Decidual production of interferon lambda in response to ZIKV persistence: Clinical evidence and modelling.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infections during pregnancy can result in Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS), a range of severe neurological outcomes in fetuses that primarily occur during early gestational stages possibly due to placental damage. Although some placentas can maintain ZIKV persistence for weeks or months after the initial infection and diagnosis, the impact of this viral persistence is still unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate the immunological repercussion of ZIKV persistence in term placentas.

The Autism Spectrum Disorder and Its Possible Origins in Pregnancy.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) belongs to the group of neurodevelopmental disorders, and has a high prevalence, affecting 1 in 100 children according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO). To be diagnosed with ASD, the child must have persistent deficits in communication and social interactions, and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Despite its prevalence, the etiology of ASD is still uncertain, with multifactorial characteristics, including those associated with the gestational period, where maternal exposure to biological, chemical, or physical hazards occurs, some of which have already been proposed as causes of ASD outcomes.

Temporal trends in microplastic accumulation in placentas from pregnancies in Hawai'i.

Microplastics are created for commercial use, are shed from textiles, or result from the breakdown of larger plastic items. Recent reports have shown that microplastics accumulate in human tissues and may have adverse health consequences. Currently, there are no standardized environmental monitoring systems to track microplastic accumulation within human tissues.

The impact on colostrum oxidative stress, cytokines, and immune cells composition after SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy.

Background: Limited data are available regarding the differences between immunological, biochemical, and cellular contents of human colostrum following maternal infection during pregnancy with coronavirus 2 disease (COVID-19).

Objective: To investigate whether maternal COVID-19 infection may affect immunological, biochemical, and cellular contents of human colostrum.

Methods: Using a case-control study design, we collected colostrum from 14 lactating women with a previous diagnosis of COVID-19 during pregnancy and 12 without a clear diagnosis during September 2020 to May 2021.

Neuroprotective Effect of Exogenous Galectin-1 in Status Epilepticus.

Intrahippocampal pilocarpine microinjection (H-PILO) induces status epilepticus (SE) that can lead to spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) and neurodegeneration in rodents. Studies using animal models have indicated that lectins mediate a variety of biological activities with neuronal benefits, especially galectin-1 (GAL-1), which has been identified as an effective neuroprotective compound. GAL-1 is associated with the regulation of cell adhesion, proliferation, programmed cell death, and immune responses, as well as attenuating neuroinflammation.

Krüppel-like factor 6 participates in extravillous trophoblast cell differentiation and its expression is reduced in abnormally invasive placenta.

Trophoblast cell differentiation is of paramount importance for successful pregnancy. Krüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6), a transcription factor with diverse roles in cell physiology and tumor biology, is required for trophoblast differentiation through the syncytial pathway. Herein, we demonstrate that extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cell migration and mesenchymal phenotype are increased upon KLF6 downregulation or the expression of a deletion mutant lacking its transcriptional regulatory domain (KΔac).

Tuning the photoluminescence by engineering surface states/size of S, N co-doped carbon dots for cellular imaging applications.

In this research, we have synthesized carbon dots (CDs) co-doped with nitrogen and sulfur by facile hydrothermal method, using citric acid and cysteine as carbon source. The effect of solid-state thermic treatment (STT) at 303-453 K on the size, surface, fluorescence and cellular cytotoxicity of the CDs were systematically investigated. Through a simple STT, it was possible to tune surface states and the average size of the CDs, causing a permanent red shift.

Serum From Preeclamptic Women Triggers Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Pathway and Expression of Angiogenic Factors in Trophoblast Cells.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disease of pregnancy-associated with placental cell death and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. It is unknown whether systemic factors aggravate placental dysfunction. We investigated whether serum factors in pregnant women with PE activate ER stress and unfolded protein responses (UPRs) in placental explants and trophoblast cells lineage.

Exosome-Enriched Plasma Analysis as a Tool for the Early Detection of Hypertensive Gestations.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are closely associated with prematurity, stillbirth, and maternal morbidity and mortality. The onset of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) is generally noticed after the 20th week of gestation, limiting earlier intervention. The placenta is directly responsible for modulating local and systemic physiology by communicating using mechanisms such as the release of extracellular vesicles, especially exosomes.

Uvaol Prevents Group B -Induced Trophoblast Cells Inflammation and Possible Endothelial Dysfunction.

Group B (GBS) infection during pregnancy is involved in maternal sepsis, chorioamnionitis, prematurity, fetal infection, neonatal sepsis, and neurodevelopmental alterations. The GBS-induced chorioamnionitis leads to a plethora of immune and trophoblast cells alterations that could influence endothelial cells to respond differently to angiogenic mediators and alter placental vascular structure and function in pregnant women. In this context, preventive measures are needed to reduce such dysfunctions.

Krüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) requires its amino terminal domain to promote villous trophoblast cell fusion.

Introduction: Villous cytotrophoblast (vCTB) cells fuse to generate and maintain the syncytiotrophoblast layer required for placental development and function. Krüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) is a ubiquitous transcription factor with an N-terminal acidic transactivation domain and a C-terminal zinc finger DNA-binding domain. KLF6 is highly expressed in placenta, and it is required for proper placental development.

The effect of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus on the fetal compartment.

In indicated preterm births such a Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), little is known about the role of the amnion membranes. Investigating the role of amnion membrane inflammation in response GDM may suggest novel pathophysiologic mechanisms. We hypothesize that increased GDM inflammatory mediators may weaken the amnion membrane predisposing them to infection.

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: Novelties and challenges.

