Jezid Miranda1, Cristina Paules1, Soumyalekshmi Nair2, Andrew Lai2, Carlos Palma2, Katherin Scholz-Romero2, Gregory E Rice3, Eduard Gratacos1, Fatima Crispi1, Carlos Salomon4. 1. Fetal i+D Fetal Medicine Research Center, BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Deu), ICGON, IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER), Barcelona, Spain. 2. Exosome Biology Laboratory, Centre for Clinical Diagnostics, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Faculty of Medicine + Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia. 3. Exosome Biology Laboratory, Centre for Clinical Diagnostics, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Faculty of Medicine + Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia; Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile. 4. Exosome Biology Laboratory, Centre for Clinical Diagnostics, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Faculty of Medicine + Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia; Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile. Electronic address: c.salomongallo@uq.edu.au.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Placenta-derived exosomes may represent an additional pathway by which the placenta communicates with the maternal system to induce maternal vascular adaptations to pregnancy and it may be affected during Fetal growth restriction (FGR). The objective of this study was to quantify the concentration of total and placenta-derived exosomes in maternal and fetal circulation in small fetuses classified as FGR or small for gestational age (SGA). METHODS: Prospective cohort study in singleton term gestations including 10 normally grown fetuses and 20 small fetuses, sub-classified into SGA and FGR accordingly to birth weight (BW) percentile and fetoplacental Doppler. Exosomes were isolated from maternal and fetal plasma and characterized by morphology, enrichment of exosomal proteins, and size distribution by electron microscopy, western blot, and nanoparticle tracking analysis, respectively. Total and specific placenta-derived exosomes were determined using quantum dots coupled with CD63+ve and placental-type alkaline phosphatase (PLAP)+ve antibodies, respectively. RESULTS: Maternal concentrations of CD63+ve and PLAP+ve exosomes were similar between the groups (all p > 0.05). However, there was a significant positive correlation between the ratio of placental-derived to total exosomes (PLAP+ve ratio) and BW percentile, [rho = 0.77 (95% CI: 0.57 to 0.89); p = 0.0001]. The contribution of placental exosomes to the total exosome concentration in maternal and fetal circulation showed a significant decrease among cases, with lower PLAP+ve ratios in FGR compared to controls and SGA cases. DISCUSSION: Quantification of placental exosomes in maternal plasma reflects fetal growth and it may be a useful indicator of placental function.
INTRODUCTION: Placenta-derived exosomes may represent an additional pathway by which the placenta communicates with the maternal system to induce maternal vascular adaptations to pregnancy and it may be affected during Fetal growth restriction (FGR). The objective of this study was to quantify the concentration of total and placenta-derived exosomes in maternal and fetal circulation in small fetuses classified as FGR or small for gestational age (SGA). METHODS: Prospective cohort study in singleton term gestations including 10 normally grown fetuses and 20 small fetuses, sub-classified into SGA and FGR accordingly to birth weight (BW) percentile and fetoplacental Doppler. Exosomes were isolated from maternal and fetal plasma and characterized by morphology, enrichment of exosomal proteins, and size distribution by electron microscopy, western blot, and nanoparticle tracking analysis, respectively. Total and specific placenta-derived exosomes were determined using quantum dots coupled with CD63+ve and placental-type alkaline phosphatase (PLAP)+ve antibodies, respectively. RESULTS: Maternal concentrations of CD63+ve and PLAP+ve exosomes were similar between the groups (all p > 0.05). However, there was a significant positive correlation between the ratio of placental-derived to total exosomes (PLAP+ve ratio) and BW percentile, [rho = 0.77 (95% CI: 0.57 to 0.89); p = 0.0001]. The contribution of placental exosomes to the total exosome concentration in maternal and fetal circulation showed a significant decrease among cases, with lower PLAP+ve ratios in FGR compared to controls and SGA cases. DISCUSSION: Quantification of placental exosomes in maternal plasma reflects fetal growth and it may be a useful indicator of placental function.
Authors: Ramkumar Menon; Christopher Luke Dixon; Samantha Sheller-Miller; Stephen J Fortunato; George R Saade; Carlos Palma; Andrew Lai; Dominic Guanzon; Carlos Salomon Journal: Endocrinology Date: 2019-03-01 Impact factor: 4.736
Authors: Lindsey N Block; Brittany D Bowman; Jenna Kropp Schmidt; Logan T Keding; Aleksandar K Stanic; Thaddeus G Golos Journal: Biol Reprod Date: 2021-01-04 Impact factor: 4.161