Parathyroid hormone-related (PTHrP), the major mediator of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy, may also regulate placental calcium flux, uterine contraction and fetal tissue development. In the present study, we demonstrated that the mean immunoreactive PTHrP concentrations in amniotic fluid at mid-gestation (21.2 +/- 3.7 pmol/l) and at term (19.0 +/- 2.7 pmol/l) were 13-16-fold higher than levels measured in either fetal (1.6 +/- 0.1 pmol/l) or maternal plasma (1.4 +/- 0.3 pmol/l) at term and equal to levels found in plasma of patients with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. In vitro studies pointed to three possible sources of PTHrP in amniotic fluid: cultured amniotic fluid cells, cells derived from the amniotic membrane overlying the placenta and placental villous core mesenchymal cells. Treatment of cultured amniotic fluid cells with human prolactin, human placental lactogen (hPL) or human growth hormone (100 micrograms/l) increased PTHrP secretion after 24 h by 43%, 109% and 90%, respectively. Insulin-like growth factors I and II (100 micrograms/l), insulin (100 micrograms/l) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) (10 micrograms/l) increased PTHrP secretion by 53%, 46%, 68% and 118%, respectively. The stimulation of PTHrP secretion by EGF or by hPL was both time- and dose-dependent. In contrast, calcitriol and dexamethasone (10 nmol/l) decreased PTHrP secretion by 32% and 75%, respectively. Estradiol, progesterone, dihydrotestosterone and human chorionic gonadotropin had no effect on PTHrP secretion. These findings support the notion that PTHrP may play a physiological role in the uteroplacental unit and demonstrate that human amniotic fluid cells could be a useful model for studying the regulation of PTHrP production and secretion by hormones and growth factors.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1530/eje.0.1330277 | DOI Listing |
Pharmaceuticals (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Surabaya, Surabaya 60293, Indonesia.
Intra-amniotic infection (IAI), also known as chorioamnionitis, is a major cause of maternal and neonatal infection that occurs during pregnancy, labor and delivery, or in the postpartum period. Conditions such as meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) and premature rupture of membranes (PROMs) are recognized risk factors for amniotic fluid infection. This study identifies the microbial patterns in the amniotic fluid of women with PROMs and MSAF to determine the presence and types of bacterial growth.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Mol Sci
January 2025
Lipids, Oxidation, and Cell Biology Group, Laboratory of Immunology (LIM19), Heart Institute (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo 05403-900, Brazil.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells with the potential to differentiate into various lineages. They have also the potential to protect themselves against harmful stimuli to maintain their functional integrity. Drug resistance-related transporters such as ABCB1 (P-glycoprotein; P-gp), ABCC1 (MRP1; multidrug resistance-related Protein 1), and LRP (lung resistance protein) may protect MSCs against toxic substances such as chemotherapeutic agents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomedicines
January 2025
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital "ATTIKON", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece.
Background/objectives: Preterm labor is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Previous research has indicated that an inflammatory response or microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity is a pathological condition linked to preterm birth; hence, inflammatory markers such as metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) have been utilized to predict preterm delivery. The identification of reliable biomarkers for early prediction is critical for improving maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntioxidants (Basel)
January 2025
Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Wuxi Mental Health Center of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214151, China.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic immune disease that is difficult to cure. We recently found that chick early amniotic fluid (ceAF) has notable anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, through its active components. This study demonstrates the potential of ceAF as a protective agent against UC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Gynaecol Obstet
January 2025
The Josef Buchmann Gynecology and Maternity Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Objective: This study explores a hybrid approach to maternal-fetal care for gestational diabetes (GD), integrating virtual visits seamlessly with in-clinic assessments. We assessed the feasibility, time efficiency, patient satisfaction, and clinical outcomes to facilitate wider adoption of maternal-fetal telemedicine.
Methods: We conducted a 4-week prospective study involving 20 women with GD at ≥32 weeks of pregnancy, alternating between remote and in-clinic weekly visits.
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