Expression patterns of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide and its type I receptor mRNAs in the rat placenta

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) was first isolated from ovine hypothalamus and is known to act as a tropic factor in various cells. Recent report revealed the expression of PACAP and the PACAP type I (PAC(1)) receptor in human and rat placentas at term. Placenta is a critical organ that synthesizes several growth and angiogenic factors for its own growth as well as fetal development. However, there is little information regarding the expression pattern and cellular localization of PACAP and PAC(1) during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to define the expression and distribution of PACAP and PAC(1) receptor mRNAs in the rat placenta during pregnancy. PACAP and PAC(1) receptor mRNAs were expressed in decidual cells, chorionic vessels, and stromal cells of the chorionic villi. Interestingly, the expression of these genes varied with the day of gestation. For example, PACAP and PAC(1) receptor mRNAs expressed in decidual cells on day 13.5 and 15.5, their expression was strong in chorionic vessels and stromal cells of the chorionic villi within the labyrinth zone on day 17.5, 19.5, and 21.5. In fact, as gestation advanced, the expression of PACAP and PAC(1) receptor mRNAs in the decidua cells disappeared, as their high expression became evident in the chorionic vessels and stromal cells of the chorionic villi. Our finding that PACAP and the PAC(1) receptor are co-localized and their genes seemingly co-regulated within specific placental areas, strongly suggest that this peptide may play an important role, as an autoregulator or pararegulator via its PAC(1) receptor, in physiological functioning of the placenta for gestational maintenance.     

葡萄胎中MBD2表达及其相关基因甲基化芯片研究

用Real-time RT-PCR、Western blot和免疫组织化学方法分别检测了去甲基化酶MBD2(methyl-CpG-binding domain 2,MBD2)在完全型葡萄胎(complete hydatidiform mole,CHM)和正常早期妊娠绒毛中的表达,用甲基化DNA免疫沉淀MeDIP(methylated DNA immunoprecipitation)-甲基化芯片分析完全型葡萄胎和正常早期妊娠绒毛中相关基因的甲基化情况,用生物信息学分析筛选了差异甲基化基因并进行功能分类。MBD2的mRNA在完全型葡萄胎中的表达明显高于正常早期妊娠绒毛(P=0.0083),Western blot(P=0.0005)和免疫组织化学(P=0.0091)检测到MBD2蛋白表达与Real-time RT-PCR结果一致。结果显示MBD2在完全型葡萄胎中的表达显著高于正常早期妊娠绒毛组织(P<0.01),与正常早期妊娠绒毛组织相比较,完全型葡萄胎组织中相对有89个基因发生了去甲基化,其中85个基因可被映射到基因组图谱中,MBD2在完全型葡萄胎中的高表达及部分基因的去甲基化可能在完全型葡萄胎的发生中扮演了重...     

NOD1 modulates decidual stromal cell function to maintain pregnancy in the early trimester

We sought to explore the functions and modulated factors of NOD1 in normal decidual stromal cells (DSCs) derived from the first trimester pregnancy and whether existed different expression of NOD1 between normal and unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (URPL) in DSCs. Twenty‐six patients with normal pregnancies that required abortion and 12 URPL patients at first trimester were enrolled for the study. As a result, we found lower levels of NOD1 in the DSCs derived from URPL compared with those from normal early trimester pregnancy. Furthermore, increased NOD1 expression in the normal DSCs induced apoptosis and increased monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 (MCP‐1) and IL‐1β (interleukin 1 beta) secretion but decreased their invasion capacity. In addition, several cytokines such as IL‐1β, tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ), and interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) were present at the maternal‐fetal interface in RPL and were found to regulate NOD1 expression in primary DSCs. Our study indicates that RPL may be associated with NOD1 aberrant expression in DSCs, which plays a significant role in maintaining pregnancy via infection control and regulation of immune responses that might affect the pregnancy outcome. We expect that our results will bring more comprehensively understanding about the connection between NOD1 and RPL for researchers.     

