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Meakin AS, Nathanielsz PW, Li C, Clifton VL, Wiese MD, Morrison JL. Maternal obesity impacts fetal liver androgen signalling in a sex-specific manner. Life Sci 2024; 337:122344. [PMID: 38081408 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal obesity (MO) increases fetal androgen concentrations, the prevalence of macrosomia, and predisposes offspring to metabolic dysfunction in later life, especially males. These risks may be, in part, the result of increased liver-specific androgen signalling pathway activity in utero. Androgen signalling activity can be suppressed by androgen metabolism via cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzymes (CYP2B6, CYP3A) or through inhibition of the full-length androgen receptor (AR-FL) via the antagonistic isoform, AR-45. We hypothesised MO impairs CYP enzyme activity and AR-45 expression in male fetal livers, thereby enhancing activity of androgen signalling pathways. METHODS Nine months prior to pregnancy, nulliparous female baboons were assigned to either ad libitum control or high fat diet. At 165 day (d) gestation (term, 180 d) fetal liver was collected (n = 6/sex/group). CYP activity was quantified using functional assays; subcellular AR expression was measured using Western blot. RESULTS CYP2B6 and CYP3A activity, and nuclear expression of AR-45, was reduced in MO males only. Nuclear AR-45 expression was inversely related with fetal body weight of MO males only. CONCLUSIONS Reduced CYP2B6 and CYP3A activity in conjunction with decreased nuclear AR-45 expression may enhance liver androgen signalling in males from MO pregnancies, thereby increasing the risk of macrosomia, as well as metabolic dysfunction in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley S Meakin
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical & Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
| | | | - Cun Li
- Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Vicki L Clifton
- Mater Medical Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael D Wiese
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, Clinical & Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical & Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
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He Z, Zhang J, Chen Y, Ai C, Gong X, Xu D, Wang H. Transgenerational inheritance of adrenal steroidogenesis inhibition induced by prenatal dexamethasone exposure and its intrauterine mechanism. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:294. [PMID: 37853416 PMCID: PMC10585925 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01303-0] [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: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adrenal gland is the synthesis and secretion organ of glucocorticoid, which is crucial to fetal development and postnatal fate. Recently, we found that prenatal dexamethasone exposure (PDE) could cause adrenal dysfunction in offspring rats, but its multigenerational genetic effects and related mechanisms have not been reported. METHODS The PDE rat model was established, and female filial generation 1 (F1) rats mate with wild males to produce the F2, the same way for the F3. Three generation rats were sacrificed for the related detection. SW-13 cells were used to clarify the epigenetic molecular mechanism. RESULTS This study confirmed that PDE could activate fetal adrenal glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The activated GR, on the one hand, up-regulated Let-7b (in human cells) to inhibit steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) expression directly; on the other hand, down-regulated CCCTC binding factor (CTCF) and up-regulated DNA methyltransferase 3a/3b (Dnmt3a/3b), resulting in H19 hypermethylation and low expression. The decreased interaction of H19 and let-7 can further inhibit adrenal steroidogenesis. Additionally, oocytes transmitted the expression change of H19/let-7c axis to the next generation rats. Due to its genetic stability, F2 generation oocytes indirectly exposed to dexamethasone also inhibited H19 expression, which could be inherited to the F3 generation. CONCLUSIONS This cascade effect of CTCF/H19/Let-7c ultimately resulted in the transgenerational inheritance of adrenal steroidogenesis inhibition of PDE offspring. This study deepens the understanding of the intrauterine origin of adrenal developmental toxicity, and it will provide evidence for the systematic analysis of the transgenerational inheritance effect of acquired traits induced by PDE. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng He
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jinzhi Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yawen Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, China
| | - Can Ai
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xiaohan Gong
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, China
| | - Dan Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, China
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disorder, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, China.
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disorder, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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Paul EN, Shubitidze S, Rahim R, Rucker I, Valin L, Apostle S, Pospisilik JA, Racicot KE, Smith AL. Exogenous corticosterone administration during pregnancy in mice alters placental and fetal thyroid hormone availability in females. Placenta 2023; 142:1-11. [PMID: 37579594 PMCID: PMC10763606 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Maternal prenatal psychological stress is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and increased risk of adverse health outcomes in children. While the molecular mechanisms that govern these associations has not been fully teased apart, stress-induced changes in placental function can drive sex-specific phenotypes in offspring. We sought to identify and examine molecular pathways in the placenta that are altered in response to maternal prenatal stress. METHODS We previously employed a mouse model of maternal prenatal stress where pregnant dams were treated with stress hormone (CORT) beginning in mid-gestation. Using this model, we conducted RNAseq analysis of whole placenta at E18.5. We used qRT-PCR to validate gene expression changes in the placenta and in a trophoblast cell line. ELISAs were used to measure the abundance of thyroid hormones in maternal and fetal serum and in the placenta. RESULTS Dio2 was amongst the top differentially expressed genes in response to exogenous stress hormone. Dio2 expression was more downregulated in placenta of female fetuses from CORT-treated dams than both control placenta from females and placenta from male fetuses. Consistent with Dio2's role in production of bioactive thyroid hormone (T3), we found that there was a reduction of T3 in placenta and serum of female embryos from CORT-treated dams at E18.5. Both T3 and T4 were reduced in the fetal compartment of the placenta of female fetuses from CORT-treated dams at E16.5. Exogenous stress hormone induced reduction in thyroid hormone in females was independent of circulating levels of TH in the dams. DISCUSSION The placental thyroid hormone synthesis pathway may be a target of elevated maternal stress hormone and modulate fetal programming of health and disease of offspring in a sex-specific fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel N Paul
- Dept of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | | | - Rodaba Rahim
- Biology Department, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH, 43050, USA
| | - Imani Rucker
- Biology Department, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH, 43050, USA
| | - Liana Valin
- Biology Department, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH, 43050, USA
| | - Stefanos Apostle
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - J Andrew Pospisilik
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Karen E Racicot
- Dept of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Arianna L Smith
- Biology Department, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH, 43050, USA.
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Paul EN, Shubitidze S, Rahim R, Rucker I, Valin L, Apostle S, Andrew Pospisilik J, Racicot KE, Smithb AL. Exogenous corticosterone administration during pregnancy alters placental and fetal thyroid hormone availability in females. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.05.547278. [PMID: 37461599 PMCID: PMC10349991 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.05.547278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Maternal prenatal stress is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and predisposition to long-term adverse health outcomes in children. While the molecular mechanisms that govern these associations has not been fully teased apart, stress-induced changes in placental function can drive sex-specific phenotypes in offspring. We sought to identify and examine molecular pathways in the placenta that are altered in response to maternal prenatal stress. Methods Using a mouse model of maternal prenatal stress, we conducted RNA-seq analysis of whole placenta at E18.5. We used qRT-PCR to validate gene expression changes in the placenta and in a trophoblast cell line. ELISAs were used to measure the abundance of thyroid hormones in maternal and fetal serum and in the placenta. Results Dio2 was amongst the top differentially expressed genes in response to elevated maternal stress hormone. Dio2 expression was more downregulated in female placenta from stressed dams than both female control and male placenta. Consistent with Dio2's role in production of bioactive thyroid hormone (T3), we found that there was a reduction of T3 in placenta and serum of female embryos from stressed dams at E18.5. Both T3 and T4 were reduced in the fetal compartment of the female placenta from stressed dams at E16.5. Stress hormone induced reduction in thyroid hormone in females was independent of circulating levels of TH in the dams. Discussion The placental thyroid hormone synthesis pathway may be a target of maternal stress and modulate fetal programming of health and disease of offspring in a sex-specific fashion.
