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Derisoud E, Jiang H, Zhao A, Chavatte-Palmer P, Deng Q. Revealing the molecular landscape of human placenta: a systematic review and meta-analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing studies. Hum Reprod Update 2024; 30:410-441. [PMID: 38478759 PMCID: PMC11215163 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmae006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With increasing significance of developmental programming effects associated with placental dysfunction, more investigations are devoted to improving the characterization and understanding of placental signatures in health and disease. The placenta is a transitory but dynamic organ adapting to the shifting demands of fetal development and available resources of the maternal supply throughout pregnancy. Trophoblasts (cytotrophoblasts, syncytiotrophoblasts, and extravillous trophoblasts) are placental-specific cell types responsible for the main placental exchanges and adaptations. Transcriptomic studies with single-cell resolution have led to advances in understanding the placenta's role in health and disease. These studies, however, often show discrepancies in characterization of the different placental cell types. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE We aim to review the knowledge regarding placental structure and function gained from the use of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq), followed by comparing cell-type-specific genes, highlighting their similarities and differences. Moreover, we intend to identify consensus marker genes for the various trophoblast cell types across studies. Finally, we will discuss the contributions and potential applications of scRNAseq in studying pregnancy-related diseases. SEARCH METHODS We conducted a comprehensive systematic literature review to identify different cell types and their functions at the human maternal-fetal interface, focusing on all original scRNAseq studies on placentas published before March 2023 and published reviews (total of 28 studies identified) using PubMed search. Our approach involved curating cell types and subtypes that had previously been defined using scRNAseq and comparing the genes used as markers or identified as potential new markers. Next, we reanalyzed expression matrices from the six available scRNAseq raw datasets with cell annotations (four from first trimester and two at term), using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests to compare gene expression among studies and annotate trophoblast cell markers in both first trimester and term placentas. Furthermore, we integrated scRNAseq raw data available from 18 healthy first trimester and nine term placentas, and performed clustering and differential gene expression analysis. We further compared markers obtained with the analysis of annotated and raw datasets with the literature to obtain a common signature gene list for major placental cell types. OUTCOMES Variations in the sampling site, gestational age, fetal sex, and subsequent sequencing and analysis methods were observed between the studies. Although their proportions varied, the three trophoblast types were consistently identified across all scRNAseq studies, unlike other non-trophoblast cell types. Notably, no marker genes were shared by all studies for any of the investigated cell types. Moreover, most of the newly defined markers in one study were not observed in other studies. These discrepancies were confirmed by our analysis on trophoblast cell types, where hundreds of potential marker genes were identified in each study but with little overlap across studies. From 35 461 and 23 378 cells of high quality in the first trimester and term placentas, respectively, we obtained major placental cell types, including perivascular cells that previously had not been identified in the first trimester. Importantly, our meta-analysis provides marker genes for major placental cell types based on our extensive curation. WIDER IMPLICATIONS This review and meta-analysis emphasizes the need for establishing a consensus for annotating placental cell types from scRNAseq data. The marker genes identified here can be deployed for defining human placental cell types, thereby facilitating and improving the reproducibility of trophoblast cell annotation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Derisoud
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Allan Zhao
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pascale Chavatte-Palmer
- INRAE, BREED, Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Qiaolin Deng
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
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2
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Yan X, Fang Y, Yuan Y, Ding Y, Yu H, Li Y, Shi Q, Gao Y, Zhou X, Zhang D, Yuan E, Zhou H, Zhao X, Zhang L. Combined analysis of the effects of hypoxia and oxidative stress on DNA methylation and the transcriptome in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18469. [PMID: 38899809 PMCID: PMC11187809 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The alterations in DNA methylation and transcriptome in trophoblast cells under conditions of low oxygen and oxidative stress have major implications for pregnancy-related disorders. However, the exact mechanism is still not fully understood. In this study, we established models of hypoxia (H group) and oxidative stress (HR group) using HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells and performed combined analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation changes using reduced representation bisulphite sequencing and transcriptome expression changes using RNA sequencing. Our findings revealed that the H group exhibited a higher number of differentially methylated genes and differentially expressed genes than the HR group. In the H group, only 0.90% of all differentially expressed genes displayed simultaneous changes in DNA methylation and transcriptome expression. After the threshold was expanded, this number increased to 6.29% in the HR group. Notably, both the H group and HR group exhibited concurrent alterations in DNA methylation and transcriptome expression within Axon guidance and MAPK signalling pathway. Among the top 25 differentially methylated KEGG pathways in the promoter region, 11 pathways were commonly enriched in H group and HR group, accounting for 44.00%. Among the top 25 KEGG pathways in transcriptome with significant differences between the H group and HR group, 10 pathways were consistent, accounting for 40.00%. By integrating our previous data on DNA methylation from preeclamptic placental tissues, we identified that the ANKRD37 and PFKFB3 genes may contribute to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia through DNA methylation-mediated transcriptome expression under hypoxic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjing Yan
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
| | - Yang Fang
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
| | - Yujie Yuan
- Judicial Appraisal InstitutionThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
| | - Yangnan Ding
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
| | - Haiyang Yu
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
| | - Yina Li
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
| | - Qianqian Shi
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
| | - Yongrui Gao
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
| | - Xinyuan Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
| | - Dongxin Zhang
- Microbiome Medicine Center, Department of Laboratory MedicineZhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Enwu Yuan
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
- Tianjian Advanced Biomedical LaboratoryZhengzhouChina
| | - Hongwei Zhou
- Microbiome Medicine Center, Department of Laboratory MedicineZhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Xin Zhao
- Tianjian Advanced Biomedical LaboratoryZhengzhouChina
| | - Linlin Zhang
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
- Tianjian Advanced Biomedical LaboratoryZhengzhouChina
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3
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Tan GH, Liu SJ, Dou ML, Zhao DF, Zhang A, Li HK, Luo FN, Shi T, Wang HP, Lei JY, Zhang Y, Jiang Y, Zheng Y, Wang F. Spatially resolved transcriptomic profiling of placental development in dairy cow. Zool Res 2024; 45:586-600. [PMID: 38766743 PMCID: PMC11188604 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.205] [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: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The placenta plays a crucial role in successful mammalian reproduction. Ruminant animals possess a semi-invasive placenta characterized by a highly vascularized structure formed by maternal endometrial caruncles and fetal placental cotyledons, essential for full-term fetal development. The cow placenta harbors at least two trophoblast cell populations: uninucleate (UNC) and binucleate (BNC) cells. However, the limited capacity to elucidate the transcriptomic dynamics of the placental natural environment has resulted in a poor understanding of both the molecular and cellular interactions between trophoblast cells and niches, and the molecular mechanisms governing trophoblast differentiation and functionalization. To fill this knowledge gap, we employed Stereo-seq to map spatial gene expression patterns at near single-cell resolution in the cow placenta at 90 and 130 days of gestation, attaining high-resolution, spatially resolved gene expression profiles. Based on clustering and cell marker gene expression analyses, key transcription factors, including YBX1 and NPAS2, were shown to regulate the heterogeneity of trophoblast cell subpopulations. Cell communication and trajectory analysis provided a framework for understanding cell-cell interactions and the differentiation of trophoblasts into BNCs in the placental microenvironment. Differential analysis of cell trajectories identified a set of genes involved in regulation of trophoblast differentiation. Additionally, spatial modules and co-variant genes that help shape specific tissue structures were identified. Together, these findings provide foundational insights into important biological pathways critical to the placental development and function in cows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang-Hui Tan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Shi-Jie Liu
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Ming-Le Dou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - De-Feng Zhao
- College of Information Engineering, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Ao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Heng-Kuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Fu-Nong Luo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Tao Shi
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Hao-Ping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Jing-Yuan Lei
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yu Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yi Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China. E-mail:
| | - Fei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China. E-mail:
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Vasconcelos S, Moustakas I, Branco MR, Guimarães S, Caniçais C, van der Helm T, Ramalho C, Marques CJ, de Sousa Lopes SMC, Dória S. Syncytiotrophoblast Markers Are Downregulated in Placentas from Idiopathic Stillbirths. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5180. [PMID: 38791219 PMCID: PMC11121380 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The trophoblast cells are responsible for the transfer of nutrients between the mother and the foetus and play a major role in placental endocrine function by producing and releasing large amounts of hormones and growth factors. Syncytiotrophoblast cells (STB), formed by the fusion of mononuclear cytotrophoblasts (CTB), constitute the interface between the foetus and the mother and are essential for all of these functions. We performed transcriptome analysis of human placental samples from two control groups-live births (LB), and stillbirths (SB) with a clinically recognised cause-and from our study group, idiopathic stillbirths (iSB). We identified 1172 DEGs in iSB, when comparing with the LB group; however, when we compared iSB with the SB group, only 15 and 12 genes were down- and upregulated in iSB, respectively. An assessment of these DEGs identified 15 commonly downregulated genes in iSB. Among these, several syncytiotrophoblast markers, like genes from the PSG and CSH families, as well as ALPP, KISS1, and CRH, were significantly downregulated in placental samples from iSB. The transcriptome analysis revealed underlying differences at a molecular level involving the syncytiotrophoblast. This suggests that defects in the syncytial layer may underlie unexplained stillbirths, therefore offering insights to improve clinical obstetrics practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Vasconcelos
- Genetics Service, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal (C.J.M.)
