Publications
243 results found
Odendaal J, Black N, Bennett P, et al., 2024, The endometrial microbiota and early pregnancy loss, Human Reproduction, Vol: 39, Pages: 638-646, ISSN: 0268-1161
The human endometrium is a dynamic entity that plays a pivotal role in mediating the complex interplay between the mother and developing embryo. Endometrial disruption can lead to pregnancy loss, impacting both maternal physical and psychological health. Recent research suggests that the endometrial microbiota may play a role in this, although the exact mechanisms are still being explored, aided by recent technological advancements and our growing understanding of host immune responses. Suboptimal or dysbiotic vaginal microbiota, characterized by increased microbial diversity and reduced Lactobacillus dominance, has been associated with various adverse reproductive events, including miscarriage. However, the mechanisms linking the lower reproductive tract microbiota with pregnancy loss remain unclear. Recent observational studies implicate a potential microbial continuum between the vaginal and endometrial niche in patients with pregnancy loss; however, transcervical sampling of the low biomass endometrium is highly prone to cross-contamination, which is often not controlled for. In this review, we explore emerging evidence supporting the theory that a dysbiotic endometrial microbiota may modulate key inflammatory pathways required for successful embryo implantation and pregnancy development. We also highlight that a greater understanding of the endometrial microbiota, its relationship with the local endometrial microenvironment, and potential interventions remain a focus for future research.
Mowla S, Farahani L, Tharakan T, et al., 2024, Characterisation and comparison of semen microbiota and sperm function in men with infertility, recurrent miscarriage, or proven fertility, eLife, ISSN: 2050-084X
Golob JL, Oskotsky TT, Tang AS, et al., 2024, Microbiome preterm birth DREAM challenge: crowdsourcing machine learning approaches to advance preterm birth research, Cell Reports Medicine, Vol: 5, ISSN: 2666-3791
Every year, 11% of infants are born preterm with significant health consequences, with the vaginal microbiome a risk factor for preterm birth. We crowdsource models to predict (1) preterm birth (PTB; <37 weeks) or (2) early preterm birth (ePTB; <32 weeks) from 9 vaginal microbiome studies representing 3,578 samples from 1,268 pregnant individuals, aggregated from public raw data via phylogenetic harmonization. The predictive models are validated on two independent unpublished datasets representing 331 samples from 148 pregnant individuals. The top-performing models (among 148 and 121 submissions from 318 teams) achieve area under the receiver operator characteristic (AUROC) curve scores of 0.69 and 0.87 predicting PTB and ePTB, respectively. Alpha diversity, VALENCIA community state types, and composition are important features in the top-performing models, most of which are tree-based methods. This work is a model for translation of microbiome data into clinically relevant predictive models and to better understand preterm birth.
Huang C, Gin C, Fettweis J, et al., 2023, Meta-analysis reveals the vaginal microbiome is a better predictor of earlier than later preterm birth, BMC Biology, Vol: 21, ISSN: 1741-7007
BACKGROUND: High-throughput sequencing measurements of the vaginal microbiome have yielded intriguing potential relationships between the vaginal microbiome and preterm birth (PTB; live birth prior to 37 weeks of gestation). However, results across studies have been inconsistent. RESULTS: Here, we perform an integrated analysis of previously published datasets from 12 cohorts of pregnant women whose vaginal microbiomes were measured by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Of 2039 women included in our analysis, 586 went on to deliver prematurely. Substantial variation between these datasets existed in their definition of preterm birth, characteristics of the study populations, and sequencing methodology. Nevertheless, a small group of taxa comprised a vast majority of the measured microbiome in all cohorts. We trained machine learning (ML) models to predict PTB from the composition of the vaginal microbiome, finding low to modest predictive accuracy (0.28-0.79). Predictive accuracy was typically lower when ML models trained in one dataset predicted PTB in another dataset. Earlier preterm birth (< 32 weeks, < 34 weeks) was more predictable from the vaginal microbiome than late preterm birth (34-37 weeks), both within and across datasets. Integrated differential abundance analysis revealed a highly significant negative association between L. crispatus and PTB that was consistent across almost all studies. The presence of the majority (18 out of 25) of genera was associated with a higher risk of PTB, with L. iners, Prevotella, and Gardnerella showing particularly consistent and significant associations. Some example discrepancies between studies could be attributed to specific methodological differences but not most study-to-study variations in the relationship between the vaginal microbiome and preterm birth. CONCLUSIONS: We believe future studies of the vaginal microbiome and PTB will benefit from a focus on earlier preterm births and improved reporting of specific patien
