nandor Gabor Than
- Systems Biology of Reproduction Momentum Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.,Maternity Private Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Budapest, Hungary.,First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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Drobnjak T, Jónsdóttir AM, Helgadóttir H, Runólfsdóttir MS, Meiri H, Sammar M, Osol G, Mandalà M, Huppertz B, Gizurarson S. Placental protein 13 (PP13) stimulates rat uterine vessels after slow subcutaneous administration. Int J Womens Health 2019; 11:213-222. [PMID: 30988643 PMCID: PMC6443218 DOI: 10.2147/ijwh.s188303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Reduced concentrations of placental protein 13 (PP13) during the first trimester of human pregnancy are associated with elevated risk for the subsequent development of preeclampsia, which is one of the deadliest obstetrical complications of pregnancy. Previous studies by our group have shown that PP13 lowers blood pressure in pregnant rats, increases the size and weight of pups and placentas, and induces vasodilation of resistance arteries through endothelial signaling pathways involving endothelial nitric oxid synthase and prostaglandin. Methods In the present study, the effect of PP13 was investigated in nonpregnant female Sprague Dawley rats (n=27). Osmotic pumps were surgically implanted subcutaneously that released a constant dose of PP13 or saline over 7 days. Most animals were sacrificed 6 days after the end of PP13 release (on day 13), while some were sacrificed immediately at the end of day 7 (the last PP13 release day), to compare the short- and long-term impact of PP13 on vessels’ growth and size. Results The uterine vessels were significantly expanded in the group exposed to recombinant PP13 (rPP13) compared to the control (saline) group. Both veins and arteries were significantly expanded by rPP13 with a more pronounced effect after 13 days compared to the corresponding vessels after 7 days. Furthermore, the long-term effect of treatment by rPP13 was more pronounced in the veins compared to the corresponding arteries. The effect of a PP13 variant with a histidine-tag (His-PP13) remained the same between 7 and 13 days. Conclusion In conclusion, PP13 might play a key role in the expansive remodeling of the uterine vessels, reflecting what would happen if the rat was pregnant, preparing the uterine vascu-lature for the increase in uteroplacental blood flow, which is necessary for normal pregnancy. We suggest that PP13 could act by NO signaling pathways, a hypothesis that requires future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tijana Drobnjak
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Science, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland,
| | | | - Helga Helgadóttir
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Science, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland,
| | | | - Hamutal Meiri
- Hy Laboratories Ltd, Rehovot, Israel.,TeleMarpe Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Marei Sammar
- Ephraim Katzir Department of Biotechnology Engineering, ORT Braude College, Karmiel, Israel
| | - George Osol
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Maurizio Mandalà
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Berthold Huppertz
- Department of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Sveinbjörn Gizurarson
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Science, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland,
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8
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Huppertz B. Biology of preeclampsia: Combined actions of angiogenic factors, their receptors and placental proteins. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2018; 1866:165349. [PMID: 30553017 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2018.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Although massive efforts have been undertaken to elucidate the etiology of the pregnancy syndrome preeclampsia, its developmental origin remains a mystery. Most efforts of the last decade have focused on biomarkers to predict and/or diagnose preeclampsia, including the anti-angiogenic factor sFlt-1 (soluble fms-like tyrosin kinase-1), the angiogenic factor PGF (placental growth factor) and PP13 (placental protein 13). The origins of these marker proteins are still under debate, and so far their actions have only been describe separate from each other. This study will focus on the origins and actions of all three markers during pregnancy and outside pregnancy and will describe a scenario where all three markers act synergistically to rescue the mother from the deleterious effects of the debris that is released from the placenta during preeclampsia. This more holistic approach may open new avenues to think about maternal-fetal interactions and putative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berthold Huppertz
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
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9