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ioannis Moustakas
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands (T.v.d.H.); (S.M.C.d.S.L.)
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Miguel R. Branco
- Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Susana Guimarães
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carla Caniçais
- Genetics Service, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal (C.J.M.)
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Talia van der Helm
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands (T.v.d.H.); (S.M.C.d.S.L.)
| | - Carla Ramalho
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cristina Joana Marques
- Genetics Service, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal (C.J.M.)
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Susana M. Chuva de Sousa Lopes
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands (T.v.d.H.); (S.M.C.d.S.L.)
| | - Sofia Dória
- Genetics Service, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal (C.J.M.)
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
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5
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Lee M, Guo Q, Kim M, Choi J, Segura A, Genceroglu A, LeBlanc L, Ramirez N, Jang YJ, Jang Y, Lee BK, Marcotte EM, Kim J. Systematic mapping of TF-mediated cell fate changes by a pooled induction coupled with scRNA-seq and multi-omics approaches. Genome Res 2024; 34:484-497. [PMID: 38580401 PMCID: PMC11067882 DOI: 10.1101/gr.277926.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Transcriptional regulation controls cellular functions through interactions between transcription factors (TFs) and their chromosomal targets. However, understanding the fate conversion potential of multiple TFs in an inducible manner remains limited. Here, we introduce iTF-seq as a method for identifying individual TFs that can alter cell fate toward specific lineages at a single-cell level. iTF-seq enables time course monitoring of transcriptome changes, and with biotinylated individual TFs, it provides a multi-omics approach to understanding the mechanisms behind TF-mediated cell fate changes. Our iTF-seq study in mouse embryonic stem cells identified multiple TFs that trigger rapid transcriptome changes indicative of differentiation within a day of induction. Moreover, cells expressing these potent TFs often show a slower cell cycle and increased cell death. Further analysis using bioChIP-seq revealed that GCM1 and OTX2 act as pioneer factors and activators by increasing gene accessibility and activating the expression of lineage specification genes during cell fate conversion. iTF-seq has utility in both mapping cell fate conversion and understanding cell fate conversion mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muyoung Lee
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Qingqing Guo
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Mijeong Kim
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Joonhyuk Choi
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Alia Segura
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Alper Genceroglu
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Lucy LeBlanc
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Nereida Ramirez
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Yu Jin Jang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Yeejin Jang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Bum-Kyu Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cancer Research Center, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, New York 12144, USA
| | - Edward M Marcotte
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Jonghwan Kim
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA;
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6
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Garmire LX, Li Y, Huang Q, Xu C, Teichmann SA, Kaminski N, Pellegrini M, Nguyen Q, Teschendorff AE. Challenges and perspectives in computational deconvolution of genomics data. Nat Methods 2024; 21:391-400. [PMID: 38374264 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-02166-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Deciphering cell-type heterogeneity is crucial for systematically understanding tissue homeostasis and its dysregulation in diseases. Computational deconvolution is an efficient approach for estimating cell-type abundances from a variety of omics data. Despite substantial methodological progress in computational deconvolution in recent years, challenges are still outstanding. Here we enlist four important challenges related to computational deconvolution: the quality of the reference data, generation of ground truth data, limitations of computational methodologies, and benchmarking design and implementation. Finally, we make recommendations on reference data generation, new directions of computational methodologies, and strategies to promote rigorous benchmarking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lana X Garmire
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Yijun Li
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Qianhui Huang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Chuan Xu
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | | | - Naftali Kaminski
- Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Matteo Pellegrini
- Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Quan Nguyen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew E Teschendorff
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
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7
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Williams RP, Lesseur C, Cheng H, Li Q, Deyssenroth M, Molteno CD, Meintjes EM, Jacobson SW, Jacobson JL, Wainwright H, Hao K, Chen J, Carter RC. RNA-seq analysis reveals prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with placental inflammatory cells and gene expression. Gene 2024; 894:147951. [PMID: 37918548 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147951] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are the most common preventable cause of birth defects and neurodevelopmental disorders worldwide. The placenta is the crucial interface between mother and fetus. Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has been shown to alter placental structure and expression of genes in bulk placental tissue samples, but prior studies have not examined effects on placental cell-type composition or taken cell-type into consideration in transcriptome analyses. METHODS We leveraged an existent placenta single-cell RNA-seq dataset to perform cell-type deconvolution of bulk placental RNA-seq data from 35 heavy drinking pregnant women and 33 controls in a prospective birth cohort in Cape Town, South Africa. We used bivariate analyses and multivariable adjusted linear regression models to assess the relation of PAE on inferred placental cell-type proportions. We also examined differential expression of inflammatory response genes and PAE, using multivariable adjusted linear models. RESULTS Deconvolution analyses showed heterogeneous placenta cell-type composition in which stromal (27 %), endothelial (26 %) and cytotrophoblasts (18 %) were the predominant cell-types. PAE around conception was associated with a higher proportion of Hofbauer cells (B = 0.51, p = 0.035) in linear models adjusted for maternal age, infant sex, and gestational age. Among the 652 inflammatory genes examined, 35 were differential expressed in alcohol exposed placentas (FDR p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that heavy alcohol exposure during pregnancy can influence the proportion of fetal placental villi macrophages (Hofbauer cells) and increased expression of inflammatory genes. Future studies are needed to further characterize these effects and to assess the potential functional roles of placental inflammation in FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randy P Williams
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Corina Lesseur
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Haoxiang Cheng
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Qian Li
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maya Deyssenroth
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christopher D Molteno
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ernesta M Meintjes
- Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town Faculty of Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sandra W Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town Faculty of Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Joseph L Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Helen Wainwright
- Department of Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ke Hao
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jia Chen
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - R Colin Carter
- Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town Faculty of Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa; Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
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8
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Hua Q, Li Z, Zhou Y, Wang Y, Yu Y, Sun L, Ye J, Li L. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals association of aberrant placental trophoblasts and FN1 reduction in late-onset fetal growth restriction. Placenta 2024; 146:30-41. [PMID: 38160601 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fetal growth restriction (FGR) can lead to fetal mental development abnormalities, malformations, and even intrauterine death. Defects in the trophoblasts at the maternal-fetal interface may contribute to FGR. However, the impact of trophoblasts on FGR is still not well understood. Therefore, the objective of this study is to characterize the heterogeneity of placental cells at the single-cell level and investigate the role of trophoblast subtypes in the pathogenesis of FGR at the cellular and molecular levels. METHODS Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on the maternal side of placentas from two normal pregnant women and two pregnant women with FGR. Lentivirus transfection was used to establish a FN1 knockout model in trophoblast HTR-8-Svneo cells. The effect of FN1 knockout on cell migration and invasion of HTR-8-Svneo cells was assessed through wound healing and transwell assays. RESULTS Nine cell types were annotated in 39,161 cells derived from single-cell RNA sequencing. The FGR group exhibited a decrease in the percentage of trophoblasts, especially in subtype of extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs). The expression of FN1 was reduced in trophoblasts and EVTs. Furthermore, the protein expression levels of FN1 in the placentas of FGR patients were significantly lower than those of normal pregnant women. The cell migration and invasion ability of HTR-8-Svneo cells were inhibited after the knockdown of FN1. DISCUSSION The dysregulation of the trophoblast subtype-EVTs is involved in placental dysplasia related to FGR. The association between aberrant placental trophoblasts and reduced FN1 expression may contribute to insufficient remodeling of spiral arteries and the formation of FGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Hua
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450007, Henan, PR China
| | - Zhe Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450007, Henan, PR China
| | - Yadan Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450007, Henan, PR China
| | - Yali Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450007, Henan, PR China
| | - Yangyang Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450007, Henan, PR China
| | - Lei Sun
- Stem Cell Regenerative Medicine Transformation Center, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450007, Henan, PR China
| | - Jianping Ye
- Metabolic Disease Research Center, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450007, PR China; Center for Advanced Medicine, College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450007, Henan, PR China.
| | - Li Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450007, Henan, PR China.