Gimeno-Molina B, Bayar E, Mountain K, et al., 2023, The role of cervical neutrophils in cervicovaginal inflammation in women at high-risk of delivering preterm, 12th International Workshop Reunion Island Reproductive Immunology, Immunological tolerance and Immunology of preeclampsia, Publisher: ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD, Pages: 31-31, ISSN: 0165-0378
Mountain K, MacIntyre D, Chan D, et al., 2023, ABO blood group antigens and preterm birth risk, 12th International Workshop Reunion Island Reproductive Immunology, Immunological tolerance and Immunology of preeclampsia, Publisher: ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD, Pages: 37-37, ISSN: 0165-0378
Riaposova L, Kim SH, Hanyaloglu A, et al., 2023, Prostaglandin F2alpha requires activation of calcium-dependent signalling to trigger inflammation in human myometrium, Frontiers in Endocrinology, Vol: 14, Pages: 1-19, ISSN: 1664-2392
Introduction: Preterm birth is one of the major causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality across the world. Both term and preterm labour are preceded by inflammatory activation in uterine tissues. This includes increased leukocyte infiltration, and subsequent increase in chemokine and cytokine levels, activation of pro-inflammatory transcription factors as NF-κB and increased prostaglandin synthesis. Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) is one of the myometrial activators and stimulators.Methods: Here we investigated the role of PGF2α in pro-inflammatory signalling pathways in human myometrial cells isolated from term non-labouring uterine tissue. Primary myometrial cells were treated with G protein inhibitors, calcium chelators and/or PGF2α. Nuclear extracts were analysed by TranSignal cAMP/Calcium Protein/DNA Array. Whole cell protein lysates were analysed by Western blotting. mRNA levels of target genes were analysed by RT-PCR.Results: The results show that PGF2α increases inflammation in myometrial cells through increased activation of NF-κB and MAP kinases and increased expression of COX-2. PGF2α was found to activate several calcium/cAMP-dependent transcription factors, such as CREB and C/EBP-β. mRNA levels of NF-κB-regulated cytokines and chemokines were also elevated with PGF2α stimulation. We have shown that the increase in PGF2α-mediated COX-2 expression in myometrial cells requires coupling of the FP receptor to both Gαq and Gαi proteins. Additionally, PGF2α-induced calcium response was also mediated through Gαq and Gαi coupling.Discussion: In summary, our findings suggest that PGF2α-induced inflammation in myometrial cells involves activation of several transcription factors – NF-κB, MAP kinases, CREB and C/EBP-β. Our results indicate that the FP receptor signals via Gαq and Gαi coupling in myometrium. This work provides insight i
Dos Santos Correia G, Marchesi J, MacIntyre D, 2023, Moving beyond DNA: towards functional analysis of the vaginal microbiome by non-sequencing-based methods, Current Opinion in Microbiology, Vol: 73, Pages: 1-11, ISSN: 1369-5274
Over the last two decades, sequencing-based methods have revolutionised our understanding of niche-specific microbial complexity. In the lower female reproductive tract, these approaches have enabled identification of bacterial compositional structures associated with health and disease. Application of metagenomics and metatranscriptomics strategies have provided insight into the putative function of these communities but it is increasingly clear that direct measures of microbial and host cell function are required to understand the contribution of microbe–host interactions to pathophysiology. Here we explore and discuss current methods and approaches, many of which rely upon mass-spectrometry, being used to capture functional insight into the vaginal mucosal interface. In addition to improving mechanistic understanding, these methods offer innovative solutions for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies designed to improve women’s health.
