scholarly journals Study of Soluble HLA-G in Congenital Human Cytomegalovirus Infection

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Rizzo ◽  
Liliana Gabrielli ◽  
Daria Bortolotti ◽  
Valentina Gentili ◽  
Giulia Piccirilli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Human Cytomegalovirus ◽  
Hcmv Infection ◽  
Human Leukocyte ◽  
Maternal Blood ◽  
Maternal Serum ◽  
Hcmv Disease ◽  
Beta 2 ◽  
Beta 2 Microglobulin

Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is a nonclassical HLA class I antigen that is expressed during pregnancy contributing to maternal-fetal tolerance. HLA-G can be expressed as membrane-bound and soluble forms. HLA-G expression increases strongly during viral infections such as congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections, with functional consequences in immunoregulation. In this work we investigated the expression of soluble (s)HLA-G and beta-2 microglobulin (component of HLA) molecules in correlation with the risk of transmission and severity of congenital HCMV infection. We analyzed 182 blood samples from 130 pregnant women and 52 nonpregnant women and 56 amniotic fluid samples from women experiencing primary HCMV infection. The median levels of sHLA-G in maternal serum of women with primary HCMV infection were higher in comparison with nonprimary and uninfected pregnant women (p<0.001). AF from HCMV symptomatic fetuses presented higher sHLA-G levels in comparison with infected asymptomatic fetuses (p<0.001), presence of HLA-G free-heavy chain, and a concentration gradient from amniotic fluid to maternal blood. No significant statistical difference of beta-2 microglobulin median levels was observed between all different groups. Our results suggest the determination of sHLA-G molecules in both maternal blood and amniotic fluid as a promising biomarker of diagnosis of maternal HCMV primary infection and fetal HCMV disease.

scholarly journals Vitamin A intake of Brazilian mothers and retinol concentrations in maternal blood, human milk, and the umbilical cord

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 1555-1569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thalia Manfrin Martins Deminice ◽  
Ivan Savioli Ferraz ◽  
Jacqueline Pontes Monteiro ◽  
Alceu Afonso Jordão ◽  
Lívia Maria Cordeiro Simões Ambrósio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Milk ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Human Milk ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Umbilical Cord ◽  
Maternal Blood ◽  
Maternal Serum ◽  
Serum Retinol ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Blood Samples

Objectives To analyse intake of vitamin A (VA) and retinol concentrations in maternal blood, breast milk (BM), and the umbilical cord (UC) of newborns, and to determine the associations among these variables. Methods We performed a cross-sectional, epidemiological study of 180 mother–newborn dyads. Maternal and UC blood samples and BM were collected. VA intake by the mother over 30 days was assessed using a questionnaire. Results Mean retinol concentrations in maternal serum, the UC, and BM were 0.65 ± 0.27, 0.36 ± 0.18, and 2.95 ± 2.70 µmol/L, respectively. Retinol concentrations <0.70 µmol/L were found in 57.2% of maternal blood samples and in 94.9% of UC samples. A total of 27.9% of BM samples showed retinol concentrations <1.05 µmol/L. Mean VA intake by the mothers was 1041.33 ± 1187.86 µg retinol activity equivalents/day and was inadequate (<550 µg retinol activity equivalents/day) in 44.7%. Conclusions High proportions of insufficient retinol concentrations were observed in the UC, maternal blood, and BM. A high percentage of pregnant women had inadequate VA intake. Mothers with insufficient serum retinol concentrations had newborns with lower retinol concentrations in the UC. Higher retinol concentrations were observed in maternal blood and the UC with a higher VA intake.

In vitro infection of megakaryocytes and their precursors by human cytomegalovirus

Blood ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 487-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Crapnell ◽  
Esmail D. Zanjani ◽  
Aniruddho Chaudhuri ◽  
Joao L. Ascensao ◽  
Stephen St. Jeor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Human Cytomegalovirus ◽  
Hcmv Infection ◽  
Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation ◽  
Laboratory Strain ◽  
Allogeneic Bone ◽  
Cd34 Cells ◽  
Hcmv Disease

Apart from congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, manifest HCMV disease occurs primarily in immunocompromised patients. In allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, HCMV is frequently associated with graft failure and cytopenias involving all hematopoietic lineages, but thrombocytopenia is the most commonly reported hematologic complication. The authors hypothesized that megakaryocytes (MK) may be a specific target for HCMV. Although the susceptibility of immature hematopoietic progenitors cells to HCMV has been established, a productive viral life cycle has only been linked to myelomonocytic maturation. The authors investigated whether HCMV can also infect MK and impair their function. They demonstrated that HCMV did not affect the thrombopoietin (TPO)-driven proliferation of CD34+ cells until MK maturation occurred. MK challenged with HCMV showed a 50% more rapid loss of viability than mock-infected cells. MK and their early precursors were clearly shown to be susceptible to HCMV in vitro, as evidenced by the presence of HCMV in magnetic column-purified CD42+ MK and 2-color fluorescent staining with antibodies directed against CD42a and HCMV pp65 antigen. These findings were confirmed by the infection of MK with a laboratory strain of HCMV containing the β-galactosidase (β-gal) gene. Using chromogenic β-gal substrates, HCMV was detected during MK differentiation of infected CD34+ cells and after infection of fully differentiated MK. Production of infectious virus was observed in cultures infected MK, suggesting that HCMV can complete its life cycle. These results demonstrate that MK are susceptible to HCMV infection and that direct infection of these cells in vivo may contribute to the thrombocytopenia observed in patients infected with HCMV.

scholarly journals Pro-opiomelanocortin in human pregnancy: evolution of maternal plasma levels, concentrations in cord blood, amniotic fluid and at the feto-maternal interface

