Placental Tissue Research Articles

Different Lengths of Gestational Exposure to Secondhand Smoke or e-Cigarette Vapor Induce the Development of Placental Disease Symptoms.

Exposure to cigarette smoke is known to induce disease during pregnancy. Recent evidence showed that exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) negatively impacts fetal and placental weights, leading to the development of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Electronic cigarettes (eCigs) represent a phenomenon that has recently emerged, and their use is also steadily rising. Even so, the effects of SHS or eCigs during gestation remain limited. In the present study, we wanted to characterize the effects of SHS or eCig exposure at two different important gestational points during mouse pregnancy. C57/Bl6 mice were exposed to SHS or eCigs via a nose-only delivery system for 4 days (from 14.5 to 17.5 gestational days (dGA) or for 6 days (from 12.5 dGA to 17.5 dGA)). At the time of necropsy (18.5 dGA), placental and fetal weights were recorded, maternal blood pressure was determined, and a dipstick test to measure proteinuria was performed. Placental tissues were collected, and inflammatory molecules in the placenta were identified. Treatment with SHS showed the following: (1) a significant decrease in placental and fetal weights following four days of exposure, (2) higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure following six days of exposure, and (3) increased proteinuria after six days of exposure. Treatment with eCigs showed the following: (1) a significant decrease in placental weight and fetal weight following four or six days of exposure, (2) higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure following six days of exposure, and (3) increased proteinuria after six days of exposure. We also observed different inflammatory markers associated with the development of IUGR or PE. We conclude that the detrimental effects of SHS or eCig treatment coincide with the length of maternal exposure. These results could be beneficial in understanding the long-term effects of SHS or eCig exposure in the development of placental diseases.

A Novel Dehydrated Human Umbilical Cord Particulate Medical Device: Matrix Characterization, Performance, and Biocompatibility for the Management of Acute and Chronic Wounds.

Chronic wounds present a significant socioeconomic burden forecasted to increase in prevalence and cost. Minimally manipulated human placental tissues have been increasingly employed and proven to be advantageous in the treatment of chronic wounds, showing improved clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness. However, technological advances have been constrained by minimal manipulation and homologous use criteria. This study focuses on the characterization of a novel dehydrated human umbilical cord particulate (dHUCP) medical device, which offers a unique allogeneic technological advancement and the first human birth tissue device for wound management. Characterization analyses illustrated a complex extracellular matrix composition conserved in the dHUCP device compared to native umbilical cord, with abundant collagens and glycosaminoglycans imbibing an intricate porous scaffold. Dermal fibroblasts readily attached to the intact scaffold of the dHUCP device. Furthermore, the dHUCP device elicited a significant paracrine proliferative response in dermal fibroblasts, in contrast to fibrillar collagen, a prevalent wound device. Biocompatibility testing in a porcine full-thickness wound model showed resorption of the dHUCP device and normal granulation tissue maturation during healing. The dHUCP device is a promising advancement in wound management biomaterials, offering a unique combination of structural complexity adept for challenging wound topographies and a microenvironment supportive of tissue regeneration.

Melanoma in Pregnancy-Diagnosis, Treatment, and Consequences for Fetal Development and the Maintenance of Pregnancy.

Cutaneous malignant melanoma is one of the most common neoplasms among pregnancy-associated cancers (PACs). Risk factors include excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the presence of benign and dysplastic nevi, and a patient or family history of melanoma. Self-examination and careful inspection of nevi are crucial, especially in the context of their progression over time. Physiological changes that occur during pregnancy, such as the darkening and enlargement of the nevi, delay the diagnosis of CMM. In the fetus, metastases are very rare, and if they do occur, they concern the placenta or fetal tissues. The choice of treatment is influenced by the cancer stage, symptoms, the time of termination of pregnancy, and the patient's decision. Essential procedures which are safe for the fetus are diagnostic biopsy, ultrasound, and the therapeutic excision of the lesion and the affected lymph nodes. Other imaging methods can be used with a safe radiation dose limit of 100 mGy. Immunotherapy and targeted treatments must be carefully considered, because of their possible adverse effects on the fetus. An interdisciplinary approach to the problem of melanoma during pregnancy is necessary, involving doctors of various specialties.

