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Thompson BB, Holzer PH, Kliman HJ. Placental Pathology Findings in Unexplained Pregnancy Losses. Reprod Sci 2024; 31:488-504. [PMID: 37725247 PMCID: PMC10827979 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01344-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
There are approximately 5 million pregnancies per year in the USA, with 1 million ending in miscarriage (a loss occurring prior to 20 weeks of gestation) and over 20,000 ending in stillbirth at or beyond 20 weeks of gestation. As many as 50% of these losses are unexplained. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of expanding the placental pathology diagnostic categories to include the explicit categories of (1) dysmorphic chorionic villi and (2) small placenta in examining previously unexplained losses. Using a clinical database of 1256 previously unexplained losses at 6-43 weeks of gestation, the most prevalent abnormality associated with each loss was determined through examination of its placental pathology slides. Of 1256 cases analyzed from 922 patients, there were 878 (69.9%) miscarriages and 378 (30.1%) antepartum stillbirths. We determined the pathologic diagnoses for 1150/1256 (91.6%) of the entire series, 777/878 (88.5%) of the miscarriages (< 20 weeks' gestation), and 373/378 (98.7%) of the stillbirths (≥ 20 weeks' gestation). The most common pathologic feature observed in unexplained miscarriages was dysmorphic chorionic villi (757 cases; 86.2%), a marker associated with genetic abnormalities. The most common pathologic feature observed in unexplained stillbirths was a small placenta (128 cases; 33.9%). Our classification system reinforced the utility of placental examination for elucidating potential mechanisms behind pregnancy loss. The improved rate of diagnosis appeared to be the result of filling a gap in previous pregnancy loss classification systems via inclusion of the categories of dysmorphic chorionic villi and small placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrix B Thompson
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Parker H Holzer
- Department of Statistics & Data Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Spiff Incorporated, Sandy, UT, USA
| | - Harvey J Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Olney KC, Plaisier SB, Phung TN, Silasi M, Perley L, O'Bryan J, Ramirez L, Kliman HJ, Wilson MA. Sex differences in early and term placenta are conserved in adult tissues. Biol Sex Differ 2022; 13:74. [PMID: 36550527 PMCID: PMC9773522 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00470-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnancy complications vary based on the fetus's genetic sex, which may, in part, be modulated by the placenta. Furthermore, developmental differences early in life can have lifelong health outcomes. Yet, sex differences in gene expression within the placenta at different timepoints throughout pregnancy and comparisons to adult tissues remains poorly characterized. METHODS Here, we collect and characterize sex differences in gene expression in term placentas (≥ 36.6 weeks; 23 male XY and 27 female XX). These are compared with sex differences in previously collected first trimester placenta samples and 42 non-reproductive adult tissues from GTEx. RESULTS We identify 268 and 53 sex-differentially expressed genes in the uncomplicated late first trimester and term placentas, respectively. Of the 53 sex-differentially expressed genes observed in the term placentas, 31 are also sex-differentially expressed genes in the late first trimester placentas. Furthermore, sex differences in gene expression in term placentas are highly correlated with sex differences in the late first trimester placentas. We found that sex-differential gene expression in the term placenta is significantly correlated with sex differences in gene expression in 42 non-reproductive adult tissues (correlation coefficient ranged from 0.892 to 0.957), with the highest correlation in brain tissues. Sex differences in gene expression were largely driven by gene expression on the sex chromosomes. We further show that some gametologous genes (genes with functional copies on X and Y) will have different inferred sex differences if the X-linked gene expression in females is compared to the sum of the X-linked and Y-linked gene expression in males. CONCLUSIONS We find that sex differences in gene expression are conserved in late first trimester and term placentas and that these sex differences are conserved in adult tissues. We demonstrate that there are sex differences associated with innate immune response in late first trimester placentas but there is no significant difference in gene expression of innate immune genes between sexes in healthy full-term placentas. Finally, sex differences are predominantly driven by expression from sex-linked genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly C Olney
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ, 85282, USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85282, USA
| | - Seema B Plaisier
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ, 85282, USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85282, USA
| | - Tanya N Phung
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ, 85282, USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85282, USA
| | - Michelle Silasi
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mercy Hospital St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63141, USA
| | - Lauren Perley
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Jane O'Bryan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Lucia Ramirez
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ, 85282, USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85282, USA
| | - Harvey J Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Melissa A Wilson
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ, 85282, USA.
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85282, USA.
- The Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85282, USA.
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Anam AK, Cooke KM, Dratver MB, O'Bryan JV, Perley LE, Guller SM, Hwang JJ, Taylor HS, Goedeke L, Kliman HJ, Vatner DF, Flannery CA. Insulin increases placental triglyceride as a potential mechanism for fetal adiposity in maternal obesity. Mol Metab 2022; 64:101574. [PMID: 35970449 PMCID: PMC9440306 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Maternal obesity increases the incidence of excess adiposity in newborns, resulting in lifelong diabetes risk. Elevated intrauterine fetal adiposity has been attributed to maternal hyperglycemia; however, this hypothesis does not account for the increased adiposity seen in newborns of mothers with obesity who have euglycemia. We aimed to explore the placental response to maternal hyperinsulinemia and the effect of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) in promoting fetal adiposity by increasing storage and availability of nutrients to the fetus. METHODS We used placental villous explants and isolated trophoblasts from normal weight and obese women to assess the effect of insulin and IGF-2 on triglyceride content and insulin receptor signaling. Stable isotope tracer methods were used ex vivo to determine effect of hormone treatment on de novo lipogenesis (DNL), fatty acid uptake, fatty acid oxidation, and esterification in the placenta. RESULTS Here we show that placentae from euglycemic women with normal weight and obesity both have abundant insulin receptor. Placental depth and triglyceride were greater in women with obesity compared with normal weight women. In syncytialized placental trophoblasts and villous explants, insulin and IGF-2 activate insulin receptor, induce expression of lipogenic transcription factor SREBP-1 (sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1), and stimulate triglyceride accumulation. We demonstrate elevated triglyceride is attributable to increased esterification of fatty acids, without contribution from DNL and without an acceleration of fatty acid uptake. CONCLUSIONS Our work reveals that obesity-driven aberrations in maternal metabolism, such as hyperinsulinemia, alter placental metabolism in euglycemic conditions, and may explain the higher prevalence of excess adiposity in the newborns of obese women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika K Anam
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Katherine M Cooke
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Milana Bochkur Dratver
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jane V O'Bryan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lauren E Perley
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Seth M Guller
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Janice J Hwang
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hugh S Taylor
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Leigh Goedeke
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Harvey J Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Daniel F Vatner
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Clare A Flannery
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Phung TN, Olney KC, Pinto BJ, Silasi M, Perley L, O’Bryan J, Kliman HJ, Wilson MA. X chromosome inactivation in the human placenta is patchy and distinct from adult tissues. HGG Adv 2022; 3:100121. [PMID: 35712697 PMCID: PMC9194956 DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2022.100121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, one of the X chromosomes in genetic females is inactivated by a process called X chromosome inactivation (XCI). Variation in XCI across the placenta may contribute to observed sex differences and variability in pregnancy outcomes. However, XCI has predominantly been studied in human adult tissues. Here, we sequenced and analyzed DNA and RNA from two locations from 30 full-term pregnancies. Implementing an allele-specific approach to examine XCI, we report evidence that XCI in the human placenta is patchy, with large patches of either maternal or paternal X chromosomes inactivated. Further, using similar measurements, we show that this is in contrast to adult tissues, which generally exhibit mosaic X inactivation, where bulk samples exhibit both maternal and paternal X chromosome expression. Further, by comparing skewed samples in placenta and adult tissues, we identify genes that are uniquely inactivated or expressed in the placenta compared with adult tissues, highlighting the need for tissue-specific maps of XCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya N. Phung
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
| | - Kimberly C. Olney
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
| | - Brendan J. Pinto
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
- Department of Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA
| | - Michelle Silasi
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Mercy Hospital St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63141, USA
| | - Lauren Perley
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Jane O’Bryan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Harvey J. Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Melissa A. Wilson
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
- The Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
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Firestein MR, Kliman HJ, Sania A, Brink LT, Holzer PH, Hofmann KM, Milano KM, Pini N, Shuffrey LC, Odendaal HJ, Fifer WP. Trophoblast inclusions and adverse birth outcomes. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264733. [PMID: 35231069 PMCID: PMC8887719 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Trophoblast inclusions-cross sections of abnormal trophoblast bilayer infoldings-have previously been associated with aneuploidy, placenta accreta, and prematurity. This study was conducted to establish the relationship between trophoblast inclusions and a range of placental, pregnancy, and birth outcomes in a patient population with high smoking and alcohol exposure. Specifically, we sought to evaluate the association between the presence of trophoblast inclusions and 1) three primary birth outcomes: full-term birth, preterm birth, and stillbirth; 2) gestational age at delivery; and 3) specific placental pathologies. METHODS Two slides containing chorionic villi were evaluated from 589 placentas that were collected from Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa as part of the prospective, multicenter cohort Safe Passage Study of the Prenatal Alcohol and SIDS and Stillbirth Network. The subsample included 307 full-term live births, 212 preterm live births, and 70 stillbirths. RESULTS We found that the odds of identifying at least one trophoblast inclusion across two slides of chorionic villi was significantly higher for placentas from preterm compared to term liveborn deliveries (OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.22, 2.49, p = 0.002), with an even greater odds ratio for placentas from stillborn compared to term liveborn deliveries (OR = 4.95; 95% CI: 2.78, 8.80, p < 0.001). Gestational age at delivery was inversely associated with trophoblast inclusion frequency. Trophoblast inclusions were significantly associated with small for gestational age birthweight, induction of labor, villous edema, placental infarction, and inflammation of the chorionic plate. CONCLUSIONS The novel associations that we report warrant further investigation in order to understand the complex network of biological mechanisms through which the factors that lead to trophoblast inclusions may influence or reflect the trajectory and health of a pregnancy. Ultimately, this line of research may provide critical insights that could inform both clinical and research applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan R. Firestein
