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Biomolecules
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Placental-Related Disorders of Pregnancy
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Placental-Related Disorders of Pregnancy

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 15930

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Zaneta Kimber-Trojnar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chair and Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
Interests: gestational diabetes mellitus; fetal growth restriction; preeclampsia biomarkers; preterm delivery; fetal programming; excessive gestational weight gain; metabolic syndrome
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The placenta is a unique, multifunctional organ that develops exclusively in pregnancy and results from complex interactions between the tissues of the fetus and the mother. It is responsible for exchanging nutrients, gases and wastes between the maternal and fetal circulations. The placenta is also an important endocrine organ that produces hormones indispensable for supporting pregnancy and regulating feto-maternal physiology. The main function of the placenta, however, is to maintain environmental homeostasis for fetal growth.

Placental-related disorders, which affect about a third of human pregnancies, are manifested by different symptoms signaling diseases and complications, such as preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, placental abruption and placenta accreta. All of them contribute to increased maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Placental dysfunction and programming may also have lifelong health consequences for both the mother and her offspring. Delayed reproductive plans, the incidence of cesarean sections and lifestyle changes, including improper diet, appear to have increased the incidence of placental-related disorders and diseases in recent decades.

We invite and encourage the scientific community to submit original articles and reviews on placentation and placental-related disorders that will provide some novel insight into any aspect of placental biochemistry. We do believe that with your input, this Special Issue will shed more light on the mechanisms involved in the development of placental pathologies and help find biomolecules for their prediction and early diagnosis.

Dr. Zaneta Kimber-Trojnar
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • placenta
  • preeclampsia
  • intrauterine growth restriction
  • placental abruption
  • placenta accrete
  • biomolecules
  • fetal programming
  • maternal programming
  • endothelial dysfunction
  • inflammation
  • oxidative stress