Short C-E, 2023, Comparative analysis of vaginal microbiota sampling using menstrual cups and high vaginal swabs in pregnant women living with HIV-1 infection, Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, Vol: 13, ISSN: 2235-2988
Background: Menstrual cups (MCs) are increasingly used to collect cervicovaginal secretions to characterise vaginal mucosal immunology, in conjunction with high vaginal swabs (HVS) for metataxonomics, particularly in HIV transmission studies. We hypothesised that both methods of collecting bacterial biomass are equivalent for 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Material and Methods: Cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) samples from 16 pregnant women with HIV-1 (PWWH) were included to represent the major vaginal bacterial community state types (CST I-V). Women underwent sampling during the second trimester by liquid amies HVS followed by a MC (Soft disc™) and samples were stored at -80°C. Bacterial cell pellets obtained from swab elution and MC (500 µL, 1 in 10 dilution) were resuspended in 120 µL PBS for DNA extraction. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed using V1-V2 primers and were analysed using MOTHUR. Paired total DNA, bacterial load, amplicon read counts, diversity matrices and bacterial taxa were compared by sampling method using MicrobiomeAnalyst, SPSS and R.Results: The total DNA eluted from one aliquot of diluted CVF from an MC was similar to that of a HVS (993ng and 609ng, p=0.18); the mean bacterial loads were also comparable for both methods (MC: 8.0 log10 16S rRNA gene copies versus HVS: 7.9 log10 16S rRNA gene copies, p=0.27). The mean number of sequence reads generated from MC samples was lower than from HVS (MC: 12730; HVS:14830, p=0.05). The α-diversity metrices were similar for both techniques; MC Species Observed: 41 (range 12-96) versus HVS: 47 (range 16-96), p=0.15; MC Inverse Simpson Index: 1.98 (range 1.0-4.0) versus HVS: 0.48 (range 1.0-4.4), p=0.22). The three most abundant species observed were: Lactobacillus iners, Lactobacillus crispatus and Gardnerella vaginalis. Hierarchical clustering of relative abundance data showed that samples obtained using different techniques in an individual clustered in the same CST group.
Abdel-Shafy EA, Melak T, MacIntyre DA, et al., 2023, MetChem: a new pipeline to explore structural similarity across metabolite modules, Bioinformatics Advances, Vol: 3, Pages: 1-4, ISSN: 2635-0041
SummaryComputational analysis and interpretation of metabolomic profiling data remains a major challenge in translational research. Exploring metabolic biomarkers and dysregulated metabolic pathways associated with a patient phenotype could offer new opportunities for targeted therapeutic intervention. Metabolite clustering based on structural similarity has the potential to uncover common underpinnings of biological processes. To address this need, we have developed the MetChem package. MetChem is a quick and simple tool that allows to classify metabolites in structurally related modules, thus revealing their functional information.AvailabilityMetChem is freely available from the R archive CRAN (http://cran.r-project.org). The software is distributed under the GNU General Public License (version 3 or later).Supplementary informationSupplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Semertzidou A, Grout-Smith H, Kalliala I, et al., 2023, Diabetes and anti-diabetic interventions and the risk of gynaecological and obstetric morbidity: an umbrella review of the literature, BMC Medicine, Vol: 21, Pages: 1-15, ISSN: 1741-7015
BackgroundDiabetes has reached epidemic proportions in recent years with serious health ramifications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the strength and validity of associations between diabetes and anti-diabetic interventions and the risk of any type of gynaecological or obstetric conditions.MethodsDesign: Umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.Data sources: PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, manual screening of references.Eligibility criteria: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational and interventional studies investigating the relationship between diabetes and anti-diabetic interventions with gynaecological or obstetric outcomes. Meta-analyses that did not include complete data from individual studies, such as relative risk, 