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Hutabarat M, Wibowo N, Obermayer-Pietsch B, Huppertz B. Impact of vitamin D and vitamin D receptor on the trophoblast survival capacity in preeclampsia. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0206725. [PMID: 30408071 PMCID: PMC6226106 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preeclampsia and intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) are major health problems during pregnancy affecting both mother and child. Defective placental development and failure of trophoblast differentiation during pregnancy are important aspects in the pathogenesis of both syndromes. Recent studies have shown that autophagy is involved in the trophoblast survival capacity. As vitamin D has a central role in many cellular processes, we studied the relation of vitamin D and autophagy in those processes of preeclampsia and IUGR. METHODS Serum and placental samples from four groups of cases; normal term, IUGR, early-onset and late-onset preeclampsia, were analyzed for 25(OH)D vitamin D, sFLT1, PGF, LGALS13 in serum and vitamin D receptor (VDR), MAP1LC3B and BECN1 in placental tissues. RESULTS There was a significant difference in the sFLT1/PGF ratio in preeclamptic cases compared to controls and IUGR. There was a significant difference between these groups in the MAP1LC3B/BECN1 ratio as marker of the trophoblast survival capacity with a significantly reduced ratio in villous trophoblast of early-onset preeclampsia. Maternal vitamin D deficiency was found in all pathological pregnancies combined with significantly reduced staining levels of placental VDR in IUGR. Finally, there was a strong and significant negative correlation between the survival capacity (MAP1LC3B/BECN1) and both maternal vitamin D and placental VDR in the preeclampsia groups. CONCLUSION Vitamin D and intracellular VDR are strongly related to the trophoblast survival capacity in preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Hutabarat
- Postgraduate Department, Doctorate Program Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
- * E-mail:
| | - Noroyono Wibowo
- Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Barbara Obermayer-Pietsch
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Berthold Huppertz
- Department of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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Gadde R, Cd D, Sheela SR. Placental protein 13: An important biological protein in preeclampsia. J Circ Biomark 2018; 7:1849454418786159. [PMID: 30023011 PMCID: PMC6047241 DOI: 10.1177/1849454418786159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Placental protein 13 (PP13), a glycan binding protein predominantly expressed in syncytiotrophoblast, dimeric in nature, lacks N-terminal signal peptide, bypasses the endoplasmic reticulum, and secretes into maternal circulation as exosomes or microvesicles. PP13 has jelly roll fold conformation with conserved carbohydrate recognition domain which specifically binds to β-galactosides of the glycan receptors during placentation. PP13 binds to glycosylated receptors on human erythrocytes and brings about hemagglutination by the property of lectin activity; other functions are immunoregulation and vasodilation during placentation and vascularization. The gene LGALS13 located on 19q13.2 comprising four exons expresses a 32-kDa protein with 139 amino acid residues, PP13. Impaired expression due to mutation in the gene leads to a nonfunctional truncated PP13. The low serum levels predict high risk for the onset of preeclampsia or obstetric complications. Hence, PP13 turned to be an early marker for risk assessment of preeclampsia. The recombinant PP13 and monoclonal antibodies availability help for replenishing PP13 in conditions with low serum levels and for detection and prevention of preeclampsia, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjeeta Gadde
- Department of Biochemistry, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar, India
| | - Dayanand Cd
- Department of Biochemistry, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar, India
| | - S R Sheela
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar, India
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11
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Drobnjak T, Meiri H, Mandalá M, Huppertz B, Gizurarson S. Pharmacokinetics of placental protein 13 after intravenous and subcutaneous administration in rabbits. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2018; 12:1977-1983. [PMID: 30013317 PMCID: PMC6037268 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s167926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Human placental protein 13 (PP13) is a galectin predominantly expressed by the placenta. Low serum concentrations of PP13 in early pregnancy indicate a higher risk of developing preeclampsia. Methods The pharmacokinetic disposition and bioavailability of PP13 were determined by single intravenous and subcutaneous administration to 12 healthy New Zealand White rabbits. The serum pharmacokinetic values were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and are best described by a two-compartment model. Results Both volume of distribution and the area under the curve were dose dependent for the intravenous group (p<0.01). PP13 elimination half-life was also found to be different between the groups (p<0.01). The bioavailability of PP13 following subcutaneous administration was found to be 57%. Conclusion This study shows that the concentration of total PP13 released into the maternal circulation during pregnancy might be much higher than previously estimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tijana Drobnjak
