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: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:Receptors of the KIR family on maternal Natural Killer cells in the decidua are believed to bind to Ligands such as HLA-C on trophoblast cells invading into the decidua from the placenta during early pregnancy. The resulting responses regulate the extent of trophoblast invasion. Genetic studies have implicated two members of the KIR family in particular as playing an important role: KIR2DL1 and KIR2DS1. The aim of this experiment was to determine what responses are generated when decidual NK cells bearing either KIR2DL1 or KIR2DS1 engage their HLA-C ligand.
Project description:This study investigated the proteomes of macro-, micro- and nanovesicles derived from the same first trimester human placenta to better understand the role that these extracellular vesicles (EVs) play in maternal adaptation during healthy pregnancy. During human pregnancy, the mother undergoes major physiological and immunological adaptations to accommodate the fetus. There is growing evidence that EVs extruded from the placental syncytiotrophoblast into the maternal blood may regulate these maternal adaptations. Placental EVs can be divided into macro-, micro- and nanovesicles based on their size. To date, it is unclear whether these differently sized EVs carry different protein cargos and have different effects on maternal responses.
Project description:Analysis of gene expression in uterine natural killer cells purified from control, diet-induced obese and diet-induced obese resistant female mice. The aim of the study is to identify differentially expressed genes and pathways in uterine natural killer cells affected by maternal diet and obesity in pregnancy.
Project description:Both the fetus and the mother who are involved in maternal anti-fetal rejection during pregnancy show distinct alterations in the peripheral blood transcriptome Total RNA isolated from umbilical cord blood and maternal blood was compared between cases without (Normal) and with maternal anti-fetal rejection (FIRS2) using whole genome DASL assay.
Project description:Both the fetus and the mother who are involved in maternal anti-fetal rejection during pregnancy show distinct alterations in the peripheral blood transcriptome
Project description:Decidual spiral arteriole (SpA) remodelling is essential to ensure optimal uteroplacental blood flow during human pregnancy. Decidual uterine natural killer cells and macrophages infiltrate the SpA and are proposed to initiate remodelling before colonisation by extravillous trophoblasts. Microarrays were used to measure the effect of extravillous trophoblasts conditioned medium on the transcriptome of human uterine microvascular endothelial cells.
Project description:An allorecognition system depending on interactions between uterine Natural Killer (uNK) cells and placental extravillous trophoblast (EVT) during early pregnancy influences reproductive outcomes in humans. Our previous immunogenetic studies show that particular combinations of maternal Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIR) in uNK cells with fetal HLA-C variants on EVT are associated with disorders of pregnancy, especially pre-eclampsia. To identify responses stimulated in uNK cells specifically when activating KIR (KIR2DS1) binds to C2+HLA-C, a combination protective against pre-eclampsia, we modelled KIR-HLA interactions by co-culturing uNK cells with the 721.221 HLA-null cell line transfected to express either C1+ or C2+HLA-C molecules, followed by transcriptome profiling by RNA sequencing. We detect the secretion of key cytokines by uNK cells under the protective combination between KIR2DS1 and C2+HLA-C.
Project description:Human peripheral blood natural killer cells are grouped in various ways according to phenotypic and functional characteristics. We sorted peripheral blood natural killer cells from healthy donors into seven surface phenotype-defined populations, hashtagged them, and sequenced them. This analysis permitted simultaneous identification of transcriptional clusters and traceback of the components to their phenotypic groups.