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MRF); (HJK)
| | - Harvey J. Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MRF); (HJK)
| | - Ayesha Sania
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Lucy T. Brink
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Parker H. Holzer
- Department of Statistics & Data Science, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Katherine M. Hofmann
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Kristin M. Milano
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Nicolò Pini
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Lauren C. Shuffrey
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Hein J. Odendaal
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - William P. Fifer
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, United States of America
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Tal R, Kisa J, Abuwala N, Kliman HJ, Shaikh S, Chen AY, Lyu F, Taylor HS. Bone marrow-derived progenitor cells contribute to remodeling of the postpartum uterus. Stem Cells 2021; 39:1489-1505. [PMID: 34224633 PMCID: PMC9313624 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Endometrial stem/progenitor cells play a role in postpartum uterine tissue regeneration, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. While circulating bone marrow (BM)-derived cells (BMDCs) contribute to nonhematopoietic endometrial cells, the contribution of BMDCs to postpartum uterus remodeling is unknown. We investigated the contribution of BMDCs to the postpartum uterus using 5-fluorouracil-based nongonadotoxic BM transplant from green fluorescent protein (GFP) donors into wild-type C57BL/6J female mice. Flow cytometry showed an influx of GFP+ cells to the uterus immediately postpartum accounting for 28.7% of total uterine cells, followed by a rapid decrease to prepregnancy levels. The majority of uterine GFP+ cells were CD45+ leukocytes, and the proportion of nonhematopoietic CD45-GFP+ cells peaked on postpartum day (PPD) 1 (17.5%). Immunofluorescence colocalization of GFP with CD45 pan-leukocyte and F4/80 macrophage markers corroborated these findings. GFP+ cells were found mostly in subepithelial stromal location. Importantly, GFP+ cytokeratin-positive epithelial cells were found within the luminal epithelium exclusively on PPD1, demonstrating direct contribution to postpartum re-epithelialization. A subset (3.2%) of GFP+ cells were CD31+CD45- endothelial cells, and found integrated within blood vessel endothelium. Notably, BM-derived GFP+ cells demonstrated preferential proliferation (PCNA+) and apoptosis (TUNEL+) on PPD1 vs resident GFP- cells, suggesting an active role for BMDCs in rapid tissue turnover. Moreover, GFP+ cells gradually acquired cell senescence together with decreased proliferation throughout the postpartum. In conclusion, BM-derived progenitors were found to have a novel nonhematopoietic cellular contribution to postpartum uterus remodeling. This contribution may have an important functional role in physiological as well as pathological postpartum endometrial regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reshef Tal
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jacqueline Kisa
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Nafeesa Abuwala
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Harvey J Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Shafiq Shaikh
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Alice Y Chen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Fang Lyu
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Hugh S Taylor
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Lu-Culligan A, Chavan AR, Vijayakumar P, Irshaid L, Courchaine EM, Milano KM, Tang Z, Pope SD, Song E, Vogels CBF, Lu-Culligan WJ, Campbell KH, Casanovas-Massana A, Bermejo S, Toothaker JM, Lee HJ, Liu F, Schulz W, Fournier J, Muenker MC, Moore AJ, Konnikova L, Neugebauer KM, Ring A, Grubaugh ND, Ko AI, Morotti R, Guller S, Kliman HJ, Iwasaki A, Farhadian SF. Maternal respiratory SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy is associated with a robust inflammatory response at the maternal-fetal interface. Med 2021; 2:591-610.e10. [PMID: 33969332 PMCID: PMC8084634 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2021.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnant women are at increased risk for severe outcomes from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the pathophysiology underlying this increased morbidity and its potential effect on the developing fetus is not well understood. METHODS We assessed placental histology, ACE2 expression, and viral and immune dynamics at the term placenta in pregnant women with and without respiratory severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. FINDINGS The majority (13 of 15) of placentas analyzed had no detectable viral RNA. ACE2 was detected by immunohistochemistry in syncytiotrophoblast cells of the normal placenta during early pregnancy but was rarely seen in healthy placentas at full term, suggesting that low ACE2 expression may protect the term placenta from viral infection. Using immortalized cell lines and primary isolated placental cells, we found that cytotrophoblasts, the trophoblast stem cells and precursors to syncytiotrophoblasts, rather than syncytiotrophoblasts or Hofbauer cells, are most vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. To better understand potential immune mechanisms shielding placental cells from infection in vivo, we performed bulk and single-cell transcriptomics analyses and found that the maternal-fetal interface of SARS-CoV-2-infected women exhibited robust immune responses, including increased activation of natural killer (NK) and T cells, increased expression of interferon-related genes, as well as markers associated with pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia. CONCLUSIONS SARS-CoV-2 infection in late pregnancy is associated with immune activation at the maternal-fetal interface even in the absence of detectable local viral invasion. FUNDING NIH (T32GM007205, F30HD093350, K23MH118999, R01AI157488, U01DA040588) and Fast Grant funding support from Emergent Ventures at the Mercatus Center.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Lu-Culligan
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Arun R Chavan
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Pavithra Vijayakumar
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lina Irshaid
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Edward M Courchaine
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kristin M Milano
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Zhonghua Tang
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Scott D Pope
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Eric Song
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Chantal B F Vogels
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - William J Lu-Culligan
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Katherine H Campbell
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Arnau Casanovas-Massana
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Santos Bermejo
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jessica M Toothaker
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Hannah J Lee
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Feimei Liu
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Wade Schulz
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - John Fournier
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - M Catherine Muenker
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Adam J Moore
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Liza Konnikova
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Karla M Neugebauer
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Aaron Ring
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nathan D Grubaugh
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Albert I Ko
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Raffaella Morotti
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Seth Guller
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Harvey J Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Akiko Iwasaki
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, New Haven, CT, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Shelli F Farhadian
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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Katz J, Holzer PH, Kliman HJ. Genetics, not the uterine environment, drive the formation of trophoblast inclusions: Insights from a twin study. Placenta 2021; 114:133-138. [PMID: 33941390 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Trophoblast inclusions (TIs) are associated with aneuploidy and pregnancy loss and have thus been considered to be a marker of genetic abnormality. However, to date, no study has specifically explored whether TIs are a manifestation of fetal genetics or, rather, the result of the intrauterine environment. The goal of this study was to compare the frequency of TIs in the placentas of monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs in order to determine whether the formation of TIs is genetically driven or not. METHODS We performed a retrospective case series of placentas from 48 twin pairs. The placentas were grouped based on zygosity: MZ, DZ, or unknown (UZ). The average number of total TIs per slide was calculated for each twin individual and the mean absolute difference in the total TIs per slide between the twin pairs was calculated for each zygosity group and compared. RESULTS The mean difference in the total TIs per slide for DZ twins was significantly greater than the mean difference in the total TIs per slide for MZ twins (p = 0.003). The mean difference in the total TIs per slide for the UZ group was also significantly greater than the mean difference in total TIs per slide between MZ twin pairs (p = 0.028). DISCUSSION Our finding that MZ twins were significantly more concordant than DZ twins for the average number of TIs per slide supports the conclusion that TIs are intrinsic to the genetics of the fetus, not the uterine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Katz
- Yale College, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Parker H Holzer
- Department of Statistics & Data Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Harvey J Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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9
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Lu-Culligan A, Chavan AR, Vijayakumar P, Irshaid L, Courchaine EM, Milano KM, Tang Z, Pope SD, Song E, Vogels CB, Lu-Culligan WJ, Campbell KH, Casanovas-Massana A, Bermejo S, Toothaker JM, Lee HJ, Liu F, Schulz W, Fournier J, Muenker MC, Moore AJ, Konnikova L, Neugebauer KM, Ring A, Grubaugh ND, Ko AI, Morotti R, Guller S, Kliman HJ, Iwasaki A, Farhadian SF. SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy is associated with robust inflammatory response at the maternal-fetal interface. medRxiv 2021:2021.01.25.21250452. [PMID: 33532791 PMCID: PMC7852242 DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.25.21250452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Pregnant women appear to be at increased risk for severe outcomes associated with COVID-19, but the pathophysiology underlying this increased morbidity and its potential impact on the developing fetus is not well understood. In this study of pregnant women with and without COVID-19, we assessed viral and immune dynamics at the placenta during maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection. Amongst uninfected women, ACE2 was detected by immunohistochemistry in syncytiotrophoblast cells of the normal placenta during early pregnancy but was rarely seen in healthy placentas at full term. Term placentas from women infected with SARS-CoV-2, however, displayed a significant increase in ACE2 levels. Using immortalized cell lines and primary isolated placental cells, we determined the vulnerability of various placental cell types to direct infection by SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Yet, despite the susceptibility of placental cells to SARS-CoV-2 infection, viral RNA was detected in the placentas of only a subset (~13%) of women in this cohort. Through single cell transcriptomic analyses, we found that the maternal-fetal interface of SARS-CoV-2-infected women exhibited markers associated with pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia, and robust immune responses, including increased activation of placental NK and T cells and increased expression of interferon-related genes. Overall, this study suggests that SARS-CoV-2 is associated with immune activation at the maternal-fetal interface even in the absence of detectable local viral invasion. While this likely represents a protective mechanism shielding the placenta from infection, inflammatory changes in the placenta may also contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes and thus warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Lu-Culligan
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Arun R. Chavan
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Pavithra Vijayakumar
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lina Irshaid
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Edward M. Courchaine
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kristin M. Milano
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Zhonghua Tang
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Scott D. Pope
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Eric Song
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Chantal B.F. Vogels
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - William J. Lu-Culligan
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Katherine H. Campbell
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Arnau Casanovas-Massana