Unravelling the oxygen factor - An investigation of transcriptional activation of hypoxia associated placental angiogenesis in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) patients from Assam, India

IntroductionRecurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as the spontaneous loss of two or more consecutive pregnancies before 20 weeks of gestation, and affects 7.46 % of the Indian population. About 40–50 % of RPL cases are idiopathic making it a therapeutic challenge for clinicians. This study focuses on elucidating the role of hypoxia-associated placental angiogenesis in these idiopathic RPL cases. MethodsWhole blood and product of conception (POCs) were collected from RPL patients (N = 87) and cases of voluntary abortions (medically terminated pregnancy, MTP; n = 110) as controls with informed consent. Serum separated from whole blood was used to study the ROS-antioxidant status in the cases and controls through colorimetric assays and ELISA. The mRNA extracted from placental tissue samples were used to determine the hypoxic and angiogenic status in cases and controls through real time PCR. Statistical analysis was also carried out to correlate the differential hypoxic status between RPL and MTP cohorts with the expression of angiogenic factors (VEGFA, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2). ResultsHIF1α mRNA expression was found to be upregulated in the RPL cases. While the serum levels of H2O2 (p = 0.012), guanine oxides and lipid hydroperoxides (LPO) were increased in the RPL cases, reduced glutathione (GSH) was found to be significantly decreased (p = 0.012). Additionally, AUROC analysis also shows an excellent discriminatory ability of 0.850 for serum H2O2 levels. VEGF-A and VEGF-R1 mRNA expression was also found to be downregulated in the RPL cases compared to MTP. DiscussionThis study indicates that increased oxidative stress may lead to aberrations in the VEGF pathway resulting in improper placentation in RPL cases, and subsequently, pregnancy loss.

Human Cytomegalovirus Dysregulates Cellular Dual-Specificity Tyrosine Phosphorylation-Regulated Kinases and Sonic Hedgehog Pathway Proteins in Neural Astrocyte and Placental Models.

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the leading non-genetic cause of congenital malformation in developed countries, causing significant fetal injury, and in some cases fetal death. The pathogenetic mechanisms through which this host-specific virus infects then damages both the placenta and the fetal brain are currently ill-defined. We investigated the CMV modulation of key signaling pathway proteins for these organs including dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinases (DYRK) and Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway proteins using human first trimester placental trophoblast (TEV-1) cells, primary human astrocyte (NHA) brain cells, and CMV-infected human placental tissue. Immunofluorescence demonstrated the accumulation and re-localization of SHH proteins in CMV-infected TEV-1 cells with Gli2, Ulk3, and Shh re-localizing to the CMV cytoplasmic virion assembly complex (VAC). In CMV-infected NHA cells, DYRK1A re-localized to the VAC and DYRK1B re-localized to the CMV nuclear replication compartments, and the SHH proteins re-localized with a similar pattern as was observed in TEV-1 cells. Western blot analysis in CMV-infected TEV-1 cells showed the upregulated expression of Rb, Ulk3, and Shh, but not Gli2. In CMV-infected NHA cells, there was an upregulation of DYRK1A, DYRK1B, Gli2, Rb, Ulk3, and Shh. These in vitro monoculture findings are consistent with patterns of protein upregulation and re-localization observed in naturally infected placental tissue and CMV-infected ex vivo placental explant histocultures. This study reveals CMV-induced changes in proteins critical for fetal development, and identifies new potential targets for CMV therapeutic development.

Particulate contamination of human placenta: Plastic and non-plastic

Recent evidence indicates that the human womb is contaminated with a variety of particulate contaminants. Microplastics (MPs, tiny plastic particles, 0.1 – 5000 µm) generated by the breakdown of larger plastic products in the environment) accumulation in human placenta has recently been described. In addition, recent evidence has correlated the number of air pollution particulates in term placentas to the loading of these particles in dust from the gestational parent home. The current study sought to characterize the accumulation of plastic and non-plastic particles (NPP) within the term human placenta. Placenta tissues were collected from healthy, singleton pregnancies following vaginal (n = 5) and caesarean section (n = 5) deliveries at a tertiary care centre located in an urban Canadian city (Ottawa, ON), with particles detected and characterized by Raman micro-spectroscopy. Both plastic and non-plastic particles were identified in all placentas examined, with an average of 1 ± 1.2 MPs /g and 4 ± 2.9 NPP /g of tissue. Similar tissue concentrations of MPs and NNP were identified in all regions of the placenta (basal plate, chorionic villous, chorionic plate), and did not differ according to mode of delivery. MPs ranged in size (2 – 60 μm), with the most abundant MPs being polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The most abundantly identified NPP were carbon, graphite, and lead oxide. Collectively, these results demonstrate the accumulation of foreign particles, including MPs, throughout the human placenta. Given the vital functions of the placenta in supporting fetal growth and development, and a potential for MPs to induce toxicity, further investigations into the potential harmful effects of these environmental toxicants on maternal and fetal health is warranted.

