CD71+ erythroid cells from neonates born to women with preterm labor regulate cytokine and cellular responses

Neonatal CD71+ erythroid cells are thought to have immunosuppressive functions. Recently, we demonstrated that CD71+ erythroid cells from neonates born to women who underwent spontaneous preterm labor (PTL) are reduced to levels similar to those of term neonates; yet, their functional properties are unknown. Herein, we investigated the functionality of CD71+ erythroid cells from neonates born to women who underwent spontaneous preterm or term labor. CD71+ erythroid cells from neonates born to women who underwent PTL displayed a similar mRNA profile to that of those from term neonates. The direct contact between preterm or term neonatal CD71+ erythroid cells and maternal mononuclear immune cells, but not soluble products from these cells, induced the release of proinflammatory cytokines and a reduction in the release of TGFâ β. Moreover, PTLâ derived neonatal CD71+ erythroid cells (1) modestly altered CD8+ T cell activation; (2) inhibited conventional CD4+ and CD8+ Tâ cell expansion; (3) suppressed the expansion of CD8+ regulatory T cells; (4) regulated cytokine responses mounted by myeloid cells in the presence of a microbial product; and (5) indirectly modulated Tâ cell cytokine responses. In conclusion, neonatal CD71+ erythroid cells regulate neonatal Tâ cell and myeloid responses and their direct contact with maternal mononuclear cells induces a proinflammatory response. These findings provide insight into the biology of neonatal CD71+ erythroid cells during the physiologic and pathologic processes of labor.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142950/1/jlb10051_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142950/2/jlb10051-sup-0003-TableS2.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142950/3/jlb10051-sup-0002-TableS1.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142950/4/jlb10051-sup-0001-Figures.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142950/5/jlb10051.pd

Amniotic fluid neutrophils can phagocytize bacteria: A mechanism for microbial killing in the amniotic cavity

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138926/1/aji12723_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138926/2/aji12723.pd

miR-143 Regulation of Prostaglandin-Endoperoxidase Synthase 2 in the Amnion: Implications for Human Parturition at Term

The human amnion plays a pivotal role in parturition. Two of its compartments, the placental amnion and the reflected amnion, have distinct transcriptome and are functionally coordinated for parturition. This study was conducted to determine the microRNA (miRNA) expression pattern and its significance in the placental amnion and the reflected amnion in association with labor at term.<0.05). Luciferase assay and transfection confirmed miR-143 binding to 3′ UTR of prostaglandin-endoperoxidase synthase 2 (PTGS2) mRNA and miR-143 regulation of PTGS2 in AMCs.We report region-specific amniotic microRNAome and miR-143 regulation of PTGS2 in the context of human labor at term for the first time. The findings indicate that miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression machinery in the amnion plays an important role in the compartments (placental amnion vs reflected amnion) and in a cell type-specific manner (AECs vs AMCs) for parturition

Intra‐Amniotic Administration of HMGB1 Induces Spontaneous Preterm Labor and Birth

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/116331/1/aji12443_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/116331/2/aji12443.pd

Inflammasome assembly in the chorioamniotic membranes during spontaneous labor at term

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/137494/1/aji12648.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/137494/2/aji12648_am.pd

Inflammasome activation during spontaneous preterm labor with intraâ amniotic infection or sterile intraâ amniotic inflammation

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146295/1/aji13049.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146295/2/aji13049_am.pd

Human βâ defensinâ 1: A natural antimicrobial peptide present in amniotic fluid that is increased in spontaneous preterm labor with intraâ amniotic infection

ProblemHuman βâ defensins (HBDs) are antimicrobial peptides that participate in the soluble innate immune mechanisms against infection. Herein, we determined whether HBDâ 1 was present in amniotic fluid during normal pregnancy and whether its concentrations change with intraâ amniotic inflammation and/or infection.Method of StudyAmniotic fluid was collected from 219 women in the following groups: (a) midtrimester who delivered at term (n = 35); (b) term with (n = 33) or without (n = 17) labor; (c) preterm labor with intact membranes who delivered at term (n = 29) or who delivered preterm with (n = 19) and without (n = 29) intraâ amniotic inflammation and infection or with intraâ amniotic inflammation but without infection (n = 21); and (d) preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (pPROM) with (n = 19) and without (n = 17) intraâ amniotic inflammation/infection. Amniotic fluid HBDâ 1 concentrations were determined using a sensitive and specific ELISA kit.Results(a) HBDâ 1 was detectable in all amniotic fluid samples; (b) amniotic fluid concentrations of HBDâ 1 were changed with gestational age (midtrimester vs term no labor), being higher in midtrimester; (c) amniotic fluid concentrations of HBDâ 1 were similar between women with and without spontaneous labor at term; (d) among patients with spontaneous preterm labor, amniotic fluid concentrations of HBDâ 1 in women with intraâ amniotic inflammation/infection and in those with intraâ amniotic inflammation without infection were greater than in women without intraâ amniotic inflammation or infection who delivered preterm or at term; and (e) the presence of intraâ amniotic inflammation and infection in patients with pPROM did not change amniotic fluid concentrations of HBDâ 1.ConclusionHBDâ 1 is a physiological constituent of amniotic fluid that is increased in midtrimester during normal pregnancy and in the presence of culturable microorganisms in the amniotic cavity. These findings provide insight into the soluble host defense mechanisms against intraâ amniotic infection.Amniotic fluid concentrations of human beta defensinâ 1 (HBDâ 1) in women with spontaneous preterm labor and intact membranes. Red lines indicate medians with interquartile ranges.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146360/1/aji13031.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146360/2/aji13031_am.pd

Are B cells altered in the decidua of women with preterm or term labor?

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149277/1/aji13102_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149277/2/aji13102.pd

The immunophenotype of amniotic fluid leukocytes in normal and complicated pregnancies

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142907/1/aji12827.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142907/2/aji12827_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142907/3/aji12827-sup-0001-FigS1.pd

The cytokine network in women with an asymptomatic short cervix and the risk of preterm delivery

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138402/1/aji12686_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138402/2/aji12686.pd