Project description:To investigate the role of miRNA in the placental development, we analyzed miRNA expression profiles in the first and third trimester human placentas. Total RNA was isolated from 12 placentas (6 from first trimester and 6 from third trimester). miRNA expression profiles were determined by Affymetrix GeneChip 2.0 miRNA Microarray.
Project description:To investigate the role of miRNA in the placental development, we analyzed miRNA expression profiles in the first and third trimester human placentas. Total RNA was isolated from 12 placentas (6 from first trimester and 6 from third trimester). miRNA expression profiles were determined by Affymetrix GeneChip 2.0 miRNA Microarray. Using miRNA microarray to determine miRNA expression profiles in the human placenta between first and third trimester pregnancies.
Project description:Although recent studies have revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate fundamental Natural Killer (NK) cell processes including cytotoxicity and cytokine production, little is known about the miRNA-gene regulatory relationships in maternal peripheral blood NK (pNK) cells during pregnancy. To predict the role of miRNAs within gene regulatory networks of maternal pNK cells during pregnancy, we performed comprehensive miRNA and gene expression profiling of maternal pNK cells using a combination of real-time PCR-based array and DNA microarray analyses and analyzed these differential expression levels between first- and third-trimester pNK cells. Furthermore, we constructed regulatory networks for miRNA-mediated gene expression in pNK cells during pregnancy by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. By PCR-based array analysis of miRNAs, 12 miRNAs including 6 placenta-derived miRNAs [chromosome 19 microRNA cluster (C19MC) miRNAs] were significantly upregulated in third-trimester pNK cells compared to first-trimester pNK cells. pNK cells incorporated C19MC miRNAs, whose interaction would be mediated via exosomes. Rapid clearance of C19MC miRNAs also occurred in NK cells after delivery. By DNA microarray analysis, 13 NK cell function-related genes were significantly downregulated between first- and third-trimester pNK cells. By pathway and network analysis, 9 downregulated NK-function-associated genes were in silico target candidates of 12 upregulated miRNAs including C19MC miRNA miR-512-3p. The results suggest that transfer of placental C19MC-miRNAs into maternal pNK cells occurs during pregnancy. The present study provides clues to understand maternal NK cell functions Gene expressions in human maternal peripheral blood NK cells were measured at 1st-trimester, 3rd-trimester. Five independent experiments were performed at each term (1st-trimester or 3rd-trimester) using different donors for each experiment.
Project description:Preeclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal death worldwide. While the root cause is still unknown, the underlying biology of the disorder is becoming more clear. We recently published a study showing large, significant differences in DNA methylation in 3rd trimester placental samples associated with early-onset preeclampsia (EOPET) compared to controls. In this study, to identify DNA methylation differences associated with preeclampsia that occur early in pregnancy and to further delineate common EOPET-associated differences, we utilized a genetic defect, trisomy 16 (T16), that is predisposing to preeclampsia. We ran T16 placental samples from the 1st trimester (n=5) and 3rd trimester (n=10) against gestational age matched controls on the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. Third trimester samples were from pregnancies with T16 confined to the placenta (confined placental mosaicism 16;CPM16), and consisted of samples that were and were not associated with EOPET (n=5 each). We identified a large number of DNA methylation differences in CPM16 samples compared to controls using stringent criteria (n=2254;False Discovery Rate <0.01, ->0.15). Several of these differences (11%) overlapped differences observed in chromosomally normal EOPET using similarly stringent criteria (FDR<0.01;->0.125). Isolating EOPET-associated probes produced a similar - distribution amongst CPM16 samples, although samples associated with EOPET showed a tendency towards larger DNA methylation differences. We also identified 262 DNA methylation differences between 1st trimester T16 and 1st trimester controls. Of these, 77 overlapped differences seen in 3rd trimester CPM16. Investigating these 77 T16/CPM16 specific DNA methylation differences, we identified three probes near two genes (ARGHEF37 and JUNB) that were also present as EOPET-associated methylation differences. In summary, we identified significant overlapping DNA methylation profiles of placentas with T16 and chromosomally normal placentas associated with EOPET. Specific DNA methylation marks within these profiles may be of future clinical utility in early identification of pregnancies susceptible to EOPET. Bisulfite converted DNA from 5 1st trimester trisomy 16 placentas, 5 chromosomally normal 1st trimester placentas, 10 third trimester placentas from confined placental mosaicism placentas and 10 chromosomally normal 3rd trimester placentas
Project description:Human placenta bulk small RNA-seq from healthy pregnancies without infertility, from n=113 first trimester (58 female, 55 male) and n=47 third trimester (19 female, 28 male) tissue samples. Tissue was collected at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, USA. First trimester placenta was collected at 70-102 days of gestation from leftover chorionic villus sampling for prenatal genetic diagnosis. Third trimester placenta was collected after delivery at 254-290 days gestation from the fetal side near the umbilical cord insertion site beneath the amnion. Mothers with pre-existing diabetes or hypertension were excluded. All pregnancies were conceived without fertility treatments, were normal karyotype, and resulted in live singleton births. The average parental age was advanced (over 35 years old) but PCA analysis did not show clustering by either maternal or paternal age. Gonzalez et al 2021 [PMID: 34030457] analyzes similarities and differences between first and third trimester miRNA expression overall. Flowers et al 2021 focuses on the effect of fetal sex on miRNA expression across gestation.
Project description:We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5’ differences and in support of this we report that a 5’ isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5’ isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes
Project description:Although recent studies have revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate fundamental Natural Killer (NK) cell processes including cytotoxicity and cytokine production, little is known about the miRNA-gene regulatory relationships in maternal peripheral blood NK (pNK) cells during pregnancy. To predict the role of miRNAs within gene regulatory networks of maternal pNK cells during pregnancy, we performed comprehensive miRNA and gene expression profiling of maternal pNK cells using a combination of real-time PCR-based array and DNA microarray analyses and analyzed these differential expression levels between first- and third-trimester pNK cells. Furthermore, we constructed regulatory networks for miRNA-mediated gene expression in pNK cells during pregnancy by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. By PCR-based array analysis of miRNAs, 12 miRNAs including 6 placenta-derived miRNAs [chromosome 19 microRNA cluster (C19MC) miRNAs] were significantly upregulated in third-trimester pNK cells compared to first-trimester pNK cells. pNK cells incorporated C19MC miRNAs, whose interaction would be mediated via exosomes. Rapid clearance of C19MC miRNAs also occurred in NK cells after delivery. By DNA microarray analysis, 13 NK cell function-related genes were significantly downregulated between first- and third-trimester pNK cells. By pathway and network analysis, 9 downregulated NK-function-associated genes were in silico target candidates of 12 upregulated miRNAs including C19MC miRNA miR-512-3p. The results suggest that transfer of placental C19MC-miRNAs into maternal pNK cells occurs during pregnancy. The present study provides clues to understand maternal NK cell functions
Project description:The human placenta is a rapidly developing organ with a relatively short life span that performs multiple functions until birth. Investigations into molecular mechanisms that control placental plasticity during its maturation might be useful in understanding patho-physiology of pregnancy-specific disorders. We hypothesized that molecular rearrangements and phenotypic adaptations that are necessary for normal placental development and maturation are reflected in its genotype. Our objective was to investigate global gene expression profile in the first and third trimester normal human placentas.