Proteomic analysis of recurrent spontaneous abortion: Identification of an inadequately expressed set of proteins in human follicular fluid

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), defined as the loss of three or more consecutive pregnancies prior to the 20th week of gestation, affects up to 5% of the child-bearing population. To investigate the proteins associated with RSA, the protein expression in human follicular fluid was analyzed using 2-DE. Follicular fluid contains a variety of biologically important proteins for oocyte fertilization and follicle maturation in the mammalian reproductive process. Therefore, it can be used as a provisional source for identifying proteins involved in RSA. In this study, we identified five aberrantly expressed proteins (complement component C3c chain E, fibrinogen gamma, antithrombin, angiotensinogen, and hemopexin precursor) in follicular fluid from RSA patients with MALDI-TOF-MS and nano-LC MS/MS. Western blot analysis confirmed that the protein expression level of fibrinogen gamma and antithrombin was less in follicular fluid from RSA patients than those from normal controls. Semiquantitative RT-PCR and real-time PCR analyses revealed that mRNA level of these coagulation factors was also decreased significantly in chorionic villi of RSA patients compared with normal samples. Taken all together, it is likely that coagulation factors (fibrinogen gamma and antithrombin) play an important role in maintaining the normal pregnancy.     

Leptin receptor in the chicken ovary: potential involvement in ovarian dysfunction of ad libitum-fed broiler breeder hens

In hens, the ovarian follicles committed to ovulation are arranged in an ordered follicular hierarchy. In standard broiler breeders hens genetically selected for high growth rate the reproductive function is clearly dysfunctional. Feed restriction is needed during reproductive development to limit the formation of excessive numbers of ovarian yellow follicles arranged in multiple hierarchies. To determine whether leptin is involved in the nutritional and reproductive interactions controlling follicular hierarchy in hens, blood leptin levels and ovarian expression of the leptin receptor mRNA were determined during follicle maturation in three chicken lines; a slow growing broiler "Label" genotype without reproductive dysfunction, a fast growing "Standard" genotype fed ad libitum or restricted and a fast growing "Experimental" line with intermediate reproductive performance levels. Whereas expression of the leptin receptor mRNA did not change in the theca, it clearly decreased with follicular differentiation in the granulosa of slow growing hens. In fast growing standard hens fed ad libitum and presenting significant reproductive dysfunction, the decrease was disrupted and dramatic up-regulation of granulosa cell expression of the leptin receptor was observed. On the other hand, feed restriction decreased the overall level of expression of the leptin receptor mRNA and restored the decrease with follicular growth. The level of expression of the leptin receptor probably modulates the action of leptin on follicular differentiation. Since blood leptin and other metabolic factors were not affected by the genotype or by nutritional state, the factors involved in the regulation of leptin receptor gene expression remain to be determined. This study demonstrates the involvement of leptin in the nutritional control of reproduction in birds. Leptin action on the ovary probably controls follicular hierarchy through the regulation of steroidogenesis.     

前列腺癌患者组织中RPL6的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨前列腺癌患者组织中核糖体蛋白L6(RPL6)表达,分析其对肿瘤恶性程度的评估作用。方法:收集2013年12月-2015年12月在本院接受治疗的前列腺疾病患者117例,根据病理结果分为前列腺炎组63例、前列腺癌组54例;另取同期进行健康体检的健康者80例作为正常对照组。采用Western-blot法检测三组研究对象的前列腺组织RPL6表达,采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定血清肿瘤标志物含量,采用RT-PCR法检测前列腺组织增殖基因、侵袭基因mRNA表达,采用Pearson检验分析RPL6表达量与肿瘤恶性程度的相关关系。结果:前列腺癌组患者的前列腺组织RPL6表达量高于前列腺炎组及正常对照组(P0.05);前列腺癌组患者的血清前列腺特异性抗原(PSA)、前列腺特异性酸性磷酶(PSAP)、尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活剂(u PA)、硫氧还蛋白(TRX)含量高于前列腺炎组及正常对照组(P0.05);前列腺癌组患者的前列腺组织增殖基因URG11、PTEN mRNA表达量高于前列腺炎组及正常对照组,PRDM5 mRNA表达量低于前列腺炎组及正常对照组,侵袭基因IgGHG1、TMPRSS2-ER、PIK3C2B mRNA表达量高于前列腺炎组及正常对照组(P0.05)。前列腺癌患者的组织RPL6表达量与肿瘤标志物含量、增殖及侵袭基因活性均呈直接相关关系(P0.05)。结论:高表达的RPL6是前列腺癌早期诊断的可靠指标,且与肿瘤恶性程度直接相关,有望成为前列腺癌辅助诊断及预后评估的重要手段。     

