Biological interactions between nanomaterials and placental development and function following oral exposure

2019 ◽  
Vol 90 ◽  
pp. 150-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ninell P. Mortensen ◽  
Leah M. Johnson ◽  
Khara D. Grieger ◽  
Jeffrey L. Ambroso ◽  
Timothy R. Fennell
Keyword(s):  
Oral Exposure ◽  
Biological Interactions ◽  
Placental Development ◽  
And Function

Effects of Maternal Obesity and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus on the Placenta: Current Knowledge and Targets for Therapeutic Interventions

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-192
Author(s):  
Samantha Bedell ◽  
Janine Hutson ◽  
Barbra de Vrijer ◽  
Genevieve Eastabrook
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Gestational Diabetes ◽  
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Maternal Obesity ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Placental Development ◽  
Exchange Site ◽  
And Function

: Obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are becoming more common among pregnant women worldwide and are individually associated with a number of placenta-mediated obstetric complications, including preeclampsia, macrosomia, intrauterine growth restriction and stillbirth. The placenta serves several functions throughout pregnancy and is the main exchange site for the transfer of nutrients and gas from mother to fetus. In pregnancies complicated by maternal obesity or GDM, the placenta is exposed to environmental changes, such as increased inflammation and oxidative stress, dyslipidemia, and altered hormone levels. These changes can affect placental development and function and lead to abnormal fetal growth and development as well as metabolic and cardiovascular abnormalities in the offspring. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on the effects of obesity and GDM on placental development and function. Understanding these processes is key in developing therapeutic interventions with the goal of mitigating these effects and preventing future cardiovascular and metabolic pathology in subsequent generations.

scholarly journals A Potential Role and Contribution of Androgens in Placental Development and Pregnancy

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 644
Author(s):  
Agata M. Parsons ◽  
Gerrit J. Bouma
Keyword(s):  
Fetal Development ◽  
Fetal Loss ◽  
Membrane Receptors ◽  
Placental Development ◽  
Placental Function ◽  
Fetal Physiology ◽  
Estrogen Synthesis ◽  
And Function ◽  
Pregnancy Disorders

Successful pregnancy requires the establishment of a highly regulated maternal–fetal environment. This is achieved through the harmonious regulation of steroid hormones, which modulate both maternal and fetal physiology, and are critical for pregnancy maintenance. Defects in steroidogenesis and steroid signaling can lead to pregnancy disorders or even fetal loss. The placenta is a multifunctional, transitory organ which develops at the maternal–fetal interface, and supports fetal development through endocrine signaling, the transport of nutrients and gas exchange. The placenta has the ability to adapt to adverse environments, including hormonal variations, trying to support fetal development. However, if placental function is impaired, or its capacity to adapt is exceeded, fetal development will be compromised. The goal of this review is to explore the relevance of androgens and androgen signaling during pregnancy, specifically in placental development and function. Often considered a mere precursor to placental estrogen synthesis, the placenta in fact secretes androgens throughout pregnancy, and not only contains the androgen steroid nuclear receptor, but also non-genomic membrane receptors for androgens, suggesting a role of androgen signaling in placental function. Moreover, a number of pregnancy disorders, including pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, intrauterine growth restriction, and polycystic ovarian syndrome, are associated with abnormal androgen levels and androgen signaling. Understanding the role of androgens in the placenta will provide a greater understanding of the pathophysiology of pregnancy disorders associated with androgen elevation and its consequences.

scholarly journals Modelling the Human Placental Interface In Vitro—A Review

Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 884
Author(s):  
Marta Cherubini ◽  
Scott Erickson ◽  
Kristina Haase
Keyword(s):  
Drug Testing ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
In Vitro Models ◽  
Placental Development ◽  
Scientific Challenge ◽  
Induced Pluripotent ◽  
And Function ◽  
And Control

