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Sangkhae V, Fisher AL, Ganz T, Nemeth E. Iron Homeostasis During Pregnancy: Maternal, Placental, and Fetal Regulatory Mechanisms. Annu Rev Nutr 2023; 43:279-300. [PMID: 37253681 PMCID: PMC10723031 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-nutr-061021-030404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Pregnancy entails a large negative balance of iron, an essential micronutrient. During pregnancy, iron requirements increase substantially to support both maternal red blood cell expansion and the development of the placenta and fetus. As insufficient iron has long been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, universal iron supplementation is common practice before and during pregnancy. However, in high-resource countries with iron fortification of staple foods and increased red meat consumption, the effects of too much iron supplementation during pregnancy have become a concern because iron excess has also been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. In this review, we address physiologic iron homeostasis of the mother, placenta, and fetus and discuss perturbations in iron homeostasis that result in pathological pregnancy. As many mechanistic regulatory systems have been deduced from animal models, we also discuss the principles learned from these models and how these may apply to human pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veena Sangkhae
- Center for Iron Disorders, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA;
| | - Allison L Fisher
- Endocrine Unit and Nephrology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tomas Ganz
- Center for Iron Disorders, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA;
| | - Elizabeta Nemeth
- Center for Iron Disorders, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA;
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Sun P, Zhou Y, Xu S, Wang X, Li X, Li H, Lin Z, Huang F, Zhu L, Zhu Y. Elevated first-trimester hepcidin level is associated with reduced risk of iron deficiency anemia in late pregnancy: a prospective cohort study. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1147114. [PMID: 37654476 PMCID: PMC10465702 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1147114] [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: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) during pregnancy are highly prevalent worldwide. Hepcidin is considered an important biomarker of iron status. Currently, few longitudinal cohort studies have assessed the potential causal relationship between hepcidin and ID/IDA. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association of first-trimester maternal serum hepcidin with third-trimester ID/IDA risk in a prospective cohort. Methods Total of 353 non-ID/IDA pregnant women at 11-13 weeks' gestation were enrolled in Southern China and followed up to 38 weeks of gestation. Data on demography and anthropometry were obtained from a structured questionnaire at enrollment. Iron biomarkers including hepcidin were measured at enrollment and follow-up. Regression models were used to evaluate the association of first-trimester hepcidin with third-trimester ID/IDA risk. Results Serum hepcidin levels substantially decreased from 19.39 ng/mL in the first trimester to 1.32 ng/mL in the third trimester. Incidences of third-trimester ID and IDA were 46.2 and 11.4%, respectively. Moreover, moderate and high levels of first-trimester hepcidin were positively related to third-trimester hepcidin (log-transformed β = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.01, 1.00 and log-transformed β = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.15, 1.17). Importantly, elevated first-trimester hepcidin was significantly associated with reduced risk of third-trimester IDA (OR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.15, 0.99), but not with ID after adjustment with potential confounders. Conclusion First-trimester hepcidin was negatively associated with IDA risk in late pregnancy, indicating higher first-trimester hepcidin level may predict reduced risk for developing IDA. Nonetheless, given the limited sample size, larger studies are still needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Sun
- Shenzhen Nanshan Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yueqin Zhou
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Suhua Xu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaotong Wang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiuxiu Li
- Shenzhen Nanshan Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hailin Li
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zongyu Lin
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fenglian Huang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lewei Zhu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanna Zhu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Ssewanyana D, Borque SL, Lye SJ, Matthews SG. Hepcidin across pregnancy and its correlation with maternal markers of iron and inflammation, maternal body weight outcomes, and offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. AJOG GLOBAL REPORTS 2023; 3:100222. [PMID: 37645642 PMCID: PMC10461250 DOI: 10.1016/j.xagr.2023.100222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the correlation between maternal hepcidin and other biomarkers of iron status, markers of inflammation, and maternal body weight during pregnancy, as well as neurodevelopment in the offspring. DATA SOURCES PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase were searched from inception until March 2022. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Studies conducted among pregnant women without apparent pregnancy complications were included. Eligible studies reported correlation coefficients between maternal hepcidin and any outcomes of maternal biomarkers of iron status or inflammatory load during pregnancy, prenatal maternal body weight, and offspring neurodevelopment. Studies without correlation data were eligible if they quantitatively reported volumes of both maternal hepcidin and any marker of iron status and/or inflammatory load during gestation. METHODS Pooled correlation coefficients between maternal hepcidin and outcomes of interest were calculated using the Fisher r-to-Z transformation. Both fixed-effects and DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models were used to calculate pooled correlation coefficient. When meta-analysis was not feasible, results were descriptively synthesized. RESULTS Forty-six studies with 6624 participants were eligible. Hepcidin was significantly correlated with hemoglobin in the third trimester (r=0.21; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-0.32); ferritin in the first (r=0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.61) and third trimester (r=0.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.23-0.48); soluble transferrin receptor in the second trimester (r=-0.27; 95% confidence interval, -0.4 to -0.14); total iron-binding capacity in the second trimester (r=0.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.24-0.50); and serum iron in the third trimester (r=0.11; 95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.19). Hepcidin was significantly correlated with the inflammatory marker interleukin-6 in the third trimester (r=0.26; 95% confidence interval, 0.17-0.34) and C-reactive protein in the second (r=0.16; 95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.30) and third trimester (r=0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.52). Four out of 5 studies reported weak-to-moderate positive correlation between hepcidin and body mass index. Hepcidin levels varied across body mass index categories. No single study reported the relationship between maternal hepcidin and neurodevelopment in offspring. CONCLUSION Hepcidin weakly to moderately correlates with biomarkers of iron and inflammation in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derrick Ssewanyana
- Departments of Physiology (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews)
- Medicine (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews), University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Alliance for Human Development, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Toronto, Canada (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews)
| | - Stephane L. Borque
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Dr Borque)
| | - Stephen J. Lye
- Departments of Physiology (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews)
- Medicine (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews), University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Alliance for Human Development, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Toronto, Canada (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews)
| | - Stephen G. Matthews
- Departments of Physiology (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews)
- Medicine (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews), University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Alliance for Human Development, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Toronto, Canada (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews)
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Hepcidin Status in Cord Blood: Observational Data from a Tertiary Institution in Belgium. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15030546. [PMID: 36771252 PMCID: PMC9920610 DOI: 10.3390/nu15030546] [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: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The hormone hepcidin plays an important role in intestinal iron absorption and cellular release. Cord blood hepcidin values reflect fetal hepcidin status, at least at the time of delivery, but are not available for the Belgian population. Therefore, we aimed (1) to provide the first data on cord blood hepcidin levels in a Belgian cohort and (2) to determine variables associated with cord blood hepcidin concentrations. A cross-sectional, observational study was performed at the University Hospital Leuven, Belgium. Cord blood samples were analyzed using a combination of weak cation exchange chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests were performed. In total, 61 nonhemolyzed cord blood samples were analyzed. The median hepcidin level was 17.6 μg/L (IQR: 18.1; min-max: 3.9-54.7). A moderate correlation was observed between cord blood hepcidin and cord blood ferritin (r = 0.493) and hemoglobin (r = -0.342). Cord blood hepcidin was also associated with mode of delivery (p = 0.01), with higher hepcidin levels for vaginal deliveries. Nonetheless, larger studies are needed to provide more evidence on the actual clinical value and benefit of cord blood hepcidin measurements.
