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Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 Jun 18. Epub 2022 Jun 18.

Changchun Obstetrics- Gynecology Hospital, No. 555 West Fifth Road, Nanguan District, Changchun, Jilin, 130042, China.

Problem: Cervical cancer has been recognized as the second most common cancer in women worldwide. Previous studies have reported that some circular RNAs (circRNAs) can influence the progression of cervical cancer. However, more researches are still required to unveil the underlying mechanism of how circRNAs regulate the progression of such cancer. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 Jun 18. Epub 2022 Jun 18.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410083, People's Republic of China.

Aims: Clinical evidence indicated the activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in pregnant women with preeclampsia (PE), and the regulatory role of melatonin (MT) in ERS. This study aims to explore the possible effect and mechanism of MT on ERS and on the infiltration of trophoblasts in PE.

Methods: The serum expression levels of MT and GRP78 in pregnant women with PE were measured. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 Jun 15. Epub 2022 Jun 15.

Institute of Reproductive Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China.

Background: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a common disease characterized by immune dysfunction and vitamin D deficiency. This study aimed to investigate vitamin D metabolism and γδT cell phenotypes at the maternal-fetal interface in women with early normal pregnancy (NP) and RPL and to determine the effects of vitamin D on the functions of γδT cells and their crosstalk with trophoblasts.

Methods: The levels of 25-(OH)VD , the expression of vitamin D metabolic enzymes in the villi, and the proportion of γδT cells in the decidua were detected in women with NP and RPL. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 Jun 5. Epub 2022 Jun 5.

School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.

Problem: Previous studies had shown that there might be an association between serum vitamin D concentrations and the occurrence of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). However, the conclusions remained controversial. The objective of this study was to systematically review the evidence for an epidemiological association between vitamin D and RSA. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 Jun 5:e13583. Epub 2022 Jun 5.

CIASaP, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico.

Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, has spread quickly worldwide, causing millions of cases and thousands of deaths. Some risk factors in the general population are related to the development of severe COVID-19 or death, but in pregnant women and neonates, the information is limited.

Objective: To determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pregnant women and neonates diagnosed with COVID-19 by RT-PCR and serological tests, and analyze the relationship between the influenza vaccination and COVID-19 symptoms in infected pregnant women in Sinaloa state. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 May 22:e13580. Epub 2022 May 22.

Centre For Medical Biotechnology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, India.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complicated neuro-endocrinal, reproductive, and metabolic condition. It encompasses patterns such as hyperandrogenism, recurrent cysts triggered by steroidogenic functional aberrations in the ovaries, overweight, chronic inflammation, and more. The underlying cause of this heterogeneous illness is obscure, although it is suspected to be driven by a blend of environmental and hereditary factors. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 May 20:e13579. Epub 2022 May 20.

Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Tangdu Hospital of The Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.

Problem: Ghrelin has been thought of as a potential link between energy homeostasis and fertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate levels of ghrelin in obese and non-obese systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, and to reveal a possible association between ghrelin and Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in SLE patients.

Method Of Study: One hundred SLE patients (50 obese and 50 non-obese subjects) at childbearing age and 100 age-matched healthy controls (50 obese and 50 non-obese subjects) were included. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 May 19:e13563. Epub 2022 May 19.

Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

A failure to achieve pregnancy after three or more embryo transfer cycles with high-quality blastocysts is referred to as recurrent implantation failure (RIF). RIF can be due to altered uterine factors or male factors or embryo factors. Disrupted endometrial receptivity, altered expression of genes in several pathways, immunologic disturbances in the peripheral blood and/or the endometrium, and epigenetic alterations are associated with RIF. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 May;87 Suppl 1:1-107

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 May 18:e13578. Epub 2022 May 18.

NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies), School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Problem: We aimed to evaluate potential biomarkers and candidate drugs for recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) and explore functional circular RNA pathways involved in regulating RSA.

Method Of Study: Expression profiles of placental villus and decidua samples derived from females with RSA and those with healthy pregnancies who underwent induced abortion were analyzed using high-throughput RNA whole transcriptome sequencing. Abnormally expressed circular RNAs in a larger cohort of samples were validated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 May 14:e13577. Epub 2022 May 14.

Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.