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Santos Bermejo
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jessica M. Toothaker
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Hannah J. Lee
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Feimei Liu
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Wade Schulz
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - John Fournier
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - M. Catherine Muenker
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Adam J. Moore
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Liza Konnikova
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Karla M. Neugebauer
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Aaron Ring
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nathan D. Grubaugh
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Albert I. Ko
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Raffaella Morotti
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Seth Guller
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Harvey J. Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Akiko Iwasaki
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, New Haven, CT, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Shelli F. Farhadian
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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10
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Kliman HJ, Firestein MR, Hofmann KM, Milano KM, Holzer PH, Brink LT, Odendaal HJ, Fifer WP. Trophoblast inclusions in the human placenta: Identification, characterization, quantification, and interrelations of subtypes. Placenta 2021; 103:172-176. [PMID: 33152642 PMCID: PMC8448462 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2020.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We sought to examine placentas enriched for trophoblast inclusions (TIs) in order to characterize, quantify, and examine the interrelations between subtypes of TIs to better understand their underlying biology. We examined a cohort of 600 placentas from deliveries between 200 and 430 weeks of gestation. Forty-five percent of the placentas had at least one TI in the two slides examined. Four percent of the placentas had 10 or more TIs and two placentas had more than 70 TIs. Four distinct TI subtypes were observed: inclusionoids (early forming inclusions), inclusions, calcified inclusions, and calcified bodies. We suggest this reflects a developmental trajectory of TI maturation, the timing of which might be useful when comparing TI expression to clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harvey J Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Morgan R Firestein
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Kristin M Milano
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Parker H Holzer
- Department of Statistics & Data Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lucy T Brink
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Hein J Odendaal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - William P Fifer
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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11
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Kliman HJ, Ling IS, Milano KM. Efficacy of telotristat ethyl: A peripheral tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor that blocks serotonin biosynthesis against cultured liposarcoma, colon cancer, and cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. J Clin Oncol 2020. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2020.38.15_suppl.e15602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
e15602 Background: Serotonin (5-HT) is most often considered a neurotransmitter—but in reality its main function is to promote cell proliferation at the site of wound healing via platelet degranulation. We tested the hypothesis that blocking 5-HT production in cancer cells might lead to their death by exposure to a specific tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) inhibitor: telotristat ethyl (TE). The advantage of this TPH inhibitor is that it does not cross the blood brain barrier and therefore can be used to treat peripheral cancers without danger of interfering with central nervous system 5-HT production. Methods: Three cancer cell lines were tested: liposarcoma (94T778), colon cancer (HT-29), and cholangiocarcinoma (TFK-1). The cells were grown with 0, 5, 15 and 30 µM TE, plated into four-chambered slides with an initial confluence of at least 30%, and cultured for 24-96 H. At the end of each 24 hour period slides were removed, washed, fixed, and stained with hematoxylin for density assessment. Experiments were performed in triplicate and repeated in at least three separate experiments. Cell confluence was determined under low power microscopic examination. Results: In the absence of TE the three cell lines increased their confluence from approximately 30% to 83±5.8% (94T778), 68±11% (HT-29), and 60±16% (TFK-1) over 96 H. When the 94T778 cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of TE their confluence decreased progressively. At a dose of 30 µM cell confluence at 24 H was 3±0%, at 48 H 0.3±0.6%, at 72 H 0±0%, and at 96 H 0±0%. For the HT-29 cells, cell confluence in the 30 µM TE groups were 12±8%, 3±3%, 7±5% and 2±1% at 24, 48, 72 and 96 H, respectively. For the TFK-1cells, cell confluence in the 30 µM TE groups were 7±3%, 20±14%, 17±14% and 24±16% at 24, 48, 72 and 96 H, respectively. Conclusions: Telotristat ethyl is a potent inhibitor of tumor cell line growth. However, the efficacy of this inhibition varies between cell lines. The liposarcoma cell line was most sensitive to TE, with the cholangiocarcinoma cell line being moderately impacted. The colon cancer cell line was intermediate between these two. The differences in response to TE may be related to the specific expression of TPH in any particular cell line, with cancers that are more dependent on 5-HT production being most impacted by TPH blockade. Just as ER PR positive breast cancers are sensitive to blockade of these receptors, TPH positive cancers may be successfully targeted by specific inhibition of the 5-HT biosynthetic pathway.
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12
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Pavlicev M, Zupan AM, Barry A, Walters S, Milano KM, Kliman HJ, Wagner GP. An experimental test of the ovulatory homolog model of female orgasm. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:20267-20273. [PMID: 31570579 PMCID: PMC6789565 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1910295116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The ovulatory homolog model of female orgasm posits that the neuro-endocrine mechanisms underlying female orgasm evolved from and are homologous to the mechanisms mediating copulation-induced ovulation in some mammals. This model predicts that pharmacological agents that affect human orgasm, such as fluoxetine, should also affect ovulation in animals with copulation-induced ovulation, such as rabbits. We tested this prediction by treating rabbits with daily doses of fluoxetine for 2 wk and found that fluoxetine treatment reduces the number of ovulations postcopulation by 30%. In a second experiment we tested whether this result was mediated by an effect on the brain or via peripheral serotonin functions. We treated animals with fluoxetine and induced ovulation with a single injection of human chorionic gonadotropin. In this experiment ovulation rate was nominally reduced by only 8%, which is statistically not significant. We conclude that the effect of fluoxetine on copulation-induced ovulation rate supports the ovulatory homolog model of female orgasm, suggesting that female orgasm has very deep evolutionary roots among the early eutherian mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Pavlicev
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267
- Department of Philosophy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221
- Center for Preterm Birth, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Andreja Moset Zupan
- Center for Preterm Birth, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Amanda Barry
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267
| | - Savannah Walters
- Veterinary Services Surgical Core, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Kristin M Milano
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale Medical School, New Haven, CT 06510
| | - Harvey J Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale Medical School, New Haven, CT 06510
| | - Günter P Wagner
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale Medical School, New Haven, CT 06510;
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520
- Yale Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06516
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13
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Tal R, Shaikh S, Pallavi P, Tal A, López-Giráldez F, Lyu F, Fang YY, Chinchanikar S, Liu Y, Kliman HJ, Alderman M, Pluchino N, Kayani J, Mamillapalli R, Krause DS, Taylor HS. Adult bone marrow progenitors become decidual cells and contribute to embryo implantation and pregnancy. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000421. [PMID: 31513564 PMCID: PMC6742226 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Decidua is a transient uterine tissue shared by mammals with hemochorial placenta and is essential for pregnancy. The decidua is infiltrated by many immune cells promoting pregnancy. Adult bone marrow (BM)-derived cells (BMDCs) differentiate into rare populations of nonhematopoietic endometrial cells in the uterus. However, whether adult BMDCs become nonhematopoietic decidual cells and contribute functionally to pregnancy is unknown. Here, we show that pregnancy mobilizes mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to the circulation and that pregnancy induces considerable adult BMDCs recruitment to decidua, where some differentiate into nonhematopoietic prolactin-expressing decidual cells. To explore the functional importance of nonhematopoietic BMDCs to pregnancy, we used Homeobox a11 (Hoxa11)-deficient mice, having endometrial stromal-specific defects precluding decidualization and successful pregnancy. Hoxa11 expression in BM is restricted to nonhematopoietic cells. BM transplant (BMT) from wild-type (WT) to Hoxa11-/- mice results in stromal expansion, gland formation, and marked decidualization otherwise absent in Hoxa11-/- mice. Moreover, in Hoxa11+/- mice, which have increased pregnancy losses, BMT from WT donors leads to normalized uterine expression of numerous decidualization-related genes and rescue of pregnancy loss. Collectively, these findings reveal that adult BMDCs have a previously unrecognized nonhematopoietic physiologic contribution to decidual stroma, thereby playing important roles in decidualization and pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reshef Tal
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Shafiq Shaikh
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Pallavi Pallavi
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Aya Tal
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Francesc López-Giráldez
- Yale Center for Genome Analysis (YCGA), Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Fang Lyu
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Yuan-Yuan Fang
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Shruti Chinchanikar
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Harvey J. Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Myles Alderman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Nicola Pluchino
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Jehanzeb Kayani
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Ramanaiah Mamillapalli
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Diane S. Krause
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Hugh S. Taylor
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
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Kliman HJ, Frankfurter D. Clinical approach to recurrent implantation failure: evidence-based evaluation of the endometrium. Fertil Steril 2019; 111:618-628. [PMID: 30929719 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The endometrium is a dynamic, repetitively cycling tissue that mediates the implantation of the blastocyst. Evaluation of this complex tissue necessitates sophisticated methods that can assess its functional potential. Beginning in the 1950s with simple histological endometrial "dating," these methods have crossed into the molecular era with the use of arrays aimed at dating, functional tests that assess for proliferation and differentiation, and tests that screen for inflammatory markers. In addition to these specialized tests, histologic evaluation for pathologic conditions-such as growth disorders (i.e. polyps and hyperplasia), inflammatory lesions, and retained products of conception-are critical for a complete assessment of the patient with recurrent implantation failure. Whatever the means of testing, the goal is to reveal actionable findings that can assist in offering the best options to patients who have failed multiple transfers with high quality embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harvey J Kliman
- Reproductive and Placental Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
| | - David Frankfurter
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Fertility and IVF, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, D.C
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15