Suppression of GATA3 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and simultaneous cellular senescence in human extravillous trophoblasts

The regulatory mechanism of the transcription factor GATA3 in the differentiation and maturation process of extravillous trophoblasts (EVT) in early pregnancy placenta, as well as its relevance to the occurrence of pregnancy disorders, remains poorly understood. This study leveraged single-cell RNA sequencing data from placental organoid models and placental tissue to explore the dynamic changes in GATA3 expression during EVT maturation. The expression pattern exhibited an initial upregulation followed by subsequent downregulation, with aberrant GATA3 localization observed in cases of recurrent miscarriage (RM). By identifying global targets regulated by GATA3 in primary placental EVT cells, JEG3, and HTR8/SVneo cell lines, this study offered insights into its regulatory mechanisms across different EVT cell models. Shared regulatory targets among these cell types and activation of trophoblast cell marker genes emphasized the importance of GATA3 in EVT differentiation and maturation. Knockdown of GATA3 in JEG3 cells led to repression of GATA3-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), as evidenced by changes in marker gene expression levels and enhanced migration ability. Additionally, interference with GATA3 accelerated cellular senescence, as indicated by reduced proliferation rates and increased activity levels for senescence-associated β-galactosidase enzyme, along with elevated expression levels for senescence-associated genes. This study provides comprehensive insights into the dual role of GATA3 in regulating EMT and cellular senescence during EVT differentiation, shedding light on the dynamic changes in GATA3 expression in normal and pathological placental conditions.

Unraveling the role of sulfiredoxin-1 in early-onset preeclampsia: A key player in trophoblast ferroptosis

Preeclampsia (PE) significantly contributes to obstetric complications and maternal mortality, yet its pathogenesis and mechanisms are not well understood. Sulfiredoxin-1 (SRXN1) is known for its antioxidant activity and its role in defending against oxidative stress; it is also linked to various cancers. However, the role of SRXN1 in PE remains unclear. Our study found a significant decrease in SRXN1 levels in the serum and placental tissues of patients with early-onset preeclampsia (EOPE). Similarly, a PE-like mouse model showed reduced SRXN1 expression. Our in vitro experiments showed that reducing SRXN1 impaired trophoblast viability, decreased invasion and migration, and led to cell death, primarily through ferroptosis. These results are consistent with analyses of placental tissues from EOPE patients. In summary, lower SRXN1 levels during pregnancy contribute to trophoblast ferroptosis, potentially affecting the development and progression of EOPE.

Human Placental Schistosomiasis-A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Schistosome egg deposition in pregnant women may affect the placenta of infected mothers and cause placental schistosomiasis (PS). Histopathological examination of placental tissue is an inadequate detection method due to low sensitivity. So far, there has not been any systematic review on PS. We conducted a systematic literature search on PubMed, EMBASE, and Medline and included all publications that reported microscopically confirmed cases of PS, as well as the relevant secondary literature found in the citations of the primarily included publications. Out of 113 abstracts screened we found a total of 8 publications describing PS with a total of 92 cases describing egg deposition of dead and/or viable eggs and worms of S. haematobium and S. mansoni in placental tissue. One cross-sectional study investigating the prevalence of PS and its association with adverse birth outcomes, found 22% of placentas to be infested using a maceration technique but only <1% using histologic examination. Additionally, no direct link to deleterious pregnancy outcomes could be shown. PS is a highly unattended and underdiagnosed condition in endemic populations, due to a lack of awareness as well as low sensitivity of histopathological examinations. However, PS may play an important role in mediating or reinforcing adverse birth outcomes (ABO) such as fetal growth restriction (FGR) in maternal schistosomiasis, possibly by placental inflammation.