95% confidence intervals, number of cases/controls, or total population were excluded.Data analysis: The evidence from meta-analyses of observational studies was graded as strong, highly suggestive, suggestive or weak according to criteria comprising the random effects estimate of meta-analyses and their largest study, the number of cases, 95% prediction intervals, I2 heterogeneity index between studies, excess significance bias, small study effect and sensitivity analysis using credibility ceilings. Interventional meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials were assessed separately based on the statistical significance of reported associations, the risk of bias and quality of evidence (GRADE) of included meta-analyses.ResultsA total of 117 meta-analyses of observational cohort studies and 200 meta-analyses of randomised clinical trials that evaluated 317 outcomes were included. Strong or highly suggestive evidence only supported a positive association between gestational diabetes and caesarean section, large for gestational age babies, major congenital malformations and heart defects and an inverse relationship between metformin use and ovarian cancer incidence. Only a fifth
Parraga-Leo A, Oskotsky TT, Oskotsky B, et al., 2023, VMAP: Vaginal Microbiome Atlas During Pregnancy., medRxiv
The vaginal microbiome has been shown to be associated with pregnancy outcomes including preterm birth (PTB) risk. Here we present VMAP: Vaginal Microbiome Atlas during Pregnancy (http://vmapapp.org), an application to visualize features of 3,909 vaginal microbiome samples of 1,416 pregnant individuals from 11 studies, aggregated from raw public and newly generated sequences via an open-source tool, MaLiAmPi. Our visualization tool (http://vmapapp.org) includes microbial features such as various measures of diversity, VALENCIA community state types (CST), and composition (via phylotypes and taxonomy). This work serves as a resource for the research community to further analyze and visualize vaginal microbiome data in order to better understand both healthy term pregnancies and those associated with adverse outcomes.
Bayar E, MacIntyre D, Sykes L, et al., 2023, Safety, tolerability and acceptability of Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05 (LACTIN-V) in pregnant women at high-risk of preterm birth, Beneficial Microbes, ISSN: 1876-2883
The vaginal microbiota is a determinant for the risk of preterm birth (PTB). Dominance of the vaginal niche by Lactobacillus crispatus associates with term delivery. This is the first observational clinical study of live vaginal biotherapeutics (Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05 (LACTIN-V), Osel, California, USA) in pregnant women at high-risk of PTB. The primary aim was to explore safety, tolerability and acceptability of LACTIN-V in pregnancy. Women were offered a course of LACTIN-V at 14 weeks gestation for five consecutive days followed by weekly administration for six weeks. Participants were followed up at 15, 18-, 20-, 28- and 36-weeks’ gestation and at delivery for assessment of adverse events, compliance and tolerability. Participants completed a questionnaire to gauge experience and acceptability. In total, 73 women were recruited, of whom eight withdrew, leaving a final cohort size of 61. Self-reported compliance to the course was high (56/60, 93%). Solicited adverse events were reported in 13 women (19%) including changes in vaginal discharge, odour, colour or consistency of urine, itching and vaginal bleeding. One unsolicited adverse event was reported as haematuria at 38 weeks gestation, but was judged to be unrelated to LACTIN-V. No serious adverse events occurred. One mild adverse event led to study withdrawal. Thirty-one women completed an experience and acceptability questionnaire. Women found LACTIN-V easy and comfortable to use and the majority (30/31, 97%) would use LACTIN-V in future pregnancies. Eight women (8/31, 26%) found the schedule of use difficult to remember. The rate of PTB <34 weeks in this cohort was 3.3% compared to 7% in a historical cohort of 2,190 women at similar background PTB risk. With satisfactory uptake and good compliance, we demonstrate that LACTIN-V is safe and accepted in pregnancy, with high tolerability. Further studies are needed to assess colonisation of Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05 and clinical efficacy.
