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PloS One 2017The objective of the study was to analyse placental hormone profiles in twin pregnancies to determine if they could be used to predict preterm birth.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to analyse placental hormone profiles in twin pregnancies to determine if they could be used to predict preterm birth.
STUDY DESIGN
Progesterone, estradiol, estriol and corticotropin-releasing hormone were measured using competitive immunoassay and radioimmunoassay in serum and saliva samples of 98 women with twin pregnancies,at 3 or more gestational timepoints. Hormone profiles throughout gestation were compared between very preterm (<34 weeks; n = 8), preterm (<37 weeks; n = 40) and term (37+ weeks; n = 50) deliveries.
RESULTS
No significant differences were found between preterm and term deliveries in either absolute hormone concentrations or ratios. Estimated hormone concentrations and ratios at 26 weeks did not appear to predict preterm delivery. Salivary and serum hormone concentrations were generally poorly correlated.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that serial progesterone, estradiol, estriol and corticotropin-releasing hormone measurements in saliva and serum are not robust biomarkers for preterm birth in twin pregnancies.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Biomarkers; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Estradiol; Estriol; Female; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Obstetric Labor, Premature; Placental Hormones; Predictive Value of Tests; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Pregnancy, Twin; Progesterone; Prospective Studies; Radioimmunoassay; Young Adult
PubMed: 28278220
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173732 -
International Journal of Environmental... Oct 2022Chlorpyrifos is a pesticide that is toxic to human health and has been banned for the past decade. Due to its persistent and bioaccumulative properties, chlorpyrifos is...
Chlorpyrifos is a pesticide that is toxic to human health and has been banned for the past decade. Due to its persistent and bioaccumulative properties, chlorpyrifos is still present in soil. Pregnant women can be exposed to chlorpyrifos through drinking water and herbal products, such as essential oils (EOs), resulting in adverse effects to the mother and fetus. Our objective was to evaluate and compare the potential endocrine disrupting effects of chlorpyrifos "free" or in contaminated lavender EO. We studied the release of four hormones and the activation of the P2X7 cell death receptor in human placental JEG-Tox cells as key biomarkers of endocrine toxicity for pregnant women (hPlacentox assay). We observed that "free" chlorpyrifos disrupted placental hormones and activated the P2X7 receptor, whereas chlorpyrifos in lavender EO disrupted only the placental hormones. We confirm that chlorpyrifos can be classified as an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) for pregnant women and point out that its endocrine disrupting effect may not be apparent when present in lavender EOs. Our results reveal the existence of specific reverse cocktail effects that may have protective properties against EDCs.
Topics: Chlorpyrifos; Drinking Water; Endocrine Disruptors; Female; Hormones; Humans; Lavandula; Oils, Volatile; Pesticides; Placenta; Placental Hormones; Pregnancy; Receptors, Death Domain; Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; Soil
PubMed: 36232284
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912984 -
Journal of Medicine and Life 2021The purpose of the study was TO analyze the fetoplacental complex hormone levels and changes in their dynamics in pregnant women with miscarriage and the impact of these...
The purpose of the study was TO analyze the fetoplacental complex hormone levels and changes in their dynamics in pregnant women with miscarriage and the impact of these features on the subsequent course of pregnancy. Hormone levels were determined at different stages of gestation in 50 healthy women with a physiological course of pregnancy (control group) and 50 pregnant women with a history of miscarriage (main group). The women of the main group had a significantly slower rate of increase in hormones and a lag in quantitative indicators than the control group. The estradiol level indicators were 4.1 times (76.0%) and 2.89 times (65.5%) lower in women with miscarriage in the embryonic and late fetal period, respectively, compared to healthy women. Indicators of the level of placental lactogen and chorionic gonadotropin in the embryonic period in women with miscarriage were lower by 39.1% and 50.9%, respectively, compared to healthy women. In the late fetal period, the level of these hormones was lower by 72.9% and 35.4%, respectively. In the embryonic and late fetal periods, progesterone levels were lower by 67.4% and 68.4%, respectively, compared to the control group. The data obtained are evidence of a pronounced hormonal abnormality of the placenta, and hence a marker of fetoplacental dysfunction, which on the background of miscarriage develops at the early stages and continues to progress with the course of pregnancy.
Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Female; Hormones; Humans; Placenta; Placental Lactogen; Pregnancy; Pregnant Women; Progesterone
PubMed: 34621371
DOI: 10.25122/jml-2021-0089 -
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and... Feb 2021This study sought to identify the initiation of placental hormonal production as defined by the production of endogenous estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) in a cohort...