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9
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Owen DM, Kwon M, Huang X, Nagari A, Nandu T, Kraus WL. Genome-wide identification of transcriptional enhancers during human placental development and association with function, differentiation, and disease†. Biol Reprod 2023; 109:965-981. [PMID: 37694817 PMCID: PMC10724456 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The placenta is a dynamic organ that must perform a remarkable variety of functions during its relatively short existence in order to support a developing fetus. These functions include nutrient delivery, gas exchange, waste removal, hormone production, and immune barrier protection. Proper placenta development and function are critical for healthy pregnancy outcomes, but the underlying genomic regulatory events that control this process remain largely unknown. We hypothesized that mapping sites of transcriptional enhancer activity and associated changes in gene expression across gestation in human placenta tissue would identify genomic loci and predicted transcription factor activity related to critical placenta functions. We used a suite of genomic assays [i.e., RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), Precision run-on-sequencing (PRO-seq), and Chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq)] and computational pipelines to identify a set of >20 000 enhancers that are active at various time points in gestation. Changes in the activity of these enhancers correlate with changes in gene expression. In addition, some of these enhancers encode risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. We further show that integrating enhancer activity, transcription factor motif analysis, and transcription factor expression can identify distinct sets of transcription factors predicted to be more active either in early pregnancy or at term. Knockdown of selected identified transcription factors in a trophoblast stem cell culture model altered the expression of key placental marker genes. These observations provide a framework for future mechanistic studies of individual enhancer-transcription factor-target gene interactions and have the potential to inform genetic risk prediction for adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Owen
- Laboratory of Signaling and Gene Regulation, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Division of Basic Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Minjung Kwon
- Laboratory of Signaling and Gene Regulation, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Division of Basic Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Xuan Huang
- Laboratory of Signaling and Gene Regulation, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Division of Basic Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Anusha Nagari
- Laboratory of Signaling and Gene Regulation, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Division of Basic Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Tulip Nandu
- Laboratory of Signaling and Gene Regulation, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Division of Basic Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - W Lee Kraus
- Laboratory of Signaling and Gene Regulation, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Division of Basic Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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Admati I, Skarbianskis N, Hochgerner H, Ophir O, Weiner Z, Yagel S, Solt I, Zeisel A. Two distinct molecular faces of preeclampsia revealed by single-cell transcriptomics. MED 2023; 4:687-709.e7. [PMID: 37572658 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2023.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Preeclampsia is a multisystemic, pregnancy-specific disorder united by new-onset hypertension but with considerable variation in clinical manifestation, onset, and severity. For symptoms to regress, delivery of the placenta is required. For symptoms to regress, delivery of the placenta is required, making the placenta central to preeclampsia pathophysiology. To dissect which placental functions were impacted in two forms of preeclampsia, we studied molecular changes across the cell types of the placenta. METHODS We performed a transcriptomic survey of single-cells and single-nuclei on cases of early- and late-onset preeclampsia with gestation-matched controls. FINDINGS Our data revealed massive dysregulation of gene expression in all cell classes that was almost exclusive to early preeclampsia. For example, an important known receptor/ligand imbalance hallmarking angiogenic disfunction, sFLT1/placental growth factor (PGF), was reflected in striking, cell-autonomous dysregulation of FLT1 and PGF transcription in the syncytium in early preeclampsia only. Stromal cells and vasculature echoed an inflamed, stressed, anti-angiogenic environment. Finally, the placental immune niche set the tone for inflammation in early but not late preeclampsia. Here, fetal-origin Hofbauer and maternal-origin TREM2 macrophages were revealed as surprising main actors, while local cells of the adaptive immune system were largely unaffected. Late preeclampsia showed minimal cellular impact on the placenta. CONCLUSIONS Our survey provides systematic molecular evidence for two distinct diseases. We resolved systematic molecular dysregulation to individual cell types with strong implications for definition, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. FUNDING Funded by the Preeclampsia Foundation through the Peter Joseph Pappas Research Grant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inbal Admati
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Niv Skarbianskis
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Hannah Hochgerner
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Osnat Ophir
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Zeev Weiner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Simcha Yagel
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hadassah, Hebrew University Medical Centers, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ido Solt
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Amit Zeisel
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
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11
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He J, Yang H, Liu Z, Chen M, Ye Y, Tao Y, Li S, Fang J, Xu J, Wu X, Qi H. Elevated expression of glycolytic genes as a prominent feature of early-onset preeclampsia: insights from integrative transcriptomic analysis. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1248771. [PMID: 37818100 PMCID: PMC10561389 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1248771] [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: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE), a notable pregnancy-related disorder, leads to 40,000+ maternal deaths yearly. Recent research shows PE divides into early-onset (EOPE) and late-onset (LOPE) subtypes, each with distinct clinical features and outcomes. However, the molecular characteristics of various subtypes are currently subject to debate and are not consistent. Methods: We integrated transcriptomic expression data from a total of 372 placental samples across 8 publicly available databases via combat algorithm. Then, a variety of strategies including Random Forest Recursive Feature Elimination (RF-RFE), differential analysis, oposSOM, and Weighted Correlation Network Analysis were employed to identify the characteristic genes of the EOPE and LOPE subtypes. Finally, we conducted in vitro experiments on the key gene HK2 in HTR8/SVneo cells to explore its function. Results: Our results revealed a complex classification of PE placental samples, wherein EOPE manifests as a highly homogeneous sample group characterized by hypoxia and HIF1A activation. Among the core features is the upregulation of glycolysis-related genes, particularly HK2, in the placenta-an observation corroborated by independent validation data and single-cell data. Building on the pronounced correlation between HK2 and EOPE, we conducted in vitro experiments to assess the potential functional impact of HK2 on trophoblast cells. Additionally, the LOPE samples exhibit strong heterogeneity and lack distinct features, suggesting a complex molecular makeup for this subtype. Unsupervised clustering analysis indicates that LOPE likely comprises at least two distinct subtypes, linked to cell-environment interaction and cytokine and protein modification functionalities. Discussion: In summary, these findings elucidate potential mechanistic differences between the two PE subtypes, lend support to the hypothesis of classifying PE based on gestational weeks, and emphasize the potential significant role of glycolysis-related genes, especially HK2 in EOPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie He
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Huan Yang
- Department of Obstetrics, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Miaomiao Chen
- Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Ying Ye
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuelan Tao
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shuhong Li
- Department of Oncology, Chengdu Second People’s Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Fang
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiacheng Xu
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiafei Wu
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongbo Qi
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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12
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Nargis T, Lin X, Giordano E, Ijaz L, Suhail S, Gurzenda EM, Kiefer D, Quadro L, Hanna N, Hussain MM. Characterization of lipoproteins in human placenta and fetal circulation as well as gestational changes in lipoprotein assembly and secretion in human and mouse placentas. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2023; 1868:159357. [PMID: 37315736 PMCID: PMC10529644 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2023.159357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In the maternal circulation, apoB-containing low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and apoA1-containing high-density lipoproteins (HDL) transport lipids. The production of lipoproteins in the placenta has been suggested, but the directionality of release has not been resolved. We compared apolipoprotein concentrations and size-exclusion chromatography elution profiles of lipoproteins in maternal/fetal circulations, and in umbilical arteries/veins; identified placental lipoprotein-producing cells; and studied temporal induction of lipoprotein-synthesizing machinery during pregnancy. We observed that maternal and fetal lipoproteins are different with respect to concentrations and elution profiles. Surprisingly, concentrations and elution profiles of lipoproteins in umbilical arteries and veins were similar indicating their homeostatic control. Human placental cultures synthesized apoB100-containing LDL-sized and apoA1-containing HDL-sized particles. Immunolocalization techniques revealed that ApoA1 was present mainly in syncytiotrophoblasts. MTP, a critical protein for lipoprotein assembly, was in these trophoblasts. ApoB was in the placental stroma indicating that trophoblasts secrete apoB-containing lipoproteins into the stroma. ApoB and MTP expressions increased in placentas from the 2nd trimester to term, whereas apoA1 expression was unchanged. Thus, our studies provide new information regarding the timing of lipoprotein gene induction during gestation, the cells involved in lipoprotein assembly and the gel filtration profiles of human placental lipoproteins. Next, we observed that mouse placenta produces MTP, apoB100, apoB48 and apoA1. The expression of genes gradually increased and peaked in late gestation. This information may be useful in identifying transcription factors regulating the induction of these genes in gestation and the importance of placental lipoprotein assembly in fetal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Titli Nargis
- Department of Foundations of Medicine, NYU Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY, USA
| | - Xinhua Lin
- Department of Pediatrics, NYU Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, New York, USA
| | - Elena Giordano
- Food Science Department, Rutgers Center for Lipid Research and Institute of Food Nutrition and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Laraib Ijaz
- Department of Foundations of Medicine, NYU Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY, USA
| | - Sarah Suhail
- Department of Foundations of Medicine, NYU Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY, USA
| | - Ellen M Gurzenda
- Department of Pediatrics, NYU Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, New York, USA
| | - Daniel Kiefer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NYU Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, New York, USA
| | - Loredana Quadro
- Food Science Department, Rutgers Center for Lipid Research and Institute of Food Nutrition and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Nazeeh Hanna
- Department of Pediatrics, NYU Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, New York, USA
| | - M Mahmood Hussain
- Department of Foundations of Medicine, NYU Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY, USA.
