Proteomic analysis of human placental syncytiotrophoblast microvesicles in preeclampsia

Background

Placental syncytiotrophoblast microvesicles (STBM) are shed into the maternal circulation during normal pregnancy. STBM circulate in significantly increased amounts in preeclampsia (PE) and are considered to be among contributors to the exaggerated proinflammatory, procoagulant state of PE. However, protein composition of STBM in normal pregnancy and PE remains unknown. We therefore sought to determine the protein components of STBM and whether STBM protein expressions differ in preeclamptic and normal pregnancies.Patients with PE (n = 3) and normal pregnant controls (n = 6) were recruited. STBM were prepared from placental explant culture supernatant. STBM proteins were analyzed by a combination of 1D Gel-LC-MS/MS. Protein expressions levels were quantified using spectral counts and validated by immunohistochemistry.

Results

Over 400 proteins were identified in the STBM samples. Among these, 25 proteins were found to be differentially expressed in preeclampsia compared to healthy pregnant controls, including integrins, annexins and histones.

Conclusion

STBM proteins include those that are implicated in immune response, coagulation, oxidative stress, apoptosis as well as lipid metabolism pathways. Differential protein expressions of STBM suggest their pathophysiological relevance in PE.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1559-0275-11-40) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Electrophysiology of human cardiac atrial and ventricular telocytes

Telocytes (TCs) with exceptionally long cellular processes of telopodes have been described in human epicardium to act as structural supporting cells in the heart. We examined myocardial chamber‐specific TCs identified in atrial and ventricular fibroblast culture using immunocytochemistry and studied their electrophysiological property by whole‐cell patch clamp. Atrial and ventricular TCs with extended telopodes and alternating podoms and podomers that expressed CD34, c‐Kit and PDGFR‐β were identified. These cells expressed large conductance Ca²⁺‐activated K⁺ current (BK_Ca) and inwardly rectifying K⁺ current (IK_ir), but not transient outward K⁺ current (I_to) and ATP‐sensitive potassium current (K_ATP). The active channels were functionally competent with demonstrated modulatory response to H₂S and transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 whereby H₂S significantly inhibited the stimulatory effect of TGF‐β1 on current density of both BK_Ca and IK_ir. Furthermore, H₂S attenuated TGF‐β1‐stimulated KCa1.1/Kv1.1 (encode BK_Ca) and Kir2.1 (encode IK_ir) expression in TCs. Our results show that functionally competent K⁺ channels are present in human atrial and ventricular TCs and their modulation may have significant implications in myocardial physiopathology.     

Plasmon‐Enhanced Polymer Photovoltaic Device Performance Using Different Patterned Ag/PVP Electrospun Nanofibers

Significant enhancement of P3HT (poly(3‐hexylthiophene)):PC₆₁BM ([6,6]‐phenyl C61‐butyric acid methyl ester) photovoltaic devices using different patterns of electrospun Ag/PVP composite nanofibers, including nonwoven, aligned, and crossed patterns, is reported. The composite electrospun nanofibers are prepared using in situ reduction of silver (Ag) nanoparticles in Ag/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) via a two‐fluid coaxial electrospinning technique. The composition, crystalline orientation, and particle size of Ag are manipulated by controlling the core/shell solution concentration. The smallest diameter of the composite nanofibers leads to the highest orientation of the Ag nanoparticles and results in the largest conductivity due to geometric confinement. Such composite nanofibers exhibit the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect, which provides near field enhancement of electromagnetic field around active layer. Additionally, composite nanofibers with the crossed or nonwoven patterns further enhance high carrier mobility, compared to that of the aligned pattern. It leads to the 18.7% enhancement of the power conversion efficiency of photovoltaic cell compared to the parent device. The results indicate that the high conductivity and SPR effect of the Ag/PVP electrospun nanofibers can significantly improve the photocurrent and PCE, leading to promising organic solar cell applications.     