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland,
| | - Hamutal Meiri
- Hy Laboratories, Rehovot, Israel.,TeleMarpe Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Maurizio Mandalá
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Berthold Huppertz
- Department of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Sveinbjörn Gizurarson
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland,
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12
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Reduced placental protein 13 (PP13) in placental derived syncytiotrophoblast extracellular vesicles in preeclampsia – A novel tool to study the impaired cargo transmission of the placenta to the maternal organs. Placenta 2018; 66:17-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2018.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Meiri H, Osol G, Cetin I, Gizurarson S, Huppertz B. Personalized Therapy Against Preeclampsia by Replenishing Placental Protein 13 (PP13) Targeted to Patients With Impaired PP13 Molecule or Function. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2017; 15:433-446. [PMID: 29034064 PMCID: PMC5633742 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 08/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypertensive disorders affect about one third of all people aged 20 and above, and are treated with anti-hypertensive drugs. Preeclampsia (PE) is one form of such disorders that only develops during pregnancy. It affects ten million pregnant women globally and additionally causes fetal loss and major newborn disabilities. The syndrome's origin is multifactorial, and anti-hypertensive drugs are ineffective in treating it. Biomarkers are helpful for predict its development. Generic drugs, such as low dose aspirin, were proven effective in preventing preterm PE. However, it does not cure the majority of cases and many studies are underway for fighting PE with extended use of additional generic drugs, or through new drug development programs. This review focuses on placental protein 13 (PP13). This protein is only expressed in the placenta. Impaired PP13 DNA structure and/or its reduced mRNA expression leads to lower blood PP13 level that predict a higher risk of developing PE. Two polymorphic PP13 variants have been identified: (1) The promoter PP13 variant with an "A/A" genotype in the -98 position (versus "A/C" or "C/C"). Having the "A/A" genotype is coupled to lower PP13 expression, mainly during placental syncytiotrophoblast differentiation and, if associated with obesity and history of previous preeclampsia, it accurately predicts higher risk for developing the disorder. (2) A thymidine deletion at position 221 causes a frame shift in the open reading frame, and the formation of an early stop codon resulting in the formation of DelT221, a truncated variant of PP13. In pregnant rodents, both short- and long- term replenishment of PP13 causes reversible hypotension and vasodilation of uterine vessels. Long-term exposure is also accompanied by the development of larger placentas and newborns. Also, only w/t PP13 is capable of inducing leukocyte apoptosis, providing maternal immune tolerance to pregnancy. Based on published data, we propose a targeted PP13 therapy to fight PE, and consider the design and conduct of animal studies to explore this hypothesis. Accordingly, a new targeted therapy can be implemented in humans combining prediction and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamutal Meiri
- Hy Laboratories, Rehovot, and TeleMarpe, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - George Osol
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Irene Cetin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milano, Italy
- Department of Mother and Child, Hospital Luigi Sacco, and Center for Fetal Research “Giorgio Pardi”, Milano, Italy
| | - Sveinbjörn Gizurarson
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Science, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Berthold Huppertz
