Stratification of Amniotic Fluid Cells and Amniotic Fluid by Sex Opens Up New Perspectives on Fetal Health
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Published:2023-10-18
Issue:10
Volume:11
Page:2830
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ISSN:2227-9059
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Container-title:Biomedicines
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Biomedicines
Author:
Campesi Ilaria12ORCID, Capobianco Giampiero3ORCID, Cano Antonella1, Lodde Valeria1ORCID, Cruciani Sara1ORCID, Maioli Margherita1ORCID, Sotgiu Giovanni4ORCID, Idda Maria Laura5ORCID, Puci Mariangela Valentina4, Ruoppolo Margherita67ORCID, Costanzo Michele67ORCID, Caterino Marianna67ORCID, Cambosu Francesca8, Montella Andrea1ORCID, Franconi Flavia2
Affiliation:
1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy 2. Laboratory of Sex-Gender Medicine, National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, 07100 Sassari, Italy 3. Gynecologic and Obstetric Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy 4. Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy 5. Institute of Genetics and Biomedical Research, 07100 Sassari, Italy 6. Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy 7. CEINGE—Biotecnologie Avanzate s.c.ar.l., 80145 Naples, Italy 8. Genetics and Developmental Biology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Abstract
Amniotic fluid is essential for fetus wellbeing and is used to monitor pregnancy and predict fetal outcomes. Sex affects health and medicine from the beginning of life, but knowledge of its influence on cell-depleted amniotic fluid (AF) and amniotic fluid cells (AFCs) is still neglected. We evaluated sex-related differences in AF and in AFCs to extend personalized medicine to prenatal life. AFCs and AF were obtained from healthy Caucasian pregnant women who underwent amniocentesis at the 16th–18th week of gestation for advanced maternal age. In the AF, inflammation biomarkers (TNFα, IL6, IL8, and IL4), malondialdehyde, nitrites, amino acids, and acylcarnitines were measured. Estrogen receptors and cell fate (autophagy, apoptosis, senescence) were measured in AFCs. TNFα, IL8, and IL4 were higher in female AF, whereas IL6, nitrites, and MDA were similar. Valine was higher in male AF, whereas several acylcarnitines were sexually different, suggesting a mitochondrial involvement in establishing sex differences. Female AFCs displayed higher expression of ERα protein and a higher ERα/ERβ ratio. The ratio of LC3II/I, an index of autophagy, was higher in female AFCs, while LC3 gene was similar in both sexes. No significant sex differences were found in the expression of the lysosomal protein LAMP1, while p62 was higher in male AFCs. LAMP1 gene was upregulated in male AFCs, while p62 gene was upregulated in female ones. Finally, caspase 9 activity and senescence linked to telomeres were higher in female AFCs, while caspase 3 and β-galactosidase activities were similar. This study supports the idea that sex differences start very early in prenatal life and influence specific parameters, suggesting that it may be relevant to appreciate sex differences to cover knowledge gaps. This might lead to improving the diagnosis of risk prediction for pregnancy complications and achieving a more satisfactory monitoring of fetus health, even preventing future diseases in adulthood.
Funder
University of Sassari
Subject
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,Medicine (miscellaneous)
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