Project description:A family of vertebrate-specific microRNAs called the ESCC microRNAs regulates proliferation and differentiation of embryonic stem cells. The ESCC microRNAs arise from two genetic loci in mammals, the miR-290/miR-371 and miR-302 loci. While the miR-302 locus is found broadly among vertebrates, the miR-290/miR-371 locus is unique to eutherian species, suggesting a role in placental development. Here, we evaluate that role. A knockin reporter for the mouse miR-290 gene is expressed throughout the embryo until gastrulation, at which time it becomes specifically expressed in extraembryonic tissues and the germline. In the placenta, expression is limited to the trophoblast lineage, where it remains highly expressed until birth. Deletion of the miR-290 gene results in reduced trophoblast progenitor cell proliferation and a reduced DNA content in endoreduplicating trophoblast giant cells. A reduction in placental size precedes a reduction in fetal size and prenatal death of most knockout embryos. The vascular labyrinth shows disorganization with thickening of the barrier between maternal and fetal blood associated with reduced diffusion of a radioactive tracer. Multiple mRNA targets of the cluster miRNAs are upregulated. Together, these data uncover a critical function for the miR-290 in the regulation of a network of genes required for normal placental development, suggesting a central role for this microRNA cluster in the evolution of eutherian species.
Project description:MicroRNAs are important cellular regulators and their dysfunctions are associated with various disease. miR-371/372/373 was found co-regulated in HBV-producing HepG2.2.15 cells when compared to its non-HBV producing maternal HepG2 cells. To obtain a glimpse of the potential influence of the enforced miR-371-372-373 cluster in HepG2 gene expression, a two-color Capitalbio 70-mer oligo microarray platform, which contained 21,329 well-characterized human gene probes, was used to identify the differentially expressed genes between miR-371-372-373-HepG2 and mock-HepG2 in two independent biological replicate. miR-371-372-373-HepG2 vs. mock-HepG2
Project description:MicroRNAs are important cellular regulators and their dysfunctions are associated with various disease. miR-371/372/373 was found co-regulated in HBV-producing HepG2.2.15 cells when compared to its non-HBV producing maternal HepG2 cells. To obtain a glimpse of the potential influence of the enforced miR-371-372-373 cluster in HepG2 gene expression, a two-color Capitalbio 70-mer oligo microarray platform, which contained 21,329 well-characterized human gene probes, was used to identify the differentially expressed genes between miR-371-372-373-HepG2 and mock-HepG2 in two independent biological replicate.
Project description:Maternal obesity alters placental tissue function and morphology with a corresponding increase in local inflammation. We and others showed that placenta size, inflammation and fetal growth are regulated by maternal diet and obesity status. Maternal obesity alters placental DNA methylation which in turn could likely impact gene transcription of of proteins critical for normal fetal development. RNA-binding motif single-stranded interacting protein 1 (RBMS1) is expressed by the placenta and likely modulates DNA replication and transcription regulation. Serum RBMS1 protein concentration is increased with maternal obesity and RBMS1 gene expression in liver tissue is induced by a high-fat diet and inflammation. However, it is not yet known whether placental RBMS1 mRNA expression and DNA methylation are altered by maternal obesity.
Project description:The role of extracellular vesicles (EVs), specifically exosomes, in intercellular communication likely plays a key role in placental orchestration of pregnancy and maternal immune sensing of the fetus. While murine models are powerful tools to study pregnancy and maternal-fetal immune interactions, in contrast to human placental exosomes, the content of murine placental and pregnancy exosomes remains largely understudied. Using a recently developed in vitro culture technique, murine trophoblast stem cells derived from B6 mice were differentiated into syncytial-like cells. EVs from the conditioned media, as well as from pregnant and non-pregnant sera, were enriched for exosomes. The RNA composition of these murine trophoblast-derived and pregnancy-associated exosome-enriched-EVs (ExoE-EVs) was determined using RNA-sequencing analysis and expression levels confirmed by qRT-PCR. Differentially abundant miRNAs were detected in syncytial differentiated ExoE-EVs, particularly from the X chromosome cluster (mmu-miR-322-3p, mmu-miR-322-5p, mmu-miR-503-5p, mmu-miR-542-3p, and mmu-miR-450a-5p). These were confirmed to be increased in pregnant mouse sera ExoE-EVs by qRT-PCR analysis. Interestingly, fifteen miRNAs were only present within the pregnancy-derived ExoE-EVs compared to non-pregnant controls. Mmu-miR-292-3p and mmu-miR-183-5p were noted to be some of the most abundant miRNAs in syncytial ExoE-EVs and were also present at higher levels in pregnant versus non-pregnant sera ExoE-EVs. The bioinformatics tool, MultiMir, was employed to query publicly available databases of predicted miRNA-target interactions. This analysis reveals that the X-chromosome miRNAs are predicted to target ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis and intracellular signaling pathways. Knowing the cargo of placental and pregnancy-specific ExoE-EVs as well as the predicted biological targets informs studies using murine models to examine not only maternal-fetal immune interactions but also the physiologic consequences of placental-maternal communication.