Changes in placental adipocytokine gene expression associated with gestational diabetes mellitus

Leptin and adiponectin, two adipocytokines, may work together in regulating energy homeostasis and insulin action. Leptin gene expression has been investigated in term placental tissue complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but never in conjunction with all isoforms of the leptin receptor (LEPR A-D), or with adiponectin receptors (ADIPOR1 and 2). In this study we examined the association between changes in expression of these genes in placental tissue and GDM risk. We assessed placental gene expression of leptin, LEPR A-D and ADIPOR1 and 2 by real time PCR using mRNA from maternal and fetal biopsies. Tissues were collected from uncomplicated pregnancies (n=28) and those complicated by GDM (n=19). Gene expression was normalized to three endogenous housekeeping genes. Relative gene expression values were reported as fold change between groups. Adiponectin gene expression was out of the sensitive range of our assay. There were increases in leptin mRNA expression in GDM cases compared with controls for maternal-side (p=0.06), and fetal-side (p=0.09) placental biopsies. No significant changes were seen in GDM cases compared with controls in LEPR A-D or ADIPOR1 and 2. mRNA derived from maternal-side tissue was positively correlated with tissue from the fetal side for all genes studied (all p<0.01). Finally, we noted that absence or presence of GDM was a major factor in leptin mRNA expression after adjusting for maternal age, mode of delivery, parity and smoking status. In conclusion, increases in leptin mRNA expression in term placenta, but not that of its receptors, are associated with the diagnosis of GDM. Changes seen in the ligand, but not the receptor, of the leptin pathway in GDM-complicated pregnancies may also apply to the adiponectin pathway, as the ADIPOR1 and 2 mRNAs do not change with GDM diagnosis.     

Relationship between tissue damage and heme oxygenase expression in chorionic villi of term human placenta

Heme oxygenase (HO) catalyzes the oxidation of heme to carbon monoxide (CO), biliverdin, and iron and is thought to play a role in protecting tissues from oxidative damage. There are three isoforms of HO: HO-1 (inducible), HO-2 (constitutive), and HO-3 (unknown function). Preeclampsia is characterized by an inadequately perfused placenta and areas of tissue damage. We hypothesized that damaged areas of placentas from women with PE and uncomplicated pregnancies are associated with an alteration in HO expression. Compared with microsomes isolated from morphologically normal and peri-infarct chorionic villi of pathological placentas, microsomes from infarcted chorionic villi from the same placentas had decreased HO activity measured under optimized assay conditions. There was no correlation between microsomal HO levels and activity and tissue damage in uncomplicated pregnancies. Whereas there was no significant difference in HO-1 protein levels across all regions of uncomplicated and mildly preeclamptic pregnancies, HO-2 protein levels were decreased (P < 0.05) in peri-infarct regions and infarcted chorionic villi of mildly preeclamptic pregnancies. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed an apparent decrease in both HO-1 and HO-2 protein expression in damaged tissues. HO-1 and HO-2 were immunolocalized in the syncytiotrophoblast layer of the chorionic villi, the underlying cytotrophoblast, and in the vascular endothelium. This study suggests that the ability of the chorionic villi to oxidize heme to CO, biliverdin, and iron may be compromised in areas of tissue damage in the placenta of women with preeclampsia.