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Mackie DI, Al Mutairi F, Davis RB, Kechele DO, Nielsen NR, Snyder JC, Caron MG, Kliman HJ, Berg JS, Simms J, Poyner DR, Caron KM. h CALCRL mutation causes autosomal recessive nonimmune hydrops fetalis with lymphatic dysplasia. J Exp Med 2018; 215:2339-2353. [PMID: 30115739 PMCID: PMC6122977 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20180528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Using genetic, pharmacological and animal model approaches, we elucidate a novel human mutation in a G protein coupled receptor that impairs receptor oligomerization and trafficking leading to fatal, non-immune hydrops fetalis associated with arrested lymphatic development. We report the first case of nonimmune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) associated with a recessive, in-frame deletion of V205 in the G protein–coupled receptor, Calcitonin Receptor-Like Receptor (hCALCRL). Homozygosity results in fetal demise from hydrops fetalis, while heterozygosity in females is associated with spontaneous miscarriage and subfertility. Using molecular dynamic modeling and in vitro biochemical assays, we show that the hCLR(V205del) mutant results in misfolding of the first extracellular loop, reducing association with its requisite receptor chaperone, receptor activity modifying protein (RAMP), translocation to the plasma membrane and signaling. Using three independent genetic mouse models we establish that the adrenomedullin–CLR–RAMP2 axis is both necessary and sufficient for driving lymphatic vascular proliferation. Genetic ablation of either lymphatic endothelial Calcrl or nonendothelial Ramp2 leads to severe NIHF with embryonic demise and placental pathologies, similar to that observed in humans. Our results highlight a novel candidate gene for human congenital NIHF and provide structure–function insights of this signaling axis for human physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duncan I Mackie
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Fuad Al Mutairi
- Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia .,King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre (KAIMRC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reema B Davis
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Daniel O Kechele
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Natalie R Nielsen
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Joshua C Snyder
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.,Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - Marc G Caron
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - Harvey J Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Jonathan S Berg
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - John Simms
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, England, UK
| | - David R Poyner
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, England, UK
| | - Kathleen M Caron
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC .,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
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16
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Isakov KMM, Emerson JW, Campbell KH, Galerneau F, Anders AM, Lee YK, Subramanyam P, Roberts AE, Kliman HJ. Estimated Placental Volume and Gestational Age. Am J Perinatol 2018; 35:748-757. [PMID: 29281842 DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1615285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to validate estimated placental volume (EPV) across a range of gestational ages (GAs). STUDY DESIGN Three hundred sixty-six patients from 2009 to 2011 received ultrasound scans between 11 + 0 and 38 + 6 weeks GA to assess EPV. An EPV versus GA best fit curve was generated and compared with published normative curves of EPV versus GA in a different population. A subanalysis was performed to explore the relationship between EPV and birth weight (BW). RESULTS Analysis of EPV versus GA revealed a parabolic curve with the following best fit equation: EPV = (0.372 GA - 0.00364 GA2)3. EPV was weakly correlated with BW, and patients with an EPV in the bottom 50th percentile had 2.42 times the odds of having a newborn with a BW in the bottom 50th percentile (95% confidence interval: 1.27-4.68). Microscopic evaluation of two placentas corresponding to the smallest EPV outliers revealed significant placental pathology. CONCLUSION Placental volume increases throughout gestation and follows a predictable parabolic curve, in agreement with the existing literature. Further validation is required, but EPV may have the potential for clinical utility as a screening tool in a variety of settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John W Emerson
- Department of Statistics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Katherine H Campbell
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - France Galerneau
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Amber M Anders
- School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Yoonjoo K Lee
- School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Pritha Subramanyam
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | | | - Harvey J Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
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Kliman HJ, Quaratella SB, Setaro AC, Siegman EC, Subha ZT, Tal R, Milano KM, Steck TL. Pathway of Maternal Serotonin to the Human Embryo and Fetus. Endocrinology 2018; 159:1609-1629. [PMID: 29381782 DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-03025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] is essential to intrauterine development, but its source is debated. We used immunocytochemistry to gauge 5-HT, its biosynthetic enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1); an importer (serotonin transporter, 5-HTT/SERT/SLC6A); other transporters [P-glycoprotein 1 (P-gp/ABCB1), OCT3/SLC22A3, and gap junction connexin-43]; and the 5-HT degradative enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) in sections of placentas. In humans, 5-HT was faintly stained only in first-trimester trophoblasts, whereas TPH1 was not seen at any stage. SERT was expressed in syncytiotrophoblasts and, more strongly, in cytotrophoblasts. MAOA was prominent in syncytiotrophoblasts, OCT3 and gap junctions were stained in cytotrophoblasts, and P-gp was present at the apical surfaces of both epithelia. 5-HT added to cultured placental explants accumulated in the trophoblast epithelium and reached the villus core vessels. Trophoblast uptake was blocked by the SERT inhibitor escitalopram. Inhibition of gap junctions with heptanol prevented the accumulation of 5-HT in cytotrophoblasts, whereas blocking OCT3 with decynium-22 and P-gp with mitotane led to its accumulation in cytotrophoblasts. Reducing 5-HT destruction by inhibiting MAOA with clorgyline increased the accumulation of 5-HT throughout the villus. In the mouse fetus, intravascular platelets stained prominently for 5-HT at day 13.5, whereas the placenta and yolk sac endoderm were both negative. TPH1 was not detected, but SERT was prominent in these mouse tissues. We conclude that serotonin is conveyed from the maternal blood stream through syncytiotrophoblasts, cytotrophoblasts and the villus core to the fetus through a physiological pathway that involves at least SERT, gap junctions, P-gp, OCT3, and MAOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harvey J Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | | | | | | | | | - Reshef Tal
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Kristin M Milano
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Theodore L Steck
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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Yockey LJ, Jurado KA, Arora N, Millet A, Rakib T, Milano KM, Hastings AK, Fikrig E, Kong Y, Horvath TL, Weatherbee S, Kliman HJ, Coyne CB, Iwasaki A. Type I interferons instigate fetal demise after Zika virus infection. Sci Immunol 2018; 3:eaao1680. [PMID: 29305462 PMCID: PMC6049088 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aao1680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy is associated with adverse fetal outcomes, including microcephaly, growth restriction, and fetal demise. Type I interferons (IFNs) are essential for host resistance against ZIKV, and IFN-α/β receptor (IFNAR)-deficient mice are highly susceptible to ZIKV infection. Severe fetal growth restriction with placental damage and fetal resorption is observed after ZIKV infection of type I IFN receptor knockout (Ifnar1-/-) dams mated with wild-type sires, resulting in fetuses with functional type I IFN signaling. The role of type I IFNs in limiting or mediating ZIKV disease within this congenital infection model remains unknown. In this study, we challenged Ifnar1-/- dams mated with Ifnar1+/- sires with ZIKV. This breeding scheme enabled us to examine pregnant dams that carry a mixture of fetuses that express (Ifnar1+/-) or do not express IFNAR (Ifnar1-/-) within the same uterus. Virus replicated to a higher titer in the placenta of Ifnar1-/- than within the Ifnar1+/- concepti. Yet, rather unexpectedly, we found that only Ifnar1+/- fetuses were resorbed after ZIKV infection during early pregnancy, whereas their Ifnar1-/- littermates continue to develop. Analyses of the fetus and placenta revealed that, after ZIKV infection, IFNAR signaling in the conceptus inhibits development of the placental labyrinth, resulting in abnormal architecture of the maternal-fetal barrier. Exposure of midgestation human chorionic villous explants to type I IFN, but not type III IFNs, altered placental morphology and induced cytoskeletal rearrangements within the villous core. Our results implicate type I IFNs as a possible mediator of pregnancy complications, including spontaneous abortions and growth restriction, in the context of congenital viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Yockey
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Kellie A Jurado
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Nitin Arora
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Alon Millet
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Tasfia Rakib
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Kristin M Milano
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Andrew K Hastings
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Erol Fikrig
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Yong Kong
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Tamas L Horvath
- Program in Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Section of Comparative Medicine New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Scott Weatherbee
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Harvey J Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Carolyn B Coyne
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center), Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Akiko Iwasaki
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
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Sonek J, Krantz D, Carmichael J, Downing C, Jessup K, Haidar Z, Ho S, Hallahan T, Kliman HJ, McKenna D. First-trimester screening for early and late preeclampsia using maternal characteristics, biomarkers, and estimated placental volume. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2018; 218:126.e1-126.e13. [PMID: 29097177 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2017.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preeclampsia is a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. First-trimester screening has been shown to be effective in selecting patients at an increased risk for preeclampsia in some studies. OBJECTIVE We sought to evaluate the feasibility of screening for preeclampsia in the first trimester based on maternal characteristics, medical history, biomarkers, and placental volume. STUDY DESIGN This is a prospective observational nonintervention cohort study in an unselected US population. Patients who presented for an ultrasound examination between 11-13+6 weeks' gestation were included. The following parameters were assessed and were used to calculate the risk of preeclampsia: maternal characteristics (demographic, anthropometric, and medical history), maternal biomarkers (mean arterial pressure, uterine artery pulsatility index, placental growth factor, pregnancy-associated plasma protein A, and maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein), and estimated placental volume. After delivery, medical records were searched for the diagnosis of preeclampsia. Detection rates for early-onset preeclampsia (<34 weeks' gestation) and later-onset preeclampsia (≥34 weeks' gestation) for 5% and 10% false-positive rates using various combinations of markers were calculated. RESULTS We screened 1288 patients of whom 1068 (82.99%) were available for analysis. In all, 46 (4.3%) developed preeclampsia, with 13 (1.22%) having early-onset preeclampsia and 33 (3.09%) having late-onset preeclampsia. Using maternal characteristics, serum biomarkers, and uterine artery pulsatility index, the detection rate of early-onset preeclampsia for either 5% or 10% false-positive rate was 85%. With the same protocol, the detection rates for preeclampsia with delivery <37 weeks were 52% and 60% for 5% and 10% false-positive rates, respectively. Based on maternal characteristics, the detection rates for late-onset preeclampsia were 15% and 48% for 5% and 10%, while for preeclampsia at ≥37 weeks' gestation the detection rates were 24% and 43%, respectively. The detection rates for late-onset preeclampsia and preeclampsia with delivery at >37 weeks' gestation were not improved by the addition of biomarkers. CONCLUSION Screening for preeclampsia at 11-13+6 weeks' gestation using maternal characteristics and biomarkers is associated with a high detection rate for a low false-positive rate. Screening for late-onset preeclampsia yields a much poorer performance. In this study the utility of estimated placental volume and mean arterial pressure was limited but larger studies are needed to ultimately determine the effectiveness of these markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiri Sonek
- Fetal Medicine Foundation USA, Dayton, OH; Wright State University, Dayton, OH.