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Fernandes GM, Sasaki LMP, Jardim-Santos GP, Schulte HL, Motta F, da Silva ÂP, de Carvalho AO, Pereira YR, Alves CDO, de Araújo Júnior DA, Mendonça-Silva DL, Costa KN, de Castro MEC, Lauand L, Nery RDR, Tristão R, Kurizky PS, Nóbrega ODT, Espindola LS, de Castro LCG, Alpoim PN, Godoi LC, Dusse LMSA, Coelho-dos-Reis JGA, do Amaral LR, Gomes MDS, Bertarini PLL, Brito-de-Sousa JP, da Costa-Rocha IA, Campi-Azevedo AC, Peruhype-Magalhães V, Teixeira-Carvalho A, Zaconeta AM, Soares AADSM, Valim V, Gomes CM, de Albuquerque CP, Martins-Filho OA, da Mota LMH. Panoramic snapshot of serum soluble mediator interplay in pregnant women with convalescent COVID-19: an exploratory study. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1176898. [PMID: 37122732 PMCID: PMC10130456 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1176898] [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: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy can induce changes in the maternal immune response, with effects on pregnancy outcome and offspring. This is a cross-sectional observational study designed to characterize the immunological status of pregnant women with convalescent COVID-19 at distinct pregnancy trimesters. The study focused on providing a clear snapshot of the interplay among serum soluble mediators. Methods A sample of 141 pregnant women from all prenatal periods (1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters) comprised patients with convalescent SARS-CoV-2 infection at 3-20 weeks after symptoms onset (COVID, n=89) and a control group of pre-pandemic non-infected pregnant women (HC, n=52). Chemokine, pro-inflammatory/regulatory cytokine and growth factor levels were quantified by a high-throughput microbeads array. Results In the HC group, most serum soluble mediators progressively decreased towards the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, while higher chemokine, cytokine and growth factor levels were observed in the COVID patient group. Serum soluble mediator signatures and heatmap analysis pointed out that the major increase observed in the COVID group related to pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-12, IFN-γ and IL-17). A larger set of biomarkers displayed an increased COVID/HC ratio towards the 2nd (3x increase) and the 3rd (3x to 15x increase) trimesters. Integrative network analysis demonstrated that HC pregnancy evolves with decreasing connectivity between pairs of serum soluble mediators towards the 3rd trimester. Although the COVID group exhibited a similar profile, the number of connections was remarkably lower throughout the pregnancy. Meanwhile, IL-1Ra, IL-10 and GM-CSF presented a preserved number of correlations (≥5 strong correlations in HC and COVID), IL-17, FGF-basic and VEGF lost connectivity throughout the pregnancy. IL-6 and CXCL8 were included in a set of acquired attributes, named COVID-selective (≥5 strong correlations in COVID and <5 in HC) observed at the 3rd pregnancy trimester. Discussion and conclusion From an overall perspective, a pronounced increase in serum levels of soluble mediators with decreased network interplay between them demonstrated an imbalanced immune response in convalescent COVID-19 infection during pregnancy that may contribute to the management of, or indeed recovery from, late complications in the post-symptomatic phase of the SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldo Magela Fernandes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Geraldo Magela Fernandes, ; Olindo Assis Martins-Filho,
| | - Lizandra Moura Paravidine Sasaki
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
- Hospital Universitário de Brasília, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
| | | | - Heidi Luise Schulte
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
| | - Felipe Motta
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Maria Eduarda Canellas de Castro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
- Hospital Universitário de Brasília, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
| | - Lucas Lauand
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
| | | | - Rosana Tristão
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
| | - Patricia Shu Kurizky
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
- Hospital Universitário de Brasília, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
| | | | - Laila Salmen Espindola
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
| | - Luiz Cláudio Gonçalves de Castro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
| | | | - Lara Carvalho Godoi
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | | | - Laurence Rodrigues do Amaral
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Análises Moleculares, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Patos de Minas, Brazil
| | - Matheus de Souza Gomes
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Análises Moleculares, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Patos de Minas, Brazil
| | - Pedro Luiz Lima Bertarini
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Análises Moleculares, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Patos de Minas, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Alexandre Anderson de Sousa Munhoz Soares
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
| | - Valéria Valim
- Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antônio Moraes, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (HUCAM-UFES), Vitória, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva (PPGSC), Centro de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil
| | - Ciro Martins Gomes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
| | - Cleandro Pires de Albuquerque
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
- Hospital Universitário de Brasília, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
| | - Olindo Assis Martins-Filho
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ-Minas), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Geraldo Magela Fernandes, ; Olindo Assis Martins-Filho,
| | - Licia Maria Henrique da Mota
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
- Hospital Universitário de Brasília, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
