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A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development
Published on: June 24, 2020
The expression of miR-17 and miR-29a in placenta-derived exosomes in LPS-induced abortion mice model: An experimental
Tahereh Jalilvand1, Reza Salarinia2, Hasan Namdar Ahmadabad3
1Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran.
Background:
The expression pattern of microRNAs in placenta-derived exosomes plays a crucial role in the regulation of immune responses and inflammation at the fetal-maternal interface.
Objective:
Considering the immunomodulatory properties of miR-17 and miR-29a, we determined their expression levels in placenta-derived exosomes in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced abortion mice model.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 14 pregnant BALB/c mice, aged 6-8 wk, were randomly divided into two groups (n = 7/each) on the gestational day 11.5. While the mice in the experimental group were treated with LPS, those in the control group were treated with Phosphate buffered saline; 5 hr after the treatment, the placental cells were isolated and cultured for 48 hr. Then, the cell culture supernatants were collected and used for isolation of exosomes. The isolated exosomes were confirmed by western blot and scanning electron microscopy. The miRNAs were then extracted from exosomes, and cDNA synthesized. The expression levels of miR-17 and miR-29a were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR analysis.
Results:
Our results showed that the expression levels of miR-29a in placenta-derived exosomes obtained from the experimental group increased significantly compared to the control group. Also, the expression levels of miR-17 in the placenta-derived exosomes obtained from the experimental group were found to decrease; however, it did not show significant changes compared with the control group (p > 0.05).
Conclusion:
Inflammatory reactions at the fetal-maternal interface can alter miRNAs expression patterns in placenta-derived exosomes, especially miRNAs with immunomodulatory effects such as miR-29a.
Insights
Placenta-derived exosomes
Area of Science:
- Reproductive immunology
- Exosome biology
- MicroRNA research
Background:
- MicroRNAs in placenta-derived exosomes regulate immune responses at the fetal-maternal interface.
- Dysregulation of these microRNAs is implicated in pregnancy complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of miR-17 and miR-29a in placenta-derived exosomes.
- To assess their role in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced abortion mouse model.
Main Methods:
- Pregnant mice were treated with LPS or saline.
- Placental cells were isolated and cultured to obtain exosomes.
- Exosome isolation and characterization were confirmed via western blot and electron microscopy.
- Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure miR-17 and miR-29a expression.
Main Results:
- miR-29a expression significantly increased in placenta-derived exosomes after LPS treatment.
- miR-17 expression showed a decreasing trend but without statistical significance.
Conclusions:
- Inflammation at the fetal-maternal interface alters exosomal microRNA expression.
- miR-29a is a potential biomarker for inflammatory conditions affecting pregnancy.