Acting as the primary link between mother and fetus, the placenta is involved in regulating nutrient, oxygen, and waste exchange; thus, healthy placental development is crucial for a successful pregnancy. In line with the increasing demands of the fetus, the placenta evolves throughout pregnancy, making it a particularly difficult organ to study. Research into placental development and dysfunction poses a unique scientific challenge due to ethical constraints and the differences in morphology and function that exist between species. Recently, there have been increased efforts towards generating in vitro models of the human placenta. Advancements in the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), microfluidics, and bioprinting have each contributed to the development of new models, which can be designed to closely match physiological in vivo conditions. By including relevant placental cell types and control over the microenvironment, these new in vitro models promise to reveal clues to the pathogenesis of placental dysfunction and facilitate drug testing across the maternal–fetal interface. In this minireview, we aim to highlight current in vitro placental models and their applications in the study of disease and discuss future avenues for these in vitro models.

Epigenetics of Placental Development and Function

2014 ◽  
pp. 285-295
Author(s):  
Shuhei Ito ◽  
Mitsuko Hirosawa ◽  
Koji Hayakawa ◽  
Shintaro Yagi ◽  
Satoshi Tanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Placental Development ◽  
And Function

scholarly journals The Ontogeny and Function of Placental Macrophages

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jake R. Thomas ◽  
Praveena Naidu ◽  
Anna Appios ◽  
Naomi McGovern
Keyword(s):  
Human Placenta ◽  
Outer Layer ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Placental Development ◽  
Fetal Health ◽  
Hofbauer Cells ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Placental Macrophages ◽  
And Function ◽  
Insight Into

The placenta is a fetal-derived organ whose function is crucial for both maternal and fetal health. The human placenta contains a population of fetal macrophages termed Hofbauer cells. These macrophages play diverse roles, aiding in placental development, function and defence. The outer layer of the human placenta is formed by syncytiotrophoblast cells, that fuse to form the syncytium. Adhered to the syncytium at sites of damage, on the maternal side of the placenta, is a population of macrophages termed placenta associated maternal macrophages (PAMM1a). Here we discuss recent developments that have led to renewed insight into our understanding of the ontogeny, phenotype and function of placental macrophages. Finally, we discuss how the application of new technologies within placental research are helping us to further understand these cells.

Abstract 17312: Hand1 Impairs Angiogenesis in Heart and Placenta

Circulation ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 138 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A Courtney ◽  
Helen N Jones
Keyword(s):  
Histological Analysis ◽  
Heart Defects ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Significant Risk Factor ◽  
Placental Development ◽  
Hypoplastic Left Heart ◽  
Septal Defects ◽  
And Function ◽  
Left Heart Syndrome

Introduction: Congenital heart defects affect approximately 1% of live births, often requiring complex surgeries at birth. The most significant risk factor for surgery survival is birthweight. Proper placental development and function is vital for normal fetal growth. We have previously demonstrated abnormal placental development and vascularization in human CHD placentas. Hand1 has roles in heart and placental development and has been implicated in multiple types of CHD including double right outlet, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and septal defects. We utilized the Hand1 A126fs/+ mouse to investigate the role of Hand1 in placentation and vascularization. Methods: Hand1 A126fs/+ female mice were time-mated with Nkx2.5cre or Cdh5cre males. Feto-placental units were harvested at E10.5 and E12.5 for histological analysis, vascular assessment by IHC for CD-31, and RNA expression by qPCR. Results: Nkx2.5cre/Hand1 a126fs/+ fetuses demonstrated embryonic lethality by E10.5 due to lack of placental labyrinth formation and vascularization (Figure 1). In contrast, ablation of Hand1 in vascular endothelium (Cdh5cre) did not disrupt placental labyrinth or heart at E12.5. Expression of VegFb, Ang1, Ang2, Flt1, Flk was reduced in Hand1 A126fs/+ ; Nkx2.5cre placentas compared to control littermates, but VegFa expression was increased. Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that Hand1 expression in placental trophoblast, but not endothelium, is necessary for vascularization of the labyrinth and may disrupt multiple angiogenic factors known to be expressed in trophoblast. Alterations in Hand1 may represent a mechanism for abnormal placentation in cases of CHD. Figure 1. H/E (A-C) and CD31 (D-F) images of Hand1 +/+ (A, D), Hand1 A126fs/+ ; Nkx2.5cre (B, E), and Hand1 A126fs/+ ; Cdh5cre (C, F) placentas at day E12.5. Hand1A 126fs/+ ; Nkx2.5cre placentas fail to form labyrinth and fetal vasculature, while Hand1 A126fs/+ ; Cdh5cre placentas develop normally at this timepoint.