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Wawer AA, Hodyl NA, Fairweather-Tait S, Froessler B. Are Pregnant Women Who Are Living with Overweight or Obesity at Greater Risk of Developing Iron Deficiency/Anaemia? Nutrients 2021; 13:1572. [PMID: 34067098 PMCID: PMC8151407 DOI: 10.3390/nu13051572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Low-grade inflammation is often present in people living with obesity. Inflammation can impact iron uptake and metabolism through elevation of hepcidin levels. Obesity is a major public health issue globally, with pregnant women often affected by the condition. Maternal obesity is associated with increased pregnancy risks including iron deficiency (ID) and iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA)-conditions already highly prevalent in pregnant women and their newborns. This comprehensive review assesses whether the inflammatory state induced by obesity could contribute to an increased incidence of ID/IDA in pregnant women and their children. We discuss the challenges in accurate measurement of iron status in the presence of inflammation, and available iron repletion strategies and their effectiveness in pregnant women living with obesity. We suggest that pre-pregnancy obesity and overweight/obese pregnancies carry a greater risk of ID/IDA for the mother during pregnancy and postpartum period, as well as for the baby. We propose iron status and weight gain during pregnancy should be monitored more closely in women who are living with overweight or obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A. Wawer
- Department of Anaesthesia, Lyell McEwin Hospital, Elizabeth Vale, SA 5112, Australia;
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia;
| | - Nicolette A. Hodyl
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia;
| | - Susan Fairweather-Tait
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK;
| | - Bernd Froessler
- Department of Anaesthesia, Lyell McEwin Hospital, Elizabeth Vale, SA 5112, Australia;
- Discipline of Acute Care Medicine, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
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González-Fernández D, Nemeth E, Pons EDC, Rueda D, Sinisterra OT, Murillo E, Sangkhae V, Starr LM, Scott ME, Koski KG. INTERGROWTH-21 Identifies High Prevalence of Low Symphysis-Fundal Height in Indigenous Pregnant Women Experiencing Multiple Infections, Nutrient Deficiencies, and Inflammation: The Maternal Infections, Nutrient Deficiencies, and Inflammation (MINDI) Cohort. Curr Dev Nutr 2021; 5:nzab012. [PMID: 33898918 PMCID: PMC8053398 DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzab012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the absence of ultrasound, symphysis-fundal height (SFH) can assess maternal-fetal well-being as it is associated with gestational age, fetal weight, and amniotic fluid volume. However, other modifiers of SFH, including maternal infections, nutrient deficiencies, and inflammation (MINDI), have not been widely explored. OBJECTIVES Our objectives were 2-fold: 1) to assess prevalence of low SFH in indigenous Panamanian women using both Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and INTERGROWTH-21 standards and 2) to explore associations of SFH with maternal health indicators: infections (oral, skin, urogenital, nematode infections), nutrient deficiencies [protein and iron indicators (ferritin, serum iron, serum transferrin receptor, hepcidin), folate, and vitamins A, D, and B-12], and inflammation [leukocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), cytokines]. METHODS For this cross-sectional study, low-SFH-for-gestational-age was assessed using PAHO and INTERGROWTH <10th centile in 174 women at ≥16 weeks of gestation. Bootstrapping selected MINDI variables for inclusion in multivariable fractional polynomial (MFP) logistic regressions for low SFH. Associations of MINDI variables with hepcidin were also investigated. RESULTS Prevalence of low SFH was 8% using PAHO, but using INTERGROWTH, 50.6% had SFH <10th centile, including 37.9% <3rd centile. Both PAHO-SFH <10th centile and INTERGROWTH-SFH <3rd centile were associated with higher hepcidin (OR = 1.12, P = 0.008, and OR = 3.04, P = 0.001, respectively) and with lower TNF-α (OR = 0.73, P = 0.012, and OR = 0.93, P = 0.015, respectively). Wood-smoke exposure increased the odds of PAHO-SFH <10th centile (OR = 1.19, P = 0.009), whereas higher BMI decreased the odds of INTERGROWTH-SFH <3rd centile (OR = 0.87, P = 0.012). Lower pulse pressure (OR = 0.90, P = 0.009) and lower inflammatory responses [lower lymphocytes (OR = 0.21, P = 0.026), IL-17 (OR = 0.89, P = 0.011)] distinguished SFH <3rd centile from SFH ≥3rd to <10th centiles using INTERGROWTH-21 standards. The MFP regression for hepcidin controlling for SFH (adjusted R 2 = 0.40, P = 0.001) revealed associations with indicators of inflammation (CRP, P < 0.0001; IL-17, P = 0.012), acidic urinary pH (P = 0.008), and higher intake of supplements (P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS Associations of low SFH with MINDI variables, including hepcidin, highlight its potential for early detection of multicausal in utero growth faltering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris González-Fernández
- School of Human Nutrition, McGill University (Macdonald Campus), Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
| | - Elizabeta Nemeth
- Center for Iron Disorders, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Delfina Rueda
- “Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé” Health Region, Ministry of Health, San Félix, Chiriquí Province, Panama
| | | | - Enrique Murillo
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Panama, Panama City, Panama
| | - Veena Sangkhae
- Center for Iron Disorders, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lisa M Starr
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University (Macdonald Campus), Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marilyn E Scott
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University (Macdonald Campus), Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kristine G Koski
- School of Human Nutrition, McGill University (Macdonald Campus), Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
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Spence T, Allsopp PJ, Yeates AJ, Mulhern MS, Strain JJ, McSorley EM. Maternal Serum Cytokine Concentrations in Healthy Pregnancy and Preeclampsia. J Pregnancy 2021; 2021:6649608. [PMID: 33680514 PMCID: PMC7925069 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6649608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The maternal immune response is essential for successful pregnancy, promoting immune tolerance to the fetus while maintaining innate and adaptive immunity. Uncontrolled, increased proinflammatory responses are a contributing factor to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. The Th1/Th2 cytokine shift theory, characterised by bias production of Th2 anti-inflammatory cytokine midgestation, was frequently used to reflect the maternal immune response in pregnancy. This theory is simplistic as it is based on limited information and does not consider the role of other T cell subsets, Th17 and Tregs. A range of maternal peripheral cytokines have been measured in pregnancy cohorts, albeit the changes in individual cytokine concentrations across gestation is not well summarised. Using available data, this review was aimed at summarising changes in individual maternal serum cytokine concentrations throughout healthy pregnancy and evaluating their association with preeclampsia. We report that TNF-α increases as pregnancy progresses, IL-8 decreases in the second trimester, and IL-4 concentrations remain consistent throughout gestation. Lower second trimester IL-10 concentrations may be an early predictor for developing preeclampsia. Proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-8, and IL-6) are significantly elevated in preeclampsia. More research is required to determine the usefulness of using cytokines, particularly IL-10, as early biomarkers of pregnancy health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toni Spence