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13
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Jiao B, Wang Y, Li S, Lu J, Liu J, Xia J, Li Y, Xu J, Tian X, Qi B. Dissecting human placental cells heterogeneity in preeclampsia and gestational diabetes using single-cell sequencing. Mol Immunol 2023; 161:104-118. [PMID: 37572508 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2023.07.005] [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: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are pregnancy-specific complications, which affect maternal health and fetal outcomes. Currently, clinical and pathological studies have shown that placenta homeostasis is affected by these two maternal diseases. In this study, we aimed to gain insight into the heterogeneous changes in cell types in placental tissue-isolated from cesarean section by single-cell sequencing, including those patients diagnosed with PE (n = 5), GDM (n = 5) and healthy control (n = 5). A total of 96,048 cells (PE: 31,672; GDM: 25,294; control: 39,082) were identified in six cell types, dominated by trophoblast cells and immune cells. In addition, trophoblast cells were divided into four subtypes, including cytotrophoblast cells (CTBs), villous cytotrophoblasts (VCTs), syncytiotrophoblast (STB), and extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs). Immune cells are divided into lymphocytes and macrophages, of which macrophages have 3 subtypes (decidual macrophages, Hofbauer cells and macrophages), and lymphocytes have 4 subtypes (BloodNK, T cells, plasma cells, and decidual natural killer cells). Meanwhile, we also proved the orderly differentiation sequence of CTB into VCT, then STB and EVT. By pair-wise analysis of the expression and enrichment of differentially expressed genes in trophoblast cells between PE, GDM and control, it was found that these cells were involved in immune, nutrient transfer, hormone and oxidative stress pathways. In addition, T cells and macrophages play an immune defense role in both PE and GDM. The proportion of CTB and EVT cells in placental tissue was confirmed by flow cytometry. Taken together, our results suggested that the human placenta is a dynamic heterogenous organ dominated by trophoblast and immune cells, which perform their respective roles and interact with other cells in the environment to maintain normal placental function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Jiao
- Sanya Women and Children's Hospital Managed by Shanghai Children' s Medical Center, Sanya, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Sanya Women and Children's Hospital Managed by Shanghai Children' s Medical Center, Sanya, China
| | - Shenghua Li
- Sanya Women and Children's Hospital Managed by Shanghai Children' s Medical Center, Sanya, China
| | - Jianan Lu
- Sanya Women and Children's Hospital Managed by Shanghai Children' s Medical Center, Sanya, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Sanya Women and Children's Hospital Managed by Shanghai Children' s Medical Center, Sanya, China
| | - Ji Xia
- Sanya Women and Children's Hospital Managed by Shanghai Children' s Medical Center, Sanya, China
| | - Yisha Li
- Sanya Women and Children's Hospital Managed by Shanghai Children' s Medical Center, Sanya, China
| | - Juanjuan Xu
- Sanya Women and Children's Hospital Managed by Shanghai Children' s Medical Center, Sanya, China
| | - Xiujuan Tian
- Sanya Women and Children's Hospital Managed by Shanghai Children' s Medical Center, Sanya, China.
| | - Bangruo Qi
- Sanya Women and Children's Hospital Managed by Shanghai Children' s Medical Center, Sanya, China.
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Liu Z, Yu Y, Zhang X, Wang C, Pei J, Gu W. Transcriptomic profiling in hypoxia-induced trophoblast cells for preeclampsia. Placenta 2023; 136:8-17. [PMID: 37001424 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to identify the expression profile of mRNAs and analyze the associated pathways in hypoxia-induced trophoblast cells to understand the effect of hypoxia on the pathophysiology of preeclampsia (PE). We downloaded two gene expression datasets (GSE47187 and GSE60432) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets to identify altered transcriptomes. GEO2R, gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were used to reveal the functional roles and regulatory networks of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In total, 224 DEGs (91 upregulated and 133 downregulated) were identified, and the "HIF-1 signaling pathway" was activated in placentas from patients with PE. We validated the expression levels of five proteins in the plasma of NP and PE patients during early or late pregnancy using western blotting. In primary trophoblast cells cultured under hypoxic conditions, 754 DEGs were identified, including 362 upregulated and 392 downregulated genes. These DEGs were associated with the "HIF-1signaling pathway," "response to hypoxia," and several glucose metabolism pathways. In addition, a PPI network was constructed, and an important module, including 18 hub genes, was identified. Finally, we validated 18 hub genes using qRT-PCR. Furthermore, we performed microarray profiling of hypoxia-treated HTR8/SVneo cells (immortalized human first-trimester extravillous trophoblast cells) to validate the DEGs and pathways identified in hypoxia-induced primary trophoblast cells. Our results stress the differential expression profiles of mRNAs in hypoxia-induced trophoblast cells, which provide potential pathophysiological mechanisms for preeclampsia.
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Zhu Y, Zhang J, Li Q, Lin M. Association between gestational weight gain and preterm birth and post-term birth: a longitudinal study from the National Vital Statistics System database. BMC Pediatr 2023; 23:127. [PMID: 36941673 PMCID: PMC10026488 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-03951-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To evaluate the association between gestational weight gain (GWG) and preterm birth and post-term birth. METHODS This longitudinal-based research studied singleton pregnant women from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) (2019). Total GWG (kg) was converted to gestational age-standardized z scores. The z-scores of GWG were divided into four categories according to the quartile of GWG, and the quantile 2 interval was used as the reference for the analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between GWG and preterm birth, post-term birth, and total adverse outcome (preterm birth + post-term birth). Subgroup analysis stratified by pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) was used to estimate associations between z-scores and outcomes. RESULTS Of the 3,100,122 women, preterm birth occurred in 9.45% (292,857) population, with post-term birth accounting for 4.54% (140,851). The results demonstrated that low GWG z-score [odds ratio (OR): 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03 to 1.05, P < 0.001], and higher GWG z-scores (quantile 3: OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.41 to 1.44, P < 0.001; quantile 4: OR: 2.79, 95% CI: 2.76 to 2.82, P < 0.001) were positively associated with preterm birth. Low GWG z-score (OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.16 to 1.19, P < 0.001) was positively associated with an increased risk of post-term birth. However, higher GWG z-scores (quantile 3: OR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.83 to 0.85, P < 0.001; quantile 4: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.58 to 0.60, P < 0.001) was associated with a decreased risk of post-term birth. In addition, low GWG z-score and higher GWG z-scores were related to total adverse outcome. A subgroup analysis demonstrated that pre-pregnancy BMI, low GWG z-score was associated with a decreased risk of preterm birth among BMI-obesity women (OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94 to 0.98, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Our result suggests that the management of GWG may be an important strategy to reduce the number of preterm birth and post-term birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifang Zhu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No.34 Zhongshan North Road, Licheng District, Quanzhou, 362000, P.R. China.
| | - Jiani Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No.34 Zhongshan North Road, Licheng District, Quanzhou, 362000, P.R. China
| | - Qiaoyu Li
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No.34 Zhongshan North Road, Licheng District, Quanzhou, 362000, P.R. China
| | - Min Lin
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No.34 Zhongshan North Road, Licheng District, Quanzhou, 362000, P.R. China
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Naydenov DD, Vashukova ES, Barbitoff YA, Nasykhova YA, Glotov AS. Current Status and Prospects of the Single-Cell Sequencing Technologies for Revealing the Pathogenesis of Pregnancy-Associated Disorders. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:756. [PMID: 36981026 PMCID: PMC10048492 DOI: 10.3390/genes14030756] [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: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a method that focuses on the analysis of gene expression profile in individual cells. This method has been successfully applied to answer the challenging questions of the pathogenesis of multifactorial diseases and open up new possibilities in the prognosis and prevention of reproductive diseases. In this article, we have reviewed the application of scRNA-seq to the analysis of the various cell types and their gene expression changes in normal pregnancy and pregnancy complications. The main principle, advantages, and limitations of single-cell technologies and data analysis methods are described. We discuss the possibilities of using the scRNA-seq method for solving the fundamental and applied tasks related to various pregnancy-associated disorders. Finally, we provide an overview of the scRNA-seq findings for the common pregnancy-associated conditions, such as hyperglycemia in pregnancy, recurrent pregnancy loss, preterm labor, polycystic ovary syndrome, and pre-eclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry D. Naydenov
- Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Elena S. Vashukova
- D. O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductology, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Yury A. Barbitoff
- Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
- D. O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductology, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Yulia A. Nasykhova
- D. O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductology, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Andrey S. Glotov
- Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
- D. O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductology, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
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17
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Weng J, Couture C, Girard S. Innate and Adaptive Immune Systems in Physiological and Pathological Pregnancy. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:402. [PMID: 36979094 PMCID: PMC10045867 DOI: 10.3390/biology12030402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
The dynamic immunological changes occurring throughout pregnancy are well-orchestrated and important for the success of the pregnancy. One of the key immune adaptations is the maternal immune tolerance towards the semi-allogeneic fetus. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of what is known about the innate and adaptive immunological changes in pregnancy and the role(s) of specific immune cells during physiological and pathological pregnancy. Alongside this, we provided details of remaining questions and challenges, as well as future perspectives for this growing field of research. Understanding the immunological changes that occur can inform potential strategies on treatments for the optimal health of the neonate and pregnant individual both during and after pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Weng
- Mayo Clinic Medical Scientist Training Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Camille Couture
- Department of Microbiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Universite de Montreal, Ste-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Sylvie Girard
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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18
