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Dong JP, Xu YC, Jiang YN, Jiang RZ, Ma L, Li XZ, Zeng WH, Lin Y. Identification of transcriptional signature change and critical transcription factors involved during the differentiation of mouse trophoblast stem cell into maternal blood vessel associated trophoblast giant cell. Cell Signal 2024; 123:111359. [PMID: 39179089 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
The placenta is essential organ for oxygen and nutrient exchange between the mother and the developing fetus. Trophoblast lineage differentiation is closely related to the normal function of the placenta. Trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) can differentiate into all placental trophoblast subtypes and are widely used as in vitro stem cell models to study placental development and trophoblast lineage differentiation. Although extensive research has been conducted on the differentiation of TSCs, the possible parallels between trophoblast giant cells (TGCs) that are differentiated from TSCs in vitro and the various subtypes of TGC lineages in vivo are still poorly understood. In this study, mouse TSCs (mTSCs) were induced to differentiate into TGCs, and our mRNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data revealed that mTSCs and TGCs have distinct transcriptional signatures. We conducted a comparison of mTSCs and TGCs transcriptomes with the published transcriptomes of TGC lineages in murine placenta detected by single-cell RNA-seq and found that mTSCs tend to differentiate into maternal blood vessel-associated TGCs in vitro. Moreover, we identified the transcription factor (TF) ZMAT1, which may be responsible for the differentiation of mTSCs into sinusoid TGCs, and the TFs EGR1 and MITF, which are likely involved in the differentiation of mTSCs into spiral artery-associated TGCs. Thus, our findings provide a valuable resource for the mechanisms of trophoblast lineage differentiation and placental deficiency-associated diseases development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Peng Dong
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai 200030, China; Institute of Birth Defects and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yi-Chi Xu
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai 200030, China; Institute of Birth Defects and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yi-Nan Jiang
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai 200030, China; Institute of Birth Defects and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Rong-Zhen Jiang
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Li Ma
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Xin-Zhu Li
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Wei-Hong Zeng
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai 200030, China; Institute of Birth Defects and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China.
| | - Yi Lin
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China.
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Mótyán JA, Tőzsér J. The human retroviral-like aspartic protease 1 (ASPRV1): From in vitro studies to clinical correlations. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107634. [PMID: 39098535 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The human retroviral-like aspartic protease 1 (ASPRV1) is a retroviral-like protein that was first identified in the skin due to its expression in the stratum granulosum layer of the epidermis. Accordingly, it is also referred to as skin-specific aspartic protease. Similar to the retroviral polyproteins, the full-length ASPRV1 also undergoes self-proteolysis, the processing of the precursor is necessary for the autoactivation of the protease domain. ASPRV1's functions are well-established at the level of the skin: it is part of the epidermal proteolytic network and has a significant contribution to skin moisturization via the limited proteolysis of filaggrin; it is only natural protein substrate identified so far. Filaggrin and ASPRV1 are also specific for mammalians, these proteins provide unique features for the skins of these species, and the importance of filaggrin processing in hydration is proved by the fact that some ASPRV1 mutations are associated with skin diseases such as ichthyosis. ASPRV1 was also found to be expressed in macrophage-like neutrophil cells, indicating that its functions are not limited to the skin. In addition, differential expression of ASPRV1 was detected in many diseases, with yet unknown significance. The currently known enzymatic characteristics-that had been revealed mainly by in vitro studies-and correlations with pathogenic phenotypes imply potentially important functions in multiple cell types, which makes the protein a promising target of functional studies. In this review we describe the currently available knowledge and future perspective in regard to ASPRV1.