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Philip J. Allsopp
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Alison J. Yeates
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Maria S. Mulhern
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - J. J. Strain
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Emeir M. McSorley
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
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Sangkhae V, Fisher AL, Chua KJ, Ruchala P, Ganz T, Nemeth E. Maternal hepcidin determines embryo iron homeostasis in mice. Blood 2020; 136:2206-2216. [PMID: 32584957 PMCID: PMC7645983 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020005745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron disorders are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, yet iron homeostatic mechanisms during pregnancy are poorly understood. In humans and rodents, the iron-regulatory hormone hepcidin is profoundly decreased in pregnant mothers, which is thought to ensure adequate iron availability for transfer across placenta. However, the fetal liver also produces hepcidin, which may regulate fetal iron endowment by controlling placental iron export. To determine the relative contribution of maternal vs embryo hepcidin to the control of embryo iron endowment in iron-sufficient or iron-overloaded mice, we generated combinations of mothers and embryos that had or lacked hepcidin. We found that maternal, but not embryonic, hepcidin determined embryo and placental iron endowment in a healthy pregnancy. We further determined that inflammation can counteract pregnancy-dependent suppression of maternal hepcidin. To establish how essential maternal hepcidin suppression is for embryo iron homeostasis, we mimicked the range of maternal hepcidin activity by administering a hepcidin peptide mimetic to pregnant mice. This also allowed us to determine the effect of isolated maternal hepcidin excess on pregnancy, in the absence of other confounding effects of inflammation. Higher doses of hepcidin agonist caused maternal iron restriction and anemia, lower placenta and embryo weight, embryo anemia, and increased embryo mortality. Low agonist doses did not cause maternal anemia but still adversely affected the embryo, causing anemia, tissue iron deficiency (including in the brain), and decreased weight. Our studies demonstrate that suppression of maternal hepcidin during pregnancy is essential for maternal and embryo iron homeostasis and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veena Sangkhae
- Center for Iron Disorders, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine and
| | - Allison L Fisher
- Center for Iron Disorders, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine and
- Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology Graduate Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Kristine J Chua
- Center for Iron Disorders, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine and
| | - Piotr Ruchala
- Center for Iron Disorders, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine and
| | - Tomas Ganz
- Center for Iron Disorders, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine and
| | - Elizabeta Nemeth
- Center for Iron Disorders, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine and
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10
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Nila SG, Bobby Z, Dorairajan G, Jacob SE. Diagnostic ability of hepcidin in predicting fetal outcome in preeclampsia. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019; 34:3678-3683. [PMID: 31736392 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2019.1689561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Background: Low birth weight and prematurity are the major contributors to neonatal mortality and morbidity. Preeclampsia which is associated with both maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity is a major contributor to such poor fetal outcomes. Hepcidin an acute phase peptide hormone gets elevated in conditions of iron overload, inflammation, infections, and cytotoxicity. Hepcidin levels can get elevated in pregnancies with such pathologies which invariably will be having a poor fetal outcome.Objective: To study the role of hepcidin as a diagnostic marker in predicting a poor fetal outcome.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study with follow up was carried out in a South Indian Tamil population. Forty healthy pregnant women and forty preeclampsia patients were recruited between the gestational age of 34 ± 4 weeks and followed up till delivery. Serum levels of hepcidin were analyzed for all the participants and comparisons were done between preeclampsia and healthy pregnancies as well as between pregnancies with good and poor fetal outcomes. Fetal outcome variables such as birth weight, gestational age at the time of delivery and NICU admission status of the newborn were collected during the follow-up period. ROC curves were constructed to determine the ability of maternal serum hepcidin levels in predicting poor fetal outcomes with good sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios.Results: Maternal hepcidin levels were found to be significantly elevated in preeclampsia patients (p < .001) as well as in mothers with the poor fetal outcome (p < .001). On ROC curve analysis, AUC were 0.686, 0.788, 0.749 and LR + were 2.18, 2.44, 2.14, respectively for predicting low birth weight, preterm delivery and NICU admission status of the newborn. Hepcidin was able to predict the overall poor fetal outcome in our preeclampsia patients above a cut off level of 615 pg/mlConclusion: Above a cut off level of 615 pg/ml and at the gestational age of 34 ± 4 weeks, maternal hepcidin levels were able to predict poor fetal outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm delivery, and NICU admission.
