Sonia Baig

Human Innate Lymphoid Cell Subsets Possess Tissue-Type Based Heterogeneity in Phenotype and Frequency

&NA; Animal models have highlighted the importance of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in multiple immune responses. However, technical limitations have hampered adequate characterization of ILCs in humans. Here, we used mass cytometry including a broad range of surface markers and transcription factors to accurately identify and profile ILCs across healthy and inflamed tissue types. High dimensional analysis allowed for clear phenotypic delineation of ILC2 and ILC3 subsets. We were not able to detect ILC1 cells in any of the tissues assessed, however, we identified intra‐epithelial (ie)ILC1‐like cells that represent a broader category of NK cells in mucosal and non‐mucosal pathological tissues. In addition, we have revealed the expression of phenotypic molecules that have not been previously described for ILCs. Our analysis shows that human ILCs are highly heterogeneous cell types between individuals and tissues. It also provides a global, comprehensive, and detailed description of ILC heterogeneity in humans across patients and tissues. Graphical Abstract Figure. No caption available. HighlightsComprehensive profiling of human ILCs across tissuesDetailed description of previously defined ILC subsets except helper‐type ILC1ieILC1‐like cells are present in several tissues and functionally similar to NK cellsIdentification of markers expressed on ILCs, including functional IL‐18R &NA; Animal models have highlighted the importance of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in multiple immune responses. Simoni et al. (2016) profile human ILCs using mass cytometry across tissues. The results provide a global, comprehensive, and detailed description of ILC populations and their heterogeneity across individuals and tissues.

Lipidomic analysis of human placental Syncytiotrophoblast microvesicles in adverse pregnancy outcomes

PROBLEM Syncytiotrophoblast microvesicles (STBM) are shed from placenta into the maternal circulation. STBM circulate in increased amounts in adverse pregnancies, e.g., preeclampsia and recurrent miscarriages (RM). Recently dysregulation of lipid metabolites has been proposed to be associated with their pathogenesis. Lipid composition of STBM in healthy and adverse pregnancies remains unknown. OBJECTIVE To determine lipid composition of STBM and whether STBM lipid composition differs in pathologic and normal pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN Patients with Preeclampsia (n = 6) or history of RM (n = 9) (>2 consecutive losses <20 weeks) and gestational age-matched normal pregnant controls (same number as cases) were recruited. STBM were prepared from placental explant culture supernatant. Lipid profiling of STBM was performed by mass spectrometry in combination with liquid chromatography. We quantified ∼200 lipids in STBM including (i) glycerophospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, PC; phosphatidylethanolamine, PE; phosphatidylinositol, PI; phosphatidylglycerol, PG; phosphatidylserine, PS; phosphatidic acid, PA); (ii) sphingolipids (sphingomyelin, SM; ceramide, Cer; Glucosylceramide, GluCer; ganglioside mannoside 3, GM3); (iii) free cholesterol and cholesteryl esters, CE. RESULTS The major lipid classes in STBM were SM, Chol, PS, PC and PI, along with PA and GM3 enrichments. SM/PC ratio showed a unique reversal (3:1) compared to that normally found in human cells or plasma. Level of total PS was significantly upregulated (p < 0.005) in preeclampsia patients, while PI (p < 0.0005), PA (p < 0.005), and GM3 (p < 0.05) were significantly downregulated. Similar trends were obtained in RM. CONCLUSIONS Differential lipid expression of STBM in preeclampsia or RM includes those that are implicated in immune response, coagulation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.