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Bhaumik S, Lockett J, Cuffe J, Clifton VL. Glucocorticoids and Their Receptor Isoforms: Roles in Female Reproduction, Pregnancy, and Foetal Development. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1104. [PMID: 37626990 PMCID: PMC10452123 DOI: 10.3390/biology12081104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and associated changes in circulating levels of glucocorticoids are integral to an organism's response to stressful stimuli. Glucocorticoids acting via glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) play a role in fertility, reproduction, placental function, and foetal development. GRs are ubiquitously expressed throughout the female reproductive system and regulate normal reproductive function. Stress-induced glucocorticoids have been shown to inhibit reproduction and affect female gonadal function by suppressing the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis at each level. Furthermore, during pregnancy, a mother's exposure to prenatal stress or external glucocorticoids can result in long-lasting alterations to the foetal HPA and neuroendocrine function. Several GR isoforms generated via alternative splicing or translation initiation from the GR gene have been identified in the mammalian ovary and uterus. The GR isoforms identified include the splice variants, GRα and GRβ, and GRγ and GR-P. Glucocorticoids can exert both stimulatory and inhibitory effects and both pro- and anti-inflammatory functions in the ovary, in vitro. In the placenta, thirteen GR isoforms have been identified in humans, guinea pigs, sheep, rats, and mice, indicating they are conserved across species and may be important in mediating a differential response to stress. Distinctive responses to glucocorticoids, differential birth outcomes in pregnancy complications, and sex-based variations in the response to stress could all potentially be dependent on a particular GR expression pattern. This comprehensive review provides an overview of the structure and function of the GR in relation to female fertility and reproduction and discusses the changes in the GR and glucocorticoid signalling during pregnancy. To generate this overview, an extensive non-systematic literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, with a focus on original research articles, meta-analyses, and previous review papers addressing the subject. This review integrates the current understanding of GR variants and their roles in glucocorticoid signalling, reproduction, placental function, and foetal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreeparna Bhaumik
- Mater Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4067, Australia; (S.B.); (J.L.)
| | - Jack Lockett
- Mater Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4067, Australia; (S.B.); (J.L.)
- Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Health, Brisbane 4102, Australia
| | - James Cuffe
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4067, Australia;
| | - Vicki L. Clifton
- Mater Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4067, Australia; (S.B.); (J.L.)
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Natsaridis E, Perdikaris P, Fokos S, Dermon CR. Neuronal and Astroglial Localization of Glucocorticoid Receptor GRα in Adult Zebrafish Brain ( Danio rerio). Brain Sci 2023; 13:861. [PMID: 37371341 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13060861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoid receptor α (GRα), a ligand-regulated transcription factor, mainly activated by cortisol in humans and fish, mediates neural allostatic and homeostatic functions induced by different types of acute and chronic stress, and systemic inflammation. Zebrafish GRα is suggested to have multiple transcriptional effects essential for normal development and survival, similarly to mammals. While sequence alignments of human, monkey, rat, and mouse GRs have shown many GRα isoforms, we questioned the protein expression profile of GRα in the adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) brain using an alternative model for stress-related neuropsychiatric research, by means of Western blot, immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence. Our results identified four main GRα-like immunoreactive bands (95 kDa, 60 kDa, 45 kDa and 35 kDa), with the 95 kDa protein showing highest expression in forebrain compared to midbrain and hindbrain. GRα showed a wide distribution throughout the antero-posterior zebrafish brain axis, with the most prominent labeling within the telencephalon, preoptic, hypothalamus, midbrain, brain stem, central grey, locus coeruleus and cerebellum. Double immunofluorescence revealed that GRα is coexpressed in TH+, β2-AR+ and vGLUT+ neurons, suggesting the potential of GRα influences on adrenergic and glutamatergic transmission. Moreover, GRα was co-localized in midline astroglial cells (GFAP+) within the telencephalon, hypothalamus and hindbrain. Interestingly, GRα expression was evident in the brain regions involved in adaptive stress responses, social behavior, and sensory and motor integration, supporting the evolutionarily conserved features of glucocorticoid receptors in the zebrafish brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelos Natsaridis
- Laboratory of Human and Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Perdikaris
- Laboratory of Human and Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Stefanos Fokos
- Laboratory of Human and Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Catherine R Dermon
- Laboratory of Human and Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece
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Deer LK, Su C, Thwaites NA, Davis EP, Doom JR. A framework for testing pathways from prenatal stress-responsive hormones to cardiovascular disease risk. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1111474. [PMID: 37223037 PMCID: PMC10200937 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1111474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death globally, with the prevalence projected to keep rising. Risk factors for adult CVD emerge at least as early as the prenatal period. Alterations in stress-responsive hormones in the prenatal period are hypothesized to contribute to CVD in adulthood, but little is known about relations between prenatal stress-responsive hormones and early precursors of CVD, such as cardiometabolic risk and health behaviors. The current review presents a theoretical model of the relation between prenatal stress-responsive hormones and adult CVD through cardiometabolic risk markers (e.g., rapid catch-up growth, high BMI/adiposity, high blood pressure, and altered blood glucose, lipids, and metabolic hormones) and health behaviors (e.g., substance use, poor sleep, poor diet and eating behaviors, and low physical activity levels). Emerging evidence in human and non-human animal literatures suggest that altered stress-responsive hormones during gestation predict higher cardiometabolic risk and poorer health behaviors in offspring. This review additionally highlights limitations of the current literature (e.g., lack of racial/ethnic diversity, lack of examination of sex differences), and discusses future directions for this promising area of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- LillyBelle K. Deer
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Chen Su
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States
| | | | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States
- Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Jenalee R. Doom
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States
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Maternal Dexamethasone Exposure Induces Sex-Specific Changes in Histomorphology and Redox Homeostasis of Rat Placenta. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010540. [PMID: 36613982 PMCID: PMC9820254 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
As the mediator between the mother and fetus, the placenta allows the most appropriate environment and optimal fetal growth. The placenta of one sex sometimes has a greater ability over the other to respond to and protect against possible maternal insults. Here, we characterized sex differences in the placenta’s morphological features and antioxidant status following dexamethasone (Dx) exposure. Pregnant rats were exposed to Dx or saline. The placenta was histologically and stereologically analyzed. The activity of the antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxides (TBARS), superoxide anion and nitric oxide (NO) was measured. The decrease in placental zone volumes was more pronounced (p < 0.05) in female placentas. The volume density of PCNA-immunopositive nuclei was reduced (p < 0.05) in both sexes. The reduced (p < 0.05) antioxidant enzyme activities, enhanced TBARS and NO concentration indicate that Dx exposure triggered oxidative stress in the placenta of both fetal sexes, albeit stronger in the placenta of female fetuses. In conclusion, maternal Dx treatment reduced the size and volume of placental zones, altered placental histomorphology, decreased cell proliferation and triggered oxidative stress; however, the placentas of female fetuses exerted more significant responses to the treatment effects. The reduced placental size most probably reduced the transport of nutrients and oxygen, thus resulting in the reduced weight of fetuses, similar in both sexes. The lesser ability of the male placenta to detect and react to maternal exposure to environmental challenges may lead to long-standing health effects.