- Institute of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology & Biobank Graz, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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Madar-Shapiro L, Karady I, Trahtenherts A, Syngelaki A, Akolekar R, Poon L, Cohen R, Sharabi-Nov A, Huppertz B, Sammar M, Juhasz K, Than NG, Papp Z, Romero R, Nicolaides KH, Meiri H. Predicting the Risk to Develop Preeclampsia in the First Trimester Combining Promoter Variant -98A/C of LGALS13 (Placental Protein 13), Black Ethnicity, Previous Preeclampsia, Obesity, and Maternal Age. Fetal Diagn Ther 2017; 43:250-265. [PMID: 28728156 PMCID: PMC5882584 DOI: 10.1159/000477933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND LGALS13 (placental protein 13 [PP13]) promoter DNA polymorphisms was evaluated in predicting preeclampsia (PE), given PP13's effects on hypotension, angiogenesis, and immune tolerance. METHODS First-trimester plasma samples (49 term and 18 intermediate) of PE cases matched with 196 controls were collected from King's College Hospital, London, repository. Cell-free DNA was extracted and the LGALS13 exons were sequenced after PCR amplification. Expression of LGALS13 promoter reporter constructs was determined in BeWo trophoblast-like cells with luciferase assays. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) was calculated for the A/A genotype combined with maternal risk factors. RESULTS The A/A, A/C, and C/C genotypes in the -98 promoter position were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the control but not in the PE group (p < 0.036). The dominant A/A genotype had higher frequency in the PE group (p < 0.001). The A/C and C/C genotypes protected from PE (p < 0.032). The ORs to develop term and all PE, calculated for the A/A genotype, previous PE, body mass index (BMI) >35, black ethnicity, and maternal age >40 were 15.6 and 11.0, respectively (p < 0.001). In luciferase assays, the "-98A" promoter variant had lower expression than the "-98C" variant in non-differentiated (-13%, p = 0.04) and differentiated (-26%, p < 0.001) BeWo cells. Forskolin-induced differentiation led to a larger expression increase in the "-98C" variant than in the "-98A" variant (4.55-fold vs. 3.85-fold, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Lower LGALS13 (PP13) expression with the "A" nucleotide in the -98 promoter region position (compared to "C") and high OR calculated for the A/A genotype in the -98A/C promoter region position, history of previous PE, BMI >35, advanced maternal age >40, and black ethnicity could serve to aid in PE prediction in the first trimester.
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Drobnjak T, Gizurarson S, Gokina NI, Meiri H, Mandalá M, Huppertz B, Osol G. Placental protein 13 (PP13)-induced vasodilation of resistance arteries from pregnant and nonpregnant rats occurs via endothelial-signaling pathways. Hypertens Pregnancy 2017; 36:186-195. [PMID: 28524718 DOI: 10.1080/10641955.2017.1295052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Placental protein 13 (PP13) induces hypotension in rats. This study aims to evaluate PP13 effects on isolated uterine arteries from nonpregnant and mid-pregnant rats. Vessels were isolated, cannulated, and pressurized to 50 mmHg within an arteriograph, preconstricted and exposed to increasing PP13 concentrations (10-13-10-8 M). PP13 elicited 38-50% arterial vasodilation with half-maximum response (EC50) = 1 pM. The relaxation was mediated by activating the endothelial-signaling pathways of prostaglandin and nitric oxide (NO). Accordingly, these results encourage evaluation of PP13 as a possible therapy for gestational diseases characterized by insufficient uteroplacental blood flow and/or maternal hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tijana Drobnjak
- a Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences , School of Health Science, University of Iceland , Reykjavik , Iceland
| | - Sveinbjörn Gizurarson
- a Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences , School of Health Science, University of Iceland , Reykjavik , Iceland
| | - Natalia I Gokina
- b Department of Obstetrics , Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Vermont , Burlington , Vermont , USA
| | - Hamutal Meiri
- c Hy Laboratories, Rehovot, and TeleMarpe , Tel Aviv , Israel
| | - Maurizio Mandalá
- d Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences , University of Calabria , Rende , Italy
| | - Berthold Huppertz
- e Institute of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology , Medical University of Graz , Graz , Austria
| | - George Osol
- b Department of Obstetrics , Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Vermont , Burlington , Vermont , USA
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Maymon R, Trahtenherts A, Svirsky R, Melcer Y, Madar-Shapiro L, Klog E, Meiri H, Cuckle H. Developing a new algorithm for first and second trimester preeclampsia screening in twin pregnancies. Hypertens Pregnancy 2016; 36:108-115. [DOI: 10.1080/10641955.2016.1242605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ron Maymon
- Institute of Ultrasound, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Centre, Affiliated with the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | | | - Ran Svirsky
- Institute of Ultrasound, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Centre, Affiliated with the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Yaakov Melcer
- Institute of Ultrasound, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Centre, Affiliated with the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | | | - Esther Klog
- Institute of Ultrasound, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Centre, Affiliated with the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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