Proteomic analysis of human placental syncytiotrophoblast microvesicles in preeclampsia

BackgroundPlacental syncytiotrophoblast microvesicles (STBM) are shed into the maternal circulation during normal pregnancy. STBM circulate in significantly increased amounts in preeclampsia (PE) and are considered to be among contributors to the exaggerated proinflammatory, procoagulant state of PE. However, protein composition of STBM in normal pregnancy and PE remains unknown. We therefore sought to determine the protein components of STBM and whether STBM protein expressions differ in preeclamptic and normal pregnancies.Patients with PE (n = 3) and normal pregnant controls (n = 6) were recruited. STBM were prepared from placental explant culture supernatant. STBM proteins were analyzed by a combination of 1D Gel-LC-MS/MS. Protein expressions levels were quantified using spectral counts and validated by immunohistochemistry.ResultsOver 400 proteins were identified in the STBM samples. Among these, 25 proteins were found to be differentially expressed in preeclampsia compared to healthy pregnant controls, including integrins, annexins and histones.ConclusionSTBM proteins include those that are implicated in immune response, coagulation, oxidative stress, apoptosis as well as lipid metabolism pathways. Differential protein expressions of STBM suggest their pathophysiological relevance in PE.

Noninvasive prenatal exclusion of haemoglobin Bart's using foetal DNA from maternal plasma†

Prenatal diagnosis of alpha‐thalassaemia requires invasive testing associated with a risk of miscarriage. Cell‐free foetal DNA in maternal plasma presents an alternative source of foetal genetic material for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis. We aimed to exclude HbBarts noninvasively by detection of unaffected paternal alleles in maternal plasma using quantitative fluorescence PCR (QF‐PCR).

Maternal serum protein profile and immune response protein subunits as markers for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21, 18, and 13

To use proteomics to identify and characterize proteins in maternal serum from patients at high‐risk for fetal trisomy 21, trisomy 18, and trisomy 13 on the basis of ultrasound and maternal serum triple tests.

A high carbohydrate, but not fat or protein meal attenuates postprandial ghrelin, PYY and GLP-1 responses in Chinese men

It is known that the macronutrient content of a meal has different impacts on the postprandial satiety and appetite hormonal responses. Whether obesity interacts with such nutrient-dependent responses is not well characterized. We examined the postprandial appetite and satiety hormonal responses after a high-protein (HP), high-carbohydrate (HC), or high-fat (HF) mixed meal. This was a randomized cross-over study of 9 lean insulin-sensitive (mean±SEM HOMA-IR 0.83±0.10) and 9 obese insulin-resistant (HOMA-IR 4.34±0.41) young (age 21–40 years), normoglycaemic Chinese men. We measured fasting and postprandial plasma concentration of glucose, insulin, active glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), total peptide-YY (PYY), and acyl-ghrelin in response to HP, HF, or HC meals. Overall postprandial plasma insulin response was more robust in the lean compared to obese subjects. The postprandial GLP-1 response after HF or HP meal was higher than HC meal in both lean and obese subjects. In obese subjects, HF meal induced higher response in postprandial PYY compared to HC meal. HP and HF meals also suppressed ghrelin greater compared to HC meal in the obese than lean subjects. In conclusion, a high-protein or high-fat meal induces a more favorable postprandial satiety and appetite hormonal response than a high-carbohydrate meal in obese insulin-resistant subjects.

Meal rich in carbohydrate, but not protein or fat, reveals adverse immunometabolic responses associated with obesity.

BackgroundObesity-related insulin resistance is linked to inflammation. Immunometabolic function differs between lean and obese subjects, but whether macronutrient composition of ingested meals affects these responses is not well known. We examined the effects of a single meal rich in fat, protein, or carbohydrate on immunometabolic responses.MethodsNine lean insulin sensitive (LIS) men and 9 obese insulin resistant (OIR) men ingested high-carbohydrate (HC), high-fat (HF) or high-protein (HP) mixed meals in random order. We assessed plasma glucose, insulin, and cytokine responses and cytokine gene expression in circulating mononuclear cells (MNC) at fasting and postprandial states (up to 6-h).ResultsExpression of NF-κB and TNFα genes were greater; whereas that of TGFβ and IL-6 genes were lower, in the OIR compared to the LIS individuals. The differences were significantly greater after the HC meal, but not after the HP or HF meal. Similar results were obtained for plasma concentrations of TNFα and IL-6.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that a single HC meal has a distinct adverse effect on immunometabolic responses in the OIR individuals. The cumulative effect of such adverse responses to meals rich in carbohydrate may predispose the OIR individuals to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.