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Microglia involvement in sex-dependent behaviors and schizophrenia occurrence in offspring with maternal dexamethasone exposure. SCHIZOPHRENIA 2022; 8:71. [PMID: 36075925 PMCID: PMC9458670 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-022-00280-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Fetal microglia that are particularly sensitive cells to the changes in utero environment might be involved in the sex-biased onset and vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. To address this issue, we administered a 50 µg/kg dexamethasone (DEX) to dams subcutaneously from gestational days 16 to 18 and a series of behavioral assessments were performed in the offspring. Prenatal exposure to dexamethasone (PN-DEX) induced schizophrenia (SCZ)-relevant behaviors in male mice and depressive-like behavior in female mice. SCZ-relevant behavioral patterns occurred in 10-week-old (10 W) male mice but not in 4-week-old (4 W) male mice. Microglia in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the striatum (STR) of 10 W males prenatally treated with dexamethasone (10 W PN-DEX-M) showed hyper-ramified morphology and dramatically reduced spine density in mPFC. Immunofluorescence studies indicated that microglia in the mPFC of the 10 W PN-DEX-M group interacted with pre-synaptic Bassoon and post-synaptic density 95 (PSD95) puncta. PN-DEX-M also showed significantly changed dopamine system proteins. However, a testosterone surge during adolescence was not a trigger on SCZ-relevant behavior occurrence in 10 W PN-DEX-M. Furthermore, females prenatally treated with dexamethasone (PN-DEX-F) displayed depressive-like behavior, in addition to HPA-axis activation and inflammatory microglial phenotypes in their hippocampus (HPC). We propose that altered microglial function, such as increased synaptic pruning, may be involved in the occurrence of SCZ-relevant behavior in PN-DEX-M and sex-biased abnormal behavior in the PN-DEX model.
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Yu P, Zhou J, Ge C, Fang M, Zhang Y, Wang H. Differential expression of placental 11β-HSD2 induced by high maternal glucocorticoid exposure mediates sex differences in placental and fetal development. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 827:154396. [PMID: 35259391 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A variety of adverse environmental factors during pregnancy cause maternal chronic stress. Caffeine is a common stressor, and its consumption during pregnancy is widespread. Our previous study showed that prenatal caffeine exposure (PCE) increased maternal blood glucocorticoid levels and caused abnormal development of offspring. However, the placental mechanism for fetal development inhibition caused by PCE-induced high maternal glucocorticoid has not been reported. This study investigated the effects of PCE-induced high maternal glucocorticoid level on placental and fetal development by regulating placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (11β-HSD2) expression and its underlying mechanism. First, human placenta and umbilical cord blood samples were collected from women without prenatal use of synthetic glucocorticoids. We found that placental 11β-HSD2 expression was significantly correlated with umbilical cord blood cortisol level and birth weight in male newborns but not in females. Furthermore, we established a rat model of high maternal glucocorticoids induced by PCE (caffeine, 60 mg/kg·d, ig), and found that the expression of 11β-HSD2 in male PCE placenta was decreased and negatively correlated with the maternal/fetal/placental corticosterone levels. Meanwhile, we found abnormal placental structure and nutrient transporter expression. In vitro, BeWo cells were used and confirm that 11β-HSD2 mediated inhibition of placental nutrient transporter expression induced by high levels of glucocorticoid. Finally, combined with the animal and cell experiments, we further confirmed that high maternal glucocorticoid could activate the GR-C/EBPα-Egr1 signaling pathway, leading to decreased expression of 11β-HSD2 in males. However, there was no significant inhibition of placental 11β-HSD2 expression, placental and fetal development in females. In summary, we confirmed that high maternal glucocorticoids could regulate placental 11β-HSD2 expression in a sex-specific manner, leading to differences in placental and fetal development. This study provides the theoretical and experimental basis for analyzing the inhibition of fetoplacental development and its sex difference caused by maternal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengxia Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, 185 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jin Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, 185 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Caiyun Ge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Man Fang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yuanzhen Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, 185 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China.
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Shao S, Wang Y, Zhao Y, Xu Y, Wang T, Du K, Bao S, Wang X, Zhang L. Identification of multiple isoforms of glucocorticoid receptor in nasal polyps of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2022; 51:25. [PMID: 35690807 PMCID: PMC9188707 DOI: 10.1186/s40463-022-00561-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The conventional belief that glucocorticosteroid (GC) acts through a single brand glucocorticoid receptor (GR)α protein has changed dramatically with the discovery of multiple GR isoforms. We aimed to evaluate whether multiple GR protein isoforms are expressed in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and whether GR protein isoform expression profiles differ between different endotypes of CRSwNP. Methods Thirty-eight patients with CRSwNP and ten healthy volunteers were included. The protein expression of multiple GR isoforms in nasal polyps (NPs) tissue and control mucosae was examined by western blot analysis with different GR antibodies. Results Five bands, including three bands for known proteins (GRα-A/B, GRα-C, and GRα-D) and two bands for unidentified proteins at 67 kilodaltons (kDa) and 60 kDa, were identified with both total GR antibody (PA1-511A) and GRα-specific antibody (PA1-516). GRα-D intensity, which was abundant in nasal mucosa, was significantly increased in the CRSwNP group and was especially elevated in the noneosinophilic CRSwNP (NE-CRSwNP) group (PA1-511A: P < 0.001 and P = 0.0018; PA1-516: P < 0.003 and P = 0.006, respectively). Additionally, the intensities of the newly recognized 67 kDa and 60 kDa bands were much greater in the NE-CRSwNP subgroup than in the eosinophilic CRSwNP (E-CRSwNP) subgroup; in the E-CRSwNP subgroup, the median intensities were even lower than those in the control group. Conclusions This study provides evidence that nasal tissues express multiple GR protein isoforms. GR protein isoforms presented disease and tissue-specific expression profiles that differed between the CRSwNP and control groups and between the E-CRSwNP and NE-CRSwNP subgroups. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40463-022-00561-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Shao
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10073, China.,Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10073, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, No. 17, Hougou Hutong, Dong Cheng District, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Yuan Xu
- Departments of Oncology, Community Health Sciences, and Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, and The Center for Health Informatics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Tie Wang
- MIID Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Kun Du
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10073, China
| | - Shiping Bao
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Xiangdong Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10073, China. .,Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, No. 17, Hougou Hutong, Dong Cheng District, Beijing, 100005, China.
| | - Luo Zhang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10073, China. .,Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, No. 17, Hougou Hutong, Dong Cheng District, Beijing, 100005, China.
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12
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Fowden AL, Vaughan OR, Murray AJ, Forhead AJ. Metabolic Consequences of Glucocorticoid Exposure before Birth. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14112304. [PMID: 35684104 PMCID: PMC9182938 DOI: 10.3390/nu14112304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids have an important role in development of the metabolic phenotype in utero. They act as environmental and maturational signals in adapting feto-placental metabolism to maximize the chances of survival both before and at birth. They influence placental nutrient handling and fetal metabolic processes to support fetal growth, fuel storage and energy production with respect to nutrient availability. More specifically, they regulate the transport, utilization and production of a range of nutrients by the feto-placental tissues that enables greater metabolic flexibility in utero while minimizing any further drain on maternal resources during periods of stress. Near term, the natural rise in fetal glucocorticoid concentrations also stimulates key metabolic adaptations that prepare tissues for the new energy demanding functions after birth. Glucocorticoids, therefore, have a central role in the metabolic communication between the mother, placenta and fetus that optimizes offspring metabolic phenotype for survival to reproductive age. This review discusses the effects of maternal and fetal glucocorticoids on the supply and utilization of nutrients by the feto-placental tissues with particular emphasis on studies using quantitative methods to assess metabolism in rodents and sheep in vivo during late pregnancy. It considers the routes of glucocorticoid overexposure in utero, including experimental administration of synthetic glucocorticoids, and the mechanisms by which these hormones control feto-placental metabolism at the molecular, cellular and systems levels. It also briefly examines the consequences of intrauterine glucocorticoid overexposure for postnatal metabolic health and the generational inheritance of metabolic phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail L. Fowden
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; (A.J.M.); (A.J.F.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Owen R. Vaughan
- EGA Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London WC1E 6HX, UK;
| | - Andrew J. Murray
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; (A.J.M.); (A.J.F.)
| | - Alison J. Forhead
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; (A.J.M.); (A.J.F.)
