Publications by authors named "Dechend R"
Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptors 5/4 (LGR5/LGR4) are critical stem cell markers in epithelial tissues including intestine. They agonise wingless-related integration site (WNT) signalling. Until now, LGR5/LGR4 were uncharacterised in placenta, where analogous functions may exist.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Preeclampsia is a severe hypertensive disorder in pregnancy that causes preterm delivery, maternal and fetal morbidity, mortality, and life-long sequelae. Understanding the pathogenesis of preeclampsia is a critical first step toward protecting mother and child from this syndrome and increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. However, effective early predictive tests and therapies for preeclampsia are scarce.
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- Microvascular imaging is becoming crucial for diagnosing and treating various diseases, highlighting the need to study how different organs communicate through their vascular systems.
- A new perfusion protocol has been developed to effectively deliver a contrast agent to the micro-vessels of multiple organs in the same animal model, ensuring consistency and repeatability in the process.
- The research also focuses on optimizing image acquisition by balancing shorter scanning times with high spatial resolution, resulting in a robust protocol for investigating vascular health and disease across different organs.
Article Synopsis
- * Complications during pregnancy, like hypertensive disorders, are linked to a higher risk of CVD in women, but systematic follow-up care is often lacking after these issues.
- * Implementing early risk factor identification and prevention strategies postpartum could significantly enhance women's cardiovascular health and reduce the incidence of CVD in society.
Article Synopsis
- The study looked at whether high levels of a blood marker called hs-cTnI during pregnancy can help predict a serious condition called preeclampsia.* -
- They tested blood samples from over 2,200 pregnant women and found that those with higher hs-cTnI levels were more likely to develop preeclampsia, especially preterm cases.* -
- Combining hs-cTnI levels with other factors helped create better models for predicting preeclampsia, showing that this marker is useful for expecting moms and their doctors.*
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the role of autoantibodies (aAbs) against the CXCR3 receptor in cardiovascular disease, suggesting a link between chronic inflammation, autoimmunity, and increased cardiovascular risk.* -
- In a sample of 4195 participants, higher levels of anti-CXCR3 aAbs were associated with thicker arterial walls, increased heart mass, and a higher risk of all-cause mortality, particularly from cardiac causes.* -
- The findings indicate that elevated anti-CXCR3 aAbs may predict serious cardiac events and contribute to heart failure, highlighting their potential significance in cardiovascular health assessments.*
AT1-AA Infusion during Pregnancy Impairs CBF Autoregulation Postpartum.
Int J Cerebrovasc Dis Stroke
July 2023
Article Synopsis
- Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and organ dysfunction, and is associated with harmful antibodies (AT1-AA) that affect blood flow regulation in the brain.
- This study showed that elevated AT1-AA during pregnancy led to long-term impairment in cerebral blood flow regulation even after childbirth, although it did not significantly impact blood pressure in the postpartum period.
- Infusing AT1-AA postpartum increased blood pressure but did not worsen the cerebral blood flow regulation, suggesting that targeting these antibodies could help prevent long-lasting vascular issues related to PE.
Article Synopsis
- * High salt consumption can lead to increased heart output, vascular issues, and higher resistance in blood vessels over time.
- * Recent research suggests that sodium regulates cellular energy and immune functions, prompting a broader definition of salt sensitivity to include these cellular and molecular responses.
Pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Characterised by the onset of hypertension and proteinuria in the second half of pregnancy, it can lead to maternal end-organ injury such as cerebral ischemia and oedema, pulmonary oedema and renal failure, and potentially fatal outcomes for both mother and fetus. The causes of the different maternal end-organ phenotypes of pre-eclampsia and why some women develop pre-eclampsia condition early in pregnancy have yet to be elucidated.
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- Placental abnormalities can lead to issues like preeclampsia (PE), impacting both the mother's health and fetal growth.
- Galectin-1 (gal-1) is a crucial protein at the maternal-fetal interface that helps regulate pregnancy adaptations and placental development.
- A deficiency of gal-1, especially from the mother, increases the risk of PE and disrupts normal placental function, suggesting that problems with gal-1 signaling might contribute to pregnancy complications and maternal cardiovascular issues.
Article Synopsis
- - The placenta is crucial for fetal growth as it connects the embryo to the mother and significantly boosts blood flow through remodeled maternal spiral arteries.
- - Inadequate remodeling of these arteries can cause serious pregnancy issues like pre-eclampsia, primarily due to insufficient trophoblast invasion, with the exact processes still not fully understood.
- - A new study utilizes light sheet microscopy for 3D visualization of placental vascularization, offering a better understanding of spiral artery remodeling and paving the way for enhanced treatment insights related to pre-eclampsia.
