Transcriptomic characterization of cultured primary human cytrophoblasts (2nd trimester) undergoing differentiation/invasion in vitro.
Transcriptional Dynamics of Cultured Human Villous Cytotrophoblasts.
Specimen part
View SamplesPlacental trophoblasts are key determinants of in utero development. Mouse trophoblast stem cells (mTSCs), which were first derived over a decade ago, are a powerful cell culture model for studying their self-renewal or differentiation. Our attempts to isolate an equivalent population from the trophectoderm of human blastocysts generated colonies that quickly differentiated in vitro. This finding suggested that the human placenta has another progenitor niche. Here we show that the chorion is one such site. Initially, we immunolocalized pluripotency factors and trophoblast fate determinants in the early-gestation placenta, amnion and chorion. Immunoreactive cells were numerous in the chorion. We isolated these cells and plated them in medium containing FGF and an inhibitor of activin/nodal signaling, which is required for human embryonic SC self-renewal. Colonies of polarized cells with a limited lifespan emerged. Trypsin dissociation yielded continuously self-replicating monolayers. Colonies and monolayers formed the two major human trophoblast lineagesmultinucleate syncytiotrophoblasts and invasive cytotrophoblasts (CTBs). Transcriptional profiling experiments revealed the factors associated with the self-renewal or differentiation of human chorionic trophoblast progenitor cells (TBPCs). They included imprinted genes, NR2F1/2, HMGA2 and adhesion molecules that were required for TBPC differentiation. Together, the results of these experiments suggested that the chorion is one source of epithelial CTB progenitors. These findings explain why CTBs of fully formed chorionic villi have a modest mitotic index and identify the chorionic mesoderm as a niche for TBPCs that support placental growth.
Establishment of human trophoblast progenitor cell lines from the chorion.
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View SamplesIn humans, a subset of placental cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) invades the uterus and its vasculature, anchoring the pregnancy and ensuring adequate blood flow to the fetus. Appropriate depth is critical. Shallow invasion increases the risk of pregnancy complications, e.g., severe preeclampsia. Overly deep invasion, the hallmark of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), increases the risk of pre-term delivery, hemorrhage and death. Previously a rare condition, the incidence of PAS has increased to 1:731 pregnancies, likely due to the rise in uterine surgeries (e.g., Cesarean sections). CTBs track along the scars deep into the myometrium and beyond. Here we compared the global gene expression patterns of CTBs from PAS cases to gestational age-matched control cells that invaded to the normal depth from preterm birth (PTB) deliveries. The mRNA encoding the guanine nucleotide exchange factor, DOCK4, mutations of which promote cancer cell invasion and angiogenesis, was the most highly differentially expressed molecule in PAS samples. Over-expression of DOCK4 increased CTB invasiveness, consistent with the PAS phenotype. Also, this analysis identified other genes with significantly altered expression in this disorder, potential biomarkers. These data suggest that CTBs from PAS cases up regulate a cancer-like pro-invasion mechanism, suggesting molecular as well as phenotypic similarities in the two pathologies.
Up-regulated cytotrophoblast DOCK4 contributes to over-invasion in placenta accreta spectrum.
Specimen part, Disease
View SamplesDuring human pregnancy, a subset of placental cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) differentiates into cells that aggressively invade the uterus and its vasculature, anchoring the progeny and rerouting maternal blood to the placenta. In preeclampsia (PE), CTB invasion is limited, reducing placental perfusion and/or creating intermittent flow. This syndrome, affecting 4-8% of pregnancies, entails maternal vascular alterations (e.g., high blood pressure, proteinuria, and edema) fetal growth restriction. The only cure is removal of the faulty placenta, i.e., delivery. Previously we showed that defective CTB differentiation contributes to the placental component of PE, but the causes were unknown. Here, CTBs isolated from PE and control placentas were cultured for 48 h, enabling differentiation/invasion. In various severe forms of PE, transcriptomics revealed common aberrations in CTB gene expression immediately after isolation that resolved in culture. The upregulated genes included SEMA3B. Adding this protein to normal CTBs inhibited invasion and re-created aspects of the phenotype of these cells in PE. Additionally, SEMA3B downregulated VEGF signaling through the PI3K/AKT and GSK3 pathways, effects that were observed in PE CTBs. We propose that, in severe PE, the in vivo environment dysregulates CTB gene expression, the autocrine actions of the upregulated molecules, including SEMA3B, impair differentiation/invasion/signaling and patient-specific factors determine the signs.
Reversal of gene dysregulation in cultured cytotrophoblasts reveals possible causes of preeclampsia.
Specimen part
View SamplesTranscriptomic characterization of BDE-47 exposed cultured primary human cytrophoblasts (2nd trimester) undergoing differentiation in vitro.
Genomic Profiling of BDE-47 Effects on Human Placental Cytotrophoblasts.
