Depression, perceived stress, and distress during pregnancy and EV-associated miRNA profiles in MADRES

BACKGROUND

MicroRNA (miRNA) circulating in plasma has been proposed as biomarkers for a variety of diseases and stress measures, including depression, stress, and trauma. However, few studies have examined the relationship between stress and miRNA during pregnancy.

METHODS

In this study, we examined associations between measures of stress and depression during pregnancy with miRNA in early and late pregnancy from the MADRES cohort of primarily low-income Hispanic women based in Los Angeles, California. Extracellular-vesicle- (EV-) associated miRNA were isolated from maternal plasma and quantified using the Nanostring nCounter platform. Correlations for stress-associated miRNA were also calculated for 89 matching cord blood samples.

RESULTS

Fifty miRNA were nominally associated with depression, perceived stress, and prenatal distress (raw p < 0.05) with 17 miRNA shared between two or more stress measures. Two miRNA (miR-150-5p and miR-148b-3p) remained marginally significant after FDR adjustment (p < 0.10). Fifteen PANTHER pathways were enriched for predicted gene targets of the 50 miRNA associated with stress. Clusters of maternal and neonate miRNA expression suggest a link between maternal and child profiles.

LIMITATIONS

The study evaluated 142 miRNA and was not an exhaustive analysis of all discovered miRNA. Evaluations for stress, depression and trauma were based on self-reported instruments, rather than diagnostic tools.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression and stress during pregnancy are associated with some circulating EV miRNA. Given that EV miRNA play important roles in maternal-fetal communication, this may have downstream consequences for maternal and child health, and underscore the importance of addressing mental health during pregnancy, especially in health disparities populations.

The novel hypothesis of carcinogenesis and anti-cancer treatment perspectives - Hydroxyethylthiamine diphosphate

In presented article, the novel hypothesis of carcinogenesis, and thorough discussion of some essential biochemical mechanisms which might be responsible for the malignant transformation of cells (bond disorders between Fe(3+) and S(+)-methionine in cytochrome; blockage of the last 3-d orbital of Fe by the certain ligand and formation of 6th coordinated bond leading to Fe(3+) reduction up to Fe(2+) and cessation of tissue respiration; increase in mitochondrial pH and further in cell, leading to decreased activity of most of enzymes (thiamine diphosphate, oxidases); formation of S-adenosyl-methionine with its further dissociation and production of adenosine and homocysteine; effects of homocysteine on DNA structures, homocysteine-induced dimethylation of certain nitrogen basis and their extrusion from strands of DNA leading to mutations and cellular atypism) has been suggested. Along with theoretical discussions, article provides results of preliminary investigations carried out on C57Bl/6J mice with Ehrlich carcinoma aimed to capture lipoic acid amide with Hydroxyethylthiamine diphosphate, and study effects of Hydroxyethylthiamine diphosphate against malignant transformation of cells. Experiments have shown inhibition of cancer growth in treated animals. Morphological investigations of cancer tissue revealed necrotic zones, inflammatory infiltrations, central necrosis with adjacent inflammatory mono- and polymorph infiltrations, must cells, segmento-nuclear leukocytes, lymphadenoid follicular hyperplasia. According to the novel hypothesis of carcinogenesis and results of experiments the new approaches and perspectives of anti-cancer treatment with the use of Hydroxiethyl-thiamine diphosphate has been suggested.