Beleil TO, Brown RG, Hudacova E, et al., 2023, Spatial Characterisation of the Reproductive Tract Microbiota Indicates High Prevalence of Microbial Driven Aetiology in PPROM, 70th Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI), Publisher: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG, Pages: 48A-48A, ISSN: 1933-7191
Kim SH, Arianoglou M, MacIntyre DA, et al., 2023, Validation of Circulating MicroRNA Markers for Prediction of Small-for-Gestational-Age Births, 70th Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI), Publisher: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG, Pages: 166A-167A, ISSN: 1933-7191
Petrou L, Gatehouse A, Kim SH, et al., 2023, Detection of miR-374a-5p on Magnetic Microbeads as a Predictor of Small for Gestational Age Births, 70th Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI), Publisher: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG, Pages: 208A-209A, ISSN: 1933-7191
Molina BG, Bayar E, Love RL, et al., 2023, Cervical Shortening is Associated with Cervical Neutrophil Migration and Complement Activation, 70th Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI), Publisher: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG, Pages: 94A-95A, ISSN: 1933-7191
Hanton FD, Capuccini K, Hirdaramani A, et al., 2023, Mechanistic Insights into the Role of Lactate Acidification on Microbial-Induced Inflammation in Vaginal Epithelial Cells, 70th Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI), Publisher: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG, Pages: 96A-96A, ISSN: 1933-7191
Ng S, Mountain KE, Elger T, et al., 2023, Predictive Value of Cervical Length Screening in the Context of Cervical Cerclage: A Cohort Study, 70th Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI), Publisher: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG, Pages: 109A-110A, ISSN: 1933-7191
Gimeno Molina B, Bennett P, MacIntyre D, et al., 2022, Preterm birth and the vaginal microbiomes, Recent Advances in Obstetrics & Gynaecology - 28, Editors: Das, Tulandi, Publisher: JP Medical, ISBN: 9781787791732
Semertzidou A, Whelan E, Smith A, et al., 2022, Microbial signatures and continuum in endometrial cancer and benign patients
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Endometrial cancer is a multifactorial disease with inflammatory, metabolic and potentially microbial cues involved in disease pathogenesis. Here we sampled different regions of the reproductive tract (vagina, cervix, endometrium, fallopian tubes and ovaries) of 61 patients and showed that the upper genital tract of a subset of women with and without endometrial cancer harbour microbiota quantitatively and compositionally distinguishable from background contaminants. A microbial continuum, defined by detection of common bacterial species along the genital tract, was noted in most women without cancer while the continuum was less cohesive in endometrial cancer patients. Vaginal microbiota were poorly correlated with rectal microbiota in the studied cohorts. Endometrial cancer was associated with reduced cervicovaginal and rectal bacterial load together with depletion of <jats:italic>Lactobacillus</jats:italic> species relative abundance, including <jats:italic>L. crispatus</jats:italic>, increased bacterial diversity and enrichment of <jats:italic>Porphyromonas</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Prevotella, Peptoniphilus</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Anaerococcus</jats:italic> in the lower genital tract and endometrium. Treatment of benign and malignant endometrial organoids with <jats:italic>L. crispatus</jats:italic> conditioned media had minimal impact on cytokine and chemokine profiles. Our findings provide evidence that the upper female reproductive tract of some women contains detectable levels of bacteria, the composition of which is associated with endometrial cancer. Whether this is a cause or consequence of cancer pathophysiology remains to be elucidated.</jats:p>
Wu G, Grassi P, MacIntyre D, et al., 2022, N-Glycosylation of cervicovaginal fluid reflects microbial community, immune activity, and pregnancy status, Scientific Reports, Vol: 12, Pages: 1-14, ISSN: 2045-2322
Human cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) is a complex, functionally important and glycan rich biological fluid, fundamental in mediating physiological events associated with reproductive health. Using a comprehensive glycomic strategy we reveal an extremely rich and complex N-glycome in CVF of pregnant and non-pregnant women, abundant in paucimannose and highmannose glycans, complex glycans with 2-4 N-Acetyllactosamine (LacNAc) antennae, and Poly-LacNAc glycans decorated with fucosylation and sialylation. N-glycosylation variations were observed to differ in relation to pregnancy status, microbial composition, immune activation, and pregnancy outcome. Compared to CVF from women experiencing term birth, CVF from women who subsequently experienced preterm birth showed lower sialylation, which correlated to the presence of a diverse microbiome, and higher fucosylation, which correlated positively to pro-inflammatory cytokine concentration. This study is the first step towards better understanding the role of cervicovaginal glycans in reproductive health, their contribution to the mechanism of microbial driven preterm birth, and their potential forpreventative therapy.