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 7731 KiB  
Article
Improvement in Clinical Features of L-NAME-Induced Preeclampsia-like Rats through Reduced SERPINA5 Expression
by Shanshui Zeng, Zimeng Liu, Jiaye Yin, Shu Li, Min Jiang, Hongling Yang and Yan Long
Biomolecules 2023, 13(12), 1792; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13121792 - 14 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1743
Abstract
Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a severe pregnancy disorder that poses a significant health risk to both mother and fetus, with no preventive or therapeutic measures. Our previous research suggested an association between elevated SERPINA5 levels and PE features. This study investigated whether SERPINA5 could [...] Read more.
Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a severe pregnancy disorder that poses a significant health risk to both mother and fetus, with no preventive or therapeutic measures. Our previous research suggested an association between elevated SERPINA5 levels and PE features. This study investigated whether SERPINA5 could be a potential therapeutic target for PE. We established PE-like features in pregnant rats using L-NAME (75 mg/kg/d) treatment. Adenoviruses carrying overexpressed or suppressed SERPINA5 genes were intravenously injected into these PE rats on the fifth and seventh days of pregnancy. We evaluated the rats’ systolic blood pressure, urine protein concentration, and placental and fetal metrics and histology. Placental gene expression following SERPINA5 overexpression was evaluated using mRNA sequencing. The L-NAME-induced PE rat model observed a significant increase in placental and peripheral SERPINA5 levels. The overexpression of SERPINA5 exacerbated L-NAME-induced hypertension and proteinuria in pregnant rats. A histology examination revealed a smaller placental junctional zone in L-NAME + overexpressing rats. Placental gene expression analysis in the L-NAME + overexpressing group indicated increased coagulation activation. L-NAME-induced hypertension and proteinuria were mitigated when SERPINA5 expression was suppressed. Additionally, placental development was improved in the SERPINA5-suppressed group. Our findings suggested that SERPINA5 may worsen L-NAME-induced PE-like features by promoting the activation of the coagulation cascade. Therefore, reducing SERPINA5 expression could potentially serve as a therapeutic strategy for PE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Placental-Related Disorders of Pregnancy)
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15 pages, 4655 KiB  
Article
Placentas from Women with Late-Onset Preeclampsia Exhibit Increased Expression of the NLRP3 Inflammasome Machinery
by Luis M. Garcia-Puente, Oscar Fraile-Martinez, Cielo García-Montero, Julia Bujan, Juan A. De León-Luis, Coral Bravo, Patrocinio Rodríguez-Benitez, Pilar Pintado, Francisco Javier Ruiz-Labarta, Melchor Álvarez-Mon, Natalio García-Honduvilla, María J. Cancelo, Miguel A. Saez and Miguel A. Ortega
Biomolecules 2023, 13(11), 1644; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13111644 - 13 Nov 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1519
Abstract
Pre-eclampsia is a harmful and potentially lethal medical condition during pregnancy clinically diagnosed by hypertension and commonly accompanied by proteinuria and multiorgan affections. According to the time of diagnosis, it is differentiated between early-onset (EO-PE) and late-onset preeclampsia (LO-PE). Despite being less dangerous [...] Read more.
Pre-eclampsia is a harmful and potentially lethal medical condition during pregnancy clinically diagnosed by hypertension and commonly accompanied by proteinuria and multiorgan affections. According to the time of diagnosis, it is differentiated between early-onset (EO-PE) and late-onset preeclampsia (LO-PE). Despite being less dangerous and presenting distinct pathophysiological signatures, LO-PE has a greater prevalence than EO-PE, both having significant consequences on the placenta. Previous works have evidenced that exacerbated inflammation in this organ might play a potential pathogenic role in the development of pre-eclampsia, and there is some preliminary evidence that the hyperactivation of inflammasomes can be related to the altered immunoinflammatory responses observed in the placentas of these patients. However, the precise role of inflammasomes in the placentas of women with LO-PE remains to be fully understood. In this work, we have studied the gene and protein expression of the main components related to the canonical and non-canonical pathways of the inflammasome NLRP3 (NLRP3, ASC, caspase 1, caspase 5, caspase 8, interleukin 1β, and interleukin 18) in the placental tissue of women with LO-PE. Our results show a marked increase in all these components in the placentas of women who have undergone LO-PE, suggesting that NLRP3 inflammasome plays a potentially pathophysiological role in the development of this entity. Future works should aim to evaluate possible translational approaches to this dysregulation in these patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Placental-Related Disorders of Pregnancy)
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13 pages, 812 KiB  
Article
Maternal Tryptophan Catabolites and Insulin Resistance Parameters in Preeclampsia
by Zainab Abdulameer Jasim, Hussein Kadhem Al-Hakeim, Samaneh Zolghadri and Agata Stanek
Biomolecules 2023, 13(10), 1447; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13101447 - 26 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1657
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-related disorder characterized by high blood pressure and proteinuria in the third trimester. The disease is associated with many metabolic and biochemical changes. There is a need for new biomarkers for diagnosis and follow-up. The present study examined the [...] Read more.
Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-related disorder characterized by high blood pressure and proteinuria in the third trimester. The disease is associated with many metabolic and biochemical changes. There is a need for new biomarkers for diagnosis and follow-up. The present study examined the diagnostic ability of tryptophan catabolites (TRYCATs) and insulin resistance (IR) parameters in women with PE. This case-control study recruited sixty women with preeclampsia and 60 healthy pregnant women as a control group. Serum levels of TRYCATs (tryptophan, kynurenic acid, kynurenine, and 3-hydroxykynurenine) and IR parameters (insulin and glucose) were measured by ELISA and spectrophotometric methods. The results showed that PE women have a significantly lower tryptophan level than healthy pregnant women. However, there was a significant increase in kynurenic acid, kynurenic acid/kynurenine, kynurenine/tryptophan, and 3-hydroxykynurenine levels. PE women also have a state of IR. The correlation study indicated various correlations of IR and TRYCATs with clinical data and between each other, reflecting the role of these parameters in the pathophysiology of PE. The ROC study showed that the presence of IR state, reduced tryptophan, and increased 3-HK predicted PE disease in a suspected woman with moderate sensitivities and specificities. In conclusion, the pathophysiology of PE involves a state of IR and an alteration of the TRYCAT system. These changes should be taken into consideration when PE is diagnosed or treated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Placental-Related Disorders of Pregnancy)
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14 pages, 1066 KiB  
Article
Do Serum Galectin-9 Levels in Women with Gestational Diabetes and Healthy Ones Differ before or after Delivery? A Pilot Study
by Aleksandra Pełech, Monika Ruszała, Magdalena Niebrzydowska-Tatus, Katarzyna Bień, Żaneta Kimber-Trojnar, Monika Czuba, Małgorzata Świstowska and Bożena Leszczyńska-Gorzelak
Biomolecules 2023, 13(4), 697; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13040697 - 20 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1755
Abstract
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disease that occurs during pregnancy, with the placenta playing an important role in its pathophysiology. Currently, the role of galectin-9 in the development of GDM is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare [...] Read more.
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disease that occurs during pregnancy, with the placenta playing an important role in its pathophysiology. Currently, the role of galectin-9 in the development of GDM is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare galectin-9 concentrations in healthy pregnant women and those with GDM. Galectin-9 levels were assessed in serum samples taken both just before and after delivery, as well as in urine samples collected in the postpartum period. Maternal body composition and hydration status were evaluated using the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method. There were no statistically significant differences in the concentration of galectin-9 in women with GDM compared to healthy pregnant women in their serum samples taken just before delivery, nor in their serum and urine samples collected in the early postpartum period. However, serum galectin-9 concentrations taken before delivery were positively correlated with BMI and parameters related to the amount of adipose tissue assessed in the early postpartum period. Additionally, there was a correlation between serum galectin-9 concentrations taken before and after delivery. Galectin-9 is unlikely to become a diagnostic marker for GDM. However, this subject requires further clinical research in larger groups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Placental-Related Disorders of Pregnancy)
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15 pages, 3524 KiB  
Article
The Placentas of Women Who Suffer an Episode of Psychosis during Pregnancy Have Increased Lipid Peroxidation with Evidence of Ferroptosis
by Miguel A. Ortega, Oscar Fraile-Martinez, Cielo García-Montero, Rosa M. Funes Moñux, Sonia Rodriguez-Martín, Coral Bravo, Juan A. De Leon-Luis, Jose V. Saz, Miguel A. Saez, Luis G. Guijarro, Guillermo Lahera, Fernando Mora, Sonia Fernandez-Rojo, Javier Quintero, Jorge Monserrat, Natalio García-Honduvilla, Julia Bujan, Melchor Alvarez-Mon and Miguel Angel Alvarez-Mon
Biomolecules 2023, 13(1), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13010120 - 6 Jan 2023
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3180
Abstract
Psychosis is a complex entity characterized by psychological, behavioral, and motor alterations resulting in a loss of contact with reality. Although it is not common, pregnancy can be a period in which a first episode of psychosis can manifest, entailing detrimental consequences for [...] Read more.
Psychosis is a complex entity characterized by psychological, behavioral, and motor alterations resulting in a loss of contact with reality. Although it is not common, pregnancy can be a period in which a first episode of psychosis can manifest, entailing detrimental consequences for both the fetus and the mother. The pathophysiological basis and study of maternofetal wellbeing need to be further elucidated. Lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis are two phenomena that are tightly linked to the placental dysfunction commonly observed in different complications of pregnancy. In the present study, we aim to explore the histopathological and gene expression of different markers of lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis in the placentas of women who underwent a first episode of psychosis during their pregnancy (n = 22). The aim is to then compare them with healthy pregnant women (n = 20). In order to achieve this goal, iron deposits were studied using Prussian Blue staining. In addition, the protein/gene expression of a transferrin receptor (TFRC), as well as an acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL-4), arachidonate lipoxygenase-5 (ALOX-5), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) were all analyzed through gene expression (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemical procedures. Our results demonstrate an increased presence of iron deposits that are accompanied by a further expression of TFRC, ACSL-4, ALOX-5, MDA, and GPX4—all of which are observed in the placenta tissue of women who have suffered from a first episode of psychosis. Therefore, in our study, a histopathological increase in lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis markers in the affected women is suggested. However, further studies are needed in order to validate our results and to establish possible consequences for the reported alterations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Placental-Related Disorders of Pregnancy)
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Review

