Project description:BackgroundLewis antigens such as Sialyl Lewis A (sLeA), Sialyl Lewis X (sLeX), Lewis X (LeX), and Lewis Y (LeY) are a class of carbohydrate molecules that are known to mediate adhesion between tumor cells and endothelium by interacting with its selectin ligands. However, their potential role in miscarriage remains enigmatic. This study aims to analyze the expression pattern of sLeA, sLeX, LeX, and LeY in the placental villi tissue of patients with a medical history of unexplained miscarriages.MethodsParaffin-embedded slides originating from placental tissue were collected from patients experiencing a miscarriage early in their pregnancy (6-13 weeks). Tissues collected from spontaneous (n = 20) and recurrent (n = 15) miscarriages were analyzed using immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent staining. Specimens obtained from legally terminated normal pregnancies were considered as control group (n = 18). Assessment of villous vessel density was performed in another cohort (n = 10 each group) of gestation ages-paired placenta tissue. Protein expression was evaluated with Immunoreactive Score (IRS). Statistical analysis was performed by using Graphpad Prism 8.ResultsExpression of sLeA, sLeX, LeX, and LeY in the syncytiotrophoblast was significantly upregulated in the control group compared with spontaneous and recurrent miscarriage groups. However, no prominent differences between spontaneous and recurrent miscarriage groups were identified. Potential key modulators ST3GAL6 and NEU1 were found to be significantly downregulated in the recurrent miscarriage group and upregulated in the spontaneous group, respectively. Interestingly, LeX and LeY expression was also detected in the endothelial cells of villous vessels in the control group but no significant expression in miscarriage groups. Furthermore, assessment of villous vessel density using CD31 found significantly diminished vessels in all size groups of villi (small villi <200 µm, P = 0.0371; middle villi between 200 and 400 µm, P = 0.0010 and large villi >400 µm, P = 0.0003). Immunofluorescent double staining also indicated the co-localization of LeX/Y and CD31.ConclusionsThe expression of four mentioned carbohydrate Lewis antigens and their potential modulators, ST3GAL6 and NEU1, in the placenta of patients with miscarriages was significantly different from the normal pregnancy. For the first time, their expression pattern in the placenta was illustrated, which might shed light on a novel understanding of Lewis antigens' role in the pathogenesis of miscarriages.
Project description:The conjugated dienamine 4 selectively adds Piers' borane [HB(C6F5)2] to give the enamine/borane system 5, which features a boratirane structure by internal enamine carbon Lewis base to boron Lewis acid interaction. Compound 5 behaves as a C/B frustrated Lewis pair and undergoes typical addition reactions to benzaldehyde, several nitriles and to sulfur dioxide.This article is part of the themed issue 'Frustrated Lewis pair chemistry'.
Project description:The effect of a Lewis base (LB) on the nucleophilic attack on chalcogeniranium (chalcogen = sulfur and selenium) cations, the so-called LB activation of a Lewis acid, has been studied coupling natural orbital for chemical valence decomposition of the orbital interaction energy with charge displacement analysis. This methodology provides a detailed and accurate description of all the interactions (LB···chalcogen, chalcogen···olefin and olefin···ammonia) present in the system and leads to a deeper understanding of how they influence each other at all stages of the reaction: reactant complex, transition state, and product complex. In particular, the bond between the chalcogen and the olefin has been decomposed in terms of σ donation/π back-donation and the bond components quantified. This allowed determination of a linear relationship between the activation barrier of the nucleophilic attack and the net amount of charge donated by the olefin to the chalcogen.