Problem: Cervical insufficiency (CI) is associated with intra-amniotic infection or inflammation. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in amniotic fluid may protect the fetus against microbial invasion, giving their broad-spectrum microbiocidal properties. We evaluated changes in amniotic fluid AMP expression in women with CI and assessed whether these changes are related to their pregnancy outcomes. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 May 14:e13562. Epub 2022 May 14.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.

Problem: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is one of the big challenges of normal pregnancy. Immune dysregulation has been proposed for the key underline mechanisms of RPL. However, the essential roles of T cells, especially γδ T cells, have not been defined. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 May 9:e13564. Epub 2022 May 9.

Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.

Problem: Pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes are in part fueled by the rise in obesity and its associated co-morbidities in western societies. Fetal healthy development and placental function are disturbed by an obese, inflammatory environment associated with cytokines, such as interleukin-6, causing inadequate supply of nutrients to the fetus and perinatal programming with severe health consequences.

Method Of Study: Mice received high fat diet (HFD) before and during gestation to induce obesity. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 May 6:e13559. Epub 2022 May 6.

Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Problem: We evaluated eculizumab, a complement protein C5 inhibitor, for treatment of severe COVID-19 in pregnant and postpartum individuals.

Method Of Study: Protocol ECU-COV-401 (clinicaltrials.gov NCT04355494) is an open label, multicenter, Expanded Access Program (EAP), evaluating eculizumab for treatment of severe COVID-19. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 May 5:e13558. Epub 2022 May 5.

Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Laboratorio de Inmunofarmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Problem: A strong association between periodontitis and higher susceptibility to pregnancy complications like preeclampsia has been reported although the mechanisms remain elusive. Trophoblast cells modulate the recruitment and functional shaping of maternal leukocytes at early stages to sustain an antiinflammatory microenvironment and fetal growth. Neutrophil activation with reactive oxygen species (ROS) release is associated with preeclampsia. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 May 4:e13552. Epub 2022 May 4.

Probisearch, SLU. c/Santiago Grisolía, 2, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain.

Problem: Unknown or idiopathic infertility has been associated with urogenital tract dysbiosis, reducing pregnancy and delivery ratios during assisted reproductive treatments (ART). The Ligilactobacillus salivarius PS11610 strain has shown extraordinary antimicrobial activity in vitro against urogenital pathogens as well as other probiotic characteristics. Therefore, an intervention study was performed to evaluate the effect of L. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 May 3:e13560. Epub 2022 May 3.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenyang No. 5 People's Hospital, No. 188 Xingshun Street, Shenyang, China.

Objective: To explore the effect of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs) on the outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transplantation (IVF-ET) and to study the effect of ANAs in follicular fluid (FF) on embryonic development.

Methods: The expression of ANAs in FF of patients treated with IVF-ET and healthy group. The patients were divided into ANAs-positive group and ANA-negative group. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 May 2:e13557. Epub 2022 May 2.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea.

Problem: This study aimed to determine whether various novel plasma mediators of immune regulation associated with inflammation could independently predict the clinical outcome of rescue cerclage in patients with cervical insufficiency (CI).

Method Of Study: A total of 41 singleton pregnant women (17-25 weeks) who underwent rescue cerclage for CI were retrospectively evaluated. Stored plasma samples were assayed for IGFBP-1, -2, -3, IL-6, latexin, LBP, lipocalin-2, M-CSF, MIP-1α, MMP-8, -9, pentraxin 3, resistin, S100A8, S100A8/A9, thrombospondin-2, TIMP-1, and TNFR2 levels. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 May 2:e13561. Epub 2022 May 2.

Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Problem: Enterococcus faecalis is a common microbial semen contaminant. Although virulence factors and biofilm formation have often been analyzed in Enterococcus spp., there is little information about these features in isolates obtained from the genitourinary tract. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 Apr 22:e13556. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi, Japan.

Problem: NK cell and macrophage function are decreased in endometriosis, and the disease may involve reduced immune surveillance in the peritoneal cavity. NK cell cytotoxicity and migration ability (chemotaxis) are considered important; the former has been investigated, but the latter has not.

Method Of Study: We compared chemotaxis of immunocompetent cells (NK cells, macrophages, T cells) in peritoneal fluid obtained during laparoscopy in 27 women with and 13 without endometriosis. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 Apr 22:e13550. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Vaccines, Medical Development, Scientific and Clinical Affairs, Pfizer Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

Background: More than 325,000 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported among pregnant women in the Americas.