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
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13
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Yu P, Chen Y, Ge C, Wang H. Sexual dimorphism in placental development and its contribution to health and diseases. Crit Rev Toxicol 2021; 51:555-570. [PMID: 34666604 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2021.1977237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
According to the Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (DOHaD), intrauterine exposure to adverse environments can affect fetus and birth outcomes and lead to long-term disease susceptibility. Evidence has shown that neonatal outcomes and the timing and severity of adult diseases are sexually dimorphic. As the link between mother and fetus, the placenta is an essential regulator of fetal development programming. It is found that the physiological development trajectory of the placenta has sexual dimorphism. Furthermore, under pathological conditions, the placental function undergoes sex-specific adaptation to ensure fetal survival. Therefore, the placenta may be an important mediator of sexual dimorphism in neonatal outcomes and adult disease susceptibility. Few systematic reviews have been conducted on sexual dimorphism in placental development and its underlying mechanisms. In this review, sex chromosomes and sex hormones, as the main reasons for sexual differentiation of the placenta, will be discussed. Besides, in the etiology of fetal-originated adult diseases, overexposure to glucocorticoids is closely related to adverse neonatal outcomes and long-term disease susceptibility. Studies have found that prenatal glucocorticoid overexposure leads to sexually dimorphic expression of placental glucocorticoid receptor isoforms, resulting in different sensitivity of the placenta to glucocorticoids, and may further affect fetal development. The present review examines what is currently known about sex differences in placental development and the underlying regulatory mechanisms of this sex bias. This review highlights the importance of placental contributions to the origins of sexual dimorphism in health and diseases. It may help develop personalized diagnosis and treatment strategies for fetal development in pathological pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengxia Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yawen Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Caiyun Ge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan, China
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14
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Zhan X, Xie Y, Sun L, Si Q, Shang H. Dexamethasone may inhibit placental growth by blocking glucocorticoid receptors via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin and reactive oxygen species/AMP-activated protein kinase signalling pathways in human placental JEG-3 cells. Reprod Fertil Dev 2021; 33:700-712. [PMID: 34399087 DOI: 10.1071/rd21048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This study explored the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of dexamethasone (DEX, 1µM) on glucose transporters (GLUT) in JEG-3 human placental choriocarcinoma cells. JEG-3 cells were treated with DEX, an expression plasmid encoding human glucocorticoid receptor α (GRα), pcDNA3.1-GRα, GRα short interference (si) RNA, LY294002, xanthine oxidase (XO)/hypoxanthine (HX), rapamycin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF) 1, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or phosphatidic acid (PA), and cell proliferation, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) content, human placental lactogen (hPL) content, glucose uptake, reactive oxygen species levels and signalling pathway modulation were evaluated. Treatment of JEG-3 cells with DEX (1µM), GRα siRNA, LY294002 (50µM), XO/HX (7.2µM/36nM) or rapamycin (80nM) inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, significantly decreased MMP and hCG and hPL content and increased ROS levels. In addition, glucose uptake was decreased through downregulation of the mRNA and protein expression of GRα, GLUT1 and GLUT3. Treatment of JEG-3 cells with GRα siRNA, LY294002, XO/HX or rapamycin inhibited phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, glycogen synthase kinase 3 and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and induced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and tuberous sclerosis complex 2. The effects of GRα overexpression and IGF1 (100nM), NAC (5nM) or PA (100µM) treatment on JEG-3 cells contrasted with those of DEX treatment. DEX blocked glucose uptake by downregulating GRα expression, which reduced GLUT1 and GLUT3 mRNA and protein expression, which, in turn, may have inhibited the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and activated the ROS/AMPK pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yiran Xie
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Taihe Hospital, Hubei Medical University, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Liping Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qi Si
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hongkai Shang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; and Corresponding author.
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15
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Ferguson DP, Leszczynski EC, McPeek AC, Pendergrast LA, Visker JR, Triplett AN. Physical Activity Engagement Worsens Health Outcomes and Limits Exercise Capacity in Growth-restricted Mice. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2021; 53:1561-1571. [PMID: 34261989 PMCID: PMC10797723 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000002620] [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] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A total of 161 million children a year are growth restricted, leading to a 47% increased risk of chronic disease in adulthood. Physical activity (PA) reduces the risk of mortality from chronic disease. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the effect of a PA intervention (wheel running) on cardiac and skeletal muscle capacities in gestational (GUN) and postnatal (PUN) growth-restricted mice as compared with nonrestricted controls (CON). METHODS A low-protein cross-fostering FVB mouse model was used to induce growth restriction during gestation and the first 21 d of postnatal life. Mouse pups were recovered on a healthy diet until mature and provided wheel access for 3 wk. At completion of the PA intervention, mice underwent maximal exercise testing on a treadmill, echocardiography, and skeletal muscle histology. RESULTS After the PA intervention, CON mice had a 45% improvement in maximal exercise capacity (P = 0.0390) because of cardiac and skeletal muscle adaptations, but GUN and PUN mice did not. Alarmingly, PUN female mice exposed to wheels had 11.45% lower left ventricular volume (P = 0.0540) and 18% lower left ventricle area (P = 0.0585), with blood flow velocities indicative of cardiac fibrosis (GUN had elevated isovolumetric contraction time P = 0.0374; GUN females and PUN males had longer isovolumetric relaxation time P = 0.0703). PUN male mice had mixed skeletal muscle responses with an oxidative shift in the diaphragm (P = 0.0162) but a glycolytic shift in the extensor digitorum longus (P = 0.0647). PUN female mice had a glycolytic shift in the soleus after wheel running. CONCLUSIONS Unexpectedly, growth-restricted mice were nonresponders to a PA intervention and displayed negative cardiac outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P Ferguson
- Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
| | | | - Ashley C McPeek
- Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
| | | | | | - Ashley N Triplett
- Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
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16
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Meakin AS, Cuffe JSM, Darby JRT, Morrison JL, Clifton VL. Let's Talk about Placental Sex, Baby: Understanding Mechanisms That Drive Female- and Male-Specific Fetal Growth and Developmental Outcomes. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126386. [PMID: 34203717 PMCID: PMC8232290 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well understood that sex differences exist between females and males even before they are born. These sex-dependent differences may contribute to altered growth and developmental outcomes for the fetus. Based on our initial observations in the human placenta, we hypothesised that the male prioritises growth pathways in order to maximise growth through to adulthood, thereby ensuring the greatest chance of reproductive success. However, this male-specific “evolutionary advantage” likely contributes to males being less adaptable to shifts in the in-utero environment, which then places them at a greater risk for intrauterine morbidities or mortality. Comparatively, females are more adaptable to changes in the in-utero environment at the cost of growth, which may reduce their risk of poor perinatal outcomes. The mechanisms that drive these sex-specific adaptations to a change in the in-utero environment remain unclear, but an increasing body of evidence within the field of developmental biology would suggest that alterations to placental function, as well as the feto-placental hormonal milieu, is an important contributing factor. Herein, we have addressed the current knowledge regarding sex-specific intrauterine growth differences and have examined how certain pregnancy complications may alter these female- and male-specific adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley S. Meakin
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (A.S.M.); (J.R.T.D.); (J.L.M.)
| | - James S. M. Cuffe
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Jack R. T. Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (A.S.M.); (J.R.T.D.); (J.L.M.)
| | - Janna L. Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (A.S.M.); (J.R.T.D.); (J.L.M.)