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View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Defective decidualization during and after severe preeclampsia reveals a possible maternal contribution to the etiology.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesIn preeclampsia (PE), cytotrophoblast (CTB) invasion of the uterus and spiral arteries is often shallow. Thus, the placentas role has been a focus. We hypothesized that decidual defects are an important determinant of the placental phenotype. We isolated (human) endometrial stromal cells (hESCs) from non-pregnant donors with a prior pregnancy that was complicated by severe PE (sPE). Versus controls, they failed to decidualize as demonstrated by morphological criteria and the analysis of stage-specific antigens. These results were bolstered by showing that they were transcriptionally inert. Additionally, we used laser microdissection to isolate the decidua from tissue sections of the maternal-fetal interface. Transcriptional profiling revealed sPE-associated defects in gene expression. Also, decidual cells from sPE patients, which de-differentiated in vitro, failed to re-decidualize in culture. Immediately following isolation they released factors that inhibited CTB invasion, linking a possible cause to a known effect. These data suggested that failed decidualization is an important contributor to down regulated CTB invasion in sPE. Diagnosis of this defect prior to pregnancy would enable therapies that are designed to improve decidualization, a novel strategy for prevention.
Defective decidualization during and after severe preeclampsia reveals a possible maternal contribution to the etiology.
Specimen part
View SamplesRheumatoid arthritis (RA) leads to progressive destruction of articular structures. Despite recent progress in controlling inflammation and pain, little cartilage repair has yet been observed. This in vitro study aims to determine the role of chondrocytes in RA-related cartilage destruction and antirheumatic drug-related regenerative processes. Human chondrocytes were three-dimensionally cultured in alginate beads. To determine the RA-induced gene expression pattern, human chondrocytes were stimulated with supernatant of RA synovial fibroblasts (RASF) and normal donor synovial fibroblasts (NDSF), respectively. To examine antirheumatic drug response signatures, human chondrocytes were stimulated with supernatant of RASF that have been treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD; azathioprine, sodium aurothiomalate, chloroquine phosphate, methotrexate), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID; piroxicam, diclofenac) or steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (SAID; methylprednisolone, prednisolone). Genome-wide expression profiling with oligonucleotide microarrays was used to determine differentially expressed genes. Real-time RT-PCR and ELISA were performed for validation of microarray data. Following antirheumatic treatment, microarray analysis disclosed a reverted expression of 94 RA-induced chondrocyte genes involved in inflammation/NF-B signalling, cytokine/chemokine activity, immune response, proliferation/differentiation and matrix remodelling. Hierarchical clustering analysis showed that treatment of RASF with the DMARD azathioprine, gold sodium thiomalate and methotrexate resulted in chondrocyte gene expression signatures that were closely related to the healthy pattern. Treatment with the SAID methylprednisolone and prednisolone strongly reverted the RA-related chondrocyte gene expression, in particular the expression of genes involved in inflammation/NF-B and cytokine/chemokine activity. The NSAID piroxicam and diclofenac and the DMARD chloroquine phosphate had only moderate to marginal effects. Pathway analysis determined major mechanisms of drug action, for example pathways of cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, TGF-/TLR/Jak-STAT signalling and ECM-receptor interaction were targeted. This in vitro study provides a comprehensive molecular insight into the antirheumatic drug response signatures in human chondrocytes, thereby revealing potential molecular targets, pathways and mechanisms of drug action involved in chondrocyte regeneration. Thus, the present study may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic chondro-protective compounds and strategies.
Antirheumatic drug response signatures in human chondrocytes: potential molecular targets to stimulate cartilage regeneration.
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View SamplesTo study the gene expression profile of salivary glands with varying degrees of inflammation in Sjogren's and non Sjogren's patients
Chitinases in the salivary glands and circulation of patients with Sjögren's syndrome: macrophage harbingers of disease severity.
Specimen part, Disease
View SamplesWe have studied the expression profile of 3D cultured human chondrocytes that were stimulated with supernatant of synovial fibroblasts derived from a RA patient (RASF=HSE cell line) and from a normal donor (NDSF=K4IM cell line), respectively. For this purpose, passage 2 human chondrocytes were cultured for 14 days in alginate beads and subsequently stimulated for 48 hours with supernatant of RASF and NDSF. Baseline expression was determined of unstimulated chondrocytes. Differential genome-wide microarray analysis of RASF and NDSF stimulated chondrocytes disclosed a distinct expression profile related to cartilage destruction involving marker genes of inflammation (COX-2), NF-kappa B signaling pathway (TLR2), cytokines/chemokines and receptors (CXCL1-3, CCL20, CXCL8, CXCR4, IL-6, IL-1beta), matrix degradation (MMP-10, MMP-12) and suppressed matrix synthesis (COMP). Thus, transcriptome profiling of RASF and NDSF stimulated chondrocytes revealed a disturbed catabolic-anabolic homeostasis of chondrocyte function. This study provides a comprehensive insight into the molecular regulatory processes induced in human chondrocytes during RA-related cartilage destruction.
Key regulatory molecules of cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis: an in vitro study.
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