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Choe K, Pak U, Pang Y, Hao W, Yang X. Advances and Challenges in Spatial Transcriptomics for Developmental Biology. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13010156. [PMID: 36671541 PMCID: PMC9855858 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Development from single cells to multicellular tissues and organs involves more than just the exact replication of cells, which is known as differentiation. The primary focus of research into the mechanism of differentiation has been differences in gene expression profiles between individual cells. However, it has predominantly been conducted at low throughput and bulk levels, challenging the efforts to understand molecular mechanisms of differentiation during the developmental process in animals and humans. During the last decades, rapid methodological advancements in genomics facilitated the ability to study developmental processes at a genome-wide level and finer resolution. Particularly, sequencing transcriptomes at single-cell resolution, enabled by single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), was a breath-taking innovation, allowing scientists to gain a better understanding of differentiation and cell lineage during the developmental process. However, single-cell isolation during scRNA-seq results in the loss of the spatial information of individual cells and consequently limits our understanding of the specific functions of the cells performed by different spatial regions of tissues or organs. This greatly encourages the emergence of the spatial transcriptomic discipline and tools. Here, we summarize the recent application of scRNA-seq and spatial transcriptomic tools for developmental biology. We also discuss the limitations of current spatial transcriptomic tools and approaches, as well as possible solutions and future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyongho Choe
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Unil Pak
- College of Landscape Architecture, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Yu Pang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Wanjun Hao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Xiuqin Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-451-55191738
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19
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Chen Q, Shan D, Xie Y, Luo X, Wu Y, Chen Q, Dong R, Hu Y. Single cell RNA sequencing research in maternal fetal interface. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 10:1079961. [PMID: 36704195 PMCID: PMC9871254 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1079961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The maternal-fetal interface is an essential environment for embryonic growth and development, and a successful pregnancy depends on the dynamic balance of the microenvironment at the maternal-fetal interface. Single-cell sequencing, which unlike bulk sequencing that provides averaged data, is a robust method for interpreting the cellular and molecular landscape at single-cell resolution. With the support of single-cell sequencing, the issue of maternal-fetal interface heterogeneity during pregnancy has been more deeply elaborated and understood, which is important for a deeper understanding of physiological and pathological pregnancy. In this paper, we analyze the recent studies of single-cell transcriptomics in the maternal-fetal interface, and provide new directions for understanding and treating various pathological pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Chen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China,*Correspondence: Qian Chen, ; Yayi Hu,
| | - Dan Shan
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Yupei Xie
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Xingrong Luo
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuxia Wu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiuhe Chen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Ruihong Dong
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Yayi Hu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China,Qingbaijiang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Chengdu, China,*Correspondence: Qian Chen, ; Yayi Hu,
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20
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Kruger L, Yue G, Paquette A, Sathyanarayana S, Enquobahrie DA, Bammler TK, MacDonald J, Zhao Q, Prasad B. An optimized proteomics-based approach to estimate blood contamination and cellular heterogeneity of frozen placental tissue. Placenta 2023; 131:111-118. [PMID: 36584637 PMCID: PMC9912121 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.12.007] [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: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Archived human placental tissue specimens are vital for studying placenta pathophysiology and toxicology. Proteomics analysis of placental tissue provides mechanistic and translational information, but the highly perfused and heterogenous nature of the placenta creates confounding technical variability. In this study, we developed an optimized proteomics-based approach to address the technical variability of proteomics data by normalizing blood contamination and cellular heterogeneity of archived placenta samples. METHODS Placenta samples (n = 99) were homogenized, digested using trypsin, and analyzed by liquid chromatography mass-spectrometry. Label-free quantification (LFQ) intensities of the proteins were analyzed for their correlation with blood (albumin) and placenta (aromatase) markers. Proteins that positively correlated with albumin and negatively correlated with aromatase or vice versa were considered blood and placental proteins, respectively. Next, the cellular heterogeneity of individual placenta samples was evaluated by quantifying specific cellular markers of cytotrophoblasts, syncytiotrophoblasts, extravillous trophoblasts, fibroblasts, Hofbauer cells, and decidual cells. RESULTS We found that placental proteins were contaminated by 41 to 85% blood proteins. Analysis of cellular markers confirmed syncytiotrophoblasts as the major cell type in placenta (i.e., 41 ± 9% of all cell types). Two samples showed distinct cell compositions with higher levels of the extravillous trophoblasts and decidual cells. DISCUSSION In summary, the optimized proteomics-based approach to estimate blood contamination and cellular heterogeneity of placental tissues has the potential to address technical variability in placenta proteomics analysis, which can be extended to other highly perfused and heterogenous tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laken Kruger
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA
| | - Guihua Yue
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA
| | - Alison Paquette
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Qi Zhao
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Bhagwat Prasad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA.
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21
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Zhang C, Guo Y, Yang Y, Du Z, Fan Y, Zhao Y, Yuan S. Oxidative stress on vessels at the maternal-fetal interface for female reproductive system disorders: Update. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1118121. [PMID: 36967779 PMCID: PMC10036807 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1118121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Considerable evidence shows that oxidative stress exists in the pathophysiological process of female reproductive system diseases. At present, there have been many studies on oxidative stress of placenta during pregnancy, especially for preeclampsia. However, studies that directly focus on the effects of oxidative stress on blood vessels at the maternal-fetal interface and their associated possible outcomes are still incomplete and ambiguous. To provide an option for early clinical prediction and therapeutic application of oxidative stress in female reproductive system diseases, this paper briefly describes the composition of the maternal-fetal interface and the molecular mediators produced by oxidative stress, focuses on the sources of oxidative stress and the signaling pathways of oxidative stress at the maternal-fetal interface, expounds the adverse consequences of oxidative stress on blood vessels, and deeply discusses the relationship between oxidative stress and some pregnancy complications and other female reproductive system diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenlu Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yaxin Guo
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yan Yang
- School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhaojin Du
- Reproductive Medical Center, Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yunhui Fan
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yin Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- *Correspondence: Yin Zhao, ; Suzhen Yuan,
| | - Suzhen Yuan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- *Correspondence: Yin Zhao, ; Suzhen Yuan,
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22
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Yang X, Benny PA, Cervera-Marzal E, Wu B, Lassiter CB, Astern J, Garmire LX. Placental telomere length shortening is not associated with severe preeclampsia but the gestational age. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 15:353-370. [PMID: 36575046 PMCID: PMC9925682 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Variations in telomere length (TL) have been associated with aging, stress, and many diseases. Placenta TL is an essential molecular component influencing the outcome of birth. Previous investigations into the relationship between placenta TL and preeclampsia (PE) have produced conflicting findings. We conducted a retrospective case-control analysis in this study to address the disparity. We used placenta samples from 224 births received from Hawaii Biorepository (HiBR) between 2006 and 2013, comprising 129 healthy full-term controls and 95 severe PE samples. The average absolute placental TL was calculated using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique. We utilized multiple linear regressions to associate placental TL with severe PE and other demographic, clinical and physiological data. The outcome demonstrates that the placental TL of severe PE cases did not significantly differ from that of healthy controls. Instead, there is a strong correlation between gestational age and placenta TL shortening. Placental TL also exhibits racial differences: (1) Latino moms' TL is significantly longer than non-Latino mothers' (p=0.009). (2) Caucasian patients with severe PE have shorter TL than non-Caucasian patients (p=0.0037). This work puts the long-standing question of whether severe PE influences placental TL to rest. Placental TL is not related to severe PE but is negatively associated with gestational age and is also affected by race.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Yang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Paula A. Benny
- Epidemiology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Elorri Cervera-Marzal
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Biyu Wu
- Department of Nutritional Science, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Cameron B. Lassiter
- Epidemiology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Joshua Astern
- University of Hawai’i Biorepository John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Lana X. Garmire
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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23
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Parsons A, Netsanet A, Seedorf G, Abman SH, Taglauer ES. Understanding the role of placental pathophysiology in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2022; 323:L651-L658. [PMID: 36219136 PMCID: PMC9722259 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00204.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The associations between bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and the gestational pathologies of chorioamnionitis (CA) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) have become increasingly well recognized. However, the mechanisms through which these antenatal conditions cause increased risk of BPD remain less well characterized. The objective of this review is to discuss the role of the placenta in BPD predisposition as a primary driver of intrauterine alterations adversely impacting fetal lung development. We hypothesize that due to similarities in structure and function, placental disorders during pregnancy can uniquely impact the developing fetal lung, creating a unique placental-pulmonary connection. In the current review, we explore this hypothesis through analysis of clinical literature and preclinical model systems evaluating BPD predisposition, discussion of BPD phenotypes, and an overview on strategies to incorporate placental investigation into research on fetal lung development. We also discuss important concepts learned from research on antenatal steroids as a modulator fetal lung development. Finally, we propose that the appropriate selection of animal models and establishment of in vitro lung developmental model systems incorporating primary human placental components are key in continuing to understand and address antenatal predisposition to BPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Parsons
- Boston Combined Residency Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Adom Netsanet
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
- Pediatric Heart Lung Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Gregory Seedorf
- Pediatric Heart Lung Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Steven H Abman
- Pediatric Heart Lung Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Elizabeth S Taglauer
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
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24