| | - Vicki L. Clifton
- Mater Medical Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
- Correspondence:
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17
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Huang W, Zhou J, Guo J, Hu W, Chen G, Li B, Wen Y, Jiang Y, Fu K, Bi H, Zhang Y, Wang H. Dexamethasone induces an imbalanced fetal-placental-maternal bile acid circulation: involvement of placental transporters. BMC Med 2021; 19:87. [PMID: 33827559 PMCID: PMC8028715 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-021-01957-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of prenatal dexamethasone remains controversial. Our recent studies found that prenatal dexamethasone exposure can induce maternal intrahepatic cholestasis and have a lasting adverse influence on bile acid (BA) metabolism in the offspring. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dexamethasone on fetal-placental-maternal BA circulation during the intrauterine period, as well as its placental mechanism. METHODS Clinical data and human placentas were collected and analyzed. Pregnant Wistar rats were injected subcutaneously with dexamethasone (0.2 mg/kg per day) from gestational day 9 to 20. The metabolomic spectra of BAs in maternal and fetal rat serum were determined by LC-MS. Human and rat placentas were collected for histological and gene expression analysis. BeWo human placental cell line was treated with dexamethasone (20-500 nM). RESULTS Human male neonates born after prenatal dexamethasone treatment showed an increased serum BA level while no significant change was observed in females. Moreover, the expression of organic anion transporter polypeptide-related protein 2B1 (OATP2B1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) in the male neonates' placenta was decreased, while multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 (MRP4) was upregulated. In experimental rats, dexamethasone increased male but decreased female fetal serum total bile acid (TBA) level. LC-MS revealed that primary BAs were the major component that increased in both male and female fetal serum, and all kinds of BAs were significantly increased in maternal serum. The expression of Oatp2b1 and Bcrp were reduced, while Mrp4 expression was increased in the dexamethasone-treated rat placentas. Moreover, dexamethasone increased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression and decreased farnesoid X receptor (FXR) expression in the rat placenta. In BeWo cells, dexamethasone induced GR translocation into the nucleus; decreased FXR, OATP2B1, and BCRP expression; and increased MRP4 expression. Furthermore, GR was verified to mediate the downregulation of OATP2B1, while FXR mediated dexamethasone-altered expression of BCRP and MRP4. CONCLUSIONS By affecting placental BA transporters, dexamethasone induces an imbalanced fetal-placental-maternal BA circulation, as showed by the increase of primary BA levels in the fetal serum. This study provides an important experimental and theoretical basis for elucidating the mechanism of dexamethasone-induced alteration of maternal and fetal BA metabolism and for exploring early prevention and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.,Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jin Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Juanjuan Guo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.,Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Diseases, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Wen Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.,Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Diseases, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Guanghui Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.,Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Diseases, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.,Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Diseases, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yajie Wen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yimin Jiang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Kaili Fu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Huichang Bi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Yuanzhen Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China. .,Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Diseases, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China. .,Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China. .,Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Diseases, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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18
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Saif Z, Meakin AS, Clifton VL. A preferential switch between placental GR exon 1 promoter variants in the presence of maternal asthma or inflammation upregulates GRα D isoforms. Placenta 2021; 108:64-72. [PMID: 33819863 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The human placenta expresses multiple glucocorticoid receptor (GR) isoforms that may be partially regulated by the untranslated 5' exon 1 GR gene promoter region which consists of 9 different promoters and 13 splice variants. The objective of this study was to determine which GR exon 1 variants are expressed in the human placenta and relate these findings to GR mRNA and protein expression. METHODS Placental extracts from pregnancies with or without the complication of maternal asthma and trophoblast cells exposed to an inflammatory challenge in vitro were examined using PCR and Western blot to measure GR exon 1 variants, GR splice variant mRNA and GR protein isoforms, respectively. RESULTS All 9 GR exon 1 variants were detectable in the human placenta and included GR exons 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1H, 1I and 1J. In the presence of maternal asthma and a male fetus there was preferential expression of GR exon 1B, 1C, IF and 1J (KW-ANOVA, P < 0.05) which were positively correlated with GRα D3 protein isoform. In female placentae from pregnancies complicated by asthma there was no upregulation of any exon 1 variant (KW-ANOVA, P < 0.05). Exposure of BeWo trophoblast cell line to an inflammatory challenge, lipopolysaccharide, in vitro, resulted in preferential expression of GR exon 1B, 1D, 1E and 1H and associated with GRα-D1 protein upregulation. DISCUSSION The preferential expression of different GR exon 1 promoters drive the upregulation of GRα D isoforms and contribute to glucocorticoid resistance observed in male placentae of pregnancies complicated by asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zarqa Saif
- Pregnancy and Development Group, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane QLD, Australia
| | - Ashley S Meakin
- Pregnancy and Development Group, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane QLD, Australia
| | - Vicki L Clifton
- Pregnancy and Development Group, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane QLD, Australia.
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19
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Arias A, Schander JA, Bariani MV, Correa F, Domínguez Rubio AP, Cella M, Cymeryng CB, Wolfson ML, Franchi AM, Aisemberg J. Dexamethasone-induced intrauterine growth restriction modulates expression of placental vascular growth factors and fetal and placental growth. Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 27:gaab006. [PMID: 33528567 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaab006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to glucocorticoids (GC) is a central topic of interest in medicine since GCs are essential for the maturation of fetal organs and intrauterine growth. Synthetic glucocorticoids, which are used in obstetric practice, exert beneficial effects on the fetus, but have also been reported to lead to intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). In this study, a model of growth restriction in mice was established through maternal administration of dexamethasone during late gestation. We hypothesised that GC overexposure may adversely affect placental angiogenesis and fetal and placental growth. Female BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to control or dexamethasone treatment, either left to give birth or euthanised on days 15, 16, 17 and 18 of gestation followed by collection of maternal and fetal tissue. The IUGR rate increased to 100% in the dexamethasone group (8 mg/kg body weight on gestational days 14 and 15) and pups had clinical features of symmetrical IUGR at birth. Dexamethasone administration significantly decreased maternal body weight gain and serum corticosterone levels. Moreover, prenatal dexamethasone treatment not only induced fetal growth retardation but also decreased placental weight. In IUGR placentas, VEGFA protein levels and mRNA expression of VEGF receptors were reduced and NOS activity was lower. Maternal dexamethasone administration also reduced placental expression of the GC receptor, αGR. We demonstrated that maternal dexamethasone administration causes fetal and placental growth restriction. Furthermore, we propose that the growth retardation induced by prenatal GC overexposure may be caused, at least partially, by an altered placental angiogenic profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Arias
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - J A Schander
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M V Bariani
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - F Correa
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A P Domínguez Rubio
- Laboratorio Interdisciplinario de Dinámica Celular y Nanoherramientas, Instituto de Química Biológica Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN-UBA-CONICET), Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Cella
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - C B Cymeryng
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología Molecular, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M L Wolfson
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A M Franchi
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J Aisemberg
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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20
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Mangwiro YT, Cuffe JS, Vickers MH, Reynolds CM, Mahizir D, Anevska K, Gravina S, Romano T, Moritz KM, Briffa JF, Wlodek ME. Maternal exercise alters rat fetoplacental stress response: Minimal effects of maternal growth restriction and high-fat feeding. Placenta 2020; 104:57-70. [PMID: 33276236 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2020.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fetal growth restriction complicates 10% of pregnancies and increases offspring (F1) risk of metabolic disorders, including obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This disease predisposition can be passed onto the next generation (F2). Importantly, the risk of pregnancy complications in obese women can be exacerbated by a stressful pregnancy. Exercise can reduce adiposity and improve health outcomes in obese women and those with GDM. This study investigated the impacts of maternal growth restriction, obesity, exercise, and stress on fetal and placental endocrine function. METHODS Uteroplacental insufficiency (Restricted) or sham (Control) surgery was induced on embryonic day (E) 18 in F0 Wistar-Kyoto rats. F1 offspring were fed a Chow or High-fat (HFD) diet from weaning and, at 16 weeks, were randomly allocated an exercise protocol; Sedentary, Exercised prior to and during pregnancy (Exercise), or Exercised only during pregnancy (PregEx). Females were mated and further randomly allocated to either undergo (Stress), or not undergo (Unstressed), physiological measurements during pregnancy. On E20, F2 fetal plasma (steroid hormones), tissues (brain, liver), and placentae (morphology, stress genes) were collected. RESULTS Maternal growth restriction and high-fat feeding had minimal impact on fetoplacental endocrine function. PregEx and Exercise increased cross-sectional labyrinth and junctional zone areas. PregEx, but not Exercise, increased fetal deoxycorticosterone concentrations and reduced placental Hsd11b2 and Nr3c2 gene abundance. Maternal stress increased fetal corticosterone concentrations in Sedentary HFD dams and increased placental cross-sectional areas in PregEx mothers. DISCUSSION PregEx and Stress independently dysregulates the endocrine status of the developing fetus, which may program future disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeukai Tm Mangwiro
