Project description:The goal of this study was to transcriptionally profile the three layers of the human placenta (decidua, fetal membrane and placental villi) from preterm and term human placentas
Project description:We hypothesized that preterm spontaneous labor involves aberrant changes in mRNA expression in the placenta. To test this hypothesis, we interrogated the mRNA levels of >50,000 genes and transcript variants using gene expression microarray (Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array, Affymetrix) on 5 placentas collected from preterm spontaneous delivery (<34 weeks of gestation) and another 5 placentas collected from term spontaneous delivery (38-39 weeks). We have identified 229 and 162 genes that were up- or down-regulated, respectively, for more than 3-fold in the preterm placentas compared to the term placentas (Mann-Whitney Rank Sum Test, with multiple testing correction by the Benjamini-Hochberg method, adjusted p-value <= 0.05). Placentas collected from (i) preterm spontaneous delivery (<34 weeks of gestation) and (ii) term spontaneous delivery (38-39 weeks of gestation) were subjected to RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays. To identify gene expression patterns that are commonly involved in preterm spontaneous labour, we analyzed 5 placentas from each of these 2 groups and tested for any differentially expressed genes by Mann-Whitney Rank Sum Test.
Project description:We hypothesized that preterm spontaneous labor involves aberrant changes in mRNA expression in the placenta. To test this hypothesis, we interrogated the mRNA levels of >50,000 genes and transcript variants using gene expression microarray (Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array, Affymetrix) on 5 placentas collected from preterm spontaneous delivery (<34 weeks of gestation) and another 5 placentas collected from term spontaneous delivery (38-39 weeks). We have identified 229 and 162 genes that were up- or down-regulated, respectively, for more than 3-fold in the preterm placentas compared to the term placentas (Mann-Whitney Rank Sum Test, with multiple testing correction by the Benjamini-Hochberg method, adjusted p-value <= 0.05).
Project description:In this study, the molecular signature of placenta membrane from preterm birth placenta was assessed and compared to full-term placenta by proteomic profiling with the aim to identify molecules relevant to preterm birth.
Project description:Comparing miRNAs expression levels in chorioamniotic membranes from women at term in labor (TL), women at term not in labor (TNL) and women who deliverd preterm (PTLC). The goal was to see if miRNA levels are indicators of preterm delivery or spontaneous labor at term. A two-channel technology was used in this experiment in which a pooled reference RNA was used for competitive hybridization. The pooled reference was generated at Exiqon in Denmark from a mixture of several human tissues (placenta, thyroid, brain, adipose, spleen, liver, colon, skeletal muscle, ovary, kidney, heart, cervix, testes, esophagus, small intestine, prostate, trachea, thymus, bladder, lung).
Project description:Distinct processes govern the transition from myometrial quiescence to activation during both term and preterm labor. We sought the specific gene sets responsible for initiating term and preterm labor, along with a core set of effector genes necessary for labor independent of gestational age and the underlying trigger. The Effector Gene Set consisted of 49 genes present in both preterm and term labor but absent from non-labor samples. 122 genes were specific to preterm labor (Preterm Initiator Set) and 229 to term labor (Term Initiator Set). The Term Initiator and the Effector Sets reflected predominantly inflammatory processes. Surprisingly, the Preterm Initiator Gene Set reflected molecular and biological events almost exclusive of inflammation. Preterm and term labor differ dramatically in their unique, initiator gene profiles, suggesting alternative pathways underlie these events. Inflammatory processes are ubiquitous to the Term Initiator and the Effector Gene Sets, supporting the idea term parturition is an inflammatory process. The absence of inflammatory processes in the Preterm Initiator Set suggests inflammation is secondary to processes triggering spontaneous preterm birth, and could explain the lack of therapeutic efficacy associated with anti inflammatory/antibiotic regimens. Keywords: myometrial gene expression, preterm versus term labor
Project description:Objective: Mechanisms of preterm labour (PTL) are not fully elucidated. Cervical ripening plays an important role. We aimed to investigate possible differences in gene expression in human cervix between PTL and term labour (TL) and between PTL and preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM).
Project description:Preterm birth is multifactorial in origin with several distinct clinical phenotypes of differing etiologies, including idiopathic preterm birth. Preterm birth involves the interaction of genetic, societal and environmental factors such as nutrition, lifestyle and stress that may modulate the length of gestation via the epigenome. DNA methylation is a well-studied epigenetic modification whereby promoter methylation commonly represses gene expression and vice versa. Myometrial tissue was obtained at cesarean section at term with or without labor, preterm without labor, idiopathic preterm labor, and twin gestations with labor. Differences in the myometrial epigenomes were identified at gene promoters, CpG islands, CpG island shores and shelves, gene bodies across the genome between the groups of women with preterm labor of different phenotypes vs. normal term labor. Functional clustering analysis indicated the significantly enriched pathways of hypomethylated genes (permissive) were related to acute inflammatory and acute-phase responses. By contrast, genes that are hypermethylated (repressive) revealed enrichment for contractile fibers and cell. This study provides the first high-resolution DNA methylome of human myometrium with evidence for differences in the methylome that may relate to idiopathic preterm birth via regulation of gene expression. The findings extend previous observations that idiopathic preterm labor is associated with subclinical intrauterine infection and inflammatory pathways and point to targets for further molecular characterization of preterm delivery. Comparison of the human myometrial epigenomes in pregnancies with preterm labor of different phenotypes vs. normal term labor
Project description:Hundreds of naturally occurring milk peptides have been found in term human milk. Whether there are differences between the levels of these peptides between term and preterm milk remains unknown. Premature milk is produced before complete maturation of the mammary gland and is under the influence of a different hormonal milieu, which could change enzymatic activity and protein expression within the mammary gland and result in an altered peptide profile. We employed nano-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to identify naturally occurring peptides in term and premature milks at multiple time-points across lactation and compare the abundances of these peptides. We found that preterm milks produced more unique peptide sequences than term milks on average (359 vs. 286). The peptides identified were searched for overlapping sequences with an in-house database of known functional peptides. Specifically, we found that both term and preterm milks contain peptides overlapping with known sequences with antimicrobial, opioid antagonist and immunomodulatory actions. We also compared the enzymes involved in degradation of both milks via bioinformatic analysis. This analysis reveals that plasmin is more active in preterm milk than term milk.