1. Placental Microparticles and MicroRNAs in Pregnant Women with Plasmodium falciparum or HIV Infection.
- Author
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Moro, Laura, Bardají, Azucena, Macete, Eusebio, Barrios, Diana, Morales-Prieto, Diana M., España, Carolina, Mandomando, Inacio, Sigaúque, Betuel, Dobaño, Carlota, Markert, Udo R., Benitez-Ribas, Daniel, Alonso, Pedro L., Menéndez, Clara, and Mayor, Alfredo
- Subjects
MICRORNA ,HIV infections ,MATERNAL health ,TROPHOBLAST ,VESICLES (Cytology) ,PLACENTA - Abstract
Background: During pregnancy, syncytiotrophoblast vesicles contribute to maternal tolerance towards the fetus, but also to pathologies such as pre-eclampsia. The aim of the study was to address whether Plasmodium falciparum and HIV infections in pregnancy affect the secretion, microRNA content and function of trophoblast microparticles. Methods: Microparticles were isolated and characterized from 122 peripheral plasmas of Mozambican pregnant women, malaria- and/or HIV-infected and non-infected. Expression of placenta-related microRNAs in microparticles was analysed by qPCR and the effect of circulating microparticles on dendritic cells assessed by phenotype analysis and cytokine/chemokine measurement. Results: Concentrations of total and trophoblast microparticles detected by flow cytometry were higher in HIV-positive (P = 0.005 and P = 0.030, respectively) compared to non-infected mothers, as well as in women delivering low birthweight newborns (P = 0.032 and P = 0.021, respectively). miR-517c was overexpressed in mothers with placental malaria (P = 0.034), compared to non-infected. Microparticles from HIV-positive induced a higher expression of MHCII (P = 0.021) and lower production of MCP1 (P = 0.008) than microparticles from non-infected women. Conclusions: In summary, alterations in total and trophoblast microparticles associated with malaria and HIV in pregnant women may have an immunopathogenic role. The potential for placental-derived vesicles and microRNAs as biomarkers of adverse outcomes during pregnancy and malaria infection should be confirmed in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
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