ОЦЕНКА ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ПРИМЕНЕНИЯ ДЕЦЕЛЛЮЛЯРИЗОВАННОЙ АМНИОТИЧЕСКОЙ МЕМБРАНЫ ЧЕЛОВЕКА В КОМБИНАЦИИ С КЛЕТОЧНОЙ ТЕРАПИЕЙ ПРИ МЕСТНЫХ ЛУЧЕВЫХ ПОРАЖЕНИЯХ

Cell therapy is a promising direction in medicine, which can significantly improve the results of treatment of various diseases, including local radiation injuries (LRI). The purpose of the study was to compare the results of using decellularized human amniotic membrane isolated and together with lyophilisates of conditioned media of MSCs from the human gingival mucosa and MSCs from human placental tissue and their effect on tissue regeneration in LRI. Material and methods: The study included 42 laboratory animals (white male rats of the Wistar line), randomly divided into 6 groups: K – control group without therapy, on the 21st day after irradiation, groups using: Am+LD – application of lyophilisate of the conditioned medium of MSCs of the human gingival mucosa (LD) under the decellularized amniotic membrane, Am+LP – application of lyophilisate of the conditioned medium of MSCs of human placental tissue (LP) under the decellularized amniotic membrane, Am – application of the decellularized amniotic membrane, AmCl – application of the decellularized amniotic membrane with medical glue BF-6, Kl – application medical glue BF-6. Modeling of LRI in animals was carried out on an LNK-268 X-ray unit at a dose of 110 Gy and observed until the 112th day after irradiation, monitoring of the ulcerative surface of the skin and the course of the inflammatory process of LRI was carried out with calculation of the area of ​​the total changed skin in the ImageTool software. Planimetric and histological analyzes were performed. Results: It was demonstrated that, when compared with the control, the use of decellularized amniotic membrane in LRI on days 77 and 112 after irradiation increased the healing rate by 4.6 and 18 times, respectively; decellularized amniotic membrane with lyophilisate of placental MSC conditioned medium increased the rate of wound healing by 13.5 and 27 times, respectively; and a dellularized amniotic membrane with lyophilisate of MSCs from the human gingival mucosa to 100 % healing. Healing of the ulcer surface area of the LRI in 83.5 % of animals in the Am group demonstrated the effectiveness of using isolated decellularized amniotic membrane even in the absence of human MSC lyophilisates. At the same time, healing of the ulcer surface area of the LRI in the AmCl group was 20 % of cases, where the decellularized amniotic membrane was fixed with BF-6 medical glue, which was less effective compared to other groups. Conclusion: The proposed combined use of decellularized amniotic membrane with lyophilisates of the conditioned medium of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) of the placenta and mucous tissue of the human gums and the isolated use of decellularized amniotic membrane led to complete epithelization of the ulcer surface, a pronounced favorable course of grade IIIb–IV LRI in laboratory animals and a reduction in healing time , the absence of local or systemic complications can be considered as a promising method of conservative treatment for LRI of the skin and a new therapeutic approach in the treatment of non-healing and chronic wounds.

Combined analysis of the effects of hypoxia and oxidative stress on DNA methylation and the transcriptome in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells.

The alterations in DNA methylation and transcriptome in trophoblast cells under conditions of low oxygen and oxidative stress have major implications for pregnancy-related disorders. However, the exact mechanism is still not fully understood. In this study, we established models of hypoxia (H group) and oxidative stress (HR group) using HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells and performed combined analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation changes using reduced representation bisulphite sequencing and transcriptome expression changes using RNA sequencing. Our findings revealed that the H group exhibited a higher number of differentially methylated genes and differentially expressed genes than the HR group. In the H group, only 0.90% of all differentially expressed genes displayed simultaneous changes in DNA methylation and transcriptome expression. After the threshold was expanded, this number increased to 6.29% in the HR group. Notably, both the H group and HR group exhibited concurrent alterations in DNA methylation and transcriptome expression within Axon guidance and MAPK signalling pathway. Among the top 25 differentially methylated KEGG pathways in the promoter region, 11 pathways were commonly enriched in H group and HR group, accounting for 44.00%. Among the top 25 KEGG pathways in transcriptome with significant differences between the H group and HR group, 10 pathways were consistent, accounting for 40.00%. By integrating our previous data on DNA methylation from preeclamptic placental tissues, we identified that the ANKRD37 and PFKFB3 genes may contribute to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia through DNA methylation-mediated transcriptome expression under hypoxic conditions.

