Tissue Transglutaminase on Trophoblast Cells as a Possible Target of Autoantibodies Contributing to Pregnancy Complications in Celiac Patients

Problem: Women with celiac disease (CD) are often affected by atypical presentations of the disease associated with reproductive disorders as a main extra-digestive complaint. Here, we analyzed if autoantibodies against tissue transglutaminase (tTG) in sera from CD patients with reproductive disorders could display direct effects through their interaction with tTG expressed on trophoblast cells and phagocytes inducing tissue damage and interfering in the clearance of trophoblast apoptotic bodies. Method of study: Sera from CD women with reproductive disorders were obtained, and their ability to induce apoptosis of Swan-71 (cytotrophoblast cell line) and to modulate the wound-healing and phagocytes process was tested. Results: Swan-71 cells expressed tTG and CD sera displayed a significant decrease in trophoblast cell migration and a delay in injury healing on trophoblast cells, compared with those observed with control sera. Moreover, CD sera significantly reduced trophoblast cell proliferation and increased apoptosis levels in comparison with those observed in the control sera. Finally, autoantibodies against tTG interfere in the clearance of trophoblast apoptotic bodies through a mechanism involving MFG-E8 (milk fat globulin-EGF factor 8)-tTG binding. Conclusion: The anti-tTG antibodies might contribute to trophoblast damage and disrupt the phagocytosis process of apoptotic bodies that could promote a pro-inflammatory microenvironment.Fil: Sóñora, Cecilia. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; UruguayFil: Calo, Guillermina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Fraccaroli, Laura Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Perez Leiros, Claudia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Hernández, Ana. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; UruguayFil: Ramhorst, Rosanna Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin

Biodiversity credits: learning lessons from other approaches to incentivize conservation

Biodiversity credits are an emerging vehicle for pro-environmental financing. Here we define and delimit biodiversity credits and explore the pathways through which credits can be issued. We scrutinize early evidence from pilots and suggest lessons from other market-based incentives for conservation and climate mitigation, including biodiversity offsets and forest carbon credits that have attracted large private funding flows, but have been questioned regarding their additionality, permanence, and leakage. All these issues apply to biodiversity credits, but they face yet another challenge: rendering biodiversity commensurable. While new monitoring technologies can help quantify biodiversity, tradeoffs exist between simple metrics that enable liquid markets, and costly ones that more adequately represent biodiversity. To avoid carbon and offset market mistakes, biodiversity credit design, implementation, and impact evaluation requires more robust crediting baselines, standards, and governance. Quality credits will be more expensive than those cutting integrity corners, which may dampen the expected biodiversity credit boom