Rasheed Z, Lee Y, Kim S, et al., 2022, 15-Deoxy-Delta-12,14-prostaglandin J2 modulates pro-labour and pro-inflammatory responses in human myocytes, vaginal and amnion epithelial cells, Frontiers in Endocrinology, Vol: 13, ISSN: 1664-2392
Background: Prematurity is the leading cause of childhood death under the age of five. The aetiology of preterm birth is multifactorial; however, inflammation and infection are the most common causal factors, supporting a potential role for immunomodulation as a therapeutic strategy. 15-Deoxy-Delta-12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15dPGJ2) is an anti-inflammatory prostaglandin and has been shown to delay lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced preterm labour in mice and improve pup survival. This study exploresthe immunomodulatory effect of 15dPGJ2 on the transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and contraction associated proteins in human cultured myocytes, vaginal epithelial cell line (VECs) and primary amnion epithelial cells (AECs).Methods: Cells were pre-incubated with 32μM of 15dPGJ2 and stimulated with 1ng/mL of IL-1β as an in vitro model of inflammation. Western immunoblotting was used to detect phosphorylated p-65 and phosphorylated c-Jun as markers of NF-κB and AP-1 activation, respectively. mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α was examined, and protein expression of COX-2 and PGE2 were detected by western immunoblotting and ELISA respectively. Myometrial contractility wasexamined ex-vivo using a myograph.Results:15dPGJ2 inhibited IL-1β-induced activation of NF-κB and AP-1, and expression of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, COX-2 and PGE2 in myocytes, with no effect on myometrial contractility or cell viability. Despite inhibiting IL-1β-induced activation of NF-κB, expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and COX-2, 15dPGJ2 led to activation of AP-1, increased production of PGE2 and increased cell death in VECs and AECs.Conclusion: We conclude that 15dPGJ2 has differential effects on inflammatory modulation depending on cell type and is therefore unlikely to be a useful therapeutic agent for the prevention of preterm birth.
Petrou L, Latvanen E, Seichepine F, et al., 2022, Lateral Flow Test (LFT) detects cell-free microRNAs predictive of preterm birth directly from human plasma, Advanced NanoBiomed Research, Vol: 2, ISSN: 2699-9307
Despite extensive research toward the development of point-of-care nucleic acid tests (POC NATs) for the detection of microRNAs (miRs) from liquid biopsies, major hurdles remain including the strict requirement for extensive off-chip sample preprocessing. Herein, a nucleic acid lateral flow test (NALFT) is reported on that enables the direct detection of endogenous miRs from as little as 3 μL of plasma without the requirement for any enzyme-catalyzed target amplification or complex miR extraction steps. This is achieved through integration of a denaturing hydrogel composite material onto the LFT, allowing for near-instantaneous on-chip release of miRs from their carriers (extracellular vesicles or transport proteins) prior to detection. This next-generation LFT is sensitive enough to detect endogenous concentrations of miR-150-5p, a predictive biomarker for preterm birth (PTB) found deregulated in maternal blood from as early as 12th week of pregnancy. Herein, a key step is represented toward a first bedside test for risk-stratification during pregnancy by predicting true outcome at a very early stage. More generally, the universal and versatile nature of this novel sample preprocessing platform can further improve the robustness of existing NALFTs and facilitate their application at the POC.