Gestational trophoblastic diseases are a group of pregnancy-related disorders, originated from trophoblast cells. They include benign and aggressive tumors, such as the invasive mole, the choriocarcinoma, the placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT), and the epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT). These malignancies are characterized as gestational trophoblastic neoplasm (GTN), rarer, although more dangerous.

Maternal crack cocaine use in rats leads to depressive- and anxiety-like behavior, memory impairment, and increased seizure susceptibility in the offspring.

Crack users suffer the effects of cocaine present in the drug and the action of other active compounds from its pyrolysis. An emergent fact is an increase in the number of pregnant crack cocaine users. Studies suggest that crack cocaine and its metabolites cross the placenta, promoting premature birth, fever, irritability, sweating, and seizures in the early months of life.

Role of Modulation of Hippocampal Glucose Following Pilocarpine-Induced Status Epilepticus.

Status epilepticus (SE) is defined as continuous and self-sustaining seizures, which trigger hippocampal neurodegeneration, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and energy failure. During SE, the neurons become overexcited, increasing energy consumption. Glucose uptake is increased via the sodium glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) in the hippocampus under epileptic conditions.

Biomarkers of placental redox imbalance in pregnancies with preeclampsia and consequent perinatal outcomes.

Objective: To compare redox and inflammatory markers between normal and PE-derived placentas and to evaluate the relationship between placental redox imbalance markers and perinatal outcomes in pregnancies with PE.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the maternity hospital of a university hospital in Maceio-Alagoas, Brazil, in 2017, including women diagnosed with PE and healthy pregnant women and their conceptuses. After screening, standardized questionnaires containing socioeconomic, clinical, obstetric and anthropometric data were applied.

The limited knowledge of placental damage due to neglected infections: ongoing problems in Latin America.

Unlabelled: The placenta works as a selective barrier, protecting the fetus from potential infections that may affect the maternal organism during pregnancy. In this review, we will discuss several challenging infections that are common within Latin American countries and that may affect the maternal-fetal interface and pose risks to fetal development. Specifically, we will focus on emerging infectious diseases including the arboviruses, malaria, leishmaniasis, and the bacterial foodborne disease caused by Shiga toxin-producing .

The involvement of annexin A1 in human placental response to maternal Zika virus infection.

The association of Zika virus infection (ZIKV) with congenital malformation and neurological sequelae brought a significant global concern. Recent studies have shown that maternal viral infection leads to inflammation in the placental tissue. In this context, the antiinflammatory protein annexin 1 (ANXA1) has a major determination of the resolution of inflammation and it has been positively associated with antiparasitic activity in infected placental explants.

Raddi extracts: From sunscreen activity toward protection of the placenta to Zika virus infection, new uses for a well-known medicinal plant.

Raddi is a well-known medicinal plant native of South America. This species has demonstrated important biological activities such as antihypertensive and vasodilator, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. However, no studies have been, so far, reported with the fruits of as a protector of the placenta against Zika virus infection and as sunscreen agents.

Versican silencing in BeWo cells and its implication in gestational trophoblastic diseases.

Versican is a proteoglycan known to interact with cells to influence their ability to proliferate, differentiate, migrate, invade and assemble extracellular matrix, with all of these cell functions present during placentation. In the placenta, cytotrophoblast cells have the ability to differentiate into the syncytiotrophoblast, a mechanism that is greatly increased in gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTD). Nevertheless, the molecular signaling underlying the increased syncytiotrophoblast differentiation are still being unveiled and may result in novel therapeutic targets for GTD.

Hyperglycemia induces inflammatory mediators in the human chorionic villous.

This study was based on the hypothesis that IL-1β and its central regulator, the inflammasome, may play a role in the inflammatory condition exhibited by placental tissues from mothers with different gestational hyperglycemia levels. Pregnant women were classified according to the glycemic reference as non-diabetic (n = 15), mild gestational hyperglycemia (n = 15), gestational diabetes mellitus (n = 15) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 15). We investigated levels of pro-inflammatory factors in maternal plasma and placental tissues (by ELISA or immunohistochemistry) and, NFKB activity (by electrophoretic mobility shift assay) and inflammasome protein expression (by Western blot) in chorionic villous.

Changes in the TNF-alpha/IL-10 ratio in hyperglycemia-associated pregnancies.

Aims: TNF-α is a diabetogenic cytokine associated with adverse outcomes during pregnancy that can be counterbalanced by IL-10. We have investigated IL-10 and TNF-α balance at maternal and placental levels in hyperglycemia-associated pregnancies.

Methods: One hundred and ninety-two pregnant women participated, which included normoglycemic women (ND) and women with mild gestational hyperglycemia (MGH), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2).

The effect of inhaled nitric oxide on the carrageenan-induced paw edema.

Inhaled nitric oxide therapy reaches not only pulmonary vessels, but also other vasculatures, presenting anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of inhaled nitric oxide on a mice model of carrageenan-induced paw edema. Paw edema was induced in male Swiss mice (20-30 g) by subplantar injection of carrageenan (0.

The term basal plate of the human placenta as a source of functional extravillous trophoblast cells.

Background: Extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells are of pivotal importance in human embryo implantation and homeostasis of the maternal fetal interface. Invasion of the endometrium by EVT contributes to placental anchorage, spiral artery remodeling, immunological defense, tolerogenic responses, and several collaborative cross talks involved in establishing and maintaining a successful pregnancy. We report here an improved protocol for the isolation of fully differentiated EVT cells from the basal plate of the human term placenta.