1
|
Parental investment and immune dynamics in sex-role reversed pipefishes. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228974. [PMID: 32976488 PMCID: PMC7518610 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Parental care elevates reproductive success by allocating resources into the upbringing of the offspring. However, it also imposes strong costs for the care-giving parent and can foster sexual dimorphism. Trade-offs between the reproductive system and the immune system may result in differential immunological capacities between the care-providing and the non-care-providing parent. Usually, providing care is restricted to the female sex making it impossible to study a sex-independent influence of parental investment on sexual immune dimorphism. The decoupling of sex-dependent parental investment and their influences on the parental immunological capacity, however, is possible in syngnathids, which evolved the unique male pregnancy on a gradient ranging from a simple carrying of eggs on the trunk (Nerophinae, low paternal investment) to full internal pregnancy (Syngnathus, high paternal investment). In this study, we compared candidate gene expression between females and males of different gravity stages in three species of syngnathids (Syngnathus typhle, Syngnathus rostellatus and Nerophis ophidion) with different male pregnancy intensities to determine how parental investment influences sexual immune dimorphism. While our data failed to detect sexual immune dimorphism in the subset of candidate genes assessed, we show a parental care specific resource-allocation trade-off between investment into pregnancy and immune defense when parental care is provided.
Collapse
|
2
|
Pan J, Tian X, Huang H, Zhong N. Proteomic Study of Fetal Membrane: Inflammation-Triggered Proteolysis of Extracellular Matrix May Present a Pathogenic Pathway for Spontaneous Preterm Birth. Front Physiol 2020; 11:800. [PMID: 32792973 PMCID: PMC7386131 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB), which predominantly presents as spontaneous preterm labor (sPTL) or prelabor premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), is a syndrome that accounts for 5-10% of live births annually. The long-term morbidity in surviving preterm infants is significantly higher than that in full-term neonates. The causes of sPTB are complex and not fully understood. Human placenta, the maternal and fetal interface, is an environmental core of fetal intrauterine life, mediates fetal oxygen exchange, nutrient uptake, and waste elimination and functions as an immune-defense organ. In this study, the molecular signature of preterm birth placenta was assessed and compared to full-term placenta by proteomic profiling. MATERIALS AND METHODS Four groups of fetal membranes (the amniochorionic membranes), with five cases in each group in the discovery study and 30 cases in each group for validation, were included: groups A: sPTL; B: PPROM; C: full-term birth (FTB); and D: full-term premature rupture of membrane (PROM). Fetal membranes were dissected and used for proteome quantification study. Maxquant and Perseus were used for protein quantitation and statistical analysis. Both fetal membranes and placental villi samples were used to validate proteomic discovery. RESULTS Proteomics analysis of fetal membranes identified 2,800 proteins across four groups. Sixty-two proteins show statistical differences between the preterm and full-term groups. Among these differentially expressed proteins are (1) proteins involved in inflammation (HPGD), T cell activation (PTPRC), macrophage activation (CAPG, CD14, and CD163), (2) cell adhesion (ICAM and ITGAM), (3) proteolysis (CTSG, ELANE, and MMP9), (4) antioxidant (MPO), (5) extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (APMAP, COL4A1, LAMA2, LMNB1, LMNB2, FBLN2, and CSRP1) and (6) metabolism of glycolysis (PKM and ADPGK), fatty acid synthesis (ACOX1 and ACSL3), and energy biosynthesis (ATP6AP1 and CYBB). CONCLUSION Our molecular signature study of preterm fetal membranes revealed inflammation as a major event, which is inconsistent with previous findings. Proteolysis may play an important role in fetal membrane rupture. Extracellular matrix s have been altered in preterm fetal membranes due to proteolysis. Metabolism was also altered in preterm fetal membranes. The molecular changes in the fetal membranes provided a significant molecular signature for PPROM in preterm syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Pan
- Sanya Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Sanya, China
| | - Xiujuan Tian
- Sanya Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Sanya, China
| | - Honglei Huang
- Proteomic Core Facility, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nanbert Zhong
- New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Retraction: Placental expression of CD100, CD72 and CD45 is dysregulated in human miscarriage. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225491. [PMID: 31725803 PMCID: PMC6855630 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
