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The Expression of IL-1β Correlates with the Expression of Galectin-3 in the Tissue at the Maternal-Fetal Interface during the Term and Preterm Labor. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11216521. [PMID: 36362749 PMCID: PMC9656499 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11216521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The inflammatory processes that occur at the maternal−fetal interface are considered one of the factors that are responsible for preterm birth. The pro-inflammatory roles of the Gal-3-induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and the consecutive production of IL-1β have been described in several acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, but the role of this inflammatory axis in parturition has not been studied. The aim of this study was to analyze the protein expression of Gal-3, NLRP3, and IL-1β in the decidua, villi, and fetal membranes, and to analyze their mutual correlation and correlation with the clinical parameters of inflammation in preterm birth (PTB) and term birth (TB). The study included 40 women that underwent a preterm birth (gestational age of 25.0−36.6) and histological chorioamnionitis (PTB) and control subjects, 22 women that underwent a term birth (gestational age of 37.0−41.6) without histological chorioamnionitis (TB). An analysis of the tissue sections that were stained with anti- Gal-3, -NLRP3, and -IL-1β antibodies was assessed by three independent investigators. The expression levels of Gal-3 and IL-1β were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the decidua, villi, and fetal membranes in the PTB group when they compared to those of the TB group, while there was no difference in the expression of NLRP3. A further analysis revealed that there was no correlation between the protein expression of NLRP3 and the expression of Gal-3 and IL-1β, but there was a correlation between the expression of Gal-3 and IL-1β in decidua (R = 0.401; p = 0.008), villi (R = 0.301; p = 0.042) and the fetal membranes (R = 0.428; p = 0.002) in both of the groups, PTB and TB. In addition, the expression of Gal-3 and IL-1β in decidua and the fetal membranes was in correlation with the parameters of inflammation in the maternal and fetal blood (C-reactive protein, leukocyte number, and fibrinogen). The strong correlation between the expression of Gal-3 and IL-1β in the placental and fetal tissues during labor indicates that Gal-3 may participate in the regulation of the inflammatory processes in the placenta, leading to increased production of IL-1β, a cytokine that plays the main role in both term and preterm birth.
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Rio-Aige K, Girbal M, Selma-Royo M, Parra-Llorca A, González S, Martínez-Costa C, Castell M, Collado MC, Pérez-Cano FJ, Rodríguez-Lagunas MJ. Galectins-1, -3 and -9 Are Present in Breast Milk and Have a Role in Early Life Development. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14204338. [PMID: 36297023 PMCID: PMC9611974 DOI: 10.3390/nu14204338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Galectins (Gal) are a family of conserved soluble proteins with high affinity for β-galactoside structures. They have been recognized as important proteins for successful pregnancy. However, little is known about their presence in breast milk and their role in early infancy. Gal-1, -3 and -9 concentrations were evaluated by Multiplex immunoassays in mother–infant pairs from the MAMI cohort in maternal plasma (MP) (n = 15) and umbilical cord plasma (UCP) (n = 15) at birth and in breast milk samples (n = 23) at days 7 and 15 postpartum. Data regarding mother and infant characteristics were collected. Gal-9 was present in a lower concentration range than Gal-1 and Gal-3 in plasma, specifically in UCP. A major finding in the current study is that Gal-1, -3 and -9 were detected for the first time in all the transitional breast milk samples and no differences were found when comparing the two breastfeeding time points. Finally, Gal levels were associated with some maternal and infant characteristics, such as gestational age, pregnancy weight gain, maternal diet, the gender, infant growth and infant infections. In conclusion, Gal levels seem to be involved in certain developmental aspects of early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Rio-Aige
- Physiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA-UB), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - Marina Girbal
- Physiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA-UB), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - Marta Selma-Royo
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC), National Research Council, 46980 Valencia, Spain
| | - Anna Parra-Llorca
- Neonatal Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Sonia González
- Department of Functional Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oviedo, 33071 Oviedo, Spain
- Diet, Microbiota and Health Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (DIMISA, ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Cecilia Martínez-Costa
- Department of Pediatrics, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, University of Valencia, Avenida Blasco Ibáñez 15-17, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Margarida Castell
- Physiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA-UB), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - María Carmen Collado
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC), National Research Council, 46980 Valencia, Spain
| | - Francisco J. Pérez-Cano
- Physiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA-UB), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - María J. Rodríguez-Lagunas
- Physiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA-UB), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
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Chen M, Shi JL, Zheng ZM, Lin Z, Li MQ, Shao J. Galectins: Important Regulators in Normal and Pathologic Pregnancies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710110. [PMID: 36077508 PMCID: PMC9456357 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Galectins (Gal) are characterized by their affinity for galactoside structures on glycoconjugates. This relationship is mediated by carbohydrate recognition domains, which are multifunctional regulators of basic cellular biological processes with high structural similarity among family members. They participate in both innate and adaptive immune responses, as well as in reproductive immunology. Recently, the discovery that galectins are highly expressed at the maternal–fetal interface has garnerd the interest of experts in human reproduction. Galectins are involved in a variety of functions such as maternal–fetal immune tolerance, angiogenesis, trophoblast invasion and placental development and are considered to be important mediators of successful embryo implantation and during pregnancy. Dysregulation of these galectins is associated with abnormal and pathological pregnancies (e.g., preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth). Our work reviews the regulatory mechanisms of galectins in normal and pathological pregnancies and has implications for clinicians in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Chen
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Jia-Lu Shi
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Zi-Meng Zheng
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Zhi Lin
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Ming-Qing Li
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai 200080, China
- NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200080, China
- Correspondence: (M.-Q.L.); (J.S.)
| | - Jun Shao
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai 200080, China
- Department of Obstetrics, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China
- Correspondence: (M.-Q.L.); (J.S.)
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