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) are involved in various physiological and pathophysiological processes. Functional autoantibodies targeting GPCRs have been associated with multiple disease manifestations in this context. Here we summarize and discuss the relevant findings and concepts presented in the biennial International Meeting on autoantibodies targeting GPCRs (the 4th Symposium), held in Lübeck, Germany, 15-16 September 2022.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: A causal link between non-ischaemic heart failure (HF) and humoral autoimmunity against G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) remains unclear except for Chagas' cardiomyopathy. Uncertainty arises from ambiguous reports on incidences of GPCR autoantibodies, spurious correlations of autoantibody levels with disease activity, and lack of standardization and validation of measuring procedures for putatively cardio-pathogenic GPCR autoantibodies. Here, we use validated and certified immune assays presenting native receptors as binding targets.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe placenta is a temporary organ with a unique structure and function to ensure healthy fetal development. Placental dysfunction is involved in pre-eclampsia (PE), fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A diabetic state affects maternal and fetal health and may lead to functional alterations of placental metabolism, inflammation, hypoxia, and weight, amplifying the fetal stress.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPregnant women with either pre-existing or gestational diabetes mellitus are at increased risk of preeclampsia as well as future cardiovascular disease. The renin-angiotensin system is dysregulated in both diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia. In preeclampsia, maternal levels of circulating agonistic autoantibodies against the angiotensin II Type I receptor (AT-AAs) are increased.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPreeclampsia, new onset hypertension during pregnancy, is associated with activated T helper cells (Th) and B cells secreting agonistic autoantibodies against the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-AA). The reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) model of placental ischemia recapitulates these characteristics. We have shown that Th-B cell communication contributes to AT1-AA and symptoms of preeclampsia in the RUPP rat.
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- This study examined the relationship between hypertension and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) among pregnant women by tracking blood pressure in a cohort of 1,230 participants from Denmark.
- Results indicated that 40% of women tested positive for GDM, and those with GDM experienced higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels, especially in overweight women.
- The findings suggest that GDM is linked to increased blood pressure during pregnancy, particularly among those who are overweight, while no significant difference was found in women of normal weight.
Article Synopsis
- The ALTHEA study looked at how doctors in Germany manage a heart condition called chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) and stable angina, which means chest pain due to heart problems.
- The study included a survey of 1,021 primary care doctors who shared their methods for diagnosing and treating patients with CCS, showing their focus on improving patients' quality of life.
- Results showed that these doctors often work closely with heart specialists, handling both diagnosis and treatment for patients with heart issues.
Article Synopsis
- COVID-19 is linked to the production of autoantibodies, similar to systemic autoimmune diseases, indicating their role in the disease's severity.
- A study of 246 individuals revealed that higher levels of autoantibodies targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) and RAS-related molecules correlate with more severe cases of COVID-19.
- Specific autoantibodies, particularly against the receptors CXCR3 and AGTR1, were identified as having the strongest association with the severity of the disease, suggesting that changes in their levels and patterns could potentially predict COVID-19 outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-related high blood pressure condition linked to activated CD4 T cells and autoantibodies against the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-AA).
- The study investigates whether CD4 T cells from women with PE can stimulate the production of AT1-AA, which contributes to increased blood pressure in pregnant rats.
- Results indicate that CD4 T cells from PE patients lead to higher blood pressure and AT1-AA levels in rats, and treatments like rituximab and anti-CD40L can lower the blood pressure in this model, highlighting the role of these T cells in PE's pathology.
Article Synopsis
- Decidua basalis, the layer of the uterus involved in pregnancy, is crucial for maternal-fetal interaction and is linked to a condition called acute atherosis, which affects spiral arteries and is often seen in complications like preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction.
- Researchers have developed a vacuum suction method to obtain decidua basalis tissue for studying acute atherosis and how it relates to inflammation in pregnancy, since sampling this tissue has been difficult previously.
- The study suggests that various inflammatory and vascular factors contribute to acute atherosis formation, and proposes a link between fetal microchimerism in women with preeclampsia and risks of cardiovascular issues later in life.
Article Synopsis
- - Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) pose significant risks for both mothers and babies, leading to increased maternal and fetal health problems, and those affected are at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases later in life.
- - Current diagnosis and treatment guidelines for HDP in the U.S. have seen little change over the years, primarily due to concerns about the effects of blood pressure treatment on fetal health and the uncertainty of benefits from normalizing blood pressure.
- - The report emphasizes the need for updated guidelines, supports the potential benefits of adjusting blood pressure treatment goals during pregnancy, and highlights the importance of understanding socioeconomic and biological factors to address racial and ethnic disparities in maternal healthcare.