Project description:Analysis of gene expression in uterine natural killer (NK) cells purified from either lean (control) or obese pregnanct women. The studys' aim is to identify differentially expressed genes and pathways in natural killer cells that are affected by maternal obesity. Results provide mechanitic insight into gene pathways altered in the condition of obeisty. Total RNA obtained from immuno-magnetic bead purified natural killer cells from uterine decidual mucosa from 7 to 10 week old pregnancies from 13 lean (BMI 20-24.9) and 11 obese (BMI >30) women. All women were between 19 and 35 years of age. In addition to BMI, blood serum CRP (hsCRP), a measure of inflammation, was measured via ELISA.
Project description:Analysis of gene expression in uterine natural killer (NK) cells purified from either lean (control) or obese pregnanct women. The studys' aim is to identify differentially expressed genes and pathways in natural killer cells that are affected by maternal obesity. Results provide mechanitic insight into gene pathways altered in the condition of obeisty.
Project description:Analysis of gene expression in uterine natural killer cells purified from control, diet-induced obese and diet-induced obese resistant female mice. The aim of the study is to identify differentially expressed genes and pathways in uterine natural killer cells affected by maternal diet and obesity in pregnancy.
Project description:Placentas of obese women have low mitochondrial beta-oxidation of fatty acids (FA) and accumulate lipids in late pregnancy. This creates a lipotoxic environment, impairing placental efficiency. We assessed expression of key regulators of FA metabolism in first trimester placentas of lean and obese women. Expression of genes associated with FA oxidation (FAO; ACOX1, CPT2, AMPKα), FA uptake (LPL, LIPG, MFSD2A), FA synthesis (ACACA) and storage (PLIN2) were significantly reduced in placentas of obese compared to lean women. This effect was exacerbated in placentas of male fetuses. The PPARα pathway was enriched for placental genes impacted by obesity. These results demonstrate that obesity and hyperlipidemia impact placental FA metabolism as early as 7 weeks of pregnancy.
Project description:To investigate fetal gene expression in obese compared to lean women in the second trimester, by performing global gene expression analysis of amniotic fluid (AF) cell-free RNA Analysis of paired data from obese cases and lean controls revealed differential expression of 205 genes. Functional analysis of differentially expressed genes suggested down-regulation of apoptosis in fetuses of obese women, particularly within nervous system pathways involving the cerebral cortex, and activation of pro-estrogenic, pro-inflammatory transcriptional regulators. Prospective whole transcriptome microarray study analyzing cell-free RNA in AF from obese cases and lean controls in the second trimester. Significantly differentially-regulated genes in fetuses of obese cases (N= 8) vs. matched lean controls (N = 8) were identified and functional analyses were performed. Tissue-specific differential gene expression in fetuses of obese women was also examined.
Project description:Decidual spiral arteriole (SpA) remodelling is essential to ensure optimal uteroplacental blood flow during human pregnancy. Decidual uterine natural killer cells and macrophages infiltrate the SpA and are proposed to initiate remodelling before colonisation by extravillous trophoblasts. Microarrays were used to measure the effect of extravillous trophoblasts conditioned medium on the transcriptome of human uterine microvascular endothelial cells.
Project description:This is a quantitative proteomic study of the plasma of obese versus lean post-menopausal women collected over a two-year time span, to establish whether Lovaza (a collection of omega-3 fatty acids) would alter protein biomarkers involved in lipogenesis, inflammation, immunity and carcinogenesis in Obese versus Lean women.
Project description:Uterine Natural Killer (uNK) cells regulate essential developmental processes at the maternal-fetal interface during early pregnancy. Uterine NK cell functions are tightly regulated during early placentation to stimulate trophoblast invasion and remodel uterine spiral arteries. Access to human 1st and 2nd trimester uterine tissues allowed us to investigate the transcriptional changes in uNK cells during the early stages of early human pregnancy. Microarray analysis identified 97 upregulated genes in 2nd compared to 1st trimester purified uNK cells of which the majority (61%) clustered as interferon-stimulated-genes (ISG), with ISG15 and ISG20 being upregulated profoundly. Type I interferons (IFNα/β), but not type II interferon (IFNɣ) increased expression of the identified interferon target genes ISG15 and ISG20 in uNK cells in vitro. Moreover, the cytokine-like protein ISG15 stimulated in vitro trophoblast invasion. Second trimester uNK cells promoted trophoblast invasion in vitro, whereas both 1st and 2nd trimester uNK cells stimulated endothelial tube formation. IFNα but not IFNβ stimulation of 1st trimester uNK cells enhanced their capacity to promote trophoblast invasion. In conclusion, the uNK cell interferon transcriptome is upregulated during the 2nd trimester allowing uNK cells to promote trophoblast invasion. Type I interferon signaling regulates uNK cell-induced trophoblast invasion via induction of effector molecules like ISG15. First trimester uNK cells can be induced to act like second trimester uNK cells by IFNα with respect to promotion of trophoblast invasion. Key words: Gene expression profiling ■ uterine natural killer cells ■ extravillous trophoblast invasion ■ interferon alpha ■ ISG15
Project description:To investigate fetal gene expression in obese compared to lean women in the second trimester, by performing global gene expression analysis of amniotic fluid (AF) cell-free RNA Analysis of paired data from obese cases and lean controls revealed differential expression of 205 genes. Functional analysis of differentially expressed genes suggested down-regulation of apoptosis in fetuses of obese women, particularly within nervous system pathways involving the cerebral cortex, and activation of pro-estrogenic, pro-inflammatory transcriptional regulators.
Project description:Individualized analysis through expression profiling of 20,000 probes in 28 tissue samples evaluated in subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue obtained during surgical intervention in non-obese and obese patients. Patients consisted of men and women of varying body size (lean to severely obese). Samples were collected at the time of operation in the fasting state. Samples consisted of subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue as well as a blood sample from lean and obese men and women removed in the fasting state at the time of surgery.
