Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Francesca Gaccioli, Ulla Sovio, Sungsam Gong, Emma Cook, D. Stephen Charnock-Jones, Gordon C. S. Smith
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between protein levels of sFLT1 and PlGF in maternal serum and placental tissue lysates. The findings showed that the sFLT1:PlGF ratio is increased in both preeclampsia and FGR, but in preeclampsia, it is primarily driven by increased placental sFLT1 levels, while in FGR, it is primarily driven by decreased placental PlGF levels.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xuan Li, Tao Yu, Muxin Zhai, Yongyuan Wu, Baojing Zhao, Cancan Duan, Huiru Cheng, Han Li, Zhaolian Wei, Yuanyuan Yang, Zhen Yu
Summary: This study found that cadmium exposure reduces placental angiogenesis in preeclampsia by decreasing the expression of PLGF and VEGF and increasing the expression of sFlt1. Cadmium exposure also decreases the expression of thyroid hormone receptor alpha and Dio2. These results suggest that cadmium exposure impairs placental angiogenesis in preeclampsia by disturbing thyroid hormone receptor signaling.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nadja Kupper, Berthold Huppertz
Summary: This article discusses the importance of the placental exposome on maternal health and normal pregnancy development, as well as the role and interaction of placenta-derived extracellular vesicles in this process.
MOLECULAR ASPECTS OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Anat Aharon, Annie Rebibo-Sabbah, Rawan Sayed Ahmad, Ayelet Dangot, Tali Hana Bar-Lev, Benjamin Brenner, Adi Halberthal Cohen, Chen Ben David, Zeev Weiner, Ido Solt
Summary: This study aims to characterize placental and circulating EV miRNA in gestational vascular complications (GVCs), and explores their involvement in GVCs and their potential use in distinguishing between placental and maternal pathologies. The results showed that hsa-miR-16-5p and hsa-miR-210 reflect the maternal pathophysiological status, while hsa-miR-29b-3p reflects the placental status. These findings suggest that EV-miRNAs are involved in GVCs and may be used as biomarkers to differentiate between pathologies of placental and maternal origins in preeclampsia.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Grzegorz Szewczyk, Michal Pyzlak, Katarzyna Pankiewicz, Ewa Szczerba, Aleksandra Stangret, Dariusz Szukiewicz, Marta Skoda, Joanna Bierla, Bozena Cukrowska, Anna Fijalkowska
Summary: Impaired angiogenesis is a common finding in preeclamptic placentas, with a new angiogenetic role of fractalkine (CX3CL1) being recognized. Higher levels of CX3CL1 and sFlt-1, and lower levels of PlGF were observed in preeclampsia cases. The underdevelopment of placental vascular network in preeclampsia is associated with changes in the CX3CL1/CX3CR1 system, especially in cases complicated with fetal growth restriction (FGR).
ARCHIVES OF GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Banuhan Sahin, Ugur Turhan, Bugra Sahin, Ismail Dag, Andrea Tinelli
Summary: This study showed that maternal serum PP-13 levels could predict abnormal invasive placentation, leading to potential improvements in pregnancy management for patients suspected of having AIP.
ZEITSCHRIFT FUR GEBURTSHILFE UND NEONATOLOGIE
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Manju Kandel, Stephen Tong, Susan P. Walker, Ping Cannon, Tuong-Vi Nguyen, Teresa M. MacDonald, Natalie J. Hannan, Tu'uhevaha J. Kaitu'u-Lino, Lucy A. Bartho
Summary: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy disease associated with high mortality rates for mothers and infants. This study found reduced levels of galectin-3 protein and LGALS3 mRNA expression in the placenta of women with early-onset preeclampsia.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Toxicology
Russell Hunter, Brenna Baird, Marcus Garcia, Jessica Begay, Siem Goitom, Selita Lucas, Guy Herbert, David Scieszka, Jamie Padilla, Kathryn Brayer, Andrew K. Ottens, Melissa A. Suter, Enrico R. Barrozo, Curt Hines, Barry Bleske, Matthew J. Campen
Summary: This study investigated the impact of gestational ozone exposure on maternal cardiovascular function and placental development. The results showed that ozone exposure led to decreased cardiac function in pregnant mice and significant differential gene expression in the placenta, particularly in pericytes. These findings provide insights into potential molecular processes during pregnancy that may be altered due to the inhalation of environmental toxicants.
TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Kathirvel Gopalakrishnan, Jay S. Mishra, Jordan R. Ross, David H. Abbott, Sathish Kumar
Summary: The study shows that maternal hyperandrogenism increases the expression of FABP4 in the placenta, leading to preferential accumulation of LCPUFAs in the placenta and decreased levels in the fetus.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Xiaotong Yang, Paula A. Benny, Elorri Cervera-Marzal, Biyu Wu, Cameron B. Lassiter, Joshua Astern, Lana X. Garmire
Summary: Variations in telomere length have been linked to aging, stress, and diseases. This study investigated the association between placental telomere length and preeclampsia. The results suggest that placental telomere length is not significantly different between severe preeclampsia cases and healthy controls, but it is negatively correlated with gestational age and influenced by race.
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Shuhan Jiang, Wei Zhang, Qing Cao, Maryam Rahbar, William Cooke, Masayuki Ono, Kenichi Fujimaki, Atsushi Saito, Makoto Itonaga, Kenta Oda, Christopher Redman, Manu Vatish
Summary: The ExoCounter assay developed in this study can detect small placental extracellular vesicles in the plasma of pregnant women at high risk of developing preeclampsia, providing an opportunity for early intervention.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Julia S. Mouat, Xueshu Li, Kari Neier, Yihui Zhu, Charles E. Mordaunt, Michele A. La Merrill, Hans -Joachim Lehmler, Michael P. Jones, Pamela J. Lein, Rebecca J. Schmidt, Janine M. LaSalle
Summary: This study aimed to explore the impact of gestational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on placental epigenetics and its correlation with child neurodevelopmental outcomes. The results suggested that placental DNA co-methylation modules were associated with maternal PCB levels and child neurodevelopment, particularly the methylation of CSMD1 and AUTS2, which could be potential markers of altered placental function and/or increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) following maternal PCB exposure.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Zhonglu Ren, Yunfei Gao, Yue Gao, Guanmei Liang, Qian Chen, Sijia Jiang, Xiaoxue Yang, Cuixia Fan, Haizhen Wang, Jing Wang, Yi-Wu Shi, Chaoqun Xiao, Mei Zhong, Xinping Yang
Summary: The study found that early-onset severe preeclampsia and late-onset severe preeclampsia have different molecular mechanisms, with the former associated with metabolism-related pathways and the latter with immune-related pathways. Some key transcription factors may be driving the widespread gene dysregulation in both early-onset and late-onset patients.
Article
Cell Biology
Brooke Grimaldi, Hamid-Reza Kohan-Ghadr, Sascha Drewlo
Summary: Preeclampsia (PE) is a major cause of maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. This research shows that placental activation of PPAR gamma can improve the secretion of angiogenic proteins and enhance endothelial function in PE.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natasha de Alwis, Sally Beard, Natalie K. Binder, Natasha Pritchard, Tu'uhevaha J. Kaitu'u-Lino, Susan P. Walker, Owen Stock, Katie Groom, Scott Petersen, Amanda Henry, Joanne M. Said, Sean Seeho, Stefan C. Kane, Stephen Tong, Lisa Hui, Natalie J. Hannan
Summary: Elevated levels of OLAH in the placenta may be associated with placental dysfunction in pregnancies complicated by preterm preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. Further research is required to understand the role of OLAH in the placenta, and whether these changes are a maternal adaptation or consequence of disease.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Berthold Huppertz
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2020)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Berthold Huppertz
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Desiree Forstner, Sabine Maninger, Olivia Nonn, Jacqueline Guettler, Gerit Moser, Gerd Leitinger, Elisabeth Pritz, Dirk Strunk, Katharina Schallmoser, Gunther Marsche, Akos Heinemann, Berthold Huppertz, Martin Gauster
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE-JMM
(2020)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Berthold Huppertz
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Antonietta Rosa Silini, Roberta Di Pietro, Ingrid Lang-Olip, Francesco Alviano, Asmita Banerjee, Mariangela Basile, Veronika Borutinskaite, Gunther Eissner, Alexandra Gellhaus, Bernd Giebel, Yong-Can Huang, Aleksandar Janev, Mateja Erdani Kreft, Nadja Kupper, Ana Clara Abadia-Molina, Enrique G. Olivares, Assunta Pandolfi, Andrea Papait, Michela Pozzobon, Carmen Ruiz-Ruiz, Olga Soritau, Sergiu Susman, Dariusz Szukiewicz, Adelheid Weidinger, Susanne Wolbank, Berthold Huppertz, Ornella Parolini
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nadja Kupper, Berthold Huppertz
Summary: This article discusses the importance of the placental exposome on maternal health and normal pregnancy development, as well as the role and interaction of placenta-derived extracellular vesicles in this process.