Glomerular Filtration Rate and Proteinuria: Association with Mortality and Renal Progression in a Prospective Cohort of a Community-Based Elderly Population

Limited prospective data are available on the importance of estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and proteinuria in the prediction of all-cause mortality (ACM) in community-based elderly populations. We examined the relationship between GFR or proteinuria and ACM in 949 randomly selected community-dwelling elderly subjects (aged ≥65 years) over a 5-year period. A spot urine sample was used to measure proteinuria by the dipstick test, and GFR was estimated using the chronic kidney disease-epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation. Information about mortality and causes of death was collected by direct enquiry with the subjects and from the national mortality data. Compared to subjects without proteinuria, those with proteinuria of grade ≥1+ had a 1.725-fold (1.134–2.625) higher risk of ACM. Compared to subjects with GFR ≥90 ml/min/1.73 m², those with GFR<45 ml/min/1.73 m² had a 2.357 -fold (1.170–4.750) higher risk for ACM. Among the 403 subjects included in the analysis of renal progression, the annual rate of GFR change during follow-up period was −0.52±2.35 ml/min/1.73 m²/year. The renal progression rate was 7.315-fold (1.841–29.071) higher in subjects with GFR<60 ml/min/1.73 m² than in those with GFR ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m². Among a community-dwelling elderly Korean population, decreased GFR of <45 ml/min/1.73 m² and proteinuria were independent risk factors for ACM.     

Stability of CoQ10-Loaded Oil-in-Water (O/W) Emulsion: Effect of Carrier Oil and Emulsifier Type

Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a lipophilic compound that widely used in the food and pharmaceutical products was formulated in a κ-carrageenan coated oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion. In this work, we examined the solubility of CoQ10 in different carrier oils and effects of emulsifier type on the formation and stability of CoQ10-loaded O/W emulsion. Nine vegetable oils and four types of emulsifiers were used. CoQ10 was found significantly (p?<?0.05) more soluble in medium chain oils (coconut oil and palm kernel oil) as compared to other vegetable oils. The O/W emulsions were then prepared with 10 % (w/w) coconut oil and palm kernel oil containing 200 g CoQ10/L oil stabilized by 1 % (w/v) emulsifiers (sucrose laurate (SEL), sodium stearoyl lactate (SSL), polyglycerol ester (PE), or Tween 80 (Tw 80)) in 1 % (w/v) κ-carrageenan aqueous solution. Particle size distribution and physical stability of the emulsions were monitored. The droplet sizes (surface weighted mean diameter, D[3,2]) of fresh O/W emulsion in the range of 2.79 to 5.83 μm were observed. Irrespective of the oil used, results indicated that complexes of SSL/κ-carrageenan provided the most stable CoQ10-loaded O/W emulsion with smaller and narrower particle size distribution. Both macroscopic and microscopic observations showed that O/W emulsion stabilized by SSL/κ-carrageenan is the only emulsion that exhibited no sign of coalescence, flocculation, and phase separation throughout the storage period observed.     

Photodynamic Activity of Plant Extracts from Sarawak,Borneo

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a medical treatment that involves the irradiation of an administered photosensitizing drug with light of a particular wavelength to activate the photosensitizer to kill abnormal cells. To date, only a small number of photosensitizers have been clinically approved for PDT, and researchers continue to look for new molecules that have more desirable properties for clinical applications. Natural products have long been important sources of pharmaceuticals, and there is a great potential for discovery of novel chemotypes from under‐explored biodiversities in the world. The objective of this study is to mine the terrestrial plants in Sarawak, Borneo Island, for new photosensitizers for PDT. In a screening program from 2004 to 2008, we prepared and studied 2,400 extracts from 888 plants for their photosensitizing activities. This report details the bioprospecting process, preparation and testing of extracts, analysis of the active samples, fractionation of four samples, and isolation and characterization of photosensitizers.     

Enhancement of the yield of long helical structure of recombinant nucleocapsid protein of Newcastle disease virus

A deletion mutant of the nucleocapsid protein (NP_Δc375) of Newcastle disease virus self-assembles into a long helical structure when expressed in Escherichia coli. However, the NP_Δc375 subjects to proteolytic activity of host cell endogenous proteases during the protein recovery process. Image analysis of Western blots using the Quantity One software was performed to identify the size of the degraded bands and hence the potential proteases cleavage sites were predicted. The data obtained from this image analysis were compared to those identified with the PeptideCutter program; the potential proteases that degrade the NP_Δc375 were identified to be mainly the metallo and serine proteases. Combination of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride at their optimal concentration gave a synergistic effect and increased the NP_Δc375 yield by 2.1-fold. The antigenicity and self-assembled long helical structure long helical structure of NP_Δc375 were preserved after treatment with the protease inhibitors.