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Zhou W, Xue P, Yang Y, Xia L, Yu B. Research progress on N6-methyladenosine in the human placenta. J Perinat Med 2022; 50:1115-1123. [PMID: 35606944 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2021-0665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most common epigenetic modifications of eukaryotic RNA. Under the jointly reversible regulation of related enzymes, m6A regulates many aspects of RNA, such as translation, stability and degradation. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of m6A in placenta-related diseases. METHODS Data were compiled from 2018 to 2021 citations in PubMed and Google Scholar using the keywords: placenta AND N6-methyladenosine. Seven studies were included. RESULTS In this study, we introduced some conventional methods to detect m6A modification at the whole RNA, region (peak) and single base levels. We also summarized the current studies of m6A modification in the placenta and briefly describe m6A in placental-related diseases, including recurrent miscarriage (RM), preeclampsia (PE) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). CONCLUSIONS Although the relevant reports are still in the preliminary stage and some results are inconsistent, studies on methylation m6A modification have contributed new ideas for the research of reproductive diseases, providing a new basis for the diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and monitoring of related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Zhou
- International Genome Center, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, P.R. China
- Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, P.R. China
| | - Pingping Xue
- Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yuqi Yang
- Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, P.R. China
| | - Lin Xia
- Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, P.R. China
| | - Bin Yu
- Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, P.R. China
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25
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Miller D, Garcia-Flores V, Romero R, Galaz J, Pique-Regi R, Gomez-Lopez N. Single-Cell Immunobiology of the Maternal-Fetal Interface. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:1450-1464. [PMID: 36192116 PMCID: PMC9536179 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy success requires constant dialogue between the mother and developing conceptus. Such crosstalk is facilitated through complex interactions between maternal and fetal cells at distinct tissue sites, collectively termed the "maternal-fetal interface." The emergence of single-cell technologies has enabled a deeper understanding of the unique processes taking place at the maternal-fetal interface as well as the discovery of novel pathways and immune and nonimmune cell types. Single-cell approaches have also been applied to decipher the cellular dynamics throughout pregnancy, in parturition, and in obstetrical syndromes such as recurrent spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia, and preterm labor. Furthermore, single-cell technologies have been used during the recent COVID-19 pandemic to evaluate placental viral cell entry and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on maternal and fetal immunity. In this brief review, we summarize the current knowledge of cellular immunobiology in pregnancy and its complications that has been generated through single-cell investigations of the maternal-fetal interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Miller
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Valeria Garcia-Flores
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
- Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI
| | - Jose Galaz
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and
| | - Roger Pique-Regi
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI;
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
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26
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Zheng Y, Pan J, Xia C, Chen H, Zhou H, Ju W, Wegiel J, Myatt L, Roberts JM, Guo X, Zhong N. Characterization of placental and decidual cell development in early pregnancy loss by single-cell RNA sequencing. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:168. [PMID: 36209198 PMCID: PMC9548121 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00904-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Early pregnancy loss (EPL) presents as sporadic or recurrent miscarriage during the first trimester. In addition to chromosomal defects, EPL may result from impairment of the placental-decidual interface at early gestational age due to gene-environmental interactions. Methods To better understand the pathogenesis associated with this impairment, cell development in chorionic villi and decidua of different forms of EPL (sporadic or recurrent) was investigated with single-cell RNA sequencing and compared to that of normal first-trimester tissue. Results Unique gene expression signatures were obtained for the different forms of EPL and for normal tissue and the composition of placental and decidual cell clusters in each form was established. In particular, the involvement of macrophages in the EPL phenotypes was identified revealing an immunoactive state. Conclusion Differential gene expression and unique marker genes among cell clusters from chorionic villi and decidua of miscarried and normal pregnancies, may lead to identification of biomarker for EPL. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-022-00904-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhua Zheng
- Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Foshan Women and Children, 11 W. Renmin Lu, Foshan, 528000 China
| | - Jing Pan
- Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Foshan Women and Children, 11 W. Renmin Lu, Foshan, 528000 China
| | - Chenglai Xia
- Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Foshan Women and Children, 11 W. Renmin Lu, Foshan, 528000 China
| | - Haiying Chen
- Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Foshan Women and Children, 11 W. Renmin Lu, Foshan, 528000 China
| | - Huadong Zhou
- Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Foshan Women and Children, 11 W. Renmin Lu, Foshan, 528000 China
| | - Weina Ju
- grid.420001.70000 0000 9813 9625New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314 USA
| | - Jerzy Wegiel
- grid.420001.70000 0000 9813 9625New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314 USA
| | - Leslie Myatt
- grid.5288.70000 0000 9758 5690Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97239 USA
| | - James M. Roberts
- grid.5288.70000 0000 9758 5690Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97239 USA ,grid.460217.60000 0004 0387 4432Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Epidemiology and Clinical and Translational Research University of Pittsburgh, Magee-Womens Research Institute, 204 Craft Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA
| | - Xiaoling Guo
- Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Foshan Women and Children, 11 W. Renmin Lu, Foshan, 528000 China
| | - Nanbert Zhong
- grid.420001.70000 0000 9813 9625New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314 USA
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27
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Lapolla A, Traldi P. Proteomic Approaches in the Study of Placenta of Pregnancy Complicated by Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10092272. [PMID: 36140373 PMCID: PMC9496584 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10092272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a glucose intolerance developing or first recognized during pregnancy, leads to a series of short- and long-term maternal and fetal complications, somehow related to placenta structural and functional changes. The focus and the objective of the present review are to discuss the results which can be obtained by different mass spectrometric approaches in the study of placenta protein profile. Thus, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI) has been applied on placenta omogenates before and after one-dimensional electrophoretic separation, followed by tryptic digestion. MALDI imaging was used for direct investigation on the placenta tissue (both maternal and fetal sides). The results showed that some differences among the absolute abundances of some proteins are present for placenta samples from GDM patients. The majority of investigations were carried out by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) followed by LC-MS/MS or, directly by the label-free LC-MSE approach. It should be emphasized that all these techniques were showed differences in the protein expression between the placenta samples from healthy or GDM subjects. 2DE was also employed to separate and compare placental protein levels from GDM and the control groups: differentially expressed proteins between the two groups were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry and were further confirmed by Western blotting. The physiopathological significance of the obtained results are reported and discussed in this narrative review. The experimental data obtained until now show that the newest, mass spectrometric approaches can be considered a valid tool to investigate the possible changes of placenta in the presence of GDM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annunziata Lapolla
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Pietro Traldi
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica, Città della Speranza, 35127 Padova, Italy
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28
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Lapehn S, Paquette AG. The Placental Epigenome as a Molecular Link Between Prenatal Exposures and Fetal Health Outcomes Through the DOHaD Hypothesis. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:490-501. [PMID: 35488174 PMCID: PMC9363315 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00354-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis posits that the perinatal environment can impact fetal and later life health. The placenta is uniquely situated to assess prenatal exposures in the context of DOHaD because it is an essential ephemeral fetal organ that manages the transport of oxygen, nutrients, waste, and endocrine signals between the mother and fetus. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent studies that evaluated the DOHaD hypothesis in human placentas using epigenomics, including DNA methylation and transcriptomic studies of mRNA, lncRNA, and microRNAs. RECENT FINDINGS Between 2016 and 2021, 28 articles evaluated associations between prenatal exposures and placental epigenomics across broad exposure categories including maternal smoking, psychosocial stressors, chemicals, air pollution, and metals. Sixteen of these studies connected exposures to health outcome such as birth weight, fetal growth, or infant neurobehavior through mediation analysis, identification of shared associations between exposure and outcome, or network analysis. These aspects of infant and childhood health serve as a foundation for future studies that aim to use placental epigenetics to understand relationships between the prenatal environment and perinatal complications (such as preterm birth or fetal growth restriction) or later life childhood health. Placental DNA methylation and RNA expression have been linked to numerous prenatal exposures, such as PM2.5 air pollution, metals, and maternal smoking, as well as infant and childhood health outcomes, including fetal growth and birth weight. Placental epigenomics provides a unique opportunity to expand the DOHaD premise, particularly if research applies novel methodologies such as multi-omics analysis, sequencing of non-coding RNAs, mixtures analysis, and assessment of health outcomes beyond early childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Lapehn
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Alison G Paquette
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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29
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Deng P, Cui K, Shi Y, Zhu Y, Wang Y, Shao X, Qin J. Fluidic Flow Enhances the Differentiation of Placental Trophoblast-Like 3D Tissue from hiPSCs in a Perfused Macrofluidic Device. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:907104. [PMID: 35845423 PMCID: PMC9280037 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.907104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The human placenta serves as a multifunctional organ to maintain the proper development of a fetus. However, our knowledge of the human placenta is limited due to the lack of appropriate experimental models. In this work, we created an in vitro placental trophoblast-like model via self-organization of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) in a perfused 3D culture macrofluidic device. This device allowed cell seeding, in situ trophoblast lineage differentiation, and formation of trophoblast-like tissues from hiPSCs in a biomimetic microenvironment. It incorporated extracellular matrix (ECM) and fluid flow in a single device. After trophoblast lineage differentiation, we were able to generate the 3D clusters with major cell types of the human placenta, including trophoblast progenitor cytotrophoblasts (CTBs), differentiated subtypes, syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), and extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) under long-term 3D culture (∼23 days). Moreover, the formed tissues exhibited enhanced expressions of CTB-, STB-, and EVT-related markers at the level of genes and proteins under a dynamic culture compared with static conditions. RNA-seq analysis revealed the higher expression of trophoblast-specific genes in 3D tissues, indicating the essential role of fluid flow to promote the trophoblast differentiation of hiPSCs. The established placental 3D model combined a bioengineering strategy with developmental principles, providing a promising platform for the study of placental biology in a biomimetic microenvironment in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengwei Deng
