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Tovo PA, Marozio L, Abbona G, Calvi C, Frezet F, Gambarino S, Dini M, Benedetto C, Galliano I, Bergallo M. Pregnancy Is Associated with Impaired Transcription of Human Endogenous Retroviruses and of TRIM28 and SETDB1, Particularly in Mothers Affected by Multiple Sclerosis. Viruses 2023; 15:v15030710. [PMID: 36992419 PMCID: PMC10051116 DOI: 10.3390/v15030710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence highlights the pathogenetic role of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) in eliciting and maintaining multiple sclerosis (MS). Epigenetic mechanisms, such as those regulated by TRIM 28 and SETDB1, are implicated in HERV activation and in neuroinflammatory disorders, including MS. Pregnancy markedly improves the course of MS, but no study explored the expressions of HERVs and of TRIM28 and SETDB1 during gestation. Using a polymerase chain reaction real-time Taqman amplification assay, we assessed and compared the transcriptional levels of pol genes of HERV-H, HERV-K, HERV-W; of env genes of Syncytin (SYN)1, SYN2, and multiple sclerosis associated retrovirus (MSRV); and of TRIM28 and SETDB1 in peripheral blood and placenta from 20 mothers affected by MS; from 27 healthy mothers, in cord blood from their neonates; and in blood from healthy women of child-bearing age. The HERV mRNA levels were significantly lower in pregnant than in nonpregnant women. Expressions of all HERVs were downregulated in the chorion and in the decidua basalis of MS mothers compared to healthy mothers. The former also showed lower mRNA levels of HERV-K-pol and of SYN1, SYN2, and MSRV in peripheral blood. Significantly lower expressions of TRIM28 and SETDB1 also emerged in pregnant vs. nonpregnant women and in blood, chorion, and decidua of mothers with MS vs. healthy mothers. In contrast, HERV and TRIM28/SETDB1 expressions were comparable between their neonates. These results show that gestation is characterized by impaired expressions of HERVs and TRIM28/SETDB1, particularly in mothers with MS. Given the beneficial effects of pregnancy on MS and the wealth of data suggesting the putative contribution of HERVs and epigenetic processes in the pathogenesis of the disease, our findings may further support innovative therapeutic interventions to block HERV activation and to control aberrant epigenetic pathways in MS-affected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pier-Angelo Tovo
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Correspondence: (P.-A.T.); (M.B.)
| | - Luca Marozio
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology 1, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Abbona
- Pathology Unit, Department Laboratory Medicine, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Cristina Calvi
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Pediatric Laboratory, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Federica Frezet
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology 1, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Stefano Gambarino
- Pediatric Laboratory, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Maddalena Dini
- Pediatric Laboratory, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Chiara Benedetto
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology 1, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Ilaria Galliano
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Pediatric Laboratory, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Bergallo
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Pediatric Laboratory, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Correspondence: (P.-A.T.); (M.B.)
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Martire S, Montarolo F, Spadaro M, Perga S, Sforza ML, Marozio L, Frezet F, Bruno S, Chiabotto G, Deregibus MC, Camussi G, Botta G, Benedetto C, Bertolotto A. A First Phenotypic and Functional Characterization of Placental Extracellular Vesicles from Women with Multiple Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22062875. [PMID: 33809077 PMCID: PMC8001892 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22062875] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is a unique situation of physiological immunomodulation, as well as a strong Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease modulator whose mechanisms are still unclear. Both maternal (decidua) and fetal (trophoblast) placental cells secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are known to mediate cellular communication and modulate the maternal immune response. Their contribution to the MS disease course during pregnancy, however, is unexplored. Here, we provide a first phenotypic and functional characterization of EVs isolated from cultures of term placenta samples of women with MS, differentiating between decidua and trophoblast. In particular, we analyzed the expression profile of 37 surface proteins and tested the functional role of placental EVs on mono-cultures of CD14+ monocytes and co-cultures of CD4+ T and regulatory T (Treg) cells. Results indicated that placental EVs are enriched for surface markers typical of stem/progenitor cells, and that conditioning with EVs from samples of women with MS is associated to a moderate decrease in the expression of proinflammatory cytokines by activated monocytes and in the proliferation rate of activated T cells co-cultured with Tregs. Overall, our findings suggest an immunomodulatory potential of placental EVs from women with MS and set the stage for a promising research field aiming at elucidating their role in MS remission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Martire
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy; (M.S.); (S.P.); (M.L.S.); (A.B.)
- Neurology-CRESM (Regional Reference Center for Multiple Sclerosis), AOU San Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
- Correspondence: (S.M.); (F.M.)
| | - Francesca Montarolo
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy; (M.S.); (S.P.); (M.L.S.); (A.B.)
- Neurology-CRESM (Regional Reference Center for Multiple Sclerosis), AOU San Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
- Department of Molecular Biotechnologies and Health Sciences, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
- Correspondence: (S.M.); (F.M.)
| | - Michela Spadaro
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy; (M.S.); (S.P.); (M.L.S.); (A.B.)
- Neurology-CRESM (Regional Reference Center for Multiple Sclerosis), AOU San Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
| | - Simona Perga
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy; (M.S.); (S.P.); (M.L.S.); (A.B.)
- Neurology-CRESM (Regional Reference Center for Multiple Sclerosis), AOU San Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi-Montalcini, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
| | - Maria Ludovica Sforza
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy; (M.S.); (S.P.); (M.L.S.); (A.B.)
- Neurology-CRESM (Regional Reference Center for Multiple Sclerosis), AOU San Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
| | - Luca Marozio
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy; (L.M.); (F.F.); (C.B.)
| | - Federica Frezet
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy; (L.M.); (F.F.); (C.B.)
| | - Stefania Bruno
- Department of Medical Sciences and Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy; (S.B.); (G.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Giulia Chiabotto
- Department of Medical Sciences and Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy; (S.B.); (G.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Maria Chiara Deregibus
- 2i3T Business Incubator and Technology Transfer, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Camussi
- Department of Medical Sciences and Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy; (S.B.); (G.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Giovanni Botta
- Department of Pathology, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10124 Turin, Italy;
| | - Chiara Benedetto
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy; (L.M.); (F.F.); (C.B.)
| | - Antonio Bertolotto
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy; (M.S.); (S.P.); (M.L.S.); (A.B.)
- Neurology-CRESM (Regional Reference Center for Multiple Sclerosis), AOU San Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
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