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16 pages, 802 KiB  
Review
Evaluating Current Molecular Techniques and Evidence in Assessing Microbiome in Placenta-Related Health and Disorders in Pregnancy
by Aleksandra Stupak and Wojciech Kwaśniewski
Biomolecules 2023, 13(6), 911; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13060911 - 30 May 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2744
Abstract
The microbiome is of great interest due to its potential influence on the occurrence and treatment of some human illnesses. It may be regarded as disruptions to the delicate equilibrium that humans ordinarily maintain with their microorganisms or the microbiota in their environment. [...] Read more.
The microbiome is of great interest due to its potential influence on the occurrence and treatment of some human illnesses. It may be regarded as disruptions to the delicate equilibrium that humans ordinarily maintain with their microorganisms or the microbiota in their environment. The focus of this review is on the methodologies and current understanding of the functional microbiome in pregnancy outcomes. We present how novel techniques bring new insights to the contemporary field of maternal–fetal medicine with a critical analysis. The maternal microbiome in late pregnancy has been extensively studied, although data on maternal microbial changes during the first trimester are rare. Research has demonstrated that, in healthy pregnancies, the origin of the placental microbiota is oral (gut) rather than vaginal. Implantation, placental development, and maternal adaptation to pregnancy are complex processes in which fetal and maternal cells interact. Microbiome dysbiosis or microbial metabolites are rising as potential moderators of antenatal illnesses related to the placenta, such as fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia, and others, including gestational diabetes and preterm deliveries. However, because of the presence of antimicrobial components, it is likely that the bacteria identified in placental tissue are (fragments of) bacteria that have been destroyed by the placenta’s immune cells. Using genomic techniques (metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metaproteomics), it may be possible to predict some properties of a microorganism’s genome and the biochemical (epigenetic DNA modification) and physical components of the placenta as its environment. Despite the results described in this review, this subject needs further research on some major and crucial aspects. The phases of an in utero translocation of the maternal gut microbiota to the fetus should be explored. With a predictive knowledge of the impacts of the disturbance on microbial communities that influence human health and the environment, genomics may hold the answer to the development of novel therapies for the health of pregnant women. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Placental-Related Disorders of Pregnancy)
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16 pages, 6619 KiB  
Review
Circular RNAs in the Origin of Developmental Lung Disease: Promising Diagnostic and Therapeutic Biomarkers
by Yajie Tong, Shuqing Zhang, Suzette Riddle, Rui Song and Dongmei Yue
Biomolecules 2023, 13(3), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13030533 - 15 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2284
Abstract
Circular RNA (circRNA) is a newly discovered noncoding RNA that regulates gene transcription, binds to RNA-related proteins, and encodes protein microRNAs (miRNAs). The development of molecular biomarkers such as circRNAs holds great promise in the diagnosis and prognosis of clinical disorders. Importantly, circRNA-mediated [...] Read more.
Circular RNA (circRNA) is a newly discovered noncoding RNA that regulates gene transcription, binds to RNA-related proteins, and encodes protein microRNAs (miRNAs). The development of molecular biomarkers such as circRNAs holds great promise in the diagnosis and prognosis of clinical disorders. Importantly, circRNA-mediated maternal-fetus risk factors including environmental (high altitude), maternal (preeclampsia, smoking, and chorioamnionitis), placental, and fetal (preterm birth and low birth weight) factors are the early origins and likely to contribute to the occurrence and progression of developmental and pediatric cardiopulmonary disorders. Although studies of circRNAs in normal cardiopulmonary development and developmental diseases have just begun, some studies have revealed their expression patterns. Here, we provide an overview of circRNAs’ biogenesis and biological functions. Furthermore, this review aims to emphasize the importance of circRNAs in maternal-fetus risk factors. Likewise, the potential biomarker and therapeutic target of circRNAs in developmental and pediatric lung diseases are explored. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Placental-Related Disorders of Pregnancy)
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