Effects of Ocean Acidification on Sediment Fauna

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Widdicombe ◽  
John I. Spicer
Keyword(s):  
Ocean Acidification ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Unconsolidated Sediments ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Biological Interactions ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Marine Realm ◽  
Critical Components ◽  
The Many ◽  
And Function

The vast majority of the seafloor is covered not in rocky or biogenic reefs but in unconsolidated sediments and, consequently, the majority of marine biodiversity consists of invertebrates either residing in (infauna) or on (epifauna) sediments (Snelgrove 1999). The biodiversity within these sediments is a result of complex interactions between the underlying environmental conditions (e.g. depth, temperature, organic supply, and granulometry) and the biological interactions operating between organisms (e.g. predation and competition). Not only are sediments important depositories of biodiversity but they are also critical components in many key ecosystem functions. Nowhere is this more apparent than in shallow coastal seas and oceans which, despite covering less than 10% of the earth’s surface, deliver up to 30% of marine production and 90% of marine fisheries (Gattuso et al. 1998). These areas are also the site for 80% of organic matter burial and 90% of sedimentary mineralization and nutrient–sediment biogeochemical processes. They also act as the sink for up to 90% of the suspended load in the world’s rivers and the many associated contaminants this material contains (Gattuso et al. 1998). Human beings depend heavily on the goods and services provided, for free, by the marine realm (Hassan et al. 2005 ) and it is no coincidence that nearly 70% of all humans live within 60 km of the sea or that 75% of all cities with more than 10 million inhabitants are in the coastal zone (Small and Nicholls 2003; McGranahan et al. 2007) Given these facts, it is clear that any broad-scale environmental impact that affects the diversity, structure, and function of sediment ecosystems could have a considerable impact on human health and well-being. It is therefore essential that the impacts of ocean acidification on sediment fauna, and the ecosystem functions they support, are adequately considered. This chapter will first describe the geochemical environment within which sediment organisms live. It will then explore the role that sediment organisms play as ecosystem engineers and how they alter the environment in which they live and the overall biodiversity of sediment communities.

Role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor in the development of the human placenta

1995 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 1465 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Maruo ◽  
H Matsuo ◽  
T Otani ◽  
M Mochizuki
Keyword(s):  
Egf Receptor ◽  
Placental Lactogen ◽  
Immunocytochemical Staining ◽  
Placental Development ◽  
Ki 67 ◽  
Serum Free ◽  
C Cell ◽  
Serum Free Condition ◽  
And Function

To elucidate the role of EGF in human placental development, effects of EGF on the proliferation and differentiation of trophoblasts were investigated. Explants of trophoblastic tissues obtained from 4-5 week or 6-12 week placentas were, respectively, cultured with or without EGF, in the presence or absence of triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) in a serum-free condition. The proliferative activity was examined by immunocytochemical staining with an antibody Ki-67, and the differentiated function was assessed by the ability to secrete human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and human placental lactogen (hPL). In 4-5 week placentas, EGF and EGF receptor were localized in cytotrophoblast (C-cell), and EGF augmented the proliferation of C-cell without affecting the ability to secrete hCG and hPL. In contrast, in 6-12 week placentas, EGF and EGF receptor were localized in syncytiotrophoblast (S-cell), and EGF stimulated the secretion of hCG and hPL without affecting the proliferation of C-cell. In situ hybridization with c-erb B probe revealed that c-erb B mRNA is expressed in the S-cell after 6 weeks' gestation. Column chromatography of the serum-free media obtained by 5-day culture of early placental tissues resulted in the elution of immunoreactive EGF. The addition of T3 (10(-8) mol L(-1)) resulted in increased secretion of immunoreactive EGF by placental explants. These findings suggest that EGF acts as an autocrine factor in regulating early placental growth and function in synergy with thyroid hormone.

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