|
4
|
iTRAQ and PRM-based quantitative proteomics in early recurrent spontaneous abortion: biomarkers discovery. Clin Proteomics 2019; 16:36. [PMID: 31636515 PMCID: PMC6798364 DOI: 10.1186/s12014-019-9256-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Early recurrent spontaneous abortion (ERSA) is a common condition in pregnant women. To prevent ERSA is necessary to look for abortion indicators, such as hormones and proteins, in an early stage. Methods Thirty patients with ERSA were enrolled in the case group. In the control group, we recruited 30 healthy women without a history of miscarriage undergoing voluntary pregnancy termination. The differentially expressed proteins in the serum were identified between the two groups using PRM and iTRAQ. Results Seventy-eight differentially expressed proteins were identified. Using GO functional annotation and KEGG pathway analysis, we detected that the most significant changes occurred in the pathway of Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis. Meanwhile, using PRM, we identified three proteins that were closely related to abortion, B4DTF1 (highly similar to PSG1), P11464 (PSG1), and B4DF70 (highly similar to Prdx-2). The levels of B4DTF1 and P11464 were down-regulated, while the level of B4DF70 was up-regulated. Conclusions CD45, PSG1, and Prdx-2, were significantly dysregulated in the samples of ERSA and could become important biomarkers for the prediction and diagnosis of ERSA. Larger‑scale studies are required to confirm the diagnostic value of these biomarkers.
Collapse
|
5
|
Li X, Lee AP. High-throughput microfluidic single-cell trapping arrays for biomolecular and imaging analysis. Methods Cell Biol 2018; 148:35-50. [PMID: 30473073 PMCID: PMC6644722 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2018.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell analysis is of critical importance in revealing population heterogeneity, identifying minority sub-populations of interest, as well as discovering unique characteristics of individual cells. Microfluidic platforms work at the scale comparable to cell diameter and is suitable for single-cell manipulation. Here we present a microfluidic trapping array which is able to rapidly and deterministically trap single-cells in highly-packed microwells. This chapter first describes the design and fabrication protocols of the trapping array, and then presents its two representative applications: single-cell mRNA probing when integrated with a dielectrophoretic nanotweezer (DENT), and live-cell real-time imaging when combined with fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). As the single-cell trapping efficiency is determined by the channel design instead of the flow rate, this trapping array can be coupled with different microfluidic sample processing units with different flow rates for various single-cell analyses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Abraham P Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States; Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gray JE, Chiappori A, Williams CC, Tanvetyanon T, Haura EB, Creelan BC, Kim J, Boyle TA, Pinder-Schenck M, Khalil F, Altiok S, Devane R, Noyes D, Mediavilla-Varela M, Smilee R, Hopewell EL, Kelley L, Antonia SJ. A phase I/randomized phase II study of GM.CD40L vaccine in combination with CCL21 in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2018; 67:1853-1862. [PMID: 30209589 PMCID: PMC6244998 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-018-2236-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The GM.CD40L vaccine, which recruits and activates dendritic cells, migrates to lymph nodes, activating T cells and leading to systemic tumor cell killing. When combined with the CCL21 chemokine, which recruits T cells and enhances T-cell responses, additive effects have been demonstrated in non-small cell lung cancer mouse models. Here, we compared GM.CD40L versus GM.CD40L plus CCL21 (GM.CD40L.CCL21) in lung adenocarcinoma patients with ≥ 1 line of treatment. In this phase I/II randomized trial (NCT01433172), patients received intradermal vaccines every 14 days (3 doses) and then monthly (3 doses). A two-stage minimax design was used. During phase I, no dose-limiting toxicities were shown in three patients who received GM.CD40L.CCL21. During phase II, of evaluable patients, 5/33 patients (15.2%) randomized for GM.DCD40L (p = .023) and 3/32 patients (9.4%) randomized for GM.DCD40L.CCL21 (p = .20) showed 6-month progression-free survival. Median overall survival was 9.3 versus 9.5 months with GM.DCD40L versus GM.DCD40L.CCL21 (95% CI 0.70–2.25; p = .44). For GM.CD40L versus GM.CD40L.CCL21, the most common treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were grade 1/2 injection site reaction (51.4% versus 61.1%) and grade 1/2 fatigue (35.1% versus 47.2%). Grade 1 immune-mediated TRAEs were isolated to skin. No patients showed evidence of pseudo-progression or immune-related TRAEs of grade 1 or greater of pneumonitis, endocrinopathy, or colitis, and none discontinued treatment due to toxicity. Although we found no significant associations between vaccine immunogenicity and outcomes, in limited biopsies, one patient treated with GMCD40L.CCL21 displayed abundant tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. This possible effectiveness warrants further investigation of GM.CD40L in combination approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jhanelle E Gray