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia; Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - James Sm Cuffe
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Mark H Vickers
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Grafton, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Clare M Reynolds
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Grafton, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Dayana Mahizir
- Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Kristina Anevska
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia; Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Sogand Gravina
- Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Tania Romano
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Karen M Moritz
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia
| | - Jessica F Briffa
- Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Mary E Wlodek
- Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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21
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Fennell KA, Busby RGG, Li S, Bodden C, Stanger SJ, Nixon B, Short AK, Hannan AJ, Pang TY. Limitations to intergenerational inheritance: subchronic paternal stress preconception does not influence offspring anxiety. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16050. [PMID: 32994491 PMCID: PMC7525454 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72560-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Independent studies have observed that a paternal history of stress or trauma is associated with his children having a greater likelihood of developing psychopathologies such as anxiety disorders. This father-to-child effect is reproduced in several mouse models of stress, which have been crucial in developing a greater understanding of intergenerational epigenetic inheritance. We previously reported that treatment of C57Bl/6J male breeders with low-dose corticosterone (CORT) for 28 days prior to mating yielded increased anxiety-related behaviours in their male F1 offspring. The present study aimed to determine whether subchronic 7-day CORT treatment of male mice just prior to mating would be sufficient to induce intergenerational modifications of anxiety-related behaviours in offspring. We report that subchronic CORT treatment of male breeders reduced their week-on-week body weight gain and altered NR3C1 and CRH gene expression in the hypothalamus. There were no effects on sperm count and glucocorticoid receptor protein levels within the epididymal tissue of male breeders. Regarding the F1 offspring, screening for anxiety-related behaviours using the elevated-plus maze, light–dark box, and novelty-suppressed feeding test revealed no differences between the offspring of CORT-treated breeders compared to controls. Thus, it is crucial that future studies take into consideration the duration of exposure when assessing the intergenerational impacts of paternal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Fennell
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - R G G Busby
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Institute of Applied BioSciences and Chemistry, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - S Li
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - C Bodden
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - S J Stanger
- Discipline of Biological Sciences, Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.,Pregnancy and Reproduction Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - B Nixon
- Discipline of Biological Sciences, Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.,Pregnancy and Reproduction Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - A K Short
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Department of Pediatrics, University of CA - Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - A J Hannan
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - T Y Pang
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. .,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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22
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Yang Y, Yang S, Jia Y, Yin C, Zhao R. Sex-biased transgenerational transmission of betaine-induced epigenetic modifications in glucocorticoid receptor gene and its down-stream BDNF/ERK pathway in rat hippocampus. Nutr Neurosci 2020; 25:746-757. [PMID: 32840180 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2020.1807711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expressed in hippocampus is critical for the homeostasis of stress responses and susceptible to epigenetic modulation caused by maternal factors. Here we show that maternal methyl nutrition causes sex-biased changes in hippocampal expression of GR exon 1 mRNA variants, associated with promoter DNA methylation, across two offspring generations in rats.Methods: Three-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats (F0) were fed a diet supplemented with 1% betaine throughout the gestation and lactation. F0 dams and their F1 and F2 offspring of both sexes at weaning were used in the study.Results: A sex-specific transgenerational effect was observed. F2 females, but not males, followed the same pattern of their grand dams showing increased mRNA expression of total GR and its exons 1.4, 1.7, 1.10 and 1.11 variants coincided with promoter DNA hypomethylation in the hippocampus. However, F1 females, but not males, exhibited an opposite pattern, showing decreased expression of GR and its mRNA variants accompanied with promoter hypermethylation. The protein content of phospho-GR and BDNF/ERK in the hippocampus displayed the same sex and generation specificity.Discussion: These results indicate that maternal betaine exerts transgenerational effects on hippocampal GR expression and BDNF/ERK pathway in female rat offspring, with generation-dependent patterns of DNA methylation on alternative GR promoters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health & Food Safety, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu Yang
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health & Food Safety, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yimin Jia
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health & Food Safety, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Yin
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health & Food Safety, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruqian Zhao
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health & Food Safety, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
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23
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Rosenfeld CS. The placenta-brain-axis. J Neurosci Res 2020; 99:271-283. [PMID: 32108381 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
All mammalian species depend on the placenta, a transient organ, for exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste between the mother and conceptus. Besides serving as a conduit for such exchanges, the placenta produces hormones and other factors that influence maternal physiology and fetal development. To meet all of these adaptations, the placenta has evolved to become the most structurally diverse organ within all mammalian taxa. However, commonalities exist as to how placental responses promote survival against in utero threats and can alter the trajectory of fetal development, in particular the brain. Increasing evidence suggests that reactions of the placenta to various in utero stressors may lead to long-standing health outcomes, otherwise considered developmental origin of health and disease effects. Besides transferring nutrients and gases, the placenta produces neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine/epinephrine, that may circulate and influence brain development. Neurobehavioral disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders, likely trace their origins back to placental disturbances. This intimate relationship between the placenta and brain has led to coinage of the term, the placenta-brain-axis. This axis will be the focus herein, including how conceptus sex might influence it, and technologies employed to parse out the effects of placental-specific transcript expression changes on later neurobehavioral disorders. Ultimately, the placenta might provide a historical record of in utero threats the fetus confronted and a roadmap to understand how placenta responses to such encounters impacts the placental-brain-axis. Improved early diagnostic and preventative approaches may thereby be designed to mitigate such placental disruptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl S Rosenfeld
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,MU Informatics Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Thompson Center for Autism and Neurobehavioral Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Genetics Area Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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24
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Wieczorek A, Perani CV, Nixon M, Constancia M, Sandovici I, Zazara DE, Leone G, Zhang MZ, Arck PC, Solano ME. Sex-specific regulation of stress-induced fetal glucocorticoid surge by the mouse placenta. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2019; 317:E109-E120. [PMID: 30990748 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00551.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Antenatal stress increases the prevalence of diseases in later life, which shows a strong sex-specific effect. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Maternal glucocorticoids can be elevated by stress and are potential candidates to mediate the effects of stress on the offspring sex-specifically. A comprehensive evaluation of dynamic maternal and placental mechanisms modulating fetal glucocorticoid exposure upon maternal stress was long overdue. Here, we addressed this gap in knowledge by investigating sex-specific responses to midgestational stress in mice. We observed increased levels of maternal corticosterone, the main glucocorticoid in rodents, along with higher corticosteroid-binding globulin levels at midgestation in C57Bl/6 dams exposed to sound stress. This resulted in elevated corticosterone in female fetuses, whereas male offspring were unaffected. We identified that increased placental expression of the glucocorticoid-inactivating enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2; Hsd11b2 gene) and ATP-binding cassette transporters, which mediate glucocorticoid efflux toward maternal circulation, protect male offspring from maternal glucocorticoid surges. We generated mice with an Hsd11b2 placental-specific disruption (Hsd11b2PKO) and observed moderately elevated corticosterone levels in offspring, along with increased body weight. Subsequently, we assessed downstream glucocorticoid receptors and observed a sex-specific differential modulation of placental Tsc22d3 expression, which encodes the glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper protein in response to stress. Taken together, our observations highlight the existence of unique and well-orchestrated mechanisms that control glucocorticoid transfer, exposure, and metabolism in the mouse placenta, pinpointing toward the existence of sex-specific fetal glucocorticoid exposure windows during gestation in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes Wieczorek