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Affiliation(s)
- S G Nila
- Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India
| | - Zachariah Bobby
- Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India
| | - Gowri Dorairajan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India
| | - Sajini Elizabeth Jacob
- Department of Pathology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India
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11
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Amstad Bencaiova G, Vogt DR, Hoesli I. Serum hepcidin and iron status parameters in pregnant women and the association with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes: a study protocol for a prospective cohort study. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e032280. [PMID: 31699745 PMCID: PMC6858208 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepcidin production is normally upregulated by iron stores, and in obesity has been shown to be overexpressed and correlated with low iron status. The increased hepcidin may restrain the iron release from the cells by affecting the expression of ferroportin, which probably associates with the development of diabetes complication. First, we investigate the difference of serum hepcidin and iron parameters between obese and non-obese pregnant women; second, we examine the correlation between serum hepcidin and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This is a mono-centre, prospective cohort study with a study (obese) and a control group (non-obese women). In the first trimester, 188 singleton pregnancies will be recruited. Thereof, we expect 75 with a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 and 113 with a BMI 18.5-30 kg/m2. Serum hepcidin, iron and haematological parameters will be measured at 11-14, 24-28, 32-36 weeks of gestation and at time of delivery. Blood pressure, weight, BMI and smoking status will be examined at all visits. We will assess the composite endpoints adverse maternal outcomes (including pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus, haemorrhage, placenta abruption) and adverse neonatal outcomes (preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm premature rupture of membranes, Apgar score <7 at 5 min, stillbirth, neonatal death).Recruitment has started in April 2019. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This study received ethical approval from the ethics committee in Basel. The results of the study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, and presented at national scientific conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT03792464.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Irene Hoesli
- Department of Obtetrics and Antenatal Care, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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12
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Vazenmiller D, Ponamaryova O, Muravlyova L, Molotov-Luchanskiy V, Klyuyev D, Bakirova R, Amirbekova Z. The Levels of Hepcidin and Erythropoietin in Pregnant Women with Anemia of Various Geneses. Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2018; 6:2111-2114. [PMID: 30559870 PMCID: PMC6290438 DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2018.471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM: The purpose of the present research was to study the content of erythropoietin and hepcidin in serum in pregnant women with iron deficiency anaemia and anaemia of chronic inflammation. METHODS: The authors examined 98 pregnant women who were observed in LLP (Regional obstetric-gynaecological centre) in Karaganda. The including criteria for pregnant women in the study was the informed consent of the woman to participate in the study. Exclusion criteria were oncological diseases, HIV-infection, tuberculosis, severe somatic pathology, mental illness, drug addiction. The design of the study was by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, international ethical norms and normative documents of research organisations, approved by the ethics committee of the Karaganda State Medical University. RESULTS: As a result of the study, it was determined that the content of erythropoietin and hepcidin in pregnant women with anemias of different genesis varies ambiguously. In the main group of pregnant women with IDA, the erythropoietin content rises, and the hepcidin level decreases. In pregnant women with ACI, on the contrary, the level of hepcidin increases, and in one subgroup it is significant. However, in pregnant women and with IDA and anemia of chronic inflammation, there is a subgroup of women in whom erythropoietin is either comparable with hepcidin, or their changes are of opposite nature. CONCLUSION: The authors concluded that the obtained data indicate ambiguous changes in the level of erythropoietin and hepcidin in pregnant women with anaemias of various origins. In all likelihood, there are still unaccounted factors affecting the content of these protein-regulators of iron metabolism, which require further definition and interpretation in anaemia of pregnant women.
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13
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Lynch S, Pfeiffer CM, Georgieff MK, Brittenham G, Fairweather-Tait S, Hurrell RF, McArdle HJ, Raiten DJ. Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development (BOND)-Iron Review. J Nutr 2018; 148:1001S-1067S. [PMID: 29878148 PMCID: PMC6297556 DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxx036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Revised: 05/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This is the fifth in the series of reviews developed as part of the Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development (BOND) program. The BOND Iron Expert Panel (I-EP) reviewed the extant knowledge regarding iron biology, public health implications, and the relative usefulness of currently available biomarkers of iron status from deficiency to overload. Approaches to assessing intake, including bioavailability, are also covered. The report also covers technical and laboratory considerations for the use of available biomarkers of iron status, and concludes with a description of research priorities along with a brief discussion of new biomarkers with potential for use across the spectrum of activities related to the study of iron in human health.The I-EP concluded that current iron biomarkers are reliable for accurately assessing many aspects of iron nutrition. However, a clear distinction is made between the relative strengths of biomarkers to assess hematological consequences of iron deficiency versus other putative functional outcomes, particularly the relationship between maternal and fetal iron status during pregnancy, birth outcomes, and infant cognitive, motor and emotional development. The I-EP also highlighted the importance of considering the confounding effects of inflammation and infection on the interpretation of iron biomarker results, as well as the impact of life stage. Finally, alternative approaches to the evaluation of the risk for nutritional iron overload at the population level are presented, because the currently designated upper limits for the biomarker generally employed (serum ferritin) may not differentiate between true iron overload and the effects of subclinical inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christine M Pfeiffer
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Michael K Georgieff
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Gary Brittenham
- Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY
| | - Susan Fairweather-Tait
- Department of Nutrition, Norwich Medical School, Norwich Research Park, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7JT, UK
| | - Richard F Hurrell
- Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Harry J McArdle
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, UK
| | - Daniel J Raiten
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH)