PURPOSE
This study sought to identify the initiation of placental hormonal production as defined by the production of endogenous estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) in a cohort of patients undergoing programmed endometrial preparation cycles with single embryo transfers resulting in live-born singletons.
METHODS
In this retrospective cohort study, patients undergoing either programmed frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) with autologous oocytes or donor egg recipient (DER) cycles with fresh embryos were screened for inclusion. Only patients who underwent a single embryo transfer, had a single gestational sac, and a resultant live-born singleton were included. All patients were treated with E2 patches and intramuscular progesterone injections. Main outcome measures were serial E2 and P4, with median values calculated for cycle days 28 (baseline), or 4w0d gestational age (GA), through 60, or 8w4d GA. The baseline cycle day (CD) 28 median value was compared to each daily median cycle day value using the Wilcoxon signed rank test.
RESULTS
A total of 696 patients, 569 using autologous oocytes in programmed FET cycles and 127 using fresh donor oocytes, from 4/2013 to 4/2019 met inclusion criteria. Serum E2 and P4 levels stayed consistent initially and then began to increase daily. Compared to baseline CD 28 E2 (415 pg/mL), the serum E2 was significantly elevated at 542 pg/mL (P < 0.001) beginning on CD 36 (5w1d GA). With respect to baseline CD 28 P4 (28.1 ng/mL), beginning on CD 48 (6w6d GA), the serum P4 was significantly elevated at 31.6 ng/mL (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
These results demonstrate that endogenous placental estradiol and progesterone production may occur by CD 36 and CD 48, respectively, earlier than traditionally thought.
Topics: Adult; Birth Rate; Corpus Luteum; Cryopreservation; Embryo Transfer; Endometrium; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Humans; Live Birth; Oocytes; Ovulation Induction; Placental Hormones; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Progesterone
PubMed: 33392861
DOI: 10.1007/s10815-020-02049-1 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2022An equilibrium between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory immune responses is essential for maternal tolerance of the fetus throughout gestation. To study the...
An equilibrium between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory immune responses is essential for maternal tolerance of the fetus throughout gestation. To study the participation of fetal tissue-derived factors in this delicate immune balance, we analyzed the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on murine Treg cells and Th17 cells , and on pregnancy outcomes, fetal and placental growth, blood flow velocities and remodeling of the uterine vascular bed . Compared with untreated CD4CD25 T cells, hCG increased the frequency of Treg cells upon activation of the LH/CG receptor. hCG, with the involvement of IL-2, also interfered with induced differentiation of CD4 T cells into proinflammatory Th17 cells. In already differentiated Th17 cells, hCG induced an anti-inflammatory profile. Transfer of proinflammatory Th17 cells into healthy pregnant mice promoted fetal rejection, impaired fetal growth and resulted in insufficient remodeling of uterine spiral arteries, and abnormal flow velocities. Our works show that proinflammatory Th17 cells have a negative influence on pregnancy that can be partly avoided by re-programming of proinflammatory Th17 cells with hCG.
Topics: Animals; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Female; Humans; Interleukin-2; Mice; Placenta; Pregnancy; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Th17 Cells
PubMed: 36203576
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.989247 -
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology... Aug 2009Cystine-knot (cys-knot) structure is found in a rather large number of secreted proteins and glycoproteins belonging to the TGFbeta and glycoprotein hormone (GPH)... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
Comparative structure analyses of cystine knot-containing molecules with eight aminoacyl ring including glycoprotein hormones (GPH) alpha and beta subunits and GPH-related A2 (GPA2) and B5 (GPB5) molecules.
BACKGROUND
Cystine-knot (cys-knot) structure is found in a rather large number of secreted proteins and glycoproteins belonging to the TGFbeta and glycoprotein hormone (GPH) superfamilies, many of which are involved in endocrine control of reproduction. In these molecules, the cys-knot is formed by a disulfide (SS) bridge penetrating a ring formed by 8, 9 or 10 amino-acid residues among which four are cysteine residues forming two SS bridges. The glycoprotein hormones Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and Chorionic Gonadotropin (CG) are heterodimers consisting of non-covalently associated alpha and beta subunits that possess cys-knots with 8-amino-acyl (8aa) rings. In order to get better insight in the structural evolution of glycoprotein hormones, we examined the number and organization of SS bridges in the sequences of human 8-aa-ring cys-knot proteins having 7 (gremlins), 9 (cerberus, DAN), 10 (GPA2, GPB5, GPHalpha) and 12 (GPHbeta) cysteine residues in their sequence.
