Kidney resident macrophages have distinct subsets and multifunctional roles.

Background: The kidney contains distinct glomerular and tubulointerstitial compartments with diverse cell types and extracellular matrix components. The role of immune cells in glomerular environment is crucial for dampening inflammation and maintaining homeostasis. Macrophages are innate immune cells that are influenced by their tissue microenvironment.

miR-514a-3p: a novel SHP-2 regulatory miRNA that modulates human cytotrophoblast proliferation.

Src homology-2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP-2), encoded by the PTPN11 gene, forms a central component of multiple signalling pathways and is required for insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-induced placental growth. Altered expression of SHP-2 is associated with aberrant placental and fetal growth indicating that drugs modulating SHP-2 expression may improve adverse pregnancy outcome associated with altered placental growth. We have previously demonstrated that placental PTPN11/SHP-2 expression is controlled by miRNAs.

Sexually dimorphic patterns in maternal circulating microRNAs in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction.

Background: Current methods fail to accurately predict women at greatest risk of developing fetal growth restriction (FGR) or related adverse outcomes, including stillbirth. Sexual dimorphism in these adverse pregnancy outcomes is well documented as are sex-specific differences in gene and protein expression in the placenta. Circulating maternal serum microRNAs (miRNAs) offer potential as biomarkers that may also be informative of underlying pathology.

Functional Roles of Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Mood Disorders.

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is well known for its involvement in the regulation of the nervous, cardiovascular, and immune systems. Neuronal NOS (nNOS) is the most characterized NOS among all the isoforms. It accounts for most of the production of nitric oxide (NO) in the nervous system required for synaptic transmission and neuroplasticity.

Distribution and Function of Prostaglandin E Receptors in Mouse Uterus: Translational Value for Human Reproduction.

Prostaglandin (PG) E analogs are used clinically to ripen the cervix and induce labor. However, selective receptor agonists may have potential to improve induction response rates or manage unwanted uterine hypercontractility in conditions such as dysmenorrhea and preterm labor. To characterize their therapeutic value, PGE analogs were used to investigate the functional E-type prostanoid (EP) receptor population in isolated human uterus.

Innate Immune Cell Suppression and the Link With Secondary Lung Bacterial Pneumonia.

Secondary infections arise as a consequence of previous or concurrent conditions and occur in the community or in the hospital setting. The events allowing secondary infections to gain a foothold have been studied for many years and include poor nutrition, anxiety, mental health issues, underlying chronic diseases, resolution of acute inflammation, primary immune deficiencies, and immune suppression by infection or medication. Children, the elderly and the ill are particularly susceptible.

The consequence of matrix dysfunction on lung immunity and the microbiome in COPD.

The pulmonary extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex network of proteins which primarily defines tissue architecture and regulates various biochemical and biophysical processes. It is a dynamic system comprising two main structures (the interstitial matrix and the basement membrane) which undergo continuous, yet highly regulated, remodelling. This remodelling process is essential for tissue homeostasis and uncontrolled regulation can lead to pathological states including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Delineating differential regulatory signatures of the human transcriptome in the choriodecidua and myometrium at term labor.

Preterm deliveries remain the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Current therapies target only myometrial contractions and are largely ineffective. As labor involves multiple coordinated events across maternal and fetal tissues, identifying fundamental regulatory pathways of normal term labor is vital to understanding successful parturition and consequently labor pathologies.

Tumor-homing peptides as tools for targeted delivery of payloads to the placenta.

The availability of therapeutics to treat pregnancy complications is severely lacking mainly because of the risk of causing harm to the fetus. As enhancement of placental growth and function can alleviate maternal symptoms and improve fetal growth in animal models, we have developed a method for targeted delivery of payloads to the placenta. We show that the tumor-homing peptide sequences CGKRK and iRGD bind selectively to the placental surface of humans and mice and do not interfere with normal development.

Transcriptomic profiling of human choriodecidua during term labor: inflammation as a key driver of labor.

Problem: Inflammation is a driver of labor in myometrium and cervix; however, the involvement of decidua is poorly defined. We have reported decidual leukocyte infiltration prior to and during labor; the regulators of these inflammatory processes are unknown.

Method Of Study: Choriodecidua RNA obtained after term labor or elective cesarean delivery was applied to Affymetrix GeneChips.

Detrimental effects of ethanol and its metabolite acetaldehyde, on first trimester human placental cell turnover and function.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) describes developmental issues from high maternal alcohol intake, which commonly results in fetal growth restriction and long term morbidity. We aimed to investigate the effect of alcohol and acetaldehyde, on the first trimester placenta, the period essential for normal fetal organogenesis. Normal invasion and establishment of the placenta during this time are essential for sustaining fetal viability to term.

Transplantation of 3D scaffolds seeded with human embryonic stem cells: biological features of surrogate tissue and teratoma-forming potential.

Aim: To generate complex surrogate tissue by transplanting 3D scaffolds seeded with human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) between the liver lobules of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice and to assess the teratoma-forming potential.

Materials & Methods: 3D poly-(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds coated with laminin were seeded with hESCs and then transplanted between the liver lobules of SCID mice. After a period of in vivo differentiation, the scaffolds were retrieved and analyzed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescent staining and scanning electron microscopy.

Uterine epithelial changes during placentation in the viviparous skink Eulamprus tympanum.

We used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to describe the complete ontogeny of simple placentation and the development of both the yolk sac placentae and chorioallantoic placentae from nonreproductive through postparturition phases in the maternal uterine epithelium of the Australian skink, Eulamprus tympanum. We chose E. tympanum, a species with a simple, noninvasive placenta, and which we know, has little net nutrient uptake during gestation to develop hypotheses about placental function and to identify any difference between the oviparous and viviparous conditions.