| | | | | | - Cathy Downing
- Fetal Medicine Foundation USA, Dayton, OH; Wright State University, Dayton, OH
| | | | | | | | | | | | - David McKenna
- Fetal Medicine Foundation USA, Dayton, OH; Wright State University, Dayton, OH
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Stephenson MD, McQueen D, Winter M, Kliman HJ. Luteal start vaginal micronized progesterone improves pregnancy success in women with recurrent pregnancy loss. Fertil Steril 2017; 107:684-690.e2. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Revised: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Schwartz LB, Naftolin F, Lyttle CR, Penzias AS, Meaddough EL, Kliman HJ. Mouse Ascites Golgi (MAG) Mucin Expression and Regulation by Progesterone in the Rat Uterus. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/107155760100800406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Erika L. Meaddough
- Department of Obstetrics of Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Harvey J. Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics of Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Reproductive and Placental Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gnecology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, 312 FMB, New Haven, CT 06520-8063 http://info.med.yale.edu/obgyn/kliman
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22
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Flannery CA, Saleh FL, Choe GH, Selen DJ, Kodaman PH, Kliman HJ, Wood TL, Taylor HS. Differential Expression of IR-A, IR-B and IGF-1R in Endometrial Physiology and Distinct Signature in Adenocarcinoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2016; 101:2883-91. [PMID: 27088794 PMCID: PMC4929835 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2016-1795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Type 2 diabetes and obesity are risk factors for endometrial hyperplasia and cancer, suggesting that hyperinsulinemia contributes to pathogenesis. Insulin action through insulin receptor (IR) splice variants IR-A and IR-B regulates cellular mitogenesis and metabolism, respectively. OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that IR-A and IR-B are differentially regulated in normal endometrium, according to mitogenic and metabolic requirements through the menstrual cycle, as well as in endometrial hyperplasia and cancer. DESIGN IR-A, IR-B, and IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) mRNA was quantified in endometrium, endometrial epithelial and stromal cells, and in vitro after hormone stimulation. SETTING Academic center. PATIENTS Endometrium was collected from women with regular cycles (n = 71), complex hyperplasia (n = 5), or endometrioid adenocarcinoma (n = 11). INTERVENTION(S) In vitro sex-steroid treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) IR-A and IR-B expression Results: IR-A increased dramatically during the early proliferative phase, 20-fold more than IR-B. In early secretory phase, IR-B and IGF-1R expression increased, reaching maximal expression, whereas IR-A decreased. In adenocarcinoma, IR-B and IGF-1R expression was 5- to 6-fold higher than normal endometrium, whereas IR-A expression was similar to IR-B. Receptor expression was unrelated to body mass index. CONCLUSION IR-A was elevated during the normal proliferative phase, and in endometrial hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma. The dramatic early rise of IR-A in normal endometrium indicates IR-A is the predominant isoform responsible for initial estrogen-independent endometrial proliferation as well as that of cancer. IR-B is elevated during the normal secretory phase when glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis support embryo development. Differing from other cancers, IR-B expression equals mitogenic IR-A in endometrial adenocarcinoma. Differential IR isoform expression suggests a distinct role for each in endometrial physiology and cancer.
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MESH Headings
- Adenocarcinoma/genetics
- Adenocarcinoma/metabolism
- Adenocarcinoma/pathology
- Adult
- Antigens, CD/genetics
- Antigens, CD/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Endometrioid/genetics
- Carcinoma, Endometrioid/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Endometrioid/pathology
- Cells, Cultured
- Endometrial Hyperplasia/genetics
- Endometrial Hyperplasia/metabolism
- Endometrial Hyperplasia/pathology
- Endometrial Neoplasms/genetics
- Endometrial Neoplasms/metabolism
- Endometrial Neoplasms/pathology
- Endometrium/metabolism
- Endometrium/physiology
- Female
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Menstrual Cycle/genetics
- Menstrual Cycle/metabolism
- Middle Aged
- Protein Subunits/genetics
- Protein Subunits/metabolism
- Receptor, IGF Type 1/genetics
- Receptor, IGF Type 1/metabolism
- Receptor, Insulin/genetics
- Receptor, Insulin/metabolism
- Transcriptome
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare A Flannery
- Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (C.A.F., F.L.S., G.H.C., D.J.S., P.H.K., H.J.K., H.S.T.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; Internal Medicine (C.A.F.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; and Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience and Cancer Center (T.L.W.), NJ Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07101
| | - Farrah L Saleh
- Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (C.A.F., F.L.S., G.H.C., D.J.S., P.H.K., H.J.K., H.S.T.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; Internal Medicine (C.A.F.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; and Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience and Cancer Center (T.L.W.), NJ Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07101
| | - Gina H Choe
- Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (C.A.F., F.L.S., G.H.C., D.J.S., P.H.K., H.J.K., H.S.T.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; Internal Medicine (C.A.F.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; and Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience and Cancer Center (T.L.W.), NJ Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07101
| | - Daryl J Selen
- Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (C.A.F., F.L.S., G.H.C., D.J.S., P.H.K., H.J.K., H.S.T.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; Internal Medicine (C.A.F.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; and Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience and Cancer Center (T.L.W.), NJ Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07101
| | - Pinar H Kodaman
- Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (C.A.F., F.L.S., G.H.C., D.J.S., P.H.K., H.J.K., H.S.T.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; Internal Medicine (C.A.F.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; and Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience and Cancer Center (T.L.W.), NJ Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07101
| | - Harvey J Kliman
- Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (C.A.F., F.L.S., G.H.C., D.J.S., P.H.K., H.J.K., H.S.T.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; Internal Medicine (C.A.F.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; and Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience and Cancer Center (T.L.W.), NJ Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07101
| | - Teresa L Wood
- Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (C.A.F., F.L.S., G.H.C., D.J.S., P.H.K., H.J.K., H.S.T.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; Internal Medicine (C.A.F.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; and Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience and Cancer Center (T.L.W.), NJ Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07101
| | - Hugh S Taylor
- Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (C.A.F., F.L.S., G.H.C., D.J.S., P.H.K., H.J.K., H.S.T.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; Internal Medicine (C.A.F.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; and Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience and Cancer Center (T.L.W.), NJ Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07101
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23
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Affiliation(s)
- Harvey J Kliman
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. E-mail:
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24
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Arleo EK, Troiano RN, da Silva R, Greenbaum D, Kliman HJ. Utilizing two-dimensional ultrasound to develop normative curves for estimated placental volume. Am J Perinatol 2014; 31:683-8. [PMID: 24108663 DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1357265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to use two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound (US) during routine prenatal surveillance to develop normative estimated placental volume (EPV) growth curves. STUDY DESIGN Patients ≥ 18 years old with singleton pregnancies were prospectively followed from 11 weeks gestational age (GA) until delivery. At routine US visits, placental width, height, and thickness were measured and EPV calculated using a validated mathematical model. RESULTS In this study, 423 patients were scanned between 9.7 and 39.3 weeks GA to generate a total of 627 EPV calculations. Readings were clustered at 12 and 20 weeks, times of routine scanning. The mean EPV was 73 ± 47 cc at 12.5 ± 1.5 weeks (n = 444) and 276 ± 106 cc at 20 ± 2 weeks (n = 151). The data best fit a parabolic function as follows: EPV = (0.384GA - 0.00366GA(2))(3). Tenth and 90th percentile lines were generated with ± 1.28 SE offset. EPV readings below the 10th or above the 90th percentiles tended to be associated with either small or large newborns, respectively. CONCLUSION Routine 2D US created EPV growth curves, which may be useful for stratifying patients into prenatal risk groups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert N Troiano
- Department of Radiology, New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, New York, New York
| | - Raphaella da Silva
- Department of Radiology, New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, New York, New York
| | - Daniella Greenbaum
- Department of Radiology, New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, New York, New York
| | - Harvey J Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
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25