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Affiliation(s)
- János András Mótyán
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - József Tőzsér
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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Cui L, Zheng Y, Xu R, Lin Y, Zheng J, Lin P, Guo B, Sun S, Zhao X. Alternative pre-mRNA splicing in stem cell function and therapeutic potential: A critical review of current evidence. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 268:131781. [PMID: 38657924 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Alternative splicing is a crucial regulator in stem cell biology, intricately influencing the functions of various biological macromolecules, particularly pre-mRNAs and the resultant protein isoforms. This regulatory mechanism is vital in determining stem cell pluripotency, differentiation, and proliferation. Alternative splicing's role in allowing single genes to produce multiple protein isoforms facilitates the proteomic diversity that is essential for stem cells' functional complexity. This review delves into the critical impact of alternative splicing on cellular functions, focusing on its interaction with key macromolecules and how this affects cellular behavior. We critically examine how alternative splicing modulates the function and stability of pre-mRNAs, leading to diverse protein expressions that govern stem cell characteristics, including pluripotency, self-renewal, survival, proliferation, differentiation, aging, migration, somatic reprogramming, and genomic stability. Furthermore, the review discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting alternative splicing-related pathways in disease treatment, particularly focusing on the modulation of RNA and protein interactions. We address the challenges and future prospects in this field, underscoring the need for further exploration to unravel the complex interplay between alternative splicing, RNA, proteins, and stem cell behaviors, which is crucial for advancing our understanding and therapeutic approaches in regenerative medicine and disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Cui
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong, China.
| | - Yucheng Zheng
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong, China
| | - Rongwei Xu
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong, China; Hospital of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Yunfan Lin
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiarong Zheng
- Department of Dentistry, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Pei Lin
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong, China
| | - Bing Guo
- Department of Dentistry, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Shuyu Sun
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong, China
| | - Xinyuan Zhao
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong, China.
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Herriage HC, Huang YT, Calvi BR. The antagonistic relationship between apoptosis and polyploidy in development and cancer. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 156:35-43. [PMID: 37331841 PMCID: PMC10724375 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
One of the important functions of regulated cell death is to prevent cells from inappropriately acquiring extra copies of their genome, a state known as polyploidy. Apoptosis is the primary cell death mechanism that prevents polyploidy, and defects in this apoptotic response can result in polyploid cells whose subsequent error-prone chromosome segregation are a major contributor to genome instability and cancer progression. Conversely, some cells actively repress apoptosis to become polyploid as part of normal development or regeneration. Thus, although apoptosis prevents polyploidy, the polyploid state can actively repress apoptosis. In this review, we discuss progress in understanding the antagonistic relationship between apoptosis and polyploidy in development and cancer. Despite recent advances, a key conclusion is that much remains unknown about the mechanisms that link apoptosis to polyploid cell cycles. We suggest that drawing parallels between the regulation of apoptosis in development and cancer could help to fill this knowledge gap and lead to more effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter C Herriage
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Yi-Ting Huang
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Brian R Calvi
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
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Kinkade JA, Seetharam AS, Sachdev S, Bivens NJ, Phinney BS, Grigorean G, Roberts RM, Tuteja G, Rosenfeld CS. Extracellular vesicles from mouse trophoblast cells: Effects on neural progenitor cells and potential participants in the placenta-brain axis†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:310-328. [PMID: 37883444 PMCID: PMC10873279 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The fetal brain of the mouse is thought to be dependent upon the placenta as a source of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) and other factors. How factors reach the developing brain remains uncertain but are postulated here to be part of the cargo carried by placental extracellular vesicles (EV). We have analyzed the protein, catecholamine, and small RNA content of EV from mouse trophoblast stem cells (TSC) and TSC differentiated into parietal trophoblast giant cells (pTGC), potential primary purveyors of 5-HT. Current studies examined how exposure of mouse neural progenitor cells (NPC) to EV from either TSC or pTGC affect their transcriptome profiles. The EV from trophoblast cells contained relatively high amounts of 5-HT, as well as dopamine and norepinephrine, but there were no significant differences between EV derived from pTGC and from TSC. Content of miRNA and small nucleolar (sno)RNA, however, did differ according to EV source, and snoRNA were upregulated in EV from pTGC. The primary inferred targets of the microRNA (miRNA) from both pTGC and TSC were mRNA enriched in the fetal brain. NPC readily internalized EV, leading to changes in their transcriptome profiles. Transcripts regulated were mainly ones enriched in neural tissues. The transcripts in EV-treated NPC that demonstrated a likely complementarity with miRNA in EV were mainly up- rather than downregulated, with functions linked to neuronal processes. Our results are consistent with placenta-derived EV providing direct support for fetal brain development and being an integral part of the placenta-brain axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Kinkade
