Article
Cell Biology
Sonia Tamanna, Saije K. Morosin, Sarah J. Delforce, Dirk F. van Helden, Eugenie R. Lumbers, Kirsty G. Pringle
Summary: This study found that the mRNA levels of ACE, ACE2 and NEP are altered during syncytialisation in primary trophoblasts, but not in BeWo cells. The protein levels and activity of ACE, ACE2 and NEP remained unchanged. Further studies are needed to investigate the placental levels of these enzymes in pregnancies complicated by placental insufficiency.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Joseph A. Westrich, Erin E. McNulty, Marisa J. Edmonds, Amy Nalls, Megan R. Miller, Brian D. Foy, Joel Rovnak, Rushika Perera, Candace K. Mathiason
Summary: The pathogenicity and transmission potential of infectious agents are heavily influenced by early events during the asymptomatic or subclinical phase of disease. Subclinical infections, such as those caused by the Zika virus (ZIKV), represent roughly 80% of all human infections and are less understood. Establishing animal models of subclinical infections can help investigate mother-to-offspring transmission mechanisms and other maternal infections that impact foetal development.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
F. R. C. L. Almeida, A. L. N. Alvarenga Dias
Summary: Embryo mortality in pigs leads to reduced litter size, with establishment of pregnancy being a complex process. The placenta plays a key role in nutrient exchange between mother and fetuses, and placental insufficiency can result in fetal intrauterine growth restriction. Focus on sow prolificacy has increased piglet numbers per litter, affecting piglet quality and birth weight.
DOMESTIC ANIMAL ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Mariam Alawadhi, Narayana Kilarkaje, Abdeslam Mouihate, Maie D. Al-Bader
Summary: The study showed that progesterone partially reversed the dexamethasone-induced reduction in placental angiogenesis and alterations in the expression of progesterone receptor subtypes. Progesterone is likely to improve outcomes in IUGR pregnancy by promoting placental VEGF and angiogenesis.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Baylea N. Davenport, Helen N. Jones, Rebecca L. Wilson
Summary: Clinically, fetal growth restriction (FGR) is only detectable in later gestation, despite pathophysiological establishment likely earlier in pregnancy. Additionally, there are no effective in utero treatment options for FGR. We have developed a nanoparticle to deliver human insulin-like 1 growth factor (hIGF-1) in a trophoblast-specific manner which results in increased expression of hIGF-1. IGF-1 signaling in the placenta regulates multiple developmental processes including trophoblast invasion and maternal vascular remodeling, both of which can be diminished in the FGR placenta. We aimed to determine the effects of short-term hIGF-1 nanoparticle treatment on sub-placenta/decidua trophoblast signaling mechanisms in FGR and under normal growth conditions.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Ousseynou Sarr, Katherine E. Mathers, Christina Vanderboor, Kristina Wiggers, Aditya Devgan, Daniel B. Hardy, Lin Zhao, Timothy R. H. Regnault
Summary: The study found that male guinea pigs with intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight had hepatic cholesterol accumulation in later life, while females did not show the same effect. The increased hepatic cholesterol in LBW male guinea pigs, along with the decreased expression of cholesterol metabolism-related proteins, may contribute to hepatic lipotoxicity.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Nayara Azinheira Nobrega Cruz, Danielle Stoll, Dulce Elena Casarini, Mariane Bertagnolli
Summary: This review explores the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnancy, focusing on the role of ACE2 in viral entry and potential risks related to ACE2 changes in COVID-19 pregnancies. The study highlights the importance of understanding ACE2's functions in physiological systems during pregnancy and the necessity of filling knowledge gaps to improve management of high-risk pregnancies with COVID-19 exposure.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Mansoureh Barzegar, Shantel Vital, Karen Y. Stokes, Yuping Wang, Jungmi Winny Yun, Luke A. White, Oleg Chernyshev, Roger E. Kelley, Jonathan S. Alexander
Summary: Stem cell-based therapy appears to be an effective option for ischemic stroke, providing acute protection through the release of neuroprotective factors. The protective effects of hPMSC in experimental stroke are ACE-2/MasR dependent, suggesting a promising approach for targeted stroke therapy. The study demonstrates that hPMSC-derived ACE-2 plays a key role in protecting against MCAO-induced brain injury.
Review
Physiology
Sonia Tamanna, Eugenie R. Lumbers, Saije K. Morosin, Sarah J. Delforce, Kirsty G. Pringle
Summary: ACE2 is a membrane-bound protein that plays a key role in regulating the renin-angiotensin system and protecting tissues from inflammation. Dysregulation of ACE2 may contribute to pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. Understanding the function of ACE2 is important for developing novel therapies to prevent adverse outcomes in pregnancy.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-REGULATORY INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Kristyn Dunlop, Ousseynou Sarr, Nicole Stachura, Lin Zhao, Karen Nygard, Jennifer A. Thompson, Jennifer Hadway, Bryan S. Richardson, Yves Bureau, Nica Borradaile, Ting-Yim Lee, Timothy R. H. Regnault
Summary: Research suggests that offspring with low birth weight are more susceptible to conditions like diabetes, linked to factors such as insulin resistance and abnormal mitochondrial lipid metabolism. A high-fat, high-sugar diet after birth may exacerbate these abnormalities, causing mitochondrial overload.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rebecca L. Wilson, Kristin Lampe, Mukesh K. Gupta, Craig L. Duvall, Helen N. Jones
Summary: A nanoparticle gene therapy targeting the placenta was used to correct fetal growth restriction, resulting in increased fetal glucose concentrations and improved placental nutrient transport.
MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Elaine Ku, Charles E. McCulloch, Timothy P. Copeland, Lesley A. Inker, Hocine Tighiouart, Mark J. Sarnak
Summary: This study retrospectively observed participants from 4 randomized trials on intensive blood pressure lowering in chronic kidney disease. It found that acute decreases in estimated GFR were associated with higher risk of kidney outcomes, especially in the intensive blood pressure lowering arm.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF KIDNEY DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Gareth J. Sanger
Summary: The gastrointestinal hormone motilin helps control stomach movements during hunger and promotes hunger in humans. While motilin and its receptor genes have undergone pseudonymization in rodents, some studies suggest low concentrations of motilin can still function in the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system of these animals.
PHARMACOLOGY RESEARCH & PERSPECTIVES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Lydia L. Shook, Evan A. Bordt, Marie-Charlotte Meinsohn, David Pepin, Rose M. De Guzman, Sara Brigida, Laura J. Yockey, Kaitlyn E. James, Mackenzie W. Sullivan, Lisa M. Bebell, Drucilla J. Roberts, Anjali J. Kaimal, Jonathan Z. Li, Danny Schust, Kathryn J. Gray, Andrea G. Edlow
Summary: Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection affects placental TMPRSS2 expression in a sexually dimorphic manner, while there is no significant impact on placental ACE2 expression. The correlation between TMPRSS2 and ACE2 expression varies by fetal sex in the presence of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Pathology
T. Menter, A. Tzankov, E. Bruder
Summary: Studies on the placentas of pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 have shown pathological features such as maternal-fetal malperfusion and immunologically/thromboinflammation-mediated findings. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 is capable of directly infecting the placenta, indicating the possibility of vertical transmission.