Upregulation of MMPs in placentas of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus: Involvement of the PI3K/Akt pathway

In recent years, there has been a notable rise in the incidence of pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), characterized by glucose intolerance first identified during pregnancy. Analysis of placental tissue has revealed that placentas from women with GDM tend to be larger and heavier compared to control placentas, indicating potential changes in trophoblast proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In this study, transcriptome sequencing was conducted on placentas obtained from both normal pregnancies and pregnancies with GDM to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying this condition. The original sequencing data were subjected to sequencing analysis, resulting in the identification of 935 upregulated genes and 256 downregulated genes. The KEGG and GO analysis techniques on differential genes uncovered evidence suggesting that the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway may contribute to the pathogenesis of GDM. Subsequent analysis indicated that the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 11, MMP12, MMP14, and MMP15, which are regulated by the PI3K/Akt pathway, were upregulated in the placentas of patients with GDM when compared to those of individuals with normal placental function. Additionally, our investigation into alternative splicing patterns revealed an increase in exon skipping alternative splicing of CSF3R in the placenta of patients with GDM compared to that in the control group. The CSF3R–PI3K-MMP pathway is speculated to regulate the pathogenesis of GDM.

IGF2BP3 participates in the pathogenesis of recurrent spontaneous abortion by regulating ferroptosis

The aberrant invasive capability of trophoblast cells is widely acknowledged as a primary mechanism underlying RSA. Recently, IGF2BP3 has been implicated in various cancers due to its influence on cellular invasion and migration. However, whether IGF2BP3 involve in the occurrence of RSA and the specific functions it assumes in the development of RSA remain elusive. In our study, we firstly collected villous tissues from RSA and those with normal pregnancies individuals to performed Protein sequencing and then detected the expression of IGF2BP3 through Western blot, qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Secondly, we analyzed the single-cell data (GSE214607) to assess the expression of IGF2BP3 in invasive EVT trophoblasts. Thirdly, we utilized lentivirus technology to establish HTR-8/SVneo cell lines with stable IGF2BP3 knockdown and RNA-seq analysis was employed to investigate the GO functional pathway enrichment of IGF2BP3. Meanwhile, the effect of IGF2BP3 knockdown on trophoblast cells apoptosis, migration, and ferroptosis was evaluated through functional experiments. Additionally, LPS-induced abortion animal model was constructed to evaluate IGF2BP3 expression in placental tissues. A significant downregulation of IGF2BP3 was observed in the villous tissues of RSA patient, a finding corroborated by subsequent single cell sequencing results. Furthermore, it suggested that IGF2BP3 may be involved in the migration and apoptotic processes of trophoblast cells. Mechanistic research indicated that IGF2BP3 knockdown could compromise GPX4 mRNA stability, leading to the promotion of ferroptosis. Finally, our investigation observed the down-regulation of IGF2BP3 expression in placental villous tissues of an LPS-induced abortion animal model. Our findings revealed that IGF2BP3 was downregulated in the villous tissues of RSA patients. Mechanically, down-regulation of IGF2BP3 may induce RSA by promoting GPX4-mediated ferroptosis and inhibiting trophoblast invasion and migration. Our study may provide new targets and research directions for the pathogenesis of RSA.

Genomic Insights into Gestational Weight Gain: Uncovering Tissue-Specific Mechanisms and Pathways.

Increasing gestational weight gain (GWG) is linked to adverse outcomes in pregnant persons and their children. The Early Growth Genetics (EGG) Consortium identified previously genetic variants that could contribute to early, late, and total GWG from fetal and maternal genomes. However, the biologic mechanisms and tissue-Specificity of these variants in GWG is unknown. We evaluated the association between genetically predicted gene expression in five relevant maternal (subcutaneous and visceral adipose, breast, uterus, and whole blood) from GTEx (v7) and fetal (placenta) tissues and early, late, and total GWG using S-PrediXcan. We tested enrichment of pre-defined biological pathways for nominally (P < 0.05) significant associations using the GENE2FUNC module from Functional Mapping and Annotation of Genome-Wide Association Studies. After multiple testing correction, we did not find significant associations between maternal and fetal gene expression and early, late, or total GWG. There was significant enrichment of several biological pathways, including metabolic processes, secretion, and intracellular transport, among nominally significant genes from the maternal analyses (false discovery rate p-values: 0.016 to 9.37×10). Enriched biological pathways varied across pregnancy. Though additional research is necessary, these results indicate that diverse biological pathways are likely to impact GWG, with their influence varying by tissue and weeks of gestation.