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Kliman HJ. Placental volume. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2012. [PMCID: PMC3428687 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2393-12-s1-a4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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Kliman HJ, Sammar M, Grimpel YI, Lynch SK, Milano KM, Pick E, Bejar J, Arad A, Lee JJ, Meiri H, Gonen R. Placental protein 13 and decidual zones of necrosis: an immunologic diversion that may be linked to preeclampsia. Reprod Sci 2011; 19:16-30. [PMID: 21989657 DOI: 10.1177/1933719111424445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated the role of placental protein 13 (PP13; galectin 13) in the process of trophoblast invasion and decidual necrosis. Immunohistochemical analysis for PP13, immune cells, human placental lactogen, cytokeratin, and apoptosis markers was performed on 20 elective pregnancy termination specimens between 6 and 15 weeks of gestation. Placental protein 13 was localized to syncytiotrophoblasts in the chorionic villi and to occasional multinucleated luminal trophoblasts within converted decidual spiral arterioles. Cytotrophoblasts, anchoring trophoblasts, and invasive trophoblasts did not stain for PP13. Extracellular PP13 aggregates were found around decidual veins associated with T-cell-, neutrophil- and macrophage-containing decidual zones of necrosis (ZONEs). We hypothesize that PP13 is secreted into the intervillus space, drains through the decidua basalis veins, and forms perivenous PP13 aggregates which attract and activate maternal immune cells. Thus, syncytiotrophoblast-derived PP13 may create a ZONE that facilitates trophoblast invasion and conversion of the maternal spiral arterioles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harvey J Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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Azpurua H, Funai EF, Coraluzzi LM, Doherty LF, Sasson IE, Kliman M, Kliman HJ. Determination of placental weight using two-dimensional sonography and volumetric mathematic modeling. Am J Perinatol 2010; 27:151-5. [PMID: 19653142 DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1234034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
An abnormally decreased placental weight has been linked to increased perinatal complications, including intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) and fetal growth restriction (IUGR). Despite its promise, determining placental weight prenatally using three-dimensional systems is time-consuming and requires expensive technology and expertise. We propose a novel method using two-dimensional sonography that provides an immediate estimation of placental volume. Placental volume was calculated in 29 third-trimester pregnancies using linear measurements of placental width, height, and thickness to calculate the convex-concave shell volume within 24 hours of birth. Data were analyzed to calculate Spearman's rho (r (s)) and significance. There was a significant correlation between estimated placental volume (EPV) and actual placental weight (r (s) = 0.80, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis of preterm gestations ( N = 14) revealed an even more significant correlation of EPV to actual placental weight (r (s) = 0.89, P < 0.001). Placental weight can be accurately predicted by two-dimensional ultrasound with volumetric calculations. This method is simple, rapid, and accurate, making it practical for routine prenatal care, as well as for high-risk cases with decreased fetal movement and IUGR. Routine EPV surveillance may decrease the rates of perinatal complications and unexpected IUFD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Humberto Azpurua
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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28
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Abstract
This study sought to determine the time interval from fetal defecation to membrane staining and subsequent meconium uptake by amnionic macrophages. Pieces of external membranes were fastened to Teflon rings to create a well. The amnionic surface was exposed to meconium and amniotic fluid for 1 to 48 hours and analyzed microscopically for the presence of free meconium and meconium-laden amnionic macrophages. In each of the experiments, prior to the 12-hour time point, few meconium-laden macrophages were present in the membrane layers. A significant rise in the number of meconium-laden macrophages and a concomitant increase in staining intensity was noted in the membranes at 24 and 48 hours. Contrary to previous reports, our in vitro model of meconium incorporation into placental membranes demonstrated that significant numbers of meconium-laden macrophages were only observed after 24 and 48 hours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmund F Funai
- Section of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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29
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Lash GE, Ansari T, Bischof P, Burton GJ, Chamley L, Crocker I, Dantzer V, Desoye G, Drewlo S, Fazleabas A, Jansson T, Keating S, Kliman HJ, Lang I, Mayhew T, Meiri H, Miller RK, Nelson DM, Pfarrer C, Roberts C, Sammar M, Sharma S, Shiverick K, Strunk D, Turner MA, Huppertz B. IFPA meeting 2008 workshops report. Placenta 2008; 30 Suppl A:S4-14. [PMID: 19084270 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2008.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2008] [Revised: 11/19/2008] [Accepted: 11/19/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Workshops are an important part of the IFPA annual meeting. At the IFPA meeting 2008 diverse topics were discussed in 12 themed workshops. Topics covered included: immunology of placentation; galectins and trophoblast invasion; signaling in implantation and invasion; markers to identify trophoblast subpopulations; placental pathology; placental toxicology; stereology; placental transport of fatty acids; placental mesenchymal stem cells; comparative placentation; trophoblast and neoplasia; trophoblast differentiation. This report is a summary of the various topics covered.
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Affiliation(s)
- G E Lash
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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Abstract
AIMS Our objective was to elucidate the pathogenesis of twin discordance in four dizygotic pregnancies where only one of the twins had IUGR due to chronic villitis. METHODS We identified four cases of dizygotic twin placentas over a period of four years with evidence of chronic villitis. There was no clinical or pathologic evidence of TORCH, bacterial infection, preeclampsia or autoimmune disorders. Placentas were weighed, processed for histologic examination and stained with CD45RO (clone UCHL1) mouse monoclonal antibody, which identifies T-cells. RESULTS All placentas were dichorionic, with two being fused. Birth weight differences were 29%, 41%, 17% and 10%. Villitis was more marked in the placenta of the twin that weighed less and correlated with the degree of weight discordance. On examining the junction between the fused dichorionic placentas, the chorionic villi from the smaller twin contained numerous T-cells, whereas the villi associated with the less affected twin, showed little to no T-cells. CONCLUSION We describe a series of dizygotic twin placentas where the more severe the chronic villitis, the more affected the placenta and fetus. Since the maternal environment was constant for each of these twins, differences in villitis severity appears to be attributable to differences in the ability of each placenta to induce a maternal immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamran Yusuf
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Hecht JL, Allred EN, Kliman HJ, Zambrano E, Doss BJ, Husain A, Pflueger SMV, Chang CH, Livasy CA, Roberts D, Bhan I, Ross DW, Senagore PK, Leviton A. Histological characteristics of singleton placentas delivered before the 28th week of gestation. Pathology 2008; 40:372-6. [PMID: 18446627 DOI: 10.1080/00313020802035865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The placenta is a record of the fetal environment and its examination may provide information about the baby's subsequent growth and development. We describe the histological characteristics of 947 singleton placentas from infants born between 23 and 27 weeks gestation. METHODS Consent was obtained from mothers who delivered before 28 weeks (clinical estimate). We evaluated the gross and histopathological features of the placenta and assessed pair-wise correlations between variables. RESULTS Lesions of uteroplacental circulation (abruption, extensive infarction or thrombosis, marked basal or perivillous fibrin deposition, increased syncytial knots) were inversely related to those associated with inflammation of the membranes and cord. Earlier age favoured inflammatory variables, while older age favoured characteristics attributed to impaired blood flow. We observed inflammation of the chorionic plate in 43%, the cord in 19%, and of chorionic plate vessels in 30%. Of the placentas with umbilical cord inflammation, 8% had no inflammation of the chorionic plate. CONCLUSIONS This study population is unique in its size and recruitment by gestational age rather than birth weight. Inflammation occurred frequently, but not in placentas that had characteristics of vasculopathy. The prevalence of inflammation decreased with increasing gestational age, while vasculopathy increased. Funisitis need not be accompanied by chorionic inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan L Hecht
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE HOXA10 is an essential regulator of endometrial receptivity. To determine the effect of GnRH antagonists on endometrial receptivity, we assessed endometrial HOXA10 expression in GnRH antagonist, GnRH agonist, and natural cycles. DESIGN Prospective case-control study. SETTING University academic medical center. PATIENT(S) Nineteen subjects were included: 12 subjects underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with recombinant FSH and used either a GnRH antagonist or a GnRH agonist; seven control subjects underwent natural cycles. INTERVENTION(S) Pipelle endometrial biopsies were obtained 11 days after hCG administration or spontaneous LH surge in untreated cycles, respectively. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess HOXA10 protein expression in endometrial glands and stroma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Endometrial HOXA10 protein expression. RESULT(S) HOXA10 expression was significantly decreased in endometrial stromal cells in GnRH antagonist-treated cycles compared with GnRH agonist-treated cycles or natural cycle control subjects. There was no significant difference in glandular cell HOXA10 expression among the three groups. CONCLUSION(S) Use of GnRH antagonists may be associated with impaired HOXA10 expression in endometrial stromal cells and thus may affect endometrial receptivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth W Rackow
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticutt
| | - Harvey J Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticutt
| | - Hugh S Taylor
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticutt.