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, FOB1, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
| | - Alberto Chiappori
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, FOB1, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Charlie C Williams
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, FOB1, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Tawee Tanvetyanon
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, FOB1, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Eric B Haura
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, FOB1, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Ben C Creelan
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, FOB1, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Jongphil Kim
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Theresa A Boyle
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | | | - Farah Khalil
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Soner Altiok
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Rebecca Devane
- Clinical Trials Office, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - David Noyes
- Clinical Science Lab (Antonia Lab), H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Melanie Mediavilla-Varela
- Clinical Science Lab (Antonia Lab), H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Renee Smilee
- Cell Therapy Core, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Emily L Hopewell
- Cell Therapy Core, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Linda Kelley
- Cell Therapy Core, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Scott J Antonia
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, FOB1, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dikbas L, Dur R, Tas İH, Yapça ÖE, Dikbas N. Low transcriptional activity of PON2 in recurrent abortion: A novel therapeutic agent? J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod 2018; 47:379-383. [PMID: 29908950 DOI: 10.1016/j.jogoh.2018.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2017] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Oxidative stress has been reported to be associated with various pregnancy complications and to play key roles in many of them. An inadequate level of antioxidant defense may eventually lead to an early pregnancy loss. There is a lack of information about the roles of the PON2 and PON3 enzymes in the etiology of the cases of unexplained recurrent abortus. The aim of our study is to determine and present the data regarding the roles of these enzymes for the first time. MATERIALS AND METHODS We measured the transcriptional levels of the PON2 and PON3 enzymes in the curettage materials obtained from the patients with unexplained recurrent abortus (n=25) and compared the results with those measured in the abortus materials from healthy pregnant women (n=50) who had undergone a voluntary abortion. The transcriptional activities of PON2 and PON3 enzymes were measured through quantification of their respective mRNAs by RT-qPCR assay. For each gene, 2-ΔCt replication values of the control and the patient groups were compared using the Student's t-test, and the p values were calculated thereafter. Fold-changes in the enzyme transcription levels were interpreted as up- or down-regulation. RESULTS PON2 mRNA expressions were found to be highly decreased in the patient group (p=0.000002). PON3 transcription, when compared to the healthy pregnant women, was found to be down-regulated in the patient group; however, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.69). CONCLUSIONS In this study, we evaluated the expressional regulation of the PON2 and PON3 enzymes in unexplained recurrent abortus. Our results demonstrate for the first time that the expressions of PON2 and PON3 are down-regulated in the abortion specimens of the patients with recurrent miscarriage. Although both enzymes had low expression levels, the decrease in the transcriptional activity of PON2 revealed a high statistical significance. According to these results, it is rational to speculate that PON2 may be a novel therapeutic agent in the management of the cases with unexplained recurrent abortion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Levent Dikbas
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Aksaray University, Aksaray, Turkey.
