Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose M. Murrieta-Coxca, Ruby N. Gutierrez-Samudio, Heba M. El-Shorafa, Tanja Groten, Sandra Rodriguez-Martinez, Mario E. Cancino-Diaz, Juan C. Cancino-Diaz, Rodolfo R. Favaro, Udo R. Markert, Diana M. Morales-Prieto
Summary: The study demonstrates that IL-36 cytokines are modulated by microbial components and play a role in trophoblast migration and interaction with endothelial cells. These cytokines may have a fundamental role in the placentation process and in response to infections.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Bai-Mei Zhuang, Dan-Dan Cao, Tian-Xi Li, Xiao-Feng Liu, Min-Min Lyu, Si-Dong Wang, Xin-Yuan Cui, Li Wang, Xiao-Lin Chen, Xiao-Li Lin, Cheuk-Lun Lee, Philip C. N. Chiu, William S. B. Yeung, Yuan-Qing Yao
Summary: Our study provides a single-cell atlas for trophoblast organoids (TOs) and explores their applications in extravillous trophoblast (EVT) differentiation and communication with decidual natural killer (dNK) cells. We identified multiple distinct trophoblast states and dNK subpopulations, and found a close resemblance between TO/EVT-TO and human placenta. Transcription factors were found to be essential for controlling EVT differentiation, and ligand-receptor complexes related to cytokines, immunomodulation, and angiogenesis were predicted in dNK-EVT-TO co-cultures. Furthermore, we found that dNK cells can exert effects on EVT causing functionally important expression changes.
Article
Immunology
Xiaofang Guo, Nihan Semerci, Viviana De Assis, Umit A. Kayisli, Frederick Schatz, Thora S. Steffensen, Ozlem Guzeloglu-Kayisli, Charles J. Lockwood
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 infection in placental cells induces the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which may contribute to cytokine storms and placental dysfunction. In addition, the infection increases the risk of thrombosis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea Pirkovic, Aleksandra Vilotic, Suncica Borozan, Mirjana Nacka-Aleksic, Zanka Bojic-Trbojevic, Milica Jovanovic Krivokuca, Maurizio Battino, Francesca Giampieri, Dragana Dekanski
Summary: The bioactive compound oleuropein derived from olives was evaluated for its effects on damage induced by hydrogen peroxide in human trophoblast cells in vitro. The study found that oleuropein had cytoprotective effects by improving antioxidant status, preventing protein and lipid damage, and reducing iNOS levels.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tarique Hussain, Ghulam Murtaza, Dildar Hussain Kalhoro, Muhammad Saleem Kalhoro, Muhammad Ismail Chughtai, Anjaleena Yaseen
Summary: Pregnancy is a complex physiological process involving communication between the mother and fetus. Uterine natural killer (uNK) cells form a significant population in the early pregnant uterus and play a crucial role in spiral artery remodeling, trophoblast invasion, and placental development. Limited research has been conducted on the importance of uNK cells in normal pregnancy and pregnancy-related issues. This review article focuses on the descriptive role of uNK cells in pregnancy complications and their interaction with other immune cell components, as well as the potential threat uNK cells may pose to pregnancy based on clinical evidence.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sumit Sen Santara, Angela C. Crespo, Sachin Mulik, Cristian Ovies, Selma Boulenouar, Jack L. Strominger, Judy Lieberman
Summary: Zika virus infection during pregnancy can lead to placental damage and fetal birth defects, with limited understanding of the cellular immune response at the maternal-fetal interface. Research has shown that dNK cells in the first trimester are able to kill Zika virus-infected trophoblasts, indicating that certain immune cells protect the fetus by eliminating infected cells.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Eliza Grbac, Teresa So, Swati Varshney, Nicholas Williamson, Evdokia Dimitriadis, Ellen Menkhorst
Summary: Research suggests that prednisolone affects the expression of cytokines and protein production in human endometrial stromal fibroblasts (hESF), altering their regulation of trophoblast cells. Decidualization of hESF in the presence of prednisolone enhances trophoblast cell growth and influences the expression of cell motility genes.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Milica Jovanovic Krivokuca, Aleksandra Vilotic, Mirjana Nacka-Aleksic, Andrea Pirkovic, Danica Cujic, Janko Legner, Dragana Dekanski, Zanka Bojic-Trbojevic
Summary: Galectins play important roles in pregnancy, affecting placental development, immune regulation, angiogenesis, and are associated with some pregnancy-related disorders.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Shanshui Zeng, Mengru Han, Min Jiang, Fei Liu, Yanwei Hu, Yan Long, Chunyan Zhu, Fangling Zeng, Qiangsheng Gan, Weitao Ye, Wenjin Fu, Hongling Yang
