Placental gene expression and antibody levels of mother-neonate pairs reveal an enhanced risk for inflammation in a helminth endemic country

Esther Ludwig, Jutta Harder, Matthew Lacorcia, Yabo Josiane Honkpehedji, Odilon Paterne Nouatin, Govert J. van Dam, Paul L.A.M. Corstjens, Erliyani Sartono, Meral Esen, Silvia M. Lobmaier, Ayola Akim Adegnika, Clarissa Prazeres da Costa

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

In utero exposure to environmental factors can modify the development of allergies later in life whereby the mechanisms of the feto-maternal crosstalk still remain largely unknown. Murine studies revealed that inflammatory maternal signals elicited by chronic helminth infection within the placenta imprint a distinct gene expression profile related to the Vitamin-D-receptor (VDR)-inflammation-axis. We thus investigated whether pro- or anti- inflammatory immune responses as well as VDR and related gene expression within the placenta differ between women from helminth-endemic and non-endemic areas. A prospective pilot study was conducted in Munich, Germany (helminth non-endemic) and Lambaréné, Gabon (helminth-endemic). At delivery, clinical information alongside placenta tissue samples and maternal and cord blood were obtained for further laboratory analysis. Schistosoma haematobium infection was detected in 13/54 (23%) Gabonese women. RT PCR revealed significantly lower gene expression of VDR, Cyp27b1, Foxp3 and IL10 in Gabonese compared to German placentae as well as significantly lower levels of plasma IgG4 in newborns resulting in a significantly higher IgE/IgG4 ratio. These findings demonstrate that exposure in utero to different environments alters placental gene expression and thus possibly plays a role in the development and modulation of the immune system of the offspring.

Original languageEnglish
Article number15776
JournalScientific Reports
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2019

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