Comprehensive Analysis of the Placenta-Cortex Transcriptomic Database Reveals a Neuroactive Ligand-Receptor...

Area of Science:

• Neurobiology
• Developmental Biology
• Genomics

Background:

• Neuroplacentology studies the placenta's role in fetal brain development via bioactive molecules.
• Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is known to disrupt gene expression between the placenta and fetal brain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct the first comprehensive, untargeted transcriptomic analysis of PAE's impact on the placenta-cortex axis in mice.
• To identify specific molecular pathways and signaling molecules affected by PAE.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of a murine placenta-cortex transcriptomic database using g:Profiler for functional profiling (Gene Ontology, KEGG, Reactome).
• STRING and ShinyGO analyses for protein-protein interactions and pathway enrichment.
• Validation of selected ligand/receptor candidates via Western blot.

Main Results:

• Identified 21 Gene Ontology, 7 KEGG, and 6 Reactome pathways, with 11 related to cell-cell communication.
• Discovered 38 ligands/receptors from endocrine families, including angiotensinogen, leptin, somatostatin, and PACAP.
• Confirmed PACAP receptor family alterations, showing sex-dependent impacts of PAE.

Conclusions:

• PAE is associated with significant alterations in placenta-cortex transcriptomic profiles.
• Changes in ligands/receptors affect pathways crucial for energy balance, vascular development, and neurogenesis.
• Altered placenta-fetal brain signaling may contribute to alcohol-induced neurodevelopmental disorders.