Advanced magnetic resonance imaging detects altered placental development in pregnancies affected by congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital malformation and is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. The placenta is crucial for healthy fetal development and placental development is altered in pregnancy when the fetus has CHD. This study utilized advanced combined diffusion-relaxation MRI and a data-driven analysis technique to test the hypothesis that placental microstructure and perfusion are altered in CHD-affected pregnancies. 48 participants (36 controls, 12 CHD) underwent 67 MRI scans (50 control, 17 CHD). Significant differences in the weighting of two independent placental and uterine-wall tissue components were identified between the CHD and control groups (both pFDR < 0.001), with changes most evident after 30 weeks gestation. A significant trend over gestation in weighting for a third independent tissue component was also observed in the CHD cohort (R = 0.50, pFDR = 0.04), but not in controls. These findings add to existing evidence that placental development is altered in CHD. The results may reflect alterations in placental perfusion or the changes in fetal-placental flow, villous structure and maturation that occur in CHD. Further research is needed to validate and better understand these findings and to understand the relationship between placental development, CHD, and its neurodevelopmental implications.

Neurodevelopment and Metabolism in the Maternal-Placental-Fetal Unit.

Disturbances in maternal, placental, and fetal metabolism are associated with developmental outcomes. Associations of maternal, placental, and fetal metabolism with subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes in the child are understudied. To investigate the metabolic associations within the maternal-placental-fetal unit and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes in younger siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This cohort study was conducted within a subset of the Markers of Autism Risk in Babies, Learning Early Signs (MARBLES) cohort. MARBLES is a prospective birth cohort of younger siblings of children with ASD assessed for neurodevelopmental outcomes at approximately age 36 months. Participants in MARBLES were recruited through the UC Davis MIND Institute. This subset of the MARBLES cohort included younger siblings born between 2009 and 2015. Maternal third trimester serum, placental tissue, and umbilical cord serum samples were collected from participants. Only pregnancies with at least 2 of these sample types were included in this analysis. Data analysis was conducted from March 1, 2023, to March 15, 2024. Quantitative metabolomics analysis was conducted on maternal third trimester serum, as well as placental tissue and umbilical cord serum collected at delivery. Using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and Mullen Scales of Early Learning, outcomes were classified as ASD, other nontypical development (non-TD), and typical development (TD). This analysis included 100 maternal serum samples, 141 placental samples, and 124 umbilical cord serum samples from 152 pregnancies (median [IQR] maternal age, 34.6 [30.8-38.3] years; median [IQR] gestational age, 39.0 [38.6-39.7] weeks; 87 [57.2%] male infants). There was no evidence that the maternal third trimester serum metabolome was significantly associated with the other metabolomes. The placental and cord serum metabolomes were highly correlated (first latent variate pair: R2 = 0.75; P < .001) and the variate scores for each tissue were significantly associated with reduced risk of non-TD (placenta: relative risk [RR], 0.13; 95% CI, 0.02-0.71; cord: RR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.03-0.70) but not ASD (placenta: RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.42-2.81; cord: RR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.23-1.73) compared with the TD reference group. In this cohort study of children with high familial risk of ASD, placental and cord serum metabolism at delivery were highly correlated. Furthermore, placental and cord serum metabolic profiles were associated with risk of non-TD.

Placental Transcriptome Analysis in Connection with Low Litter Birth Weight Phenotype (LBWP) Sows.

It is possible to identify sub-populations of sows in every pig herd that consistently give birth to low birth weight (BW) piglets, irrespective of the litter size. A previous study from our group demonstrated that placental development is a main factor affecting the litter birth weight phenotype (LBWP) in sows, thereby impacting the BW of entire litters, but the biological and molecular pathways behind this phenomenon are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the differential gene expression in placental tissues at day 30 of gestation between low LBWP (LLBWP) vs. high LBWP (HLBWP) sows from a purebred Large White maternal line. Using mRNA sequencing, we found 45 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in placental tissues of LLBWP and HLBWP sows. Furthermore, (GO) enrichment of upregulated DEGs predicted that there were two biological processes significantly related to cornification and regulation of cell population proliferation. To better understand the molecular interaction between cell proliferation and cornification, we conducted transcriptional factor binding site (TFBS) prediction analysis. The results indicated that a highly significant TFBS was located at the 5' upstream of all four upregulated genes (CDSN, DSG3, KLK14, KRT17), recognized by transcription factors EGR4 and FOSL1. Our findings provide novel insight into how transcriptional regulation of two different biological processes interact in placental tissues of LLBWP sows.