- Department for Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Clara V Perani
- Department for Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mark Nixon
- University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute , Edinburgh , United Kingdom
| | - Miguel Constancia
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrookes Hospital , Cambridge , United Kingdom
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and National Institute for Health Research, Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre , Cambridge , United Kingdom
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge , Cambridge , United Kingdom
| | - Ionel Sandovici
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrookes Hospital , Cambridge , United Kingdom
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and National Institute for Health Research, Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre , Cambridge , United Kingdom
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge , Cambridge , United Kingdom
| | - Dimitra E Zazara
- Department for Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gustavo Leone
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Ming-Zhi Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center , Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Petra C Arck
- Department for Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - María Emilia Solano
- Department for Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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25
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Clifton VL, McDonald M, Morrison JL, Holman SL, Lock MC, Saif Z, Meakin A, Wooldridge AL, Gatford KL, Wallace MJ, Muhlhausler BS, Bischof RJ, Moss TJM. Placental glucocorticoid receptor isoforms in a sheep model of maternal allergic asthma. Placenta 2019; 83:33-36. [PMID: 31477204 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2019.06.380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Maternal asthma increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and may affect fetal growth and placental function by differential effects on the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) isoforms, leading to altered glucocorticoid signalling. Our aim was to examine the effect of maternal asthma on placental GR profiles using a pregnant sheep model of asthma. Nine known GR isoforms were detected. There was a significant increase in the expression of placental GR isoforms that are known to have low trans-activational activity in other species including GR A, GR P and GRγ which may result in a pro-inflammatory environment in the presence of allergic asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicki L Clifton
- Pregnancy and Development, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, South Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Megan McDonald
- Pregnancy and Development, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, South Brisbane, Australia
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia
| | - Stacey L Holman
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia
| | - Mitchell C Lock
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia
| | - Zarqa Saif
- Pregnancy and Development, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, South Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ashley Meakin
- Pregnancy and Development, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, South Brisbane, Australia
| | - Amy L Wooldridge
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
| | - Kathryn L Gatford
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
| | - Megan J Wallace
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Beverly S Muhlhausler
- Food and Nutrition Research Group, Dept of Food and Wine Science, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
| | - Robert J Bischof
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Timothy J M Moss
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
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26
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Bartho LA, Holland OJ, Moritz KM, Perkins AV, Cuffe JSM. Maternal corticosterone in the mouse alters oxidative stress markers, antioxidant function and mitochondrial content in placentas of female fetuses. J Physiol 2019; 597:3053-3067. [PMID: 31026055 DOI: 10.1113/jp277815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Maternal exposure to the stress hormone corticosterone is known to programme a range of sex specific disease outcomes in offspring. Sex differences in placental adaptations are thought to mediate these processes. Placental oxidative stress is implicated in a range of pregnancy disorders but the role of placental oxidative stress in sex specific disease outcomes following prenatal corticosterone exposure is unknown. This study demonstrates that maternal corticosterone reduced placental hydrogen peroxide and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine concentrations but increased protein carbonyl content and advanced glycation end product concentrations in placentas of female fetuses but not male fetuses. These results highlight that placentas of female fetuses respond differently to maternal corticosterone exposure, with oxidative stress a major finding in placentas of female fetuses. ABSTRACT Maternal exposure to glucocorticoids during pregnancy increases offspring risk of developing a range of sex specific disease phenotypes. These sex specific disease outcomes are thought to be in part mediated by different placental adaptations in males and females. The placenta is a highly metabolic organ which is vulnerable to the effects of oxidative stress. In other tissues, males and females have been shown to respond differently to the pro-oxidant effects of glucocorticoids. This study therefore used a well characterized animal model of maternal corticosterone exposure to investigate sex specific alterations in reactive oxygen species production, antioxidant concentrations and mitochondrial properties that might contribute to sex differences in placental outcomes. C57BL/6 mice were implanted with osmotic minipumps containing corticosterone (33 μg kg-1 h-1 ) at embryonic day (E) 12.5 and placentas collected at E14.5 for analysis. Corticosterone exposure reduced placental hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine concentrations but increased protein carbonyl content and advanced glycation end product concentrations in placentas of female fetuses but not male fetuses. This dysregulation of different markers of oxidative stress may be due to increased placental activity of thioredoxin reductase in female but not male fetuses. Corticosterone reduced placental mitochondrial content but increased protein expression of the autophagosome cargo protein p62. This study demonstrates that placentas of female fetuses respond differently to maternal corticosterone exposure and highlights an important role of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial adaptations and antioxidant responses in glucocorticoid induced programmed disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy A Bartho
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | - Olivia J Holland
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | - Karen M Moritz
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Centre for Children's Health Research, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Anthony V Perkins
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | - James S M Cuffe
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, Queensland, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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27
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Gross M, Romi H, Gilimovich Y, Drori E, Pinhasov A. Placental glucocorticoid receptor and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 recruitment indicates impact of prenatal adversity upon postnatal development in mice. Stress 2018; 21:474-483. [PMID: 29648494 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2018.1460660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal stress may increase concentrations of maternal glucocorticoids, which restrict fetal growth, with variable impact upon postnatal development. Among key regulators of stress hormone effects are the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 (11βHSD2), the enzyme that inactivates glucocorticoid. This study utilized mice selectively bred for social dominance (Dom) or submissiveness (Sub), respectively exhibiting resilience or sensitivity to stress, to test whether stress-induced alterations in placental GR and 11βHSD2 protein expression may mediate divergent effects of prenatal adversity upon postnatal development. Pregnant Dom and Sub dams underwent prenatal restraint stress (PRS) for 45 min on gestational days (GD) 15-17. PRS induced a similar spike in serum corticosterone concentrations of dams from each strain on GD15 (p < .001, n = 8), and impaired fetal growth (p < .01, n = 5 litters), although Dom placentae were larger than Sub placentae (p < .01). Among placentae from Dom dams, PRS elevated protein contents of both GR (p < .05, n = 5 litters) and 11βHSD2 (p < .01) on GD19. In contrast, GR contents were reduced among placentae from PRS-exposed Sub mice (p < .01), without changes in 11βHSD2 content. Correspondingly, Dom PRS pup growth recovered by PND14, yet Sub PRS pups remained underweight into adolescence (p < .0001, n = 40 pups). Thus, prenatal stress more strongly increased placental GR and 11βHSD2 levels among Dom mice than in Subs. Increased GR may improve placental function and up-regulate 11βHSD2 expression, protecting fetuses from effects of prenatal stress upon postnatal development. Placental recruitment of GR and 11βHSD2 are potential markers of stress-induced developmental disorders, in accordance with maternal resilience or sensitivity to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moshe Gross
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Hava Romi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | | | - Elyashiv Drori
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
- Agriculture and Oenology Research Department, Eastern R&D center, Ariel, Israel
| | - Albert Pinhasov
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