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kangli Cui
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Shi
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Mother-child Genetics, Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Group, Dalian, China
| | - Yujuan Zhu
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yaqing Wang
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
| | - Xiaoguang Shao
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Mother-child Genetics, Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Group, Dalian, China
| | - Jianhua Qin
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jianhua Qin,
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30
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Zhou W, Wang H, Yang Y, Guo F, Yu B, Su Z. Trophoblast Cell Subtypes and Dysfunction in the Placenta of Individuals with Preeclampsia Revealed by Single‑Cell RNA Sequencing. Mol Cells 2022; 45:317-328. [PMID: 35289305 PMCID: PMC9095508 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2021.0211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Trophoblasts, important functional cells in the placenta, play a critical role in maintaining placental function. The heterogeneity of trophoblasts has been reported, but little is known about the trophoblast subtypes and distinctive functions during preeclampsia (PE). In this study, we aimed to gain insight into the cell type-specific transcriptomic changes by performing unbiased single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of placental tissue samples, including those of patients diagnosed with PE and matched healthy controls. A total of 29,006 cells were identified in 11 cell types, including trophoblasts and immune cells, and the functions of the trophoblast subtypes in the PE group and the control group were also analyzed. As an important trophoblast subtype, extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) were further divided into 4 subgroups, and their functions were preliminarily analyzed. We found that some biological processes related to pregnancy, hormone secretion and immunity changed in the PE group. We also identified and analyzed the regulatory network of transcription factors (TFs) identified in the EVTs, among which 3 modules were decreased in the PE group. Then, through in vitro cell experiments, we found that in one of the modules, CEBPB and GTF2B may be involved in EVT dysfunction in PE. In conclusion, our study showed the different transcriptional profiles and regulatory modules in trophoblasts between placentas in the control and PE groups at the single-cell level; these changes may be involved in the pathological process of PE, providing a new molecular theoretical basis for preeclamptic trophoblast dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Zhou
- International Genome Center, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
- Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213000, China
| | - Huiyan Wang
- Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213000, China
| | - Yuqi Yang
- Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213000, China
| | - Fang Guo
- Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213000, China
| | - Bin Yu
- Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213000, China
| | - Zhaoliang Su
- International Genome Center, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
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31
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Tosevska A, Ghosh S, Ganguly A, Cappelletti M, Kallapur SG, Pellegrini M, Devaskar SU. Integrated analysis of an in vivo model of intra-nasal exposure to instilled air pollutants reveals cell-type specific responses in the placenta. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8438. [PMID: 35589747 PMCID: PMC9119931 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12340-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The placenta is a heterogeneous organ whose development involves complex interactions of trophoblasts with decidual, vascular, and immune cells at the fetal-maternal interface. It maintains a critical balance between maternal and fetal homeostasis. Placental dysfunction can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes including intra-uterine growth restriction, pre-eclampsia, or pre-term birth. Exposure to environmental pollutants contributes to the development of placental abnormalities, with poorly understood molecular underpinning. Here we used a mouse (C57BL/6) model of environmental pollutant exposure by administration of a particulate matter (SRM1649b at 300 μg/day/mouse) suspension intra-nasally beginning 2 months before conception and during gestation, in comparison to saline-exposed controls. Placental transcriptomes, at day 19 of gestation, were determined using bulk RNA-seq from whole placentas of exposed (n = 4) and control (n = 4) animals and scRNAseq of three distinct placental layers, followed by flow cytometry analysis of the placental immune cell landscape. Our results indicate a reduction in vascular placental cells, especially cells responsible for structural integrity, and increase in trophoblast proliferation in animals exposed to particulate matter. Pollution-induced inflammation was also evident, especially in the decidual layer. These data indicate that environmental exposure to air pollutants triggers changes in the placental cellular composition, mediating adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anela Tosevska
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA USA ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Present Address: Division of Rheumatology, Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Shubhamoy Ghosh
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, and the UCLA Children’s Discovery & Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, 10883, Le Conte Avenue, MDCC-22-412, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1752 USA
| | - Amit Ganguly
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, and the UCLA Children’s Discovery & Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, 10883, Le Conte Avenue, MDCC-22-412, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1752 USA
| | - Monica Cappelletti
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, and the UCLA Children’s Discovery & Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, 10883, Le Conte Avenue, MDCC-22-412, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1752 USA
| | - Suhas G. Kallapur
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, and the UCLA Children’s Discovery & Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, 10883, Le Conte Avenue, MDCC-22-412, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1752 USA
| | - Matteo Pellegrini
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Sherin U. Devaskar
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, and the UCLA Children’s Discovery & Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, 10883, Le Conte Avenue, MDCC-22-412, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1752 USA
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32
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Marečková M, Massalha H, Lorenzi V, Vento-Tormo R. Mapping Human Reproduction with Single-Cell Genomics. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2022; 23:523-547. [PMID: 35567278 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-120121-114415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The trillions of cells in the human body develop as a result of the fusion of two extremely specialized cells: an oocyte and a sperm. This process is essential for the continuation of our species, as it ensures that parental genetic information is mixed and passed on from generation to generation. In addition to producing oocytes, the female reproductive system must provide the environment for the appropriate development of the fetus until birth. New genomic and computational tools offer unique opportunities to study the tight spatiotemporal regulatory mechanisms that are required for the cycle of human reproduction. This review explores how single-cell technologies have been used to build cellular atlases of the human reproductive system across the life span and how these maps have proven useful to better understand reproductive pathologies and dissect the heterogeneity of in vitro model systems. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics, Volume 23 is October 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magda Marečková
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom; .,Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom;
| | - Hassan Massalha
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom; .,Theory of Condensed Matter Group, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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33
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True H, Blanton M, Sureshchandra S, Messaoudi I. Monocytes and macrophages in pregnancy: The good, the bad, and the ugly. Immunol Rev 2022; 308:77-92. [PMID: 35451089 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A successful human pregnancy requires precisely timed adaptations by the maternal immune system to support fetal growth while simultaneously protecting mother and fetus against microbial challenges. The first trimester of pregnancy is characterized by a robust increase in innate immune activity that promotes successful implantation of the blastocyst and placental development. Moreover, early pregnancy is also a state of increased vulnerability to vertically transmitted pathogens notably, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Zika virus (ZIKV), SARS-CoV-2, and Listeria monocytogenes. As gestation progresses, the second trimester is marked by the establishment of an immunosuppressive environment that promotes fetal tolerance and growth while preventing preterm birth, spontaneous abortion, and other gestational complications. Finally, the period leading up to labor and parturition is characterized by the reinstatement of an inflammatory milieu triggering childbirth. These dynamic waves of carefully orchestrated changes have been dubbed the "immune clock of pregnancy." Monocytes in maternal circulation and tissue-resident macrophages at the maternal-fetal interface play a critical role in this delicate balance. This review will summarize the current data describing the longitudinal changes in the phenotype and function of monocyte and macrophage populations in healthy and complicated pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather True
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Madison Blanton
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | | | - Ilhem Messaoudi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
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34
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Choi S, Khan T, Roberts RM, Schust DJ. Leveraging Optimized Transcriptomic and Personalized Stem Cell Technologies to Better Understand Syncytialization Defects in Preeclampsia. Front Genet 2022; 13:872818. [PMID: 35432469 PMCID: PMC9006100 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.872818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the process of human placentation is important to the development of strategies for treatment of pregnancy complications. Several animal and in vitro human model systems for the general study human placentation have been used. The field has expanded rapidly over the past decades to include stem cell-derived approaches that mimic preclinical placental development, and these stem cell-based models have allowed us to better address the physiology and pathophysiology of normal and compromised trophoblast (TB) sublineage development. The application of transcriptomic approaches to these models has uncovered limitations that arise when studying the distinctive characteristics of the large and fragile multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast (STB), which plays a key role in fetal-maternal communication during pregnancy. The extension of these technologies to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is just now being reported and will allow, for the first time, a reproducible and robust approach to the study of the developmental underpinnings of late-manifesting diseases such as preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth retardation in a manner that is patient- and disease-specific. Here, we will first focus on the application of various RNA-seq technologies to TB, prior limitations in fully accessing the STB transcriptome, and recent leveraging of single nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) technology to improve our understanding of the STB transcriptome. Next, we will discuss new stem-cell derived models that allow for disease- and patient-specific study of pregnancy disorders, with a focus on the study of STB developmental abnormalities in PE that combine snRNA-seq approaches and these new in vitro models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sehee Choi