MOLECULAR ASPECTS OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Jana Pastuschek, Olivia Nonn, Ruby N. Gutierrez-Samudio, Jose M. Murrieta-Coxca, Jasmin Mueller, Juliane Sanft, Berthold Huppertz, Udo R. Markert, Tanja Groten, Diana M. Morales-Prieto
Summary: This study aims to evaluate molecular markers and features matching different trophoblast subpopulations in trophoblastic cell lines to provide guidance on their suitability and relevance for specific research questions. The results suggest that characteristics and markers of choriocarcinoma-derived cell lines are more similar to in vivo trophoblast than immortalized cell lines, making them potentially more suitable models for research on trophoblast biology and pathology.
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Olivia Nonn, Cornelius Fischer, Sabrina Geisberger, Amin El-Heliebi, Thomas Kroneis, Desiree Forstner, Gernot Desoye, Anne Cathrine Staff, Meryam Sugulle, Ralf Dechend, Ulrich Pecks, Martina Kollmann, Christina Stern, Judith E. Cartwright, Guy S. Whitley, Basky Thilaganathan, Christian Wadsack, Berthold Huppertz, Florian Herse, Martin Gauster
Summary: The study suggests a new alternative route in maternal RAS signaling in pregnancy, indicating a connection between metabolic alterations and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, such as preeclampsia. Levels of specific molecules in placenta may impact healthy development during pregnancy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marei Sammar, Monika Siwetz, Hamutal Meiri, Adi Sharabi-Nov, Peter Altevogt, Berthold Huppertz
Summary: This study revealed lower expression of CD24 mRNA in early pregnancy stages compared to normal term delivery, with a further decrease in preterm PE cases, indicating a potential link to reduced immune tolerance in preeclampsia.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nadja Kupper, Elisabeth Pritz, Monika Siwetz, Jacqueline Guettler, Berthold Huppertz
Summary: The study developed a flow culture system for placental villous explants, and found that the flow cultured tissue showed better structural and biochemical integrity compared to static cultured tissue. This new method can simulate the blood flow from the mother to the placenta and back, offering the potential for novel study designs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jelena Krstic, Alexander Deutsch, Julia Fuchs, Martin Gauster, Tina Gorsek Sparovec, Ursula Hiden, Julian Christopher Krappinger, Gerit Moser, Katrin Pansy, Marta Szmyra, Daniela Gold, Julia Feichtinger, Berthold Huppertz
Summary: Placenta-specific trophoblast and tumor cells share common characteristics, such as invasion ability and immune evasion. They are both supported by an abetting microenvironment, although trophoblast cells are regulated more tightly.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Saghi Zafaranieh, Anna M. Dieberger, Barbara Leopold-Posch, Berthold Huppertz, Sebastian Granitzer, Markus Hengstschlager, Claudia Gundacker, Gernot Desoye, Mireille N. M. van Poppel
Summary: The study suggests that increasing MVPA and reducing ST during pregnancy may help alleviate oxidative stress in the placenta of obese women.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martin Gauster, Gerit Moser, Stefan Wernitznig, Nadja Kupper, Berthold Huppertz
Summary: Successful pregnancy relies on the proper development of the embryo and its implantation into the uterine wall. The trophoblast cells play a crucial role in this process, differentiating and forming subpopulations that contribute to placental development and function.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emmeli Mikkelsen, Berthold Huppertz, Ripudaman Singh, Katarina Ravn, Lotte Hatt, Mogens Kruhoffer, Rheanna Urrabaz-Garza, Niels Uldbjerg, Ramkumar Menon, Torben Steiniche
Summary: Unique markers in fetal membrane cells may be key in the search for biomarkers for preterm prelabor rupture of the fetal membranes (pPROM) in maternal blood. Through transcriptomic analysis and immunohistochemistry, markers exclusively expressed in fetal membranes were identified and their localization confirmed. These findings contribute to the understanding of the biological significance of these markers in the maternal circulation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Berthold Huppertz
Summary: Due to the rarity of in vivo measurements of placental oxygenation, scientists had to rely on a limited number of studies that provided some data on the topic. This scarcity led to the development of hypotheses that hindered an objective understanding of placental oxygenation for many years. However, new hypotheses are now emerging, offering fresh perspectives on the topic. Particularly in the field of preeclampsia, previous hypotheses on placental oxygenation have led scientists astray. This review article presents available in vivo placental oxygen data from 8 to 40 weeks of gestation, comparing them with physiological oxygen concentrations and discussing oxygen measurements in preeclampsia cases.
JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)