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Hecht JL, Onderdonk A, Delaney M, Allred EN, Kliman HJ, Zambrano E, Pflueger SM, Livasy CA, Bhan I, Leviton A. Characterization of chorioamnionitis in 2nd-trimester C-section placentas and correlation with microorganism recovery from subamniotic tissues. Pediatr Dev Pathol 2008; 11:15-22. [PMID: 18237241 DOI: 10.2350/07-06-0285.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2007] [Accepted: 09/13/2007] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Prolonged exposure to infection appears to influence fetal/neonatal development. We characterize the relationship between histologic patterns of inflammation and microorganism recovery from the placentas of live born infants delivered before the 28th postmenstrual week. The subamniotic parenchyma of 835 placentas delivered by cesarean section were cultured and evaluated for specific histologic patterns of inflammation in a blinded fashion. Cases with prolonged membrane rupture were excluded. Microorganisms were recovered from 41% of placentas. Microorganisms found more frequently in placentas with high-grade chorionic plate inflammation include Actinomyces, Prevotella bivia, Corynebacterium sp., Escherichia coli, Peptostreptococcus magnus, multiple species of Streptococci, and Mycoplasma sp., including Ureaplasma urealyticum. These microorganisms were also associated with fetal vasculitis (neutrophilic infiltration of chorionic plate stem vessels or umbilical cord). Recovery of microorganisms from placental parenchyma is associated with histologic inflammation. The same microorganisms responsible for inciting high-grade chorionic plate inflammation are also most likely to promote fetal inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan L Hecht
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Hecht JL, Kliman HJ, Allred EN, Pflueger SM, Chang CH, Doss BJ, Roberts D, Livasy CA, Bhan I, Zambrano E, Ross DW, Senagore P, Husain AN, Leviton A. Reference weights for placentas delivered before the 28th week of gestation. Placenta 2007; 28:987-90. [PMID: 17573110 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2007.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2006] [Revised: 03/31/2007] [Accepted: 04/11/2007] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Very few studies have measured the weight of large numbers of placentas delivered before the 28th post-menstrual week. METHODS We measured the weight of 930 singleton placentas delivered before the 28th post-menstrual week, and examined the distributions of weights in selected groups (week of gestation, reason for preterm birth, birth weight Z-score categories, placenta histology). We excluded 90 singleton placentas based on growth restriction as indicated by birth weight Z-score, resulting in a normative sample of 840 placentas. Weights for unfused twin placentas are also presented. RESULTS Standard weights derived from our data set differ from those previously published, partly due to a larger sample size. Placenta weight varied with birth weight. Placentas from pregnancies ending due to preeclampsia, fetal indications or those showing evidence of poor perfusion on histology were among the smallest and their weights correlated with the smallest birth weights for gestational age. CONCLUSIONS Placenta weights appear to be influenced by multiple maternal and fetal processes. We present a standard weight table for singleton placentas among live infants born between 23 and 27 completed weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Hecht
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Pathology, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Anderson GM, Jacobs-Stannard A, Chawarska K, Volkmar FR, Kliman HJ. Placental trophoblast inclusions in autism spectrum disorder. Biol Psychiatry 2007; 61:487-91. [PMID: 16806106 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.03.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2005] [Revised: 03/21/2006] [Accepted: 03/21/2006] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microscopic examination of placental tissue may provide a route to assessing risk and understanding underlying biology of autism. METHODS Occurrence of a distinctive microscopic placental morphological abnormality, the trophoblast inclusion, was assessed using archived placental tissue. The rate of occurrence of trophoblast inclusion-positive slides observed for 13 individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was compared to the rate in an anonymous consecutive birth cohort. RESULTS The occurrence of inclusion positive slides was significantly greater in the ASD group compared to the control group (6/27 slides, 22.2% vs. 12/154, 7.8%; Fisher Exact Test, two-tailed p = .033; relative risk 2.85). The proportion of positive cases was also greater in the ASD group (5/13 cases, 38.5% vs. 8/61, 13.1%; Fisher Exact, two-tailed p = .044; relative risk 2.93). Behavioral severity scores did not differ across groups of inclusion positive (N = 4) and negative (N = 8) ASD individuals. CONCLUSIONS Although probably not functionally detrimental or causative, the greater occurrence of placental trophoblast inclusions observed in ASD individuals may reflect altered early developmental processes. Further research is required to replicate the basic finding, to understand the basis for the trophoblastic abnormality, and to determine the utility of the measure in early detection of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- George M Anderson
- The Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
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Kliman HJ, Honig S, Walls D, Luna M, McSweet JC, Copperman AB. Optimization of endometrial preparation results in a normal endometrial function test® (EFT®) and good reproductive outcome in donor ovum recipients. J Assist Reprod Genet 2006; 23:299-303. [PMID: 16983518 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-006-9061-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2006] [Accepted: 08/07/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Numerous studies have investigated potential markers of endometrial receptivity as predictors of successful implantation. Cyclin E and p27 have recently been studied using the endometrial function test (EFT). Our objective is to determine the correlation between the expression of cyclin E and p27 and the adequacy of uterine preparation of recipients using donor oocytes. METHODS Twenty recipients undergoing preparatory cycles with leuprolide acetate, estrogen, and progesterone. Endometrial biopsies were obtained 10-12 days after progesterone supplementation following the course of estrogen. The tissue was prepared for histological analysis and immunohistochemical staining for cyclin E assessment. The outcome of their subsequent ovum donation cycle was blinded to the reviewer of the EFT. RESULTS All recipients showed normal luteal transformation. Nineteen (95%) of the recipients had a normal EFT. This is significantly higher than what we demonstrated, previously, in unexplained infertility patients, where only 40% of such patients had a normal EFT. Thirteen recipients with a normal EFT had a clinical pregnancy, while 6 did not become pregnant in their subsequent transfer cycles. The sole patient with an abnormal EFT did not conceive on 2 subsequent cycles. CONCLUSIONS While a normal EFT does not guarantee a successful pregnancy, an abnormal EFT appears to be associated with pregnancy failure. This may be useful in identifying women who need adjustments to their stimulation protocols prior to progressing to a physically, emotionally, and financially costly cycle.
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Catalanotti JS, Spandorfer SD, Barmat LI, Rosenwaks Z, McSweet JC, Kliman HJ. Mouse ascites Golgi mucin expression abnormalities in natural cycle endometrial biopsies predict subsequent in vitro fertilization–embryo transfer (IVF-ET) failure in patients with previous IVF-ET failures. Fertil Steril 2006; 85:255-8. [PMID: 16412771 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.06.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2004] [Revised: 06/29/2005] [Accepted: 06/29/2005] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We performed a double-blinded retrospective cohort study to determine whether endometrial expression of mouse ascites Golgi mucin in a natural, unmedicated cycle predicts subsequent IVF-ET outcome among women with prior IVF-ET failure and poor pre-embryo quality. We found a statistically significant decrease in clinical pregnancy rate among women with abnormal mouse ascites Golgi expression, a test which was found to have high positive predictive value for failed IVF-ET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian S Catalanotti
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Sarno JL, Kliman HJ, Taylor HS. HOXA10, Pbx2, and Meis1 protein expression in the human endometrium: formation of multimeric complexes on HOXA10 target genes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005; 90:522-8. [PMID: 15494461 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2004-0817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
HOXA10 is a transcription factor necessary for embryonic uterine development and for adult endometrial receptivity. The three-amino acid loop extension family of cofactors, including Pbx and Meis, provide HOX target gene specificity in development and myeloid differentiation. Here we demonstrate the expression of Pbx and Meis family cofactors in the human endometrium and their interaction with HOXA10. Using immunohistochemical analysis, we found that Pbx2 and Meis1, but not Pbx1, Pbx3, or Meis2, were expressed in human endometrium. HOXA10, Pbx2, and Meis1 were expressed in the stroma throughout the menstrual cycle. The glandular expression of HOXA10 and Meis1 was menstrual cycle stage specific, whereas glandular Pbx2 expression did not vary. Pbx2, but not Meis1, was expressed in Ishikawa cells. EMSA demonstrated HOXA10-Pbx2 binding as a heterodimer to an enhancer of the EMX2 gene, a known target of HOXA10 regulation. Ablation of the Pbx binding site, but not ablation of the HOXA10 binding site in EMX2, resulted in loss of dimer binding. Based on the observed expression and binding patterns of Pbx2, Meis1, and HOXA10, it is likely that heterodimeric and trimeric complexes involving these proteins determine HOXA10 target gene specificity. Enhanced target gene specificity imparted by multimer binding is likely necessary for HOXA10-mediated endometrial receptivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Sarno
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
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Rejniak KA, Kliman HJ, Fauci LJ. A computational model of the mechanics of growth of the villous trophoblast bilayer. Bull Math Biol 2004; 66:199-232. [PMID: 14871565 DOI: 10.1016/j.bulm.2003.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2003] [Accepted: 06/26/2003] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We present a computational model of the mechanics of growth of the trophoblast bilayer in a chorionic villous, the basic structure of the placenta. The placental trophoblast is modeled as a collection of elastic neutrally buoyant membranes (mononuclear cytotrophoblasts and multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast) filled with a viscous, incompressible fluid (cytoplasm) with sources of growth located inside cells. We show how this complex, dynamic fluid-based structure can be modeled successfully using the immersed boundary method. The results of our research presented here include simulations of two processes-cell proliferation and cell fusion which both play a crucial role in the growth and development of the trophoblast tissue. We present the computed results of simulations of both processes running independently as well as simultaneously, along with comparisons with clinically obtained results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna A Rejniak
- Mathematical Biosciences Institute, The Ohio State University, 231 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1744, USA.