| | - Riza Dur
- Obstetrician & Gynecologist, Etlik Zübeyde Hanım Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - İsmail Hakkı Tas
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Ömer Erkan Yapça
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Neslihan Dikbas
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Li X, Tao Y, Lee DH, Wickramasinghe HK, Lee AP. In situ mRNA isolation from a microfluidic single-cell array using an external AFM nanoprobe. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:1635-1644. [PMID: 28401227 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00133a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We present an in situ mRNA extraction platform to quantify marker-genes' expression levels of single target cells within high-density microfluidic trapping arrays. This platform enables single-cell transcriptomic analysis to reveal in-depth information of cellular mechanisms and population heterogeneity. Although microfluidic technology enables the automation of single-cell sorting, trapping and identification, most developed microfluidic devices are closed off and prevent single-cell access by external analytical equipment. Besides, cell lysing is usually required for mRNA extraction. In our platform, cells are trapped individually in a microwell array sealed by a 1 μm-thick polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane, and a modified atomic force microscopy (AFM) probe-a dielectrophoretic nanotweezer (DENT)-penetrates through the membrane and extracts mRNA molecules from a single cell by dielectrophoresis. The single-cellular expression levels of 3 housekeeping genes from HeLa cells were analyzed quantitatively based on the quantification of the extracted mRNAs, and the probed cells remained viable when the applied alternating-current (AC) voltage was lower than 1.5 Vpp during mRNA probing. We also performed in situ mRNA isolation from a mixture of SK-BR-3 and U937 cells, mimicking a blood sample that underwent primary enrichment of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and evaluated various marker-genes' expressions. This integrated platform combines the non-destructive and precise-control of a single-cell mRNA probe with sealed microfluidic systems' capability of upstream sample processing and downstream multifunctional analysis to enable a versatile and powerful tool for biomedical research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wu M, Li J, Gao Q, Ye F. The role of Sema4D/CD100 as a therapeutic target for tumor microenvironments and for autoimmune, neuroimmune and bone diseases. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2016; 20:885-901. [PMID: 26732941 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2016.1139083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D), also known as CD100, has been implicated in physiologic roles in the immune and nervous systems. However, the interaction of Sema4D with its high affinity receptor, Plexin-B1, reveals a novel role for Sema4D produced by the tumor microenvironment in tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. AREAS COVERED The ligation of Sema4D/CD100 with CD72 on immune and inflammatory cells is known to stimulate immune responses and regulation. Because CD100 and CD72 are expressed on lung immune and nonimmune cells, as well as on mast cells, the CD100/CD72 interaction plays another important role in allergic airway inflammation and mast cell functions. A better understanding of Sema4D-mediated cell signaling in physiological and pathological processes may be crucial for crafting new Sema4D-based therapeutics for human disease and tumor microenvironments. Strategies to achieve effective management through treatment with Sema4D include special siRNAs, neutralizing antibodies and knockdown. EXPERT OPINION This review focuses on the links between Sema4D and human diseases such as cancer, bone metabolism, immune responses and organ development. The current knowledge regarding the expression of Sema4D and its receptors and its functional roles is systemically reviewed to explore Sema4D as both a target and a therapeutic in human diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingfu Wu
- a Cancer Biology Research Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College , Huazhong University of Science and Technology , Wuhan , China
| | - Jing Li
- a Cancer Biology Research Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College , Huazhong University of Science and Technology , Wuhan , China
| | - Qinglei Gao
- a Cancer Biology Research Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College , Huazhong University of Science and Technology , Wuhan , China
| | - Fei Ye