Summary: The study identified and verified novel serum markers for hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) using a label-free LC-MS/MS method. Complement proteins were found to play an essential role in the occurrence of HDP by acting on trophoblast cells, with clusterin (CLU) identified as a high-risk factor for HDP development. A model combining complement factors and body weight showed reasonable screening efficiency for predicting HDP in the first half of pregnancy.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY AND ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kristen Lospinoso, Mikhail Dozmorov, Nadine El Fawal, Rhea Raghu, Wook-Jin Chae, Eun D. Lee
Summary: The gene ERAP2N expressed in trophoblast cells enhances immune responses but also leads to cell death due to the down-regulation of pro-survival genes. RNA sequencing analysis identified a total of 581 differentially expressed genes between ERAP2N expressing and non-expressing TCs, with significant enrichment in pathways related to protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum and antigen processing during the reproductive cycle.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Bai-Mei Zhuang, Dan-Dan Cao, Xiao-Feng Liu, Li Wang, Xiao-Li Lin, Yong-Gang Duan, Cheuk-Lun Lee, Philip C. N. Chiu, William S. B. Yeung, Yuan-Qing Yao
Summary: The human placenta is a unique temporary organ with mysterious immune tolerance. The use of trophoblast organoids and CRISPR/Cas9 technology has advanced the understanding of placental development and the role of HLA-G in trophoblast function and differentiation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Rebekka Vogtmann, Jacqueline Heupel, Florian Herse, Mahsa Matin, Henning Hagmann, Ivo Bendix, Kristin Kraeker, Ralf Dechend, Elke Winterhager, Rainer Kimmig, Angela Koeninger, Alexandra Gellhaus
Summary: By overexpressing hsFLT1 in mice, the study found that circulating maternal hsFLT1 is sufficient to induce typical maternal preeclampsia-like symptoms, impairing spiral artery remodeling independently from the fetoplacental compartment.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Natalin Valeff, Damian O. Muzzio, Franziska Matzner, Marcos Dibo, Janine Golchert, Georg Homuth, Martin C. Abba, Marek Zygmunt, Federico Jensen
Summary: Pregnancy alters B cell activation, leading to a state of hypo-responsiveness where B cells have decreased response to BCR stimulation. This may be part of the maternal immune strategy for fetal tolerance.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mariyan J. Jeyarajah, Gargi Jaju Bhattad, Rachel D. Kelly, Kelly J. Baines, Adam Jaremek, Fei-Hung P. Yang, Hiroaki Okae, Takahiro Arima, Vanessa Dumeaux, Stephen J. Renaud
Summary: GCM1 is a critical regulator of both EVT and ST development, affecting cell differentiation and invasive capacity, potentially leading to obstetrical complications such as preeclampsia.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mariyan J. Jeyarajah, Gargi Jaju Bhattad, Rachel D. Kelly, Kelly J. Baines, Adam Jaremek, Fei-Hung P. Yang, Hiroaki Okae, Takahiro Arima, Vanessa Dumeaux, Stephen J. Renaud
Summary: GCM1 is a critical regulator of human placenta development, playing a key role in the differentiation and function of EVT and ST. Knockdown of GCM1 hinders TS cell differentiation and impacts their functions in both ST and EVT pathways.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Letizia Lombardelli, Federica Logiodice, Ornela Kullolli, Herman Haller, Chiara Agostinis, Roberta Bulla, Daniel Rukavina, Marie-Pierre Piccinni
Summary: The role of IL-35 in human pregnancy was investigated. It was found that human trophoblast cells produced IL-35 and could polarize T cells. Low concentrations of IL-35 not only did not suppress Th cell proliferation but also stimulated IL-4 and IL-10 production. IL-35 was crucial for the differentiation of IL-35+, IL-10+, IL-4+ Th2-type cells in successful pregnancies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Beatrice Belmonte, Alessandro Mangogna, Alessandro Gulino, Valeria Cancila, Gaia Morello, Chiara Agostinis, Roberta Bulla, Giuseppe Ricci, Filippo Fraggetta, Marina Botto, Peter Garred, Francesco Tedesco
Summary: This study found that the expression of C1q in trophoblasts is defective in patients with pre-eclampsia, which affects the remodeling of maternal decidua blood vessels, leading to changes in placental function and structure. Additionally, the study also showed that the lectin pathway plays an important role in complement activation in pre-eclampsia.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chiara Agostinis, Miriam Toffoli, Andrea Balduit, Alessandro Mangogna, Hadida Yasmin, Chiara Ragazzon, Silvia Pegoraro, Giuseppina Campisciano, Guglielmo Stabile, Gabriella Zito, Uday Kishore, Manola Comar, Federica Scrimin, Roberta Bulla, Giuseppe Ricci
Summary: Although only a small percentage of SARS-CoV-2 infections occur in children aged 0-9, pneumonia remains the leading cause of infant mortality worldwide. Vaccinated breastfeeding mothers produce antibodies against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, which can activate the complement pathway and potentially protect breastfed newborns against infection. A study involving vaccinated healthcare and school workers found that anti-S IgG antibodies were present in the serum and breast milk, capable of activating complement.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Roberta Bulla, Lucrezia Rossi, Giovanni Furlanis, Chiara Agostinis, Miriam Toffoli, Andrea Balduit, Alessandro Mangogna, Marco Liccari, Giorgia Morosini, Uday Kishore, Paolo Manganotti