Glucose uptake in trophoblasts of GDM mice is regulated by the AMPK-CLUT3 signaling pathway.

GDM, as a metabolic disease during pregnancy, regulates GLUT3 translocation by AMPK, thereby affecting glucose uptake in trophoblasts. It provides a new research idea and therapeutic target for alleviating intrauterine hyperglycemia in GDM. STZ was used to construct GDM mice, inject AICAR into pregnant mice, and observe fetal and placental weight; flow cytometry was employed for the detection of glucose uptake by primary trophoblast cells; immunofluorescence was applied to detect the localization of GLUT3 and AMPK in placental tissue; Cocofal microscope was used to detect the localization of GLUT3 in trophoblast cells;qRT-PCR and Western blot experiments were carried out to detect the expression levels of GLUT3 and AMPK in placental tissue; CO-IP was utilized to detect the interaction of GLUT3 and AMPK. Compared with the normal pregnancy group, the weight of the fetus and placenta of GDM mice increased (P < 0.001), and the ability of trophoblasts to take up glucose decreased (P < 0.001). In addition, AMPK activity in trophoblasts and membrane localization of GLUT3 in GDM mice were down-regulated compared with normal pregnant mice (P < 0.05). There is an interaction between GLUT3 and AMPK. Activating AMPK in trophoblasts can up-regulate the expression of GLUT3 membrane protein in trophoblasts of mice (P < 0.05) and increase the glucose uptake of trophoblasts (P < 0.05). We speculate thatinhibition of AMPK activity in GDM mice results in aberrant localization of GLUT3, which in turn attenuates glucose uptake by placental trophoblast cells. AICAR activates AMPK to increase the membrane localization of GLUT3 and improve the glucose uptake capacity of trophoblasts.

Triaging and Evaluation of Products of Conception in Abortions and Post-Partum Hemorrhage.

The proper evaluation of abortion specimens and placentas from stillbirth and post-partum cases is important for adequate clinical care of post-abortion and post-partum patients. The following topics will be reviewed: (1) the importance of evaluation of both fetal and placental tissue in first trimester abortions to confirm an intrauterine pregnancy versus an ectopic pregnancy; (2) the clinical history associated with an abortion specimen or retained products of conception (POC) influences how the pathologist should triage the specimen; (3) the criteria for diagnosis of a molar pregnancy, which is critical for clinicians to know which patients need follow-up; (4) the utility of genetic studies for both diagnosis and appropriate follow-up of the patient; and (5) the pathologic evaluation of specimens from patients with post-partum hemorrhage for placenta accreta spectrum and subinvolution of maternal vessels.

SIRT5-mediated PRKAA2 succinylation ameliorates apoptosis of human placental trophoblasts in hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy

ABSTRACT Purpose Hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP) is a serious clinical disorder syndrome during pregnancy. This study aims at finding novel targets for HDCP therapy. Methods HDCP-related mRNAs were firstly screened out and subjected to gene enrichment analysis. We chose protein kinase AMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha 2 (PRKAA2) as the research object. Thirty-nine HDCP patients at 32 to 40 weeks of gestation were selected as the HDCP group, and 39 normal controls who received cesarean section delivery at 37–42 weeks of pregnancy were enrolled in this study. Chorionic villi samples were collected within 30 min of delivery. The apoptosis of isolated placental trophoblasts was monitored to investigate the regulatory role of PRKAA2. Results PRKAA2 expression was further proven to be enhanced in the placental tissues of HDCP patients compared with that of normal puerpera. Subsequently, the results of flow cytometry analysis and western blot indicated that PRKAA2 overexpression accelerated primary placental cell apoptosis, while its knockdown attenuated cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, we determined that the level of PRKAA2 succinylation was elevated in the placental tissue of HDCP patients. Through in vitro succinylation assay and mutagenesis, we confirmed that sirtuin 5 (SIRT5) interacts with PRKAA2 at K69 and K260 to induce PRKAA2 desuccinylation. SIRT5 regulated primary HDCP cell apoptosis through PRKAA2. Finally, the animal study revealed that PRKAA2 elevates the systolic blood pressure of HDCP rat model. Conclusion Our findings indicated that SIRT5-mediated PRKAA2 succinylation modulates placental cell apoptosis in HDCP, suggesting that PRKAA2 is a potential therapeutic target for HDCP treatment.