- b Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College , Huazhong University of Science and Technology , Wuhan , China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Hyun J, Romero L, Riveron R, Flores C, Kanagavelu S, Chung KD, Alonso A, Sotolongo J, Ruiz J, Manukyan A, Chun S, Singh G, Salas P, Targan SR, Fukata M. Human intestinal epithelial cells express interleukin-10 through Toll-like receptor 4-mediated epithelial-macrophage crosstalk. J Innate Immun 2014; 7:87-101. [PMID: 25171731 DOI: 10.1159/000365417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the intestine, interaction between epithelial cells and macrophages (MΦs) create a unique immunoregulatory microenvironment necessary to maintain local immune and tissue homeostasis. Human intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) have been shown to express interleukin (IL)-10, which keeps epithelial integrity. We have demonstrated that bacterial signaling through Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 induces 15-deoxy-Δ-12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) synthesis in intestinal MΦs by cyclooxygenase (Cox)-2 expression. Here, we show that TLR4 signaling generates crosstalk between IECs and MΦs that enhances IL-10 expression in IECs. Direct stimulation of TLR4 leads to the expression of IL-10 in IECs, while the presence of MΦs in a Transwell system induces another peak in IL-10 expression in IECs at a later time point. The second peak of the IL-10 expression is two times greater than the first peak. This late induction of IL-10 depends on the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ that is accumulated in IECs by TLR4-mediated inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasomal pathway. TLR4 signaling in MΦs in turn synthesizes 15d-PGJ2 through p38 and ERK activation and Cox-2 induction, which activates PPARγ in IECs. These results suggest that TLR4 signaling maintains IL-10 production in IECs by generating epithelial-MΦs crosstalk, which is an important mechanism in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis mediated through host-bacterial interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinhee Hyun
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fla., USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
An integrative view on the physiology of human early placental villi. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2013; 114:33-48. [PMID: 24291663 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2013.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2013] [Accepted: 11/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The placenta is an indispensable organ for intrauterine protection, development and growth of the embryo and fetus. It provides tight contact between mother and conceptus, enabling the exchange of gas, nutrients and waste products. The human placenta is discoidal in shape, and bears a hemo-monochorial interface as well as villous materno-fetal interdigitations. Since Peter Medawar's astonishment to the paradoxical nature of the mother-fetus relationship in 1953, substantial knowledge in the domain of placental physiology has been gathered. In the present essay, an attempt has been made to build an integrated understanding of morphological dynamics, cell biology, and functional aspects of genomic and proteomic expression of human early placental villous trophoblast cells followed by a commentary on the future directions of research in this field.
Collapse
|
12
|
Lorenzi T, Lorenzi M, Altobelli E, Marzioni D, Mensà E, Quaranta A, Paolinelli F, Morroni M, Mazzucchelli R, De Luca A, Procopio AD, Baldi A, Muzzonigro G, Montironi R, Castellucci M. HtrA1 in human urothelial bladder cancer: a secreted protein and a potential novel biomarker. Int J Cancer 2013; 133:2650-61. [PMID: 23712470 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.28280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2012] [Accepted: 04/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Our aim was to analyze the expression of the serine protease HtrA1 in human bladder tissue and urine in order to point out its possible association with the presence of urothelial bladder cancer. Bladder tissue and urine specimens from cancer patients with different tumor grades and stages (n = 68) and from individuals with cystitis (n = 16) were collected along with biopsy specimens and urine from healthy individuals (n = 68). For the first time, we demonstrated by immunohistochemistry that HtrA1 protein is produced by bladder urothelium in both physiological and inflammatory conditions, whereas it is not detectable in urothelial cancer cells regardless of tumor grade and stage. A different HtrA1 expression between normal-looking and neoplastic bladder tissue, despite similar HtrA1 mRNA levels, was also found by western blotting, which disclosed the presence of two forms of HtrA1, a native form of ∼50 kDa and an autocatalytic form of ∼38 kDa. Our investigations documented the presence of the two forms of HtrA1 also in urine. The ∼38 kDa form was significantly down-regulated in neoplastic tissue, whereas significantly higher amounts of both HtrA1 forms were found in urine from cancer patients compared with both healthy subjects and patients with cystitis. Our findings suggest that HtrA1 is a downexpressed molecule since an early stage of bladder urothelial carcinoma development and that urinary HtrA1 protein may be considered, if successfully validated, as an early and highly sensitive and specific biomarker for this neoplasia (the sensitivity and specificity of HtrA1 are 92.65% and 95.59%, respectively).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Lorenzi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/a, Ancona, 60020, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|