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Arun S Seetharam
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Shrikesh Sachdev
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Nathan J Bivens
- Genomics Technology Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Brett S Phinney
- Proteomics Core UC Davis Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Gabriela Grigorean
- Proteomics Core UC Davis Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - R Michael Roberts
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Geetu Tuteja
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Cheryl S Rosenfeld
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- MU Institute of Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Genetics Area Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Thompson Center for Autism and Neurobehavioral Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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Zhang X, Zhang L, Lai J, Lu Y, Ye J, Wang Y. Screening and identification of hub gene and differential gene and mutation sequence analysis of related genes in colorectal cancer based on bioinformatics analysis. J Gastrointest Oncol 2022; 13:3056-3066. [PMID: 36636081 PMCID: PMC9830333 DOI: 10.21037/jgo-22-1131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background At present, the research of genomics is in ascendency, and using bioinformatics analysis methods to systematically explore the pathogenic genes and their regulatory mechanisms will play a great role in promoting the research of cancer. This study was to search The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and extract inflammation-related non-coding RNA to construct a prognosis model of colon cancer and search for new immunotherapeutic targets. Methods The transcriptome sequencing data and clinical data of 396 colon cancer patients were downloaded from TCGA database, and the inflammation-related non-coding RNA was obtained from the non-coding RNAs in Inflammation (ncRI) database. The prognostic model was constructed by univariate Cox regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and multivariate Cox regression, and the optimal grouping threshold of risk score was determined by X-Tile software. The patients were risk stratified to further explore the differences in immune cell infiltration and biological function between the high- and low-risk groups. Results The TCGA dataset of colon cancer was included to screen out 120 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that overlapped in the 2 datasets, among which 29 genes were up-regulated and 91 genes were down-regulated. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of the above 120 DEGs showed that proximal tubule sodium bicarbonate recovery, nitrogen metabolism, pancreatic fluid secretion, and PPAR signaling pathways were closely related to the occurrence of colon cancer. The expression of copper death-related genes was significantly correlated with the correlation coefficient of colon cancer (P<0.01). Gene Ontology analysis showed that the DEGs were mainly enriched in messenger RNA processing, RNA splicing, small G protein-mediated signal transduction, adhesion junction, mitochondrial matrix, mitochondrial protein complex, chromatin binding, small G protein binding, and Ras G protein binding, among others. KEGG analysis showed that the DEGs were enriched in the following pathways: herpes simplex virus type 1 infection, pathways of neurodegenerative diseases, Huntington's disease, prion disease, Parkinson's disease, the Ras signaling pathway, and so on. Conclusions The key genes closely related to colon cancer were effectively screened by the bioinformatics method, which provided a theoretical basis for further study of its mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Zhang
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Ganzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ganzhou, China
| | - Leichang Zhang
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, China
| | - Jian Lai
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical College, Ganzhou, China
| | - Yan Lu
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Ganzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ganzhou, China
| | - Jianming Ye
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical College, Ganzhou, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Ganzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ganzhou, China
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Buss G, Stratton MB, Milenkovic L, Stearns T. Postmitotic centriole disengagement and maturation leads to centrosome amplification in polyploid trophoblast giant cells. Mol Biol Cell 2022; 33:ar118. [PMID: 36001376 PMCID: PMC9634975 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e22-05-0182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA replication is normally coupled with centriole duplication in the cell cycle. Trophoblast giant cells (TGCs) of the placenta undergo endocycles resulting in polyploidy but their centriole state is not known. We used a cell culture model for TGC differentiation to examine centriole and centrosome number and properties. Before differentiation, trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) have either two centrioles before duplication or four centrioles after. We find that the average nuclear area increases approximately eight-fold over differentiation, but most TGCs do not have more than four centrioles. However, these centrioles become disengaged, acquire centrosome proteins, and can nucleate microtubules. In addition, some TGCs undergo further duplication and disengagement of centrioles, resulting in substantially higher numbers. Live imaging revealed that disengagement and separation are centriole autonomous and can occur asynchronously. Centriole amplification, when present, occurs by the standard mechanism of one centriole generating one procentriole. PLK4 inhibition blocks centriole formation in differentiating TGCs but does not affect endocycle progression. In summary, centrioles in TGC endocycles undergo disengagement and conversion to centrosomes. This increases centrosome number but to a limited extent compared with DNA reduplication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrison Buss