Walker A, Larsen C, Kundu S, et al., 2022, Functional rewiring of G protein-coupled receptor signaling in human labo, Cell Reports, Vol: 40, ISSN: 2211-1247
Current strategies to manage preterm labor center around inhibition of uterine myometrial contractions, yet do not improve neonatal outcomes as they do not address activation of inflammation. Here, we identify that during human labor, activated oxytocin receptor (OTR) reprograms the prostaglandin E2 receptor, EP2, in the pregnant myometrium to suppress relaxatory/Gαs-cAMP signaling and promote pro-labor/inflammatory responses via altered coupling of EP2 from Gαq/11 to Gαi/o. The ability of EP2 to signal via Gαi/o is recapitulated with in vitro OT and only following OTR activation, suggesting direct EP2-OTR crosstalk. Super-resolution imaging with computational modeling reveals OT-dependent reorganization of EP2-OTR complexes to favor conformations for Gαi over Gαs activation. A selective EP2 ligand, PGN9856i, activates the relaxatory/Gαs-cAMP pathway but not the pro-labor/inflammatory responses in term-pregnant myometrium, even following OT. Our study reveals a mechanism, and provides a potential therapeutic solution, whereby EP2-OTR functional associations could be exploited to delay preterm labor.
Farahani L, Mowla S, Tharakan T, et al., 2022, Next generation sequencing analysis of the seminal microbiome in male partners of women with idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss: results of a prospective cohort study, Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS, Pages: I149-I149, ISSN: 0268-1161
Bayar E, MacIntyre D, Sykes L, et al., 2022, Safety, tolerability and acceptability of <i>Lactobacillus crispatus</i> CTV-05 (LACTIN-V) in pregnancy, Publisher: WILEY, Pages: 53-53, ISSN: 1470-0328
Molina B, Bayar E, Lee Y, et al., 2022, Cervicovaginal inflammation and neutrophil infiltration/activation in women at high-risk of prematurity, Publisher: WILEY, Pages: 54-54, ISSN: 1470-0328
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Mountain K, MacIntyre D, Chan D, et al., 2022, Blood group antigens influence host-microbe interactions and risk of early preterm birth, Publisher: WILEY, Pages: 55-56, ISSN: 1470-0328
Whelan E, Kalliala I, Semertzidou A, et al., 2022, Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer: An Umbrella Review of the Literature, Cancers, Vol: 14, Pages: 2708-2708
<jats:p>Several non-genetic factors have been associated with ovarian cancer incidence or mortality. To evaluate the strength and validity of the evidence we conducted an umbrella review of the literature that included systematic reviews/meta-analyses that evaluated the link between non-genetic risk factors and ovarian cancer incidence and mortality. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and performed a manual screening of references. Evidence was graded into strong, highly suggestive, suggestive or weak based on statistical significance of the random effects summary estimate and the largest study in a meta-analysis, the number of cases, between-study heterogeneity, 95% prediction intervals, small study effects, and presence of excess significance bias. We identified 212 meta-analyses, investigating 55 non-genetic risk factors for ovarian cancer. Risk factors were grouped in eight broad categories: anthropometric indices, dietary intake, physical activity, pre-existing medical conditions, past drug history, biochemical markers, past gynaecological history and smoking. Of the 174 meta-analyses of cohort studies assessing 44 factors, six associations were graded with strong evidence. Greater height (RR per 10 cm 1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11–1.20), body mass index (BMI) (RR ≥ 30 kg/m2 versus normal 1.27, 95% CI 1.17–1.38) and three exposures of varying preparations and usage related to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use increased the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Use of oral contraceptive pill reduced the risk (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.69–0.80). Refining the significance of genuine risk factors for the development of ovarian cancer may potentially increase awareness in women at risk, aid prevention and early detection.</jats:p>
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