2000 ◽  
pp. 53-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
ML Raffin-Sanson ◽  
F Ferre ◽  
J Coste ◽  
C Oliver ◽  
D Cabrol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Cord Blood ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Human Placenta ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Maternal Blood ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal Study ◽  
Gestation Time ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal ◽  
Very High

OBJECTIVE: The human placenta normally expresses the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene. The pattern and secretory kinetics of POMC and/or POMC-derived peptides by the placenta during gestation is still debated. We recently demonstrated that full length POMC was a normal product of the human placenta. The aim of our study was to establish its normal secretory kinetics and to explore its physiological relevance. DESIGN: In a prospective, longitudinal study, thirty normal pregnant women had monthly measurements of plasma POMC. In a cross-sectional study of 128 healthy pregnant women, plasma POMC and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) were concomitantly measured to assess their correlation. Finally, POMC levels were assessed in venous and arterial cord blood samples, in amniotic fluid and in retroplacental blood. METHODS: Plasma POMC was measured by a specific IRMA in unextracted blood or biological fluid. RESULTS: Plasma POMC became detectable by the 8th week of pregnancy and reached its maximum at around the 20th week, remaining stable thereafter. The relationship between POMC and gestation time (weeks) best fitted with a third degree polynomia curve. A significant negative correlation (P=0.01) was observed between plasma levels of POMC and hCG after adjustment for gestation time to take into account the dependence of both hormones on this parameter. POMC was not secreted into the fetal circulation at term, but was present in very high levels in amniotic fluid. The highest levels of POMC were present in the retroplacental blood where the values were 35 times higher than in maternal blood; by comparison, corticotrophin releasing hormone and ACTH values in this compartment were twice or equal to those in the maternal blood. CONCLUSION: Placental POMC secretion increases during the first half of pregnancy and reaches a plateau from the 20th week to delivery. The inverse correlation between POMC and hCG plasma levels, and very high POMC levels at the feto-maternal interface suggest a physiological role for this precursor during pregnancy.

scholarly journals Diagnosis and Management of Human Cytomegalovirus Infection in the Mother, Fetus, and Newborn Infant

2002 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 680-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Grazia Revello ◽  
Giuseppe Gerna
Keyword(s):  
Prenatal Diagnosis ◽  
Human Cytomegalovirus ◽  
Primary Infection ◽  
Hcmv Infection ◽  
Prognostic Markers ◽  
Recurrent Infection ◽  
Congenital Infection ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Hcmv Disease ◽  
The Impact

SUMMARY Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading cause of congenital viral infection and mental retardation. HCMV infection, while causing asymptomatic infections in most immunocompetent subjects, can be transmitted during pregnancy from the mother with primary (and also recurrent) infection to the fetus. Hence, careful diagnosis of primary infection is required in the pregnant woman based on the most sensitive serologic assays (immunoglobulin M [IgM] and IgG avidity assays) and conventional virologic and molecular procedures for virus detection in blood. Maternal prognostic markers of fetal infection are still under investigation. If primary infection is diagnosed in a timely manner, prenatal diagnosis can be offered, including the search for virus and virus components in fetal blood and amniotic fluid, with fetal prognostic markers of HCMV disease still to be defined. However, the final step for definite diagnosis of congenital HCMV infection is detection of virus in the blood or urine in the first 1 to 2 weeks of life. To date, treatment of congenital infection with antiviral drugs is only palliative both prior to and after birth, whereas the only efficacious preventive measure seems to be the development of a safe and immunogenic vaccine, including recombinant, subunit, DNA, and peptide-based vaccines now under investigation. The following controversial issues are discussed in the light of the most recent advances in the field: the actual perception of the problem; universal serologic screening before pregnancy; the impact of correct counseling on decision making by the couple involved; the role of prenatal diagnosis in ascertaining transmission of virus to the fetus; the impact of preconceptional and periconceptional infections on the prevalence of congenital infection; and the prevalence of congenitally infected babies born to mothers who were immune prior to pregnancy compared to the number born to mothers undergoing primary infection during pregnancy.

Amniotic Fluid Beta-2-Microglobulin in Normal and Complicated Pregnancies

1982 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 129-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Puolakka ◽  
P. Ylöstalo ◽  
R. Tuimala ◽  
J. Haapalahti ◽  
Pentti A. Järvinen
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Beta 2 ◽  
Beta 2 Microglobulin

Effect of short-term bromocriptine treatment on amniotic fluid prolactin concentration in the first half of pregnancy

1981 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. 559-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Lehtovirta ◽  
T. Ranta
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Dopamine Receptors ◽  
Prolactin Level ◽  
Prolactin Secretion ◽  
Maternal Serum ◽  
Serum Prolactin ◽  
Fluid Level ◽  
Serum Prolactin Level ◽  
Short Term

Abstract. The effect of short-term bromocriptine treatment on amniotic fluid and maternal prolactin concentrations was studied in 9 pregnant women in the first half of pregnancy. Bromocriptine suppressed the maternal serum prolactin level, but had no effect on the amniotic fluid level. Since both foetal and maternal prolactin secretion are suppressed by bromocriptine our results suggest that amniotic fluid prolactin is produced by extrapituitary tissues, which do not contain dopamine receptors.

Amniotic fluid and maternal serum leptin levels in pregnant women who subsequently develop preeclampsia

2003 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Te-Fu Chan ◽  
Jinu-Huang Su ◽  
Yueh-Fang Chung ◽  
Yu-Hsin Hsu ◽  
Yao-Tsung Yeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Maternal Serum ◽  
Serum Leptin
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