Aims: This review examines the impact of COVID-19 in pregnant women and describes available evidence on the safety, effectiveness, and immune response(s) to vaccination among pregnant and lactating women.

Content: Multiple studies indicate that pregnant women are more susceptible to adverse COVID-19 outcomes, including hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, and invasive ventilation than non-pregnant women with COVID-19. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 Apr 22:e13551. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.

Background: The pathogenesis of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is multifactorial and not completely elucidated. Dysregulated immunity was implicated with RPL, in which regulatory T cells (Tregs) are key. As Tregs development and function are regulated by forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) transcription factor, and as FOXP3 expression is genetically determined, a role for FOXP3 polymorphisms in RPL pathogenesis was suggested. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 Apr 22:e13555. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.

Problem: Although pregnant women with gestational diabetes (GD), morbidly adherent placenta (MAP), and pregnancy hypertension (pHT) diseases lead to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), little is known about their effect on mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) and innate lymphoid cells (ILC) in the umbilical cord. This study aimed to quantify and characterize MAIT cells and ILCs in the cord blood of pregnant women with GD, MAP, and pHT diseases.

Method Of Study: Cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs) were isolated by Ficoll-Paque gradient. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 Apr 20:e13554. Epub 2022 Apr 20.

Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming, China.

Objective: FOXP3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were recently elucidated to influence the development of preeclampsia (PE), but the results on this issue still remained controversial. Thus, a meta-analysis was implemented to systematically investigate the roles of FOXP3 SNPs in PE.

Methods: Eligible publications were identified by retrieving relevant electronic databases. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 Apr 8:e13542. Epub 2022 Apr 8.

RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.

Problem: Data on the effects of contraceptives on female genital tract (FGT) immune mediators are inconsistent, possibly in part due to pre-existing conditions that influence immune mediator changes in response to contraceptive initiation.

Methods: This study included 161 South African women randomised to injectable depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM), copper intrauterine device (IUD), or levonorgestrel (LNG) implant in the Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes (ECHO) trial. We measured thirteen cytokines and antimicrobial peptides previously associated with HIV acquisition in vaginal swabs using Luminex and ELISA, before, and at 1 and 3 months after contraceptive initiation. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 06 18;87(6):e13533. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.

Problem: The pathogenesis of endometriosis remains unclear. Endometrial cells in retrograde menstruation are considered the source of endometriosis; therefore, we hypothesized that the eutopic endometrium may provide clues regarding the pathogenesis. We aimed to clarify the role of eutopic endometrial cells in endometriosis development. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 Mar 31:e13543. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China.

Problem: To investigate how asymptomatic bacterial imbalance affects the clinical pregnancy rate after artificial insemination with the husband's semen (AIH).

Methods: This study included married heterosexual couples who underwent AIH. According to the follow-up results, participants were divided into the pregnancy and non-pregnancy groups. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 Mar 29:e13540. Epub 2022 Mar 29.

NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China.

Background: During early pregnancy, a large number of CD56 natural killer cells (NKs) are accumulated in the decidua; unlike peripheral and cord blood NK cells (pNK and cNK), these decidual NK cells (dNK) display a great capacity to secrete a series of angiogenic/vascular factors, which are essential for placental development. However, the mechanism underlying the formation of dNK cells with an angiogenic phenotype remains unclear.

Methods: First, we compared the difference between dNK and cNK/pNK cells in terms of the expression of CD56 and VEGF, and the regulation of the tube formation. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 Mar 25:e13541. Epub 2022 Mar 25.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.

Objective: Progesterone supplementation is recommended to prevent spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) in clinical practice. However, the exact mechanism is still unclear. This study aims to better understand the mechanisms that progesterone can prevent PTB. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2022 05 21;87(5):e13531. Epub 2022 Mar 21.

Maternal and Child Health, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India.

Problem: The objective of this study was to examine levels of cytokines across normal term pregnancy in an Indian population. Additionally we have also explored for possible associations between inflammatory markers and fetal growth parameters.

Method Of Study: A multiplex panel of 24 analytes was used to examine levels of inflammatory markers in maternal serum at three time points during pregnancy and in cord blood from women with no reported comorbidities who delivered a singleton live baby at term (N = 23), enrolled in the GARBH-Ini pregnancy cohort. Read More