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Zehra A, Saleh Abdullah SM, Saboor M, Moinuddin. Effect of Intravenous Iron Supplementation on Hepcidin Levels in Iron Deficient Pregnant Females in Second and Third Trimester. Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus 2017; 33:396-401. [PMID: 28824243 PMCID: PMC5544634 DOI: 10.1007/s12288-016-0736-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective of the study was to assess effect of iron therapy on serum hepcidin levels in iron deficient pregnant women and its correlation with hemoglobin, serum iron profile and C-reactive protein (CRP). A total of 100 pregnant women were enrolled in the study; 25 were included in the "control group" having normal hematological and biochemical parameters while 75 iron deficient pregnant women were enrolled in the "patient group" with low hematological and biochemical parameters. CRP was done to rule out inflammation and to observe its association with hepcidin. Intravenous iron was administered to the patient group. Post treatment CBC, serum iron, serum ferritin and serum hepcidin were determined. Difference between pre and post treatment hemoglobin, serum iron, serum ferritin and serum hepcidin levels were determined and correlation among them was calculated. Post treatment serum hepcidin levels were significantly higher than pretreatment level (p = 0.001). However, no correlation was seen between serum hepcidin, serum iron, serum ferritin and hemoglobin. Hepcidin levels remain low during pregnancy as there is increased demand for iron in pregnancy. Iron supplementation results in increased hepcidin levels; however no mathematical correlation was found between serum hepcidin level and serum iron profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amtuz Zehra
- Department of Pathology, Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | | | - Muhammad Saboor
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Moinuddin
- Baqai Institute of Hematology, Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
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15
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Graham C, Chooniedass R, Stefura WP, Becker AB, Sears MR, Turvey SE, Mandhane PJ, Subbarao P, HayGlass KT. In vivo immune signatures of healthy human pregnancy: Inherently inflammatory or anti-inflammatory? PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177813. [PMID: 28636613 PMCID: PMC5479559 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in maternal innate immunity during healthy human pregnancy are not well understood. Whether basal immune status in vivo is largely unaffected by pregnancy, is constitutively biased towards an inflammatory phenotype (transiently enhancing host defense) or exhibits anti-inflammatory bias (reducing potential responsiveness to the fetus) is unclear. Here, in a longitudinal study of healthy women who gave birth to healthy infants following uncomplicated pregnancies within the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) cohort, we test the hypothesis that a progressively altered bias in resting innate immune status develops. Women were examined during pregnancy and again, one and/or three years postpartum. Most pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, including CCL2, CXCL10, IL-18 and TNFα, was reduced in vivo during pregnancy (20-57%, p<0.0001). Anti-inflammatory biomarkers (sTNF-RI, sTNF-RII, and IL-1Ra) were elevated by ~50-100% (p<0.0001). Systemic IL-10 levels were unaltered during vs. post-pregnancy. Kinetic studies demonstrate that while decreased pro-inflammatory biomarker expression (CCL2, CXCL10, IL-18, and TNFα) was constant, anti-inflammatory expression increased progressively with increasing gestational age (p<0.0001). We conclude that healthy resting maternal immune status is characterized by an increasingly pronounced bias towards a systemic anti-inflammatory innate phenotype during the last two trimesters of pregnancy. This is resolved by one year postpartum in the absence of repeat pregnancy. The findings provide enhanced understanding of immunological changes that occur in vivo during healthy human pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Graham
- Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Rishma Chooniedass
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - William P. Stefura
- Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Allan B. Becker
- Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Malcolm R. Sears
- Department of Medicine, de Groote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stuart E. Turvey
- Department of Pediatrics, Child & Family Research Institute and BC Children’s Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Piush J. Mandhane
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Padmaja Subbarao
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - CHILD Study Investigators
- CHILD (Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development Study) Investigators, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Kent T. HayGlass
- Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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16
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Bah A, Pasricha SR, Jallow MW, Sise EA, Wegmuller R, Armitage AE, Drakesmith H, Moore SE, Prentice AM. Serum Hepcidin Concentrations Decline during Pregnancy and May Identify Iron Deficiency: Analysis of a Longitudinal Pregnancy Cohort in The Gambia. J Nutr 2017; 147:1131-1137. [PMID: 28424258 PMCID: PMC5443464 DOI: 10.3945/jn.116.245373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Revised: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Antenatal anemia is a risk factor for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes and is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. Less than half of antenatal anemia is considered responsive to iron; identifying women in need of iron may help target interventions. Iron absorption is governed by the iron-regulatory hormone hepcidin. Objective: We sought to characterize changes in hepcidin and its associations with indexes of iron stores, erythropoiesis, and inflammation at weeks 14, 20, and 30 of gestation and to assess hepcidin’s diagnostic potential as an index of iron deficiency. Methods: We measured hemoglobin and serum hepcidin, ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) at 14, 20, and 30 wk of gestation in a cohort of 395 Gambian women recruited to a randomized controlled trial. Associations with hepcidin were measured by using linear regression, and hepcidin’s diagnostic test accuracy [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCROC), sensitivity, specificity, cutoffs] for iron deficiency at each time point was analyzed. Results: The prevalence of anemia increased from 34.6% at 14 wk of gestation to 50.0% at 20 wk. Hepcidin concentrations declined between study enrollment and 20 wk, whereas ferritin declined between 20 and 30 wk of gestation. The variations in hepcidin explained by ferritin, sTfR, and CRP declined over pregnancy. The AUCROC values for hepcidin to detect iron deficiency (defined as ferritin <15 μg/L) were 0.86, 0.83, and 0.84 at 14, 20, and 30 wk, respectively. Hepcidin was superior to hemoglobin and sTfR as an indicator of iron deficiency. Conclusions: In Gambian pregnant women, hepcidin appears to be a useful diagnostic test for iron deficiency and may enable the identification of cases for whom iron would be beneficial. Hepcidin suppression in the second trimester suggests a window for optimal timing for antenatal iron interventions. Hemoglobin does not effectively identify iron deficiency in pregnancy. This trial was registered at www.isrctn.com as ISRCTN49285450.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amat Bah
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit The Gambia-MRC International Nutrition Group, Banjul, Gambia;
| | - Sant-Rayn Pasricha
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Momodou W Jallow
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit The Gambia-MRC International Nutrition Group, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Ebrima A Sise
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit The Gambia-MRC International Nutrition Group, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Rita Wegmuller
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit The Gambia-MRC International Nutrition Group, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Andrew E Armitage
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Hal Drakesmith
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie E Moore
- Division of Women's Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; and
| | - Andrew M Prentice
- MRC Unit The Gambia-MRC International Nutrition Group and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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17