Project description:Pregnancy 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations are associated with maternal and fetal health outcomes, but the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. Using physiological human placental perfusion approaches and intact villous explants we demonstrate a role for the placenta in regulating the relationships between maternal 25(OH)D concentrations and fetal physiology. Here, we demonstrate active placental uptake of 25(OH)D3 by endocytosis and placental metabolism of 25(OH)D3 into 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D3], with subsequent release of these metabolites into both the fetal and maternal circulations. Active placental transport of 25(OH)D3 and synthesis of 1,25(OH)2D3 demonstrate that fetal supply is dependent on placental function rather than solely the availability of maternal 25(OH)D3. We demonstrate that 25(OH)D3 exposure induces rapid effects on the placental transcriptome and proteome. These map to multiple pathways central to placental function and thereby fetal development, independent of vitamin D transfer, including transcriptional activation and inflammatory responses. Our data suggest that the underlying epigenetic landscape helps dictate the transcriptional response to vitamin D treatment. This is the first quantitative study demonstrating vitamin D transfer and metabolism by the human placenta; with widespread effects on the placenta itself. These data show complex and synergistic interplay between vitamin D and the placenta, and inform possible interventions to optimise placental function to better support fetal growth and the maternal adaptations to pregnancy.
Project description:Pregnancy 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations are associated with maternal and fetal health outcomes, but the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. Using physiological human placental perfusion approaches and intact villous explants we demonstrate a role for the placenta in regulating the relationships between maternal 25(OH)D concentrations and fetal physiology. Here, we demonstrate active placental uptake of 25(OH)D3 by endocytosis and placental metabolism of 25(OH)D3 into 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D3], with subsequent release of these metabolites into both the fetal and maternal circulations. Active placental transport of 25(OH)D3 and synthesis of 1,25(OH)2D3 demonstrate that fetal supply is dependent on placental function rather than solely the availability of maternal 25(OH)D3. We demonstrate that 25(OH)D3 exposure induces rapid effects on the placental transcriptome and proteome. These map to multiple pathways central to placental function and thereby fetal development, independent of vitamin D transfer, including transcriptional activation and inflammatory responses. Our data suggest that the underlying epigenetic landscape helps dictate the transcriptional response to vitamin D treatment. This is the first quantitative study demonstrating vitamin D transfer and metabolism by the human placenta; with widespread effects on the placenta itself. These data show complex and synergistic interplay between vitamin D and the placenta, and inform possible interventions to optimise placental function to better support fetal growth and the maternal adaptations to pregnancy.
Project description:Pregnancy 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations are associated with maternal and fetal health outcomes, but the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. Using physiological human placental perfusion approaches and intact villous explants we demonstrate a role for the placenta in regulating the relationships between maternal 25(OH)D concentrations and fetal physiology. Here, we demonstrate active placental uptake of 25(OH)D3 by endocytosis and placental metabolism of 25(OH)D3 into 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D3], with subsequent release of these metabolites into both the fetal and maternal circulations. Active placental transport of 25(OH)D3 and synthesis of 1,25(OH)2D3 demonstrate that fetal supply is dependent on placental function rather than solely the availability of maternal 25(OH)D3. We demonstrate that 25(OH)D3 exposure induces rapid effects on the placental transcriptome and proteome. These map to multiple pathways central to placental function and thereby fetal development, independent of vitamin D transfer, including transcriptional activation and inflammatory responses. Our data suggest that the underlying epigenetic landscape helps dictate the transcriptional response to vitamin D treatment. This is the first quantitative study demonstrating vitamin D transfer and metabolism by the human placenta; with widespread effects on the placenta itself. These data show complex and synergistic interplay between vitamin D and the placenta, and inform possible interventions to optimise placental function to better support fetal growth and the maternal adaptations to pregnancy.
Project description:The placenta regulates maternal-fetal communication, and its defect leads to significant pregnancy complications. The maternal and embryonic circulations are primitively connected in early placentation, but the function of the placenta during this developmentally essential period is relatively unknown. We thus performed a comparative proteomic analysis of the placenta before and after primary placentation and found that the metabolism and transport of lipids were characteristically activated in this period. The placental fatty acid (FA) carriers in specific placental compartments were upregulated according to gestational age, and metabolomic analysis also showed that the placental transport of FAs increased in a time-dependent manner. Further analysis of two mutant mice models with embryonic lethality revealed that lipid-related signatures could reflect the functional state of the placenta. Our findings highlight the importance of the nutrient transport function of the primary placenta in the early gestational period and the role of lipids in embryonic development.
Project description:Naïve human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) represent an earlier time-point in embryogenesis than conventional, ‘primed’ hPSCs. We present a comprehensive miRNA profiling of naïve-to-primed transition in hPSC, a process resembling aspects of early in vivo embryogenesis. We identify miR-143-3p and miR-22-3p as markers of the naïve state and miR-363-5p, several members of the miR-17 family, miR-302 family as primed markers. We uncover that miR-371-373 are highly upregulated in naïve hPSC. MiR-371-373 are the human homologs of the mouse miR-290 family, which are the most highly expressed miRNAs in mPSC. This aligns with the consensus that naïve hPSC resemble mPSC, showing that the absence of miR-371-373 in conventional hPSC is due to cell state rather than a species difference.