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Feinman MA, Kliman HJ, Main EK. HLA antigen expression and induction by gamma-interferon in cultured human trophoblast. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2004. [DOI: 10.1016/0020-7292(88)90155-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- Harvey J Kliman
- Reproductive and Placental Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520-8063, USA.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate endometrial expression of cyclin E and p27 in fertile and infertile women. DESIGN Retrospective clinical study. SETTING University medical center and private practice. PATIENT(S) Thirty-three fertile volunteers, 83 women seeking infertility treatment, and 23 women undergoing mock cycles. INTERVENTION(S) Endometrial biopsy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Cyclin E and p27 immunohistochemistry. RESULT(S) Glandular cyclin E and p27 expression dramatically changed in intensity and subcellular localization throughout the menstrual cycle. In normal control biopsies, glandular cyclin E progressed from the basal to the lateral cytoplasm (midproliferative phase) to the nucleus (days 18 to 19) and was absent in biopsies after day 20. First appearing on days 17 to 19, p27 was found only in the nuclei. Cyclin E was more frequently seen after day 20 in infertility patients. In the hyperstimulated cycles, staining for cycle E in proliferative samples was more intense than in the natural cycles, but p27 staining was unchanged. CONCLUSION(S) Cyclin E and p27 may be clinically useful markers of development in the endometrium. As cell cycle regulators, cyclins reveal underlying biochemical processes driving endometrial progression and may partly represent the means by which estrogen and progesterone regulate this dynamic tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Dubowy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8063, USA
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Kliman HJ, Olive DL. Authors’ response to the Letters to the Editors concerning the article by Meaddough et al: Sexual Activity, Orgasm and Tampon Use Are Associated with a Decreased Risk for Endometriosis. Gynecol Obstet Invest 2003. [DOI: 10.1159/000068357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Kliman HJ, McSweet JC, Grunert GM, Cardone VR, Cadesky K, Keefe DL. The endometrial function test (EFT) directs care and predicts ART outcome. Fertil Steril 2002. [DOI: 10.1016/s0015-0282(02)03424-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Meaddough EL, Olive DL, Gallup P, Perlin M, Kliman HJ. Sexual activity, orgasm and tampon use are associated with a decreased risk for endometriosis. Gynecol Obstet Invest 2002; 53:163-9. [PMID: 12053101 DOI: 10.1159/000058368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study was to determine if sexual behaviors, orgasm, tampon use, and douching during menstruation modify the risk of endometriosis. METHODS A case-control study was conducted. Subjects (n = 2,012) consisted of members of the Endometriosis Association and friends not affiliated with the organization who completed mailed surveys. Data were analyzed using chi(2), Fisher's exact test, t test, and regression analyses. RESULTS There was no difference between study groups concerning douching practices. However, cases were less likely than controls to report sometimes or often engaging in sexual behaviors during menstruation (p = 0.002, OR = 1.5), and sexual behaviors during menstruation that included orgasm (p = 0.001, OR = 1.5). Cases were also less likely than controls to report using only tampons (p < 0.0001, OR = 2.6). CONCLUSION Sexual activity, orgasm, and tampon use during menstruation may confer protection against endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika L Meaddough
- Department of Public Health, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT, USA
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Bagot CN, Kliman HJ, Taylor HS. Maternal Hoxa10 is required for pinopod formation in the development of mouse uterine receptivity to embryo implantation. Dev Dyn 2001; 222:538-44. [PMID: 11747087 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.1209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Hoxa10 is a homeobox gene that is expressed both during the embryogenesis of the genitourinary tract and in the adult reproductive tract. Maternal Hoxa10 expression is necessary for endometrial receptivity to blastocyst implantation. The mechanism by which Hoxa10 induces endometrial development to a state of receptivity is unknown as HOXA10-deficient endometrium appears histologically normal. We altered the expression of Hoxa10 in the uterus of cycling adult female mice and examined the uterus at the time of implantation by transmission electron microscopy for alterations in epithelial morphology. Pinopods are projections on the surface of the uterine endometrial epithelial cells that develop transiently at the time of endometrial receptivity. Blocking Hoxa10 expression by transfection of Hoxa10 antisense into the cycling mouse uterus before implantation dramatically decreased pinopod number. Constitutively expressing Hoxa10 in the uterus just before the normal time of pinopod formation resulted in increased pinopod number. Therefore, Hoxa10 is necessary for pinopod development. Hox genes have been implicated in both the regulation of cellular proliferation and the determination of developmental fate. Hoxa10 exemplifies this dual role in the uterus by regulating both endometrial stromal cell proliferation and epithelial cell morphogenesis. Taken together, these results demonstrate that maternal Hoxa10 has an essential role in pinopod development and this function of Hoxa10 likely contributes to endometrial receptivity for the purpose of blastocyst implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- C N Bagot
- Yale University School of Medicine, Laboratory of Developmental Endocrinology, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8063, USA
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Schwartz LB, Naftolin F, Lyttle CR, Penzias AS, Meaddough EL, Kliman HJ. Mouse ascites golgi (MAG) mucin expression and regulation by progesterone in the rat uterus. J Soc Gynecol Investig 2001; 8:216-23. [PMID: 11525897 DOI: 10.1016/s1071-5576(01)00115-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the regulation of the blood group A-related high-molecular weight mucin glycoprotein epitope (mouse ascites golgi, MAG)-a menstrual cycle-dependent marker of endometrial receptivity-in a non-human endometrium model. METHODS Immature Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with 1 microg of estradiol, 100 microg of testosterone, 100 microg of dexamethasone, 2.5 mg of progesterone (P), 0.325 mg of RU486, P and RU486, 100 microg of tamoxifen, or vehicle for 3 days, sacrificed, and the uteri were stained for MAG. Immunohistochemistry and blood analysis were the measurements used to compare the specimens from the exogenous hormonal and endogenous hormonal groups. Electron microscopy was used to locate the MAG epitope in one pseudopregnant adult Sprague-Dawley rat. RESULTS The MAG epitope was present in endometrial glands of Sprague-Dawley rats, with maximal expression during proestrus and diestrus. Electron microscopy confirmed the Golgi location of this MAG epitope. In the untreated group, less than 0.5% of endometrial glands stained for MAG. The MAG was seen only in the glands of the P-treated rats and RU486 blunted this stimulatory effect by more than 95%. As little as 0.1 mg of P promoted MAG expression, with maximal response at 2.5 mg. Staining was seen 24 hours after P treatment, peaked at 72 hours, then declined. Induction of endogenous P by superovulation with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and hCG (pseudopregnancy) also resulted in strong MAG glandular staining. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that the MAG epitope is cyclically expressed and induced by P in rat endometrial glands.
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Affiliation(s)
- L B Schwartz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- H J Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
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Keltz MD, Attar E, Buradagunta S, Olive DL, Kliman HJ, Arici A. Modulation of leukemia inhibitory factor gene expression and protein biosynthesis in the human fallopian tube. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1996; 175:1611-9. [PMID: 8987949 DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9378(96)70114-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The fallopian tube is the site of fertilization and early embryonic growth and a common site of ectopic implantation. Although the factors responsible for early embryogenesis and implantation are incompletely understood, leukemia inhibitory factor may have an important role in early embryonic development and implantation. We set out to evaluate the production and modulation of leukemia inhibitory factor in the fallopian tube. STUDY DESIGN We first investigated leukemia inhibitory factor messenger ribonucleic acid levels in fallopian tubes. We then investigated leukemia inhibitory factor messenger ribonucleic acid and protein production in tubal epithelial and stromal cell cultures. RESULTS Leukemia inhibitory factor messenger ribonucleic acid is expressed in the fallopian tube with only slight variation during the menstrual cycle; however, it is markedly elevated in association with ectopic pregnancy. The level is higher in the tubal mucosa than in the remaining layers and is higher in the more distal segments of the fallopian tube. Estradiol and progesterone did not modulate leukemia inhibitory factor expression in epithelial or stromal cell cultures. Interleukin-1 alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and transforming growth factor-beta enhanced leukemia inhibitory factor expression in epithelial and stromal cells, with transforming growth factor-beta 1 enhancing expression by fourfold in stromal cells. Epithelial cells secreted high levels of leukemia inhibitory factor compared with stromal cells (332 +/- 89 vs 25 +/- 42 pg/mg total protein). Yet stromal cells treated with transforming growth factor-beta alone or in combination with epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor, as well as TNF-alpha alone or in combination with interleukin-1 alpha enhanced secretion of leukemia inhibitory factor at or above the levels found with epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS We speculate that the high constitutive levels of leukemia inhibitory factor expressed in the ampullary portion of the fallopian tube may play a role in early embryonic development. Additionally, elevated expression with ectopic implantation and the marked induction of secretion in the tubal stroma by growth factors and cytokines suggest a link between inflammation, leukemia inhibitory factor, and tubal ectopic pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Keltz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8063, USA
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Nachtigall MJ, Kliman HJ, Feinberg RF, Olive DL, Engin O, Arici A. The effect of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on trophoblast differentiation: a potential role in human implantation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1996; 81:801-6. [PMID: 8636307 DOI: 10.1210/jcem.81.2.8636307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a multifunctional glycoprotein strongly associated with normal implantation in the mouse. We have recently determined that LIF is expressed in the human endometrium in a menstrual cycle dependent manner. Maximal expression is observed between days 19 and 25 of the menstrual cycle, coinciding with the time of human implantation. In this study we have utilized purified cultures of human cytotrophoblasts to examine the effects of LIF on several morphologic and biochemical markers of the trophoblastic differentiation. We purified human cytotrophoblasts from term placentae and cultured them with and without LIF (10 ng/mL). The secretion of human CG, oncofetal fibronectin, and progesterone were measured at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Northern blot analysis was used to assess messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of beta hCG and oncofetal fibronectin. We found that LIF markedly decreased trophoblast production of hCG protein at 72 and 96 h, as well as expression of beta hCG mRNA. LIF also significantly increased the expression of oncofetal fibronectin mRNA and secretion of the protein. LIF did not affect steroidogenic activity of cultured trophoblasts, as determined by progesterone production. These biochemical changes are characteristic of cytotrophoblast differentiation toward an anchoring extravillous phenotype. Thus, LIF appears to be an important regulator of human embryonic implantation by directly modulating trophoblast differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Nachtigall
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
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