Decrease in Sphingomyelin (d18:1/16:0) in Stem Villi and Phosphatidylcholine (16:0/20:4) in Terminal Villi of Human Term Placentas with Pathohistological Maternal Malperfusion

Abstract

Placental villi play pivotal roles in feto-maternal transportation and phospholipids constitute a major part of the villous membrane. We have been developing and optimizing an imaging system based on a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-based mass spectrometer, which provides clear two-dimensional molecular distribution patterns using highly sensitive mass spectrometry from mixtures of ions generated on tissue surfaces. We recently applied this technology to normal human uncomplicated term placentas and detected the specific distribution of sphingomyelin (SM) (d18:1/16:0) in stem villi and phosphatidylcholine (PC) (16:0/20:4) in terminal villi. In the present study, we applied this technology to nine placentas with maternal or fetal complications, and determined whether a relationship existed between these specific distribution patterns of phospholipid molecules and the six representative pathological findings of placentas, i.e., villitis of unknown etiology (VUE), thrombus, atherosis, chorioamnionitis (CAM), immature terminal villi, and multiple branched terminal villi. In two placentas with the first and second largest total number of positive pathological findings, i.e., five and three positive findings, the specific distribution of SM (d18:1/16:0) in stem villi and PC (16:0/20:4) in terminal villi disappeared. The common pathological findings in these two placentas were atherosis, immature terminal villi, and multiple branched terminal villi, suggesting the possible involvement of the underperfusion of maternal blood into the intervillous space. On the other hand, the number of pathological findings were two or less in the seven other placentas, in which no specific relationships were observed between the differential expression patterns of these two phospholipids in stem and terminal villi and the pathological findings of the placentas; however, the specific distribution pattern of SM (d18:1/16:0) in stem villi disappeared in four placentas, while that of PC (16:0/20:4) in terminal villi was preserved. These results suggested that the absence of the specific distribution of PC (16:0/20:4) in terminal villi, possibly in combination with the absence of SM (d18:1/16:0) in stem villi, was linked to placental morphological changes in response to maternal underperfusion of the placenta.

Placental pathology predicts infantile physical development during first 18 months in Japanese population: Hamamatsu birth cohort for mothers and children (HBC Study)

“…After weighing and checking the gross morphology, whole placentas were stored in our pathological division after being vacuum-sealed in plastic packages with 10% formaldehyde (0.1 M sodium citrate buffer, pH 7.4). Seven paraffin blocks were systematically obtained from each placenta for the pathological examination by systematic random sampling, as previously described [ 12 , 13 ]. In brief, linear parallel slices of placental tissue, 5mm width, were made approximately every 3cm interval perpendicular to the greatest dimension of placental axis.…”

“…Because placental pathology represents not only pathophysiological changes, but also physiological placental adaptations to various environmental factors, such as infection, malcirculation, chronic hypoxia on the maternal and fetal sides, and maternal hyperglycemia [ 10 , 11 ]. We recently demonstrated that changes in specific lipid profiles in the villi were responsible for pathologically abnormal placental findings using a two-dimensional imaging system based on a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-based mass spectrometer [ 12 ]. We also showed that assisted reproductive technology affected the morphology of the placental basal plate [ 13 ].…”

Characterizing the lipid and metabolite changes associated with placental function and pregnancy complications using ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry and mass spectrometry imaging

“…Alterations in the spatial distribution of these molecules have been correlated with disease. Specifically, the absence of PC(16:0/20:4) in the terminal villi and absence of SM(d18:1/16:0) in the stem villi have been linked to morphological changes in the placenta due to maternal underperfusion [26]. These observations have proven very exciting, but while MSI offers unique opportunities to study the in situ spatial distribution, it does suffer from lower sensitivity due to ionization suppression of highly concentrated species concealing low concentration molecules.…”

The influence of violations of protein-lipid composition of plasma membranes of the placenta and modifications of membrane transport processes on the development of complicated pregnancy

“…Фосфоинозидная рецепторная система играет важную роль в регуляции действия половых стероидов, и снижение уров-ня этого фосфолипида будет нарушать реализацию гормональных эффектов. Что касается ФЭ, то, кроме общих функций поддержания структуры и свойств мембран, он влияет на скорость АТФазной реакции, участвуя тем самым в обеспечении энергетического баланса плаценты, который, несомненно, будет нарушаться при уменьшении содержания ФЭ [10].…”

“…В настоящее время данные о биохимическом составе плазматических мембран микроворсин синцитиотрофобласта, обеспечивающего основной обмен между организмами матери и плода, немногочисленны и касаются лишь отдельных компонентов [7][8][9][10]. Ранее неизвестные сведения о составе и свойствах мембран плаценты позволяют углубить современные представления о механизмах развития ПН.…”