DISCUSSION
The comparison indicated that the common GPH-alpha subunit exhibits a SS bridge organization resembling that of DAN and GPA2 but possesses a unique bridge linking an additional cysteine inside the ring to the most N-terminal cysteine residue. The specific GPHbeta subunits also exhibit a SS bridge organization close to that of DAN but it has two additional C-terminal cysteine residues which are involved in the formation of the "seat belt" fastened by a SS "buckle" that ensures the stability of the heterodimeric structure of GPHs. GPA2 and GPB5 exhibit no cys residue potentially involved in interchain SS bridge and GPB5 does not possess a sequence homologous to that of the seatbelt in GPH beta-subunits. GPA2 and GPB5 are thus not expected to form a stable heterodimer at low concentration in circulation.
SUMMARY
The 8-aa cys-knot proteins GPA2 and GPB5 are expected to form a heterodimer only at concentrations above 0.1 microM: this would be consistent with a short-term paracrine role but not with an endocrine role after dilution in circulation. Consequently, GPA2 and GPB5 could exert separate endocrine roles either during development and/or during adult life of both vertebrates and invertebrates.
Topics: Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; Cystine Knot Motifs; Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; Glycoproteins; Humans; Models, Biological; Molecular Structure; Protein Structure, Secondary
PubMed: 19715619
DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-7-90 -
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology... Oct 2018Studies have commonly assessed the endocrinolgical status of women once miscarriage is threatened or suspected; few studies have explored the antecedent hormonal...
BACKGROUND
Studies have commonly assessed the endocrinolgical status of women once miscarriage is threatened or suspected; few studies have explored the antecedent hormonal environment or used a longitudinal strategy. Using refined statistical techniques, we sought to re-evaluate whether gestational hormone trajectories in early pregnancy can identify future miscarriage in asymptomatic pregnancies.
METHODS
This prospective cohort study followed 105 women over-conception; 72 had normal term pregnancy outcomes while 33 experienced early pregnancy failure between 35 and 115 days of gestation. Participants attended a pre-conception and antenatal clinic at Newcastle University, United Kingdom (UK). Evaluation methods included ultrasound, clinical assessments of pregnancy progress and serial measurements of gestational hormones by radioimmunoassays. Linear mixed-effects regression analysis examined hormone relationships with pregnancy outcomes.
RESULTS
Detailed longitudinal illustration of gestational hormones, antecedent to miscarriage indications, revealed early pathophysiological trends. In particular, oestradiol showed as marked a deviation from normal as progesterone before miscarriage was evident, reflecting a deficiency in the ovarian response to rising human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) levels. Regression analysis provided equations for gestational hormone slopes that significantly differentiated asymptomatic women with subsequent early pregnancy failure, compared to women with normal term pregnancies. Both progesterone and oestradiol displayed negative mean slopes in pregnancies destined for failure; in this group, both human placental lactogen (hPL) and hCG revealed mean positive trajectories that imitated normal pregnancies but at slower rates of increase.
CONCLUSIONS
Oestradiol, progesterone and hCG trajectories, from 50 days of gestation, have good potential for revealing pathophysiology and for identifying which asymptomatic pregnancies are destined for subsequent failure. In asymptomatic patients where there is concern about viability and ultrasound diagnosis is ambiguous, a combined hormonal profile could contribute to guiding patient care decisions.
Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Adult; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Estradiol; Female; Humans; Placental Lactogen; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy Trimester, First; Progesterone; Prospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors
PubMed: 30309358
DOI: 10.1186/s12958-018-0415-1 -
Fertility and Sterility Mar 2012
Topics: Chorionic Gonadotropin; Embryo Implantation; Embryo Transfer; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate
PubMed: 22285750
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.01.109 -
Canadian Medical Association Journal May 1970
Review
Topics: Abortion, Threatened; Animals; Female; Growth; Humans; Placental Lactogen; Pregnancy
PubMed: 4951062
DOI: No ID Found -
Fertility and Sterility Aug 1987
Topics: Adult; Cervix Mucus; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; Fallopian Tubes; Female; Humans; Insemination, Artificial; Insemination, Artificial, Homologous; Male; Menotropins; Ovulation Induction; Peptide Fragments; Pregnancy; Sperm Agglutination; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 2440731
DOI: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)59367-4