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Miller EM. The reproductive ecology of iron in women. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2016; 159:S172-95. [PMID: 26808104 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Reproductive ecology focuses on the sensitivity of human reproduction to environmental variation. While reproductive ecology has historically focused on the relationship between energy status and reproductive outcomes, iron status is equally critical to women's reproductive health, given the wide-ranging detrimental effects of iron-deficiency anemia on maternal and infant well-being. This review interprets the vast literature on iron status and women's reproduction through an evolutionary framework. First, it will critique the evidence for iron deficiency caused by blood loss during menstruation, reinterpreting the available data as ecological variation in menses within and between populations of women. Second, it will highlight the scant but growing evidence that iron status is implicated in fertility, a relationship that has deep evolutionary roots. Third, this review proposes a new hypothesis for the transfer of iron from mother to infant via pregnancy and breastfeeding: reproductive iron withholding. In this hypothesis, mothers transfer iron to infants in a manner that helps infants avoid iron-mediated infection and oxidative stress, but trades off with potential risk of maternal and infant iron deficiency. Finally, this review explores two main factors that can modify the relationship between iron status and the gestation-lactation cycle: (1) the relationship between long-term reproductive effort (parity) and iron status and (2) supplementation schemes before and during pregnancy. The review concludes by suggesting continued research into iron homeostasis in women using evolutionary, ecological, and biocultural frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Miller
- Department of Anthropology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620
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18
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Chełchowska M, Ambroszkiewicz J, Gajewska J, Jabłońska-Głąb E, Maciejewski TM, Ołtarzewski M. Hepcidin and Iron Metabolism in Pregnancy: Correlation with Smoking and Birth Weight and Length. Biol Trace Elem Res 2016; 173:14-20. [PMID: 26785641 PMCID: PMC4975765 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-016-0621-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
To estimate the effect of tobacco smoking on iron homeostasis and the possible association between hepcidin and the neonatal birth weight and length, concentrations of serum hepcidin and selected iron markers were measured in 81 healthy pregnant women (41 smokers and 40 nonsmokers). The smoking mothers had significantly lower concentrations of serum hepcidin (p < 0.001), iron (p < 0.001), and hemoglobin (p < 0.05), but higher erythropoietin (p < 0.05) levels compared with non-smoking pregnant women. Logistic regression analysis showed the highest negative impact of the number of cigarettes smoked per day (β = -0.46; p < 0.01) and positive impact of ferritin level (β = 0.47; p < 0.001) on serum hepcidin concentration. The birth weight and the body length of smoking mothers' infants were significantly lower than in tobacco abstinent group (p < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, birth body weight (β = 0.56; p < 0.001) and length (β = 0.50; p < 0.001) were significantly related to maternal hepcidin values. Tobacco smoking affected hepcidin level in serum of pregnant women in a dose-dependent manner. Low concentrations of iron and hemoglobin in maternal serum coexisting with high level of erythropoietin suggest that smoking could lead to subclinical iron deficiency and chronic hypoxia not only in mothers but also in fetus. Low serum hepcidin concentration in smoking pregnant women might be associated with lower fetal birth weight and length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Chełchowska
- Screening Department, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka 17a, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Jadwiga Ambroszkiewicz
- Screening Department, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka 17a, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Gajewska
- Screening Department, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka 17a, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Jabłońska-Głąb
- Screening Department, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka 17a, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz M Maciejewski
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka 17a, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mariusz Ołtarzewski
- Screening Department, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka 17a, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland
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19
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Cao C, Pressman EK, Cooper EM, Guillet R, Westerman M, O'Brien KO. Prepregnancy Body Mass Index and Gestational Weight Gain Have No Negative Impact on Maternal or Neonatal Iron Status. Reprod Sci 2015; 23:613-22. [PMID: 26423600 DOI: 10.1177/1933719115607976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of maternal obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) on maternal and neonatal iron status and to explore the possible mediating role of inflammation on hepcidin. METHODS This analysis included 230 pregnant adolescents (13-18 years) enrolled in either a longitudinal or a cross-sectional study. Prepregnancy body mass index (ppBMI) and GWG were obtained from medical records. Maternal iron status (hemoglobin, serum iron, ferritin, transferrin receptor, total body iron, and hepcidin) and inflammation (interleukin-6 [IL-6] and leptin) were assessed at midgestation (26.2 ± 3.3 weeks) in the longitudinal cohort and at delivery (39.8 ± 1.3 weeks) in both study cohorts. Cord blood was collected in both studies and analyzed for iron indicators. RESULTS Approximately 40% of the adolescents entered pregnancy overweight or obese. Multivariate analysis identified ppBMI as a negative predictor of serum iron at midgestation (P = .009) and a positive predictor of serum hepcidin at delivery (P = .02). None of the other maternal iron status indicators were significantly associated with ppBMI or GWG. Serum IL-6 was significantly positively associated with hepcidin at delivery (P = .0001) but not at midgestation. There was a positive relationship between ppBMI and cord hemoglobin (P = .03). CONCLUSION These results suggest that adiposity-related inflammation does not override the iron-mediated signals that regulate hepcidin production during pregnancy, and in this adolescent cohort, there is no strong evidence for a detrimental effect of maternal obesity and excessive weight gain on iron status in the offspring at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Cao
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Eva K Pressman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Cooper
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Ronnie Guillet
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
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Burke RM, Leon JS, Suchdev PS. Identification, prevention and treatment of iron deficiency during the first 1000 days. Nutrients 2014; 6:4093-114. [PMID: 25310252 PMCID: PMC4210909 DOI: 10.3390/nu6104093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2014] [Revised: 09/09/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron deficiency is a global problem across the life course, but infants and their mothers are especially vulnerable to both the development and the consequences of iron deficiency. Maternal iron deficiency during pregnancy can predispose offspring to the development of iron deficiency during infancy, with potentially lifelong sequelae. This review explores iron status throughout these "first 1000 days" from pregnancy through two years of age, covering the role of iron and the epidemiology of iron deficiency, as well as its consequences, identification, interventions and remaining research gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Burke
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Juan S Leon
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Parminder S Suchdev