Summary: Brain fog, a constellation of neurological and psychiatric symptoms, can occur in the post-acute phase of COVID-19. It is characterized by inattention, short-term memory loss, and reduced mental acuity, which can impact cognition, concentration, and sleep. This study found that levels of Mannan-binding lectin (MBL), an important component of the complement system, were significantly lower in COVID-19 patients experiencing brain fog compared to recovered patients. These findings suggest that MBL deficiency may contribute to the development of long COVID-associated brain fog.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Andrea Balduit, Romana Vidergar, Paola Zacchi, Alessandro Mangogna, Chiara Agostinis, Micaela Grandolfo, Cristina Bottin, Francesco Salton, Paola Confalonieri, Andrea Rocca, Fabrizio Zanconati, Marco Confalonieri, Uday Kishore, Berhane Ghebrehiwet, Roberta Bulla
Summary: In the malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) tumor microenvironment, the interaction between complement component C1q and hyaluronic acid (HA) enhances malignant cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation. This interaction also affects the degradation of HA and the upregulation of HYAL2. The co-localization and interaction between HYAL2 and gC1qR suggest a potential regulatory role of gC1qR within the HA-C1q macromolecular complex.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Andrea Balduit, Anna Monica Bianco, Alessandro Mangogna, Anna Maria Zicari, Lucia Leonardi, Bianca Laura Cinicola, Martina Capponi, Alberto Tommasini, Chiara Agostinis, Adamo Pio d'Adamo, Roberta Bulla
Summary: Primary complement system (C) deficiencies are rare but associated with an increased risk of infections. This study presented a case of a ten-year-old boy infected by Neisseria meningitidis B and with reduced C activity, and identified two pathogenetic variants in the C7 gene.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Luca Spaggiari, Gianfranco Squartini B. Ramos, Caterina Squartini A. Ramos, Andrea Ardizzoni, Natalia Pedretti, Elisabetta Blasi, Francesco De Seta, Eva Pericolini
Summary: In this study, the anti-Candida and anti-inflammatory properties of the commercialized vaginal gel Respecta(& REG;) Balance Gel (RBG) were analyzed. The results showed that RBG can reduce Candida adhesion, hyphae formation, and vaginal cell damage. Additionally, both RBG and placebo (pRBG) reduced the secretion of inflammatory mediators. The study concludes that RBG impairs Candida virulence and reduces inflammation in the vaginal environment, promoting the establishment of a balanced vaginal ecosystem.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Roman Vuerich, Elena Groppa, Simone Vodret, Nadja Annelies Ruth Ring, Chiara Stocco, Fleur Bossi, Chiara Agostinis, Matteo Cauteruccio, Andrea Colliva, Mohammad Ramadan, Francesca Simoncello, Federica Benvenuti, Anna Agnelli, Franca Dore, Flavia Mazzarol, Massimo Moretti, Alice Paulitti, Silvia Palmisano, Nicolo De Manzini, Mattia Chiesa, Manuel Casaburo, Angela Raucci, Daniela Lorizio, Giulio Pompilio, Roberta Bulla, Giovanni Papa, Serena Zacchigna
Summary: Nonhealing wounds have a negative impact on the quality of life for patients and health systems. Skin substitutes have been used, but have limited efficacy due to inadequate vascularization. The use of the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from adipose tissue shows promise in overcoming this limitation, but additional research is needed to determine its precise mechanism of action.
NPJ REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Immunology
Andrea Balduit, Romana Vidergar, Paola Zacchi, Alessandro Mangogna, Chiara Agostinis, Micaela Grandolfo, Cristina Bottin, Francesco Salton, Paola Confalonieri, Andrea Rocca, Fabrizio Zanconati, Marco Confaloneri, Uday Kishore, Berhane Ghebrehiwet, Roberta Bulla
Meeting Abstract
Immunology
Andrea Balduit, Alessandro Mangogna, Valentina Vaira, Chiara Agostinis, Paola Rafaniello Raviele, Cristina Bottin, Francesco Salton, Francesco Nesa, Nicola Fusco, Stefano Ferrero, Fabrizio Zanconati, Marco Confalonieri, Roberta Bulla
Meeting Abstract
Immunology
Hadida Yasmin, Chiara Agostinis, Miriam Toffoli, Tamali Roy, Silvia Pegoraro, Andrea Balduit, Giuseppe Ricci, Taruna Madan, Uday Kishore, Roberta Bulla
Meeting Abstract
Immunology
Andrea Balduit, Alessandro Mangogna, Chiara Agostinis, Francesco Salton, Miriam Toffoli, Gabriella Zito, Federico Romano, Roberto Verardo, Marco Confalonieri, Giuseppe Ricci, Roberta Bulla
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea Balduit, Romana Vidergar, Paola Zacchi, Alessandro Mangogna, Chiara Agostinis, Micaela Grandolfo, Fabrizio Zanconati, Marco Confalonieri, Roberta Bulla
MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