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28
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Dyson RM, Palliser HK, Wilding N, Kelly MA, Chwatko G, Glowacki R, Berry MJ, Ni X, Wright IMR. Microvascular circulatory dysregulation driven in part by cystathionine gamma-lyase: A new paradigm for cardiovascular compromise in the preterm newborn. Microcirculation 2018; 26:e12507. [PMID: 30276964 DOI: 10.1111/micc.12507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE H2 S may explain the dysregulation of microvascular tone associated with poor outcome following preterm birth. In adult vasculature, H2 S is predominantly produced by CSE. We hypothesized that vascular CSE activity contributes to microvascular tone regulation during circulatory transition. METHODS Preterm (GA62) and full-term (GA69) guinea pig fetuses and neonates were studied. Microvascular blood flow was assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry. Thiosulfate, primary urinary metabolite of H2 S, was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Real-time H2 S production was assessed using a microrespiration system in fetal and postnatal (10, 24 hours) skin and heart samples. CSE contribution was investigated by inhibition via propargylglycine. RESULTS In preterm animals, postnatal H2 S production capacity in peripheral vasculature increased significantly and was significantly reduced by the inhibition of CSE. Urinary thiosulfate correlated with both microvascular blood flow and capacity of the vasculature to produce H2 S. H2 S produced via CSE did not correlate directly with microvascular blood flow. CONCLUSIONS In preterm neonates, H2 S production increases during fetal-to-neonatal transition and CSE contribution to total H2 S increases postnatally. CSE-dependent mechanisms may therefore underpin the increase in H2 S production over the first 72 hours of life in preterm human neonates, associated with both central and peripheral cardiovascular instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Dyson
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Research, Graduate Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.,Mothers and Babies Research Centre, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia.,Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Hannah K Palliser
- Mothers and Babies Research Centre, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nicole Wilding
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Research, Graduate Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Megan A Kelly
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Research, Graduate Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Grazyna Chwatko
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Rafal Glowacki
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Mary J Berry
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Xin Ni
- Department of Physiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ian M R Wright
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Research, Graduate Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.,Mothers and Babies Research Centre, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia.,Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
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29
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Placental FKBP51 mediates a link between second trimester maternal anxiety and birthweight in female infants. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15151. [PMID: 30310158 PMCID: PMC6181924 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33357-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal distress is associated with adverse outcomes in affected offspring. Alterations in placental glucocorticoid signalling and subsequent foetal overexposure to glucocorticoids have been implicated as an underlying mechanism. Infant sex is emerging as an important factor in disease susceptibility. This study aimed to examine the effects of maternal distress across pregnancy on birth outcomes and placental glucocorticoid genes in a sex-dependent manner. Participants completed psychological distress questionnaires throughout pregnancy. Placental HSD11B2, NR3C1 and FKBP51 were analysed by real time PCR and cortisol was measured in new-born hair. Second trimester stress was negatively correlated with birthweight in males and positively correlated with placental NR3C1 mRNA in females. Second trimester anxiety was negatively correlated with birthweight and placental FKBP51 mRNA in females. In mediation analysis, placental FKBP51 mRNA expression was found to mediate the link between prenatal anxiety and birthweight. New-born cortisol was negatively correlated with second trimester anxiety and positively correlated with female placental FKBP51 mRNA levels. Again, FKBP51 mRNA was found to mediate the link between anxiety and new-born cortisol. These results highlight a role for FKBP51 in the placental response to prenatal distress in females. The precise role that placental FKBP51 has in foetal and infant development has not been extensively studied and warrants further investigations.
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30
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Mangwiro YTM, Cuffe JSM, Briffa JF, Mahizir D, Anevska K, Jefferies AJ, Hosseini S, Romano T, Moritz KM, Wlodek ME. Maternal exercise in rats upregulates the placental insulin-like growth factor system with diet- and sex-specific responses: minimal effects in mothers born growth restricted. J Physiol 2018; 596:5947-5964. [PMID: 29953638 DOI: 10.1113/jp275758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS The placental insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system is critical for normal fetoplacental growth, which is dysregulated following several pregnancy perturbations including uteroplacental insufficiency and maternal obesity. We report that the IGF system was altered in placentae of mothers born growth restricted compared to normal birth weight mothers, with maternal diet- and fetal sex-specific responses. Additionally, we report increased body weight and plasma IGF1 concentrations in fetuses from chow-fed normal birth weight mothers that exercised prior to and continued during pregnancy compared to sedentary mothers. Exercise initiated during pregnancy, on the other hand, resulted in placental morphological alterations and increased IGF1 and IGF1R protein expression, which may in part be modulated by reduced Let 7f-1 miRNA abundance. Growth restriction of mothers before birth and exercise differentially regulate the placental IGF system with diet- and sex-specific responses, probably as a means to improve fetoplacental growth and development, and hence neonatal survival. This increased neonatal survival may prevent adult disease onset. ABSTRACT The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system regulates fetoplacental growth and plays a role in disease programming. Dysregulation of the IGF system is implicated in several pregnancy perturbations associated with altered fetal growth, including intrauterine growth restriction and maternal obesity. Limited human studies have demonstrated that maternal exercise enhances fetoplacental growth and decreases cord IGF ligands, which may restore the placental IGF system in complicated pregnancies. This study investigated the impact maternal exercise has on the placental IGF system in placentae from mothers born growth restricted and if these outcomes are dependent on maternal diet or fetal sex. Uteroplacental insufficiency (Restricted) or sham (Control) surgery was induced on embryonic day (E) 18 in Wistar-Kyoto rats. F1 offspring were fed a chow or high-fat diet from weaning, and at 16 weeks were randomly allocated an exercise protocol: Sedentary, Exercised prior to and during pregnancy (Exercise), or Exercised during pregnancy only (PregEx). Females were mated (20 weeks) with placentae associated with F2 fetuses collected at E20. The placental IGF system mRNA abundance and placental morphology was altered in mothers born growth restricted. Exercise increased fetal weight and Control plasma IGF1 concentrations, and decreased female placental weight. PregEx did not influence fetoplacental growth but increased placental IGF1 and IGF1R (potentially modulated by reduced Let 7f-1 miRNA) and decreased placental IGF2 protein. Importantly, these placental IGF system changes occurred with sex-specific responses. These data highlight that exercise differently influences fetoplacental growth and the placental IGF system depending on maternal exercise initiation, which may prevent the transgenerational transmission of deficits and dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeukai T M Mangwiro
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia.,Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - James S M Cuffe
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.,School of Medical Science and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4215, Australia
| | - Jessica F Briffa
- Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Dayana Mahizir
- Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Kristina Anevska
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Andrew J Jefferies
- Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Sogand Hosseini
- Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Tania Romano
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Karen M Moritz
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia
| | - Mary E Wlodek
- Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
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Harada K, Matsuoka H, Inoue M. Expression and regulation of M-type K+ channel in PC12 cells and rat adrenal medullary cells. Cell Tissue Res 2018; 372:457-468. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-018-2809-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Briffa JF, Hosseini SS, Tran M, Moritz KM, Cuffe JS, Wlodek ME. Maternal growth restriction and stress exposure in rats differentially alters expression of components of the placental glucocorticoid barrier and nutrient transporters. Placenta 2017; 59:30-38. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Stress and the HPA Axis: Balancing Homeostasis and Fertility. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18102224. [PMID: 29064426 PMCID: PMC5666903 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18102224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
An organism’s reproductive fitness is sensitive to the environment, integrating cues of resource availability, ecological factors, and hazards within its habitat. Events that challenge the environment of an organism activate the central stress response system, which is primarily mediated by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. The regulatory functions of the HPA axis govern the cardiovascular and metabolic system, immune functions, behavior, and reproduction. Activation of the HPA axis by various stressors primarily inhibits reproductive function and is able to alter fetal development, imparting a biological record of stress experienced in utero. Clinical studies and experimental data indicate that stress signaling can mediate these effects through direct actions in the brain, gonads, and embryonic tissues. This review focuses on the mechanisms by which stress activation of the HPA axis impacts fertility and fetal development.
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