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | | | | | - Tim Stearns
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305,Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305,*Address correspondence to: Tim Stearns ()
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Alternative splicing diversifies the skeletal muscle transcriptome during prolonged spaceflight. Skelet Muscle 2022; 12:11. [PMID: 35642060 PMCID: PMC9153194 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-022-00294-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As the interest in manned spaceflight increases, so does the requirement to understand the transcriptomic mechanisms that underlay the detrimental physiological adaptations of skeletal muscle to microgravity. While microgravity-induced differential gene expression (DGE) has been extensively investigated, the contribution of differential alternative splicing (DAS) to the plasticity and functional status of the skeletal muscle transcriptome has not been studied in an animal model. Therefore, by evaluating both DGE and DAS across spaceflight, we set out to provide the first comprehensive characterization of the transcriptomic landscape of skeletal muscle during exposure to microgravity. METHODS RNA-sequencing, immunohistochemistry, and morphological analyses were conducted utilizing total RNA and tissue sections isolated from the gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscles of 30-week-old female BALB/c mice exposed to microgravity or ground control conditions for 9 weeks. RESULTS In response to microgravity, the skeletal muscle transcriptome was remodeled via both DGE and DAS. Importantly, while DGE showed variable gene network enrichment, DAS was enriched in structural and functional gene networks of skeletal muscle, resulting in the expression of alternatively spliced transcript isoforms that have been associated with the physiological changes to skeletal muscle in microgravity, including muscle atrophy and altered fiber type function. Finally, RNA-binding proteins, which are required for regulation of pre-mRNA splicing, were themselves differentially spliced but not differentially expressed, an upstream event that is speculated to account for the downstream splicing changes identified in target skeletal muscle genes. CONCLUSIONS Our work serves as the first investigation of coordinate changes in DGE and DAS in large limb muscles across spaceflight. It opens up a new opportunity to understand (i) the molecular mechanisms by which splice variants of skeletal muscle genes regulate the physiological adaptations of skeletal muscle to microgravity and (ii) how small molecule splicing regulator therapies might thwart muscle atrophy and alterations to fiber type function during prolonged spaceflight.
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Jedynak P, Tost J, Calafat AM, Bourova-Flin E, Broséus L, Busato F, Forhan A, Heude B, Jakobi M, Schwartz J, Slama R, Vaiman D, Lepeule J, Philippat C. Pregnancy exposure to phthalates and DNA methylation in male placenta - An epigenome-wide association study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 160:107054. [PMID: 35032864 PMCID: PMC8972089 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.107054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to phthalates during pregnancy may alter DNA methylation in the placenta, a crucial organ for the growth and development of the fetus. OBJECTIVES We studied associations between urinary concentrations of phthalate biomarkers during pregnancy and placental DNA methylation. METHODS We measured concentrations of 11 phthalate metabolites in maternal spot urine samples collected between 22 and 29 gestational weeks in 202 pregnant women. We analyzed DNA methylation levels in placental tissue (fetal side) collected at delivery. We first investigated changes in global DNA methylation of repetitive elements Alu and LINE-1. We then performed an adjusted epigenome-wide association study using IlluminaHM450 BeadChips and identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with phthalate exposure. RESULTS Monobenzyl phthalate concentration was inversely associated with placental methylation of Alu repeats. Moreover, all phthalate biomarkers except for monocarboxy-iso-octyl phthalate and mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate were associated with at least one DMR. All but three DMRs showed increased DNA methylation with increased phthalate exposure. The largest identified DMR (22 CpGs) was positively associated with monocarboxy-iso-nonyl phthalate and encompassed heat shock proteins (HSPA1A, HSPA1L). The remaining DMRs encompassed transcription factors and nucleotide exchange factors, among other genes. CONCLUSIONS This is the first description of genome-wide modifications of placental DNA methylation in association with pregnancy exposure to phthalates. Our results suggest epigenetic mechanisms by which exposure to these compounds could affect fetal development. Of interest, four identified DMRs had been previously associated with maternal smoking, which may suggest particular sensitivity of these genomic regions to the effect of environmental contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Jedynak
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, CNRS, Team of Environmental Epidemiology applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France.