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Christopher S Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Teka Khan
- Christopher S Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - R. Michael Roberts
- Christopher S Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Danny J. Schust
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- *Correspondence: Danny J. Schust,
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35
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Than NG, Posta M, Györffy D, Orosz L, Orosz G, Rossi SW, Ambrus-Aikelin G, Szilágyi A, Nagy S, Hupuczi P, Török O, Tarca AL, Erez O, Papp Z, Romero R. Early pathways, biomarkers and four distinct molecular subclasses of preeclampsia: The intersection of clinical, pathological and high dimensional biology studies. Placenta 2022; 125:10-19. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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36
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Hunnicutt KE, Good JM, Larson EL. Unraveling patterns of disrupted gene expression across a complex tissue. Evolution 2022; 76:275-291. [PMID: 34882778 PMCID: PMC9355168 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Whole tissue RNASeq is the standard approach for studying gene expression divergence in evolutionary biology and provides a snapshot of the comprehensive transcriptome for a given tissue. However, whole tissues consist of diverse cell types differing in expression profiles, and the cellular composition of these tissues can evolve across species. Here, we investigate the effects of different cellular composition on whole tissue expression profiles. We compared gene expression from whole testes and enriched spermatogenesis populations in two species of house mice, Mus musculus musculus and M. m. domesticus, and their sterile and fertile F1 hybrids, which differ in both cellular composition and regulatory dynamics. We found that cellular composition differences skewed expression profiles and differential gene expression in whole testes samples. Importantly, both approaches were able to detect large-scale patterns such as disrupted X chromosome expression, although whole testes sampling resulted in decreased power to detect differentially expressed genes. We encourage researchers to account for histology in RNASeq and consider methods that reduce sample complexity whenever feasible. Ultimately, we show that differences in cellular composition between tissues can modify expression profiles, potentially altering inferred gene ontological processes, insights into gene network evolution, and processes governing gene expression evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsie E Hunnicutt
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, 80208
| | - Jeffrey M Good
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812
| | - Erica L Larson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, 80208
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37
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Barrozo ER, Aagaard KM. Human placental biology at single-cell resolution: a contemporaneous review. BJOG 2022; 129:208-220. [PMID: 34651399 PMCID: PMC8688323 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.16970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell technologies capture cellular heterogeneity to focus on previously poorly described subpopulations of cells. Work by our laboratory and many others has metagenomically characterised a low biomass intrauterine microbial community, alongside microbial transcripts, antigens and metabolites, but the functional importance of low biomass microbial communities in placental immuno-microenvironments is still being elucidated. Given their hypothesised role in modulating inflammation and immune ontogeny to enable tolerance of beneficial microbes while warding off pathogens, there is a need for single-cell resolution. Herein, we summarise the potential for mechanistic understanding of these and other key fundamental early developmental processes by applying single-cell approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico R. Barrozo
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine & Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kjersti M. Aagaard
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine & Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
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38
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Yamashita M, Markert UR. Overview of Drug Transporters in Human Placenta. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222313149. [PMID: 34884954 PMCID: PMC8658420 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222313149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The transport of drugs across the placenta is a point of great importance in pharmacotherapy during pregnancy. However, the knowledge of drug transport in pregnancy is mostly based on experimental clinical data, and the underlying biological mechanisms are not fully understood. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of drug transporters in the human placenta. We only refer to human data since the placenta demonstrates great diversity among species. In addition, we describe the experimental models that have been used in human placental transport studies and discuss their availability. A better understanding of placental drug transporters will be beneficial for the health of pregnant women who need drug treatment and their fetuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiko Yamashita
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 5650871, Japan
- Placenta Lab, Department of Obstetrics, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany;
- Correspondence:
| | - Udo R. Markert
- Placenta Lab, Department of Obstetrics, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany;
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39
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Mallery CS, Carrillo M, Mei A, Correia-Branco A, Kashpur O, Wallingford MC. Cellular Complexity of Hemochorial Placenta: Stem Cell Populations, Insights from scRNA-seq, and SARS-CoV-2 Susceptibility. CURRENT STEM CELL REPORTS 2021; 7:185-193. [PMID: 34697582 PMCID: PMC8527817 DOI: 10.1007/s40778-021-00194-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review The placenta is a transient organ that forms de novo and serves a critical role in supporting fetal growth and development. Placental oxygen, nutrients, and waste are transported through processes that depend on vascular structure and cell type-specific expression and localization of membrane transporters. Understanding how the placenta develops holds great significance for maternal-fetal medicine. The purpose of this review is to examine current information regarding placental progenitor populations. Recent Findings Recent advancements in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provide unprecedented depth for the investigation of cell type-specific gene expression patterns in the placenta. Thus far, several mouse placenta scRNA-seq studies have been conducted which produced and analyzed transcriptomes of placental progenitors and cells of the fully developed placenta between embryonic day (E) 7.0 and E12.5. Together with human placenta scRNA-seq data which, in part, has been produced through coordinated research campaigns in the scientific community to understand the potential for SARS-CoV-2 infection, these mammalian studies lend fundamental insight into the cellular and molecular composition of hemochorial placentae found in both mouse and human. Summary Single-cell placenta research has advanced understanding of tissue-resident stem cells and molecules that are poised to support maternal-fetal communication and nutrient transport. Herein, we provide context for these recent findings by reviewing placental anatomy and cell populations, and discuss recent scRNA-seq mouse placenta findings. Further research is needed to evaluate the utility of placental stem cells in the development of new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of wound healing and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher S. Mallery
- Tufts Medical Center, Mother Infant Research Institute, 800 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111 USA
- Texas A&M University - San Antonio, One University Way, San Antonio, 78224 USA
| | - Maira Carrillo
- Tufts Medical Center, Mother Infant Research Institute, 800 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111 USA
- Odessa College, 201 W University Blvd, Odessa, TX 79764 USA
| | - Ariel Mei
- Tufts Medical Center, Mother Infant Research Institute, 800 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111 USA
- Simmons University, 300 Fenway, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Ana Correia-Branco
- Tufts Medical Center, Mother Infant Research Institute, 800 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111 USA
| | - Olga Kashpur
- Tufts Medical Center, Mother Infant Research Institute, 800 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111 USA
| | - Mary C. Wallingford
- Tufts Medical Center, Mother Infant Research Institute, 800 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111 USA
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111 USA
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Lizárraga D, García-Gasca A. The Placenta as a Target of Epigenetic Alterations in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Potential Implications for the Offspring. EPIGENOMES 2021; 5:epigenomes5020013. [PMID: 34968300 PMCID: PMC8594713 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes5020013] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a pregnancy complication first detected in the second or third trimester in women that did not show evident glucose intolerance or diabetes before gestation. In 2019, the International Diabetes Federation reported that 15.8% of live births were affected by hyperglycemia during pregnancy, of which 83.6% were due to gestational diabetes mellitus, 8.5% were due to diabetes first detected in pregnancy, and 7.9% were due to diabetes detected before pregnancy. GDM increases the susceptibility to developing chronic diseases for both the mother and the baby later in life. Under GDM conditions, the intrauterine environment becomes hyperglycemic, while also showing high concentrations of fatty acids and proinflammatory cytokines, producing morphological, structural, and molecular modifications in the placenta, affecting its function; these alterations may predispose the baby to disease in adult life. Molecular alterations include epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA and RNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, histone modifications, and expression of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). The placenta is a unique organ that originates only in pregnancy, and its main function is communication between the mother and the fetus, ensuring healthy development. Thus, this review provides up-to-date information regarding two of the best-documented (epigenetic) mechanisms (DNA methylation and miRNA expression) altered in the human placenta under GDM conditions, as well as potential implications for the offspring.
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Qi T, Zhang D, Shi X, Li M, Xu H. Decreased circUBAP2 Expression Is Associated with Preeclampsia by Limiting Trophoblast Cell Proliferation and Migration. Reprod Sci 2021; 28:2237-2245. [PMID: 33502747 PMCID: PMC8289767 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-020-00450-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a common obstetric disease and a major cause of maternal, newborn, and fetal death. This condition is a multisystem disorder characterized by hypertension, proteinuria, and involvement of the kidney, liver, and nervous system. It is generally believed that the placenta is the main cause of PE. circRNAs are a special class of noncoding RNAs that can form covalently closed continuous ring structures with tissue-specific conservation, and they have been reported to play a wide range of regulatory functions in various diseases, including PE. In this study, we reported a novel circUBAP2 (hsa_circ_0003496) and found that it was downregulated in placental tissues from patients with PE compared to healthy controls. After knocking down circUBAP2 in trophoblast cells, we found that cell proliferation and migration were significantly suppressed. In addition, preliminary mechanistic studies showed that circUBAP2 can sponge miR-1244, and FOXM1 was identified as a target gene for miR-1244. Cotransfection of si-circUBAP2 and a miR-1244 inhibitor partially reversed the suppressive effect induced by circUBAP2 depletion on proliferation and migration. In conclusion, the circUBAP2/miR-1244/FOXM1 axis might be a promising molecular marker for the diagnosis and treatment of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Qi
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Huai'an Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Huai'an, China
| | - Di Zhang
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xuting Shi
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China
| | - Minhui Li
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China
| | - Hongbin Xu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China.
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