bims-reprim 2020-11-15 papers

Issue of 2020–11–15
two papers selected by
Iva Filipovic, Karolinska Institutet

Bioessays. 2020 Nov 09. e2000103

The molecular tug of war between immunity and fertility: Emergence of conserved signaling pathways and regulatory mechanisms.

Nikki Naim, Francis R G Amrit, T Brooke McClendon, Judith L Yanowitz, Arjumand Ghazi.

Reproduction and immunity are energy intensive, intimately linked processes in most organisms. In women, pregnancy is associated with widespread immunological adaptations that alter immunity to many diseases, whereas, immune dysfunction has emerged as a major cause for infertility in both men and women. Deciphering the molecular bases of this dynamic association is inherently challenging in mammals. This relationship has been traditionally studied in fast-living, invertebrate species, often in the context of resource allocation between life history traits. More recently, these studies have advanced our understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of the immunity-fertility dialogue. Here, we review the molecular connections between reproduction and immunity from the perspective of human pregnancy to mechanistic discoveries in laboratory organisms. We focus particularly on recent invertebrate studies identifying conserved signaling pathways and transcription factors that regulate resource allocation and shape the balance between reproductive status and immune health.

Keywords: C. elegans; aging; fertility; immunity; pregnancy; resource allocation; transcriptional networks

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.202000103

Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 12. 10(1): 19618

Mid-gestation low-dose LPS administration results in female-specific excessive weight gain upon a western style diet in mouse offspring.

Dorieke J Dijkstra, Rikst Nynke Verkaik-Schakel, Sharon Eskandar, Alice Limonciel, Violeta Stojanovska, Sicco A Scherjon, Torsten Plösch.

Gestational complications, including preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, have long-term adverse consequences for offspring's metabolic and cardiovascular health. A low-grade systemic inflammatory response is likely mediating this. Here, we examine the consequences of LPS-induced gestational inflammation on offspring's health in adulthood. LPS was administered to pregnant C57Bl/6J mice on gestational day 10.5. Maternal plasma metabolomics showed oxidative stress, remaining for at least 5 days after LPS administration, likely mediating the consequences for the offspring. From weaning on, all offspring was fed a control diet; from 12 to 24 weeks of age, half of the offspring received a western-style diet (WSD). The combination of LPS-exposure and WSD resulted in hyperphagia and increased body weight and body fat mass in the female offspring. This was accompanied by changes in glucose tolerance, leptin and insulin levels and gene expression in liver and adipose tissue. In the hypothalamus, expression of genes involved in food intake regulation was slightly changed. We speculate that altered food intake behaviour is a result of dysregulation of hypothalamic signalling. Our results add to understanding of how maternal inflammation can mediate long-term health consequences for the offspring. This is relevant to many gestational complications with a pro-inflammatory reaction in place.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76501-8