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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Lee S, Guillet R, Cooper EM, Westerman M, Orlando M, Pressman E, O'Brien KO. Maternal inflammation at delivery affects assessment of maternal iron status. J Nutr 2014; 144:1524-32. [PMID: 25080540 DOI: 10.3945/jn.114.191445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnant adolescents (aged ≤ 18 y, n = 253) were followed from ≥ 12 wk of gestation to delivery to assess longitudinal changes in anemia and iron status and to explore associations between iron status indicators, hepcidin, and inflammatory markers. Hemoglobin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), ferritin, serum iron, erythropoietin (EPO), hepcidin, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6), folate, and vitamin B-12 were measured, and total body iron (TBI) (milligrams per kilogram) was calculated using sTfR and ferritin values. Anemia prevalence increased from trimesters 1 and 2 (3-5%, <28 wk) to trimester 3 (25%, 33.2 ± 3.7 wk, P < 0.0001). The prevalence of iron deficiency (sTfR > 8.5 mg/L) doubled from pregnancy to delivery (7% to 14%, P = 0.04). Ferritin and hepcidin concentrations at delivery may have been elevated as a consequence of inflammation because IL-6 concentrations at delivery were 1.6-fold higher than those obtained at 26.1 ± 3.3 wk of gestation (P < 0.0001), and a positive association was found between IL-6 and both hepcidin and ferritin at delivery (P < 0.01). EPO was consistently correlated with hemoglobin (r = -0.36 and -0.43, P < 0.001), ferritin (r = -0.37 and -0.32, P < 0.0001), sTfR (r = 0.35 and 0.25, P < 0.001), TBI (r = -0.44 and -0.37, P < 0.0001), and serum iron (r = -0.22 and -0.16, P < 0.05) at mid-gestation and at delivery, respectively. EPO alone explained the largest proportion of variance in hemoglobin at 26.0 ± 3.3 wk of gestation (R(2) = 0.13, P = 0.0001, n = 113) and at delivery (R(2) = 0.19, P < 0.0001, n = 192). Pregnant adolescents are at high risk of anemia. EPO is a sensitive indicator of iron status across gestation, is not affected by systemic inflammation, and may better predict risk of anemia at term. The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01019902.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunmin Lee
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Ronnie Guillet
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY; and
| | - Elizabeth M Cooper
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY; and
| | | | - Mark Orlando
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY; and
| | - Eva Pressman
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY; and
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The aetiology of anaemia during pregnancy: a study to evaluate the contribution of iron deficiency and common infections in pregnant Ugandan women. Public Health Nutr 2014; 18:1423-35. [DOI: 10.1017/s1368980014001888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AbstractObjectiveTo describe the aetiology of anaemia in pregnant Ugandan women and explore Fe deficiency and common infections as contributors to anaemia in this population.DesignCross-sectional study in which Hb, ferritin, transferrin receptor (sTfR), C-reactive protein, α-1 acid glycoprotein, hepcidin, malaria, hookworm infestation, syphilis and Helicobacter pylori infection were assessed.SettingAntenatal care clinic at Kawempe Health Centre, Kampala, Uganda.SubjectsHIV-negative women (n 151) in their first or second pregnancy at 10–16 weeks’ gestation.ResultsThe prevalence of anaemia was 29·1 %. Fe deficiency was 40·4 % and 14·6 % based on ferritin <30 μg/l and on adjusted ferritin <12 μg/l respectively, and 6·6 % based on sTfR >8·3 μg/ml. The prevalence of Fe-deficiency anaemia was 9·3 % based on ferritin <30 μg/l, 6·6 % based on adjusted ferritin <12 μg/l and 4·3 % based on sTfR >8·3 μg/ml. Hepcidin concentration was positively correlated with ferritin concentration (n 151, r=0·578, P<0·00001). H. pylori infection was highly prevalent (70 %) while malaria, hookworm infestation and syphilis were not common. Of all women, 60·3 % had α-1 acid glycoprotein >1 g/l and/or C-reactive protein >5 mg/l. Malaria parasitaemia (OR=6·85; 95 % CI 1·25, 37·41, P=0·026) and Fe deficiency defined using sTfR (OR=5·58; 95 % CI 1·26, 24·80, P=0·024) were independently and positively associated with anaemia. Population-attributable risk factors for anaemia for raised C-reactive protein, Fe deficiency defined by sTfR >8·3 μg/ml and presence of malaria parasites were 41·6 (95 % CI 11·1, 72·2) %, 13·5 (95 % CI 2·0, 25·0) % and 12·0 (95 % CI 1·4, 22·6) %, respectively.ConclusionsInfections and inflammation are of greater significance than Fe deficiency in the aetiology of anaemia in pregnant Ugandan women during the first trimester.
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Koenig MD, Tussing-Humphreys L, Day J, Cadwell B, Nemeth E. Hepcidin and iron homeostasis during pregnancy. Nutrients 2014; 6:3062-83. [PMID: 25093277 PMCID: PMC4145295 DOI: 10.3390/nu6083062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2014] [Revised: 07/02/2014] [Accepted: 07/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepcidin is the master regulator of systemic iron bioavailability in humans. This review examines primary research articles that assessed hepcidin during pregnancy and postpartum and report its relationship to maternal and infant iron status and birth outcomes; areas for future research are also discussed. A systematic search of the databases Medline and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health returned 16 primary research articles including 10 human and six animal studies. Collectively, the results indicate that hepcidin is lower during pregnancy than in a non-pregnant state, presumably to ensure greater iron bioavailability to the mother and fetus. Pregnant women with undetectable serum hepcidin transferred a greater quantity of maternally ingested iron to their fetus compared to women with detectable hepcidin, indicating that maternal hepcidin in part determines the iron bioavailability to the fetus. However, inflammatory states, including preeclampsia, malaria infection, and obesity were associated with higher hepcidin during pregnancy compared to healthy controls, suggesting that maternal and fetal iron bioavailability could be compromised in such conditions. Future studies should examine the relative contribution of maternal versus fetal hepcidin to the control of placental iron transfer as well as optimizing maternal and fetal iron bioavailability in pregnancies complicated by inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Dawn Koenig
- Department of Women, Children and Family Health Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago 845 S. Damen Ave., Room 814 (MC802), Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
| | - Lisa Tussing-Humphreys
- Division of Health Promotion Research, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60608, USA.
| | - Jessica Day
- Sumter Family Health Center, 1278 N Lafayette Drive Sumter, SC 29150, USA.
| | - Brooke Cadwell
- School of Nursing, Yale University, 100 Church Street South, New Haven, CT 06519, USA.
| | - Elizabeta Nemeth
- UCLA, Department of Medicine, Center for Iron Disorders, University of California Los Angeles, CHS 52-239, 10833 Le Conte Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90095-1690, USA.
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Penha-Gonçalves C, Gozzelino R, de Moraes LV. Iron overload in Plasmodium berghei-infected placenta as a pathogenesis mechanism of fetal death. Front Pharmacol 2014; 5:155. [PMID: 25071574 PMCID: PMC4077027 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2014] [Accepted: 06/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium infection during gestation may lead to severe clinical manifestations including abortion, stillbirth, intrauterine growth retardation, and low birth weight. Mechanisms underlying such poor pregnancy outcomes are still unclear. In the animal model of severe placental malaria (PM), in utero fetal death frequently occurs and mothers often succumb to infection before or immediately after delivery. Plasmodium berghei-infected erythrocytes (IEs) continuously accumulate in the placenta, where they are then phagocytosed by fetal-derived placental cells, namely trophoblasts. Inside the phagosomes, disruption of IEs leads to the release of non-hemoglobin bound heme, which is subsequently catabolized by heme oxygenase-1 into carbon monoxide, biliverdin, and labile iron. Fine-tuned regulatory mechanisms operate to maintain iron homeostasis, preventing the deleterious effect of iron-induced oxidative stress. Our preliminary results demonstrate that iron overload in trophoblasts of P. berghei-infected placenta is associated with fetal death. Placentas which supported normally developing embryos showed no iron accumulation within the trophoblasts. Placentas from dead fetuses showed massive iron accumulation, which was associated with parasitic burden. Here we present preliminary data suggesting that disruption of iron homeostasis in trophoblasts during the course of PM is a consequence of heme accumulation after intense IE engulfment. We propose that iron overload in placenta is a pathogenic component of PM, contributing to fetal death. The mechanism through which it operates still needs to be elucidated.
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