| | - Jörg Tost
- Laboratory for Epigenetics and Environment, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, CEA - Institut de Biologie François Jacob, University Paris Saclay, Evry, France
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ekaterina Bourova-Flin
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, CNRS, EpiMed Group, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Lucile Broséus
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, CNRS, Team of Environmental Epidemiology applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Florence Busato
- Laboratory for Epigenetics and Environment, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, CEA - Institut de Biologie François Jacob, University Paris Saclay, Evry, France
| | - Anne Forhan
- Université de Paris, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), INSERM, INRAE, F-75004 Paris, France
| | - Barbara Heude
- Université de Paris, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), INSERM, INRAE, F-75004 Paris, France
| | - Milan Jakobi
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, CNRS, Team of Environmental Epidemiology applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rémy Slama
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, CNRS, Team of Environmental Epidemiology applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Daniel Vaiman
- Genomics, Epigenetics and Physiopathology of Reproduction, Institut Cochin, U1016 Inserm - UMR 8104 CNRS - Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Johanna Lepeule
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, CNRS, Team of Environmental Epidemiology applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France.
| | - Claire Philippat
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, CNRS, Team of Environmental Epidemiology applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
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Functional Analysis of p21 Cip1/CDKN1A and Its Family Members in Trophoblastic Cells of the Placenta and Its Roles in Preeclampsia. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092214. [PMID: 34571867 PMCID: PMC8465116 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE), a gestational hypertensive disease originating from the placenta, is characterized by an imbalance of various cellular processes. The cell cycle regulator p21Cip1/CDKN1A (p21) and its family members p27 and p57 regulate signaling pathways fundamental to placental development. The aim of the present study was to enlighten the individual roles of these cell cycle regulators in placental development and their molecular involvement in the pathogenesis of PE. The expression and localization of p21, phospho-p21 (Thr-145), p27, and p57 was immunohistochemically analyzed in placental tissues from patients with early-onset PE, early-onset PE complicated by the HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count) syndrome as well as late-onset PE compared to their corresponding control tissues from well-matched women undergoing caesarean sections. The gene level was evaluated using real-time quantitative PCR. We demonstrate that the delivery mode strongly influenced placental gene expression, especially for CDKN1A (p21) and CDKN1B (p27), which were significantly upregulated in response to labor. Cell cycle regulators were highly expressed in first trimester placentas and impacted by hypoxic conditions. In support of these observations, p21 protein was abundant in trophoblast organoids and hypoxia reduced its gene expression. Microarray analysis of the trophoblastic BeWo cell line depleted of p21 revealed various interesting candidate genes and signaling pathways for the fusion process. The level of p21 was reduced in fusing cytotrophoblasts in early-onset PE placentas and depletion of p21 led to reduced expression of fusion-related genes such as syncytin-2 and human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), which adversely affected the fusion capability of trophoblastic cells. These data highlight that cell cycle regulators are important for the development of the placenta. Interfering with p21 influences multiple pathways related to the pathogenesis of PE.
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Lee BK, Kim J. Integrating High-Throughput Approaches and in vitro Human Trophoblast Models to Decipher Mechanisms Underlying Early Human Placenta Development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:673065. [PMID: 34150768 PMCID: PMC8206641 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.673065] [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: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The placenta is a temporary but pivotal organ for human pregnancy. It consists of multiple specialized trophoblast cell types originating from the trophectoderm of the blastocyst stage of the embryo. While impaired trophoblast differentiation results in pregnancy disorders affecting both mother and fetus, the molecular mechanisms underlying early human placenta development have been poorly understood, partially due to the limited access to developing human placentas and the lack of suitable human in vitro trophoblast models. Recent success in establishing human trophoblast stem cells and other human in vitro trophoblast models with their differentiation protocols into more specialized cell types, such as syncytiotrophoblast and extravillous trophoblast, has provided a tremendous opportunity to understand early human placenta development. Unfortunately, while high-throughput research methods and omics tools have addressed numerous molecular-level questions in various research fields, these tools have not been widely applied to the above-mentioned human trophoblast models. This review aims to provide an overview of various omics approaches that can be utilized in the study of human in vitro placenta models by exemplifying some important lessons obtained from omics studies of mouse model systems and introducing recently available human in vitro trophoblast model systems. We also highlight some key unknown questions that might be addressed by such techniques. Integrating high-throughput omics approaches and human in vitro model systems will facilitate our understanding of molecular-level regulatory mechanisms underlying early human placenta development as well as placenta-associated complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bum-Kyu Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cancer Research Center, University at Albany-State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, United States
| | - Jonghwan Kim
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
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